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ELITE INTELLIGENCE UNIT: NIGHTWRAITHS (Besh "Vornskrs" Company, 377th Infantry Battalion)
Besh Company of the 377th Infantry Battalion appears to be a standard infantry group working from Lord Vader's personal Executor squadron - the ISD Avenger. According to the records, the "Vornskrs" are a successful but dreadfully average infantry unit. This is the visage that they must cultivate. Besh Company is really one of the most secretive groups in the Empire. They are listed as part of the 4th Infantry Division, with all of the but no record of them other than what is found on the Army Order of Battle exists. They are a shadow, a misprint, a "black-budget" project. But they perform services vital to the Emperor: espionage, intelligence-gathering, and sabotage. They are expected to slip in and out of highly defended areas without anyone knowing. Thus, their unofficial name fits well: the Nightwraiths. The Nightwraiths are always on the move in a starship that acts as headquarters for the 48 field agents and dozen or so staff/support members. They are assigned new orders by the head of what they call "the hush-hush men" (also known as the Ubiqtorate). They are not officially part of the Intelligence hierarchy, however. Exactly who gives orders to them is unknown, and shall likely remain so for some time. HISTORY
The Nightwraiths were the brainchild of one Sergeant Atarmos of Aurek Company, 377th Infantry Battalion. His idea was quite different from the result: he envisioned a unit which would double as a line company but do part-time work as intelligence agents, but acting as a branch of Imperial Intelligence. His superiors heard this idea, assigned him to a front-line duty station (where he was accidentally killed by friendly fire), and used the idea themselves. The result was the best idea since Crix Madine's Storm Commandos. One major modification was that the new unit would be a company formed under the supervision of the 377th Battalion HQ. Intelligence complained, but Army High Command pacified them with the agreement that Ubiqtorate could supply the unit their orders. Command of the group was assigned to an Adjustments washout. He was dismissed because his superiors deemed him to be "too violent." This washout found a place with the Nightwraiths, assumed the rank of Lieutenant, and became their respected leader. Due to his background, the Nightwraiths' leader uses many unorthodox techniques to accomplish objectives. His superiors in the 377th and Ubiqtorate do not complain though, as it brings a 98.2% success rate. Much of their remaining history and capabilities are classified at Omega Blue level. There are no estimates as to when that data will be declassified, or even reclassified to a lower level. All outside inquiries will be turned away. MISSION
The mission of the Nightwraiths is to perform deep reconnaissance, espionage, or sabotage anywhere in the galaxy. They are the only Army unit to operate in plainclothes, as well as the only Intelligence field unit operating with Intelligence supervision. They wear no identifying insignia; carry no military identification; and, if captured by either friend or foe, are disavowed. They never meet in groups of except at headquarters and are always referred to by code number or name. Agent 01 (codenamed "Dark Starlight") is the Nightstalkers' best agent, and has a 100% completion rate: there is no mission that he cannot completed. Agent 01 has no qualms about killing anyone, whether it be a faceless stormtrooper or a family member. The true identity of Agent 01 is the most closely guarded secret in the unit. Typical mission preparations for a Nightwraith operation usually include taking on specific identities on the target planet. For example, past missions have had agents acting as royalty; planetary, sector, and galactic governmental officials; COMPNOR officials; friendly/enemy officers and enlisted men; bodyguards; stormtroopers and Royal Guardsmen; and even friendly/enemy intelligence agents. Nightwraith agents rarely take on the identity of a person who others have seen before; they instead take on more anonymous roles such as "visiting dignitary" or "transferred pilot." Agents also use the latest and most advanced technology available. They have been rumored to use synthetic holograms to disguise themselves, as well as microretinal scramblers, 20-shot microblasters, instaflesh dispensers, and personal disruptors. Thanks to an onboard machine and tech shop, agents can get such devices built into common items, such as datapads and comlinks, or more esoteric items such as Stokhli spray sticks or Coynite armor. For transportation, though, agents are recommended to use less noticable means to get about. Everything from YT-1300 freighters to X-wing starfighters to Agris-class space barges are used - anything that appears like it belongs with everything else in a target area. ORGANIZATION AND PERSONNEL
The Nightwraiths, unlike other intelligence units, also have a unique way of organization. Instead of operating in cells or teams, each agent operates independently to accomplish missions. In extreme circumstances, agents have the authority to directly call upon Army, Navy, or stormtrooper backup to assist in destruction of a target. (This is quite rare, as agents typically pack enough explosives on a routine mission to destroy 10 city blocks, and can often be assigned to disrupt the operations of the very reinforcements they are assigned.) There are 48 active agents in the Nightwraiths, including the unit's leader. There are also three trainee instructors, crew for operating the headquarters ship, and support staff for maintaining unit equipment and weaponry. There are also ten trainees which replace the ten oldest active agents. Agents have a one year or 36 mission limit, whichever occurs first, then must be sent back to standard duty. Some stay on as instructors or ship crew, while others quietly retire. All Nightwraiths are considered to be under UNOC (or UNOfficial Cover), and their identities and actions are disavowed by the Imperial government and military. Agent 01 is exempt from replacement. It is therefore unknown just how old he is, though he seems just as capable as any other agent, if not more so. How exactly he gets away from being replaced is probably attributed to his extraordinary success rate.
The leader of the Nightwraiths, a man known only as "The Lieutenant," is a most enigmatic person. He runs the unit, meets with each agent before their missions (either by HoloNet or face-to-face), and requisitions supplies. He still pulls active duty (without the usual replacement limitations), but there is no mission record for him (he impersonates his subordinates). The Lieutenant is also known to monitor (and even confuse) his own agents out in the field. No further information is known on this persona.
EQUIPMENT
The Nightwraiths have special dispensation when it comes to equipment. Their equipment ranges from the mundane (comlinks and utility knives) to the obscure (Mon Calamari Leviathan armor) to the ultrasecret (miniature thermonuclear grenades). Of course, no one has ever been able to verify these reports... The microblaster is the size of a hold-out blaster and made of plastic-type materials. Most weapons detectors cannot sense them, and if the weapon is disassembled into its four individually harmless component pieces, it can pass through all weapons detectors without trouble. They are being issued to all Intelligence agents and agents under unofficial cover.
This device is the highest grade retinal deceiver in the Empire, providing 99.48% accuracy when going through security scans. It fits aside the bridge of one's nose, and can be covered in synthaflesh to disguise it. It is undetectable when passing through weapons scanners. Retinal deceivers are being issued to all veteran UNOC agents. Any other use of a retinal deceiver in Imperial space is a Class I offense.
Realistic holographic projectors (RHPs) have been an ultimate goal of Intelligence for decades. Now they've got it. The RHP has sufficient memory to impress a single person's features and looks upon the wearer. It is worn on a belt, and is small enough to be hidden from sight. It is, however, vulnerable to security and weapons scans, which will immediately detect the massive power output of the activated projector. Only UNOC agents in special mission environs have been authorized to use this equipment. Any other use of an RHP in Imperial space is a Class I offense.
CRAFT
The Nightwraiths do not use custom-made craft that would mark them as a unit. Instead, agents use passenger liners, charter craft, freighters, starfighters - any means necessary - to get to their destination. They do the same once they arrive at their target planet. However, the 377th uses a modified SUW TL-1800 called The Shadow Mage as a mobile headquarters. It is droid-operated, but has a human crew overseeing. The Shadow Mage also the smallest known cloaking device in the Empire, thanks to the cooperation of the IDMR.
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