The Shadow Pupils and the Intelligentsia (Private)

[AHSCA]

Noir instinctively patted the arm of Kurago, as if to quell him from jumping to his feet to ring the neck of the young Akira. "HUMAINT requires trust, diligence and most of all scrutiny." Noir nodded summarising everything she was told. "I'll hold any questions until we're finished. I hate to ask a point you're going to get to anyway, you're doing very well for us, giving us information so please, continue."

[Astares Amauricanum]

"You're welcome Officer VinoCacao." replies Patricia, before grabbing a notepad and pen that had been lying on the side somewhere, and sliding them towards Noir. "If you feel the need to write your questions to not forget them, please do so." she offers with a smile.

"Now that' we've covered the recruiting of sources and the importance of trust, let's talk about another important subject if you will: cooperation between intelligence services." continues the Ambassador's wife after having taken a few bites of her ration.
"We are not talking about the type of cooperation we have now, aka the creation of a new service from scratch, or the continuous training that comes after that for all the times to come, but rather, the cooperation regarding the exchange of secret informations.

First, let me tell you two one thing:" continues Daniel. "The world of espionage is like a market, and the secret informations the wares that are exchanged on this market. Let's consider for a moment that secret informations are like gold. The more gold a service have, the more they can allow to share with another service, in order to acquire later even more gold.
In order for an exchange to work well, the two services must have a mutual trust established. I won't come back on trust, you've understood its importance.

So, first rule: if you want to cooperate with another service, cooperate on topics that interests the both of you, and where you are not in competition. For example, in the ACI, we do not cooperate with the Europeans regardiing commercial opportunities in Asia, because we're in competition, or with the Pakistanis regarding some Taliban groups in the Tribal Zones of Pakistan.
Counter-terrorism, on the other hand, is nearly always a unifying topic, because many countries are plagued by terrorism nowadays."

"Cooperating with someone is also a way to unite forces to tackle together a large problem, that each party would have trouble handling on its own." continues Patricia. "The ACI has often collaborated these past years with the Australians regarding the Chinese or Russian intelligence services, to give you a recent example."

"The second most important thing to remember, is that to collaborate and make others want to collaborate with you, you need to have a reputation as a solid and trustworthy ally. And I'm sure you all know that reputation is easy to shatter, and extremely long to build. You have to be irreproachable, and only provide your partners with information that would have been thoroughly checked before. Otherwise, your partners will not forgive you."

"A prime example of that, was in 1991, during the First Gulf War with Iraq." continues Daniel. "The Italian services gave to the ACI human intelligence regarding the fact that apparently, the Iraqis were in possession of large quantities of enriched uranium. In the end, it proved to not be the case.
In answer, we ceased nearly all collaboration with the Italians, and to this day, our interactions are very scarce." adds the Ambassador.

"Another important rule in the world of espionage and collaboration, is the third-party rule." continues Patricia. "If us, the ACI, provide some information to the Shadow Knights, then the latter can not use this information with a third service, for example the Kyrenaian Chandshar, without our agreement. And even if we give our agreement, the Shadow Knights will still have to mention that the information comes from the Astarian ACI, and not from the Shadow Knights proper.
As we told you, intelligence is like gold, and each service is the sole and unique owner of the gold they acquire. You can always try to and say that you're the one who got it, but if it gets known, your reputation will take a great blow."

"Regarding lies between services, it happens sometimes, be sure of it. But if you want for others to consider you well, it must be the exception, not the usual." warns Daniel with a serious tone. "For example, to protect a very sensitive secret. And you better not get caught."

"To continue, we would like to adress another important point of collaboration: one must be careful to not fall in the trap of relying too much on their partner's intelligence. For example, if we consider the five UIS Islands as independent countries. Let's say that Animalpolis has greatly developed their signal intelligence, with state of the art satellites and computers, but has left their human intelligence aside, and relies heavily on Corona's and Aurora's human intelligence gathering instead. This is a grave mistake."

"But in the end, collaboration between intelligence services is nearly always fruitful. Each service may bring a complementary aspect of intelligence gathering in the deal, that will benefit both parties. An example was during the first hours of ISIS's rise in Syria and Iraq, back in 2014. Wwe collaborated a lot with the French DGSE at that time, because they had some very good human sources in Raqqa, in direct proximity to Daesch's high command.
And in the current deal the Shadow Knights and the Astares Centralis Intelligentsia will have, as we've offered you, we will provide you with signal intelligence, and in exchange, you may help us in human intelligence in topics we will determine later."

