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The Last Days of Agartha [A FE3H "CK2" Quest]

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ThatGuyWithIdeas said:
I don't like the leading plan because it wastes our intelligence assets without having them doing anything useful in getting rid of them, at a time where we have enemies that we can not fight head on, who we must deal with using subterfuge and said enemies can also contest when it comes to espionage. If we want to purge our intelligence assets out of fear that they are disloyal, unleash them on the Empire at least. Otherwise, we're better off reforming them in some way. Both Delaying Actions and Future Preparations and Ruining the chair in steps, where's Nemesis? are better plans that the plan in the lead imo.
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I agree with you about the intelligence purge, but they are mostly supremacists who will act against us anyway. Choosing to kill them all is still an option.
 
Jiven said:
they are mostly supremacists who will act against us anyway.
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They'll almost certainly be a problem at some point - it's just a question of what today's problems are. They're not going to immediately fly off the handle - at least, the ones who didn't already get themselves rounded up by ODS aren't - as long as they see their influence isn't getting completely cut off. The upper echelons are as much about keeping power as they are about their actual ideology.

They're certainly the hardest faction to please due to their personal loyalty to Burrowing Owl Hitler, and the general dangers of dealing with fanatical fascists, but the smart ones will settle for no Thales as long as there's a certain amount of Fuck Everyone Else. (Of course, the smart ones are the most dangerous ones in the long term, so it goes both ways.)

(Also, regarding the title of one of the plans - I've updated the Informational section with the known state of the government, you may want to scan it briefly.)
 
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I want to reform really do but I feel the current leading plan is just going to lead us into a civil war sooner then we can handle.

And thats currently something that isn't really good when we have Edelgard and her band of murder Hobos searching for us at the main city.
 
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ebolasos said:
I want to reform really do but I feel the current leading plan is just going to lead us into a civil war sooner then we can handle.
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And the leading plan does nothing to hamper the Empire in some way to prevent them from trying to pull something against us. We can not fight a civil war at home and at the same time be prepared for any espionage attempts from the Adrestians (or, worse, an invasion).
 
The leading plan also give a big foot in door for reformists, always us to quickly enact needed changes and to adapt to the situation.
 
[X] Plan : Ruining the chair in steps, where's Nemesis?

In the interest of consolidating towards a plan that won't risk civil war (even though it doesn't do anything to hamper the Empire; that said, so long as we aren't in a civil war state, we can likely delay the Empire from directly attacking us and limiting them towards espionage actions)
 
Jiven said:
but they are mostly supremacists who will act against us anyway.
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This is somewhat of a self-fulfilling prophecy where Destroy burns Supremacist influence to -9 out of the belief that they're going to choose to fuck with Agartha no matter what, which is nearly twice of -5 that a faction need to break from government and plan hostilities. Considering that the Supremacist's power base is in the military and the spies, I'd worry that a countercoup with Thales back on the head would just happen after the Reformist's power grab.
 
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Vote closed
  • Voting
  • Voting
    • How do i change my vote? Deleting and posting anew, or just editing? Reading through the replies, it does seem feasible to try to avoid a civil war.
     
    Jiven said:
    Vote tied, random choice ?
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    I don't like leaving votes to random chance. We've already had one person talk about switching votes, so I'm going to reopen the vote as a runoff between these two plans:

    [ ] Destroy that fucking seat!
    [ ] Ruining the chair in steps - where's Nemesis?

    If you aren't changing your vote from the original tally there's no need to re-vote, I'll account for it in the final decision. Runoff will last a few hours until afternoon my time.
     
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    I am not a fan of the foreign trade ban, i must say. We are not self-sufficient, we cannot become self-sufficient due to the millenias of neglect and destruction.
     
