We are like shadows within the Galactic Civil War, unnoticed and untouchable. And like a shadow, we will be a dark plague to the Empire—one they can never extinguish. By any means, using whatever methods necessary, we will see to it that this war comes to an end.
—Fex Arnos
Originally known as Operation Straystar, the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction, more commonly within the organization known as RAIF, outside as the Black Circle, were the unofficial spies and assassins of the Rebel Alliance. A splinter branch faction of the Alliance military, Alliance Intelligence, Alliance Special Operations and the Alliance Special Forces, RAIF was composed of the absolute elite of the Rebel Alliance. Their actual existence was known to very few, even among the Alliance High Command. The Alliance leader, Mon Mothma was particularly left ignorant of their existence.
The Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction didn't share the methods of Mon Mothma, or other "idealistic dreams" of the rest of the Alliance High Command. Despite their name, which was kept to show their past origins and affiliation, RAIF didn't associate with the Alliance whatsoever, and was actually a separate, standalone organization altogether. The leaders of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction, as well as their operatives, didn't restrict themselves from using "darker" methods to achieve their goals. In many instances, RAIF operatives have used morally ambiguous tactics, such as spreading propaganda, assassinating, intimidation or kidnappings. They also did not hesitate using their methods against the Rebel Alliance when certain situations demanded it. Despite their secrecy, there were some outside of their organization who've heard of them. Of those few in the galaxy, from the Galactic Empire to the Hutts, they were believed to be terrorists, and survivors of their attacks referred to them as the "Black Circle".
The RAIF organization had its hand behind multiple anonymous Intel transmissions and technological achievements, such the formation of the E.C.H.O. Visor, which revolutionized their commandos and infiltrators. Their technology was advanced, unarguably superior to what was at the Galactic Empire's disposal. The Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction branch was literally founded by five people in the early years of the Rebel Alliance, and silently developed into an almost exclusively military force. The Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction grew very slowly in its early years, and slowly developed into a more organized faction, though nearly all of the organization's past had been erased from history, making the process of their founding a large unknown. The organizations' secret formation was priority "1", and lasted through the rise of the Fel Empire. RAIF operatives were was split into one of four Executive divisions, with each division specialized in different fields.
Known history[]
Silent insurgents (5.9 BBY—1.1 BBY)[]
They wish to restore the Republic, but I wish to crush the Empire.
—Fex Arnos
General Fex Arnos of Alliance High Command, 2.4 BBY.
The precise time of the Alliance's internal rebellion is believed to have occurred 4 BBY, though the destruction of the organization's formation records prevents its discovery from any outside sources. The earliest hints of insurgency dated back to 6 BBY and a high ranking general of Alliance High Command, General Fex Arnos. In 5.9 BBY, General Fex Arnos called a meeting with the rest of Alliance High Command to propose a new soldier training program to improve the quality and efficiency of their soldiers in order to compensate for their inferior numbers. Although the introduction of a black ops was seen with disapproval by many among Alliance High Command, General Arnos was given clearance to proceed with a government-funded project called Phoenix 71.
In 3.9 BBY, exactly two years after the start of the program, Fex Arnos was given clearance to use his soldiers to accomplish difficult missions supportive to the Rebellion and its cause. What General Arnos had kept secret to the Alliance High Command was that he trained death squad assassins. For the next year and a half, Fex Arnos used his assassins to target particular Imperial leaders, officers, or even key civilian figures whose death would prove instrumental to the Rebellion. In 2.3 BBY, Fex Arnos was exposed by double agents within the Rebellion, and although General Arnos retained his position within the Alliance High Command, project Phoenix 71, was terminated indefinitely, and Fex Arnos lost nearly all of his influence, power, and prestige.
Sometime between the time of the formation of project Phoenix 71 and Fex Arnos' fall-from-grace, several other key figures within the Alliance High Command disagreed with the Rebel Alliance's idealistic tactics. The collaboration was notably brief, barely exceeding the time of a full standard year, as by 1.1 BBY, most of the preparations for an internal break away from the Rebel Alliance were made and some were already being carried out. Alliance leaders Fex Arnos, Oton Baynes, Vudiv Kavan, Laitra Enras and Xinox Dozoa were in a Rebel transport ship when it was destroyed in "raid by pirates". Although their deaths were investigated, no evidence was ever found for survival, and they were classified as dead.
Operation Straystar (1.1 BBY—1.7 BBY)[]
Signal received. Commence with Operation Straystar.
—New Op Straystar recruit
By the time of the Alliance High Command officials "deaths", an underground base on the ice desert outer rim world of Ventos VII was almost completed. The second step for the organization, then known as Straystar, was to eliminate the evidence of their presence in the galaxy. This was done through an operation named after the organization, hence known as Operation Straystar. Operation Straystar targeted key worlds and individuals that had some knowledge or connection, in one way or another, to the organization's foundation despite not being part of it. Operation Straystar was largely a covert operation, and only a few details are known about it. One such detail was the destruction of files and records pending to the organization's founding and existence.
