[rough draft] Space Patrol organization

[robkelk]

I've got a few notes on the organization of the Space Patrol, but they're not enough for a full Gazetteer entry... Anyone want to help develop this?

---

[size=larger]Space Patrol[/size]

History

(needs fleshing out)

discussed before the Stellvia &c. / OGJ split

chartered and named after the events of LoGG

staffed with as many professionals as the backers could find and a shipload of battle-blooded amateurs who were very good at the job

Facilities

HQ somewhere (maybe a purpose-built station in the Belt?), includes a Police Academy

Eventually, they'll have decent-sized "precinct houses" in all major Fen settlements. As of the end of OGJ, they only have minimal "point of presence" offices, at Crystal Tokyo, Port Luna, Helium, Hogwarts, and Serenity Valley.

more...

Organization

Section leaders get code names to protect their identities, in sections where it makes the job easier. (definitely the case for Sections 5, 6 and 9; definitely not for Sections 1, 2, 3, and 8; not sure about Sections 4 and 7)

Section 1: Administration

The necessary-but-despised paper-pushers.

more...

Section 2: Inter-Force Liaison

These folks deal with inter-jurisdictional matters. They work with the ICPO, CIA, RCMP, OGJ, Sammies, Ministry of Magical Law Enforcement, and other such groups.

Section 2 has more Blue Blazers per capita than any other section of the Patrol (but not more than every other section).

more...

Section 3: Uniformed Units

Somebody has to direct traffic around the Watchtower, or the Island, or the ISS... These are the uniformed police, who handle all the jobs that uniformed police in "free" societies usually handle.

more...

Section 4: Major Crimes Units

Murder, grand theft, abduction - these folks are the patrol's detectives, assigned to the "glamorous" cases.

more...

Section 5: Organized Crime Unit

The anti-Boskone unit, lead by an agent code-named "Kinnison"

more...

Section 6: Special Fen, Weapons, and Tactics Unit

Lead by an agent code-named "Nanoha" (whoever that person may be; have pity on any males who gets the job), SFWAT handles the really difficult jobs. Section 6 is proud of being the group that gets the dirty end of the stick - they're tough enough, and good enough, and stubborn enough to get in there and get the job done. Bulletproof Fen (mostly biomods and androids) who join the Patrol often get assigned to SFWAT.

Section 6's biggest job during OGJ was their participation in the cleaning-out of the Hell-Hole in Space

more...

(and that's an awkward acronym)

Section 7: Hate Crimes Unit

Not just the anti-Turnerite squad. "Hate crimes" cuts both ways - Fen who libel 'Danes are as much Section 7's problem as 'Danes who libel Fen are.

more...

Section 8: Internal Affairs

The ones who watch the watchers. IA is authorized to investigate all reports of wrongdoing in Sections 1-7. (Section 4 investigates reports of wrongdoing within Section 8.)

more...

Section 9: Deniable Ops Unit

Section 9 does not exist. It is not lead by someone code-named "Kusanagi". You should ignore any rumours you may have heard to the contrary. You should also ignore the Tachikoma removing the drive unit from your ship, because the Tachikoma doesn't exist either. (And the half-dozen Tachikomas that don't exist weren't built in the same limited-order AI production run that Noah didn't convince A.C. to fill for the Patrol, because that production run also doesn't exist.) Move along, nothing to see here.

(adding more might spoil the joke here )

 

 
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[M Fnord]

Facilities

HQ somewhere (maybe a purpose-built station in the Belt?), includes a Police Academy

The White Tower started out as the asteroid rendezvous point for forces participating in the last operation against Boskone Prime. At that point it was just another carbonaceous asteroid about the size of the Superdome with a transponder beacon attached. After Boskone the Patrol found itself in need of an operating base with room, and the Tower's location made it useful.

(As for location, I'm thinking one of the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amor_asteroid]Amor asteroids, since they cross between Mars and the Belt. Suggestions welcome as always.)
Mr. Fnord interdimensional man of mystery

FenWiki - Your One-Stop Shop for Fenspace Information

"I. Drink. Your. NERDRAGE!"

