Ben W Bell
SOC-14 1K
Is there actually anything canonical written about the Imperial Navy's Intelligence branch? I can't seem to find anything, but I presume it exists.
Naval Intelligence
- Thread starter Ben W Bell
- Start date
Tom Schoene
SOC-12
IIRC, the Spinward marches Campaign refers to the existence of Imperial Naval Intelligence as the principal such orgnaization, but has Admiral Santocheev creating a competing Office of Naval Information.
Liam Devlin
SOC-14 5K
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Correct Tom!
In the ISSUrsula campaign running afoul of ONI is one of the challenges facing our Players.! Thanks fer the reference!
Isn't Duke (or Archduke, for those of us who use GT) Norris supposed to have been in Naval Intelligence, with that being the basis for his operational style during the Fifth Frontier War?
Also, I hope that if/when the GT: Imperial Navy sourcebook arrives, it has a section about Naval Intelligence.
Also, I hope that if/when the GT: Imperial Navy sourcebook arrives, it has a section about Naval Intelligence.
I like to go with the full range of rival intellegence service. That's just for the Imperium.
INI, ONI, IAI (Imperial Army), IISSI (Scouts are aways poking their noses all over the place anyway), IMJ (Imperial Ministry of Justice) has their own spooks, sector, sub-sector, and planetary governments will want their own sources of intel, MegaCorps need to know what the buzz is too. Then there are the Newsies...
Of course, none of these share anything with each other, unless forced or they can use to their advantage. I like Leslie Bate's view of the ONI.
The Grand-Admiral created it to have an intel source that was loyal to him personally. They were very much at odds with INI. The ONI probably did more ops against the INI than they did the Zhos.
Ok, now that we have this mess, stir in any opposition intelligence forces.
People in my PBEM game, please ignore the above.
INI, ONI, IAI (Imperial Army), IISSI (Scouts are aways poking their noses all over the place anyway), IMJ (Imperial Ministry of Justice) has their own spooks, sector, sub-sector, and planetary governments will want their own sources of intel, MegaCorps need to know what the buzz is too. Then there are the Newsies...
Of course, none of these share anything with each other, unless forced or they can use to their advantage. I like Leslie Bate's view of the ONI.
The Grand-Admiral created it to have an intel source that was loyal to him personally. They were very much at odds with INI. The ONI probably did more ops against the INI than they did the Zhos.
Ok, now that we have this mess, stir in any opposition intelligence forces.
People in my PBEM game, please ignore the above.
Ganidirsii O'Flynn
SOC-12
There are several canonical references to IN Intelligence throughout CT. SECADM Santanocheev's Office of Naval Information was (according to Fifth Frontier War) disbanded immediately after the 5FW by order of Duke Norris, still under his authority of an Imperial Warrant. Emp. Strephon, upon naming Norris Archduke of Deneb (in whichever timeline you follow), gave that action his tacit approval as well.
Several Intell agencies exist with the 3I:
INI (which includes the Marines), IISS' Security Office, IMOJ Special Branch, and one everyone else seems to have forgotten IRIS (from an old Challenge article, but used in Arrival Vengeance, the last Rebellion Era module). All of them compete to some extent, and you wonder if the Iridium Throne could use a "Wild Bill" Donovan to be Coordinator of Information, as he was before the OSS got into the sabotage business...
Several Intell agencies exist with the 3I:
INI (which includes the Marines), IISS' Security Office, IMOJ Special Branch, and one everyone else seems to have forgotten IRIS (from an old Challenge article, but used in Arrival Vengeance, the last Rebellion Era module). All of them compete to some extent, and you wonder if the Iridium Throne could use a "Wild Bill" Donovan to be Coordinator of Information, as he was before the OSS got into the sabotage business...
We haven't forgotten IRIS, we ignore it
. It was originally marked as a variant, but when the author began writing TNS newsbriefs for Challenge, it started showing up in the newsbriefs. The authors of Survival Margin did a very neat canon fix by having Strephon wonder in his diary who these IRIS types were. He, the emperor, had never heard of them before!
Hans
Well, the only reference I can add is from Double Adventure 3, where there NI is involved in keeping track of the Solomani Party's activities in the Rim, and actually cover the adventurers' backs (unbeknownst to them).