The only planet known to have had evidence of tampered files was the world of Fondor, although as many as twelve worlds, particularly in the Core Worlds and Mid Rim Territories, were supposedly attacked. Another function of Operation Straystar was to eliminate living figures without loyalties to Straystar, or in more blunt terms, assassination. Hundreds of individuals, some outside of the Rebellion, were killed in fashions to avoid suspicions. The effectiveness was phenomenal, as none of the deaths were investigated or suspected of foul play. Operation Straystar was known to have at least four more functions. However, the information regarding the other purposes of Operation Straystar were hidden away. Operation Straystar was believed to have lasted only a few months, but it reaped its results to the fullest. After the end of Operation Straystar, the organization finalized its plans, and its foundation was completed. As the years went on, Operation Straystar, now known as the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction, grew more powerful and organized, founding divisions, subdivisions, councils, sub-councils, and disciplinary squads.
Organization[]
Recruitment and training[]
Of the select few who are potential RAIF agents, less than one third meet required qualifications. Of that third, another half of them die within the first four weeks of trial training.
—Vudiv Kavan
An Espa Division assassin.
Very few private soldiers were capable of catching the eyes of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction. The Empire's anti-alien stance, which gave the Rebel Alliance an advantage in the Galactic Civil War proved fruitful for RAIF as well. If any ever did, they were watched for at several years—each soldier was secretly evaluated differently. Any hint of swerved loyalty to the Rebellion, or marginal Imperial sympathy would immediately void of them for potential operatives. Qualifications for potential RAIF agents were enforced, and to consider one for recruitment, hatred towards the Galactic Empire or loyalty to the Rebellion had to astounding, almost boarding that of fanatical.
If they showed the proper promise, they were introduced to the organization. Declining their invitation resulted in execution. If potential RAIF candidates were chosen and accepted, they were placed in one of the four divisions, depending on their preference or specialization. Many of the alien species in particular possessed abilities particularly suited to covert military operations or brute force annihilation. In addition, the Empire's oppressive rule caused many Humans and aliens alike to seek sympathize with the Alliance, allowing for the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction to have a broader and more selective potential recruitment candidates.
Many candidates for RAIF agents were already members of the Alliance Special Forces or Alliance Special Operations. Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction candidates who hadn't possessed a professionally military trained background usually had already undergone advanced military training elsewhere or has had tremendous battle experience and endured harsh trials. When selected for divisions, the candidates would go through another round of advanced training at an elite war campsite at a disclosed location on harsh terrain planets. The trainees were taught advanced skills essential for RAIF service, but the primary purpose of this phase of training was to cull the weak and weed out candidates lacking the drive to succeed or to force a success in their missions. The standards in every area of training were high and unbending. The drop-out rate for RAIF candidates was equally high and was outnumbered only by the death toll.
During training, all candidates were cut off from planetary communications, and relied on only themselves and their commanding officers. During exercises, RAIF trainees performed numerous special-tactic deployment scenarios depending on their laid-out profession, including stealth drills, assassination techniques, sabotage, mass-scale executions, physically and mentally based interrogation techniques and signal and encoded message interpretation. The life-death exercises would dramatically increase in intensity and difficulty at increasingly accelerating rates as the trainees progressed through their training, and included potential death match drills against other teams and failure-rigged reenactments. The final stage of RAIF training climaxed with a real life special ops mission, varying on their training fields. Failure ended in death.
The successful completion of the mission, also mended with the way the victory conditions were met (ie. chance or luck, superior military tactics, willpower & determination, ect.), as well as the attitude during the mission (ie. panicking, calm & level-headed, brash, lack of confidence, insecurity, etc.) were the determining factors. These factors decided either the recruits' advancement to more intensified fields of specialization training, leading to full membership or, if the recruits' qualities demonstrated he or she was lacking, they would either have to stay for a repeated training course, or would be killed for incompetence.
For the final phase of specialization training, recruits were sent back to the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction Headquarters on Ventos VII. There is where the final stage of training would take place, and would last for two standard weeks. After the recruits completed all phases of their training, they would effectively disappear from the galaxy. Identities were destroyed, and unauthorized contact with those outside of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction were strictly forbidden, and considered to be among the faction's firmest rules. Outside Ventos VII, the identity of RAIF operatives were above top-secret in classification. If enemy or ally outside the RAIF organization discovered their identities, death to the interloper was certain. If this wasn't possible through some set of circumstances, the operative would be executed.