"And that concludes the third part of our briefing." finishes the Ambassador as he looks down at his now-empty ration can. "Any urgent questions? And also, are you done with your rations? How did you find them?"

All the things I discuss here come from the Youtube channel Talks with a Spy, hosted by a former DGSE Case Officer.

[AHSCA]

It was plenty to take in but she got it all. "collab, divulge when needed, hold tight if you know you can do it. Got it all. so it sounds like we can rely on inter-agency-cooperation. ACI, KC and now SK. Now I do have a question, there's often a blurred line between diplomacy and intel. How taboo is it to employ someone within the diplomatic realm as a covert op? Like say I tapped any one of her Highness's bodyguards, or my own deputy for that matter. Or is it better to just keep the planes of government separate from each other? Plausible deniability they call it."

[Astares Amauricanum]

It was plenty to take in but she got it all. "collab, divulge when needed, hold tight if you know you can do it. Got it all. so it sounds like we can rely on inter-agency-cooperation. ACI, KC and now SK. Now I do have a question, there's often a blurred line between diplomacy and intel. How taboo is it to employ someone within the diplomatic realm as a covert op? Like say I tapped any one of her Highness's bodyguards, or my own deputy for that matter. Or is it better to just keep the planes of government separate from each other? Plausible deniability they call it."

"You're welcome Officer." replies Daniel with a professional nod. "Before anything else, do not worry at all. This subject is not taboo at all. It's true the line between diplomacy and intel is nearly always blurred, but that's because those two domains coexist, and have been like that since the dawn of time." says the Ambassador with a smile.

"To be more clear, let's go back first to what exactly is an embassy." he continues. "As you allknow, according to international laws, an embassy is a little piece of your home country in the host country. A piece that can not be entered by the host country's authorities without authorization. Therefore, as you are not subjected to the laws of the host country inside your embassy, you are free to partake in many actiivties, including illegal ones. And THAT precisely, is what makes interesting for espionage and spies."

"Therefore , if a country has a foreign inelligence service and some embassies around the world," continues Patricia, "you can be sure that inside those embassies, you will find a unit of people belonging to that foreign intelligence service. Please keep in mind we are talking about bigger embassies that the ones here in the UIS, which are really small in comparison."

"In an embassy, the people and the structure belonging to a foreign intelligence service are usually refered to as a Station." explains Daniel. "At the minimum, there will be two people working in this Station: the Station Chief, and one Secretary, tasked with handling logistics and transmissions.
Depending on the embassy, and therefore Station, size, the Station will also have one or more Case Officers, and one or more additional secretaries.
You may also find technical agents, tasked with electronic and signal intelligence if there is such a need.
And finally, in places where the local environment is highly dangerous, you may find some paramilitary agents of the intelligence service to protect the Station.
To give you an example, in the Astarian Embassies located in the Middle East, Afghanistan, etc, there are nrealy always Special Activities Division agents whose task is to provide an armed protection to the other ACI agents working in the Station."

"Now, to come back to your question Officer VinoCacao," continues the Ambassador, "in what I describe, you may think: since those spies are working in an embassy, what of their diplomatic status?
Well, as you know, everyone working inside an embassy has received a diplomatic authorization from the host country, and is given a diplomatic passport, therefore giving them diplomatic immunity. But as you know, when you have diplomatic immunity, you're not subject to any kind of search, and your vehicle who carries diplomatic plates is in the same case. Those things are golden if you want to then engage in espionage.
Therefore, since no country intelligent enough would allow anyone with such immunity, the personnel of an embassy Station is hidden, so to speak, among other jobs in the embassy. You may have an Attaché to the Visa Service who is in truth a case officer, or a member of the Ambassador's staff who is a technical analyst."

"But since one of the other tasks of an embassy Station is to cooperate with local intelligence services, you need to also have a part of the Station personnel who are registered officially as foreign intelligence agents." explains Patricia as she takes the lead from her husband. "Therefore, in all cases, you will always have at least the Station Chief and one Secretary who are registered as foreign intelligence agents.

