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| {{SFI}} | | {{SFI}} |
| | As a department of [[StarFleet Intelligence]], '''StarBase 118 Intelligence''' operates to serve the interests of defending the United Federation of Planet's interests. |
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| There are three distinct areas within the scope of the SB118 history that define both the growth period, what can be looked at as both the apex and deconstruction of, followed by the analysis of SFI today.
| | ==History== |
| | The Intelligence department has long been critical to the mission of StarBase 118, since her first years, considering her [[:Image:Starbase118-map.jpg|pivotal location]] at the crux of the [[Romulan]], [[Klingon]], and [[ma:United Federation of Planets|Federation]] territories. Despite the unremitting hostility between these three powers, a permanent intelligence outpost in the crux location was not founded until [[History of StarBase 118|StarBase 118's construction in 2321]]. Led by Director Terrance Ford, the small department on the frontier outpost flourished. Romulan missions took priority, as the [[ma:Khitomer Accords|Khitomer Accords]] had quelled most aggression between the Federation and Klingons, while the Romulans remained an enigma. |
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| ==Formation Years==
| | With the construction of the second StarBase 118 (and the subsequent destruction of the original outpost), and the new addition of a monitor fleet, the Intelligence department was expanded onto numerous vessels. A particularly fertile period of Intelligence activity began with the addition of [[Wolf, Tristan|Tristan Wolf]] to StarBase 118's executive staff, as he redefined the mission of Intelligence. |
| Admiral [[Wolf, Tristan | Tristan Wolf]] led the development and rise of SFI through SB118 and the USS Phoenix-B during its mission years. This would branch out with the launching of the Fleet, which in the beginning consisted of the [[USS Alliance]], the [[USS Isannah]] and the [[USS Centris]]. The commanding officers of the ships, [[Elinor of Kanist]], [[Relic, Douglas | Doug Relic]] to name a few, generally oversaw Intelligence aboard their respective ships, along with some of the early Fleet Captains. Intelligence Agents were more common at the time between the Flag Officer and their crews.
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| == The Black Tower ==
| | 2375 saw the destruction of the second StarBase 118 by [[Kalendra]], and the construction of a new base through 2376. Intelligence garnered a vote of confidence with the dedication of the [[StarBase 118 Black Tower|Black Tower]] to their cause. Presently, the StarBase 118 Department is referred to by the aforementioned name of their headquarters, "The Black Tower." |
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| The Black Tower legacy perhaps is the best well known, as it is an adjunct of SB118 Ops and has been redesigned by the multiple contributions of the station’s commanding officers. At one time, however, beginning in 2377, the Black Tower operated as a sim group in its infancy. The core years of that particular time period wouldn’t happen until 2379 where Commander [[Rourke, Michael | Michael Rourke]] commanded as Director up to 2380, when as a sim group, the Tower was disbanded. | | ===The Black Tower=== |
| | : ''See also: [[StarBase 118 Black Tower]]'' |
| | The legacy of StarBase 118 Intelligence is most well known since the foundation of the department as the Black Tower. Nonetheless, to the general inhabitants of StarBase 118, and indeed to the vast multitude of StarFleet officers, the drama and intrigue that has plagued this department has been well concealed behind the Intel veil. As an adjunct of StarBase 118 Ops, it's mission has changed often since the beginning of the Black Tower era with the contribution of multiple, and seemingly ever-changing station Commanding Officers. |
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| The Black Tower today serves with [[Starbase 118]] under the command of Captain [[Drawoh, Rocar | Rocar]], although he himself doesn’t necessarily have access. It is believed the Black Tower hasn’t officially been used since 2382, but the Captain’s Council and Executive Council may know differently.
| | Although much less is known about StarBase 118's Intelligence department since the beginning of the Black Tower era, the names of each Director are public knowledge. Commander [[Rourke, Michael|Michael Rourke]] served as Director from 2379 to 2380, with Commander Brynn Wellesley following through 2382. Commander Alicia Armstrong remains the CO of Black Tower through present day, serving under the command of Captain [[Drawoh, Rocar|Rocar Drawoh]], Ops CO. |
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| The following is the organizational structure of how the Black Tower was originally designed.