Advanced Aviation Military Training course[]
Spanning over thousands of worlds, our vision peers throughout the stars of the galaxy.
—Laitra Enras
An Akar Division supercommando.
The Advanced Aviation Military Training course or more often summarized as the AAMTC was the training course designed for recruits within the Executive divisions who decided to take specialized aviation training. This course was optional to all Executive division agents, however all Executive division regimental commanders and lieutenants had to complete the AAMTC program. Of all the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction agents, those who had the skill and finesse to add the title of RAIF Aviator was just over 1/5th. This was not necessarily due to a lacking in adequate piloting skills, rather, it was due to the AAMTC program's high demands.
The Advanced Aviation Military Training course allowed for 250 applicants to enter every six months, and was considered the most difficult training course in the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction. The failure and drop-out rate was 64%, and the death toll was 26%. With the statistics laid out, the AAMTC program took an average of 60 lives every course, further averaging the death toll to 160 lives out of 500 each year. Few who dropped-out of the AAMTC program decided to re-entered, and of those who did, many weren't fortunate enough to survive the program again.
The Advanced Aviation Military Training course program took four years to complete, though this depended on the skill of the recruits, and took place at one of two space military stations on either ends of the galaxy. The first, known as RNI Station: Optimums, was located approximately 1,200 parsecs from the planet of Anoth. The second, known as RNI Station: Raasmerk, located approximately 2,077 parsecs from the planet of Zonama Sekot. The ships used by the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction's Executive divisions were four variants of the Ultimatum Starfighter Tactical Unit or USTU, which were starfighters that had adjustable functions and designs.
Those within the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction who successfully completed the Advanced Aviation Military Training course were secondarily placed within RAIF's Starfighter Corps. The more powerful command-class fleet, known as the RAIF Naval Fleet, was the force which was commanded by RAIF's High Command Branch located within the Supreme Council division. The training course for RAIF's naval tacticians were far shorter than that of their starfighter subordinates, and were far less intense. All information on RAIF's High Command was strictly confidential and little was revealed towards those of the Executive divisions.
Starship fleets[]
For this mission, we're going to rendezvous with the main fleet over Ventos VII. We're actually going to get to see it this time.
—A Syin Subdivision aviator
A Qoya division Intelligence Analyst.
Although the existence of a formal naval fleet was known, very few of the Executive divisions, including the Syin subdivision, had actually seen the fleet. It was in constant movement throughout the galaxy by moving through protected, researched sectors. The Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction Fleet was under the command of the Supreme Council division, and was headed by five founders of RAIF. The Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction's Fleet's starships were organized into lines of battle, not different from the customs of Alliance Fleet, however, they did have elements of Imperial influence, such as their choices in System Force formations. Their organizing of the Line and Starfleet Order of Battle and Command also had strong Imperial undertones.
Each line of battle was composed of three elements: heavy cruisers, support ships and anti-starfighter vessels. A battle line's size and composition differed depending on available units or the mission. By direct order from Fex Arnos and the original founders, the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction Fleet was to be deployed into battle as a last resort to avoid any potential survivors witnessing their presence. The Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction's Fleet was built largely from the ships which made up the Alliance Fleet, although they were visibly modified for superior performance and effectiveness. The Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction Fleet also maintained Fleet Regiments to assist in ship security and secrecy, and all ships, regardless of their size, were equipped with cloaking devices. The Fleet also maintained Espa division and Akar division for starcruiser infiltration and interior tactical assaults when engaging larger type battlecruisers, such at the Imperial Star Destroyer.
Organizational Divisions[]
Everything in RAIF is divided into divisions, even our leaders are divided up.
—An anonymous RAIF soldier
The Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction were split into two distinct divisions called the Supreme Council Division and the Executive Division. The Supreme Council Division was the head of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction, and lead the entire organization. The Supreme Council Division was made up of one main council, the Supreme Command Council, and three sub-councils, the Advisory Sub-council, the Economic Management Sub-council, and the Ordnance and Supply Sub-council. The Supreme Command Council wielded the absolute power in the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction, whereas the three sub-councils managed the organization through different functions, which primarily included economic management, obtaining and organizing ordnance and supplies, and advising the Supreme Command Council in a wide range of matters, from concerning the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Civil War to pirate raids and undercover missions in the outer rim regions.
The Executive Division were the military branch of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction. The Executive Division's main duty was to carry out the orders of the High Council Division. Often called "the backbone of RAIF", the Executive Division were exclusively of military executors. The range of skills each operative had were usually close within each division. For example, one Qoya Division analyst may specialize in encrypted code ciphering, while one analyst may excel at intercepting secured messages on private channels. On the other hand, unlike with each other, members of one division often contrast in professions and abilities when compared to other divisions. Most notably, the Espa Division use espionage and assassination whereas the Akar Division use brute-force and highly destructive methods. Finally, the Executive Division is the only division to have a Straffen Corps, the Executive Division's disciplinary unit. Although highly trained in their own rights, every member of the Straffen Corps were trained to be something an anti-trooper, and specialized in using skills that undermined the operatives they monitored.
