ADVENT: History
ADVENT and Classification
"Secrets will win us this war. Under no circumstances are they allowed to be shared."
- Intelligence Director Elizabeth Falka
ADVENT
FOR INTERNAL DISTRIBUTION ONLY
OFFICIAL CLASSIFICATION HIERARCHY AND ACQUISITION
OVERVIEW: Information is one of the most important commodities in warfare, and ADVENT recognizes the need to ensure that information critical to the success of the war does not come to the wrong people. To this end ADVENT has established a thorough system of clearances and classifications to ensure that information is strictly regulated and controlled on our most important projects and plans.
This document will help identify the structure of this classification, list all major clearance types and how they are acquired, as well as reiterating the need for integrity of ADVENT, and the penalties for breaking the trust and investment ADVENT has put into those who are given access to this information.
TYPES OF CLEARANCE: There are two categories of clearance levels: Civilian and military. Almost every single clearance will fall into one of these categories. Please note that one individual can hold more than one clearance at a time.
Civilian Clearance: Civilian clearances are granted to all non-military positions in ADVENT, which include the Executive Branch, Research and Development, Engineering, and other departments and divisions which require clearance or handle sensitive material. Civilian clearances typically cover major projects of both science and engineering, as well as all psionic research programs.
Military Clearance: Military clearances are granted to individuals who need to know military operations of military and intelligence forces of ADVENT. This includes enemy and allied troop movements, planned military operations, sensitive intelligence operations, intercepted information of enemy forces, and other aspects of military planning and strategy.
CIVILIAN CLEARANCE LEVELS: There are four civilian clearance levels available. An individual can only hold one at a time per specialization, with the ability to view information or have access to any levels at and below the one currently held.
General Clearance: This clearance is provided to all members of ADVENT, and grants them access to all ADVENT government buildings and controlled areas. Please note that this merely allows access onto the premises; more specialized access is required to enter sensitive or workplace areas. For military bases General Clearances are insufficient without escort. These are provided to all ADVENT personnel at the completion of standard background checks and can only be revoked upon termination or resignation from ADVENT. Non-ADVENT personnel can apply for General Clearances, provided they complete a background check and give an acceptable reason for receiving one.
Specialized Clearance: This clearance allows ADVENT personnel to access their place of work. All access to workplace functions, regardless of department, requires this clearance which will only grant access to that workplace. It will not function in any department not clearly marked. In addition, it will allow access to any additional technologies or equipment within the workplace. This is provided to ADVENT personnel upon acceptance of their final job offer, and supersedes a General Clearance. It can be suspended or revoked upon termination or resignation from ADVENT. Non-ADVENT personnel cannot apply for Specialized Clearances.
Specialized Secret Clearance: This clearance allows ADVENT personnel within their specialization, department, or division to access SECRET-level information, documentation, or knowledge pertinent to their department, division, or specialization. This does NOT apply to any SECRET material outside these boundaries. This is permitted for senior officials who successfully pass in-depth background checks and have proven competency in the workplace. This can be revoked upon degrading performance and mishandling of SECRET material.
Specialized Top Secret Clearance: Similar to the above, this clearance allows ADVENT personnel within their department, division, or specialization access to TOP SECRET material specific to said department, division, or specialization. As with the previous classification, this does not apply to any SECRET or TOP SECRET material outside these boundaries. These are only given to managers and heads of departments and divisions and others who have consistently showed good judgement, loyalty, and competency. Undergoing Manchurian Programming is necessary to acquire this clearance.
MILITARY CLEARANCE LEVELS: There are three military clearance levels, with each higher one superseding the previous. An individual can only hold ONE of these clearances at any point in time.
Military Operations Clearance: This is the basic clearance provided to all ADVENT military personnel which allows them basic access to every ADVENT institution, military base, and territory. It also allows them to be cleared to receive military orders and operational details on upcoming operations. This clearance can only be revoked upon resignation or termination from the ADVENT Military.
