And even if you had...
Do you hear anything? Is it...too quiet?
Several years ago, I enjoyed a comic book series you probably never heard of called Whisper. She was a ninja. More accurately, in her world, she was the ninja. By that, I don't mean she was the most bad-ass ninja. She was the only ninja in the world.
You see, in the history of Whisper's world, the adult Alexis Devin put on a ninja costume to investigate the death of her adoptive father. She learned that he had been not only a businessman, but a ninja in the employ of the Yakuza. Ultimately, the organization's head explained to her that ninjas were a myth, fabricated centuries ago to use the idea of them as a deterrent of fear. Alexis' father had been so enamored of the legend that he had trained to become a ninja, not realizing he was making himself into the only one to actually exist. After his murder, by using the training he had given her, Alexis had also unwittingly taken on the mantle and power of a weapon designed for intimidation. Embracing the idea, she was able to exploit the fear that ninjas inspired against criminals and government agents alike.
Did you know that the United States has over a dozen different members of the alphabet soup club that report to the DNI (Director of National Intelligence) operating under immense secret budgets? Espionage is a big deal. Governments and their militaries have long-relied upon the power of gathering hidden information with invisible eyes. Properly utilized, spies can change the course of a war or make war unnecessary, a single agent accomplishing what ten thousand soldiers might not. It was the serendipitous arrest of British spy John Andre that helped reveal the betrayal of Benedict Arnold and save West Point from being handed to the British. Yeah, that catch was all luck, despite the American military having its own intelligence network. Nowadays, they seem to be working overtime to know...pretty much everything, it seems.
In fiction, we have all manner of intelligence options showing up. We have Bond and Bourne, the IMF, SHIELD, Task Force X (the Suicide Squad), and Checkmate. Star Trek alone has produced the Romulan Tal'shiar, Kardassia's Obsidian Order, and the Federation's Section 31 (which they'll be quick to disavow even exists). Covert manipulation and intelligence gathering is so important a part of governmental and military events that I've had to make sure they were represented in my own world building. In the Theobroma books, the world of Tarakk plays host to the secret activities of the Scales of Justice and smoke agents, the operatives of both being magic-savvy, metamorphing dragons; the infiltrations and espionage of Clan Isharien, rumored to be ruthless practitioners of martial arts and magic; the various government Ministries that vie to influence the Republic of Zadiasam and the lives of its people; and the aloof warlords whose mastery of nanotech and space folding have given them reputations of limitless reach and knowledge.
Conflicts between secret players with access to huge resources can have far-reaching consequences, limited only by the imaginations and ambitions of those pulling the strings from the shadows. Who will determine the outcomes of the wars we see unfolding on the nightly news? Probably the same people who put the figureheads at the forefront of their governments and factions. That is to say, no one most of us have probably heard of. That's just the way they like it. Out of the public eye, the power behind a throne acts freely.
Showing posts with label intelligence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label intelligence. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
17046--Ignore Me and Behave Normally
Ignore me! You may have the feeling that you're being watched. Don't worry about it. Pay no attention to the men behind the curtains. They're doing their best to get to everyone. It just happens to be your turn.
Yes, maybe it would make more sense to exercise their surveillance powers on those most likely to be involved in criminal activities. This might mean doing actual investigative work and following logical leads, but sometimes the temptation is too great to just take a swing at the low-hanging fruit. This means there's a stronger than nil statistical chance of violating the privacy of people without legitimate cause.
You want me to trust incomparable surveillance and intelligence gathering power in someone else's hands? I'm willing to trust Santa and Superman (and maybe a few of his friends) with that sort of resource, but that's a pretty short list. They each have a proven record, though, that proves their judgement can be trusted.
The illusion of "oversight" is fantasy. The people who worm their way into government continue to prove that they will do what they can, in the name of expediency, to circumvent any oversight or control procedure we put in place. This automatically means that we have lawbreakers (scofflaws, if you prefer) making assessments on the activities of anyone they choose to pay attention to. Convenience and security are not worth the sacrifice of Freedom.
Checks, balances and oversights are created with the intention of preventing abuses of powerful tools. Government servants are taking it upon themselves to decide that they don't need the safety measures, opening the processes they're using to abuse. Show us that no one has ever been wrongfully prosecuted by the IRS or the FBI or any police agency, or that no one has ever been harmed by the medical system and we'll talk. Otherwise, safety measures are demanded for virtually every potentially dangerous product in our lives, why not surveillance/enforcement toys, too?
On top of all that, it seems that 69-year-old Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca, smuggler) was stopped in Denver by the TSA because of his suspicious cane. Are they still looking for tall, old foreign guys? Have they not heard that Osama Bin Laden was taken out of action? Have they merely tipped their hand, revealing that they side with the Galactic Empire? Well, like they say, we're not paranoid enough, so I guess we shouldn't be surprised that it happens on both sides of the line. It'd be nice, though, if our government servants would remember that they work for us, which means we should all be on the same side of the line.
