Here's the situation, right now.

• At this very minute, my researchers are interrogating the Outsider I just captured.

• My troops are walking around in a mismash of Carapace and entry level body armor. A couple have laser rifles. Everyone else has standard starting gear.

• There are exactly two satellites orbiting the earth right now, and my interceptors haven't been upgraded...ever.

• Japan has already left the project, and China and India aren't far behind. I have $20 remaining and 18 days left this month.

• I'm playing on Normal. It's May 25.

I don't know anything about XCOM. Have I fallen deeply behind the [research/weapon/finance] curve here or is this normal at this point in the game?

And if it's not normal, is there an accepted starting build priority order that I should stick with?