[Cobalt Greywalker]

Section 6: Special Fen, Weapons, and Tactics Unit

Try Fen Extra-vehicular, Special Weapons, and Tactics Unit. Or FESWAT (pronounced fee-swat).

I also don't see a technical division, or a CSI branch.

[robkelk]

I also don't see a technical division, or a CSI branch.

Oops... I'll have to re-jig the eight sections, while leaving Section 6 as FESWAT.

More later...
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[robkelk]

Space Patrol

[size=larger]History[/size]

It started with a back-room discussion in a bar. (story link: Spider Symposium Briefing)

The people having the discussion included three of Fenspace's most important unaffiliated Fen: Mal Fnord, Katz Schrödinger, and Noah Scott. Mal's chief engineer Kali was the other person in attendance. Kali and Katz were there to talk about the progress of Operation Great Justice; Noah had other ideas, and had convinced Mal to let him present his proposal ahead of time.

Once the OGJ discussion was completed, Noah proposed forming a Space Patrol to handle the everyday, run-of-the-mill criminal activities; this would let OGJ go after the heavy hitters behind the Boskonians of the day. This was greeted with enthusiasm by the heavy hitters in attendance, who were tired of mopping up the everyday, run-of-the-mill criminal activities. The only matter of contention was the proposed group's name, but it didn't take very long for the four people in attendance to agree on "Space Patrol".

Then came the Interdimensional Incursion Incident. (story link: Legend of Galactic Girls) During the fallout from that event, less than a week after *WHITENOISEWHITENOISEWHITENOISE*, Noah leveraged public opinion to his own advantage, hiring Oliver Towne to chair the *WHITENOISE* Foundation. Towne's first order was to set up the Patrol.

Towne staffed the Patrol with as many professionals as he could find. He supplemented this skeleton organization with whichever battle-blooded amateurs he could find, as long as they were very good at the job.

---

[size=larger]Facilities[/size]

The White Tower started out as the asteroid rendezvous point for forces participating in the last operation against Boskone Prime. At that point it was just another carbonaceous asteroid about the size of the Superdome with a transponder beacon attached. After Boskone the Patrol found itself in need of an operating base with room, and the Tower's location made it useful. The Patrol Academy is located in the White Tower.

Eventually, the Patrol plans to have decent-sized "precinct station houses" in all major Fen settlements. As of the end of OGJ, however, they only have minimal "point of presence" offices, at Crystal Tokyo, Port Luna, Helium, Hogwarts, and Serenity Valley.

more...?

---

[size=larger]Organization[/size]

Section leaders get code names to protect their identities, in sections where it makes the job easier.

Section 1: Administration

The necessary-but-often-despised paper-pushers.

more...

Section 1a: Office of the Chief Officer

The smallest group in the Space Patrol, but in some ways the most important, this is where the orders and policies come from. The office is located in a secure facility under the White Tower.

Section 1b: Inter-Force Liaison

These people deal with inter-jurisdictional matters. They work with the ICPO, the CIA, the RCMP, the OGJ's MPs, the Sammies, the Ministry of Magical Law Enforcement, and other such groups.

Inter-Force has more Blue Blazers per capita than any other group in the Patrol.

Section 1c: Logistics

These are the people who make sure each station and office have what they need to do the job. Logistics is also responsible for supplying the White Tower and the Academy.

Section 1d: Training

This group runs the Academy, and also ensures current officers' skills don't becomy rusty.

Section 2: Uniformed Units

Somebody has to direct traffic around the White Tower, the ISS, and other busy non-Factional locations... Section 2 is the uniformed police, who handle all the jobs that uniformed police in "free" societies usually handle.

Section 3: Major Crimes Units

These people are the patrol's detectives, assigned to the "glamorous" cases. Murder, grand theft, abduction; if it's high-profile, Section 3 investigates it.

Section 4: Organized Crime Unit

The anti-Boskone unit, OCU is lead by an agent code-named "Kinnison". Section 4's operational details are classified.