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| ===Missions===
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| Starfleet Intelligence missions can be categorized into six major divisions:
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| '''Counter-Intelligence'''
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| Counter Intelligence duties within SFI are primarily directed at identifying intelligence activity targeting the Federation. This not only includes operations undertaken by hostile governmental agencies such as the Tal Shiar and the Obsidian Order. It also deals with threats from independent organizations such as the Orion Syndicate or the Maquis.
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| Counter Intelligence operations involve identifying possible hostile activity and taking preventative action to impede their operations. This could require uncovering long term operatives, taking proactive measures to stop planed operations or in extreme cases require Counter Terrorism teams being employed to resolve any urgent situations.
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| '''Deception & Disinformation'''
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| Generally these types of mission require careful and subtle planning. The aim is to impart information into the enemies' hands, which they believe viable. This may require 'sting' operations to be carried out. Often this is done to divert intelligence-gathering operations away from vital Federation interests or to disguise ongoing SFI operations.
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| '''Extraction'''
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| There are two types of extraction mission:
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| * Extraction of a friendly target. Typically this involves recovering undercover agents that have completed a mission; rescuing agents that have be compromised or assisting possible defectors.
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| * Extraction of an unfriendly target: At times it may be necessary to obtain key enemy personnel to acquire their technical knowledge or strategic information.
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| '''Infiltration & Undercover Missions'''
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| Many SFI missions require the operative(s) to covertly infiltrate a target organization. This can be done in many ways such as in a cloaked ship, traveling in disguise or using some other subterfuge. Once successfully in place the operative(s) must complete their assigned mission and withdraw safely.
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| '''Reconnaissance & Surveillance'''
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| Intelligence information is collected in the following methods:
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| * Intercepting subspace transmissions from listening posts along the Federation border and analyzing such transmissions and/or sending such transmissions to Starfleet Intelligence Headquarters for analysis
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| * Researching data archives
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| * Conducting field investigations and covert/overt strategic operations including infiltration, counterespionage, search and seizures.
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| '''Investigations'''
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| Occasionally SFI investigates incidents that they consider could have some intelligence impact. Either through the involvement by outside agencies or other Nonaligned groups.
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| ===Divisions===
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| | ==Divisions== |
| Sector 118 Intelligence is composed of three major branches and within these branches exist different subdivisions: | | Sector 118 Intelligence is composed of three major branches and within these branches exist different subdivisions: |
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| '''Command'''
| | ===Command=== |
| | | The main administration of the sector intelligence, this is headed up by the Director, Deputy Director, and any adjunct administrative officers. Command oversees all intelligence operations in the sector and designates missions for agents assigned to Black Tower and those assigned in the field. |
| The main administration of the sector intelligence, it is headed up by the Director, Deputy Director, and any adjunct administrative officers. Command oversees all intelligence operations in the sector and designates missions for agents assigned to Black Tower and those assigned in the field. However, intel command does not have direct authority over the agents whose duty station is aboard an installation within UFOP. Agents assigned to those duty stations are only required to provide reports to intel command. | |
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| '''Tower Ops'''
| | It should be noted that any administrative and clerical personnel employed in the Black Tower fall directly under Command authority. |
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| This branch’s activities are widely more connected with intel. Tower ops carry out most of the active operations for Sector 118 Intelligence and answers directly to the intel command. It is led by a team leader, but all agents in this division are capable in executing independent missions. Assignments of Tower Ops agents are usually mission related. Agent trainees are prepared in this branch until they are ready for either the command or field branch.
