Sic transit gloria mundi
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Intent: Expand on Firemane and further flesh out a group already subbed in Codex.
Image Credit: Here.
Role: The Investigative Reaction Unit provides some muscle for the Truthseekers, a group of Force-Sensitive investigators in Firemane's intelligence. They provide assistance in carrying out investigations against traitors and infiltrators.
Permissions: ARGH gear available per this thread. Permission for all ArmaTech gear and all other subs made by Laira Darkhold's writer here and here. Permission for Vanir items here. Permission to use Tricks of the Trade submissions here.
Links: Xioquo, Falleen, Fire for the Firemane, Atrisia, Let's Talk.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Unit Name: Investigative Reaction Unit, or IRU for short. Nicknamed 'The Unit'.
Affiliation: Siobhan, Firemane, House Kerrigan-Alcori, Order of Fire, General Research Unit, Truthseekers, Ziva Khalan.
Classification: Special Forces.
Description: The Investigative Reaction Unit has been conceived as a special unit to give the Truthseekers some backup. Their duties involve counter-terrorism, providing support during investigations and arrests of infiltrators, enemy agents and so on. They excel at surveillance and direct action operations. The members of the IRU are well-trained in surveillance operations and direct action operations. In short, they do a lot of the legwork for the spooks.
To make sure they do not get too big for their britches, it operates under direct military and GRU oversight. The Truthseekers are an investigative agency and internal security organisation. All Truthseekers are Force-Sensitives who specialise in investigation, interrogation and information gathering. Rather than display the flashy powers that are commonly associated with Force-users, their esoteric training focused on empathic and mind-affecting abilities to sway, terrify or mentally dominate others, conduct mind probes and separate truth from lies.
Several Truthseekers are skilled in psychometry and can manipulate memories, though their skill level varies. Incredibly few Truthseekers are proficient in the use of a lightsabre beyond knowing the basics and many of those would have never used one in a combat situation. They are responsible for detecting, investigating, analysing and eliminating threats to the security of Firemane Industries and House Kerrigan-Alcori. However, they do not operate in a vacuum. They are a special branch of the Order of Fire and military counter-intelligence. Their normal monitoring activities can uncover things, but they need a warrant before they can make arrests, especially of anyone important. The Truthseekers are not a large group, as the leadership is wary of creating a secret police like the Imperial Security Bureau, so the ISF provides support.
Most of the members of the Unit, as the IRU is nicknamed, are not Truthseekers themselves, but soldiers from other branches who have been recruited to serve in the unit. Selection to the IRU is available to all members of Firemane's armed forces. Candidates are required to undergo a rigorous training programme. Selection also involves a comprehensive background investigation and psychological testing. Assuming they are admitted, they receive further training in a special training course. They are trained in marksmanship, teamwork, surveillance operations, hand-to-hand combat, signals intelligence and investigation. Moreover, they receive a thorough conditioning against mental assaults, mind tricks and other forms of mental manipulation. This also covers treatment against pheromones, such as those emitted by Zeltrons and Falleen. Foreign language skills, while not an automatic prerequisite, are highly desired, as Firemane often operates on remote worlds on the fringes of space where Basic is not the lingua franca.
Operatives are taught how to plant eavesdropping devices, tracking devices and concealed holocameras. Breaking into buildings to plant bugs and gather intelligence without being caught is part of their business. The same applies to lock-picking, slicing and key duplication. They also make use of probe and Seeker droids. Furthermore, they are proficient in close quarter and unarmed combat. Photography is another skill they learn, as is advanced driving. Initiative, intelligence, and independent thinking are highly desired traits in recruits. The Unit is divided into operational and support detachments, which are in turn divided into squadrons.
The IRU does not publicise the details of its work. Indeed, in most cases a job well-done is something no one outside official circles is supposed to hear about, unless it is a case the leadership has an interest in publicising, such as a high-profile arrest. But even then the names of the operatives are kept out of the news reports and the group itself is only mentioned in general terms if it is referenced at all. For this reason, it is not a place for those who crave personal glory and seek the limelight. Their work can require members of the Force to don civilian clothes, use fake identities and unmarked speeders. This applies to circumstances in which soldiers in uniforms would be too easily recognised and this could put an operation in jeopardy. They may wear some form of body armour or light combat suit beneath their clothes.