Yes, maybe it would make more sense to exercise their surveillance powers on those most likely to be involved in criminal activities. This might mean doing actual investigative work and following logical leads, but sometimes the temptation is too great to just take a swing at the low-hanging fruit. This means there's a stronger than nil statistical chance of violating the privacy of people without legitimate cause.
You want me to trust incomparable surveillance and intelligence gathering power in someone else's hands? I'm willing to trust Santa and Superman (and maybe a few of his friends) with that sort of resource, but that's a pretty short list. They each have a proven record, though, that proves their judgement can be trusted.
The illusion of "oversight" is fantasy. The people who worm their way into government continue to prove that they will do what they can, in the name of expediency, to circumvent any oversight or control procedure we put in place. This automatically means that we have lawbreakers (scofflaws, if you prefer) making assessments on the activities of anyone they choose to pay attention to. Convenience and security are not worth the sacrifice of Freedom.
Checks, balances and oversights are created with the intention of preventing abuses of powerful tools. Government servants are taking it upon themselves to decide that they don't need the safety measures, opening the processes they're using to abuse. Show us that no one has ever been wrongfully prosecuted by the IRS or the FBI or any police agency, or that no one has ever been harmed by the medical system and we'll talk. Otherwise, safety measures are demanded for virtually every potentially dangerous product in our lives, why not surveillance/enforcement toys, too?
On top of all that, it seems that 69-year-old Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca, smuggler) was stopped in Denver by the TSA because of his suspicious cane. Are they still looking for tall, old foreign guys? Have they not heard that Osama Bin Laden was taken out of action? Have they merely tipped their hand, revealing that they side with the Galactic Empire? Well, like they say, we're not paranoid enough, so I guess we shouldn't be surprised that it happens on both sides of the line. It'd be nice, though, if our government servants would remember that they work for us, which means we should all be on the same side of the line.
Monday, February 18, 2013
16933--Child of Fire and Blood (Ch. 12)
The trouble starts over on the Theobroma page. I've decided to continue it out here with a few chapters for your perusal. Enjoy a taste of Tarakk prior to indulging in the whole novel. Feedback or questions on the world, its people, their gods or whatever are equally welcome.
Flying low over the largely unspoiled wilds of the lush forests and rolling hills of Bentrci, a pair of large dragons swooped into a low-lying clearing north of the normally peaceful village of Alistin. Riding their momentum, the two literally hit the ground running. Their iridescent scales were shimmering rainbows of color, serpentine bodies undulating as they gamboled south. Maintaining a measure of the buoyancy that allowed their deadly forms to soar among the clouds, the dragons bounced along the landscape with ease, propelled by their great stores of internal energy and claws that barely touched the ground.
Even had they been reduced to the level of awareness of the humans who lived in the area, it would have seemed obvious that Alistin was in crisis as columns of black smoke rose above the sprawling town. Keen dragon senses told them that fires still raged in the light industrial community as surely as they knew the scents of blood and panic in the air. Drawing near the outskirts of the town, still intending to evade detection, dragon flesh quivered and changed. In the span of a few heartbeats, dragon forms had become snaking clouds of indigo smoke, roiling among streets and alleyways.
“Well, child,” Aan-kresk said as the two finally settled on a rooftop, hidden from human eyes by the concealing gift of the dragons’ mime, “would you agree that we have something worth reporting home?”
“I’m confused, ancient,” Kss-kaak responded. “I see a lot of military equipment, calm warriors with strange smiles and there’s no question about the uniforms. Albani warriors have clearly penetrated deep into Bentrci, but this place isn’t ablaze. The ones without uniforms appear to match reports of the natives being largely farmers and crafters. Why keep them alive?”
“Without a military force to offer resistance,” the elder dragon proposed to his young charge, “it’s possible they could’ve surrendered to escape slaughter.”
“Well, no uniforms,” he replied, “and they have both a look and smell that tells me they’re comfortable with dirt and work. They also don’t look as happy as the soldiers. They reek of tension and they walk like they’re being herded. Those are unhappy human faces, right?”
“Yes, also, the black smoke columns can be strong indicators of crisis in human communities,” the elder dragon confirmed, “but it could just be signs of industry since we haven’t seen any open fires. The Albani appear to be building in multiple locations and fortifying along the Larlo River.
“Who invades a place and builds?” Kss-kaak asked. “Where are the flames, the carnage, the destruction…?”
“Perhaps they’re trying something new,” the elder dragon said. “There are signs of conflict, showing that what little presence Zadiasam had in this area was forced to withdraw back across the Larlo into their own country.”