In the UIS however, you will remark that we didn't register officially as foreign intelligence agents." continues the Ambassador's wife. "At the time we established an embassy, you were still pretty new in regards of foreign diplomacy, and we feared that by saying outright we were spies, you would not want to welcome us here. For that, we apologize, and we will make the necesary proceedings to change our diplomatic status in regards to that." she says with an apologetic smile.

"Now, let's move on to another important point: the relations between the Station personnel and the rest of the embassy staff." continues Daniel. "First, you must know that the Station personnel stands outside of the embassy's hierarchical structure. While normal embassy workers are under the supervision of a foreign ministry, the Station personnel fall under their agency, which often falls itself under the command of a Defense Minister. In you case, Officer Kurago and VinoCacao, the Shadow Knights will be jointly managed by your two Offices, but know that this is not always the case.
Anyway, in the case of the Ambassador, since the agents do not fall under his command, he does not have a direct access to the information they have, since they transmit it to their Headquarters. So it can lead to some resentment, which can cause problems in the long run if it's not defused and calmed down."

"But if we take the problem from the other side," continues Patricia, "it's in the best interests of the Station staff to have good relations with the rest of the embassy's staff, and help them whenever they can, instead of being all secretive and keeping to themselves. In the end, it's a matter of "Give Some,Take Some". The Station Chief can for example brief the Ambassador during private meetings about some topics which can help him later in his job, for example giving him secret informations about a local diplomat the Ambassador meets regularly, and in return, the Ambassador can introduce one of the case officers to a potential human source during a reception he would give at the embassy, so that the case officer can recruit said source.
As you see, if everyone works together, the results don't take long before they appear."

"To finish this part, we'll just say that espionage done through diplomacy and embassies is just a piece of the puzzle. It's always good, in a counry you have an embassy in, to have other agents as well, but who are instead deployed undercover, with a fabricated legend. However, it goes without saying that you take greater risks with these agents, as if they get caught, instead of just being sent back to your country and having their diplomatic immunity removed, those agents can spend several years in prison, or even be killed in the worst cases." finishes the Ambassador with a serious tone.

[AHSCA]

"Thank you Mister and Missus Ambassador, that is very helpful to know. It sounds like you would encourage us to be open enough with diplomatic staff. To keep them in the loop just enough to ensure their loyalty and trust. I'm glad to know that it's not completly out of the question than to employee some of those outside our direct lines to also be our eyes and ears out there. But I understand the risk as well. I suppose there's always a risk when you're caught red handed as a spy."

[Astares Amauricanum]

"Indeed, there is a risk." replies Patricia with a knowing nod. "And not only for the spies deployed outside of the diplomatic circles, but also for the ones under diplomatic status as well." she continues with a sad tone.
"You see, many times, I had to seat in investigation committees in the ACI regarding acts that had been perpetrated by local counter-spying services against some of our spies under diplomatic status. Normally, if a local service knows of the nature of your spy and decides that this spy must go, then they usually just expel him, either gently or more strongly if they are really fed up. Those are the rules layed down by diplomatic international conventions for removing a foreign diplomat out of your country, you know that well Officer VinoCacao."

"But sometimes, the local authorities just do away with all conventions and don't hesitate to use unlawful means to threaten your spy. False car accidents with ram cars, arrestations and then intense questioning with beatings and sleep or food deprivation, and without the assistance of a lawyer; false burglaries; the spy's family threatened personally; the list can go on and on. Fortunately, it does not happen everywhere. But when it happens, you can be sure it blos a storm at the ACI Headquarters.
So, the point is: don't expect for the Shadow Knights who will be inserted as diplomats to rest peacefully, they will have to be prepared for the worst too, and not just an simple expel if things go wrong. Understood?" asks the Ambassador's wife with a serious tone.

[AHSCA]

"Understood." Noir simply replied. Of course there's risk, you're trying to get into a nation's secrets, you're gonna have to expect the levels of danger are going to be high depending on just what kind of areas you're looking to snoop around in. This would require careful thought and planning in the future but for now that could be tucked away and what they could focus on was getting the basics down and ready to go. "Now my next question would be, appointing a director or some kind of overseer. I believe your agency has its own director am I correct in assuming that? You probably have a long history and tradition which makes it easy to chose among your ranks but for us this will be new. We need a good way to find someone to oversee our knew Knights."