As for myself, I have like many compeeting intel services. In my (somewhat heretical) Jewell cluster campaign setting I have the following:
Imperial Regency of Intelligence & Security (IRIS): This is the official civilian intelligence agency of the Imperium. Its focus is on strategic intelligence and domestic threats. It conducts covert operations to gather intelligence on overall intent and major policy of states outside the Imperium. In Jewell its focus is the Zhodani communications link.
Imperial Naval Intelligence Service (INIS): This is the intelligence arm of the Imperial Navy. Its focus is on the capabilities and intentions of hostile navies. Its current focus in the Jewell region is keeping up with Zhodani naval movements and base construction. Of secondary concern are the Vargr Corsairs that occasionally intrude into Imperial space.
Army Intelligence (AI): Primarily concerned with Zhodani ground forces size and capability in the sector. This includes gathering intelligence on dirtside military construction and logistics capabilities. The AI has also become embroiled in the political situation on Esalin because of the need for mercenaries to support the local factions.
Imperial Interstellar Scout Service Intelligence Branch (IISSIB): Primarily concerned with gathering information on space hazards and newly discovered societies, the IISSIB (Referred to as ISIS [Imperial Scout Intelligence Service] by many) has been pressed into service by the INIS and the AI to gather survey data of a military nature in the region and insertion of agents into Zhodani space. This has created a strained relationship with the local military command as the level of casualties resulting from these types of missions has become unacceptable to the IISS.
In addition to the Intelligence Branch, there is one more section of the IISS capable of intelligence activities. The Clandestine Survey Bureau (CSB) is a shadowy organization that falls outside the normal structure of the Scout Service. It is under the direct control of the Director of the Service. Its primary function is to survey un-contacted cultures and develop assessments and action plans for contact and integration into Inter-Stellar society. This also make their operatives well trained for covert intelligence gathering on existing Inter-Stellar societies. This has led to a widespread belief that the CSB is used by the highest level of the Imperial Government as a counter balance to IRIS.
The Duke of Regina’s Research Council (HRHDRRC): This is primarily a legitimate civilian institution sponsoring academic organizations and funding research, but it possesses a special branch to train and support academics to infiltrate Zhodani society and gather information. This project started as a legitimate academic enterprise, but has grow into a full fledged intelligence organization of its own, running clandestine networks throughout near Zhodani space. Many of the counsel’s researchers have been in Zhodani space under deep cover for many years, some for over a decade.
Though technically illegal (only the Imperial government may conduct covert information gathering), the high quality of the information it has generated about Zhodani society and technology has led the IRIS to turn a blind eye to its covert activities and classify its sources as academic researchers.
Corporate Research Counsel (CRC): This is group is funded by various Mega-Corporations in the Spinward Marches. Its primary focus is economic and commercial information to help its members. In the Jewell Sub-sector it is focused on two issues; economic potential for the Zhodani occupied regions, and keeping track of the Mega-Corporations’ property lost during the previous border wars. The thinking is that peace with the Zhodani will open up trade, and the Mega-Corps want to know where to exploit it, and if war comes and the occupied systems are liberated, the Mega-Corps want to quickly get hold of their former holdings.
Since the Zhodani are not very open to the Imperium, the council has established links with black marketers and underworld organizations on the occupied systems to gather information. This has also given the CRC insight into Vargr Corsair activities since these organizations often serve as conduits for Corsair booty into Imperial space.
As for myself, I have like many compeeting intel services. In my (somewhat heretical) Jewell cluster campaign setting I have the following:
Imperial Regency of Intelligence & Security (IRIS): This is the official civilian intelligence agency of the Imperium. Its focus is on strategic intelligence and domestic threats. It conducts covert operations to gather intelligence on overall intent and major policy of states outside the Imperium. In Jewell its focus is the Zhodani communications link.
Imperial Naval Intelligence Service (INIS): This is the intelligence arm of the Imperial Navy. Its focus is on the capabilities and intentions of hostile navies. Its current focus in the Jewell region is keeping up with Zhodani naval movements and base construction. Of secondary concern are the Vargr Corsairs that occasionally intrude into Imperial space.
Army Intelligence (AI): Primarily concerned with Zhodani ground forces size and capability in the sector. This includes gathering intelligence on dirtside military construction and logistics capabilities. The AI has also become embroiled in the political situation on Esalin because of the need for mercenaries to support the local factions.
Imperial Interstellar Scout Service Intelligence Branch (IISSIB): Primarily concerned with gathering information on space hazards and newly discovered societies, the IISSIB (Referred to as ISIS [Imperial Scout Intelligence Service] by many) has been pressed into service by the INIS and the AI to gather survey data of a military nature in the region and insertion of agents into Zhodani space. This has created a strained relationship with the local military command as the level of casualties resulting from these types of missions has become unacceptable to the IISS.