    fishsicles said:
    [ ] Ruining the chair in steps - where's Nemesis?
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    ThatGuyWithIdeas said:
    [X] Plan Delaying Actions and Future Preparations
    -[X] [MILITARY] Subordinate the military to the Director of Domestic Security, Proclus. [+3 I, +1 X, -2 R]
    -[X] [SPIES] Activate intelligence cells indiscriminately, both to strike at the Empire and have them purge the network for you. [+3 X, +1 P, -1 I, -2 R]
    -[X] [MAKARIA] Reveal the details of the plot and Thales's role. [+5 IR, -2 P, -3 X, -4 S]
    -[X] [TRADE] Ban foreign trade and emphasise self-sufficiency. [+3 XI, -2 P, -3 R]
    -[X] [AGASTYA] Pandrosion, mastermind of the coup and the most politically connected. [+4 P, +1 XR, -2 S, -3 I]
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    QM, you linked the wrong plan for Ruining the chair in steps - where's Nemesis?... the correct plan is actually the following one:
    Starman said:
    [X] Plan : Ruining the chair in steps, where's Nemesis?
    -[MILITARY] Formalise the role of the Agastya as military commander-in-chief. [+3 X, +1 S, -1 IP, -4 R]
    -[SPIES] Create a dedicated Office of Foreign Intelligence, and search for candidates for Director. [+2 R, +1 S, -2 X]
    -[MAKARIA] Reveal the details of the plot and Thales's role. [+5 IR, -2 P, -3 X, -4 S]
    -[TRADE] Legitimise use of deniable assets to bargain for vital supplies. [+3 P, +1 S, -2 IX]
    -[AGASTYA] The senior Directors will serve as a temporary regency. [+3 I, +2 P, +1 XR]
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    TypeIce said:
    Should i delete my old vote?
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    The final vote count will only use each person's latest vote in the thread. (I'm not sure if the automated one will do that from how I set it up - I'm not sure how to do both "from post" and have a time limit - but that's mostly to indicate timing.)
     
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    Appointments and Influence Requirements
  • Informational
    • Before we get into the second phase of voting for Turn 1, which will take a while to prep, I'm going to talk a bit about one of the backstage mechanics I've planned for this quest: influence constraints. You've already seen these from the previous vote, but they were fixed by the nature of the coup. For later turns, the influence constraints will depend on who's in the room doing the negotiating - specifically, the rank and personal preferences of the actual representatives in the room setting policy.

    This can be thought of as a "behind the scenes" post more than a "vital quest mechanics" post. You will not be expected to work out and optimise influence constraints for every appointments vote - there is a lot of multi-step logic involved with how representatives will allocate their influence, and their priorities can change in the implementation phase between appointments and the next policy vote. You will not have perfect information about how each candidate for a position would act if they are in a policy meeting.

    Representatives and Personal Influence
    Each representative has several points of personal influence, depending on their rank and political circumstances. Points can increase either the height or breadth of a representative's influence constraints - that is, the minimum amount of influence to satisfy them, or the number of parties to which that can apply. In the first, fixed policy vote, there were three representatives, which created the constraints you worked under:
    • Proclus had 5 points of influence: 4 from his rank as Chief Director of Domestic Security, and 1 from being the one holding the keys to Thales's cell. He spent these on a height of 5 and breadth of 0 for the Isolationists, creating the single constraint "I ≥ 5".
    • Pandrosion had 4 points of influence from her rank as Chief Director of Infrastructure. She spent these on a height of 3 and breadth of 1 for the Pragmatists and Reformists, creating the constraints "P or R ≥ 3" and "P and R ≥ 0".
    • Eudoxes was a supporter of the Xenophobes, but had no formal government responsibilities for clout. He ensured a bare minimum representation of "X ≥ -5".
    Going forward, the makeup of the policy meeting will be determined by the leadership of each major state organ, and which of their subordinates are most available for the negotiations. Normally, there will be more representatives with fewer individual points - Chief Directors are busy people.

    Who is a Representative?
    Representatives belong to official organs of state, not political blocs - they derive their political legitimacy from whatever responsibilities they hold in the government. Officially, this should be the Agastya and anyone of Directorate rank who does not report to another Director - though in practice junior representatives are often sent.

    While each Office or smaller organ can send multiple representatives, only the highest-ranking member of the group counts for minimum Influence - for instance, if Proclus (Chief Director rank) attends a policy meeting, the number of Domestic Security precinct commanders (Vice Director rank) he brings with him doesn't impact the minimum influence produced by ODS representatives - even if some of them disagree with Proclus's stances! (The Agastya, is, of course, an exception.)

    Ranks and Points
    Points are primarily assigned according to official rank of the individual present. Agarthans are generally distrustful, and will doubt the promises that any subordinate makes on behalf of their leader - only the influence that the representative can muster in their own right gives them influence points. The points per rank, as well as some other privileges of rank, are listed below:

    RankPoint ValueNotes
    Agastya12May invest points to add maximum influence constraints to factions. Maximum constraints start at 3 and can be decreased as low as 0. Can rule on a single policy unilaterally per session, which overrides all influence constraints.
    Chief Director4May claim one relevant policy per session as under their office's remit. Doing so negates their influence constraints for that session. Promoted from Director of major offices only by policy decision.
    Director2Highest rank available without a policy vote on promotion.
    Vice Director1
    Project Director0Only gets the default influence constraint of faction influence ≥ 0.
    Representative w/o Formal AppointmentN/AInformal representatives only restrict faction influence to > -5.

