Xavier Protocols

The Xavier Protocols are a fictional set of doomsday plans in the Marvel Universe created by Charles Xavier, leader of the X-Men. The Protocols detail the best way to kill many powerful mutants, including the X-Men and Xavier himself, should they become too large a danger.

Appearances

The Xavier Protocols are first mentioned during the "Onslaught" crossover and first seen in "Excalibur" #100 in Moira MacTaggert's lab. Charles Xavier compiled a list of the Earth's most powerful mutants and plans on how to defeat them if they become a threat to the world. They are first used after Onslaught grows too powerful. Only parts of the actual Protocols are ever shown, detailing how to stop Wolverine, Cable, and Xavier himself.

In the "" crossover, Bastion obtains an encrypted copy of the Protocols in "X-Men" (vol. 2) #65, intending to use them against the X-Men. However, in "Cable" (vol. 2) #46-47, Cable infiltrates the X-Mansion and secures all encrypted files before Bastion has a chance to decrypt them.

Due to the tampering of Bastion and his Sentinels, the X-Mansion computer system Cerebro gains autonomy and seeks to destroy the X-Men by employing its knowledge of the Xavier Protocols. In a virtual environment created by Professor X in "X-Men" (vol. 2) #84, Cerebro executes the Xavier Protocols against the X-Men.

Details

As revealed in "Excalibur" #100 each Protocol is activated by the presence of a different combination of X-Men and were written by Xavier himself :

* Code 0-0-0 (Charles Xavier): Actually this file is both an entry on Charles Xavier, as well as an introduction to the Xavier Protocols. It contained a holographic image of Charles Xavier, reading the following message: "Moira, Scott, Jean; if you three are seeing these images, then I have become a mortal threat to my X-Men. In this instance, I must be stopped by any means necessary. Some years ago, I made a study of various forms of possible defense against my own psychic abilities. The image next to me is that of an anti-psionic armor. The wearer should be protected from my talent. When I finish speaking, a blueprint for this armor will download." (Activated by Moira MacTaggert, Cyclops and Jean Grey)

* Code 0-2-1 (Wolverine): "Since the loss of his adamantium, Wolverine has become both more and less of a threat. He is divested of his unbreakable skeleton - but his senses and his mutant healing factor have been increased to incredible levels. What would have been a lethal wound to Wolverine three years ago would now be a momentary annoyance. Any assault on Wolverine, in the event of his sanity breaking, would have to be long-range and decisive. His head would have to be severed, and removed utterly from the vicinity of his body to prevent swift flesh and nerve regrowth." (Activated by Archangel, Cyclops and Jean Grey)

* Code 1-3-9 (Cable): "Cable is a powerful telepath and telekinetic. But a large part of his telekinetic ability is, at any given time, tied up in controlling his techno-organic disease. Attacks on Cable should make full use of this weakness, with the preferred result of the disease devouring his brain and major internal organs." (Activated by Cyclops, Jean Grey and Cannonball)

Other X-Men who face their Xavier Protocols in "X-Men" (vol. 2) #84 are Colossus, Rogue, Shadowcat, Nightcrawler, Storm and Gambit.

Bibliography

* "Excalibur" (Vol. 1) #100
* "X-Men" (Vol. 2) #65
* "Uncanny X-Men" #335
* "X-Men" (Vol. 2) #84

In other media

In the game "X-Men Legends", the Xavier Protocols served a different function. Here, they contained detailed information on the names, powers, and locations of all known mutants.