In the creation of the agency below I did not use the tier 5 or 6 options as they will give the characters way too much to work with. I did create a few options that could be considered in between some of the other options.
Agency Name: The players can come up with a name for this agency and type of industry that serves as its cover. The cover industry actually does make a profit BTW.
Type of Agency:
Off the book’s government espionage agency. Shortly before his assassination President Kennedy proposed to the Queen of England the creation of an “off the book’s” espionage agency known only to select few within either the US and UK governments. This would allow both the USA and UK to conduct espionage and paramilitary operations that had very little chance of discovery by foreign intelligence services.
The agency has been in operation since 1964.
Outfits:
Specialty Clothing. Standard armor, protective clothing, pilot outfits, SCUBA gear, plus any other standard outfits, are available. In addition, the civilian clothing is fairly classy, equivalent to what's available in expensive clothing stores. Gas masks, atropine injectors, parachutes (single and tandem) and load bearing vests are also available. (10 Points)
Equipment:
Electronic Supplies. Agents have $5,000 to spend on Electronic Equipment, or are given $5,000 to procure electronics devices on site. (10 points)
Weapons:
Well-Armed Agents. Agents have $5,000 to spend on weapons (a basic ammo load is included), or are given $5,000 to procure weapons on site. (20 points)
Vehicles:
Fleet Vehicles. The agency maintains a fleet of standard, unmodified vehicles. Small cars, minivans, small boats and small aircraft are available. All vehicles are the most common and cheapest kind available. Field teams may alternatively be given $1000 to rent vehicles. (10 points)
Communications:
Computerized. A computer network links up the various offices of the agency with the central HQ. In addition, all radio and telephone communications have sophisticated computer scrambling available. Special private couriers and armored truck services are also used. Field teams may be given a satellite phone, or backpack style satellite radio. (15 points)
Offices and Distribution:
Semi Regional. The agency has one main office, and three additional field offices located around the world. (10 points)
Office Locations: Players can help chose the location of the field offices. Players need to decide on which office is the main office.
- Oriental area of operations (includes Australia and Oceania): Hong Kong?
- European area of operations: London? Paris? Rome?
- North/South America area of operations: Los Angeles? New York City? Atlanta?
- Africa area of operations: Cairo? Nairobi? (this one is kinda difficult when trying to find a city that serves as an international travel hub).
Military Power:
Private Army. A small unit of 200 experienced mercenaries and combat veterans. They come complete with weapons and equipment. Constantly on duty and ready to be mobilized. Fifty personnel are assigned to each office location and at least a squad can be called up to assist a field team within 12-18 hours. (20 points)
Medical Care of Agents:
Very good. The agency has the funds to replace the limbs or eyes an agent has lost in the field with cybernetics. (20 points) NOTE: This isn’t in the book, but I don’t want player characters to be screwed over if they lose an arm or leg. I figure if the agency is willing to replace an arm or leg they’d replace an eyeball too.
Sponsorship:
Off the books Government. The agency is a legitimate private industry that has several offices around the world. The private industry serves as a cover for a joint US & UK "off the books" intelligence organization and private military company. The espionage agency operates outside of any legal jurisdiction of either country and is not a formal member of either countries intelligence community. There are a select few individuals within the intelligence, military, and law enforcement organizations of both the UK & USA who know about the Espionage agency. (15 points)
Budget:
Small Potatoes. Agency can dig up $50,000. (15 points)
Administrative Control:
Agency Protection. The agents will be protected by the agency at all costs, shielded from any legal suits or prosecution. The agency will even go so far as to mount an operation to free a captured agent. (25 points)
Internal Security:
Tight. Alert security guards (some of these are members of the 200 man private army!), electronic/alarms, and electronic picture I.D. cards are all part of the agency's security system. A rigid check of prospective employees reduces the chance of infiltrators to 10%. (10 points)
External Infiltration:
Information Source. A critical person who is privy to the enemy agency's secret communications is an agent of the group's agency. This agent is usually a secretary or communications officer who sees about half of all the secret messages. A 12% chance of an agent in each major office of each enemy agency. (10 Points)
Agency Credentials:
Semi-Known. There are individuals within the intelligence, military, and law enforcement organizations of both the UK & USA who know about the espionage agency. If a field team encounters espionage agents, or military special forces from either the USA or UK there are certain code words that may be used to solicit assistance, or at the very least get them to back off. (8 points)
Agency Salary:
Well Off. Agents receive their base salary times two. This allows them to live like middle to upper middle class. (15 points)