    Additional points are also granted based on political circumstances. The obvious one here is Proclus and Domestic Security being the ones keeping a lid on Thales; Pandrosion has also been known to interfere in less-essential Infrastructure priorities to secure temporary political clout. Chief Directors lose all points, including political points, if they use their rank to take over a policy proposal. Any Agastya or Chief Director interference in policies will be stated at the time of the policy vote being posted, and taken into consideration for the policy calculator sheet for that vote.

    Stacking the Deck
    While one office can't provide multiple representatives, one political faction can hold multiple offices, which does give cumulate influence requirements. Representatives with the same breadth (across the same parties) "stack" quite literally (...inside this metaphor), increasing the overall height of the constraint.

    During Thales's tenure, he could muster as large a constraint as Supremacist ≥ 18 if he brought Solon, Cleobulus, and Odesse in person to a policy meeting and wasn't concerned with any maximum constraints. The opposition could muster Pragmatist ≥ 4 and Isolationist ≥ 2 on a good day, since Proclus wouldn't leave his secure headquarters because he worried Thales would have him killed. (Thales, meanwhile, didn't... really care that much about him.) This is pretty straightforward since everyone's voting for height - but breadth (and less of a monopoly on power) can make it a bit more complicated.

    Suppose a new Vice Director position is added to the Directorate, independent of existing strutures. (One such appointment is guaranteed this round - whoever is in charge of organising the Office of Foreign Intelligence's creation, prior to its formal establishment and the appointment of a full Director.) The most common goal for representatives is to maximise the minimum influence of their faction - though some have other priorities, especially if sympathetic to multiple parties.
    • If they are a Xenophobe, they will outrank Eudoxes's non-appointed status and impose Xenophobe ≥ 1. (If Eudoxes's military position is treated as a Vice Directorate under the Agastya, it will instead create combine into Xenophobe ≥ 2. But that's something for the implementation phase to work out.)
    • If they are an Isolationist, then alone they would create an Isolationist ≥ 1 constraint. But because Proclus already mandates Isolationist ≥ 5, they will instead join his bloc for the constraint Isolationist ≥ 6.
    • If they are a Pragmatist, Reformist, or a member of Pandrosion's split coalition, things are a bit more complicated. Pandrosion's priorities are having both factions represented, and then maximising the minimum for the Pragmatists. On their own, the new Vice Director could create Pragmatist ≥ 1, Reformist ≥ 1, or "Pragmatist and Reformist ≥ 0". Pandrosion, on her own, creates "Pragmatist or Reformist ≥ 3" and "Pragmatist and Reformist ≥ 0".
      • Pragmatist ≥ 1 does not change Pandrosion's priorities, as she will still invest her point in Reformist representation. Because the two representatives would be backing different parties, they do not form a bloc and we are left with the separate constraints P or R ≥ 3, P ≥ 1, R ≥ 0.
      • Reformist ≥ 1 ensures that the Reformists will be represented - so Pandrosion's first priority will be satisfied, and instead she will create the constraint P ≥ 4 to maximise Pragmatist influence (her primary party). This gives final constraints of P ≥ 4, R ≥ 1.
      • Pragmatist and Reformist ≥ 0 has the same breadth and parties as Pandrosion's vote, so if her vote was unchanged the two would combine to form "Pragmatist or Reformist ≥ 4" and "Pragmatist and Reformist ≥ 0". But since Pandrosion's priority is only representation for the Reformists, she would change her vote here as well, giving P ≥ 4, P and R ≥ 0.
      • Reformists are the only bloc that have an incentive to "vote honestly" here - someone who wants both parties equally will vote Reformist, which gives the highest overall height to both, while someone who wants to maximise the gains for the Pragmatists will vote for the two equally!
    What does this mean for the next vote?
    Not much unless you want to do a lot of logic puzzling with imperfect/deliberately flawed information. Again, this is a behind-the-scenes post more than a mechanical one - constraints are a consequence of appointment votes, but not the objective of appointment votes (which should be getting your policies to succeed/fail/be co-opted/etc. in the way you want).

    The next vote will be a choice of candidates for positions at various Directorate levels in order to carry out the policy set in the previous vote. Some of these candidates will be suggested from an existing Office, which will then count that project as in its sphere of influence; others will operate independently and report to the whole Directorate. Independent Directors can show up and act as influence sources on their own - but are generally too busy to do so, unless something immediately relevant to their project is expected to be up for a vote. Meanwhile, expect each established Office to send at least someone to every meeting.

    Anyway, I'm off to draw up a slate of positions and candidates and things for the winning plan. I'll answer questions about stuff that's been done so far if anyone has them - otherwise expect the appointments phase in the next day or so.
     
