The Thanatos Contingency

**The Thanatos Contingency** is the contingency created by the Commander that details what XCOM Soldiers should do when facing groups that are either hostile, unable to be determined as friendly, or held hostage by a hostile force.

## Preface

In the event that the population of an area is:

1. Unable to be determined as friendly.
2. Held hostage by a hostile force
3. Actively working against the interests of XCOM or the Council.
4. Suspected of harboring hostile forces.

XCOM personnel are authorized to exercise lethal force against any person or persons in the area. This includes, but is not limited to:

1. Alien military forces
2. Alien infiltrators
3. Military forces including, but not limited to:
	1. The United States Armed Forces
	2. The Russian Armed Forces
	3. The People's Liberation Army
	4. The British Armed Forces
	5. NATO
4. Local law enforcement and rescue personnel
5. Government officials
6. Foreign dignitaries
7. General civilian population

*Note 1:* Please note that the authorization to exercise lethal force does *not* mean that it is the first solution. Alien forces are to be shot on sight. That is not true for the human population at large.

*Note 2:* All scenarios listed assume the activation of the Thanatos Contingency.

## Scenario 1: Military Forces

In the event that XCOM forces encounter a different military force and cannot determine their allegiance:

1. The Squad Overseer must open negotiations with the opposing commanding officer
2. If negotiations succeed, XCOM is authorized to assist the opposing military
3. If negotiations fail, XCOM forces are authorized to eliminate any force oppoising their objective.
4. If negotiations neither succeed nor fail, XCOM forces are ordered to proceed with the current objective. If the opposing military interveens, XCOM forces are authorized to eliminate them.

## Scenario 2: Law Enforcement and Rescue Personnel

In the event that XCOM forces encounter local law enforcement and rescue personnel:

1. The Squad Overseer must open negotiations with opposing law enforcement forces and deliver a warning not to interfere.
2. If law enforement cooperates, proceed with the current objective.
3. If law enforcement refuses to cooperate, XCOM forces are authorized to eliminate them.
4. Rescue personnel encountered are to be told to evacuate the area
5. If they leave to find shelter, do not interfere.
6. If they do not cooperate, XCOM forces are ordered to incapacitate them as quickly as possible to lower possible civilian casualties.
7. If rescue personnel attempt to attack or wound XCOM forces, XCOM forces are authorized to execute them.

## Scenario 3: Government Officials and Foreign Dignitaries

In the event that XCOM forces encounter government officials or foreign dignitaries:

1. XCOM forces must deliver one warning to the officials or dignitaries to leave and not interfere.
2. If they cooperate, proceed with the current objective.
3. If they resist or refuse to cooperate, XCOM forces are authorized to incapacitate them.
4. If they become openly hostile, XCOM forces are authorized to execute them.
5. The Squad Overseer is authorized to incapacitate or detain any government official or foreign dignitary acting in a suspicious manner. If the suspected individual attempts to flee or attack, XCOM forces are authorized to execute the individual or bring them in for interrogation.

## Scenario 4: Civilians

In the event that XCOM forces encounter civilians:

1. XCOM forces must deliver one warning to the civilians in question to leave and not interfere.
2. If they cooperate, proceed with the current objective.
3. If they refuse or resist, XCOM forces are authorized to incapacitate them.
4. If they become openly hostile, XCOM forces are authorized to execute them.
5. The Squad Overseer is authorized to incapacitate or detain any civilian acting in a suspicious manner. If the suspected individual attempts to flee or attack, XCOM forces are authorized to execute the individual or bring them in for interrogation.

## Hostage Situations

### Held by Aliens

In the event that hostages are held by a hostile alien force:

1. Do not attempt negotiations. Due to the limited knowledge XCOM has on the aliens and their telepathic abilities, attempted communication is forbidden due to the possibility of mind alteration or control.
2. Civilians are not a priority. Because of previous alien incursions during which humans were abducted en masse and due to the aliens having access to advanced technology, XCOM cannot guarantee that the hostages have not been modified or experimented upon in any way and cannot risk XCOM forces falling to trapped hostages. Possible risks of hostage rescue from alien forces is as follows:
	1. The hostage is a host for an alien contagion.
	2. The hostage has technology implanted for reconnaissance or suicide bombing that XCOM is unable to detect.
	3. The hostage's mind has been modified by alien telepaths and may become hostile once inside an XCOM "safe zone."
	4. The hostage is a willing participant and may turn on XCOM despite showing no signs of modification or tampering.
3. In the event that the hostages of a hostile alien force are still alive afterwards, they are to be treated in the same way as hostile civilians and are to be incapacitated as soon as possible, restrained, and brought to the Citadel for screening and interrogation. Captured hostages are to be kept unconscious and secured at all times.
4. If former hostages show any sign of aggression or hostility, XCOM forces are ordered to execute them immediately.