The High Council Division[]
If the Executive division is the backbone of RAIF, then the Supreme Council division is the mastermind.
—A Qoya Division intelligence analyst
The Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction Grand Council chambers.
The High Council Division of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction were actually three sub-councils and one senior council. The three sub-councils were the Advisory Sub-council, the Ordnance and Supply Sub-council, and the Economic Management Sub-council. The senior council was known as the Supreme Command Council, and led the other sub-councils as the highest branch in the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction. Each of the three sub-councils served a specific purpose in the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction and answered directly to the senior Supreme Command Council. None of the three sub-councils interacted with each other, nor did their council rooms.
The High Council Division was highly organized and secretive. All information that passed through from one sub-council was extremely confidential to the other sub-councils. On only one occasion would all three sub-councils, as well as the senior Supreme Command Council, meet together, which would only take place if the circumstances demanded all of the Supreme Council division be there. This usually involved major decisions, such as crucial information leaks, discovery of the existence of RAIF by outside sources, particularly if the person was an important military or political figure, or major turning points in the Galactic Civil War which would affect RAIF.
The Supreme Command Council[]
Within RAIF, the Supreme Command Council wield absolute power and authority, but even most of them have a superior. Only our leader, Fex Arnos, answers to no one.
—An Akar Division supercommando
The Supreme Command Council, often abbreviated to the SCC and known formally as the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction Supreme Command Council, was the military nerve center of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction, consisting of the Qoya division leader, Oton Baynes, the Syin subdivision leader, Vudiv Kavan, the Akar division leader, Xinox Dozoa, the Vzen division leader, Laitra Enras, and the Espa division leader and current leader of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction, Fex Arnos. The Supreme Command Council was responsible for setting the overall strategy for the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction as well as overseeing the entire organization, jointly directing all operations of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction. Because each of the members of the Supreme Command Council led each of the divisions, the Supreme Command Council directly commanded of all of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction's ground and space forces.
The Advisory Sub-council
The AS has no real power, but it's their strong influence you have to respect.
—An anonymous RAIF soldier
The Advisory Sub-council, often abbreviated to the AS and known formally as the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction Advisory Sub-council, was an eleven-being body that advised the Supreme Command Council in the operations of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction. The Advisory Sub-council held a fair amount of influence over the Supreme Command Council and were chosen from the most trusted members of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction. Uniquely, however, the Advisory Sub-council held no absolute command over any function within the Rebel alliance Intelligence Faction. Technically, the Advisory Sub-council wielded very little actual power, and legally, the Sub-council's only real power was to approve or disapprove of the Supreme Command Council's final policy decisions.
The Economic Management Sub-council
An organization like ours doesn't run on nothing. In one form or another, everything in the galaxy is run on credits. Even us.
—An anonymous RAIF soldier
The Economic Management Sub-council, often abbreviated to the EMS and known formally as the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction Economic Management Sub-council, was an eleven-being body that oversaw the management of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction's funds and income. The Economic Management Sub-council differed from the other subdivisions of the Supreme Council Division, as it was granted a degree of power and authority over some of the divisions within the Executive Division. Specifically, the EMS were authorized to make use of the analysts of the Qoya Division to locate the whereabouts of the hidden Imperial vaults through encrypted data files of various Imperial data banks, as no one one data bank terminal held the exact locations. Once the Qoya Division analysts were able to pinpoint the vaults' ever changing location, they were required to monitor the security operations and locate breaks and weaknesses within the Imperial security task forces. The EMS preferred to use espionage to siphon the amounts credit count totaling from the vaults, hence, they relied on the operatives of the Espa Division who doubled as Syin Subdivision aviators. The organizing of tactical raids on the Galactic Empire's vaults was extremely strict due to the unusually high level of security, and often took hours to reach the heart of the vault. The repeated process siphoning countless millions of credits over time and the success of the operations brought great wealth to the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction on an annual basis.
The Ordnance and Supply Sub-council
We have everything we need by watching the development of the galaxy. Take the best stuff, combine it together, and you get some of the most advanced technology you'll ever see.