Military Operations Secret Clearance: This clearance is provided to all TIER-III Captains and Lieutenants and above which allows them access to short-term or immediate military plans and strategies in development which can be out no further than one month. It also permits access to pertinent military projects or intelligence classified as SECRET. This is the basic clearance provided to all ADVENT Intelligence personnel, and can only be revoked upon demotion, mishandling, or termination from ADVENT.
Military Operations Top Secret Clearance: This clearance is heavily restricted to only the rank of Chief Marshal and above which provide access to all military operations within ADVENT in the near and far future. In addition, it also permits access to intelligence labeled as TOP SECRET which contains vital information on enemy and allied operations, movements, and plans.
OTHER CLEARANCES: There are a number of other clearances which do not fall into the previous categories. They are largely irregular compared to standard clearances, and only given to very specific individuals. Most of these supersede equal or lower-level clearances.
Temporary Clearance: This is a clearance that can be generated to allow one or more individuals access to certain parts of ADVENT. This is largely reserved to allow civilians access to ADVENT institutions and military bases. It cannot exceed the level of a Specialized Clearance or Military Operations Clearance. These are generally only provided to academic personnel, volunteer militia, press and media, and tour groups. All individuals have to complete a background check before acquiring a Temporary Clearance. These can be specifically configured to only allow access to specific locations, as well as how long each clearance will last, from a low as one day to as high as one year. These can be revoked at any time by ADVENT.
Research and Development Top Secret Clearance: This clearance is only for extremely senior officials and exceptionally talented personnel whose expertise and coordination is needed on a number of highly sensitive and important projects. This will allow unrestricted access to all TOP SECRET and below projects and information related to Research and Development, and Engineering projects in ADVENT.
Universal Clearance: This clearance allows the holder unrestricted access to all territories, infrastructure, and military bases under the control of ADVENT. This acts as the equivalent of a General Clearance or Military Operations Clearance. This clearance can be applied for by any individual in ADVENT and is contingency upon the completion of a background check and appropriate reason for holding it. This also applies to civilian applicants. This does not grant access to specialized workplaces or facilities.
Universal Secret Clearance: This clearance allows the holder unrestricted access to all information, projects, and material classified as SECRET. This is highly restricted to senior intelligence officials, senior military officers, and those who have demonstrated exceptional skill and loyalty to ADVENT. Manchurian Programming is a requirement to hold this clearance.
Universal Top Secret Clearance: This clearance is restricted to the highest positions of ADVENT as well as the Oversight Division. It allows access to all aspects of ADVENT and is only granted to those who require this level of access to perform their tasks exceptionally. Manchurian Programming is a requirement, if one does not already have it. Aliens are barred from receiving this clearance.
STANDARDS AND EXPECTATIONS: Those who hold clearance are expected to treat it delicately and appropriately, as the integrity of ADVENT comes down to the discretion of the men and women within it. ADVENT expects those who are granted clearances to follow the regulations and rules established by their division, department, or superiors.
Under no circumstances is information to be shared with an individual, entity, or alien who does not hold an equivalent or higher level of clearance. If you are unsure, please consult your superior for instructions on how to proceed. Failure to adhere to these laws will result in your termination from ADVENT and subsequent arrest.
PENALTIES: The penalties for the disclosure of classified material to unapproved sources are as follows:
Civilian Disclosure: Disclosure to an unapproved civilian will result in the immediate revocation of any SECRET or TOP SECRET clearances and immediate demotion or court-marshal. In the event that information disclosed leads to the compromising of ADVENT operations or the deaths of ADVENT personnel, it will result in the immediate arrest and prosecution of the individual with up to ten years in prison.
Media Disclosure: The disclosure of classified material to any media or a traditional or non-traditional source will result in the immediate arrest and prosecution of the individual with penalties up to twenty years of prison time. In the event that information disclosed leads to the compromising of ADVENT operations or the deaths of ADVENT personnel, penalties will be increased including execution or sentencing to the Experimentation Labs.
Alien Disclosure: Disclosure of classified material to any uncleared alien source regardless of affiliation will result in the immediate arrest and interrogation of the individual in question. Releasing information to an allied alien will result in an immediate demotion and revocation of all SECRET and TOP SECRET clearances. Doing the same to aliens unaffiliated or opposed to ADVENT is considered treason, and will result in execution or sentencing to the Experimentation Labs.
