R.C.X.
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The Resources Control Executive (R.C.X.) is a fictional British intelligence agency in the Marvel Comics universe. It first appeared in Captain Britain (series 2) #1 and was created by writer Jamie Delano and artist/writer Alan Davis.
[edit] Fictional history
The British intelligence agency for the investigation of paranormal and superhuman activity, known as S.T.R.I.K.E., is infiltrated by a criminal organisation and nearly all of its members are killed. The weakened S.T.R.I.K.E. is unable to deal with the consequences of the Jaspers' Warp and is disbanded. The Resources Control Executive (R.C.X.) is created to take its place. The members of the R.C.X. use codenames based on biblical figures to hide their true identity. The R.C.X.'s leaders are codenamed Gabriel (formerly a S.T.R.I.K.E.-agent codenamed Matthew) and Michael.
The R.C.X. immediately takes interest in the large amount of children in Great Britain born with superhuman abilities and calls them the Warpies. During the gathering of these children, R.C.X.-agent Joshua N'Dingi is accidentally injured by one of them. Gabriel manages to save his life using cybernetics and experimental surgical methods, but Joshua leaves the R.C.X. and returns to his home country of Mbangawi in East Africa, where he becomes its ruler using the name Doctor Crocodile. The other Warpies are rounded up, but the R.C.X. find out that the Minister of Defence, Nigel Orpington-Smythe, wants to turn the Warpies into an army of superhuman beings. They decide that the Warpies need a powerful protector. They find their protector when Scotland Yard inspector Dai Thomas informs the R.C.X. that he believes that British superhero Captain Britain's alter ego is Brian Braddock. The R.C.X. tell Thomas that he must be mistaken, but use his information to contact Captain UK and with her help infiltrate Brian Braddock's home, Braddock Manor. They ask Brian for help, but he disagrees with them. Their argument is interrupted when several unstable Warpies, known as the Cherubim, escape and attack Braddock Manor. Brian, his sister Elisabeth and his friend Meggan defeat the Warpies and decide to help the R.C.X., offering to house the R.C.X. and the Warpies at Braddock Manor. Soon afterwards Brian gets into an argument with the R.C.X. and he and Meggan leave the Manor, while Elisabeth and the Manor's intelligent computer Mastermind take the side of the R.C.X. The R.C.X. convince Elisabeth to take up the mantle of Captain Britain, but her tenure as Captain Britain is shortlived; she is seriously injured by Slaymaster. Brian saves her life and returns as Captain Britain, while Gabriel temporarily leaves the R.C.X. to care for Elisabeth. The Warpies and the R.C.X. remain at Braddock Manor for the time being. (Captain Britain 2nd series #1-14)
Some time later, agents of Nigel Orpington-Smythe place a bomb at Braddock Manor, disabling the Mastermind and kidnap the Warpies and R.C.X.-agents. The R.C.X.-agents are put into suspended animation, while Nigel Orpington-Smythe becomes the new director of R.C.X., using the codename Peter. This new R.C.X. is more covert and the Weird Happenings Organisation (W.H.O.) is created to take the R.C.X.'s former place. Due to events in Excalibur, the Warpies are slowly turning into normal humans. Peter thinks that this is an attack by an outside source and wants to prevent this. He frames W.H.O.-commandant Alysande Stuart for a crime she didn't commit, so that the R.C.X. can take over the W.H.O. He also tries to enlist the help of the superhero group Excalibur, telling them that the Warpies are dying of a mysterious disease. Excalibur finds out the truth though and with the help of most of the Warpies they defeat Peter and his troops. They free the original R.C.X.-members who explain that the Warpies are turning human and offer to care for the Warpies during the process. (Excalibur #62-65)
The R.C.X. is disbanded shortly afterwards and most members are recruited by Black Air, a new intelligence agency shortly afterwards. Black Air experiments upon the Warpies and manage to halt their transformation into humans. Several members of the former R.C.X. appeared at Brian Braddock and Meggan's wedding.
[edit] Other intelligence agencies
- See also: List of government agencies in comics