—An anonymous RAIF soldier
The Ordnance and Supply Sub-council, often abbreviated to the OSS and known formally as the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction Ordnance and Supply Sub-council was an important part of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction's Supreme Council Division. Its duty was the management of all supplies belonging to the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction, most notably on Ventos VII, and to oversee the technological evolution and weapons development of the galaxy. Most of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction's superior technology (such as the Tripple-Ion Electromagnetic Shockwave Blaster Cannon and the E.C.H.O. visor) sprouted from the surveillance of the Ordnance and Supply Subdivision. Another function of the Ordnance and Supply Sub-council was to carefully watch over the military supplies and to warn about any supply shortages or exhaustion.
The Executive Division[]
The Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction was built on the spine of the Executive Division. We receive our orders, and we make our invisible mark.
—An anonymous RAIF soldier
The Executive Division of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction were made up from four divisions and one subdivision. Each of the four elite divisions possessed and honed military operatives of different skills and specializations. The four elite divisions greatly differed in tactics and procedure compared to one another. Consequently, they largely operated independently of each other, albeit the Syin Division was composed of operatives from each of the four elite divisions. Each of the four elite divisions possessed well over 650 operatives, each of them divided into three-man-team type squads. Though disciplined to extreme levels and admirably organized among the squad regiments, the four divisions often experienced rivalries among the other divisions. Due to their fierce clashing of tactics and specialization, this was most notably and obviously between the Espa division and the Akar division, although these rivalries were usually between actual team regiments of the either divisions.
Espa Division[]
The Executive Divisions are made from four others and a subdivision. The Espa are the assassins, the ones who are never seen and leave no trace. [...]
—An anonymous RAIF soldier
The Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction Espa Division senior squad regiment, the Junox squad.
The Espa Division (pronounced: ĕsʹpʰaː), known by formality as the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction Espa Division, were the elite assassins of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction. The members of the Espa Division greatly specialized in assassinations, kidnappings, espionage, interrogation and the techniques of the like. The Espa Division operatives were most often armed with high-powered super-scope incinerating sniper rifles known as the Thermal-Atomic Fusion Incinerator Blaster Rifle (TAFIBR), and a rechargeable radiation-based blaster pistol. The Espa Division operatives were armored in advanced powered armor suits known as the Hypion-Class Compact Powered Flex Exoskeleton (HY-CPFE) Assault Armor.
This assault armor was an externally powered blaster-proof flex armor, which was equipped with a personal Multi-Task All-Purpose Elemental and Signal Dampening (MA-EASD) stealth field generator which were devices that were semi-adaptable to situations, sound pattern amplifiers, multi-language translators, combat visors, E.C.H.O. Visors, and anti-oxygen re-breather masks for the ability to carry out missions in any environment. Although not standard issue, many Espa Division operatives stored two plasma-blade knives located in pouches on the left and right sides of the waist. The HY-CPFE Assault Armor was also equipped with magnetized grids in the exoskeleton's hard points, including, but not limited to, the hand-plates within the gloves, the armored kneecaps and the soles of the fibered boots. One of the Espa Division's trademark weaponry was their low powered Rad-Grenade which was a silent-activating grenade that continuously emits a thermal radiation essence, which was used to quietly silence a room when they needed their targets alive.
Members of the Espa Division relied on secrecy and silencing tactics as opposed to the brute force tactics of the Akar division. Espa operatives were expert killers and infiltrators, and every member was part of a team. The leader of the Espa Division was General Fex Arnos of the Supreme Council division and current leader of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction. The regimental commander of the Espa Division was Regimental Commander Gearom, and his regimental lieutenant was Regimental Lieutenant Layce.
Akar Division[]
[...] The Akar are the supercommandos, the ones that crush everything without equal in power and brute efficiency. [...]
—An anonymous RAIF soldier
The Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction Akar division senior squad regiment, the Lambda squad.
The Akar Division (pronounced: eɪʹkɑɹ), known by formality as the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction Akar Division were the elite supercommandos of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction. The members of the Akar Division primarily excelled in mass-scale purging, demolitions, battling against small-sized army battalions, and brute force tactics of the like. The Akar Division operatives were most often armed with dense-cell heavy barreled compacted cannon blasters known as Tripple-Ion Electromagnetic Shockwave Blaster Cannon (TIESBC), and dual wrist-mounted energy blasters. The Akar Division operatives were armored in the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction's most revered powered armor suits known as the Ultoha-Class Enhanced Powered Durasteel Exoskeleton (UC-EPDE) Battle Armor.
This battle armor so dense to the degree that it was virtually invulnerable to any land-based attack, from turret blasterfire to minor orbital bombardments, and was a dual extra-internally powered durasteel-plated armor, which was also equipped with a state-of-the-art biological energy source—the actual soldier. The combat goggles in the UC-EPDE Battle Armor was not nearly as sophisticated as the Espa Division's E.C.H.O. Visor, but it had a battle scanner which automatically targeted any and all of the weakest points to a hostile, ensuring peak battle performance. They were also armed with multi-environmental anti-oxygen re-breather masks, four D-344 Blaster rifles and short swords mounted on their backs for melee battling. One of the Akar Division's trademark weaponry was their grenade discs, which were sharply bladed war-discs set to violently detonate upon targeted contact.