Intelligence Disclosure: The disclosure of any intelligence material to any source is grounds for immediate arrest and prosecution, with penalties from ten years up to sentencing to the Experimentation labs. This can be compounded with previous penalties.
ADVENT's relationship with the media has been tumultuous, heated, and almost always tense. Despite their repeated insistence on leniency and protection of critical speech, the world has seen this as ADVENT slowly but surely muzzling the world of media, supplementing it with their own, and punishing anyone who is against them.
But the most concerning aspect that ADVENT has inexplicably shifted towards, is eliminating journalism itself – or ensuring that it cannot be used against them without significant punishment.
ADVENT has not been supportive of media critical of them, with many outspoken critics of ADVENT policy being unofficially blacklisted, watched, and monitored without legal recourse. While they have not been technically silenced, each of them are concerned that one day ADVENT will not tolerate them anymore and they'll vanish.
"It's only a matter of time," Caitlan Monolux, a racial justice activist critical of the ADVENT Peacekeepers told us. "I know I'm on their list. Men have visited me several times in reference to potentially incising material and if I had been in communication with any aliens. I denied both; that isn't how I work, but it's worrying. People I know have already disappeared, and if I don't watch what I say carefully, I will be next."
"ADVENT controls the tech industry that we use every day," Arnold Wollester, an expert legal witness in computer science told us, having been following trends in anti-ADVENT accounts. "Private corporations don't really exist in ADVENT. You follow their orders, or you get taken over. They have complete power, and if you're critical? Well, Twitter, Facebook, any big media platform will announce a bot purge and your follower count will be slashed to a fraction of what it was, your account will never be found in a search, you will end up shouting into an echo chamber that gets gradually smaller. This isn't a conspiracy. ADVENT hasn't taken my study down yet, and you can bet they would if they felt it was made up."
All of this, many other journalists claim, is the most benign actions of ADVENT's shadow war against the press. ADVENT recently reminded all media platforms of the penalties for publishing classified material acquired or leaked to them by who they designated as 'traitors and disgruntled employees'. This appears to be the result of a new initiative by the Acting Director of ADVENT Intelligence Ian Powell, formerly the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
"Wikileaks being shut down was the first warning sign," freelance journalist Quaia Lee said. "It didn't really matter what the story behind that was, who was behind it, or if it was a Russian conspiracy. It existed as a check – no matter how small – on the powers of the world. It's aired plenty of embarrassing secrets people wanted to keep hidden. No one did anything either because they couldn't, or seemed to believe that if it was never acknowledged, nothing would hurt them."
"Wikileaks being gone removed one of the few safe havens for whistleblowers everywhere," she continued. "I don't know how ADVENT took it down, but they did it quickly and quietly. One day it was up, the next day it wasn't. Maybe another one will appear, but what are the chances that it's real and not a trap? If you're caught between doing the right thing and risking your life, are you going to take the chance?"
The removal of Wikileaks and several other high-profile organizations which have been responsible for leaking classified information remains a highly-debated topic on the legality of the actions, but also if such actions should be protected in the first place. ADVENT did not release the number of operatives captured or make their trials public, but did released a four-page document of evidence of high-ranking members being approached by Zararch operatives to distribute damaging material on ADVENT. It is not clear if the organization agreed to this arrangement, and all ADVENT would confirm is that significant portions of it were compromised and that "Regardless of their choices, they have participated in an illegal organization and will be dealt with accordingly."
Following these actions, ADVENT has begun publicly announcing when they have caught someone leaking, or attempting to leak classified material. Many of these have come after major and minor publications have released material on secretive aspects of ADVENT including ADVENT Intelligence, ADVENT Research and Development, the infamous Experimentation Labs, and the ADVENT Prison System.
In the past there would be recourse and protection for organizations who happened to acquire this material – a stance that ADVENT has actively fought against, and unlike in the past, there is no recourse for the media to protect themselves or their sources. ADVENT rarely finds the original leakers on their own, but through the sources who publish their material.
