The Hephaestus Contingency

**The Hephaestus Contingency** is one of several contingencies written by The Commander. This one specifically deals with what to do in the event that XCOM's current main base of operations is exposed for various reasons.

## Overview

In the event that the current main base of XCOM operations is compromised as a result of:

1. Mishandling of information
2. Enemy intelligence operative
3. Traitorous or disillusioned XCOM personnel
4. Torture of XCOM personnel by hostile forces
5. Psionic interrogation of XCOM personnel by hostile psions

Preparations will be made to transfer the main operations of XCOM to a pre-determined location not compromised by hostile forces. The location will be determined by the Internal Council, with limited involvement from various branches of XCOM, including but not limited to:

1. XCOM Intelligence
2. XCOM Analysis and Communucations
3. XCOM Engineering
4. XCOM Research and Development

*Note 1:* 'Compromised' is defined as follows:

1. Knowledge of the current base is known by hostile forces and countries
2. Knowledge of the current base is known by neutral forces and countries
3. Knowledge of the current base is known by an unknown number of organizations
4. The current base has suffered one or more attacks from hostile forces
5. Non-critical allies have knowledge of base location and activities

## Specifications and Requirements

The requirements for the new base location in question are defined as follows:

### Size

The absolute size of the base shall not be lesser than the previous location and must contain:

1. A hangar which allows vertical access outside
2. Module sizes large enough to be converted into barracks or personnel quarters, with at least a capacity of 1,000 personnel
3. Modules allowing integration of heavy machinery, medical and specialized scientific equipment.

### Location

The location must not be known to any outside organizations, governments or agencies without the express permission of the Commander of XCOM. Should another party learn of the location of the new base, it will be officially compromised and a new location will have to be determined.

*Note:* If a suitable base is not able to be found, it may be construced with the assistance of close allies to specifications overseen by Head Engineer Raymond Shen.

### Technical Integration and Communication

The base must be able to interface with current XCOM technology, with room to improve in the future. It must also be able to communicate to any location in the world with satellite and antenna access. Failure to achieve any of the requirements above disqualifies said location from contention.

## Phase 1: Preparation and Transfer of Resources and Personnel

Once the location to enact the Hephaestus Contingency is chosen, the following will be executed:

1. A skeleton crew will be assigned to prepare the new base, chosen from within various XCOM branches (Excluding XCOM Armed Forces), specific personnel chosen by Head Scientist Moira Vahlen and Head Engineer Raymond Shen.
2. Once the location has been prepared by the skeleton crew, specialized equipment will be ordered and sent for installation, which will commence immediately upon arrival.
3. A pre-determined amount of XCOM physical resources will be transferred as a contingency in the event of an unexpected attack or sabotage by hostile forces. The amount will be decided by the Internal Council, as well as if the transfer will be one-time, or recurring.
4. At the discretion of the Commander, personnel may be recruited specifically for the base in order to assist in its preparation and usage.

## Phase 2: Execution of Contingency

Upon the execution of the Hephaestus Contingency, the following will be executed:

1. All non-combat personnel will be transferred in their entirety to the new base, via skyranger and immediately begin work on current projects and experiments.
2. All test subjects will be restrained or subdued in order to safely transport them. Upon arrival, they will be unloaded and placed in the appropriate locations for further experimentation.
3. The Internal Council will relocate in their entirety to the new base and resume operations immediately.
4. XCOM Armed Forces will be systematically relocated to the new base, with some remaining behind to retain control at the discretion of the Commander. This applies to MEC, genetically modified, and psionic soliders.
5. All remaining resources will be transferred in their entirety to the new base, as well as any equipment that was unable to be installed prior to the execution of the Hephaestus Contingency.

## Phase 3: Determination of Previous Headquarters

Upon successful transfer of all relevant XCOM personnel to the new base, it will then be determined what to do with the previous base via the following options:

1. In the event that the previous base is in allied territory, the previous will be overseen by XCOM and utilized as a forward base, working in conjunction with allied military forces.
	1. In the event that XCOM is unable to maintain oversight of the previous base, it shall be turned over to the allied government in question.
2. In the event that the previous base is in neutral territory, XCOM will maintain a small garrison of soldiers and itilize the previous base as a forward outpost against any hostile forces. The previous base may also be converted to an intelligence outpost, research station, or engineering workshop at the discretion of the Internal Council.
3. In the event that the previous base is in hostile territory, XCOM will abandon the base and sabotage it to prevent any further usage. Options may include destroying it entirely, bugging it, or utilizing additional forms of surveillance.

## Security and Transfer of Information

Upon establishment within the new base, the following standards will be recognized:

1. The location of the new base will not be shared with any country, organization, or agency regardless of affiliation without the express permission of the Council.
2. Airspace around the base is under strict control, and any unauthorized aircraft in the area are to be shot down regardless of affiliation.
3. All visitors to the new base require screening and blood testing to ensure health, species, and motive. Psionic interrogation will be implemented if necessary.
4. All laws, customs, and cultures of the country the base resides in are now null and void within XCOM-controlled territory, and XCOM has authorization to take action according to established XCOM guidelines.
5. Transfer of information will be heavily monitored, and restricted at the discretion of the Central Officer of XCOM Analysis and Communications.

## Trivia

* This contingency was revealed in chapter 43 of The Atlas Protocol.
* The Hephaestus Contingency draws its name from the Greek god Hephaestus, who was the god of blacksmiths, metalworking, carpenters, craftsmen, artisans, sculptors, metallurgy, fire, and volcanoes.