“So they’ll probably be waiting on military reinforcements from…what’s that city due east?”
“Devenara. It’s got a half-million population, industry and surrounding military bases. Our information says they trade with these people, though, for about half their imported food.”
“Which means this should get very interesting for our report,” Kss-kaak said. “Nobody likes having their food supply cut. If they’re smart, they’ll want to respond quickly, before the Albani can finish getting fortified here.”
“Probably,” Aan-kresk said, “though military resistance, will likely cause a much greater escalation in hostilities between the larger nations than this occupation and what little shooting there’s been. Do you have any idea how long it’s been since the human factions of Alban and Zadiasam have resorted to using lethal force?”
“Does that matter? They die a lot. I thought they killed each other off all the time,” Kss-kaak said, puzzled by the proposition that that might be incorrect.
“In their own lands, perhaps,” the elder dragon said. “Internationally, though, they’ve maintained strict practices of not killing for…more than three hundred years. I forget exactly how long, but I remember when the Treaty of Orray was created. The magi had started campaigns to shatter all the deadliest human military forces and ultimately pressured them into acting civilized. They hated it, but all the humans had begun calling them ‘warlords’, so face-to-face they were scared enough that they agreed to anything they were told to do.”
“Well, it looks like the Albani have decided to show that they’d rather stay in the dark than be forced to enlightenment.”
“Enlightenment is an inherently destructive process,” Aan-kresk said. “Not everyone can weather it. These villagers may be unhappy now with whatever the Albani are doing, but maybe they’ll be thankful later.”
They looked over the edge of the roof at the occupied streets below as Kss-kaak casually commented, “I have to admit, they do seem to be running a peaceful occupation.”
“I still want to find out what they’re here for,” the elder dragon said, watching armored skiffs hover above Albani soldiers marching Alistin’s citizens through the town. “Things may seem calm now, but there’s evidence enough that Alban wasn’t invited. Maybe they just want to see what the magi will do. They must have some sort of plan smoldering. This sudden activity so far from Alban and so near to Zadiasam can’t be random.”
“Well, is there a better way to find out more than watching them rebuild the town?” Kss-kaak told him. “Maybe we could start a few creative interrogations about all the military bits and pieces they’re moving around.”
“They’re using more than just tranquilizer guns and shock rods. Look around this anthill. They’re using weaponry Alban didn’t even have a few years ago: battle robots, hover tanks, energy cannons…”
“You’re saying they had some kind of a research breakthrough?” the younger dragon asked.
“If my experience is worth anything, I’d say it’s more likely that someone’s been sharing secrets they should’ve kept,” the elder said. “We’ll quietly pick out a few of these pale pieces of meat, without inciting running or screaming, and see what other information we can gather. We’re here to study, not to fight their army, after all. Remember, we are smoke.”
“What about a snack?” Kss-kaak proposed. “They’re so small I could eat a platoon.”
“We’ll see what opportunities arise. After we do what we do, discreetly, I want to head down river to the neighboring community, Samaris, so we can see what they’re working on near the water and find out how large this occupation is.”
“I don’t know why we’re bothering, really,” Kss-kaak said. “It’s not like the humans on either side of this fight would show any love for us if they knew we were here. History says they’d just as soon cut us up for food and armor. You did want me to pay attention to history, right? That’s why you’re giving me a history lesson?”
“We’re not here to win friends,” Aan-kresk said. “Smoke agents go where the Dragon Council directs.”
“Watching the savage insects strut about, swarming over the landscape,” Kss-kaak said with a snort, “and tear each other apart. Well, at least they bring variety into the day.”
CHILD OF FIRE AND BLOOD
TWELVE
Flying low over the largely unspoiled wilds of the lush forests and rolling hills of Bentrci, a pair of large dragons swooped into a low-lying clearing north of the normally peaceful village of Alistin. Riding their momentum, the two literally hit the ground running. Their iridescent scales were shimmering rainbows of color, serpentine bodies undulating as they gamboled south. Maintaining a measure of the buoyancy that allowed their deadly forms to soar among the clouds, the dragons bounced along the landscape with ease, propelled by their great stores of internal energy and claws that barely touched the ground.
Even had they been reduced to the level of awareness of the humans who lived in the area, it would have seemed obvious that Alistin was in crisis as columns of black smoke rose above the sprawling town. Keen dragon senses told them that fires still raged in the light industrial community as surely as they knew the scents of blood and panic in the air. Drawing near the outskirts of the town, still intending to evade detection, dragon flesh quivered and changed. In the span of a few heartbeats, dragon forms had become snaking clouds of indigo smoke, roiling among streets and alleyways.
“Well, child,” Aan-kresk said as the two finally settled on a rooftop, hidden from human eyes by the concealing gift of the dragons’ mime, “would you agree that we have something worth reporting home?”
