by Max Barry

Latest Forum Topics

Advertisement

Post

Region: United Federation of Planets

A naval frigate from Stjerne was recently ambushed by a rival navy in the international waters of United Federation of Planets. Security analysts have admitted that faulty intelligence was to blame and are now insisting that something be done to prevent a situation like this happening again.

The Debate

"The best way to gain accurate intelligence is when it's in transit," says Xu Thiesen, a communications technician from the SSA, while hunched over a computer. "Think of the information the Stjerne Security Agency could get from telephone calls, emails, radio chatter, even internet browsing history! All we would need are satellites, servers, algorithms, and quality mathematicians to intercept them. It might be costly, but you don't want another embarrassing incident, do you?"
---
"We don't need to spend so much money on technology when we can rely on manpower," says Director Doris Frederickson, head of the Stjerne Intelligence Agency, while putting on a pair of black shades. "Can a computer gain a leader's trust? Can a telephone stop a terrorist? We need inside men around every foreign diplomat, general and guerrilla this side of United Federation of Planets!"
---
"Speaking of inside men…" says an unnamed secret service agent, stepping out of the shadows, "How do we know they haven't infiltrated our intelligence services? Think about it, how else would they know our plans and convoy routes? Spies and insurgents -- now they are the real problem; a problem I can get rid of if you let me launch a secret investigation with, eh, secret results."
---
"I know of a cheaper option," says your intern, lifelessly scrolling through whistleblowing site KwikiLeaks. "Why bother spending so much on the intelligence services here, when whistleblowers from others are posting all their information online? You could just set up some 'game rooms' for bored, tech-savvy kids. Make a game out of finding useful electronic intelligence and reward them with pizza or something."
~~~
Which is better, number two or number four? (I'm not making the mistake of picking one again)

ContextReport