### Held by Humans

In the event that hostages are held by a hostile human force:

1. The Squad Overseer must open negotiations with the hostile force commander. The negotiator may attempt to negotiate for the lives of the hostages, but is not authorized to agree to any demands without the approval of the Commander.
	1. If the Commander is unavailable, Central Officer John Bradford will be the one to give approval.
	2. If the Commander and Central Officer John Bradford are unavailable, the Head of XCOM Research and Development, Dr. Moira Vahlen will be the one to give approval

## Unedited Source

This is the source document used for creating this page. It is unedited, save for collapsing it in order to save space.

The Thanatos Contingency

In the event that the population of an area is:

a. Unable to be determined as friendly.

b. Held hostage by a hostile force.

c. Actively working against the interests of XCOM or the Council.

d. Suspected of harboring hostile forces

XCOM personnel are authorized to exercise lethal force against any person or persons in the area. This includes, but is not limited to:

1. Alien military forces

2. Alien infiltrators

3. Military forces including, but not limited to:

-a. The United States Armed Forces

-b. The Russian Armed Forces

-c. The People's Liberation Army

-d. The British Armed Forces

-e. NATO

4. Local law enforcement and rescue personnel.

5. Government officials

6. Foreign dignitaries

7. General civilian population

XCOM MILITARY FORCES: Please note that the authorization to exercise lethal force does *not* mean that is the first solution. Alien forces are to be shot on sight. That is not true for the human population at large. Also note that the following statements assume the activation of the Thanatos Contingency.

**A**. In the event that XCOM forces encounter a different military force and cannot determine their allegiance:

-1. The Squad Overseer must open negotiations with the opposing commanding officer.

-2. If negotiations succeed, XCOM is authorized to assist the opposing military.

-3. If negotiations fail, XCOM forces are authorized to eliminate any force opposing their objective.

-4. If negotiation nether succeed nor fail, XCOM forces are ordered to proceed with the current objective. If the opposing military intervenes, XCOM forces are authorized to eliminate them.

**B**. In the event that XCOM forces encounter local law enforcement and rescue personnel:

-1. The Squad Overseer must open negotiations with opposing law enforcement forces and deliver a warning not to interfere.

-2. If law enforcement cooperates, proceed with the current objective.

-3. If law enforcement refuses to cooperate, XCOM forces are authorized to eliminate them.

-4. Rescue personnel encountered are to be told to evacuate the area.

-5. If they leave to find shelter, do not interfere.

-6. If they do not cooperate, XCOM forces are ordered to incapacitate them as quickly as possible to lower possible civilian casualties.

-7. If rescue personnel attempt to attack or wound XCOM forces, XCOM forces are authorized to execute them.

**C**. In the event that XCOM forces encounter government officials or foreign dignitaries:

-1. XCOM forces must deliver one warning to the officials or dignitaries to leave and not interfere.

-2. If they cooperate, proceed with the current objective.

-3. If they resist or refuse to cooperate, XCOM forces are ordered to incapacitate them.

-4. If they become openly hostile, XCOM forces are authorized to execute them.

-5. The Squad Overseer is authorized to incapacitate or detain any government official or foreign dignitary acting in a suspicious manner. If the suspected individual attempts to flee or attack, XCOM forces are authorized to execute the individual or bring them in for interrogation.

**D**. In the event that XCOM forces encounter civilians:

-1. XCOM forces must deliver one warning to the civilians in question to leave and not interfere.

-2. If they cooperate, proceed with the current objective.

-3. If they resist or refuse to cooperate, XCOM forces are ordered to incapacitate them.

-4. If they become openly hostile, XCOM forces are authorized to execute them.

-5. The Squad Overseer is authorized to incapacitate or detain any civilian acting in a suspicious manner. If the suspected individual attempts to flee or attack, XCOM forces are authorized to execute the individual or bring them in for interrogation.

**Notice 1**: HOSTAGE SITUATION 1: In the event that hostages are held by a hostile alien force:

1. Do not attempt negotiations. Due to the limited knowledge XCOM has on the aliens and their telepathic abilities, attempted communication is forbidden due to the possibility of mind alteration or control.