[Astares Amauricanum]

"We understand perfectly your interrogation, you indeed need to make sure your first director will be someone solid and trustworthy." replies Daniel with a nod.

"In the Astares Centralis Intelligentsia, the Director is chosen as follows: The Director of Imperial Intelligence recommends someone to their Imperial Majesties for the job, based on their actions and career history. This person can either be a civilian, like an attorney, a diplomat, or even another member of the ACI; or either a General or Flag Officer of the Astarian Armed Forces.
Their Imperial Majesties, after reviewing the file of that person, can approve it or not, and if they approve, the canditate for the position of Director will have to be confirmed by a majority vote in the Forsta Styres, the Astarian Senate, before being nominated by Their Imperial Majesties." explains the Ambassador.

"Now, in your case, we suppose that since the Shadow Knights are still considered secretive enough for not being talked about in all of the UIS government, nominating your first director will have to go through less steps." continues Patricia.
"What Their Imperial Majesties, as well as our own current Director suggested, would be that you two, Officers VinoCacao and Kurago, would look among your senior staff for someone you think is capable enough for the job. Then, you would recommend this person to Her Royal Highness Duchess Marcella Villa, and she would approve it.
If you want, maybe you can even talk about it with Senators Pacifica and Miela, who as Heads of Congress, would approve it."

"But as we said, those are only our humble suggestions, you are free to follow them or not." finishes Patricia with a humble tone and a small bow of the head.

[AHSCA]

Noir nodded. "Yes, you know, I was thinking along the same lines but it's always great to have a second opinion and to have a better idea. I'll consider it carefully, Kurago and I will make our choice soon enough. Given we're close, we'll share it with you and our other allies."

[Astares Amauricanum]

"Okay, fair enough." replies Daniel with a nod. "But just to warn you beforehand, in the contracts we'll offer you to sign after dinner, it is clearly asked that before telling the rest of your allies, you will have to wait that the first batch of Shadow Knights trainees have undergone their complete training, and the agency is about to be officially introduced. Otherwise, we would withdraw our support." clearly explains the Ambassador.

"Now, does anyone wants some dessert?" asks Patricia tot he guests with a smile. "We have some fruits, or a homemade cherry and mango pie." offers the Ambassador's wife.

[AHSCA]

"Mmm" Noir nodded in understanding. "Agreed then, we'll keep it on the quite until then. I for one want some cherry pie, please."

"Nothing further for me." Kurago declined any desert.

[Astares Amauricanum]

"Okay, one cherry pie coming up." replies Patricia before standing up and leaving the room, only to come back a minute later with two plates of fruit and pie for her and her husband, one piece of pie for Noir, and another plate with fruit and pie for Akira.

"You've been awfully silent since the start of the dinner Akira." remarks Daniel as he turns to the Captain with a concerned tone.
"Are you feeling alright? Even though the look Officer Kurago gave you clearly tells where you would be right now in another situation, I wonder, how are you feeling regarding all of this? I mean, you just got yourself a secure job as Liaison Officer between the ACI and the future Shadow Knights, surely you must feel something no?" asks the Ambassador with a small smile.

[AHSCA]

"Thank you." Noir thanked for the pie. Attention turned to Akira again, guess he had been rather silent through this whole thing, really it felt like Kurago had a knife to his back ready to twist it once he felt so inclined. "Oh, r-right" He quickly and rather nervously responded. "Well of course The Good Officers are the runs running the show, I'll just be following orders."

"Really?" Noir asked rather matter of factly. "Is that all?"

"I think this is a promising start for AHSCA's military intelligence."

"I'm glad you think that, Captain." Kurago said. "Though I must ask, Sir and Madam, as we already outed the young Private-excuse-me-Captain as a double agent, how can we be sure he'll keep his loyalty to us and not go off to spy for Stevid. If he can be so easily swayed to go against his own country, perhaps he's better suited for KP duty over anything else."