## Unedited Source

This is the Hephaestus Contingency taken directly from the fanfiction itself, just collapsed in order to save space.

The Hephaestus Contingency

(RESTRICTED TO INTERNAL COUNCIL)

OVERVIEW: In the event that the current main base of XCOM operations is compromised as a result of:

1. Mishandling of information

2. Enemy intelligence operatives

3. Traitorous or disillusioned XCOM personnel

4. Torture of XCOM personnel by hostile forces

4. Psionic interrogation of XCOM personnel by hostile psions

Preparations will be made to transfer the main operations of XCOM to a pre-determined location not compromised by hostile forces. The location will be determined by the Internal Council, with limited involvement from various branches of XCOM, including but not limited to:

1. XCOM Intelligence

2. XCOM Analysis and Communications

3. XCOM Engineering

4. XCOM Research and Development

*Note 1:* 'Compromised' is defined as follows:

1. Knowledge of the current base is known by hostile forces and countries

2. Knowledge of the current base is known by neutral forces and countries

3. Knowledge of the current base is known by an unknown number of organizations

4. The current base has suffered one or more attacks from hostile forces

5. Non-critical allies have knowledge of base location and activities

SPECIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS: The requirements for the new base location in question are defined as follows:

SIZE: The absolute size of the base shall not be lesser than the previous location and must containing:

1. A Hangar which allows vertical access outside

2. Module sizes large enough to be converted into barracks or personnel quarters, with at least a capacity of 1000 personnel

3. Modules allowing integration of heavy machinery, medical and specialized scientific equipment

LOCATION: The location must not be known to any outside organizations, governments or agencies without the express permission of the Commander of XCOM. Should another party learn of the location of the new base, it will be officially compromised and a new location will have to be determined.

*Note:* If a suitable base is not able to be found, it may be constructed with the assistance of close allies to specifications overseen by Head Engineer Raymond Shen.

TECHNICAL INTEGRATION AND COMMUNICATION: The base must be able to interface with current XCOM technology, with room to improve in the future. It must also be able to communicate to any location in the world with satellite and antenna access. Failure to achieve any of the requirements stated above disqualifies said location from contention.

PHASE 1: PREPARATION AND TRANSFER OF RESOURCES AND PERSONNEL: Once the location to enact the Hephaestus Contingency is chosen, the following will be executed.

1. A skeleton crew will be assigned to prepare the new base, chosen from within various XCOM branches (Excluding XCOM Armed Forces), specific personnel chosen by Head Scientist Moira Vahlen and Head Engineer Raymond Shen.

2. Once the location has been prepared by the skeleton crew, specialized equipment will be ordered and sent for installation, which will commence immediately upon arrival.

3. A pre-determined amount of XCOM physical resources will be transferred as a contingency in the event of an unexpected attack or sabotage by hostile forces. The amount will be decided by the Internal Council, as well as if the transfer will be one-time, or recurring.

4. At the discretion of the Commander, personnel may be recruited specifically for the base in order to assist in its preparation and usage.

PHASE 2: EXECUTION OF CONTINGENCY: Upon the execution of the Hephaestus Contingency, the following will be executed:

1. All non-combat personnel will be transferred in their entirety to the new base, via skyranger and immediately begin continuing work on current projects and experiments.

2. All test subjects will be restrained or subdued in order to safely transport them. Upon arrival they will be unloaded and placed in the appropriate locations for further experimentation.

3. The Internal Council will relocate in their entirety to the new base and resume operations immediately.

4. XCOM Armed Forces will be systematically relocated to the new base, with some remaining behind to retain control at the discretion of the Commander. This applies to MEC, genetically modified and psionic soldiers.

5. All remaining resources will be transferred in their entirety to the new base, as well as any equipment that was unable to be installed prior to the execution of the Hephaestus Contingency.

PHASE 3: DETERMINATION OF PREVIOUS HEADQUARTERS: Upon successful transfer of all relevant XCOM personnel to the new base, it will then be determined what to do with the previous base via the following options:

1. In the event that the previous base is in allied territory, the previous base will be overseen by XCOM and utilized as a forward base, working in conjunction with allied military forces.

1.1. In the event that XCOM is unable to maintain oversight of the previous base, it shall be turned over to the allied government in question.

2. In the event that the previous base is in neutral territory, XCOM will maintain a small garrison of soldiers and utilize the previous base as a forward outpost against any hostile forces. The previous base may also be converted to an intelligence outpost, research station or engineering workshop at the discretion of the Internal Council.

3. In the event that the previous base is in hostile territory, XCOM will abandon the base and sabotage it to prevent any further usage. Options may include destroying it entirely, bugging it, or utilizing additional forms of surveillance.

SECURITY AND TRANSFER OF INFORMATION: Upon establishment within the new base, the following standards will be recognized:

1. The location of the new base will not be shared with any country, organization or agency regardless of affiliation without the express permission of the Council.

2. Airspace around the base is under strict control, and any unauthorized aircraft in the area are to be shot down regardless of affiliation.

3. All visitors to the new base require screening and blood testing to ensure health, species, and motive. Psionic interrogation will be implemented if necessary.

4. All laws, customs and cultures of the country the base resides in are now null and void within XCOM-controlled territory, and XCOM has authorization to take action according to established XCOM guidelines.

5. Transfer of information will be heavily monitored, and restricted at the discretion of Central Officer Jackson of XCOM Analysis and Communications.