After two days Rachit with his some trusted comrades drafted a basis AIA (Athenia intelligence Agency) and put it to Rahul for approval.
Rahul sat at the map table. Priya had printed pages stacked neatly; Rachit stood straight, eyes steady.
"Rachit," Rahul said, "I want a domestic intelligence service — the Athenia Intelligence Agency. You will lead it."
Rachit bowed once. "Your Majesty, I accept. I'll build it on three pillars: information, protection, and legal restraint. We'll provide options for budget, organization, and timeline."
Priya added, "We'll ensure the NLAO and Anti-Corruption Bureau have audit access. No unchecked funds."
Rahul nodded. "Good. Make it fast — but safe. We leave for the northern mission in ten days; prepare what you can now."
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AIA — Mission & Objectives
Primary mission: Protect Athenia's national security by collecting, analysing, and acting on intelligence related to internal threats, foreign interference, counter-espionage, and strategic risks to the state (including protection of critical projects such as mining).
Secondary mission: Support lawful operations of the state (policy advice, early warning, secure liaison with friendly foreign services) while safeguarding civil liberties and avoiding political abuse.
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Organizational Structure
Director (Head): Rachit — reports to the King
Deputy Directors: Domestic Intelligence (D-Domestic), Counterintelligence & Protective Security (D-CI), Analysis & Strategic Assessment (D-Analysis), Technical & Signals (D-Tech), Legal & Compliance (D-Legal).
Field Units: Regional teams (covering provinces / strategic corridors).
Support Wings: HR & Vetting, Training Academy, Logistics, Cyber-Defence (defensive only), Secure Communications.
Liaison Office: AIA Office of External Liaison — coordinates with Defence, Ministry of External Affairs, and vetted foreign partners.
> Note: avoid naming or including operational tradecraft in text — keep it narrative.
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Legal & Oversight Framework
Founding Decree: Issued by the King to establish AIA, defining scope and limits.
Oversight Board: Small panel chaired by a senior neutral figure (e.g., a retired judge) with members from NLAO, Anti-Corruption Bureau, and a civilian minister. The Board reviews budgets, major operations, and ethics complaints.
Audit Access: NLAO has audit rights to AIA budgets and non-operational expenditures quarterly. ACB retains investigatory power for misuse.
Reporting: Director submits quarterly classified reports to the King .
Legal Counsel: D-Legal ensures actions comply with emergency powers and national law.
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Funding & Budget
Initial seed (setup): $300 million — HQ, secure comms, first recruitment, training academy, initial tech & vehicles. (Source: first mining tranche.)
Year 1 operating budget: $150 million — salaries, regional detachments, training, basic analytics and defensive cyber tools.
Reserve/Capital (3-year): $250–500 million — HQ buildout, equipment, secure facilities, and an expansion fund if required.
Annual audits: Mandatory external audit by NLAO; summary to Oversight Board.
Rahul : "Priya, allocate $300 million now. Rachit, make it accountable — NLAO will log every disbursement. No slush funds."
Priya: "Understood, Your Majesty. I'll ring-fence the allocation and schedule the audits."
Rachit: "We'll deliver a clear expenditures ledger. Funds will be prioritized: recruitment & vetting, secure HQ, training academy, and encrypted comms. Operational expenditures will be phased and justified to the Oversight Board."
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Recruitment & Vetting
Source pool: vetted personnel from military, police, civil service, universities (intelligence analysts), and trusted external hires for technical roles.
Vetting steps: multi-level background checks, financial audits, loyalty assessments, psychological screening, probationary assignments.
Local representation: regional hires to ensure local knowledge while central command retains final clearance.
Rachit : "We will recruit in cohorts. Cohort 1: leadership and analysts. Cohort 2: field teams and protective detachments. Cohort 3: technical specialists. Vetting will be strict — only cleared after two levels of review and NLAO spot checks."
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Training & Capacity Building
Training Academy: basic intelligence tradecraft (legal, ethics, analysis, surveillance law), protective security, emergency response, and secure communications (non-offensive).
Foreign training links: short exchange programs with neutral partners (focused on analysis and management, not espionage).
Timeline: 3 months for leadership & core analysts, 6 months for field teams to reach operational readiness in non-kinetic tasks.
Rahul: "Prioritize training for the light cadres who will operate with new equipment. I want loyalty, discipline, and competence."
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Facilities & Tech
HQ: secure facility with controlled access, situation room, secure archives.
Regional hubs: small secure offices near Harish, Rarish, and Parish (the three northern towns), tied into logistics for the upcoming northern mission.
Communications: secure internal networks, redundancy, and NLAO-audited procurement of comms gear (defensive focus).
Analytics: procurement of data-analysis platforms for open-source intelligence and strategic assessments (no operational hacking capabilities described).
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Phased Timeline
Phase 0 (10 days): Initial orders, temporary team assembled for the mission, high-level structure approved.
Phase 1 (0–3 months): HQ temporary facilities, leadership recruiting, initial funding disbursed, vetting begins.
Phase 2 (3–6 months): Training Academy established, first cohorts trained, regional hubs stood up (Harish/Rarish/Parish).
Phase 3 (6–12 months): Full operating capacity for domestic intelligence and counterintelligence, audits in place, liaison channels active.
Phase 4 (12–24 months): Expansion to technical capabilities, advanced analysis teams, long-term workforce stabilization.
Rachit: "We can field a basic operational capability in three months. Full, professional capacity by twelve months."
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Rules of Engagement
AIA operates under the law and King's decree.
No domestic political policing of dissent (political expression remains protected).
Counter-espionage and national security threats are within remit.
Any covert action that affects political actors must be approved by the Oversight Board and the King.
Rahul: "No domestic witch-hunts. The AIA protects the state, not personal power. If anyone abuses it, I want the NLAO and ACB to have teeth."
After signing and closing the full report .
Rahul folded his hands. "Rachit — you have authority, but not carte blanche. Priya will audit with NLAO. Build AIA fast. Build it clean. Start with $300 million. Send me a one-page operational plan tomorrow and a recruitment list in five days. The mission leaves in ten days — use this structure to protect it. Understood?"
Rachit saluted. "Understood, Your Majesty. AIA will be loyal, professional, and accountable."
Priya bowed. "I'll arrange the funding paperwork and notify NLAO. We'll run the first audit in three months."
Rahul watched them go, thinking about Harish, Rarish, and Parish — and the next step in making Athenia secure enough to grow.