Argus Directorate

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>  | *This is what Argus is Sam. An entire covert international amalgamation of the three capabilities of Third Echelon, the Ghosts, and Rainbow, without the bureaucratic & political strings that ruin the integrity of other intelligence agencies but with our enhancements, enough to make it more original and more unorthodox. It's enough to rebuild Fourth Echelon, isn't it? An organization of "Oddballs".*
>  **- Asher Ingram explaining Argus to Sam Fisher** | ”
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## Organizational Information

### Type

* Covert Intelligence Directorate
* Sigmus Sub-Branch
* Tier One Special Mission Unit & Joint Component Command
* Independent Black Operations Entity

### Role

* Counter-Terrorist/Intelligence Agency
* Paramilitary Special Operations Clandestine Force

### Goal

* Prevent terror attacks, both foreign and domestic, and kill/capture those responsible.
* Support Sigmus operations.
* Neutralize the True Sons and their senior leadership.

### Allies

* Strategic Homeland Division (secretly)
* The Remnants (secretly)

### Part of

Sigmus Corporation (secretly)

The **Argus Directorate** also known as **Special Operations & Intelligence Command Directorate-Argus (SOICD-A)** or simply ***Argus*** is a highly-covert independent intelligence/espionage agency, clandestine special forces unit/branch, and strike force embedded within the Sigmus Corporation, that is dedicated to upholding peace and protecting the world from terrorists and other major threats. Employing the usage of unorthodox, unpredictable, and unconventional methods, to achieve a high success rate of the missions they complete, Argus was able to remain invisible to various government intelligence agency, including their government counterpart, Fourth Echelon.

As one of their major roles, the unit was assigned to specifically was the handling of top secret sneaking and infiltration missions and other black ops, fulfilling the role of both special operations and intelligence duties and was established in 2012 in the aftermath of the Blacklist Attacks.

While it is essential a salvaged version of Third Echelon designed to serve the same functions as their predecessor, but without any government limitations or red tape with a combination of the capabilities of Ghost Recon and Rainbow, Argus maintains a position in developing it's own tactics to prevent their enemies from properly identifying any weakness, while making improvements. Though despite it's secret connections to Sigmus, Argus refrains from supporting any of the company's financial or corporate interest.

As a result of the nuclear destruction of the Raven's Rock bunker, the transformation of the New England Republic into autocratic monarchy, and the false flag attack by the Pretorians, they are deployed to infiltrate and gather intelligence on the True Sons and their allies. In order to cripple and collapse, the New American Empire without causing any collateral damage in the process. They are currently led by Asher Ingram, a former high-ranking Third Echelon executive & Splinter Cell operative that was one of few people that was against Tom Reed's tenure as director of Third Echelon.

## History

Shortly after the first of the Blacklist attacks by the Engineers, Asher Ingram, a former Third Echelon Splinter Cell operative who left shortly after their disbandment, though aware of the swift creation of Fourth Echelon and being led by his friend Sam Fisher, felt that a independent intelligence agency, that ran above the politics & bureaucracy that undermined other intelligence organizations was needed to response quickly to terrorism and other threats to civilians, but operated at the highest level of discretion. Wishing to see this concept into reality, Ingram turned to the CEO and Chairman of the Sigmus Corporation, Damon Rommel who shared similar views with the former.

After managing to gain a private meeting with Rommel, Ingram suggested the creation of Sigmus's own covert intelligence agency & strike force to deal with future threats across the globe, without support any political or economic goals of any country. Rommel approved of the concept and made sure that the U.S. Intelligence Community or any other intelligence agency were unaware of Argus.

Since it's founding, Argus had been highly successful in performing & carrying out covert operations against various threats to civilians across the globe performing with surgical precision, with sometimes Argus assisting their government funded counterparts especially groups like Fourth Echelon, Ghost Recon, and Rainbow Six, though Argus made sure all three were unaware of their existence.

### Operation Blackjack

Having received chatter that a group of mercenaries have been contracted by Commander William Ross to kidnap Rommel's son Victor as a bargaining chip to force Rommel into peaceful negotiations with the New American Empire, Argus managed extracted Victor out of London and to safe location somewhere in the Mediterranean Basin and had planned a successful ambush on the mercenaries, before leaving behind a trail of fabricated intelligence that Victor was still in London.

