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CODEX

Galactic Intelligence Services

Office of Naval Intelligence

The intelligence service of Humanity (more commonly known as ONI). Overtly, the agency is merely the information gathering and analysis division of the UNSC Naval Command. In reality, the operations of the Office of Naval Intelligence are far broader than simple intelligence gathering.

ONI has become known for their preeminent role in the acquisition and leveraging of military intelligence. The agency is widely known for using subterfuge, deception, and manipulation in defence of UNSC interests in order to accomplish its goals.

Following the First Contact War, there have been a number of incidents with ONI between the Spectres, STG, the Shadow Broker, and the Yahg Secret Service, throughout Council Space, the Terminus Systems, and the Attican Traverse. These incidents are too minor to start a war, but still serious enough to strain diplomatic relations between all the major galactic powers.

Role and Operations

Not much is known about the Office of Naval Intelligence, but we do know that it is responsible for UNSC signals intelligence (SIGINT), Human intelligence (HUMINT), counter-espionage, propaganda, and top-secret research and development programs. The agency mostly operates independently of other UNSC branches, and at times it contravenes the law and UNSC protocol to complete top-secret missions. ONI's Commander-in-Chief (CINCONI) is Admiral Serin Osman, successor and protégé to the late Margaret Parangosky, deceased as of 2560.

As it is responsible for intelligence matters across the UNSC, ONI employs members of other military branches, and even civilians, to complete the division's shadowy work. Many of its functions and subdivisions are enigmatic, and its personnel are mistrusted and regarded as mysteries by mainstream naval officers.

ONI is technically subordinate to the UNSC Naval Command. In practice, however, ONI's activities extend far beyond intelligence gathering, and often receive mandates and directives from HIGHCOM itself. It is also not unheard of for ONI to operate without HIGHCOM's knowledge or official authorization; indeed, it is suspected by the Spectres and STG that ONI is the real power behind the UNSC, and even the Unified Earth Government as a whole.

ONI has an unusually large amount of military equipment for an intelligence service, and has a strong fleet presence; their fleet is known as the Prowler Corps, and is responsible for intelligence gathering, behind-enemy-lines infiltration and exfiltration.

Prowlers

The prowler is a variety of stealth-capable corvettes within the UNSC Navy. Most prowlers are crewed by Office of Naval Intelligence personnel serving under the Prowler Corps, with only a few ships operated by FLEETCOM.

Not much is known about the prowlers, their numbers and capabilities are a mystery to the Spectres and STG, but it is known that they can not only hide their heat signature from sensors, but also have a form of active camouflage which can fool the naked eye. How this is done is unknown, and attempts by the Spectres and STG to capture prowlers have been unsuccessful, so far. It is also known that a UNSC battlegroup has at least one prowler assigned to its ranks; the combat role of such prowlers, besides active combat monitoring and recording, is to discreetly lay cloaked fields of HORNET nuclear mines in orbital regions.

Spectres (Special Tactics and Reconnaissance)

Spectres are agents entrusted with extraordinary authority by the Citadel Council, including the power of life and death over the inhabitants of the galaxy. They form an elite group selected from a number of different species, and their primary responsibility is to preserve galactic stability by whatever means necessary. Though they are generally considered as being above the law and have complete discretion as to the methods used to accomplish their mission, an individual's status as a Spectre can be revoked by the Council in a case of gross misconduct. Spectres work either alone or in small groups according to the nature of a particular task and to their personal preference.

Background

The Special Tactics and Reconnaissance branch was founded in 693 CE, shortly before the Krogan Rebellions began, at a time when the Council was uneasy about the unchecked expansion of the Krogan into Citadel space. The Spectres were chosen from the finest Salarian Special Tasks Group operatives and Asari huntresses, intended to function partly in an observational capacity, but also as the Council's first line of defence.

When the Krogan finally turned against the Citadel, the Spectres were ready for them, using guerrilla tactics such as computer viruses and devastating sabotage to slow the krogan down before the Turians joined the conflict. For years the activities of the Spectres were a Council secret, but their role was made public after the Krogan Rebellions were over.

All records of the Spectres are sealed and only granted access with permission of the Council. It is not even clear how many there are; the Council has been reluctant to give the public a general number for security reasons, but it is widely believed that there are hundreds. It should be noted, however, that since the beginning of the Cold War with the Yahg Empire, the Council has doubled, perhaps even tripled, the number of Spectres. Each Spectre is hand-picked by the Council after proving that they are an individual of exceptional ability and self-reliance.

In theory, Spectres can be chosen from any race; in practice they are usually selected from the Council races. Having a Spectre chosen from their kind often raises a particular species' profile on the Citadel. Many alien races have been part of the Citadel for centuries without a Spectre being chosen from their ranks, although, Batarians have been accepted within the Spectres' ranks, as the Batarian Hegemony has been growing in favour with the Citadel Council in the last five centuries, as their colonies in the Attican Traverse has provided a significant buffer between Inner Council Space, and the Yahg Empire.