[Astares Amauricanum]

"Come on Officer, give the guy a chance." replies Daniel to Kurago as he crosses his arms. "I can assure you that he has never wanted to bring harm to his motherland. And neither did we. I reassured him multiple times during our meetings and conversations that all the Imperium wanted was to gather additional informations aside from the general politics, and nothing more. He has the UIS interests at heart, I can guarantee you that 100%"

"And if you still have doubts after what my husband just said," continues Patricia, "know that as a Liaison Officer between the ACI and the Shadow Knights, that means he will be on our payroll as well. So if he ever tries to sell informations to a third party, you can be sure we will act quickly and efficiently. Trust me Kurago, compared to the ACIs black sites, Black Island is a five-star Palace." says the woman with a serious tone, implying of the fate the Astarians would have Akira go through should he try to betray them.

"Come on Honey, you're gonna give him an attack. I think he's been through enough already." says Daniel with a smile as he passes a glass of water to Akira. "Come on, drink up. You need it man." says the Ambassador with a friendly tone, hoping to calm down his agent.

[AHSCA]

Kurago sighed, "Very well. I suppose I will have to put my faith in you folks,"

"Kurago is old creed solider." Noir added. "Served during the great war."

"Well if you can really call it 'service' more as a young man I picked up a riffle and ran to action. But I'm not one to talk much about my history, I rather it speak for itself."

"Modest too. I think we all just want to do what's best for our own homes, so we'll let be whatever is done, done."

[Astares Amauricanum]

"You're right, your actions speak enough for themselves Kurago." replies Daniel with a nod. "You went straight into the fight to defend your country, and that's count the most.
Besides, in my experience, people who often talk loud about their deeds in war are often found after having done the least. Congrats to you Officer." says the Ambassador as he briefly puts his hand to his forehead and salutes.

"Now, if you don't mind," continues Patricia as they are all eating their dessert, "I would like to make a small remark on a useful tool spies in diplomatic circles may have at their disposal, that is protected, at least theorically, by international law: diplomatic courier bags. Aside from official mail, they can also be used to convey... other things that might be illegal, but useful."

As she says that, she nods to her husband, who nods back and stands back up, before getting out of the room.
He comes back a few seconds later, with two objects in hand that Noir would surely dislike to see, as those were theorically forbidden in embassies on Embassy Isle.

In Daniel hands, two Aquila XM4 Assault Rifles, fitted with an holographic sight, a laser/lamp pod, a foregrip, and a sling.
"A barrel here, a bolt carrier there, with a few trips back and forth, this is how you get these babies here and now unnoticed. All through diplomatic courier bags." says the Ambassador with a neutral tone.
"Now, before you get angry, please keep in mind we never intended to use them against the UIS. We have full faith in the Embassy Isle security teams, but if we have to conduct certian missions on the UIS soil, some firepower may be needed.

I'm sorry to say this Officers, but around the world, this is the least bad thing we've seen being carried through diplomatic bags. Some things were far, far worse. Please keep that in mind." finishes Daniel as he puts the two rifles on the table and sits back down.

[AHSCA]

Noir was rather aghast that they were able to get such high firepower through but that is the price to pay for diplomacy, you have to make concessions and let things like these slide. Just as he said a moment ago, courier bags are useful espionage tools, so turn about will be fair play. "I can imagine. I think you already know we're a bit naive when it comes to everything so I suppose it is time we finally grow up a little."

"I should hope it doesn't come to any situation where you have to do an op on our own soil but I would hope you can depend on us for cooperation if need be." Kurago finished. "So it sounds like diplomatic pouches can be useful, that's good to know."

[Astares Amauricanum]

"Indeed, they are very useful, and not so often in a good way." replies Patricia with a sigh to Kurago. "But don't worry, in the future, our country will do everything to cooperate with you. And if we can't for certain reasons that are way above our paygrade, we'll be sure to let you know. We don't want to repeat the actions of 2010 on Animalpolis."

"That we do." continues Daniel, before switching his gaze back to Noir. "The UIS being naive is not a bad thing in itself Officer, but at one moment or another, you would need a wake-up call from the outside world.
Then again, please don't take everything we say literally. Our country and way of life, due to our survival spirits that has defined thousands of Astarian generations, can be often correctly interpreted as paranoia. So don't worry, if you feel you need to tone down our own learnings, do so.