### Throwing Hawkeye off the Trail

One of their field operatives was captured by True Sons NCO Sergeant Major Ted "Hawkeye" Ramsey who discovered their existence, as the operative managed to escape and informed Ingram of "Hawkeye" of discovering Argus. Not wanting the True Sons to discover their existence, Ingram quickly and efferently managed to throw "Hawkeye" off the trail by allowing him to sneak into supposed several bases being used by Argus, as they managed evacuate all personnel and equipment leaving nothing behind except false intel for "Hawkeye" to find, unbeknownst to him. The bogus intel was comprised of made-up spies in the True Sons and faulty wetwork operations targeting officers, all made to look perfectly legitimate. Although, it made the True Sons bolster security at their bases and had Counterintelligence Force on high alert of tracking down more spies, It allow Argus by some degree to manipulate the True Sons, though Ingram was concern that "Hawkeye" will eventually notice this and has plans for a termination order on him, without drawing attention to the True Sons.

Despite covering their trail and pulling their operatives out, and canceling several future infiltration ops, some of their informants were caught at Andrews Air Force Base by the CIF and refused to give out information about Argus while interrogated. As a result, the informants were later executed by hanging through the use of a crane, which caused any future infiltration ops within NAE territory to be cancelled and put on hold, until further notice.

### Operations in Remnant

*Note: This is considered to be non-canon, and is related to Phoenix Fall: Written Petals.*

As a result of one their labs in Germany accidently opening up a portal to earth-like planet of Remnant, Argus has been conducting covert operations to gain information on this new world. A majority of their operations resolved around reconnaissance and intelligence gathering, due to the lack of satellite within Remnant.

*Coming Soon*

## Recruitment and Training

The selection and recruitment process employed by Argus are characterized by diversity and unorthodoxy, encompassing candidates from various backgrounds such as former special forces operators, reformed criminals, and civilians displaying potential. Exclusions are made for individuals with prior violent and psychotic tendencies. The intricacies of Argus's member selection remain unknown, with both Rommel and Ingram exercising extreme caution throughout the process. Trainees, depending on their backgrounds, have the option to choose their field—whether to become a Spartan or a Ulysses Operator.

Candidates undergo comprehensive training in the use of a wide array of weapons, ranging from melee to firearms, and are adept at crafting improvised weapons for last-ditch scenarios where equipment is lost. They receive training in various martial arts disciplines. Argus places significant emphasis on not only enhancing candidates physically but also psychologically and mentally. Trainees are equipped to endure and manage pain, formulate improvised yet effective strategies in the direst circumstances, and navigate high-stress situations.

Argus's field operatives, whether potential Spartans or Ulysses members, undergo rigorous training in stealth, deception, persuasion, and the art of "invisibility." Successful special mission teams often incorporate methods from the criminal element, executing grand-scale confidence games on specific mission targets, particularly assigned to Ulysses Watchers. These operators are well-educated, versatile, and highly trained in areas such as demolition tactics, long-range surveillance, computers, and assassination.

All Argus members undergo training to withstand various forms of enhanced interrogations, utilizing insights from Ingram's past child-soldier training in the KGB/GRU program with several improvements. Additionally, they are prepared to endure pain from emotional, physical, and psychological sources.

Field operatives are instilled with a reliance on skills over gadgets and equipment, a measure taken to prevent sabotage and exploit weaknesses by enemy forces.

## Tactics

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>  | *Vigilance, Perception, and Courage. Through Light, Darkness, and Death.*
>  **- Argus's Motto.** | ”
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Argus employs a combination of training, tactics, and techniques that integrate the diverse roles of numerous special operations units, intelligence agencies, and covert entities from different nations and institutions worldwide. These methods are enhanced with unconventional, advanced, and sophisticated approaches, not only rendering them unrecognizable to adversaries but also allowing strategic and tactical improvisation in the most challenging scenarios. This enables them to overcome obstacles, fulfill objectives, and eliminate enemies, including entities like Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six, the Strategic Homeland Division, the disbanded Third Echelon, and its successor Fourth Echelon.

In addition to incorporating existing techniques, Argus develops and utilizes its own original methods, maintaining a combat/operational policy centered on out-of-the-box techniques and unpredictability. Members actively study the training, requirements, and techniques of various special and covert operations units worldwide, identifying flaws and weaknesses for sophisticated improvements. Original techniques are also refined to ensure interoperability and equipment standardization, facilitating the planning and execution of covert and special operations exercises globally.

The enhancements and improvements made by Argus to the training and techniques of covert special operations units, when implemented on their operatives, make them unrecognizable to their previous parent entities. This level of advancement can be likened to Calvin McManus's Hunter program, resulting in Argus being a highly professional, skilled, and specialized amalgamation of intelligence, military, and covert institutions with an unorthodox mindset, capable of precision operations globally.