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  • Informational
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    Turn 1, 6142-05: Establishment of the Office of Foreign Intelligence
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Plan : Ruining the chair in steps, where's Nemesis?
    -[MILITARY] Formalise the role of the Agastya as military commander-in-chief. [+3 X, +1 S, -1 IP, -4 R]
    -[SPIES] Create a dedicated Office of Foreign Intelligence, and search for candidates for Director. [+2 R, +1 S, -2 X]
    -[MAKARIA] Reveal the details of the plot and Thales's role. [+5 IR, -2 P, -3 X, -4 S]
    -[TRADE] Legitimise use of deniable assets to bargain for vital supplies. [+3 P, +1 S, -2 IX]
    -[AGASTYA] The senior Directors will serve as a temporary regency. [+3 I, +2 P, +1 XR]

    SupremacistXenophobeIsolationistPragmatistReformist
    Final Influence-3-1647

    The Interim Government's policy objectives were wide-ranging, but there was one with the most obvious and immediate political consequences: the establishment of a new formal Office of Foreign Intelligence. While Agartha's intelligence services have swelled considerably under Thales, they were never a formal part of the government - they answered to the Agastya alone, without any formal hierarchy or official leadership to be responsible for their actions, and no way to formally cooperate with other Offices to share vital information or receive support.

    Proponents of the regime took to the streets, whispering of how the new government was already acting to reign in the worst of Thales's impulses - a new Office would ensure proper leadership, which wouldn't involve itself in the affairs of the surface as much as Thales's ad-hoc, out-of-control network of cells. A new Office would make it clear that the intelligence apparatus served Agartha's interests, not merely the personal ambitions of the Agastya. A new Office would have to submit reports on its resource consumption for audit like everyone else. (A new Office would be another seat to pack with ineffectual Directorate bureaucrats who won't stand up to do what's necessary to help the true Agarthans.)

    And with a new Office comes a new, independent Directorate seat - or at least an acting one, to handle the work of building the Office itself. By convention, senior officials may only put forward one candidate, leading the uneven political blocs to withdraw to plan their approach. The first applicant came from a most unexpected origin - a secretarial request to determine a reference tag for the Office of Foreign Intelligence (FI? FINT?) led to one of the Office of Archival's notoriously reclusive senior officials being nominated for the post. The man, an absolutely ancient scholar by the name of Hellanikos, has supervised the Office of Archival's stores of classified information for as long as the Office has existed - other than the multiple times he disappeared completely for decades to centuries. He is also, by all accounts - only some of which were politically motivated - quite mad. (In true OArc fashion, the original secretarial request remains unresolved.)

    This application was followed by a perfunctory report from the Office of Scientific and Material Research, suggesting their intelligence liaison for the post. While his lack of seniority and ties to many of Thales's handpicked Directors make him an unlikely candidate, it is notable in that it marks the first acknowledgement of the new government by OSMR: by suggesting Galenos for the post, they are implicitly acknowledging the legitimacy of its existence, and in turn the Interim Government itself. Whatever Thales's loyalists may be planning, they - at least for now - do not have the support of Chief Director Odesse and whatever scientific developments they have pursued in Agartha's name.

    The two unusual appointments are followed by more typical ones: mid-level Directors from both Infrastructure and Domestic Security. Aetios is Infrastructure's leading expert on cryptography, responsible for maintaining the various electronic security systems which remain in use in Shambhala - as well as determining which ones can be safely scrapped as the need for spare parts grows. While he has previously worked with Thales's intelligence forces, he is an Infrastructure man at heart and was eventually dismissed from Intelligence amidst a heavily classified incident, rumored to be one of the first open conflicts between Thales and Pandrosion. Domestic Security's Agariste, meanwhile, has spent most of her career as an Intelligence field agent, only to be transferred back to Shambhala first for medical research, and then transferring to Domestic Security after the research team disbanded. She is one of the few senior Agarthan agents to have worked in all four major, nearby surface nations, having worked on the ground to establish agents across Fodlan and even briefly in Almyra; despite her long history and talent at infiltration, she was deemed unsuitable for promotion by Thales, which is believed to be why she returned to Shambhala.

