A/N: Got a little short-and-sweet post for you this time around from a new face. Brit's been a longtime member of the RPG server where a lot of interesting ideas and details have been spawned for this story, including the post-war psionic training facility that Van Doorn discussed with Bailey. Brit plays one of the 'instructors,' Arthur, and made this neat bit of lore to expand on the backstory of that idea.

Enjoy


Title: To CENTCOM, From PSICOM

Author: BritAnon

For the desk of XCOM Central Officer Bradford, XCOM Field Marshal Van Doorn, Council of Nations Representative codename New Dawn

From Psi Division Commander Cooper-Forrester

Re: Post War Psionic Awakenings

I'm aware that everyone in XCOM's command structure is aware of the intention of myself and my wife to open a training center to instruct newly awakened psionics on the fundamentals of their abilities but CO Bradford wanted me to write the formal brief for presentation to the council.

Before we move on to the plan itself, I should ensure that we're all up to speed as I am unsure if Vahlen's data has been forwarded yet. The basic summary of her findings is that psionics can be awakened in functionally every human on Earth (though the number of people who manifest it in any meaningful degree is significantly lower) through prolonged proximity to the crystalline xeno-element Elerium and catalysed by emotional stress. Owing to XCOM's research into how to synthesize more Elerium starting to advance since the capture of the Ethereal Supercarrier codenamed Temple Ship, the trade of Elerium to Council Nations via the Grey Market, and subsequent falling through the cracks onto the black market, the chances of individuals eventually Awakening to Psionic abilities outside of a controlled environment will eventually become a certainty.

In light of this, and with the blessing of HIGHCOM, we have elected to open a training institute for Psionics in the Highlands of Scotland. Land, structures and funding has already been secured so Council assistance is not needed though any offered would be appreciated. The primary building is an uninhabited keep donated generously by the Mucallin family with future buildings planned for construction later down the line (see the attached documents for blueprints and planned maps). The site is sturdily built and far enough away from the outlying town that any incidents during training will be unlikely to harm civilians. Training would utilize techniques I developed during my time as XCOM's Psionic Instructor, primarily involving mental exercises to train focus, reaction times and long term use of their abilities.

Naturally, the primary goal of this institute would be to train Awakened individuals to use their powers responsibly and head off as much potential misuse of Psionics by criminal elements as is possible. The obvious side effect is to centralize Psionic individuals in a secure environment while they train both for their own safety and the security and peace of mind for non-Psionic individuals. The Long War changed everything, but that doesn't mean it needs to be a quick, uncontrolled process. And it definitely doesn't mean that people need to be afraid of it. The mission goal of the Cooper-Forrester institute is to prove that the people most changed by the technologies of the War may be different from baseline humanity, but that doesn't mean they are any greater or lesser for it.

Signing off, Arthur Cooper-Forrester, PSICOM instructor and head instructor of the Cooper-Forrester Institute

Postscript - To Bradford

Hey Central, hope this'll do for the mystical silhouette council. Can't imagine it being any less professional or more off-putting than Geist's anyway. Thanks for backing us on this one Bradford. Me, Annette and Geist may not always see eye-to-eye on how to go about training Psions but we all agree facilities like this will be needed sooner or later and that it's good to get ahead of the curve. Glad you and Van Doorn agree too. Good luck dealing with the Council, try not to ignore too many of their calls.

- Arthur