OSFI Player's Handbook: Difference between revisions

OSFI is forbidden by the Articles of the Federation from spying on its own citizens within its own borders; it is an external intelligence organization, NOT an internal security organization.  OSFI is roughly analogous to the 20th-21st century Earth intelligence organizations of the United States and Great Britain, the Central Intelligence Agency and MI-6, respectively; as such, it cannot conduct operations in its own space, much as the CIA and MI-6 could not operate within its nations' own boundaries.

The reasons for this separation of duties is apparent when one studies the history of intelligence organizations, particularly those of Earth's past.  The Soviet Union's KGB and the Gestapo of Nazi Germany in Earth's 20th century are but two examples of what happens when an intelligence organization mixes internal security with external espionage- one gets organizations that abuse its powers and trample the civil rights of its citizens and outsiders both; given the Federation's basic stand on the rights of ALL sentient beings, this is not the desired behavior.  Besides, with the vastness of Federation space and the shear size and number of legitimate foreign powers, combining external and internal security into a single office would simply produce ineffective agents and operations on both sides.

OSFI is also forbidden by similar mandate from undertaking what is commonly known as "black operations," so designated because of the "blackness" of the moral or ethical qualities of the mission parameters.  Again, as stated above, the Federation's high ideals regarding the ethical and moral treatment of ALL sentient beings must be followed by any office, department or division of the Federation and its agents- this includes Star Fleet and Star Fleet Intelligence.  As such, OSFI does not take part in any operation where the welfare and rights of sentient beings could and/or would be compromised.  Such missions include assassination operations, sabotage missions (except where reasonable precautions to safeguard innocent lives are taken), and the torture and inhumane imprisonment of foreign nationals for information or punishment.  OSFI's enemies may undertake such operations as part of their modus operandi, but OSFI does not, regardless of this fact or any other.

Proof of Section 31's existence has only just been found, largely due to the fact that, since Section 31 operates both within and outside of UFP boundaries, no firm jurisdiction over a large-scale investigation of such an organization has ever been sorted out between SECIS and OSFI.  As such, neither side has ever collaborated or shared any of its data (if either has anything), which only allows Section 31 to continue its operations unchecked.  It is believed that Section 31, if it were to exist, is made up largely of rogue OSFI and SECIS agents operating from a misplaced sense of loyalty to the Federation.  Regardless, no such agents would ever be allowed in as PC's in ASR, and should therefore be avoided.