Sometimes these had been contested, the largest of which was MSNBC who stated their intent to take it to the courts. In response to their refusal to cooperate, ADVENT raided their headquarters and placed the entire board of directors under house arrest, and brought in each journalist, writer, and editor in for interrogation. Some of them were arrested, while the majority were released. Two hours later ADVENT announced three individuals leaking classified information had been arrested and were to be sentenced the following day.
"There were times in the past we wouldn't run stories because they didn't want to get on the government's bad side," Lester Thorne, one of the editors arrested said. "Although then it was about access and prestige. No one was actually in any danger of losing their job, let alone their life for a story they published. We don't take any chances anymore. On our site we flat-out warn people that if they submit classified information, we are going to report them. No one believed ADVENT would actually go after one of the largest media companies in the world – but they will, and they don't care how many people they break to shut something down they think is a threat."
Other journalists are even more paranoid as a result of this. "I'm sure they're monitoring everything we receive, watch, and say," Sally Marriw said. "We'd never decided to publish classified material – none of the board wanted to risk it – but unofficially they did give us permission to say to people who tried to share with us "Hey, we can't do this, but here's someone who could," and then direct them to someone independent. Now it's standard policy to not say anything and forward it to ADVENT. I hate it."
ADVENT's war against leakers has targeted independent journalists as well, and non-mainstream sources. Dozens have been arrested in conjunction with releasing and redistributing classified material and many are serving prison sentences. "We can't do our jobs now," Jonathan Mox, a visibly frustrated investigative journalist said. "Everything is surface level; only what the public can see. If you go digging and end up somewhere you shouldn't, you get arrested. If you get something you know the public deserves to know, you get arrested. If you publish anything even remotely showing something ADVENT doesn't want you to see, you get arrested. What are we supposed to do? Run away? Live in a different country? ADVENT will still come after you. We're screwed, plain and simple."
"I've given up," a journalist who declined to give their name said. "ADVENT won. Journalism as we knew it is dead forever. I may go out with a bang, but for every story published, another person will be silenced forever. And no one will care, and if they do, ADVENT doesn't care about them. The people are a statistic to them, who they will dispose of if it threatens them. There's nothing else we can do. I guess we can only hope that ADVENT will be benevolent, because god help us all if that isn't the case."
One thing that is clear through all those who we spoke too is that they believe, even if they won't verbally say it, that there is no going back. There is a sense of entrapment of those who are skeptical of ADVENT, especially through new questions raised by former XCOM soldier Patricia Trask. The line between what ADVENT believes is acceptable and what is not is blurred, and many fear it's intended to be that way.
The theme ADVENT is pushing is clear – stay quiet and you'll be safe. Be loud and we will silence you.
ADVENT has shown that public perception is not something it cares about. Perhaps that is the most concerning thing of all. Even if the public demands change, if it demands accountability, it will be ignored, or worse, suppressed. There is no recourse for the enemies of ADVENT. Those who are against the regime have only two options.
Hide, or die.
- Article: "I've given up" ADVENT's War on Journalism reaches the Endgame
"I appreciate you allowing me to speak, Miss Wong. It's good to clear the air and use this opportunity to calm some of the hysteria which has taken place. While I'm sure the majority are not as concerned by the accusations raised by various media organizations, I am certain they – like you – wish to know the full story."
"Too radical? Ah, while I can see why some candidates would be unwilling to rock the boat for a presumably interim position, I've never believed in such. For all intents and purposes, I am the Director of ADVENT Intelligence. It is my responsibility to make decisions in the best interests of ADVENT and Humanity as a whole. Director Falka has performed admirably, and held the position with integrity, but that does not mean I do not see room for improvements and necessary changes."
"Well, part of this is what the media has picked up on. I would like to clarify that ADVENT has held the belief that anyone has the right to be critical of ADVENT and our decisions, while also recognizing that illegal activity should not be supported, or publishing information that puts the lives of soldiers, civilians, and innocents at risk. None of this has changed."