Section 5: Hate Crimes Unit

These people aren't just the anti-Turnerite squad. "Hate crimes" cuts both ways - Fen who libel 'Danes are as much Section 5's problem as 'Danes who libel Fen are, although they spend most of their time investigating Fen who libel other factions.

The HCU is a separate Section because they're important to Fenspace. If they do their work properly, they can shut down an interfactional feud before it becomes a shooting match.

Section 6: Fen Extra-vehicular, Special Weapons, and Tactics Unit

Lead by an agent code-named "Nanoha" (whoever that person may be; have pity on any males who get the job), FESWAT handles the really difficult jobs. Section 6 is proud of being the group that gets the dirty end of the stick - they're tough enough, and good enough, and stubborn enough to get in there and get the job done. Bulletproof Fen (mostly biomods and androids) who join the Patrol often get assigned to FESWAT.

Section 6's biggest job during the Boskone War was their participation in the cleaning-out of the Hell-Hole in Space.

Section 7: Support Units

The folks who aren't police or paper-pushers, but are still needed by a modern police force.

Section 7a: Forensics Unit

This is where one can find the Patrol's "lab techs". They've been nicknamed "CSI:Fenspace" by more than a few entertainment writers.

Section 7b: Technical Unit

These folks are responsible for maintaining the Patrol's physical assets. Scottish accents (real or affected) are optional, but widespread among Section 7b's Trekkies.

This is also the home of the Patrol's computer specialists, including the codemakers and codebreakers. For some reason that nobody talks about, the codebreaker group is called "SETEC Astronomy"even in official documents.



Section 8: Internal Affairs

"Who watches the watchers? We do."

IA is authorized and required to investigate all reports of wrongdoing in Sections 1-7. (Section 3 investigates reports of wrongdoing within Section 8.)

Section 9: Deniable Ops Unit

Section 9 does not exist. It is not lead by someone code-named "Kusanagi". You should ignore any rumours you may have heard to the contrary. You should also ignore the Tachikoma removing the drive unit from your ship, because the Tachikoma doesn't exist either. (And the half-dozen Tachikomas that don't exist weren't built in the same limited-order AI production run that Noah didn't convince A.C. to fill for the Patrol, because that production run also doesn't exist.) Move along, nothing to see here.

---

[size=larger]Some Important Patrol Members[/size]

(Listed by title - writeups welcome...)

The Chief Officer of the Space Patrol: The person in charge. Answers to the *WHITENOISE* Foundation and the Factions. Usually just called "the Chief". (Not the Chief from Get Smart, please...)

The Chief Uniformed Officer of the Space Patrol: The person in charge of Section 2. The Chief Uniformed Officer answers to, and advises, the Chief.

The Chief Detective of the Space Patrol: The person in charge of Section 3. The Chief Detective answers to, and advises, the Chief.

"Kinnison": The person in charge of Section 4. "Kinnison" answers to the Chief Detective.

"Nanoha": The person in charge of Section 6. "Nanoha" answers to the Chief Uniformed Officer. Must be sufficiently skilled and fit to take part in FESWAT operations.

The Chief Internal Investigator: The person in charge of Section 8. The Chief Internal Investigator answers to, and advises, the Chief.

"Kusanagi": The person in charge of Section 9. "Kusanagi" answers to and advises the Chief, and advises the *WHITENOISE* Foundation directly. ("Kusanagi" might or might not be known as "Okkane-chan" by close friends.)

---

[size=larger]Sidebar: Things the Patrol Doesn't Do[/size]

(needs fleshing out)

judiciary - the Erisians are Fenspace's judges

incarceration and other punishment - somebody else runs the prison system (any ideas who? leave it up to each faction, maybe?)

military - that's OGJ's job

disaster relief, aside from maintaining order - that's what the Blue Blazers do best

 

 
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[M Fnord]

While I'm thinking about it, graphics monkey had been holding onto this one for a long time...


Mr. Fnord interdimensional man of mystery

FenWiki - Your One-Stop Shop for Fenspace Information

"I. Drink. Your. NERDRAGE!"