Each Argus member exhibits exceptional physical and mental prowess, comparable to that of a super-soldier, specializing in various roles related to special operations units worldwide. Their mindset emphasizes unpredictability in combat and high-risk situations, employing unorthodox, unconventional, and out-of-the-box solutions, strategies, techniques, and tactics. The motto "Vigilance, Perception, and Courage. Through Light, Darkness, and Death." encapsulates their ability to operate in diverse environments, improvise in challenging situations, and adapt as needed.

Argus sets itself apart from counterparts like the First Sons through a strict policy of no civilian casualties or collateral damage, viewing the killing of civilians as unnecessary and counterproductive to their goal of protecting innocent people. Many Argus operatives express moral disgust with the First Sons' ruthless dedication to objectives and disregard for civilians, considering them war criminals and traitors. Despite similarities in operations with the True Sons-GSA War, such as acquiring intelligence and targeting enemy officers, Argus maintains a principled stance against unnecessary approaches.

Furthermore, Argus respects members of The Remnants, acknowledging their composition of Ghosts, Rainbow operators, Fourth Echelon personnel, and select individuals like John Clark, Sam Fisher, and Harold "Buzz" Gordon.

*Coming Soon*

## Arsenal

Argus field personnel are equipped with the most advanced, state-of-the-art, and top-of-the-line firearms, equipment, armour. Utilizing reversed engineered & improved equipment from various sources such as Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six, Fourth Echelon, Black Tusk, and recently the Strategic Homeland Division.

### Pistols

* Sig Sauer P226
* Glock 17/19 MOS/19X
* HK45
* SIG Sauer P320
* M45A1 CQB
* FN Five SeveN
* HK USP Tactical

*Coming Soon*

### Submachine Guns

* HK MP5
* CZ Scorpion Evo 3 A1
* HK MP7
* HK UMP
* SIG Sauer MPX
* KRISS TDI Vector
* AUG A3 SMG
* Daewoo Telecom K7
* CMMG MkGs Banshee
* FN P90
* Brügger & Thomet APC
* Enhanced PP-19
* Beretta PM12-S2

### Shotguns

* Beneli M4 Super 90
* Remington M870 MCS
* Mossberg M90A1/M
* Fostech Origin-12
* Standard Manufacturing DP-12
* Kel-Tec KSG
* FABARM FP6
* Crye Precision SIX12
* Black Market SASG-12
* PP-19-01 "Vityaz-SN"

### Assault Rifles, Carbines & Battle Rifles

* FN SCAR-L Mk 16 & SCAR-H Mk 17
* CZ 805 BREN & BREN 2
* Remington ACR
* MK18 Mod 1
* Black Market AK-M
* HK416 and it's variants
* HK417
* Sig Sauer MCX SBR
* AAC Honey Badger
* IWI Tavor X95
* IWI Tavor 7
* Daniel Defense M4A1/MK18
* CQBR Block II
* IMI Galil ACE
* Knight's Armament PDW
* Thales F90
* Military/Custom P416 G3
* AK-Alfa
* Desert Tech MDR
* FB MSBS Grot
* HS Produkt VHS-K2
* AKS-74u
* AS-Val
* SIG Sauer MCX Rattler
* C8SFW/CQB (L119A1/A2)
* G36KA4
* AUG A3 AR

### Sniper Rifles

* Mk 13 MOD 5
* Barrett Mk22 MRAD
* Remington MSR
* McMillan TAC-338
* M40A5/A6
* Accuracy International AW/AWM
* Sako TRG M10
* Accuracy International AXMC
* Barrett MRAD
* Desert Tech SRS A2
* B&T USA 300SPR Pro
* Haenel RS8/RS9
* M24 SWS
* Heckler & Koch MR 762 A1

### Designated Marksman Rifles

* HK G28
* M110A1 CSASS/SDMR
* M110 SASS
* MK39 EMR
* MK14 EBR
* Mk12 SPR
* LMT LM308MWS Sharpshooter

### Light Machine Guns

* HK MG5
* Mk 46 Mod 1
* KAC LAMG

### Launchers

* M32A1 Grenade Launcher
* Carl Gustaf M4

## Functions

Argus Directorate operations are divided two categories, ***Athena Assembly*** which involve their enhanced Third/Fourth Echelon inspired operatives designated as "Caligo *Watchers*", and ***Shadow Response*** involving their enhanced Ghost Recon/Rainbow counterparts, designated as "*Spartan Units*". All of Argus specializes in all of roles related to various other multinational special operations to achieve flexibility and perfect improvisation in case the operation goes wrong.