| | ===Tower Ops=== |
| | Tower Ops personnel are intelligence officers who report directly to the Command department. Tower Ops carry out the active operations for Sector 118 Intelligence. All agents in this division are capable of executing independent missions, within the jurisdiction of the chain of command. Agent trainees are prepared in this branch until they are ready for either the command or field branch. |
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| '''Field'''
| | ===Field=== |
| | | The field division of intel agents is composed of agents who are assigned to duty posts on vessels or StarBase 118 outposts (such as [[Duronis II Embassy]]). These agents are under the direct authority of the Commanding Officer of their duty post, but report back to StarBase 118 Intel's Command branch frequently. Assignments are given at the discretion of their Commanding Officer, and the Black Tower rarely has any jurisdiction over these missions, although a specific CO and the Black Tower Command may cooperate when necessary. Nonetheless, a Commanding Officer may not order agents aboard their ships to "spy" on Black Tower, just as the Black Tower does not have the ability to order an agent to "spy" on a Commanding Officer. |
| The field division of intel are composed of agents who are sent on extensive away missions. Most are assigned to Black Tower, but agents may be assigned somewhere else. Those agents are required to report to intel command frequently, they are under the direct authority of the Commanding Officers of their respective duty stations. Intel command can only assigned these agents their duty stations, not specific missions. The field agents’ assignments aboard their installations are to the Commanding Officer’s discretion. However, the Commanding Officer cannot order agents aboard their ships to “spy” on Black Tower, just as Black Tower cannot do also. | |
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| ===Agent Trainee Program=== | | ===Agent Trainee Program=== |
| | Upon graduation at [[ma:Starfleet Academy|StarFleet Academy]], agents who are assigned to the Black Tower enter the Agent Trainee Program. Recruits then begin a new period of training in either the Command, Tower Ops, or Field departments within a specific specialty. |
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| At this point in time, there was a separate training program for members of the UFOP in good standing on their respective ships and had been active for at least half a year. The program was similar to the Cadet Training Program, with two notable exceptions: first being a long training duration and second recruits were required to remain with the Tower Ops Branch of the Black Tower.
| | [[Category:StarBase 118 Intelligence|*]] |
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| Recruits were either assigned in Command, Missions Ops, or Field and allowed for two character specialties among the following:
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| * Communications
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| * Crypto/Intelligence Analysis
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| * Infiltration
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| * Linguistics
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| * Security
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| * Counseling
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| * Engineering
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| * Insertion/Extraction
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| * Ops
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| * Science
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| * Other (please specify)
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| Additionally, recruits were required to submit two different SIMs. The reason behind this was to emphasize the importance of prospective Intel trainees to handle plots with balance and as much “realism” as possible.
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| ==Comparison==
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| In review, a large portion was dedicated to what’s defined now as Field Operations, which the bulk of the mission departments can be assigned to. Equating information also equally falls into Director of Intelligence, which in this case, the information contained within the Tower structure was more flushed out.
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| They have different names, but we can apply the same principles of how Starfleet Intelligence works today as it did prior. Field Operations here had a greater emphasis, Tower Ops (which is technically classified as Analyst) isn’t persay a training ground anymore as it’s a vital component of any intelligence agency, and Command, which does have its own chain structure.
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| ==The Core Issue==
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| The principles behind the Tower when it was an active sim were actually well designed. Some, if not most, can be applied to how Starfleet Intelligence works today, five years later.
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| The right kind of simmer is able to play an Intelligence Officer without circumventing the Flag Officer’s ship chain of command and can be both a team player and contributor. However, when improperly played, Intelligence Agents have shown historically to ignore chain of command and instead operate the Black Tower as a completely separate entity they answer to first and only, which in actuality, was never supported by the core mission statement.
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| There was a mandate that specified that SFI can and does operate independently of the SB118 Fleet, however, that is the fundamental difference of what Starfleet Intelligence was at one point.
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| It does not operate with that mandate today.
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| [[Category:Intelligence]] | |
| [[Category:SB118 Starfleet Intelligence]]
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