[Cobalt Greywalker]

Prisons

There is only one real prison in Fenspace. Due to the nature of Major crimes, nearly all those convicted have commited crimes both in Fenspace and in the 'Danelaw. Once the Fen have metered out their punishment (usually complete stripping of assets to pay reperations), the criminal is extridited to Earth for the 'Dane autorities to do their thing.

For those rare times where the criminal hasn't upset the 'Danes, community service to the terraforming groups isn't enough, and the Death penalty too much, there's Azkaban Prison.

(I'm not sure where to put it. I want to put in on the Luna darkside away from everyone, but the Wizards would probably want to put it in a 'hidden' asteroid.)

[M Fnord]

(I'm not sure where to put it. I want to put in on the Luna darkside away from everyone, but the Wizards would probably want to put it in a 'hidden' asteroid.)

Somewhere in the Kuiper Belt, one of those big chunks of ice waaay the fuck out on the edge of the solar system that take a thousand years to orbit the sun. *That's* where Azkaban needs to be.
Mr. Fnord interdimensional man of mystery

FenWiki - Your One-Stop Shop for Fenspace Information

"I. Drink. Your. NERDRAGE!"

[Bob Schroeck]

Seconded.

Now how do we biomod dementors?
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

[KJ]

Hrm, brings to mind a question about to what extent Section 9 isn't composed of former (reserve? on loan?) MARS personnel; something completely unlike a
platoon's worth of (selected) personnel, along with the obvious non-human assets? Heh.

Oh yeah, I'm not dead.

[robkelk]

Hrm, brings to mind a question about to what extent Section 9 isn't composed of former (reserve? on loan?) MARS personnel; something completely unlike a platoon's worth of (selected) personnel, along with the obvious non-human assets? Heh.

Well, if Okkane-chan isn't "Kusanagi", then her MARS unit isn't the core of Section 9...

Aargh. Okay, the joke's funny in the writeup itself, but makes discussion awkward.

Since Okkane-chan is "Kusanagi", I'd expect that her MARS unit is the core of Section 9. Probably not an entire MARS platoon, though - that would be too big to hide in the budget.

The Tachikomas are a later addition to the team (and are as self-aware as the first writer to use them wants them to be).

 
 
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[robkelk]

Now how do we biomod dementors?

Same way we biomod everything else, Pinky - handwave them.

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

We'd have to get the volunteers to watch/read/etc. the appropriate scenes in the various Harry Potter works immediately before being handwaved... and even that wouldn't guarantee a "dementor" 'mod.

Hmmmmm... would "dememtor" be too far into "superhuman" to be a possible biomod target?

We may have to go with something else for a guard force, alas...

 
 
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[KJ]

robkelk wrote:

---

Hrm, brings to mind a question about to what extent Section 9 isn't composed of former (reserve? on loan?) MARS personnel; something completely unlike
a platoon's worth of (selected) personnel, along with the obvious non-human assets? Heh.

Since Okkane-chan is "Kusanagi", I'd expect that her MARS unit is the core of Section 9. Probably not an entire MARS platoon,
though - that would be too big to hide in the budget.




The Tachikomas are a later addition to the team (and are as self-aware as the first writer to use them wants them to be).

Well, not sure how much of a joint operation you had in mind; there's always the idea of keeping them on the VVS payroll and roster for official
purposes, which also helps the deniability aspects. (No, there's noone by that name or description in our employ...)

[Bob Schroeck]

We'd have to get the volunteers to watch/read/etc. the appropriate scenes in the various Harry Potter works immediately before being handwaved...
and even that wouldn't guarantee a "dementor" 'mod.

Quite honestly, I'd have severe doubts about anyone who wanted to become a dementor...
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

[robkelk]

Quite honestly, I'd have severe doubts about anyone who wanted to become a dementor...

Likewise, but there's often somebody desperate or stupid enough to try for any biomod.

(If I was told I was dying, but the biomod to make me a dementor would save my life, I'd think long and hard about biomodding...)