Much like their predecessor, Caligo Operators are tasked with spearheading the information warfare initiative and retrieving the most vital intelligence and acting on it in ways that other operatives cannot. They utilized the stealth training back from when they were in Third Echelon, and can either work alone or in teams. In addition, they are given training related to melee weapon combat and a martial arts system that combines gunplay with hand to hand styles similar to gun kata, as a way to make them more agile while in combat along with the addition of free-running and parkour.

They are more emotional discipline, than their predecessors and can be sometimes be seen as cold and calculating, they have no room for the more irrelevant and impulsive emotions, and only think about how to accomplish one mission or the next and take an oath to preserve life at any cost.

**Caligo Watchers are primarily tasked with highest risk missions, which includes the following;**

* Infiltration
* Intelligence gathering
* Special Reconnaissance
* Assassinations
* Sabotage

Spartan Units operate similarly to their lone-wolf counterparts, as they are tasked to infiltrate, survey, and sabotaging True Sons activity within the New American Empire. However, they operate more similarly to a SOCOM's Tier One Special Missions Units or a Advanced Force Operations, Spartans units specialize in both covert and clandestine operations within denied or politically-sensitive territory with little to no support as they operate first in and last out of the field, striking enemies at their most vulnerable swiftly, silently, and invisibly. And specialized in unconventional and high risk operations, and work in small elite teams deep in enemy territory, both Ulysses Operators and Spartan Units utilize their roles with complete discretion. Arguably, the Spartan teams can be compared to SOCOM's Group for Special Tactics (Ghosts) and Rainbow Six.

**The extended primary role of the Spartans appears to be conducting deniable Advance Force Operations which often involve:**

* Asymmetric Warfare
* Direct Covert Action
* Special Reconnaissance
* Unconventional Warfare

**Secondary roles historically have included:**

* Counter-intelligence
* Counter-narcotics
* Counter-proliferation
* Counter-terrorism
* Executive Protection
* Foreign Internal Defense
* Guerrilla Warfare
* Personnel Recovery

Another one of Argus's major unit was called the ***Hades Contingent**,* it's primary function was to covertly support all Argus operatives to ensure that they completed their missions. This included providing field intel and even cleaning up any substantial messes that Argus had caused in order to eliminate all traces that Argus was there. During missions, Hades operatives were not allowed to directly intervene with Argus missions, being ordered to observe from afar and keep track of an operative's mission status.

One of Argus's top directives for operatives during missions was to leave absolutely no traces that they were ever there, which has lead to them having a massive high record of possible deniability, as no operatives have been caught on footage, along with no witnesses to confirm their existence, and no evidence to tie them to the scene of a crime. Become more of Sigmus's equivalent of the Calvin McManus's Hunter program.

Both Spartan and Caligo members have the ability to work both alone and in teams.

## Teams

**Both Spartan and Caligo SF teams are organized into Advanced Force Operations (AFO) units:**

Frequently deployed into different teams, most Spartan/Caligo AFO units are not often permanent, with operators often rotating with different units depending on the mission requirements. Usually, an Argus AFO Team consisting of four to sixteen operators both comprised of Spartan and Caligo operatives depending on the situation, with each member possessing a particular skill e.g. signals, demolition, medic or linguist in addition to basic skills learned during the course of their training.

* AFO Team Zama
* AFO Team Wolfpack
* AFO Team Tombstone
* AFO Team Apex
* AFO Team Cobra
* AFO Team Venom
* AFO Team Oracle
* AFO Team Crimson
* AFO Team Rasputin
* AFO Team Horseman
* AFO Team Roulette
* AFO Team Scarecrow
* AFO Team Medjay
* AFO Team Rajput
* AFO Team Azure
* AFO Team Agoge
* AFO Team Vanir
* AFO Team Aseir
* AFO Team Raiden
* AFO Team Dagger
* AFO Team Nimbus
* AFO Team Whisper
* AFO Team Rumble
* AFO Team Arachnid
* AFO Team Firebolt
* AFO Team Katana
* AFO Team Samurai
* AFO Team Janissary
* AFO Team Verdun
* AFO Team Sargon
* AFO Team Garuda
* AFO Team Arahna

*Coming Soon*

## Operations

### Pre-Dollar Flu - Incomplete

Following the Blacklist Attacks, Argus had been covertly deployed to several parts of the world, performing their missions undetected while helping support various special forces entities such as Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six, Fourth Echelon and at the same time not making their presence known to them.

#### 2012

* Recovers intel related to the location of Al Saif's terrorist cells in Yemen, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Italy. Local law enforcement kill or arrest several members.
* Quietly/Covertly provides evidence that the Fireflies involvement of the death of President of Afghanistan and his family, deescalating tensions between Afghanistan and China.

#### 2013

* Deployed to Mexico during the Civil War, where they covertly aid in the capture of General Ontiveros and his command staff.

