|
|
| Line 21: |
Line 21: |
| | | | |
| | In play terms and fiction alike, IRIS typically appears as a shadow patron or background power—arranging deniable missions, verifying information passed to the throne, and countering foreign covert threats with limited, surgical action. | | In play terms and fiction alike, IRIS typically appears as a shadow patron or background power—arranging deniable missions, verifying information passed to the throne, and countering foreign covert threats with limited, surgical action. |
| − |
| |
| − | == The Imperial Regency of Intelligence and Security (IRIS) ==
| |
| − | They Also Serve Who Are Not Seen
| |
| − | Megatraveller variant write‑up (Challenge #33)
| |
| − |
| |
| − | '''Origin & Purpose'''
| |
| − | In the aftermath of the Civil War, Arbellatra (last of the Emperors of the Flag) established an independent,
| |
| − | invisible regency to prevent a return of military adventurism and to secure lawful succession to the Iridium
| |
| − | Throne. She appointed Rhys ap Connor as the first High Regent. From inception, IRIS was designed to sit
| |
| − | outside Navy/Scout/Army rivalries and to be answerable to the throne alone, with the remit to neutralize
| |
| − | threats to succession and conduct sensitive foreign covert operations.
| |
| − | IRIS recruits were deliberately drawn from solid middle‑class backgrounds (SOC 5–10), limiting noble
| |
| − | influence and, as demographic analysis suggested, increasing loyalty to the Imperium over personalities.
| |
| − | IRIS’ motto is Custodiamus Veritas — “We Guard the Truth.”
| |
| − |
| |
| − | '''Organization'''
| |
| − | Core Headquarters (Strategic Nerve Center). Located in Core sector. The High Regent and ten Senior
| |
| − | Regents remain in Core to direct strategy and analysis; only one Regent is stationed on Capital, and the
| |
| − | High Regent rarely visits, preserving continuity if Capital is struck. Core also marshals Strike assets,
| |
| − | ensuring a rapid, independent force close to the throne.
| |
| − | Domain Command Centers. Domain‑level nodes consolidate sector reporting and push broad tactical
| |
| − | goals/personnel assignments to sectors. Commanded by non‑senior Regents and Senior Directors.
| |
| − | Sector Operations Centers. One per sector, each led by a Senior Director. These are the “grass‑roots” hubs
| |
| − | with wide latitude (given interstellar comms/travel lags) to initiate projects, set intel agendas, assign Covert
| |
| − | operatives, and designate essential targets—overseeing roughly 90% of all field activity.
| |
| − | Project Offices. Temporary or semi‑permanent forward C2 for active operations. Staffed by Directors and
| |
| − | heavily by Strike personnel; they provide drops, resupply/reinforcement, and safehouses for Covert agents.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | '''The Five Mandates & How IRIS Upholds Them'''
| |
| − | 1) Ensure and enforce smooth, lawful succession.
| |
| − | • Maintains deep files on all possible heirs and broad situational awareness of the Imperium (political/economic/military).
| |
| − | • Places 2–3 undercover operatives on the staff of every fleet commander to deter coups and prevent mutinies—quiet “guardian angels” aboard the ships that ultimately decide who holds power.
| |
| − | 2) Prevent unreliable individuals from approaching the Emperor.
| |
| − | • Provides unobtrusive psionic screening of all who receive Imperial audiences.
| |
| − | • Maintains discreet surveillance and detailed files on Imperial intimates and palace staff.
| |
| − | 3) Verify the Emperor’s information.
| |
| − | • Funnels sector‑level reporting to Core and cross‑checks against Navy/Scout/Army/Foreign Service briefs,
| |
| − | flagging contradictions and stripping away inter‑service bias (“weighted” reporting).
| |
| − | 4) Identify significant foreign covert threats and expedite responses.
| |
| − | • Accounts for most Covert and Strike activity.
| |
| − | • Maintains pragmatic arrangements with certain outlaw Psionics Institutes (notably hotbeds for Zhodani
| |
| − | infiltration) to monitor hostile psionic activity within the Imperium, trading toleration for cooperation.
| |
| − | 5) Conduct/maintain clandestine operations in foreign territories to secure the Imperium.
| |
| − | • Emphasis on surgical strikes, sabotage, assassination, and other deniable measures as the cost‑effectiveness of open war declines.
| |
| − | • While Scout Security cooperates readily and Navy Intelligence less so, IRIS coordinates and bears final
| |
| − | responsibility for the most difficult jobs.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | '''Personnel, Branches & Culture'''
| |
| − | Estimated Strength. Widely believed to total 300,000–400,000 personnel—small for the Imperium’s scale.
| |
| − | Culture. “Hard but fair.” IRIS goes to the limit to protect/recover its own. Defectors/double agents (including
| |
| − | on‑site recruits) are terminated at the first expediency after any intelligence utility is exhausted.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | '''Branches.'''
| |
| − | • Covert (≈10%) — Clandestine operations; high prerequisites; elite training; hazardous missions.
| |
| − | • Strike (≈25%) — Direct action and security; the organization’s muscle, also staffing project offices heavily.
| |
| − | • Operations (≈65%) — Analysis, logistics, administration, and most day‑to‑day backbone functions.
| |
| − | Directors & Telepathic Integrity Checks. After ~20 years of field service, selected Covert operatives who
| |
| − | advance into the Directorate undergo restoration of sealed memories and complete telepathic training.