 
 
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[robkelk]

Well, not sure how much of a joint operation you had in mind; there's always the idea of keeping them on the VVS payroll and roster for official purposes, which also helps the deniability aspects. (No, there's noone by that name or description in our employ...)

I'm happy either way, and she was your character originally... Which would you prefer?

 
 
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[KJ]

Personally I like the "silent partner" joint operation idea. During OGJ, there was more than enough work for what people there were, but after...
well, recruitment would have continued (albeit not in large numbers, but continued) and there's not the same density of truly serious, industrial-grade
work. So, in addition to the "fostering stronger ties between law enforcement groups" principles, it would make sense to share a group of highly
skilled covert ops capable people with an organization that could provide them with more stuff to do.

"Don't think of it as being on loan to an allied law enforcement agency, think of it as having unfettered access to intel on targets that we
wouldn't be able to find out about with only our own resources. For free."

[robkelk]

I've made a couple of changes and additions... If there are no objections to this by the 15th, I'll add it to the Gazetteer sticky and the wiki.

[size=larger]Space Patrol[/size]

History

It started with a back-room discussion in a bar. (story link: Spider Symposium Briefing)

The people having the discussion included three of Fenspace's most important unaffiliated Fen: Mal Fnord, Katz Schrödinger, and Noah Scott. Mal's chief engineer Kali was the other person in attendance. Kali and Katz were there to talk about the progress of Operation Great Justice; Noah had other ideas, and had convinced Mal to let him present his proposal ahead of time.

Once the OGJ discussion was completed, Noah proposed forming a Space Patrol to handle the everyday, run-of-the-mill criminal activities; this would let OGJ go after the heavy hitters behind the Boskonians of the day. This was greeted with enthusiasm by the heavy hitters in attendance, who were tired of mopping up the everyday, run-of-the-mill criminal activities. The only matter of contention was the proposed group's name, but it didn't take very long for the four people in attendance to agree on "Space Patrol".

Then came the Interdimensional Incursion Incident. (story link: Legend of Galactic Girls) During the fallout from that event, less than a week after *WHITENOISEWHITENOISEWHITENOISE*, Noah leveraged public opinion to his own advantage, hiring Oliver Towne to chair the *WHITENOISE* Foundation. Towne's first order was to set up the Patrol.

Towne staffed the Patrol with as many professionals as he could find. He supplemented this skeleton organization with whichever battle-blooded amateurs he could find, as long as they were very good at the job.

---

Facilities

The White Tower started out as the asteroid rendezvous point for forces participating in the last operation against Boskone Prime. At that point it was just another carbonaceous asteroid about the size of the Superdome with a transponder beacon attached. After Boskone the Patrol found itself in need of an operating base with room, and the Tower's location made it useful. The Patrol Academy is located in the White Tower.

Eventually, the Patrol plans to have station houses throughout Fenspace, and faction liaison offices in all major Fen settlements. As of the end of OGJ, however, they only have minimal "point of presence" offices, at Crystal Tokyo, Port Luna, Helium, Hogwarts, and Serenity Valley. All major operations and most day-to-day activities are still based out of the White Tower.

---

Organization

Section leaders get code names to protect their identities, in sections where it makes the job easier.

Section 1: Administration

The necessary-but-often-despised paper-pushers.

Section 1a: Office of the Chief Officer

The smallest group in the Space Patrol, but in some ways the most important, this is where the orders and policies come from. The office is located in a secure facility under the White Tower.

Section 1b: Inter-Force Liaison

These people deal with inter-jurisdictional matters. They work with the ICPO, the CIA, the RCMP, the OGJ's MPs, the Sammies, the Ministry of Magical Law Enforcement, and other such groups.

Inter-Force has more Blue Blazers per capita than any other group in the Patrol.

Section 1c: Logistics

These are the people who make sure each station and office have what they need to do the job. Logistics is also responsible for supplying the White Tower and the Academy.

Section 1d: Training

This group runs the Academy, and also ensures current officers' skills don't becomy rusty.