Members of the Akar Division relied almost completely on brute force, although they did use it in tactful means and measures, as opposed to the common misconception of them using ill-thought out plans and obvious and flawed straightforward tactics. The leader of the Akar Division was Captain Xinox Dozoa of the Supreme Council division and one of the five founding members of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction. The regimental commander of the Akar Division was Regimental Commander Stenson, and his regimental lieutenant was Regimental Lieutenant Tosal.
Vzen Division[]
[...] The Vzen are the spies and infiltrators, and they do so on a galactic scale. With the exception of Marshal Enras, no one really knows or where who the Vzen are—no one really knows how they operate. [...]
—An anonymous RAIF soldier
The Vzen Division (pronounced: viːʹzən), known formally as the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction Vzen Division, were the infiltrators of RAIF. Of all the other divisions within the Executive Division, the Vzen Division carried the most duties and was arguably the most vital. Their highest priority was making sure that the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction stayed secret from the rest of the galaxy. Members of the Vzen Division were the most secretive of all the Executive Divisions, an their identities were of the highest classification to the rest of the Executive Division, and even towards the sub-councils within the Supreme Council Division. Only Marshal Enras, the leader of the Vzen division had total authorized access to them and their whereabouts.
The operatives of the Vzen Division were massively spread throughout the galaxy, and earned the nickname of "RAIF's eyes". The operatives of the Vzen Division literally watched the galaxy from every angle, especially details of the Empire. Every Vzen operative masqueraded as someone else; bounty hunters, mercenaries, criminal grunts, Imperial officers of the Galactic Empire, Rebel Alliance soldiers—anyone or any organization that controlled so much as a castle was fully infiltrated. The operatives of the Vzen Division carried no weapons supplied by the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction and were the absolute elite at stealth, espionage, and spying, perfectionist of "hiding in plain sight". Of the Executive divisions, operatives pf the Vzen Division had the most wide set amount of skills, ranging from acting and impersonations to silent killing techniques and the difficult ability to disguise one's voice. Because of their nature, the Vzen Division had the most numerous amount of operatives, exceeding well over two thousand, easily outnumbering the rest of the Executive division and the Supreme Council division. A final, vital function of the Vzen Division was their aid in the financial settings of RAIF. Due to their "job occupations" in the galaxy, large pools of credits flowed to the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction, gathering more that the Economic Management Sub-council.
The members of the Vzen Division rarely had constant contact to the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction except with Laitra Enras. Consequently, the Vzen Division had no true headquarters, but only a restricted central communications room. The leader of the Vzen Division was Marshal Laitra Enras of the Supreme Council division and one of the five founding members of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction. Like the rest of the Executive division, the Vzen Division had a regimental commander, whose name was Regimental Commander Horuis, and a regimental lieutenant whose name was Regimental Lieutenant Sokos.
Qoya Division[]
[...] The Qoya are the analysts, the ones that deal with signal annalists and communications, those sorts of things. They come from about every background, giving us a near limitless amount of hacking tactics. [...]
—An anonymous RAIF soldier
A Qoya division intelligence analyst, one of several hundreds.
The Qoya Division (pronounced: kOʹjə), known formally as the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction Qoya Division were the signal and intelligence analysts of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction. Operatives of the Qoya Division were often split into teams, although within the teams, they were known for working in solitude. The Qoya Division analysts were responsible for handling large amounts of data from tens of millions of sources, searching for enemy, usually Imperial, activity by analyzing the patterns or trends in the data they handle and transmitting the information to Crytek Base on Ventos VII. Analysis also handled, examined and copied useful technologies, even partially responsible for developing a few of their own.
Members of the Qoya Division that analyzed signals particularly examined the channel through which information was transmitted. Members of the Qoya Division Signal were notorious for over-analyzing signals without merit, often viewed as wasting time. When Qoya Division analysts operated, they did so by applying blindingly sophisticated mathematical techniques in order to crack what may seem to be nonexistent meanings from chaotic data and siphoning invaluable information. Regardless of their background, most (if not all) of the Qoya Division analysts were responsible for all code-breaking by the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction. Many Qoya Division analysts specialized in breaking the security of the communications between Imperial branches, or duplicating militarily strategic messages on secure channels.
Although fewest among the Qoya Division, there were some analysts that were responsible for analyzing an enemy's hardware, figuring out how it worked and devising methods to provide the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction with superior hardware. Rather than analyzing encoded messages or signals, a few members did a better job analyzing enemy gear, followed by using said information into producing its own.