Organization

Spectres have no command structure. They answer only to the Council, and in some cases the Council prefers not to know the exact details of how a Spectre accomplishes their mission. Spectres act in any way they see fit, either with careful diplomacy or ruthless force, being officially above any law. Some people see Spectres as a potential risk because they are not constrained by the law, while others are in awe of them. The assignment of a Spectre is often less contentious than a military deployment, but shows that the Council is aware of a situation.

Candidates for the Spectres typically have years of military or law enforcement experience before even being considered. The screening process involves background checks, psychological evaluations, and a long period of field training under an experienced mentor. Because of the rigorous selection process, Spectres might sometimes use unorthodox methods but they rarely go rogue. When it does happen, the only solution is to revoke their status, then send another Spectre after them. No one else would be up to the job.

The Spectres were modelled upon the Salarian STG; granted paralegal authority instead of subordinate to common law, declared exempt from oversight instead of based within a command structure, and selected in recognition of a history of superior capability instead of trained. The STG is fully funded by the Salarian government, however, as opposed to the financial independence expected of Spectres.

Spectres are stripped of their status once they are declared legally deceased. They have to be reinstated in once proof of living (e.g. appearing in person and passing biometric checks) is presented.

STG

Salarian intelligence field agents are grouped into an organization called the Special Tasks Group. STG operators work in independent cells, performing dangerous missions such as counter-terrorism, infiltration, reconnaissance, assassination, and sabotage.

The STG is a proactive organization, puncturing worrisome trends before they become movements. At any time, a dozen groups are operating covertly within the lawless Terminus Systems, sowing dissent among the various factions. Civilian analysts also note how troublesome "hinge point" individuals in Terminus frequently meet unexpected deaths.

STG operators are feared throughout the galaxy for their clear-eyed, remorseless practicality. They are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their mission, even if it kills civilians or results in the team's own destruction. In many ways, they are akin to the Council Spectres.

Many STG cells have also been deployed to the Attican Traverse in response to Yahg incursions; despite their status as the preeminent intelligence organization in the galaxy, the STG has failed to produce accurate intel concerning the Yahg, a source of great shame for them. However, they do suspect that the Yahg have continued to expand their territory in the 500 years of their first encounter with the Citadel Council; projections state that if the Yahg's territory, population and military assets continue to grow unabated, they will soon overcome the Citadel Council within the next fifteen-hundred years.

Attempts by the STG to gather intel on the UNSC, such as the location of Earth and the Colonies, as well as acquire their unique technology, has also met with failure, and has resulted in a number of harsh retaliations by ONI.

Yahg Secret Service

An espionage organization of the Yahg Empire which provides services to the Imperial Military, the Lord of warriors, and the Emperor. The YSS focused of issues regarding the Imperial Navy such as threat reports, analysis, managing assets who gathered information, and providing briefing to the Lord of Warriors and the Emperor.

The Yahg Secret Service possesses a small fleet of corvettes, which is used to gather intelligence on enemy colonies, fleet movements, and to insert Special Operatives behind-enemy-lines and exfiltrate them once their mission is complete.

Shadow Broker

The Shadow Broker is an individual at the head of an expansive organization which trades in information, always selling to the highest bidder. The Shadow Broker appears to be highly competent at its trade: all secrets that are bought and sold never allow one customer of the Broker to gain a significant advantage, forcing the customers to continue trading information to avoid becoming disadvantaged, allowing the Broker to remain in business.

Unfortunately for the Shadow Broker, attempts to gain information on the Yahg Empire and the UNSC has resulted in the deaths of many of his operatives; this has led to a "Shadow-War" as ONI and YSS has attempted to dismantle the Shadow Broker's organizations piece by piece.

Author's Note

So, here are the big cheeses who operate in the shadows. Naturally, I couldn't provide every piece of available knowledge, as the Yahg, Humans, and Shadow Broker are careful to keep their secrets.

The Yahg are, what I'd like to think of, as the Citadel Council's "Covenant", just as relentless and merciless. The UNSC will have a single, major encounter with the Yahg in the years following the FCW, but afterwards, during the Human-Covenant War, the Yahg are going to launch a major war of conquest in the Attican Traverse, and because they've been expanding since first contact with the Citadel, they'll have the numbers and the resources to sustain a full-scale war against the Citadel Council. And, because of the Cold War with the Yahg and Terminus Systems, the Citadel has become much harsher in it's attempts to protect themselves, as they've begun to feel boxed-in by the forces around them. This has led to an acceptance of strong-arm tactics against new, unknown races (like the UNSC).

So, we can thank the Yahg for the First Contact War.

My next chapter will be diplomatic relations; you know, the one you've all been looking forward to.

So long and don't forget to review.