Section 2: Uniformed Units

Somebody has to direct traffic around the White Tower, the ISS, and other busy non-factional locations... Section 2 is the uniformed police, who handle all the jobs that uniformed police in "free" societies usually handle.

Section 3: Major Crimes Units

These people are the patrol's detectives, assigned to the "glamorous" cases. Murder, grand theft, abduction; if it's high-profile, Section 3 investigates it.

Section 4: Organized Crime Unit

The anti-Boskone unit, OCU is lead by an agent code-named "Kinnison". Section 4's operational details are classified.

Section 5: Hate Crimes Unit

These people aren't just the anti-Turnerite (story link: FTL Newsfeed #235) squad. "Hate crimes" cuts both ways - Fen who libel 'Danes are as much Section 5's problem as 'Danes who libel Fen are, although they spend most of their time investigating Fen who libel other factions.

The HCU is a separate Section because they're important to the smooth running of Fenspace. If they do their work properly, they can shut down an interfactional feud before it becomes a shooting match.

Section 6: Fen Extra-vehicular, Special Weapons, and Tactics Unit

Lead by an agent code-named "Nanoha" (whoever that person may be; have pity on any males who get the job), FESWAT handles the really difficult jobs. Section 6 is proud of being the group that gets the dirty end of the stick - they're tough enough, and good enough, and stubborn enough to get in there and get the job done. Bulletproof biomods and androids who join the Patrol often get assigned to FESWAT.

Section 6's biggest job during the Boskone War was their participation in the cleaning-out of the Hell-Hole in Space.

Section 7: Support Units

The folks who aren't police or paper-pushers, but are still needed by a modern police force.

Section 7a: Forensics Unit

This is where one can find the Patrol's "lab techs". They've been nicknamed "CSI:Fenspace" by more than a few entertainment writers.

Section 7b: Technical Unit

These folks are responsible for maintaining the Patrol's physical assets. Scottish accents (real or affected) are optional, but widespread among Section 7b's Trekkies.

This is also the home of the Patrol's computer specialists, including the codemakers and codebreakers. For some reason that nobody talks about, the codebreaker group is called "SETEC Astronomy" even in official documents.

Section 8: Internal Affairs

"Who watches the watchers? We do."

IA is authorized and required to investigate all reports of wrongdoing in Sections 1-7. (Section 3 investigates reports of wrongdoing within Section 8.)

Section 9: Deniable Operations Unit

Section 9 does not exist. It is not lead by someone code-named "Kusanagi". You should ignore any rumours you may have heard to the contrary. You should also ignore the Tachikoma removing the drive unit from your ship, because the Tachikoma doesn't exist either. (And the half-dozen Tachikomas that don't exist weren't built in the same limited-order AI production run that Noah didn't convince A.C. to fill for the Patrol, because that production run also doesn't exist.) Move along, nothing to see here.

Section 9 definitely does not appear in the Space Patrol table of operations or budget in any form. (A line for "miscellaneous expenses" appears in the MARS section of the VVS budget, but the VVS is not the Patrol.)

---

Some Important Patrol Members

* The Commissioner of the Space Patrol: The person in charge. Answers to the *WHITENOISE* Foundation and the Factions. Usually just called "the Commissioner". (The current Commissioner, a battle-weary but still capable Trekkie named Kirk Russell, discourages "Commissioner Gordon" jokes; he isn't a Batman fan.)

* The Chief Officer of the Space Patrol: The person in charge of Section 2. Usually just called "Chief". The Chief Officer answers to, and advises, the Commissioner.

* The Chief Detective of the Space Patrol: The person in charge of Section 3. The Chief Detective answers to, and advises, the Commissioner.

* "Kinnison": The person in charge of Section 4. "Kinnison" answers to the Chief Detective.

* "Nanoha": The person in charge of Section 6. "Nanoha" answers to the Chief Officer. Must be sufficiently skilled and fit to take part in FESWAT operations.

* The Chief Internal Investigator: The person in charge of Section 8. The Chief Internal Investigator answers to, and advises, the Commissioner.