2. Civilians are not a priority. Because of previous alien incursions during which humans were abducted en masse and due to the aliens having access to advanced technology, XCOM cannot guarantee that the hostages have not been modified or experimented upon in any way and cannot risk XCOM forces falling to trapped hostages. Possible risks of hostage rescue from alien forces is as follows:

-a. The hostage is a host for an alien contagion

-b. The hostage has technology implanted for reconnaissance or suicide bombing that XCOM is unable to detect.

-c. The hostage's mind has been modified by alien telepaths and may become hostile once inside an XCOM "safe zone."

-d. The hostage is a willing participant and may turn on XCOM despite showing no signs of modification or tampering

3. In the event that the hostages of a hostile alien force are still alive afterwards, they are to be treated in the same way as hostile civilians and are to be incapacitated as soon as possible, restrained, and brought to the Citadel for screening and interrogation. Captured hostages are to be kept unconscious and secured at all times.

4. If former hostages show any sign of aggression or hostility, XCOM forces are ordered to execute them immediately.

**Notice 2**: HOSTAGE SITUATION 2: In the event that hostages are held by a hostile human force:

1. The Squad Overseer must open negotiations with the hostile force commander. The negotiator may attempt to negotiate for the lives of the hostages, but is not authorized to agree to any demands without the approval of the Commander.

-a. If the Commander is unavailable, Central Officer John Bradford will be the one to give approval.

-b. If the Commander and Central Officer John Bradford are unavailable, the Head of XCOM Research and Development, Dr. Moira Vahlen will be the one to give approval.

-c. If the Commander, John Bradford and Moira Vahlen are unavailable, the Head of XCOM Engineering, Dr. Raymond Shen will be the one to give approval.

-d. If no member of the Internal Council is able to be reached, the Squad Overseer is to break off negotiations and proceed to Notice 2: Step 3.

2. If the hostage situation is resolved peacefully, XCOM forces are to immediately extract the hostages and ensure their safety. Once the hostages are secure, XCOM forces have authorization to execute the hostile human force.

-Note: This decision is left to the discretion of the Squad Overseer.

-Note 2: The Commander has the authority to override the Squad Overseer's decision.

3. If the hostage situation is not, or is unable to be resolved peacefully, XCOM forces are to eliminate the hostile human force by any means necessary. Hostages are not a priority. Once the enemy force has been destroyed, any surviving hostages are to be secured and returned to the Citadel for debriefing.

4. If any rescued hostages show any sign of aggression or hostility, XCOM forces are ordered to incapacitate the former hostage and return them to the Citadel for interrogation.

**Notice 3**: XCOM RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: Members of the XCOM Research and Development team are not authorized to enact the Thanatos Contingency under any circumstances. All requests will be ignored and dismissed.

-Exception 1: In the event that the Commander and Central Officer John Bradford are unavailable, incapacitated or dead, Dr. Moira Vahlen is authorized to enact the Thanatos Contingency.

**Notice 4:** XCOM ENGINEERING: Members of the XCOM Research and Development team are not authorized to enact the Thanatos Contingency under any circumstances. All requests will be ignored and dismissed.

-Exception 1: In the event that the Commander, Central Officer John Bradford and Dr. Moira Vahlen are unavailable, incapacitated or dead, Dr. Raymond Shen is authorized to enact the Thanatos Contingency.

**Notice 5:** XCOM ANALYSIS AND COMMUNICATION: Members of the XCOM Analysis and Communication team are not authorized to enact the Thanatos Contingency. All requests must be made to Central Officer John Bradford who will pass the request to the Commander.

-Exception 1: In the event that the Commander is unavailable, incapacitated or dead, Central Officer John Bradford is authorized to enact the Thanatos Contingency.

**Notice 6:** XCOM MILITARY FORCES: Soldiers in the XCOM Military Forces are not authorized to enact the Thanatos Contingency. Requests must be made to the Squad Overseer who will pass them to Citadel Command.

-Exception 1: Squad Overseers are authorized to enact the Thanatos Contingency with approval from Citadel Command.

-1. If the Squad Overseer is incapacitated or dead, the soldier of the next highest seniority will have authorization to enact the Thanatos Contingency with approval from Citadel Command.

-2. If the Squad Overseer is incapacitated or dead, and there are two or more soldiers of the same seniority, the soldier with most completed missions will have authorization to enact the Thanatos Contingency with approval from Citadel Command.

**Notice 7**: RESERVATION 1: Please note that this contingency may be updated in the future to adapt to the evolving alien threat and political climate.