There are no racial or gender barriers that preclude a candidate from joining the Unit, provided they meet the physical and mental qualifications. Falleen are well-represented in the Truthseeker contingent. Members of the IRU do not wear flamboyant uniforms that make them stand out from other members of the armed forces. Instead they keep the uniforms of their parent organisation. However, they add an emerald grey coloured beret and the IRU cap badge. In a number of ways, the climate in the IRU is less formal than in other military branches of Firemane. There is less stiff formality or saluting. However, its members are expected to adhere to the proper security protocols and conduct themselves professionally. Depending on the severity of an individual transgression, failure to comply with these regulations can be punished with a simple written or verbal notice, court-martial or, in the most extreme cases, capital punishment.
Hiaraq'Zael is a prominent member of the group. The Xioquo was once the indentured servant of one of the Council of Ten, chosen so because of her abilities both as a bodyguard, and as an early cryptographer. Despite being given privileges and freedoms beyond that of others of her station she was still very much a servant dependent on the grace of her Mistress. With the Underealm falling to invaders Hiaraq'Zael betrayed her Mistress' family, casting one of the family she was guarding to her death and reappearing at the Firemane lines with valuable information on spies and secret stashes. This allowed Firemane to unearth several potential fifth column agents who had 'surrendered'. Later, when her talents as both a fighter and a thinker were uncovered she was placed in charge of a squad of the IRU, and later made its overall commander.
Isem Xeedril is a Truthseeker who often works with the IRU. Serious and with a dry wit, she is a workaholic. The Falleen is not a particularly powerful Force-User, preferring a gun to a lightsabre. However, she is a capable investigator and an expert on the occult and mysticism. Indeed, she probably a fixation with preternatural phenomena. She is fluent in Sithese and often called upon to translate or decipher mystical texts. Isem has a background in monitoring Xioquo cults. More recently, she helped thwart a demon summoning on Arkas. She has been assigned to the Unit by Ziva Khalan, a fellow Falleen and the head of the Truthseekers. Ziva received her education at the court of a Falleen noble family. Deeply cynical and detached, she is a clinical, precise woman. She and Colonel Kuwahara, Director of the GRU, do not get on.
Hano Akazura is an Atrisian officer in the group. Born in the Atrisian Empire, he was discovered to be Force-Sensitive and inducted into the Inquisition, a small and highly secretive organisation tasked with monitoring and policing Force-Users in the nation as well the implementation of Imperial policy in regards to Force-Sensitive groups. As such he grew up accustomed to military discipline, hierarchy and secrets. He learned how to hide in plain sight. The Inquisition was a state secret, as the general population of Atrisia had been raised not to trust those with magical powers. Working with law enforcement under a cover identity, he kept an eye on Force-Sensitives to protect them from the public and the public from them. Hano was a skilled investigator and an admirer of Mirien Valdier, the Grand Inquisitor.
However, this twisted little family was decimated after, following the Empire's absorption into the Fringe Confederation, the Emperor was assassinated by unknown terrorists. His cousin Madeline took the throne and used the assassination as a pretext to initiate a Force-User Purge. The Inquisition was one of its first targets. Hano was less strong in the Force than his more high-ranking peers and was able to go underground. He used his connections to provide false identities for Force-Users trying to escape the purge, working with sympathetic officers who disagreed with the government's totalitarian policies. However, his luck eventually ran out and he was arrested.
Hano was saved from an unpleasant fate when Mirien and Naamah Aesham assassinated the Empress, enabling him to escape during the chaos. While some of his former colleagues, such as Sumiko Tanaka, were drawn towards more criminal activities, Hano sought something more lawful, albeit without the leash the Inquisition had kept him on. His path led him to Firemane, where Mirien had been appointed chief of military intelligence. He was already used to being both a soldier and an agent, and was involved in the post-Kaeshana cleanup operation.
COMBAT INFORMATION:
Unit Size: Small
Unit Availability: Rare
Unit Experience: Elite
Equipment:
Armour:
- Spectre Scout Armour, MN-B Infiltrator Or AE-AS1 Ghostsuit. MN-B usually worn in combination with an SH-N Projection Helmet as well as civilian clothes to provide some protection while appearing non-threatening, allowing them to blend in.
- Mission-Specific: Energy Projected Helmet.
