The Extraterrestrial Combat Unit, or X-Com for short, is a top-secret military organization dedicated to protecting humanity from alien invasion. The X-Com is crewed by the most capable soldiers, xeno scientists and engineers from around the world and has access to the most advanced technologies known to man (alien technology included). They have served in at least four alien conflicts, including the three Alien Wars and an encounter with the iconic Sectoids prior to the Third Alien War.