Syin Subdivision[]
[...] The Syin aren't an officially established division, but their aviation skills are every enemy pilot's worst nightmare. Their courses are brutal, and most of those who don't drop out don't come back alive.
—An anonymous RAIF soldier
An Espa Division operative seconding as a Syin Subdivision aviator.
The Syin Subdivision (pronounced: sēĭn), known formally (though not officially) as the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction Syin Subdivision were the aviators of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction. Made up from the other Executive Divisions (namely the Espa Division and the Akar Division), the members of the Syin Subdivision secondarily specialized in aviation dogfighting and surgical strikes. Because they were not officially part of RAIF's navy, the Syin Subdivision used heavily modified starships. To avoid identification, the ship used depended on the aviator's preference—anything from the M3-A Scyk-Class starfighter to the StarViper-class attack platform could potentially have been used.
The Syin Subdivision usually worked in squadrons, and squadrons were known to occasionally pair-up to complete tasks, depending on difficulty. Because the Syin Subdivision was not a true division, operatives who had successfully completed the Advanced Aviation Military Training course were typically called upon from their respective divisions to commence the assigned mission. Based solely on their preference and desire, Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction operatives may choose to be regular Syin Subdivision operatives, and reside within either of the two Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction naval institution. Although the RAIF operatives could become regular agents of the Syin Subdivision, their originally assigned division took priority over the Syin Subdivision, and the operatives must return to Ventos VII for their prioritized missions.
Depending on the mission, the starfighter class and model, and the aviator, members of the Syin Subdivision would prefer different tactics, ranging from the brutish and straightforward tactics of the Akar Division to the stealth and espionage approach of the Espa Division. The leader of the Syin Subdivision was Admiral Vudiv Kavan of the High Council Division and one of the five founding members of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction. Although unofficial, the assumed regimental commander of the Syin Subdivision was Regimental Commander Rinous, and his regimental lieutenant was Regimental Lieutenant Avik.
Straffen Corps[]
What happens when a soldier develops private treacherous thoughts, betrays his comrades, seeks his own ambitions? What happens when you must defeat someone you've trained to be unstoppable. What happens when a walking weapon malfunctions? This is not an unfounded fear, this is real.
—Vudiv Kavan
A Straffen Corps cyborg.
The Straffen Corps, known formally as the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction Straffen Corps were the cybernetic disciplinary units of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction. Unlike the remainder of the Executive Division, the Straffen Corps were neither a division nor a subdivision. Instead, the members of the Straffen Corps were incorporated into each division of the Executive Divisions, monitoring each division separately from the other. Members of the Straffen Corps, depending on which division they were located, were trained to have the necessary skills to take down "undisciplined" RAIF operatives. The Straffen Corps of the Espa Division, for example, were trained to undermine the military tactics used specifically by Espa Division operatives.
To keep track of all Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction members, Straffen Corps members, especially those monitoring the nigh untraceable members of Vzen Division, were constantly updated with the location of members not a Crytek Base. Straffen Corps members had approximately 30% to 45% of their bodies replaced with cybernetic enhancements, which usually included their limbs as well as the life-supporting areas of their bodies, such as their heart, lungs, sections of the brain, kidneys and the like. Straffen Corps agents were fiercely trained and almost exclusively worked solo, although when facing highly trained units, such regimental commanders, regimental lieutenants, or weapon specialists, they were known to work in small teams, never exceeding the numbers of three. Even then, they rarely contacted each other, and teammates prefer to adopt working alone towards the same ultimate objective, rather than actually working together as a team. Although only two teams and one lone agent (all separate and isolated events) have ever rebelled against the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction, the Straffen Corps were kept in use, if only as an intimidation well earned to possible insurgencies.
The members of the Straffen Corps largely monitored only the Espa, Akar and Vzen Divisions, although they occasionally had a presence within the Qoya Division, and some members were specially trained to track members who may second as Syin Subdivision aviators. The Straffen Corps were headed by the leader of the Syin Subdivision and one of the founding members of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction, Vudiv Kavan. The Straffen Corps had an authority above the rest of the Executive Division, and were led by units personally trained by Admiral Vudiv Kavan, Major General Ghates and his second-in-command, Lieutenant Colonel Hawk.
Areas of operation[]
We move according to the orders of our superiors. We depend exclusively on organized tactics and operations.