In addition to the Intelligence Branch, there is one more section of the IISS capable of intelligence activities. The Clandestine Survey Bureau (CSB) is a shadowy organization that falls outside the normal structure of the Scout Service. It is under the direct control of the Director of the Service. Its primary function is to survey un-contacted cultures and develop assessments and action plans for contact and integration into Inter-Stellar society. This also make their operatives well trained for covert intelligence gathering on existing Inter-Stellar societies. This has led to a widespread belief that the CSB is used by the highest level of the Imperial Government as a counter balance to IRIS.
The Duke of Regina’s Research Council (HRHDRRC): This is primarily a legitimate civilian institution sponsoring academic organizations and funding research, but it possesses a special branch to train and support academics to infiltrate Zhodani society and gather information. This project started as a legitimate academic enterprise, but has grow into a full fledged intelligence organization of its own, running clandestine networks throughout near Zhodani space. Many of the counsel’s researchers have been in Zhodani space under deep cover for many years, some for over a decade.
Though technically illegal (only the Imperial government may conduct covert information gathering), the high quality of the information it has generated about Zhodani society and technology has led the IRIS to turn a blind eye to its covert activities and classify its sources as academic researchers.
Corporate Research Counsel (CRC): This is group is funded by various Mega-Corporations in the Spinward Marches. Its primary focus is economic and commercial information to help its members. In the Jewell Sub-sector it is focused on two issues; economic potential for the Zhodani occupied regions, and keeping track of the Mega-Corporations’ property lost during the previous border wars. The thinking is that peace with the Zhodani will open up trade, and the Mega-Corps want to know where to exploit it, and if war comes and the occupied systems are liberated, the Mega-Corps want to quickly get hold of their former holdings.
Since the Zhodani are not very open to the Imperium, the council has established links with black marketers and underworld organizations on the occupied systems to gather information. This has also given the CRC insight into Vargr Corsair activities since these organizations often serve as conduits for Corsair booty into Imperial space.
Shadowdancer
SOC-14 1K
IMTU, Naval Intel works sort of like the FBI in the United States, primarily gathering information about and handling threats inside the Imperium.
The Scout Intel works more like the CIA, primarily gathering information about and handling threats outside the Imperium.
Of course, there is some overlap, and the two don't like to cooperate unless they have to.
The Scout Intel works more like the CIA, primarily gathering information about and handling threats outside the Imperium.
Of course, there is some overlap, and the two don't like to cooperate unless they have to.
far-trader
SOC-14 10K
Not much bother as I have it at hand, but it offers little more than what has been mentioned above. All it has is which agency or agencies each faction co-opted in the rebellion.
From that basis surely then it is possible to develop a map of who does what. A source for different agencies within the Imperium could be stolen from the Delta Green rulebook that would have certain substitutions to reflect a more Traveller bias.
INI certainly is more CIA than FBI, as the Navy is concerned with holding the Imperium together and protected Free Trade.
Army Intelligence is there to make sure that INI is not overstepping its limits dirtside.
IBIS is watching citizens including the above two to make sure to watch for subversion reporting transgressions to the Nobility.
IRIS is monitoring the Nobility and reporting to the Emperor.
SSS (Scouts) are watching to ensure that domestic cultures are not adversely affected by foreign powers and report to the INS.
So as we can see that all powerlines feed back to the Emperor and also contradict one another.
It is a shame that Marc never got arround to writing that Intelligence Sourcebook that he had planned for MT.
But, I think using the United States as an example of orderly intelligence work for the Imperium is a mistake (that example is better suited for Solomani Confederation) rather it is better go with former Yugoslavia where the Intelligence and Counter-Espionage efforts ran against each other with the Centre really clueless as to the real events and intelligence operatatives going freelance and becoming embroilled in local affairs and going native.
INI certainly is more CIA than FBI, as the Navy is concerned with holding the Imperium together and protected Free Trade.
Army Intelligence is there to make sure that INI is not overstepping its limits dirtside.
IBIS is watching citizens including the above two to make sure to watch for subversion reporting transgressions to the Nobility.
IRIS is monitoring the Nobility and reporting to the Emperor.
SSS (Scouts) are watching to ensure that domestic cultures are not adversely affected by foreign powers and report to the INS.
