SSD/SSD Specialized Departments

SPECIAL SECURITY DIVISION “In matters of truth and justice, there is no difference between large and small problems, for issues concerning the treatment of people are all the same.” ~Albert Einstein

Departments Within the SSD

Aside from the normal Investigations Operations Teams that make up the bulk of the Special Securities Division, there are other more specialized units that comprise a tighter focus to ensure the safety of the Maquis citizenry. Investigations comprises separate units that work to follow up on major incidents and prepare cases for presentation in court; their goal, to bring to justice all those who, by their deeds, would attempt to bring harm to our community. Investigators works closely with the victims of crime and with local, county and federal prosecutors.

Anti-Terrorism and Counter Terrorism Department -

ATCT is a commonly-used anagram name for Anti-Terrorist and Counter-Terrorist SSD units, which use military-style light weapons and specialized tactics in high-risk surveillance and operations that fall outside of the abilities of standard naval vessels. Anti-terrorism activities are defensive in nature. As a space security agency, the SSD uses its unique authorities, competencies, capacities, operational capabilities and partnerships to board suspect vessels, escort ships deemed to present or be at significant risk, enforce fixed security zones at Maquis critical infrastructure and key resources, and patrol the Badlands approaches, ports, and borders of Maquis held space.

Counter-terrorism activities are offensive in nature. These Special Security response teams are highly specialized, and hold a number of resources; with advanced counter-terrorism skills and tactics, the CT SSD team is trained to be a first responder to potential terrorist situations. Their primary job is to deny terrorist acts; they also perform security actions against non-compliant vessels, perform tactical facility entry and enforcement, participate in port level counter-terrorism exercises and educate other branches of the Maquis Forces in counter-terrorism procedures. Their duties include:

• Hostage rescue • Providing superior assault firepower in certain situations, e.g. barricaded suspects • Rescuing officers or citizens endangered by gunfire • Counter-terrorist operations • Resolving high-risk situations with a minimum loss of life, injury, or property damage • Resolving situations involving barricaded subjects • Stabilizing situations involving high-risk suicidal subjects • Other specialized training, as necessary

Such units are often equipped with specialized firearms including assault rifles, breaching arms, riot control agents, stun grenades, and sniper rifles. They have specialized equipment including heavy body armor, ballistic shields, entry tools, advanced night vision optics, and motion detectors for covertly determining the positions of hostages or hostage takers, inside enclosed structures.

More information on the ATCT can be found here.

Customs & Border Patrol -

The SSD Customs and Border Patrol has a complex mission at ports of entry with broad law enforcement authorities tied to screening all foreign visitors, returning Maquis citizens and imported cargo that enters the Badlands and other areas of Maquis held space. CBP aims to stop trafficking of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems, and related materials to and from Maquis colonies and bases; they also seek to safeguard the vibrant trade industry from smugglers and terrorists, maintaining the economic health of the Maquis and its neighboring allies which includes the halt of illegal, illicit or life threatening goods and products. The partnership with allied neighbors develops and adopts added security but does not have an adverse effect on trade.

You can discover more information about the CBP here.

Honor Guard -

The SSD Honor Guard is the formal unit of the Special Security Division charged with performance of any ceremonial rite or observance. They work with, and are members of, the MFI HG Program. The MFI Honor Guard personnel includes members of the Marine, Naval, Special Operations and Special Security who exemplify professionalism as members of the Maquis Forces. The Honor Guard personifies professional decorum, respect, and strives toward perfection in presentation and display of The Colors of the Nations that make up the Maquis Forces International Membership. The Honor Guard performs displays at the following public functions:

•Parades •Public facilities dedications •Burials of public officials •Holiday observances •Other public exhibitions as deemed appropriate

You can find more about the Honor Guard serving each division of the Maquis Forces here.

Navigation, Cartography & Maintenance -

The SSD's NCM promulgates measures to improve shipping safety, pollution prevention, space-farer training, and certification standards. They develop and chart stellar regions, for cartography standards as well as domestic and military shipping lanes for navigation; these charts enforce regulations that help maintain safe standards for search and rescue and security reasons. To ensure compliance, SSD NCM Operatives review and approve plans for buoy construction, repair, and alteration. They also inspect vessels and facilities for safety. This division of the SSD has been deemed critical, since the majority of the passenger and cargo ships operating in Maquis space are foreign flagged.

More information on the NCM can be found here.

Search & Rescue -

Search and Rescue (SR) is one of the oldest missions of the SSD dating back to maritime operations on Earth by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and other similar organizations. Minimizing the loss of life, injury, property damage or loss by rendering aid to persons in distress and property in the space lane environment has always been an SSD priority. SR response involves multi-mission stations, buoys, spacecraft and shuttles linked by communications networks. This department provides a full range of emergency-service capabilities including responses to fires, medical calls, hazardous materials incidents and rescue responses. Search & Rescue provides advance level training including a variety of opportunities, ranging from Fire Suppression, First Aid, Hazardous Materials and Technical Rescue teams.

More information on the SR teams can be found here.

Ship Licensing & Pilot Training -

The SSD SLPT implements a multi-layered, comprehensive program to enhance shipping safety systems, knowledge, and processes in order to be more effective and efficient in promoting safe, secure, and environmentally sound space lane commerce at Station and Outpost facilities. Specific tasks include bolstering inspector and investigator capacity, improving technical competencies, reinvigorating industry partnerships, improving spacer credentialing services, and expanding rule-making capability to meet current and future needs of the spacing public and industry.

If you wish to find out more about SLPT, check herefor further information.

Tactical Command Operations -

Tactical Command Operations is the effective understanding of anything associated with the maritime domain that could impact the security, safety, economy, or environment of Maquis Forces and their citizenry. Attaining and sustaining an effective understanding and awareness of the domain of Maquis held space requires the collection, fusion, analysis, and dissemination of prioritized categories of data, information, and intelligence. These are collected during the conduct of all TCO missions. Awareness inputs come from field intelligence support teams, Branch-intelligence fusion centers, Badlands-wide automatic identification and other vessel tracking systems; and also public reporting of suspicious incidents through Colony Watch Programs. Such facilities and vessels are manned by a number of highly trained units that can mobilize quickly and have specialty training in a variety of skills, which include the following:

• Crisis resolution • High risk arrest or search warrant service • Special surveillance • Dignitary protection • Any unusual occurrence requiring extra security response

Tactical Command Operations is composed of a number of forces large enough to accomplish their mission, yet small enough to achieve effective infiltration. Each Tactical Unit is provided with weapons designed to deliver disciplined, balanced firepower to neutralize opposing fire or for defense if under attack. Each Tactical Unit is capable of responding to emergency situations with the equipment necessary to resolve the situation; that resolution will be achieved through negotiation or with the minimum amount of force necessary to preserve life and property.

More information on the TCO is located herefor your perusal.

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Special Security Division Shadow Guard -

The SSD SG mission is to lead and coordinate intelligence efforts that drive actions to protect Maquis held territories. The goal is to develop a comprehensive understanding of threats, penetrating colony and criminal networks, uncovering those which have a desire or the capability to harm Maquis citizens. Such networks include: terrorist organizations, foreign intelligence services, those that seek to proliferate weapons of mass destruction, and criminal enterprises.

In order to be successful, the SG must understand the threat, continue to integrate intelligence and law enforcement capabilities in every SSD operational program, and expand contribution to the Intelligence Community knowledge base. Because security and criminal threats are often intertwined, the ability to integrate intelligence and investigations makes the SG uniquely situated to address threats and vulnerabilities to the Maquis.

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