ASI (Xiomera)

Agency for Security and Intelligence

Logo of ASI
Intelligence service overview
Formed	March 21, 1919 (1919-03-21)
Jurisdiction	Xiomera
Headquarters	The Cauhloc, Tiazō, Tlālacuetztla, Xiomera
Employees	classified
Annual budget	classified
Minister responsible	Calhualyana, Secretary of Security
Intelligence service executive	Tlihue, Director of ASI
Parent department	Secretariat of Security

The Agency for Security and Intelligence is the Xiomeran agency responsible for national security, as well as intelligence and counter-intelligence operations both within and outside Xiomera. Since its formation in 1919, ASI has played a pivotal role in upholding the Xiomeran system of government, as well as the mandates of its Emperors. ASI was the major force behind the violent suppression of the national uprising of August 1977, in which it led efforts to put down protests for democracy throughout the Empire. ASI has also maintained a national network of censorship, surveillance and counter-intelligence to prevent any activity deemed "anti-Xiomeran" or against the national interest.

ASI is headquartered in the Cauhloc, its landmark headquarters building in downtown Tlālacuetztla on the central square known as the Tiazō. It has hundreds of facilities outside of the Cauhloc, including multiple black sites and special facilities known only to ASI itself.

The Cauhloc, ASI headquarters building

Known by the shorthand "ASI" or "The Agency" to most Xiomerans, the security service is the most feared and hated government organization in Xiomera. ASI has the power to arrest anyone in Xiomera on any charge, or no charge at all, and to detain them indefinitely. ASI has also been accused of using "enhanced interrogation" techniques (aka torture) against civilians. ASI is also suspected of conducting intelligence operations against other countries, although this has not been proven.

Structure

ASI is broken down into multiple Departments with the following responsibilities:

Department A: External Intelligence
Department B: Internal Intelligence
Department C: Counter-Intelligence
Department D: Covert Surveillance, Electronic Intelligence and Cyber-Surveillance
Department E: Special Security Facilities
Department F: Protection of government officials and facilities
Department G: Special Operations Service
Department H: Analysis and Operations
Department I: Investigations
Department J: Oversight of Government Communications

Organization

ASI is led by a Director who is appointed by the Secretary of Security, with the permission of the Emperor. ASI Directors are usually career Xiomeran intelligence agents with a long track record of service. The current director of ASI is Tlihue.

ASI is technically under the Secretariat of Security, and reports to the Emperor through the Secretary of Security (currently Calhualyana). However, ASI is such a large and pervasive agency that it often acts as an entity above, and outside, the formal command structure. Department E (which runs the network of ASI black sites), Department C (which is responsible for intelligence operations against Xiomeran dissidents), and Department G (the "special forces" of ASI) are particularly notorious for acting in a virtually autonomous fashion.

The exact number of ASI operatives, agents, employees and contractors is unknown, and is a highly classified secret within the Xiomeran government. The budget of ASI is likewise classified, but both the budget and number of employees are believed to be quite large. By some foreign estimates, ASI may be the second-largest part of the government, second only to the Xiomeran Armed Forces. The exact size of the Xiomeran intelligence apparatus is a closely guarded secret, and Xiomeran governments strive very hard to keep the Xiomeran public from learning just how much of the government's resources are directed towards domestic control and the suppression of dissent.