So as we can see that all powerlines feed back to the Emperor and also contradict one another.
It is a shame that Marc never got arround to writing that Intelligence Sourcebook that he had planned for MT.
But, I think using the United States as an example of orderly intelligence work for the Imperium is a mistake (that example is better suited for Solomani Confederation) rather it is better go with former Yugoslavia where the Intelligence and Counter-Espionage efforts ran against each other with the Centre really clueless as to the real events and intelligence operatatives going freelance and becoming embroilled in local affairs and going native.
I don't believe it has ever been clearly stated whether or not the Marines are part of the IN or not. (IMTU there a seperate service).
IRIS, at the time Arrival Vengeance was written, was widely considered canon and that's how it found its way into that product. (I however have always considered it a BAD IDEA [tm])
Last, I thought I'd seen a reference to Imperial Marine Intelligence; does anyone else have a similar memory/hallucination?
Ganidirsii O'Flynn
SOC-12
Vargas,
Mano, the Imperial Marines have always been part of the Imperial Navy, and they rely on the Navy for much of their support (medical, transport, intelligence, construction and so on).
By and large the OTU has followed the British/American model of Navy/Marine relations. Many support jobs are open to Marines (Naval Intelligence and Gunnery being two of them), but some are strictly the perview of Naval personnel (like Medical). Flight ops are slightly different, as there are Marine squadrons in IN service. Presumably, they specialize in COACC/Ground Support operations.
Insofar as Intelligence roles or areas of intrest, I tend to default to the following:
INI is involved with the open threats of interstellar neighbors (Zhodani Threats and Intentions desk etc.). They would use publications, fleetwatchers, economic trends and so on to gather intel on threats that might be posed to the 3I and IN personnel specifically.
IMTU, I have borrowed G:T Ground Forces in whole cloth. The Subsector Army concept works far better than an Imperial Army. Simply put, with the level of sovereignty granted the individual worlds in the 3I, what use would an Imperial Army Grand Field Marshal be? That said, Army J2 at the subsector/sector level would be getting a bunch of intel from the Navy, as well using agents to sniff out other threats ground commanders might face (Ine Givar, the latest trend in Sword Worlds grav tanks). While getting intel from similar sources, they are interested in different facts for their intel.
IMOJ/SB is the law enforcement intel agency. Similar to the FBI, but greater in some areas and lesser in others. Their principal interests lay in High Law violations, terrorist threats, crimes against or by the Nobility, and crimes committed against Imperial officials or in Imperial enclaves. StarPort Authority security supervisors hold IMOJ Detective authority, rather like many Coast Guard and airport security personnel are also Deputy US Marshals.
As to upper organizations, I haven't needed to come up with them yet. Generally an Imperial Knight waving INI or IMOJ credentials around usually gets the PC' attention.
There you be... 3I Intelligence in Capt. Ganii's Humble Opinion.
Mano, the Imperial Marines have always been part of the Imperial Navy, and they rely on the Navy for much of their support (medical, transport, intelligence, construction and so on).
By and large the OTU has followed the British/American model of Navy/Marine relations. Many support jobs are open to Marines (Naval Intelligence and Gunnery being two of them), but some are strictly the perview of Naval personnel (like Medical). Flight ops are slightly different, as there are Marine squadrons in IN service. Presumably, they specialize in COACC/Ground Support operations.
Insofar as Intelligence roles or areas of intrest, I tend to default to the following:
INI is involved with the open threats of interstellar neighbors (Zhodani Threats and Intentions desk etc.). They would use publications, fleetwatchers, economic trends and so on to gather intel on threats that might be posed to the 3I and IN personnel specifically.
IMTU, I have borrowed G:T Ground Forces in whole cloth. The Subsector Army concept works far better than an Imperial Army. Simply put, with the level of sovereignty granted the individual worlds in the 3I, what use would an Imperial Army Grand Field Marshal be? That said, Army J2 at the subsector/sector level would be getting a bunch of intel from the Navy, as well using agents to sniff out other threats ground commanders might face (Ine Givar, the latest trend in Sword Worlds grav tanks). While getting intel from similar sources, they are interested in different facts for their intel.
IMOJ/SB is the law enforcement intel agency. Similar to the FBI, but greater in some areas and lesser in others. Their principal interests lay in High Law violations, terrorist threats, crimes against or by the Nobility, and crimes committed against Imperial officials or in Imperial enclaves. StarPort Authority security supervisors hold IMOJ Detective authority, rather like many Coast Guard and airport security personnel are also Deputy US Marshals.
