In 2015, alien craft were sighted on approach to Earth. The UN promptly activated its Extraterrestrial Combat Project–XCOM–to combat the alien threat. Though largely ignored for decades, the XCOM Project suddenly found itself on the forefront of an alien invasion, responding to incidents across the globe and developing cutting edge weapons and armor based on the aliens’ own technology.
Despite its efforts, though, some nations lost trust in the Project, and chose instead to surrender to and collaborate with the aliens. Seven months after the initial assault, the situation had deteriorated even further, with the promise of open war between the remaining UN nations and this ‘ADVENT Coalition’ on the horizon. After being subjected to a direct assault from the aliens, proving its secrecy had been compromised, XCOM was shuttered, and its resources divided up among the extant nations fighting ADVENT.
Most of its resources.
Some members of XCOM, including its commander and several veteran operatives, chose instead to go AWOL, seizing a specialized aircraft and considerable prototype weapons and armor to continue fighting the aliens with hit-and-run tactics and focused strikes.
Though constantly struggling to maintain resources and combat readiness, this renegade force ultimately outlasted the remaining nations of the Earth. Soon, the entire world had fallen to the ADVENT Coalition, which promptly began to erect pristine, tightly controlled cities and exert control on humanity–except for those who fled their control and attempted to exist in the wilderness and ruined landscape beyond the cities. XCOM continued its fight, shifting from defenders to resistance fighters, trying to slow ADVENT’s oppressive control at every turn and protect those who would strive to live outside the aliens’ influence.
It hasn’t been an easy fight, and every day brings the threat of final defeat, when XCOM will no longer be able to continue, but for almost twenty long years they have persisted. Now, a new opportunity is about to land in XCOM’s lap which might finally give them the tools necessary to fight the aliens on more equal footing. To seize this chance, XCOM will have to go all in, risking everything to unite the fractured Resistance and finally bring the fight to ADVENT.
This is one of three parallel stories that act as a sequel to XCOM: Falls the Shadow. This story focuses on the lives of those who continue the fight against the aliens, whether they are survivors from the original XCOM Project, or new recruits to its fight.
Hosted and narrated by:
JPL (Prester)
Started 01/28/24.
Scenes played: 2
License: Community License