- VT-Particle SMG
- DC-19 Stealth Carbine
- ACS-205 Dual Weapon System
- ACS-205 Blackblade Modular Rifle
- Shatter Rifle
- Reaper Plasma Shotgun.
Wrist and Underbarrel Weapons:
Melee Weapons:
Transports:
- Ghoush transport. As an alternative/supplement to the Ghoush, they can use UT-65 U-Wings. The former is more useful for transporting prisoners, while the latter is better at covert insertions.
- Misc. spyrcraft tools. The Nose, EAR-1, Spycams, Listening Devices, Holobugs.
Communicator Monitor, Decoder. The Sneakthief. - Door Breaking Charge, Breaching Grenade. Grenades. Coma Gas Grenades.
- Taozin Amulet.
- Neural Band (for Non-Force-Users).
- No-Show, Hypnogaze. Firemane Force Suppression Devices. Grappling Hooks.
- Comlink Implant. Cybernetic Implant Comlink/Pager.
- ACS-301 YVH Probe Droids
They also receive thorough technical training and are good at breaking and entering. The Unit is quite small, but well-trained and flexible. However, they are a force of special operators, not assault troops. Their talents would be wasted if they were sent to stay board a Star Destroyer or storm a fortified enemy position. They forego heavy weapons and are not meant for all-out frontline combat. IRU works closely with military intelligence, the military police and various special operations units. They can provide technical capabilities as well as muscle during arrests or counter-terrorist operations. Members of the group will sometimes don civilian clothes in order to mask their true affiliation. They are good at blending in. IRU operatives are trained in using lethal as well as nonlethal force to take down foes. They carry Firemane Force Suppression Devices in order to restrain dangerous Force-Sensitives.
The majority of the IRU's members are Non-Force-Users. However, a few Truthseekers are assigned to every detachment and squadron. All Truthseekers are Force-Users, but very specialised ones. They focus on cerebral applications on the Force rather than its more destructive elements. Most Truthseekers do not own a lightsabre and those who do have only rarely used it outside of training. Instead they use a gun if they have to.
However, they potent mental abilities. However, they are not the sort of mentalist who can create illusionary fleets, conceal a structure of starship or mind control large numbers of sentient beings. Instead they are Force-Using detectives and interrogators. A Truthseeker's esoteric training focuses on empathic and mind-affecting abilities to read, sway, frighten or mentally manipulate others, conduct mind probes and separate truth from lie. They are good telepaths and tend to have skill in Psychometry and memory manipulation.
Not every Force-Sensitive IRU member is a Truthseeker. Indeed, the Unit attracts a good number of recruits who are sensitive to the Force, but lack an affinity for many of the powers typically associated with a space mage. These individuals cannot shoot lightning from their fingertips or lift a boulder with their mind, but they benefit from enhanced reflexes and senses and have potent Sense abilities that make them interesting for the Unit. Rather than train these individuals to become all-rounders with a substandard command of traditional skills, they are taught how to use their weak talents exclusively in their chosen field, such as sniping, slicing and interrogation.
Strengths:
- Crack special task force. Well-disciplined and trained, they excel at stealth, surveillance, direct action, counter-terrorism and combating enemy agents. They are also good at blending into society.
- Their training makes them very resistant to mental manipulation such as mind tricks, illusions etc.
- Truthseekers are Force-Sensitive special investigators. They have a high level of skill in Sense powers, Psychometry, empathic abilities and various forms of mental manipulation, including memory rubes and mind probes.
- Specialists, not assault troops. Lightly armed and armoured, they are not meant to engage in heavy combat on the frontlines.
- Forego heavy weapons, armoured fighting vehicles and other forms of integrated heavy support.
- Their Force-Sensitives focus on cerebral Force skills rather than hard-hitting powers often associated with Force-Users, such as tanky Force shields, the ability to shoot lightning, create large-scale illusions or toss heavy objects with one's mind. Even their mental powers are more geared towards investigation, interrogation and ferreting out the truth rather than large-scale manipulation.
The Investigative Response Unit came into being shortly after the creation of the Truthseekers. Their history is closely linked. The Truthseekers were created to provide Firemane with an effective instrument to counter infiltration, industrial espionage and similar threats. Tegaea Alcori had been tortured and nearly killed by the Sith Assassin Kaelin Isandros. While she was rescued by Siobhan Kerrigan, her injuries made her unable to continue her work as Lady Protector of the Omega Protectorate. Moreover, Firemane had also been targeted by Archangel, a shadowy corporation controlled by Human Replica Droids.