    The dossiers for each candidate were assembled by the Office of Archival, to prepare for a final decision:

    Aetios Agariste Galenos Hellanikos
    • Code: 
      Age: 744
Augmentation Status: Fifth stage

Rank: Vice Director, OInf
Duty: Cryptographic Protocol Maintenance
Nominator: Pandrosion, Chief Director, OInf

Career:
* OInf labourer prior to 5417.
* Demonstrated talent with electronics, photonics during routine repair shift.
  Forwarded for advanced instruction on recommendation of supervisor.
* Completed education, certified as digital hardware technician.
* Began off-the-books experiments on data compression aimed at reducing average
  message size for simple automata.
* Experiments discovered during investigation of unsanctioned alterations to
  monitoring device software. Reprimanded and promoted to Project Director.
* Supervised refit of monitoring devices to reduce usage of integrated circuits.
* Transferred to Javelin maintenance staff to review messaging protocols.
* Developed novel hardware solution to Javelin authenticator problem, freeing
  use of processors for other tasks.
* [EXPUNGED:AGASTYA:6017]
* Reprimanded and transferred back to OInf.
* Placed as project lead on replacement and salvage of old-gen cryptographic
  authenticators.
* Identified potential vulnerabilities in existing deployment of cryptographic
  communication systems. Submitted report proposing thorough network redesign.
* Developed field-portable cryptosystems for use by surface operatives.
* Collaborated with Intelligence staff on analysis of cryptosystems in use by
  surface nations including Nabateans.
* Submitted further report detailing underlying vulnerabilities in recently
  amended communication protocols.
* [EXPUNGED:AGASTYA:6032]
* [PERMANENT REPRIMAND:AGASTYA:6032] - divulgence of classified information
  outside appropriate hierarchy.
* [EXPUNGED:CDIR INF:6032]
* [EXPUNGED:AGASTYA:6032]
* [EXPUNGED:CDIR INF:6032]
* [EXPUNGED:AGASTYA:6032]
* [EXPUNGED:AGASTYA:6032]
* [EXPUNGED:AGASTYA:6032]
* [EXPUNGED:CDIR INF:6032]
* Officially barred from working on Intelligence projects.
* Promoted to Vice Director after internal OInf review. Tasked with
  minimisation and refinement of entire cryptographic infrastructure.
* Continued to be retained on as-needed basis by Intelligence despite official
  dismissal.

Notes:
* Highly specialised in information technology and cryptography.
* Familiar with Intelligence operatives due to role in developing training
  materials and provision of equipment.
* No experience working outside Shambhala.
* Narrow focus means advancement within OInf unlikely despite talent.
* No political sense.
  [DELETE:No editorialising in archival reports.] [OVERRIDE:CDIR INF:6412]
  Assessment relevant in light of history and present circumstances.
* OInf hasn't worked with Intel much. We prefer our buildings unburdened by
  the crimes against photoelectrical engineering that Intelligence calls a
  surveillance device.
  [DELETE:No editorialising in archival reports.] [OVERRIDE:CDIR INF:6142]
* [ADDENDUM:SEC@CDIR INF:6142] DIR INF.EEM held trial for one discovered in
  CDIR INF's office last week - sentenced to exile after successful prosecution
  by DIR INF.PEM. Thus, not editorialising - documented fact. Submission to
  Archival forthcoming. -m
    • Code: 
      Age: 541
Augmentation Status: Fourth stage, [EXPUNGED:DIR MED:6139]

Rank: Project Director, ODS
Duty: Imperial Intelligence Analysis
Nominator: Proclus, Chief Director, ODS

Career:
* OInf labourer prior to 5817.
* Third stage augmentations failed due to neurological complications.
* Resigned from OInf citing limited opportunity for advancement.
* Volunteered for experimental augmentation study under [EXPUNGED:DIR MED:6139].
* Neurological rejection reaction suppressed, third and fourth stage
  augmentations installed.
* Deemed conditional success of [EXPUNGED:DIR MED:6139]. Transferred to
  intelligence services.
* Demonstrated talent for long-term infiltration. Upon review by Agastya
  Thales, commended but deemed unsuitable for command roles.
* Assisted in distribution of agents across northern Imperial territories and
  Sreng region.
* Assisted in provision of material and intelligence aide pursuant to Directive
  Androcles.
* Assumed long-term identity as tax assessor in Faerghus.
* Assumed identity as scribe in service of surface ruler Klaus of Faerghus.
  Assisted in completion of Directive Trichotomy.
* Assumed long-term identity as member of Leicester trade company. Assisted in
  transport and provisioning of assets in the region.
* Assisted in attempts to establish foothold in Almyran court. Succeeded in
  insertion of small number of agents into the royal household before mission
  was recalled.
* Transferred to Faerghus under new merchant identity.
* Assigned as intelligence asset under DIR MED pursuant to Directive Caracalla.
* Transferred to work under Agastya Thales in Arundel territory upon success of
  Directive Caracalla.
* Assisted in insertion of operatives as servants to Imperial noble houses.
* Transferred to OMed to replicate results of [EXPUNGED:DIR MED:6139].
* [EXPUNGED:CDIR DS:6140]. Demonstrated previously unreported proficiency with
  fire magic.
* [EXPUNGED:CDIR DS:6140].
* [EXPUNGED:CDIR DS:6140]. Cleared of all wrongdoing by ODS investigation.
* Requested transfer to ODS.
* Served as Directoral advisor on Imperial intelligence capabilities.
* Promoted to Project Director overseeing security readiness drills.
* [EXPUNGED:CDIR DS:6142]. No disciplinary action deemed necessary.
* Aided investigation of attempted Imperial intrusion.

