The Ubiqtorate

[Bee]

"We've no motto or reputation. We pride ourselves on our ability to remain silent and carry out our lives and our work in secrecy. There is no glory, no riches waiting for us back home; no family to pray for our safe return; no one but us to mourn the men and women that'll never live to see another day or fight another fight. Someone must make those sacrifices. If not us, then who?"​ ​ -- Anonymous Operative ___________ _____________________​ The Ubiqtorate, also known as the Department of Imperial Intelligence, is a division of the New Sith Imperium and one of the oldest legacies of the Galactic Empire, preceding even the Galactic Republic. As an elite branch of the Imperium, the Ubiqtorate exists as the galaxy's foremost intelligence agency, collecting information and engaging in clandestine activities for the benefit of the Sith Imperium. More specifically, the Ubiqtorate is an intelligence-driven and threat-focused organization with both the authority and responsibility to investigate specific crimes assigned to it and to provide Imperial law enforcement agencies with cooperative services, such as biometric identification, network analysis, and training. The Ubiqtorate also gathers, shares, and analyzes intelligence -- both to support its own investigations and those of its partners, and to better understand and combat the security threats facing the New Sith Imperium. The sole mission of the Ubiqtorate is to protect and defend the Empire against both foreign and domestic threats. The Ubiqtorate is not a secret police force, nor do its operatives act as such.

"Out in the field, any connection with home just makes you weaker. It reminds you that you were once civilized, soft; and that can get you killed faster than a bullet through the head."​ ​ -- Anonymous Operative ___________ _____________________​ Probationary Operatives are new to the Ubiqtorate, and as such, are often afforded very little operational leeway. Probationary operatives are held under observation for thirty days, during which their performance is monitored by senior operatives and support staff. If, at the end of their probation, they are deemed unfit for service, their minds are wiped of their experiences and they are sent back to the IAF. However, those who show dedication, loyalty, and promise will be promoted to the rank of Imperial Operative, and granted full diplomatic rights as an intelligence operative of the New Sith Imperium. Imperial Operatives make up the bulk of the Ubiqtorate's intelligence operatives. Trained in various modes of intelligence gathering, counterintelligence, urban camouflage, and interrogation techniques, they are often deployed to various Imperial outposts across the galaxy, where they are tasked with observing and reporting on anything from local politics, culture, and current events. Particularly gifted Imperial Operatives may be asked to infiltrate groups as sleeper agents, acting as the Empire's eyes and ears among the Jedi, the Hutt Cartel, and various independent organizations. Ciphers are the best of the best, the most elite of Ubiq's forces. Ciphers possess a varied and impressive skill set, including infiltration, disguise, seduction, espionage, marksmanship, and multiple forms of armed and unarmed combat. They are afforded a greater level of operational independence, including the ability to recruit their own agents under non-official cover, and are outfitted with a personal starship as well. Upon reaching the rank of Cipher, operatives are stripped of their birth names and assigned a numerical designation, such as Cipher Four or Cipher Eleven, although like all operatives, they are permitted to use any number of false names in their deceptions. There is an upper limit of twenty active Ciphers at once time, and the spots are highly competitive. Given that most don't make it past their fifth year of service, these prized positions are constantly in flux. While there are many, many different ranks of support personnel, the Ubiqtorate's operatives all fall into one of the above designations. All players are welcome to apply for a position as an operative; more information can be found at the bottom of this post.

"Power and influence: things that should be obtained not for means of greed, nor pride, nor ego, but rather to ensure that in the right moment, when your wisdom and benevolence are required to keep the Empire strong and united, you can deliver and orchestrate others toward the greater good."​ ​ -- Anonymous Operative ___________ _____________________​ As a part of their training, every potential operative undergoes an extensive psychological evaluation, designed to root out any lingering personality defects or mental illnesses before being cleared for field work. Given that the exams are administered by a medical professional and a highly-trained Force sensitive, it is impossible to fool the battery of tests; hopefuls who exhibit signs of mental illness will be reassigned, or in extreme cases - where they are unfit for any kind of work within the unit - subjected to a total memory wipe, and released to either the IAF or the Sith to continue their service in a more accommodating environment. Those who pass the required screenings, however, are outfitted with cutting-edge technology such as ICARUS-enabled communication devices, along with extensive training in various hand-to-hand combat techniques, forms of information gathering and analysis, surveillance methods, and interrogation techniques. Force sensitive operatives receive training in various concealment techniques, telepathic skills, and anti-mental tampering methods as well. It is worth noting that every Ubiq operative is a skilled and highly trained member of the Imperium: junior and probationary officers are often times just as capable as the Imperial operatives they serve under, and are not to be underestimated. One of the key programs written into the minds of every Ubiqtorate operative is the mind-rub. Upon capture and interrogation by potential hostile forces, the operative's mind enters a deep catatonic state, preventing them from divulging information, nor feeling pain. Their mind essentially shuts down. This state is quite risky, and has frequently put several agents in a deep and prolonged coma (and occasionally death); the only way to reverse the mind-rub is a secret chemical treatment known only to a select few Ubiqtorate medical officers.

"Once you've lived the inside-out world of espionage, you never shed it. It's a mentality, a double standard of existence."​ ​ -- Anonymous Operative ___________ _____________________​ The Ubiqtorate handles the Imperium's most sensitive and secret information on a galactic scale. Thus the organization is very clandestine, furtive, and covert, and restricted to a select chosen few. Consequently, not all who apply to the organization will become entitled to a position among their ranks. Please understand that this is not because we don't want people to participate. The group, by its very nature, must remain small and only the most able applicants will be allowed to join due to the nature of the Ubiqtorate's various jobs. If you do wish to apply, please send a private message to Bee with "Ubiq Interest" in the title, at which point an application will be forwarded to you. Please note that while past incarnations of the Ubiqtorate required characters to be created specifically for the sub-faction, that is no longer the case. Established characters are welcome and encouraged to apply. Similarly, if you have concerns about the sub-faction's activities, please do not hesitate to PM any inquiries you may have.