Thus as the Order of Fire took shape, Siobhan realised that she would need an organisation with the ability to weed out potential spies and double agents. Initially the Truthseekers were created to vet Order of Fire recruits and keep an eye on the Order, acting as a sort of internal affairs agency. Knowledge is power, after all. Or it can give power at any rate, provided one analyses and utilises it intelligently. Over time, the Truthseekers' responsibilities were expanded and they were charged with monitoring regular Firemane employees. To impose a check on the group and keep them from misusing their authorities, they were placed under the control of Firemane's in-house intelligence service.
The Truthseekers performed their duties diligently, but over time it became clear that they needed some punch when they wanted to arrest someone or keep an eye on them. At the same time, Siobhan was wary of giving the spooks so much power that they could get too big for their britches. This changed after the Kaeshana Rebellion. During the course of the battle, a group of Firemane soldiers had betrayed their comrades and defected to the First Order. Their desertion occured relatively late - in the midst of Firemane and Alliance troops - and thus did not affect the outcome of the fight.
But it made Siobhan a lot more sensitive to the threat posed by traitors in the ranks. Combined with Tarissa Cadalthor's coup attempt, it prompted a reorganisation of the intelligence and security apparatus. This went hand in hand with a screening process to weed out potential enemies inside Firemane. The IRU was conceived as a backup and strike force for the Truthseekers that would be subject to military oversight.
In turn, the spooks were placed under the control of a new agency called the General Research Unit, or GRU for short. Initially, the IRU was an ad hoc unit. Indeed, its first formation was a squad Siobhan set up while still in hyperspace following the retreat from Kaeshana. It was placed under the authority of a Truthseeker on her staff and responsible for the initial arrests. Among other things, they uncovered a Primeval follower, who was later executed by firing squad along with a couple other enemy agents. Anti-foreigner riots in New Santaissa and Tarissa Cadalthor's failed coup led to the group becoming more formalised. Initially the group was called the Investigative Reaction Force, but then the name was changed after it was pointed out that 'the Force' would be a rather misleading nickname.
Composed of military police officers, special forces operators and spooks, it was placed at the disposal of the body responsible for the screening. It made arrests and carried out surveillance on suspected enemy agents. Sometimes it monitored them for an extended period of time, in the hopes of being led to bigger targets. Their targets also included individuals suspected of having colluded with Tarissa. Techs assigned to the IRU scoured the Cadalthor databanks after the treasonous noble's mansion had been stormed by Angelii and Firemane troops.
Like the GRU and the Truthseekers, the IRU became a permanent fixture in Firemane's security forces. The Unit was deployed against Xioquo and Dark Eldorai insurgents. Among other things, they helped thwart a Dark Eldorai coup in New Solstace by providing actionable intelligence on a Shadow Knight cell. IRU operators often dressed as civilians and were provided with fake identities and vehicles with surveillance equipment. They patrolled the streets in small teams, tracking down and arresting or elimating suspected insurgents. Sometimes they disguised themselves as members of other armed groups in order to sow confusion among their targets. The IRU's surveillance operations have also involved the use of front companies. One of them was a laundry service in New Solstace; another was a massage parlour in Tlaxqui. Both were used to acquire intelligence that could be utilised for further investigation or to carry out arrests.
More recently, the IRU was enlisted by the Truthseekers to investigate and thwart the proliferation of dangerous mystical items on Arkas. Having been alerted to suspicious activity at an abandoned warehouse, Nima Tann and Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori discovered that a group of teenagers were dabbling in the dark arts and high on a more powerful variant of Najim. Using a book one of the teenagers had stolen from her father, they accidentally summoned a demon. The two Masters were able to banish the demon after a brutal fight.
The book was confiscated by the Truthseekers. There it was analysed by a Truthseeker called Isem Xeedril, who enlisted the Unit to do the legwork. A investigation established that the man who had brought it to Arkas was officially an antiquities dealer. A group of cultists had infiltrated various criminal networks on Arkas, using them to peddle their narcotics. Needless to say they wanted the book back. Acting on intelligence passed along by a crime lord who knew Elpsis from her smuggler days and wanted nothing to do eldritch tomes, the agency initiated an operation to surveil and eliminate the cult.
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