INTELLIGENCE

Welcome to the headquarters of Apollo Intelligence Bureau for Starbase Apollo, the fleet arm of Star Fleet Intelligence, more commonly referred to as Apollo Fleet Intelligence.

AFI is based on Starbase Apollo in the Beta Quadrant. AFI is the Apollo Fleets principle espionage organisation. It operates covertly to guard against possible conflicts and unseen threats, to preserve the peace and security of the Federation.

Our role is to gather data, analyse it and act on any threats identified before they affect Federation interests. We are the front line in an often unseen battle.

STARFLEET INTELLIGENCE HEADQUARTERS (SFI-HQ)

SFI-HQ is located in a facility next to Starfleet HQ, San Francisco Bay, on Earth. Almost everything which is required by SFI is located in this building, with the exception of agent training facilities.

The individual in charge of SFI is the "Chief of Starfleet Intelligence", a high ranking Admiral, usually 4 Star, whom reports directly to the Chief of Strategic Operations: s/he also reports to the Federation Council and President upon request.

The Admiral appointed to post of Chief of SFI must have no affiliation with the organisation, and is totally independent. As a result no Officer having served with SFI may hold this post. This is a vital rule to help ensure that the organisation does not become tainted or corrupt. Typically the Chief of SFI is a Starfleet veteran of long and untarnished record.

Directly bellow the Chief, two positions supervise the running of SFI, the Director of Administration (the Officer in charge of Starfleet Intelligence Administration) and the Director of Operations (the head of Starfleet Intelligence Operations), the two branches of SFI.

Both directors deal more with the SFI day-to-day running, than the Chief. Bellow the two Directors, Division Commanders administer the various divisions within the two branches of SFI.

INTELLIGENCE ADMINISTRATION

Starfleet Intelligence Administration (SFIA):

Generally considered the less glamorous branch of SFI. Life in Administration certainly isn't as exciting as a field operatives (See SFI Operations), but the role is vital, and considered by many to be more important that the role of agents, without SFIA, SFI operations would have no data with which to work, or establish where to send operatives.

SFIA primary duty is to keep SFI running smoothly. It ensures the equipment at HQ operates as it should, that agents are posted to the correct location and receive the support they require. They ensure that reports are filled and posted in on time with the correct Division Commander, and the rest of Starfleet/Federation is informed on relevant matters.

The most important task undertaken by SFIA is the classification of information. Within Starfleet, information is divided into a number of security levels. SFIA is responsible for reviewing all information obtained by all of Starfleet, not just intelligence data collected by its operatives, and classifying it. A massive task that requires a large number of people to sort the data.

SFIA is organised into several divisions: Each division is overseen by a Division Commander, who reports to the Director of SFIA.

Command Division:

Command is responsible for the organisations overall performance, and day to day operation. This division ensures personnel are in the correct divisions, reports have been collects etc. SFI prefers all its personnel to spend some time working in this division to see just what goes on in SFI before they carry on into other section of the Bureau. This includes SFI Operations personnel, who generally do a small tour of duty in the section before taking on their trained task. However SFI Operations personnel have not been trained in this field, and generally undertake simple, repetitive work, which is later checked by trained SFIA personnel. (See SFI Operations for more details on this).

Research and Development Division:

Undertakes the development and research of new and covert equipment for its operatives. Has strong ties with the Starfleet Research and Development Branch.

Analysis Co-ordination Division:

Perhaps the most vital section of SFI. The information gathered by SFI and other section of Starfleet, have to be read, and interpolated, and thus compiled into projections and forecasts of trends etc. Often tedious work, but critical to the Federations safety. Generally the Analysis Co-ordination Division Commander is regarded as the SFIA's second in command.

Training Division:

Operate the two SFI school's, one for Operations and one for Administration. The school for Operations is actually taught by a small section of SFI Operations, but the Administration of the School is handled by SFIA

INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS

Starfleet Intelligence Operations (SFIO):

When most people think of SFI, they think of spies, and clever agents infiltrating the enemy's of the Federation. All such missions are handled by the agents of SFIO. Personnel of SFIO are responsible for performing the actual SFi missions. They gather intelligence, conduct counterintelligence operations abroad, and infiltrate threat organisations such as the Orion Syndicate. However, whilst SFIO is a big organisation, it is a much smaller section when compared to SFIA. Major planets, such as Cardassia, may have 15 or less agents working upon it at in once during peace times, minor planets, even less, or non at all. Agents move around as required, depending on the actual major threat at that time.

All agents of SFIO are expected to take a tour of duty in SFIA Command Division. Whilst only a short period of time is spent in the service of SFIA, generally only 2 months, it allows the SFIO agent to see the work that is undertaken by the agents of SFIA, and appreciate the skill needed in this section of the organisation, as well as the dedication. This procedure was implemented after it became apparent that SFIA agents where underestimating the need for SFIA, and conflicts started to occur between the two organisations, due to the arrogance of the SFIO personnel. The tour of duty has become compulsory for all trained agents of SFIO. All SFIO agents dread this section of there training, but come out appreciating the work that there office bound fellow agents undertake.

INTELLIGENCE SPECIAL OPERATIONS

Counterintelligence Division:

Joint operation with SFIA. (See SFIA for details)

Training Division:

Whilst SFIO does not run the school, this is left to SFISO, SFIO provides agents to teach new operatives the skills and techniques required to join this section of SFI or SFISO.

Section 31 Division:

Generally called (S'31), this is the Top secret section of SFI. Whilst the personnel working at S'31 are known to other SFI personnel, the agents of S'31 are classified, and work outside of the Special Op's Division and SFI. Agents of S'31 are effectively dead, the past records in all federation data banks are expertly removed, or altered. In many cases the agents fake there own deaths. Very little is known with regards to the work carried out by S'31, nobody outside of S'31 is privy to the knowledge within the  Section 31 Division.

Due to the nature of Section 31 no agents are ever reassigned to active operational fleet duties. Therefore ex-S'31 agents cannot operate aboard any fleet vessel or installation. and they will even deny all knowledge of the Divisions existence.

INTELLIGENCE MISSION STATEMENT

SFI's mission is to protect Starfleet and the Federation from foreign intelligence and terrorist activities. SFI missions can be divided into several generic mission types:

Counter Intelligence:

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 organisations such as the Orion Syndicate or the Marquis.

Counter Intelligence operations involve identifying possible hostile activity and taking preventative action to impede their operations. This could require uncovering long term operatives, taking pro-active measures to stop planed operations or in extreme cases require Counter Terrorism teams being employed to resolve any urgent situations.

Deception & Misinformation:

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.

Extraction:

There are two types of extraction mission:

A. 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.

B. Extraction of an unfriendly target: At times it may be necessary to obtain key enemy personal for acquire their technical knowledge or strategic information.

Infiltration & Undercover Missions:

Many SFI missions require the operative(s) to covertly infiltrate a target organisation. This can be done in many ways such as in a cloaked ship, travelling in disguise or using some other subterfuge. Once successfully in place the operative(s) must complete their assigned mission and withdraw safely.

Investigations:

Occasionally SFI investigates incidents that they consider could have some intelligence impact. Either through the involvement by outside agencies or other non-aligned groups.

Reconnaissance & Surveillance:

Intelligence information is collected in the following methods:

A. Intercepting subspace transmissions from listening posts along the Federation border and analysing such transmissions and/or sending such transmissions to Starfleet Intelligence Headquarters for analysis

B. Researching data archives

C. Conducting field investigations and covert/overt strategic operations including infiltration, counter-espionage, search and seizures.