Notes:
* Does not speak, communicates in gestures and writing.
* Will burn written communication upon confirmation of comprehension.
  Atmospheric filter advised for prolonged conversation unless interpreter
  available.
* Considerable experience working undercover in multiple surface territories.
* Thorough and meticulous when given orders, but can lack personal initiative.
  [EXPUNGED:CDIR DS:6142].
* If not chosen for OFI, likely candidate for internal ODS promotion to next
  vacant Vice Director position.
* Does not typically discuss politics with ODS colleagues, but known to argue
  with Proclus in private. Despite this, he views her as a protégé of sorts.
* Experimental technology used in augmentation process unstable, cause of
  significant neurological side-effects; project claimed as success due to
  purported benefits for intelligence service, nepotism.
  [DELETE:No record in archive to validate claim.] [OVERRIDE:CDIR DS:6142]
  You can't expunge a file when you're dead, Cleobulus.
  [DELETE:Archival protocol is irrelevant to this file.] [OVERRIDE:CDIR DS:6142]
    • Code: 
      Age: 224
Augmentation Status: Third stage

Rank: Directoral Aide, OSMR
Duty: Intelligence Liaison
Nominator: Odesse, Chief Director, OSMR

Career:
* OASR security staff prior to 6017.
* Selected for intelligence training by DIR ASR.
* Achieved excellent result on aptitude assessments. Commissioned as captain in
  intelligence services by Agastya Thales.
* Transferred to DIR ASR's command to assist in infiltration of Garreg Mach
  Monastery.
* Assumed identity of junior member of medical staff at Garreg Mach Monastery.
* Assisted in acquisition of research samples pursuant to Directive Hegemon.
* Transferred to OASR from intelligence at DIR ASR's request. Continued to
  operate undercover.
* Obtained information on presumed-lost Nabatean conversion weapon "Fetters of
  Dromi", forwarded information to military detachment under Commander Myson.
* Assisted in attempted acquisition of live Nabatean research specimen. Secured
  several useful samples before mission aborted due to Fell Star's interference.
* Issued unsanctioned report on [EXPUNGED:DIR ASR:6137] to Agastya Thales.
  Reprimanded.
* Destroyed corpses of Director Solon and Operative Kronya to eliminate
  potential leak of augmentation technology to Nabateans.
* Transferred to OSMR from OASR during reorganisation after death of Director
  Solon.
* Oversaw extraction and transfer of acquired Nabatean research samples.
* Coordinated transfer of military equipment from OInf and OSMR to DIR MED
  pursuant to Directive Argyros.

Notes:
* Focused on immediate, practical results.
* Experience coordinating intelligence efforts with multiple Offices.
* Limited leadership experience outside small squads. Rarely operated
  independently of superior officers.
* Lacks creativity, flexibility - major impediment to OSMR career.
* Reports are meticulous, but lack proper scientific rigour.
    • Rich (BB code): 
      Age: 2187
Augmentation Status: Sixth stage, archaeotech

Rank: Vice Director, OArc
Duty: Classified Information Archival
Nominator: Herodotus, Director, OArc