**Notice 8:** RESERVATION 2: The Commander has the authorization to enact the Thanatos Contingency when none of the factors have been met and has the approval of 75% of the Internal Council. **(SUB-SECTION RESTRICTED TO INTERNAL COUNCIL)**

**Notice 9:** HOSTAGE SITUATION RETALIATION: In the event that a hostile human force takes hostages and impedes the current goals and objectives of XCOM, certain levels of retaliation will occur depending on the following factors:

1. If the hostile force is identified to be the military of a non-Council member, XCOM will enact the Zeus Contingency on the nation's capital.

2. If the hostile force is not affiliated with any country, XCOM will ensure that no surviving member of the group remains alive.

3. If the hostile force is identified to be the military of a Council Member, the Hades Contingency will immediately go into effect.

**(SUB-SECTION RESTRICTED TO INTERNAL COUNCIL)**

5. Government officials

6. Foreign dignitaries

7. General civilian population

XCOM MILITARY FORCES: Please note that the authorization to exercise lethal force does *not* mean that is the first solution. Alien forces are to be shot on sight. That is not true for the human population at large. Also note that the following statements assume the activation of the Thanatos Contingency.

**A**. In the event that XCOM forces encounter a different military force and cannot determine their allegiance:

-1. The Squad Overseer must open negotiations with the opposing commanding officer.

-2. If negotiations succeed, XCOM is authorized to assist the opposing military.

-3. If negotiations fail, XCOM forces are authorized to eliminate any force opposing their objective.

-4. If negotiation nether succeed nor fail, XCOM forces are ordered to proceed with the current objective. If the opposing military intervenes, XCOM forces are authorized to eliminate them.

**B**. In the event that XCOM forces encounter local law enforcement and rescue personnel:

-1. The Squad Overseer must open negotiations with opposing law enforcement forces and deliver a warning not to interfere.

-2. If law enforcement cooperates, proceed with the current objective.

-3. If law enforcement refuses to cooperate, XCOM forces are authorized to eliminate them.

-4. Rescue personnel encountered are to be told to evacuate the area.

-5. If they leave to find shelter, do not interfere.

-6. If they do not cooperate, XCOM forces are ordered to incapacitate them as quickly as possible to lower possible civilian casualties.

-7. If rescue personnel attempt to attack or wound XCOM forces, XCOM forces are authorized to execute them.

**C**. In the event that XCOM forces encounter government officials or foreign dignitaries:

-1. XCOM forces must deliver one warning to the officials or dignitaries to leave and not interfere.

-2. If they cooperate, proceed with the current objective.

-3. If they resist or refuse to cooperate, XCOM forces are ordered to incapacitate them.

-4. If they become openly hostile, XCOM forces are authorized to execute them.

-5. The Squad Overseer is authorized to incapacitate or detain any government official or foreign dignitary acting in a suspicious manner. If the suspected individual attempts to flee or attack, XCOM forces are authorized to execute the individual or bring them in for interrogation.

**D**. In the event that XCOM forces encounter civilians:

-1. XCOM forces must deliver one warning to the civilians in question to leave and not interfere.

-2. If they cooperate, proceed with the current objective.

-3. If they resist or refuse to cooperate, XCOM forces are ordered to incapacitate them.

-4. If they become openly hostile, XCOM forces are authorized to execute them.

-5. The Squad Overseer is authorized to incapacitate or detain any civilian acting in a suspicious manner. If the suspected individual attempts to flee or attack, XCOM forces are authorized to execute the individual or bring them in for interrogation.

**Notice 1**: HOSTAGE SITUATION 1: In the event that hostages are held by a hostile alien force:

1. Do not attempt negotiations. Due to the limited knowledge XCOM has on the aliens and their telepathic abilities, attempted communication is forbidden due to the possibility of mind alteration or control.

2. Civilians are not a priority. Because of previous alien incursions during which humans were abducted en masse and due to the aliens having access to advanced technology, XCOM cannot guarantee that the hostages have not been modified or experimented upon in any way and cannot risk XCOM forces falling to trapped hostages. Possible risks of hostage rescue from alien forces is as follows:

-a. The hostage is a host for an alien contagion

-b. The hostage has technology implanted for reconnaissance or suicide bombing that XCOM is unable to detect.

-c. The hostage's mind has been modified by alien telepaths and may become hostile once inside an XCOM "safe zone."

-d. The hostage is a willing participant and may turn on XCOM despite showing no signs of modification or tampering

3. In the event that the hostages of a hostile alien force are still alive afterwards, they are to be treated in the same way as hostile civilians and are to be incapacitated as soon as possible, restrained, and brought to the Citadel for screening and interrogation. Captured hostages are to be kept unconscious and secured at all times.