“I’m confused, ancient,” Kss-kaak responded. “I see a lot of military equipment, calm warriors with strange smiles and there’s no question about the uniforms. Albani warriors have clearly penetrated deep into Bentrci, but this place isn’t ablaze. The ones without uniforms appear to match reports of the natives being largely farmers and crafters. Why keep them alive?”
“Without a military force to offer resistance,” the elder dragon proposed to his young charge, “it’s possible they could’ve surrendered to escape slaughter.”
“Well, no uniforms,” he replied, “and they have both a look and smell that tells me they’re comfortable with dirt and work. They also don’t look as happy as the soldiers. They reek of tension and they walk like they’re being herded. Those are unhappy human faces, right?”
“Yes, also, the black smoke columns can be strong indicators of crisis in human communities,” the elder dragon confirmed, “but it could just be signs of industry since we haven’t seen any open fires. The Albani appear to be building in multiple locations and fortifying along the Larlo River.
“Who invades a place and builds?” Kss-kaak asked. “Where are the flames, the carnage, the destruction…?”
“Perhaps they’re trying something new,” the elder dragon said. “There are signs of conflict, showing that what little presence Zadiasam had in this area was forced to withdraw back across the Larlo into their own country.”
“So they’ll probably be waiting on military reinforcements from…what’s that city due east?”
“Devenara. It’s got a half-million population, industry and surrounding military bases. Our information says they trade with these people, though, for about half their imported food.”
“Which means this should get very interesting for our report,” Kss-kaak said. “Nobody likes having their food supply cut. If they’re smart, they’ll want to respond quickly, before the Albani can finish getting fortified here.”
“Probably,” Aan-kresk said, “though military resistance, will likely cause a much greater escalation in hostilities between the larger nations than this occupation and what little shooting there’s been. Do you have any idea how long it’s been since the human factions of Alban and Zadiasam have resorted to using lethal force?”
“Does that matter? They die a lot. I thought they killed each other off all the time,” Kss-kaak said, puzzled by the proposition that that might be incorrect.
“In their own lands, perhaps,” the elder dragon said. “Internationally, though, they’ve maintained strict practices of not killing for…more than three hundred years. I forget exactly how long, but I remember when the Treaty of Orray was created. The magi had started campaigns to shatter all the deadliest human military forces and ultimately pressured them into acting civilized. They hated it, but all the humans had begun calling them ‘warlords’, so face-to-face they were scared enough that they agreed to anything they were told to do.”
“Well, it looks like the Albani have decided to show that they’d rather stay in the dark than be forced to enlightenment.”
“Enlightenment is an inherently destructive process,” Aan-kresk said. “Not everyone can weather it. These villagers may be unhappy now with whatever the Albani are doing, but maybe they’ll be thankful later.”
They looked over the edge of the roof at the occupied streets below as Kss-kaak casually commented, “I have to admit, they do seem to be running a peaceful occupation.”
“I still want to find out what they’re here for,” the elder dragon said, watching armored skiffs hover above Albani soldiers marching Alistin’s citizens through the town. “Things may seem calm now, but there’s evidence enough that Alban wasn’t invited. Maybe they just want to see what the magi will do. They must have some sort of plan smoldering. This sudden activity so far from Alban and so near to Zadiasam can’t be random.”
“Well, is there a better way to find out more than watching them rebuild the town?” Kss-kaak told him. “Maybe we could start a few creative interrogations about all the military bits and pieces they’re moving around.”
“They’re using more than just tranquilizer guns and shock rods. Look around this anthill. They’re using weaponry Alban didn’t even have a few years ago: battle robots, hover tanks, energy cannons…”
“You’re saying they had some kind of a research breakthrough?” the younger dragon asked.
“If my experience is worth anything, I’d say it’s more likely that someone’s been sharing secrets they should’ve kept,” the elder said. “We’ll quietly pick out a few of these pale pieces of meat, without inciting running or screaming, and see what other information we can gather. We’re here to study, not to fight their army, after all. Remember, we are smoke.”
“What about a snack?” Kss-kaak proposed. “They’re so small I could eat a platoon.”
“We’ll see what opportunities arise. After we do what we do, discreetly, I want to head down river to the neighboring community, Samaris, so we can see what they’re working on near the water and find out how large this occupation is.”
“I don’t know why we’re bothering, really,” Kss-kaak said. “It’s not like the humans on either side of this fight would show any love for us if they knew we were here. History says they’d just as soon cut us up for food and armor. You did want me to pay attention to history, right? That’s why you’re giving me a history lesson?”
“We’re not here to win friends,” Aan-kresk said. “Smoke agents go where the Dragon Council directs.”
“Watching the savage insects strut about, swarming over the landscape,” Kss-kaak said with a snort, “and tear each other apart. Well, at least they bring variety into the day.”
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