#### 2014

* Neutralizes anti-American rebels at the Panama Canal, while managing to covering their tracks

### Post-Dollar Flu - Incomplete

#### 2016-2017

* The assassination and arrest of several plants and sleeper agents loyal to the terrorist group, The Fireflies.
* Carefully covertly assist several intelligence agencies e.g. the American CIA, the British MI6, the German BND, Israeli Mossad, Russian FSB/SVR, and French DGSI in counter-intellgence & sabotage operations against NAE's Counterintelligence Force.
* Assist the CIA in dismantling the CIF front companies in South Africa.
* Help to covertly convince the Belarusian people turning against their NAE-friendly government using evidence that the CIF were involved a series of covert killings, through quietly assisting the BND.
* Launch several joint counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, and counter-intelligence operations against several True Sons & Firefly supported terrorist and insurgency groups.
* In various joint operations with the rebuild Fourth Echelon and Team Rainbow, Argus performs several investigations into rumours of a possible True Sons secret council along with possible military training and arms shipments related to an indoctrinated activist group, Crimson Brigade.
* Joint counter-insurgency operations with Ghost Recon in Alaska against the True Sons Remnant, division-sized unit, 4th Northern Army Division.

## Known Members

* Asher Ingram (Director of Argus)
* Lieutenant General Gabriel Maher (Head of Spartan Operations)
* Elise Jensen (Head of Caligo Operations)
* Parda (Interrogator/Tactical Instructor)
* Callan Holter (Infiltration/Extraction Specialist)

### Spartan Operatives

* Ozone
* Oxide
* Xiphos
* Crater
* Rattler
* Sparrow
* Cassius
* Brutus
* Gaius
* Orcus
* Magnus
* Cyrus
* Hannibal
* Shaka
* Achilles
* Hector
* Hygiea
* Shukra
* Murugan
* Torch
* Raucha
* Vergil
* Yinglong
* Niebo
* Cobalt
* Razor
* Hessian
* Virago
* Magpie
* Kite
* Redtail

### Caligo Operatives

* Erebus
* Pilgrim
* Orion
* Arrow
* Legion
* Mamba
* Copperhead
* Tinia
* Pope
* Sage
* Volos
* Kumiho
* Tecumseh
* Volpe
* Anansi
* Saker
* Cloud
* Freya
* Kishi
* Shiryo
* Feilong
* Jaquar
* Gypa
* Albus
* Gecko

### Others

* Cepha
* Glass
* Fischer
* Neon

#### Kingdom of Vale

* Barberry Gold (Semblance: Superhuman Speed)
* Cinnamon Fuscia (Semblance: Energy Conversion)
* Lavender Blue (Semblance: Radiation Manipulation)
* Purslane Azure (Semblance: Dimensional Transportation)
* Lemongrass Fuscia (Semblance: Echolocation)
* Orris Magenta (Semblance: Sonic Repulsion Field)

#### Kingdom of Haven

* Cloves Burgundy (Semblance: Superhuman Durability)
* Verbena Indigo (Semblance: Probability Manipulation)
* Annatto Grey (Semblance: Resurrection)
* Lovage Blue (Semblance: Disintegration)
* Wattleseed Beige (Semblance: Acid Generation)

#### Kingdom of Atlas

* Lieutenant Savory Magenta (Semblance: Plant Manipulation)
* Sergeant Curry Gold (Semblance: Energy Aura Projection)
* Specialist Purslane Orange (Semblance: Invisibility)
* Private Purslane Bimini (Semblance: Superhuman Vision)
* Pepper Blue (Semblance: Sound Manipulation)

#### Kingdom of Vacuo

* Mint Sierra (Semblance: Fire and Heat Manipulation)
* Zest Bimini (Semblance: Water breathing)
* Nigella Grey (Semblance: Temporal duplication)
* Marjoram Grey (Semblance: Mediumship)
* Fenugreek Maroon (Semblance: Kinetic Absorption)

## Trivia

* Argus's name is derived from the Latinized form of the Ancient Greek mythological character "Argus Panoptes", the many eyed giant responsible for guarding heifer-nymph Io. Along with the name "Argus" meaning vigilance is to reflect the organization's timing and response to threats, both irregular and government regardless of ideological beliefs.
* Strangely, while members of Argus are allowed to question the organization's methods, they appear to be highly loyal but not overly fanatical or zealous to Argus's mission.

## Gallery

Argus AssaultArgus ControllerArgus SniperArgus MedicArgus ThrowerArgus InfiltratorArgus Heavy WeaponsAn Argus AFO Team comprised of both Spartans and Ulysses operators.