It's abstracted. each facility represents a number of field operative. the planet the facility is built on represents their home town. that make it easier?
I also have had CI block an attack when it did NOT have any points going towards it. I intentionally put a project that was more than I was producing in a turn in front of my CI project, and CI still stopped the attack because of the accumulated amount. This makes more sence anyway than having to HAVE to complete any other projects in front in order for it to work. Test it out for yourself Fyron. you'll see.
(will make you a happy camper 4 sure)
now if I could just figure out how much CI I have accumulated then I would be estactic.