NOTE: Spoilers for Hades Contingency will be unmarked.
NOTE: All the tropes below relating to Hades Contingency apply only to its revised edition; any tropes related to the following books reference the old edition, as they are yet to be revised.
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Organization Tropes
- Reassigned to Antarctica: Subverted; the Bastion is commonly regarded within EXALT as an unpleasant assignment, but it is still one of their most crucial bases of operations, so much so that sufficiently devoted members actually volunteer to serve there.
Leadership
Kazuhiro Muto
Kazuhiro Muto, Director of EXALT
The reclusive Director of EXALT and head of the Muto Family of Japan, housed in their private island off the coast of Japan.-
God-Created Canon Foreigner: He was introduced with the 2022 Edition of Hades Contingency, supplanting Saudia as the EXALT Director. - Greater-Scope Villain: As the ultimate authority within EXALT, all of their activities over the course of the story are traced back to him in some way.
- Simple, yet Opulent: Muto's personal tastes are described as subtler, and his personal philosophy is not one of openly flaunting his wealth. That said, his estate is still noticeably sleek and refined, as befitting a man of his position.
Elizabeth Falka
Elizabeth Falka
The head of the Falka Family (and subsequently, of all European operations), as well as EXALT's director of intelligence.- Early-Bird Cameo: She shows up in Chapter 30 of Hades Contingency as Chancellor Habicht's nameless "aide".
- Complexity Addiction: Possibly accused of this by Director Muto in Hades Contingency's epilogue, unfavorably bringing up her penchant for "sophisticated plots".
- The Spymaster: She's this for EXALT, and later ADVENT following its formal establishment. At least until she's replaced by Powell.
- You Have Failed Me: On the receiving end of a downplayed example: Director Muto removes her from command over EXALT's operations in Europe after her gross misunderestimation of the Commander.
The Chancellor (SPOILERS)
Chancellor Ahren Habicht
One of EXALT's most highly placed people within Europe, Ahren Habicht was Germany's Minister of Defense when XCOM came to him, unaware of his true allegiance. After the alien attack on Hamburg, he took advantage of XCOM's Hades Contingency, manipulating his way into becoming the new Chancellor, and later becoming the overseer of all European operations.- Affably Evil: Downplayed, in the sense that he's always cordial and respectful (to a degree) with the Commander, even after revealing his EXALT affiliations.
- The Chessmaster: Manipulated the events of the Hades Contingency to his advantage, removing the entire German cabinet and any other potential opponents and clearing the way for him to become Chancellor.
- Eyepatch of Power: Gets one over his right eye after the execution of the Hades Contingency.
- The Heavy: For EXALT in Hades Contingency; while he's not exactly heading a Core Family, he's the most prominent member through the story.
- Hyper-Competent Sidekick: A downplayed example, but in Hades Contingency, he is this to Elizabeth; unlike her, he actually sees the Commander as the very plausible threat to EXALT he is, and tries to mitigate it without resorting to force or intimidation. Though ultimately unsuccessful in the latter, his actions and judgement are enough for Director Muto to place him in charge of European operations, effectively supplanting Elizabeth.
- The Unfettered: Comes with the job; he ascended to Chancellor by having the entire cabinet of Germany killed off in a False Flag Attack.
Matthew Solaris
Matthew Solaris
The head of the Solaris Family, and the overseer of all EXALT operations in North America. In public, he is known as the CEO of the arms company known as Solaris Industries.- Arms Dealer: His public identity, as CEO of Solaris Industries. He also funds several private military outfits, one of which assists with the protests in Germany.
- The Ghost: Mentioned a few times over the course of Hades Contingency, but doesn't ever show up in person. That said, he does show up properly in Atlas Protocol.
The Bastion
Saudia Vyandar
Saudia Vyandar
An EXALT agent stationed at the Bastion, EXALT's Antarctica-based branch. A devoted follower of EXALT's mission, she is given the mission of countering XCOM and the Commander's intervention in EXALT operations. The Chronicler
The Chronicler
One of EXALT's most closely guarded secrets, known only to the upper leadership of the Core Families: an enhanced human psion who has been alive for centuries, and served EXALT for nearly as long.- Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep": While he can be assumed to have a proper name, everyone seems content to call him by his title.
- Godzilla Threshold: The Core Families have pledged to never employ him unless humanity faced extinction, which is how they appear to view the alien invasion.
- Really 700 Years Old: He's been alive for centuries; Muto explicitly implies he predates EXALT's foundation.
EXALT Agents
Adelae Hall
Adelae Hall
The American Secretary of Defense.- We Hardly Knew Ye: She kills herself in the same chapter where she first appears at Habicht's command.
Yaroslav Sushko
Yaroslav Sushko
Deputy Commander of the Wagner Group.- We Hardly Knew Ye: Like Hall, she kills herself in the same chapter she's introduced in.
Sebastian Chambers
Sebastian Chambers
The United Kingdom's Shadow Secretary of Labor. Gianna Herring
Gianna Herring
An EXALT infiltrator working as a mole within XCOM Engineering- A Death in the Limelight: She's introduced as a POV character in the same scene where she dies, to showcase XCOM's purge of all EXALT moles.
- We Hardly Knew Ye
