Intelligence and Counterespionnage Agency

The Intelligence and Counterespionnage Agency or ICA is one of the most important branches of Terran intelligence , alongside the Bureau of Federal Security. Its official task is to gather, process and analyse national security information, in the Federation and in other nations. It primarily uses human intelligence and cyber intelligence. It was formed in 2333 during the First Contact War. It is headquartered in Vienna, on Earth. 
The ICA, unlike the BFS has no law enforcement function and is mainly focused on foreign intelligence gathering and counterespionnage. The ICA is the only organization with the Terran Special Service to be allowed by law to coordinate and carry out covert operations abroad. The ICA was heavily involved in the creation of the intelligence agencies of allied nations, such as the DNSS of the Dermkha State or the TAI of the Tesrat Republic. It has also extensively collaborated and trained with the various intelligence agencies of the Menya Union. 
Over the years, the ICA has proven to be one of the most competent and powerful intelligence agencies in the Galaxy. It played a pivotal role in the First Contact War, and was responsible for giving the Federation a casus belli against the Ur-Han during the Great War. During peacetime, it executed numerous intelligence gathering and destabilization operations in other galactic nations, most notably in the Ur-Han. In 2689, classified files were made public, and revealed the ICA was responsible for the assassination of three Ur-Han kings over the span of 300 years. During the Great War, the ICA trained and assisted Dermkha and Tesrat forces as early as of 2622, 25 years before the Federation officially joined the conflict. The ICA has been less active since the end of the Great War, due to more cordial relations with other nations. 
Some assassinations of Terran history have been attributed to the work of the ICA. It appears in numerous works of fiction, including books, films, video games and holoxps. 
== Subdivisions ==
The ICA has numerous subdivisions, this list only includes the largest. 
=== Counterespionnage Directorate ===
The Counterespionnage directorate is the main counterespionnage division of the ICA. Its purpose is to identify foreign spies, and to render them ineffective through different means. These most often include feeding them false information, capturing them or expeling them if they are alien. 
=== Intelligence Directorate ===
The Intelligence directorate is the main espionnage and foreign intelligence division of the ICA. Its purpose is to acquire information and protect Terran interests abroad. This branch has the highest number of alien employees out of any branch of the Minsitry of State Security. 
=== Cyber-intelligence Directorate ===
The Cyber-intelligence directorate is the main electronic and informatic division of the ICA. Its purpose is to acquire information on foreign software, learn ways to exploit it and to secure Terran software from foreign intereference. 
=== Bureau of Operations ===
The Bureau of Operations is the division of the ICA which executes direct operations. The Bureau assists both the Intelligence and Counterespionnage directorates. The Bureau is responsible for assassinations, training of troops abroad and other clandestine operations. It is notably the division behind the assassinations of the three Ur-Han kings and the training of Dermkha and Tesrat resistance. 
=== Bureau of Analysis ===
The Bureau of Analysis is the division of the ICA tasked with the analysis and processing of data and intelligence. It assists all three directorates. The Bureau of Analysis is also responsible for the presentation and sharing of intelligence with other government agencies.
Category:Terran
Category:Intelligence