As to upper organizations, I haven't needed to come up with them yet. Generally an Imperial Knight waving INI or IMOJ credentials around usually gets the PC' attention.
There you be... 3I Intelligence in Capt. Ganii's Humble Opinion.
(Hmm. It's probably the best part of a year since I lasted posted...)
IMTU, the IISS is the biggest, although not necessarily most important Intelligence agency.
Let's face it: almost everything it does involves collecting data. Even the Xboat network tends to assemble lots and lots of data from the worlds it serves.
They visit worlds both inside and outside the Imperium, they collect data from Detached Duty Scouts, and often have some kind of presence in any particular system you care to name at any particular time. Apart from anything else, that gives them the ability to observe what ships are going where...
Their main problem, in fact, would be that the sheer volume of data they could collect would be too large to be usefully analysed! On the other hand, if you want to know something about what is going on in any particular place, or what any particular individual or group is doing, there is a fair chance that the IISS can tell you something about it.
They also have ground teams of one form or another on many worlds, whether or not they are official, or just a bunch of Detached Duty Scouts who are "just visiting". They even have a small armed force that permits them to engage in some more violent activities when necessary.
In short, they have everything an intelligence service "needs". And most people just think of them as a Post Office, or some kind of glamourous explorers...
Alan Bradley
IMTU, the IISS is the biggest, although not necessarily most important Intelligence agency.
Let's face it: almost everything it does involves collecting data. Even the Xboat network tends to assemble lots and lots of data from the worlds it serves.
They visit worlds both inside and outside the Imperium, they collect data from Detached Duty Scouts, and often have some kind of presence in any particular system you care to name at any particular time. Apart from anything else, that gives them the ability to observe what ships are going where...
Their main problem, in fact, would be that the sheer volume of data they could collect would be too large to be usefully analysed! On the other hand, if you want to know something about what is going on in any particular place, or what any particular individual or group is doing, there is a fair chance that the IISS can tell you something about it.
They also have ground teams of one form or another on many worlds, whether or not they are official, or just a bunch of Detached Duty Scouts who are "just visiting". They even have a small armed force that permits them to engage in some more violent activities when necessary.
In short, they have everything an intelligence service "needs". And most people just think of them as a Post Office, or some kind of glamourous explorers...
Alan Bradley
Upon further reflection, I am starting to think that the idea behind NI is more on the pre WWII lines (before the creation of the CIA and the rest of the modern intel structure). My impression is that in those days the US had two primarry intel organizations, the State Department, which used local contacts and fact finding trips by its embasy staffs to collect information, and the Intel Branch of the Navy, who needed up to date information on what was going on around the world to plan deployments. It was the Navy itself that was sifting through all the indicators trying to figure out if/when the Japanese were going to attack in late November of 1941 just before Pearl Harbor.
Anyway, just my thoughts,
Rob
Anyway, just my thoughts,
Rob
There is a non-canonical reference in the early 80's to the Interstellar Bureau of Internal Security (IBIS), basically the most BAMFs in the Imperium, with little or no oversight or accountability they went around 'solving' Strephon's problems, including one's he'd never even heard of...
Tom Schoene
SOC-12
This is my general idea as well. In this era, there was Army intelligence as well as Navy (both with code-breaking operations, for instance, and not always communicating with each other). The FBI did have counter-espionage duties, but nothing really systematic. Everything was rather ad hoc, often by individuals who realized there was a specific problem to be solved and set out to solve it, sometmes with official support but almost as often on an unofficial basis. This is exactly how I think the TU ought to be.
Unfortunately, if you need BAMFs, your intelligence service has already failed.
One of the sad things about roleplaying is that normal intelligence work isn't fun. As a result, our picture of intelligence services tend to feature commandoes and James Bond types, rather than the sad weird nerds sitting at computer screens or just talking to people.
Alan Bradley
Tom Schoene
SOC-12
Not necessarily. Sometimes the nerds need a little help translating intelligence into results.
The CIA does apparently maintain a small unit of really high-speed operators, known variously as the Operational Support Program, Special Activities Division, etc. (The name changes every time someone "outs" the current designation)
Very little is known about them, but they are apparently mostly ex-military. They do some deniable stuff that the military cannot, and also lay the groundwork for military special operations forces. These were the first folks into Afghanistan, for example.
CIA Special Activities Division
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