Aside from that, regarding the rifles, I will send a file asking for registration to your office tomorrow. However, please keep in mind it will have to be our little secret of sorts, since the other nations who have embassies can not know. So, do you agree with that?" asks the Ambassador with a hopeful smile to Noir.

[AHSCA]

"It's agreed to" Noir said with a nod, "For all we know, others are doing the same under our noses and not much we can do about that in the name of diplomatic cordialness. But I can see why the elder Duchess Shino was adamently against diplomatic immunity and privacy in her day. I don't suppose you knew that little fact? It was only under current Duchess Marcella where she expanded the foreign policy. It is what it is that's fine."

[Astares Amauricanum]

When Noir mentions Shino's opinion about diplomatic immunity, Daniel and Patricia look at each other with a raised eyebrow, then back to the Foreign Officer.

"No, we didn't know of this fact, thank you for telling us about it Officer VinoCacao." replies the Ambassador with a smile. "Unfortunately, it is a big concession we have to make to make things work, and the only sanction we have against diplomats who break the law is a simple expulsion back to their nation."

"Indeed." continues Patricia with a sigh. "And this for even the most horrible or tragic crimes. Though I heard an interesting story the other day: at the end of the nineties, the Ambassador from Zaire to France was involved in a traffic accident where he killed two young children while driving his car under the influence of alcohol. As per diplomatic laws, he was sent back to his own country. But outraged by this, the children's parents made a petition that was signed by many, and back by public opinion, the French President, Jacques Chirac, pressured the Zaire authorities to lift the diplomatic immunity of the former ambassador so that he would come back to France to be judged. It happened, and in the end, although the Ambassador was only sentenced to two years of prison, it showed that things could be done for a diplomat to pay for their crimes." adds the Ambassador's wife.

"Between you and us, our current Keisaer Adrean thinks a bit along the same way as Duchess Shino. The unofficial rules in the Imperium with him are that if a diplomat breaks the law in an horrible way, he would be sent back to his nation, but before that, he would be presented before the Imperial Couple, and they would give the diplomat a good beating. The kind of good beating that can leave you crippled for life." finishes Daniel with a half-grim tone.

[AHSCA]

"It's as I said, that was the days of Duchess Shino, we are the day of Duchess Marcella, new leadership, new opinions. I admit I've long thought along the ways of the Former Duchess but it's not my place to dispute the command and will of Her Highness I currently serve. We'll just all agree to disagree in this I suppose." she gave a small smile.

[Astares Amauricanum]

"Very well then, we'll do that." simply replies Daniel with a nod to the two Officers.
"Now, before I go fetch the contracts, I must ask you something: in the case you want or need to have to carry out a black operation, aka an operation that can not be traced back to you and that your government can deny its involvement into, would you like for the ACI to also train a unit of soldiers specialized in those tasks?" asks the Ambassador with the same serious tone.

[AHSCA]

"I think that'd be a wise idea. I don't see us going in many black ops that might have a lot of blow back, but I'd still like us to be prepared if such an operation ever arose and to have the contingency in place would be valuable."

"I agree with Noir," Kurago responded "Being prepared for something would be best."

[Astares Amauricanum]

"Very well then." replies Daniel. "In this case Officer Kurago, I will please ask you to choose about 50 to 60 soldiers who you consider to be among the best. About 5 to 10 Commissioned Officers, 20 Non-Commissioned Officers, and the rest of Enlisted. Please keep the utmost secrecy about why you draw them, and once they are ready, we will ship them to the Imperium for training."

"Also, if I may suggest to the both of you," continues Patricia, "get as well some support personnel for this unit, like boat, helicopter and aircraft pilots, analysts, etc. These would be useful for the black op unit, as having all the support personnel they need to deploy and do their job correctly attached to them will ensure secrecy, collaboration and combat readiness." explains the Ambassador's wife.

[AHSCA]

"It will take us time but I know we can work it out. Kurago this will be more your specialty I imagine."

"Don't sell yourself so short, Noir. Er-pardon my pun there-your Naval experience you know a few good sailors and mariners I'm sure. But yes, we can certainly get people ready for you and for training. We'll keep it very quiet, indeed."

"I'd suggest your Deputy, after all this is what sparked this whole thing to begin with."


"I agree, Shinya would make a fine addition if he's not too busy with duties as Hoshino's Viceroy."