Chapter XXIV: Intelligence

I began pulling out folders, searching until I found a cluster marked with the words "Intelligence Folio: volumes 1-10: Interrogation summaries", which I promptly removed. I took out the 6th and 7th volumes, handing the remainder to Kirigiri.

"The information I need should be in these two volumes, but feel free to check through the rest. There's probably valuable information in them."

She nodded, took the folders, and sat down to read. I opened up volume 6, and began scanning the text.

"Intelligence folio 6: Gemini(full transcripts kept on disk in data processing):

Despair operatives have been curiously reticent about the higher ups in the agency, often refusing to reveal any information even after they are given the full suite of interrogation treatments. In many cases, this silence seems based on a simple lack of knowledge, given SDHSD's extreme compartmentalization. However, even the cell leaders of various sub-groups have been unwilling or unable to reveal what they know for the most part."

The remainder of this page seemed to be dedicated to a listing of Despair's power structure, with various markers indicating people that had been either suborned or captured and tortured for information. It would seem that those fighting against Despair had managed to penetrate them to an impressive degree. I looked briefly at the individual names to confirm there were none I recognized, and continued reading.

"Knowns: Despair does have some sort of central command. This command is connected to a mysterious Gemini figure or figures. This command/commander has remained anonymous to all but those in the inner circle of Despair. Gemini itself is rumored to be connected directly to Hope's Peak, but these rumors have never been substantiated by actual evidence.

Gemini Aliases: The Exchanged, the Hidden. Other names may refer to Gemini or Despair commanders, such as the Bodiless Voice, but no interrogation has ever confirmed this.

Unknowns: The identity of Gemini, as well as their motivations. Gemini's actions seemed to taper off after the Malefaction, although the reasons for this are unknown as well."

I flipped over the page, only to find that the remainder of the folder was dedicated to summarizing the various interrogations from which the above information had come. I skimmed a few of them to ensure they contained new information, and found none-it would seem the interrogator was at least as competent as I was at the act. After skimming the remainder of the folder cursorily, I came to a hastily scribbled note at the back.

"NOTE: Recent operatives have made mention of 'two sisters' within Despair, who also seem to hold a leadership role. Relationship to Gemini is unknown. Further analysis needed."

After reading that, I closed the folder and opened the next one. Given the possibility that Monokuma could remove our access to these documents at any moment, it was almost certainly more optimal for me to read what I could now.

"Intelligence Folio 7: Military response to the Malefaction:

After the original event, while many countries and mercenary groups reacted with force, two were especially quick to do so: Fenrir and the Novoselic army. While the latter is easily explained, and is likely due to Nevermind's status as Despair inner circle, the former is unusual, as Fenrir does not typically involve itself in these types of global conflict. Upon questioning, some of their soldiers revealed that the leader had begun the operation to 'repay the final favor he owed'. Those soldiers were unable to elaborate further on this 'favor', although the obvious hypothesis is that someone in Despair has contacts with Fenrir. Given this, Ikusaba was the obvious first person to question. However, she claimed ignorance as to this favor and to the connections that Fenrir had with Despair. A transcript of her specific reason for this lack of knowledge is given below.

'Throughout my time with Fenrir, I was never more than a lower level officer, and never met the inner circle besides the leader himself. While I may have been given tactical latitude to place soldiers and direct individual assaults, this did not extend into strategic freedom and choice of individual objectives, let alone the type of control I'd need to have directed an operation of that size. The person advising Fenrir's leader would have needed to be far more connected with them than I was, to say the least of the necessary tactical skill they would have needed. On that subject, the precision with which the first strikes were conducted was inhuman, even for Fenrir. In my experience with them, they at least seemed to value human life. These attacks were more brutal than any previously had been, but did not lose effectiveness for that. Whoever this shadowy advisor or advisors are, I respect and fear them.'

While the answer above does suggest that Ikusaba had contact with Fenrir's leader, further interrogations revealed that this contact was only as part of a standard initiation process received by all recruits. Therefore, nothing more about this favor can be gleaned from current information."

The rest of the folder was dedicated to tactical diagrams of the attacks that made up the first stages of what was seemingly a global conflict. I quickly checked the dates on the sides of the diagrams and found that they ranged from a year after I entered Hope's Peak to about 16 months after.

After finishing both folio volumes, I turned to Kirigiri, who was still engrossed in her folders. I tapped her on the shoulder to get her attention.

"Kyouko, I'm going to see if I can get some tactical diagrams evaluated. If you need me, I'll be with Oogami. Once you finish, it's probably best to leave the bag either where it was or in one of the lockers."

She nodded, turning back to her reading as I placed the diagrams from folio volume 7 in my pocket and left the room.

After I searched the halls for a bit, I found Oogami in the gymnasium, exercising and practicing forms. I began to approach before remembering what she had told me earlier.

"Oogami-san? It is Naegi. I had something to ask you."

She paused in her movements, whirling to face me.

"You move impressively silently. What was it you had to ask?"

"How skilled are you in matters of strategy and military tactics?"

"Only partially. My family studied them briefly as an exercise in group training, but my main expertise lies in the field of single combat."

I removed the tactical diagrams from my pocket.

"Could I ask you to briefly examine these?"

"I shall do what I can."

She began to scan them cursorily, and her eyes widened.

"Why are the dates in these far later than the current ones?"

I responded quickly, holding my voice steady and tremorless.

"It's a misprint. I too was confused by that initially, but I judged it unrelated and thus unnecessary."

She nodded and continued her examination, eyes widening then narrowing as she read. After she finished, she turned to me.

"As far as I can tell, these are detailing a series of attacks on civilian targets. All of them look to be planned for maximum casualties. These assaults were not meant to leave any alive at their conclusion. Although, something about the last diagram looks familiar. Might I examine it again?"

"Sure, though I would ask that you get it back to me as soon as possible."

"This will only take a minute," she responded.

She took one of the diagrams and retreated to a corner of the room, examining it closely for a few minutes. As she got up to return the paper, she was slightly shaking, and I saw water forming at the corners of her eyes.

"I thank you for this information, Naegi. You have allowed me to act as a warrior must."

"May I ask what exactly just happened?"

"I cannot say."

With that, she strode off, moving now with clear purpose. As she reached the door, Monokuma appeared at the podium.

"Oh, were you leaving? I wouldn't do that so quickly...because I have a message for the student body. It's time for another motive!"

A/N: Well, there's some new information for you all to play around with. The next chapter, Payment, will be out either next saturday night or next sunday, and will represent the first significant diversion from canon motives. The chapter after that, which will either be called Delay or Watch, will be out within two weeks.

Since this chapter contained a formatting change, I'll enumerate my choices in that realm: From now on, Bold text is monokuma speech, Italicized text is text relating to Alter Ego or the computer, and Underlined text is document headings or titles.

Please review!