Career:
* [AMENDMENT:SEC@DIR ARC:6142:Removed 317 entries of historiographic but not
  political significance. Unabridged brief available on request from OArc under
  original file ID. If DIR ARC asks, there was a transmission error - SEC@CDIR
  INF will confirm.]
* Founding member of modern OArc. Personally selected by Director Hecataeus.
* Supervised integration of prior Shambhalan library infastructure into single
  network under OArc supervision.
* Assisted in development of uniform Shambhalan script.
* First OArc Project Director, tasked with transliteration and digitisation of
  surviving pre-Agarthan documents.
* Assisted Project Director Herodotus in synthesis of surviving pre-Agarthan
  records into a cohesive account of the Perdition.
* Led Archival response to controversies over potential military value of
  Archive data given [EXPUNGED:AGASTYA:4922].
* Persuaded Directorate to permit separate Archive of classified intelligence,
  [EXPUNGED:AGASTYA:4922].
* Promoted to Vice Director, began implementing OArc classification system.
* Established comprehensive criteria for archival of past and present documents
  according to military and scientific sensitivity, encoded using numeral keys.
  Released to [EXPUNGED:AGASTYA:4922] in 4011 - henceforth "4011 code".
* 4011 coding expanded to [EXPUNGED:AGASTYA:4922] as standard practice.
* Upon dissolution of OInt, took custody of records and integrated into OArc
  system.
* Briefly assumed leadership of OArc after [EXPUNGED:DIR ARC:4052].
* [EXPUNGED:DIR ARC:4052] [PROTEST:VDIR ARC.CLX:4052] [DENIED:DIR ARC:4052]
* Upon dissolution of ORD, took custody of records and integrated into OArc
  system.
* Upon dissolution of OAg, took custody of records and integrated into OArc and
  OInf systems.
* Began running unauthorised former OInt assets to secure documents from
  emerging surface nations.
* Operation officially sanctioned by [EXPUNGED:AGASTYA:4922]. 4011 coding
  amended to include recovered surface documents.
* No record of location or activities for one hundred and sixty years.
* Injured leading personal infiltration to recover [EXPUNGED:AGASTYA:4091].
* All documents acquired from [EXPUNGED:AGASTYA:4091] transferred to special
  vault [EXPUNGED:AGASTYA:4922].
* Supported establishment of research Vice Directorate within OArc, possible
  elevation of DIR ARC to CDIR.
* Officially protested establishment of OSMR as independent office. Overruled by
  Agastya Ctesibius, establishment of OSMR proceeds.
* Supervised transfer of ORD documents to OSMR custody.
* [EXPUNGED:DIR ARC:4322]. Cleared of all wrongdoing by OSD investigation.
* Assisted DIR OSMR, Project Director Thales with [EXPUNGED:AGASTYA:4418].
* [EXPUNGED:AGASTYA:4922]. Reprimanded.
* Dissolves remaining OInt cells, recalls all assets to Shambhala.
* Transferred to OSMR as lead archivist. [EXPUNGED:AGASTYA:4922] transferred to
  VDIR SMR.XBIO.
* Ended collaboration with VDIR SMR.XBIO after [EXPUNGED:AGASTYA:4922].
* Privately protested candidacy of VDIR SMR.XBIO for Agastya.
* Declined promotion from Agastya Thales to DIR SMR.
* Transferred back to OArc. [EXPUNGED:AGASTYA:4922]
* Resumed position as VDIR ARC.CLX.
* Assisted in transfer of former ORD documents to OMed, OASR.
* Citing OArc procedures, refused to release former OInt documents to
  Intelligence as it was not an officially recognised Office.
* [ADDENDUM:SEC@DIR ARC:6142:Agastya Thales expunged about twenty consecutive
  entries here over the course of two years.]
* No record of location or activities for eighty years.
* Oversaw dedigitisation of archived documents, allowing decommissioning of
  remaining tape storage robots on OInf request.
* Reprimanded for disorderly conduct at OInf decommissioning facility.
* Released historical essay compilation [EXPUNGED:AGASTYA:5524]. Reprimanded.
* Held in protective custody by ODS after violent altercation with
  [EXPUNGED:AGASTYA:5627].
* Escaped ODS custody, [EXPUNGED:AGASTYA:5628].
* No record of location or activities for three centuries.
* [EXPUNGED:AGASTYA:5972]. Resumed position as VDIR ARC.CLX.
* Declared legally insane by an inquiry led by DIR MED. Position retained due
  to no requirement for legal sanity in OArc policy.
* Took possession of OASR documents after death of Director Solon.

Notes:
* Photographic memory.
* Tends to lose himself in matters of personal interest, especially the occult.
* Unusual talent for not being found. Rumored survival of multiple
  assassination attempts.
* Personal scholarship focused on recent conditions on the surface.
* [ADDENDUM:SEC@DIR ARC:6142:"Recent" subjective in OArc. VDIR ARC.CLX last
  left Shambhala during construction of Fodlan's Locket.]
  [DELETE:Redundant.]
  [ADDENDUM:SEC@DIR ARC:6142:No. Who do you think actually executes DELETE
  requests?]
* Familiar with past foreign intelligence systems from past OInt collaboration.
* Already approved for and familiar with classified intelligence archives,
  other than any documents kept from OArc by Thales's new service.
* Contrary to classical office jokes, he does not need to be returned after
  two weeks, or replaced if stained or soiled.
* If not appointed to OFI, will probably remain at OArc until he disappears
  again. May also do this even if appointed to OFI.
* [ADDENDUM:VDIR ARC.CLX:6142: her corpse still sups blood from the
  wound we dealt this world. in the light of the sun all eyes are blind]

    Besides the candidates, there is also the question of the rank of the acting head of the new office. By tradition, the establishment of a new capital-O Office is considered a different task to actually running it, and the acting head is of lower rank than the final position: a Vice Director builds a full Director's staff, while a Project Director builds a Vice Director's. This is seen as something of a trial run for the candidate, preparing them for a promotion into the longer-term position - or to be replaced by someone more suitable if they fail.