—An anonymous RAIF soldier
Although the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction's headquarters, Crytek Base, was located on Ventos III, which was located far into the galaxy's outer rim, the faction's operatives operated largely in the sectors of Core Worlds to the Inner Rim Territories. Within the Core Worlds, Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction's agents operated most often and notably in the Kuat Sector, Coruscant Sector, Corellian Sector, Azure Sector, Farlax Sector, Testarr Sector and Widek Sector. Although less occupied than the Core Worlds and Inner Rim Territories, Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction operatives were also present within a few of the sectors of the Colonies Regions, particularly the Barma Sector, Haldeen Sector, and Tapani Sector, as well as Herglic Space and Devaron Space.
The Inner Rim Territories were the second most populated regions monitored by the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction, and monitored sectors included the Japrael Sector, Callia Sector, Harrin Sector, Orus Sector, Fakir Sector, Bogden Sector and Airon Sector. Next was the Expansion Region, which was the second least occupied by the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction. Sectors occupied in the Expansion Region include the Brak Sector, Ehosiq Sector, Juris Sector, Lostar Sector, Mondress Sector, Mieru'kar Sector, Trestis Sector, Hollan D1 Sector, Kanchen Sector and the Yinchorr (Immalia) Sector. After the Expansion Region came the Mid Rim Territories, which was the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction's third most occupied galactic region. Although less populated than the Core Worlds and Inner Rim Territories, it had the most massive amount of occupied worlds. Sectors occupied were of a wide range, and included the Bothan Sector, Kesh Sector, Glythe Sector, Eislomi Sector, Ottega Sector, Juvex Sector, Rayter Sector, Mytaranor Sector, Dufilvian Sector, Yushan Sector, Alaris Expanse and Hutt Space.
Because Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction did not occupy any space territories in the Wild Space regions, the final regions occupied by the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction was the Outer Rim Territories. Of all the galactic regions, agents who operated within the Outer Rim Territories were the most spread out and, relatively speaking, disorganized. Although not the region where they are most numerous, the Outer Rim Territories was mostly occupied by undercover operatives of the Vzen Division. Sectors occupied by the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction included Calamari Sector, Braxant Sector, Exarga Sector, Mandalore Sector, Lambda Sector, Javin Sector, Indrexu Sector, Ikenomin Sector, Tendrannan Sector, Trax Sector, Vorzyd Sector, Yarith Sector, Obtrexta Sector and the Tion Hegemony.
Locations and outposts[]
The three Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction space stations. (Top to bottom:RCSH Grand Council Station, RNI Station: Optimums, RNI Station: Raasmerk)
Due to their secretive disposition, the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction had only four locations, with one home base. The headquarters of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction was located on the barren ice-desert world Ventos VII, its formal name being Crytek Base. Crytek Base was a massive military installation on an otherwise uninhabitable planet. Although Crytek Base was a fairly tall building, the great majority of the base was located beneath the ground, and went down approximately 700 meters beneath the surface. Crytek Base was build over a deep trench known at the Reuhal Abyss, which extends as deep as 3,343 meters beneath Ventos VII's surface.
The second location was above Ventos VII. Orbiting the planet was the station used by the Supreme Council Division known as the RCSH Grand Council Station. The RCSH Grand Council Station was used when all of the Supreme Council Division met in unison. The RCSH Grand Council Station had only that use, but when it was occupied, it was the most heavily guarded of the three space stations. The third location was RNI Station: Optimums, which was located approximately 1,200 parsecs from the planet of Anoth. This station was used for training in the AATC program, and served as a military surveillance outpost. The fourth location was RNI Station: Raasmerk, which was located approximately 2,077 parsecs from the planet of Zonama Sekot. Like RNI Station: Optimums, RNI Station: Raasmerk served and a military training institution and surveillance outpost. All Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction space stations were heavily armed, and equipped with a massively-powered stealth field generator.
Behind the scenes[]
The Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction was created on May 11, '07, and was abandoned for over half of a year until it was eventually picked up again on December 14, '07.
The simplified technical readouts of the Espa Division's HY-CPFE Assault Armor.
The Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction used a series of alternate video games or television programs to imagine the Executive Division operatives. Shows or games used in the article were from:
- Crysis (Espa Division)
- Hellgate: London (Akar Division)
- Timeshift (Straffen Corps)
- Battlestar: Galactica (Syin Subdivision)
The Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction was inspired by the Alliance Special Forces and the Alliance Special Operations.
The word straffen is Dutch in lineage, and translates in English as "to sentence and to punish", keeping in line with the Straffen Corps duty.
It is interesting to note that all of the names of the divisions (and subdivisions) within the Executive Division are composed of only four letters.
The Espa Division of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Faction has a very minor crossover mention with the mercenary and bounty hunter, Ontuse Karaane, who managed to kill a pre-Espa Division operative who was taking on a special ops mission for their final stage of training.
Appearances[]
- Shadow War: War in Crisis
- Shadow War: Behind the Lines
- Shadow War: The Black Circle
- Shadow War: Loyalty & Betrayal