| |
| − | Directors conduct loyalty checks not only on Imperial audience‑seekers but internally (including on
| |
| − | Directors and Regents), providing an internal counter‑subversion failsafe.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | '''Relations with Psionics, Nobility & Megacorps'''
| |
| − | Psionics. A limited, closely held tool: pre‑audience screening, post‑promotion directorial training, and
| |
| − | controlled cooperation with select Institutes. A past investigation during the Psionic Suppressions forced a
| |
| − | partial public disclosure that Institutes at Terra and Regina had also served as training/testing sites for
| |
| − | certain Covert operatives.
| |
| − | Nobility. IRIS’ middle‑class recruitment bias and independence made it a lightning rod for aristocratic
| |
| − | resentment (and rumors: Solomani favoritism, usurpation plots). Debates linger over “Who watches the
| |
| − | watchers?”
| |
| − | Megacorps. Strong historical ties to Hortalez et Cie, reflecting shared interest in stability; many retirees
| |
| − | later serve as corporate/planetary intel chiefs.
| |
| − | Recent History & Current Situation (Late 1115–1116)
| |
| − | Post–Fifth Frontier War backlash. Political pressure mounted to end palace psi‑screening, culminating on
| |
| − | 30‑1115 with the Emperor accepting IRIS’ offer to withdraw from palace security—effectively nullifying
| |
| − | Mandate 2.
| |
| − | Pre‑assassination indicators. Late 1115 into early 1116: suspicious court attendance patterns; covert
| |
| − | signals traffic within Admiral Hutara’s staff; personnel manipulations to keep pro‑Dulinor officers fleetside.
| |
| − | The High Regent warned Strephon and activated pre‑interregnum contingencies (J‑6 couriers; force
| |
| − | concentrations in Marches/Core/Rim).
| |
| − | Assassination & aftermath. The warning arrived too late. The Senior Regent on Capital was killed minutes
| |
| − | before the hit; with Lucan’s contested ascent and Moot unrest, the High Regent held Core with a skeleton
| |
| − | staff and two Strike companies, continuing IRIS’ role amid the fragmentation.
| |
| − | Retirees & Aftercare
| |
| − | Retired operatives—especially former Covert—remain subject to lifelong monitoring proportional to their
| |
| − | post‑service ambitions. Those whose ventures align with Imperial security sometimes receive discreet
| |
| − | assistance (often in the form of removed red tape). A notable share (~20%) of retirees enter Hortalez et Cie;
| |
| − | eight of ten IRIS private‑sector economic advisors are Hortalez executives.
| |
| − | Referee Use
| |
| − | IRIS makes an excellent patron, adversary, or background presence. On the table: discreet briefings,
| |
| − | deniable ops, “guardian angel” interventions aboard fleet flagships, and intrigue around tolerated Psionics
| |
| − | Institutes. Post‑1115 politics provide robust hooks: nobles pushing access, the fallout of losing palace
| |
| − | screening, and the scramble after the assassination.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | '''Source & Page‑Jump Log'''
| |
| − | Start: Challenge #33, p. 53 — Article lead, origins (Arbellatra, ap Connor), recruitment policy, motto.
| |
| − | Continue: p. 54 — Debate over powers; operations overview; estimated strength; branches & culture.
| |
| − | Continue: p. 55 — Organization (Core HQ, Domain and Sector centers, project offices); Directors & loyalty checks.
| |
| − | Continue: p. 56 — Mandates 1–5 details; Scout/Navy coordination; Retirees.
| |
| − | Continue: same issue — Recent History & Current Situation (30‑1115 removal of palace screening; 1116 indicators; the assassination; IRIS dispositions).
| |
| | | | |
| | == References & Contributors ([[Sources]]) == | | == References & Contributors ([[Sources]]) == |
IRIS They Also Serve Who Are Not Seen.
- Mandate 1) Ensure and enforce the smooth and lawful succession of rightful heirs to the Imperial Throne. In the event of an interregnum, IRIS is to act as regent pro-tem until a legal heir is located and/or reaches the age of his/her majority.
- Mandate 2) Prevent "unreliable" individuals from gaining direct access/proximity to the person of the Emperor.
- Mandate 3) Check and compare all information relayed to the Emperor against IRIS' own independent sources.
- Mandate 4) Identify all significant anti-Imperial covert activities initiated by foreign powers. Formulate and expedite responses thereto.
- Mandate 5) Conduct and maintain covert activities in foreign territories, pursuant to ensuring the security of the lmperium.
Image Repository[edit]
No information yet available.
History & Background (Dossier)[edit]
Formed in the wake of the Civil War, the Imperial Regency of Intelligence and Security (IRIS) was built to prevent renewed military adventurism and to keep succession orderly. Its remit places it outside the day-to-day rivalries of the Navy, Army, and Scouts while keeping it answerable to the Iridium Throne.
IRIS operates as a compact service with three broad arms: Operations (analysis, logistics, administration), Strike (security and direct action), and Covert (clandestine work and asset management). Sector-level centers carry most field responsibilities because of interstellar lags, while a core leadership cell maintains strategic continuity away from obvious targets.
The agency’s practices include discreet integrity screening for those with sensitive access, close coordination with Imperial services, and the placement of low-profile “advisers” with senior fleet officers to discourage coups or mutinies. Its culture emphasizes discipline and loyalty to the Imperium over personalities: it quietly supports its own personnel while acting decisively against proven traitors.
In play terms and fiction alike, IRIS typically appears as a shadow patron or background power—arranging deniable missions, verifying information passed to the throne, and countering foreign covert threats with limited, surgical action.
References & Contributors (Sources)[edit]
|
This article is missing content for one or more detailed sections. Additional details are required to complete the article. You can help the Traveller Wiki by expanding it.
|
