Editing Xam

{{separate continuity|universe=TOS|cont=Dynamite Entertainment}}

{{Character Data
| title=Xam
| photo=BSGv2 - Xam - Issue 9.png
| caption=Xam as depicted in {{comics|vol2|9}}.
| photo 2=BSGv2 - Xam - Issue 6.png
| caption 2=Xam as depicted in {{comics|vol2|6}}.
| seenref=
| rank=Flight Engineer
| role=Engineer and Colonial Reservist, ''{{alt|Galactica|TOS}}''
}}

'''Xam''' is {{alt|Starbuck|TOS}}'s flight engineer aboard ''{{alt|Galactica|TOS}}''.

Starbuck credits Xam with continually repairing and maintaining his {{alt|Viper|TOS}}, regardless of what Starbuck's subjects the craft to. In return, Starbuck trains Xam on his [[laser pistol]] marksmanship ({{comics|vol2|6}}).

== Psionic Awakening ==
In {{Alt|7351}}, following the return from a recon patrol into an [[storm zone|unnamed quantum storm zone]], Starbuck's Viper is charged with high-stating [[energon]] fields&mdash;otherwise known as [[void lightning]]&mdash;and Xam is struck. Unbeknownst to anyone at that time, this activates and enhances latent [[psionic]] abilities to those of a [[delta-class telepath]] ({{comics|vol2|6}} & {{comics|vol2|9|short=y}}, {{comics|doa|1}}).

Xam rectifies the power-dead issues in the launch bays, which had been caused by the discharge of void lightning from [[Red Flight]]'s Vipers ({{comics|vol2|6}}).

Xam's recurring dreams of {{alt|Earth|TOS}} are able to manifest, affecting a great many people in the Fleet due to the energies of the Storm Zone, which some (including {{alt|Adama|TOS}}) believe without question ({{comics|vol2|7}} &mdash; {{comics|vol2|9|short=y}}).

After entering the Storm Zone and scanning a [[mysterious artifact]], {{alt|Athena|TOS}} directs {{alt|Apollo|TOS}} and Starbuck to Xam's [[hab-unit]], #13. It is there that they discover Xam's psionic potential, and he is remanded to the evaluation under Doctor {{alt|Salik}}. 

Xam, uncertain about what is real, uses his psionic powers to ward off a pursuing Cylon task force by projecting an overwhelming force of {{alt|battlestar|TOS}}s within the storm. The Cylons retreat, but Xam's mind is burned out in the process, which affects Starbuck greatly ({{comics|vol2|9}}). 

For the next seven [[yahren]], Xam receives daily visitations by Starbuck, but remains in a vegetative state, kept alive only by life-supporting equipment under the ministrations of Doctor {{Alt|Salik|TOS-DE}} ({{comics|doa|1}}). 

{{Clear}}

== Divinity and the Death of a Hero ==
[[File:BSG - Death of Apollo - Xam in Tube.png|alt=Xam with his touch pad, through which he communicates from his altered, near-vegetative state (Battlestar Galactica: Death of Apollo #2).|thumb|[[Xam]] with his touch pad, through which he communicates from his altered, near-vegetative state ({{comics|doa|2}}).]]
Unbeknownst to [[The Fleet (TOS-DE alternate)|the Fleet]], Xam's telepathy allows Countess [[Sephoni]] aboard the lost ''[[Taurella]]'' to hone in on the Fleet, despite not being able to fully catch up to the convoy. In turn, Xam is able to hone in on Sephoni in {{Alt|7358}} and divines ''Taurella''<nowiki/>'s coordinates, recording them on a touch-screen digital pad in his tube, thus allowing Major {{Alt|Apollo|TOS-DE}} to lead a flight to investigate and confirm ''Taurella''<nowiki/>'s existence, reuniting the ship and her crew with the Fleet ({{comics|doa|1}}). 

After Sephoni's divination of Earth's location, a recon flight lead by Major Apollo happens upon a dead moon, and [[Encounter of the Super Basestar|the first encounter]] with a [[super basestar]] and its swarms of {{Alt|Raider|TOS-DE|Raiders}} ({{comics|doa|2}}). Despite all long-range scanner evidence to the contrary, Xam's divinity gives hope to Starbuck, Athena, and other pilots who [[Rescue of Apollo|mount a rescue for Apollo]] against Commander {{Alt|Adama|TOS-DE}}'s standing orders ({{comics|doa|3}} &mdash; {{comics|doa|4|short=y}}). 

After the super basestar [[Ambush by the Super Basestar|launches its ambush of the Fleet]], Apollo's fate is inexorably locked: he successfully destroys the super basestar, but is destroyed in the resulting massive detonation. Xam records this passing from his near-comatose state by repeatedly tapping out the word "GONE" on his touchpad ({{comics|doa|6}}). 

== Notes ==

* As with most characters introduced in {{comics|vol2|6}}, Xam's depiction changes between illustrators. In {{comics|vol2|6|short=y}}, he is introduced as a bald man with facial hair and side burns. In a later appearance starting in {{comics|vol2|8|short=y}}, he is depicted as a man with a full head of hair and a mustache.

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