"Well, consider it a shift in priorities, Miss Wong. Our policies haven't changed, but our prioritization of certain goals has. The context of some of these decisions is classified, I'm afraid, but this has resulted in a more proactive approach to finding and plugging leaks in our organizations ADVENT-wide. You, and anyone else, is more than welcome to refer to the public record of the Congress of Nations or our policies on classified material, leaking, and press culpability. You will notice that none of them have changed recently. We are only now beginning to properly enforce them."
"The answer to why is simple – people are dying. We are in a war for the continued survival of our species, after all. A war where there is a much greater threat than the phantom one ADVENT poses. We are continually in conflict with the Zararch, an entity which is dedicated to compromising our institutions and corrupting our people. They are more than willing to utilize propaganda and proxies to weaken public trust in us, which certain segments of the public are all too ready to believe."
"I'm not saying that all critics are alien sympathizers. We've taken care of those who were. But I am saying that many people are susceptible to unfounded propaganda encouraged and spread by alien operatives. Much of this is spread unintentionally, and I believe that many would be horrified to learn that they are being used by the aliens, but this is nonetheless a harsh reality that we are continually attempting to inform the public of."
"This is an interesting question – what does the public have a right to know? I would like to take a moment to quash the idea that we have harsh punishments for leakers because we are ashamed of our actions or know what we are doing is wrong. It isn't. If that were the case, we wouldn't hide divisions like the Experimentation Labs, or our Prisons which many have called harsh and unjust. Hiding information like that from the public is ludicrous in this day and age. We are fully confident in our institutions and fully stand behind them. In truth, even if we didn't, that is not the main reason for our laws surrounding this topic."
"It has to do first and foremost with safety and secrecy. We do not care what the public sees – their reaction is unimportant – we care what the Collective sees. It is not just the average citizen that watches and reads this information – it is also our enemies. Do you think they care about the supposed wrongdoing? Do you think they are watching to pat themselves on the back?"
"No, they're watching because it is information. Through leaks they can determine our plans, the locations of our soldiers, identify operatives and through them, their families. They can determine where we are on projects and infer other ones which are ongoing. They can identify how much we have progressed; they can learn where our bases are located. They have material they can digitally alter and distribute through proxies."
"This information that is leaked is used, Miss Wong, and if there is a point I ask you remember, it is this one. Soldiers have been ambushed and killed by Zararch operatives. Families of scientists have been abducted or killed. Research bases have been hit by strike teams. We've been forced to cancel or rework projects because the aliens will be prepared for them. Through the actions of leakers, they have put the personnel, citizens, and soldiers of ADVENT at risk. This fact is indisputable, and we will not tolerate it any longer."
"While I do not believe many of these people are malicious, and believe that they are doing the right thing, they are unwitting pawns of the aliens by succumbing to their morality instead of upholding the integrity of ADVENT. Part of the blame lies with us, for allowing access to people who were not able to handle some positions in ADVENT. That is not an excuse for their actions, but moving forward we are working to be careful in who we appoint."
"Not every position in ADVENT is for everyone, and there is no shame in that. But if there are concerns employees of ours have, there are procedures in place. The Oversight Division will investigate each inquiry seriously, and if one has a significant moral issue with their work, we will happily allow them to transfer to a different part of ADVENT to keep their conscience clear. But putting others in danger in never the answer, and we have no tolerance for it any longer."
"Our so-called 'ruthless' approach will work, Miss Wong. I am certain of it. There is a reason we have been public with our actions. The world must know that this kind of conduct is unacceptable and will be severely punished. These people certain groups of the media laud as heroes have been responsible for the deaths of thousands through their actions. Blood is on their hands, and the hands of any who spread what they revealed to the aliens."
"If fear is their primary motivation for not risking the lives of others, then I am more than willing to accept that. I do not care if the media fears what we will do, as that implies that we are concerned with them beyond being useful proxies for Zararch operatives. Our approach has never been hidden and is straightforward, as you can attest to. The media may pretend like this is a surprise, but they've known the price of breaking the law. They unfortunately underestimated their importance to the world. We will never put an organization or individual above the safety and security of ADVENT and our citizens, soldiers, and personnel."
"Thank you for your time, Miss Wong. I hope that this clarified our stance."
- Interview between Acting Director of ADVENT Intelligence Ian Powell and Journalist Jessica Wong