Cory Powell, one of XCOM's strongest psionic soldiers, sacrificed himself to end the Ethereal invasion. While humanity celebrated the end of the war and mourned for the fallen, the Volunteer was left to his thoughts in the endless void created by the Temple Ship's destruction. It wasn't long before fate found him again in the form of a new world, virtually untouched by the horrors of war. The Ethereals, however, aren't done with humanity or the Volunteer, and they will stop at nothing to either assimilate or destroy mankind and the races of Equis.

(Inspired by Arad's absolutely amazing story, Stardust.)