A Brief History
XSWAT was created in 2093 after an incident which devastated a great deal of the city and created Omega Sector. This event was named the Van Goren Incursion—a great deal of deaths and property damage occurred, so much so that the city council ultimately agreed to fund a special division to handle special circumstances that the normal police units were ill-equipped to deal with.
As Angelus grew, the city attracted more and more unusual denizens—espers, magicians, cyborgs, clades, pirates, and more. XSWAT was deemed to be the best answer, especially as programs were developed to recruit unusual agents of their own to even the balance. Special protocols and gear was developed to assist XSWAT in protecting the island. Thanks to the Treaty of 2088 (see below), XSWAT swiftly became the closest equivalent to a standing military force on Angelus.
Purpose
The public stated purpose of XSWAT is to defend Angelus and enforce the rule of law. Left unsaid is that XSWAT's higher calling is to keep the citizens of Angelus safe from unusual enemies like cyborgs, power armored pirates, and Entities. The existence of the Entities alone is a good reason to have XSWAT around, and many XSWAT officers consider dealing with Entities the highest priority. This attitude is not universal—some officers have a particular threat they consider to be the most pressing, while others focus on "to serve and protect."
Important Personnel
Director Alice Cadbury: No one single person has put more effort and passion into XSWAT than Alice Cadbury. Cadbury has no records of ever serving in any official capacity—but rumors of all kinds circulate as to how she achieved her position as head of the elite organization. Cadbury spends a great deal of time convincing doubters that XSWAT is needed now more than ever as well as soothing ruffled feathers from civilian contractors, normal police, and foreign ambassadors or dignitaries who may have encountered some of the more unusual XSWAT officers. Thanks to Cadbury, XSWAT has the autonomy and funding it needs to remain effective.
Captain Alexander Richards: Alex Richards is a powerful esper and among the most experienced XSWAT officers on the force. Around since the initial formation of XSWAT, Richards has seen and dealt with nearly every possible situation that crops up in this unusual city. Rather than leaving him jaded, his tenure within the department has made him more protective of the officers under his command—sometimes to the point where he'll intervene using his abilities even when it is unwise to do so. Richards is devotedly loyal to Cadbury, but of late, he has begun to question his dedication to a city where espers like himself are not considered trustworthy.
Standing
XSWAT is seen by most citizens of Angelus as an extension of the normal police—an "elite" force to handle unusual crime and criminals. Therefore, the average citizen considers XSWAT "pretty cool" but also "kinda weird." Media coverage generally portrays XSWAT in a positive light (unless a personal agenda is involved or a major screwup occurs), and politicians are generally favorable towards XSWAT Officers. Normal police, firefighters, and other civil servants have a somewhat lower opinion, mostly due to the fact that XSWAT creates a LOT of work for them and seems to "get away with anything."
Authority
In Angelus, the head of state is the city's Coordinator, David Hunter. Below the Coordinator, elected City Council representatives debate issues and implement directives. The City Council holds great political power and acts as a balance to the Coordinator and the High Justices (Angelus' version of the Supreme Court).
The XSWAT chain of command begins below the City Council level—Director Cadbury sits on the Council as a non-voting member.
As mentioned elsewhere, XSWAT Officers have authority over all other civil agencies within Angelus (with the exception of direct agents of the Council or Coordinator).
Jurisdiction
XSWAT's jurisdiction extends to the entire city of Angelus and to a distance of 10 nautical miles around the city's physical boundaries. In addition, XSWAT may operate throughout the Pacific Ocean in cooperation with INTERPOL. However, XSWAT must respect national borders of any sovereign nation.
The Treaty of 2088
Angelus is wealthy in many resources—heavy industrial complexes, high technology research and development, advanced megacorporations, and a large concentration of sorcerers, espers, cyborgs, and clades. Such a prize is too valuable to the world at large to become a bargaining chip in any territorial dispute, or so the United Nations decreed under the terms of the Treaty of 2088. The Treaty stipulates that Angelus is a sovereign city-state, but places strict limits on Angelus' civil defense. No standing military force is allowed to exist under the terms of the treaty, although there are gaps in the treaty's language that allow for an extremely well-armed and well-equipped police force. The Treaty of 2088 effectively bars Angelus from forming its own army and restricts the city to hiring mercenaries or relying on its police forces for protection and defense.
The Van Goren Incursion
On October 31st, 2092, a major Entity incursion was detected in Kappa Sector, a residential area formerly known as a peaceful region within the city. The origin of the incursion is believed to be Dominic Van Goren, a powerful sorcerer and resident of the sector. The epicenter of the incursion was first detected at Van Goren's home and expanded outward at an alarming rate. Evacuation procedures were initiated, but civilian casualties were high. XSWAT and the normal police coordinated in a large-scale operation to seal off Kappa Sector and keep the incursion contained. Although all the major Entities involved in the incursion were destroyed, many lower-level Entities remain within the boundaries. The region was reclassified as a no-go restricted area and designated Omega Sector. The public story is that a low-yield nuclear device was detonated, making the region dangerously radioactive and poisonous to human life.
Omega Sector
Formerly Kappa Sector, Omega Sector was overrun during the Van Goren Incursion and has since been sealed off with high concrete walls and automated defenses. Inside the Omega Sector, the buildings and businesses seem empty and silent. A large number of Class 1 and Class 2 Entities make their homes here and wander about searching for any intruders. Satellite imagery allows XSWAT to update maps of the area, but such maps are notoriously inaccurate—the alleys and buildings within Omega Sector have a regrettable tendency to change when no one is looking. XSWAT have posted warnings everywhere (mostly radiation warning Trefoils) and have guard patrols. In spite of these efforts, occasionally someone will manage to get inside. So far, no one has ever returned after setting foot inside Omega Sector.
Internal Affairs
XSWAT is far more concerned with results than regulations due to the special nature of its duties. Nevertheless, its officers have a wide variety of unusual abilities and skills—therefore, XSWAT keeps a close watch on itself. The Internal Affairs Division of XSWAT is a small but well-funded department that keeps an eye on every precinct and squad in the city. Under the provisions of the Treaty of 2088, any internal investigations and trials are conducted according to military structure and are, in fact, court-martials. Only the most serious problems reach this level, however—XSWAT IAD attempts to remain invisible to the average officer and saves the greater efforts for "bigger fish."