Prologue

Recollection of the Past

The year is 2115 – it has been almost one hundred years since the end of the Great Conflict. It was in 2015 that Earth's inhabitants learned that they are not alone in the universe. The initial contact with an alien life forms went south pretty fast. The Coalition claims that aliens took the first shoot as they rampaged through one of districts in Hamburg, Germany. True or not that doesn't matter now. The armies of an earthling countries were not able to effectively defend themselves in a long run and that's why The Council of Nations was created within UN.

Every member of the Council was founding a top secret, para-military organization – XCOM. The Earth's finest warriors, scientists and engineers. Their goal was simple, but far from easy – Survive, Adapt, Win. And they held the line. After almost three year of long and brutal war finest of XCOM soldiers defeated the invaders, known only as The Ethereal Collective, during an event that is now called The Battle of a Temple Ship. After three years humanity could finally start a long process of rebuilding. The technology XCOM had recovered and developed during the Great Conflict had greatly improved a quality of life and incredible discovery of elerium on Earth provided an environment safe and powerful source of energy. But the XCOM wasn't all sunshine and bunnies.

It was in 2020 – the darkest chapter in the history of XCOM – a group of soldiers that had joined the project during the last days of Great Conflict rebelled, dreaming of a world domination. Rebels managed to kill The Commander, but their plan has been turned into dust, as General Peter Van Doorn assumed the command and crushed the rebelion. It was not long until XCOM learned the origin of those rebels - remnants of EXALT. EXALT was an organization probably as old as the world itself and would it be revealed it would quickly size its rightful place in the pantheon of a conspiracy theories. It was also an only organization that openly opposed XCOM during The Great Conflict… well maybe "openly" is not a good word. XCOM soldiers refer to that period of the Great Conflict as "A Shadow War" based on espionage and quick raids.

When XCOM finally managed to pinpoint location of EXALT HQ – a skyscraper in the downtown area of Mexico City - Their teams were quickly dispatched and after short and bloody battle EXALT was no more… or that's what XCOM thought anyway. When the situation was back under control General Van Doorn stepped down from the command only to be elected the new commander of XCOM shortly after that. These days some people tend to say that XCOM is Van Doorns family company. In 2050 humanity finally managed to cross the Final Frontier and began a conquest of space. Human colonies were springing across the space and they have created The Coalition of Human Worlds. Some people want to believe that the threat from the Collective had been eradicated during The Battle of a Temple Ship, but others are not so shortsighted. Today XCOM is a Vanguard of Humanity, scouting planets for potential colonies and remaining ever vigilant, awaiting the return of The Collective. Being part of this organization is now one of the greatest honours soldier can achive. They are here, they are waiting.

In peace Vigilance, in war Victory, in death Sacrifice.

Vigilo Confido