* "Kusanagi": The person in charge of Section 9. "Kusanagi" answers to and advises the Commissioner, and advises the *WHITENOISE* Foundation directly. ("Kusanagi" might or might not be known as "Okkane-chan" by close friends.)

---

Sidebar: Things the Patrol Doesn't Do

The patrol is a civilian police force. There are some jobs that the police traditionally does not do, and those traditions have carried over into Fenspace.

Military policing is handled by Operation Great Justice.

The judiciary is handled by the Erisians.

Disaster relief, aside from maintaining order, is what the Blue Blazers do best.

Incarceration and other punishment is a complex matter. Due to the nature of major crimes, nearly all those convicted have committed crimes both in Fenspace and in the 'Danelaw. Once the Fen have metered out their punishment (usually complete stripping of assets to pay reperations), the criminal is extradited to Earth for the 'Dane authorities to do their thing. For those rare times where the criminal hasn't upset the 'Danes, community service to the terraforming groups isn't enough, and the death penalty is either too extreme or not practiced by the affected Faction, there's Azkaban Prison, somewhere in the Kuiper Belt.

---

Sidebar: Section 9

It's unusual but not unknown for a police force to have a "secret agent" section - real-world examples are rumoured to include the RCMP-SS, the CIA, and (historically) the Kempai Tai. Section 9 is Fenspace's equivalent to these organizations.

They were originally (and officially still are) a MARS squad working for the VVS. Okkane-chan and her squadmates handle deep-cover operations for the Patrol... and for its ultimate major backers: Stellvia Corp., the Soviet Air Force, and Operation Great Justice. This can cause problems when Stellvia and OGJ each want Section 9 to spy on the other at the same time. By necessity, Section 9 lives by the concept of "compartmentalization of information;" Okkane-chan is the only member of the section whose name or appearance is known to the Foundation.

 
 
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[Foxboy]

I'd add to section 9 "And due to a purchase made from Vulpine Fury's Puppetworks, the knowledge of the face may be suspect." The Tachikomas
put pressure on Okkane-chan to buy the award-winning Motoko Kusanagi "bunraku" telepresence. Well it makes sense, anyway...

*grumbles* I REALLY gotta get my ideas on "paper" as it were for VF and the Crew of the Pinafore....
''We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat
them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary.''

-- James Nicoll

[robkelk]

Both Noah and Mal saw Okkane-chan in person during the events of Spider Symposium Briefing. There's not much point in her trying to hide her identity from them.

Although a false telepresence appearance does make sense for communications security...

 
 
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[KJ]

Looks good for the most part, Rob. For the record, in said intel bidding wars OGJ is likely going to lose except to the extent Stellvia's willing to pass
information; see various convos on philosophical and operational differences.

Just for the (OOC-wise) record, although the pseudonym of Kusanagi would seem to indicate otherwise, Okkane-chan (yeah, another pseudonym, oh well) at least
isn't cyborg. Dee obviously is, and while she and Kali have tangential connections to Section 9 through VVS, it's mostly a hands-off relationship
unless their assistance is required on hardcore "hurt people and break things" duty. They both have the unfortunate tendency to be... very unsubtle.

Then again, said purchase would have been through the VVS (just, for Dee but how's anyone to know that?) and there's a whole crapload of candidates in
MARS who could be Kusanagi if people were trying to guess, including the prior two unsubtle people. I mean, how much intel is there going to be on operating
characteristics in order to narrow things down?

[Bob Schroeck]

Mm. Minor typo:

Once the Fen have metered out their punishment

I think you mean "meted" here. And wasn't it "Kempei Tai", not "Kempai Tai"?
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

[robkelk]

I think you mean "meted" here.

That's what I get for doing a simple cut-n-paste.

I suspect there are other typos as well; I'll double-check the entry before finalizing it.

And wasn't it "Kempei Tai", not "Kempai Tai"?

Wikipedia uses both in different articles. This may be one of those "other typos"...

 
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[robkelk]

http://fnord.sandwich.net/fenwiki/doku. ... ace_patrol
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012