    It is not entirely unprecedented for a new office to be run by a full Director, but doing so would send a very stark political message about the perceived importance of the office - and while such an interim Director would not be promoted immediately upon the office's formal establishment, talk of a Chief Directorship would hound their actions and reputation for both good and ill. (The last offices to be established under full Directors were both established early in Thales's tenure, when he split Medicine and Arcane and Spiritual Research from OSMR, essentially tripling the influence of his major support base in the Directorate. Even his supporters had to admit that as power grabs go, it was pretty naked.)

    * * *

    "One last thing," grumbles Proclus, his face twisted into a knot in a failed effort to hide his distaste for his own words, "regarding the proposed trade network."

    Pandrosion turns to face him slowly, eyes narrowing as she tries to read further into his blank white gaze. "Yes?"

    One of his aides shuffles through the mass of files in front of him, and he draws out a partially-redacted report seized from Thales's cabinets. "If it is using covert assets, would it not be most... efficient to coordinate with those assets already in place?" He tosses the papers haphazardly in Pandrosion's direction. "Thales's operations in Leicester used a lot of merchant groups as cover - almost as many as he did bandits. My girl from Intelligence put half that network together herself, and can vouch for the reliable ones. Whether she gets the seat or not. If we want this done right," here he smirks at her, "it should be OFI that does it."

    What he does not say is that putting the trade network under the nascent Office of Foreign Intelligence would both limit it to strictly an intelligence operation, as well as prevent its director - whatever their rank - from setting policy independently alongside OFI's director. Pandrosion does not need him to say it, of course; it's the same reason she has not sought to claim trade under Infrastructure's nebulous logistical mandate. Working with the old man has been interesting - he says nothing differently than his representatives did, hiding his words beneath a blunt exterior rather than the usual mask of ODS professionalism.

    And, she admits, he's not wrong. It would also help legitimise the Office with the hardliners in her own bloc, who see it as just another form of foreign adventurism - and root it in practical realities instead of Thales's grandiose scheming. As much as an independent directorate might ease establishing a dedicated Office down the road, Thales had established ample precedent for splitting of subdivisions of larger Offices into Director-level postings of their own - so it wouldn't be a retreat, per say, as much as a tactical withdrawal. Or at least that's what she could say to Philon's people if they camped outside her office again.

    So many balls in the air, and only two hands to juggle them. Days like this almost made Pandrosion glad she wasn't Agastya yet. If it's a win-win for me, she thought, let's see how much I can bleed the fossil for it. "An interesting suggestion, Proclus," she begins, a bright, sincere, and slightly predatory smile on her face.

    * * *

    This is the first appointment vote of your government. Generally, these will be done in succession, with more important postings first and less important ones later. Appointments determine who will actually be in charge of carrying out the policies you voted on last session, which has a major impact on whether they succeed, fail, or land somewhere between the two. Candidates not selected for earlier postings may be available for later ones, depending on their interests and the position's relative prestige.

    Any candidate appointed to a position may show up at future policy meetings to influence the outcomes - especially when issues are related to their specific purview. Some of their political leanings might be deduced from their dossiers - some more obviously than others! A higher rank means more influence to throw around if they show up - but also more responsibilities that might stop them from doing so. Sometimes, other issues come up in the appointment process - especially when potentially related policies are involved, like this turn's covert trade network and the OFI leadership appointment; these are handled as part of the same vote, because they're connected. As with policy votes, please vote by plan!

    Who will be Acting Head of Foreign Intelligence?
    [ ] Aetios.
    [ ] Agariste.
    [ ] Galenos.
    [ ] Hellanikos.

    What is the rank of the Acting Head of Foreign Intelligence?
    [ ] A full Director. Unusual; implies high expectations for the office's political influence.
    [ ] A Vice Director. Standard for the establishment of major offices.
    [ ] A Project Director. Standard for the establishment of secondary offices with a narrow focus.

    Will the trade project be considered part of OFI? (If "Yes", Acting Head must be Vice Director or higher.)
    [ ] Yes.
    [ ] No.
     
    Last edited:
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Plan Controlled Madness
    -[X] Hellanikos.
    -[X] A Vice Director. Standard for the establishment of major offices.
    -[X] No.

    As far as I can tell, Hellanikos is experienced while also seemingly somewhat hostile to Thales and Solon. At least Isolationist, maybe Anti-Supremacist choice. Aetios is specialized, Agaste seems too much of a power grab by Proclus, and just no to Galenos.

    And I think it's better to have foreign trade become its own office some time in the future.
     
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