4. If former hostages show any sign of aggression or hostility, XCOM forces are ordered to execute them immediately.

**Notice 2**: HOSTAGE SITUATION 2: In the event that hostages are held by a hostile human force:

1. The Squad Overseer must open negotiations with the hostile force commander. The negotiator may attempt to negotiate for the lives of the hostages, but is not authorized to agree to any demands without the approval of the Commander.

-a. If the Commander is unavailable, Central Officer John Bradford will be the one to give approval.

-b. If the Commander and Central Officer John Bradford are unavailable, the Head of XCOM Research and Development, Dr. Moira Vahlen will be the one to give approval.

-c. If the Commander, John Bradford and Moira Vahlen are unavailable, the Head of XCOM Engineering, Dr. Raymond Shen will be the one to give approval.

-d. If no member of the Internal Council is able to be reached, the Squad Overseer is to break off negotiations and proceed to Notice 2: Step 3.

2. If the hostage situation is resolved peacefully, XCOM forces are to immediately extract the hostages and ensure their safety. Once the hostages are secure, XCOM forces have authorization to execute the hostile human force.

-Note: This decision is left to the discretion of the Squad Overseer.

-Note 2: The Commander has the authority to override the Squad Overseer's decision.

3. If the hostage situation is not, or is unable to be resolved peacefully, XCOM forces are to eliminate the hostile human force by any means necessary. Hostages are not a priority. Once the enemy force has been destroyed, any surviving hostages are to be secured and returned to the Citadel for debriefing.

4. If any rescued hostages show any sign of aggression or hostility, XCOM forces are ordered to incapacitate the former hostage and return them to the Citadel for interrogation.

**Notice 3**: XCOM RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: Members of the XCOM Research and Development team are not authorized to enact the Thanatos Contingency under any circumstances. All requests will be ignored and dismissed.

-Exception 1: In the event that the Commander and Central Officer John Bradford are unavailable, incapacitated or dead, Dr. Moira Vahlen is authorized to enact the Thanatos Contingency.

**Notice 4:** XCOM ENGINEERING: Members of the XCOM Research and Development team are not authorized to enact the Thanatos Contingency under any circumstances. All requests will be ignored and dismissed.

-Exception 1: In the event that the Commander, Central Officer John Bradford and Dr. Moira Vahlen are unavailable, incapacitated or dead, Dr. Raymond Shen is authorized to enact the Thanatos Contingency.

**Notice 5:** XCOM ANALYSIS AND COMMUNICATION: Members of the XCOM Analysis and Communication team are not authorized to enact the Thanatos Contingency. All requests must be made to Central Officer John Bradford who will pass the request to the Commander.

-Exception 1: In the event that the Commander is unavailable, incapacitated or dead, Central Officer John Bradford is authorized to enact the Thanatos Contingency.

**Notice 6:** XCOM MILITARY FORCES: Soldiers in the XCOM Military Forces are not authorized to enact the Thanatos Contingency. Requests must be made to the Squad Overseer who will pass them to Citadel Command.

-Exception 1: Squad Overseers are authorized to enact the Thanatos Contingency with approval from Citadel Command.

-1. If the Squad Overseer is incapacitated or dead, the soldier of the next highest seniority will have authorization to enact the Thanatos Contingency with approval from Citadel Command.

-2. If the Squad Overseer is incapacitated or dead, and there are two or more soldiers of the same seniority, the soldier with most completed missions will have authorization to enact the Thanatos Contingency with approval from Citadel Command.

**Notice 7**: RESERVATION 1: Please note that this contingency may be updated in the future to adapt to the evolving alien threat and political climate.

**Notice 8:** RESERVATION 2: The Commander has the authorization to enact the Thanatos Contingency when none of the factors have been met and has the approval of 75% of the Internal Council. **(SUB-SECTION RESTRICTED TO INTERNAL COUNCIL)**

**Notice 9:** HOSTAGE SITUATION RETALIATION: In the event that a hostile human force takes hostages and impedes the current goals and objectives of XCOM, certain levels of retaliation will occur depending on the following factors:

1. If the hostile force is identified to be the military of a non-Council member, XCOM will enact the Zeus Contingency on the nation's capital.

2. If the hostile force is not affiliated with any country, XCOM will ensure that no surviving member of the group remains alive.

3. If the hostile force is identified to be the military of a Council Member, the Hades Contingency will immediately go into effect.

(SUB-SECTION RESTRICTED TO INTERNAL COUNCIL)