View source for Ministry of Information, Intelligence, and Operations

<!---- Page 153 Insignia ---->
{{InfoBoxOrganization
| image = MIIO logo.png
| Type = Intelligence Agency
| Founded = [[2798]]<ref name=BT:25YAFp23>''BattleTech: 25 Years of Art & Fiction'', p. 23: "Succession War Era"</ref>
| Dissolved = 
| Parent Organization = [[Federated Suns]]
| Headquarters = 
| Leadership          = [[Minister of the Ministry of Information, Intelligence, and Operations|Minister]]
}}
Formed in [[2798]],<ref name=BT:25YAFp23/> the '''Ministry of Information, Intelligence, and Operations''' ('''MIIO''') is the civilian intelligence arm of the [[Federated Suns]]. Its military counterpart within the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns]] is the '''[[Department of Military Intelligence]]'''.  Ostensibly, MIIO is charged with detecting and stopping internal threats to the state while the DMI handles external threats, though that distinction has been blurred over the centuries and there is considerable overlap between the two.  Despite this, both the MIIO and DMI have a long history of close cooperation to ensure the safety and security of the [[Federated Suns]].<ref>''A Guide to Covert Ops'', p. 54</ref>

==History==
The MIIO was created during the [[First Succession War]] to address a problem with Military Intelligence: at that time there were a variety of separate intelligence organizations, all of which had to go through the DMI to request information be gathered on other realms.  Not only was the DMI too understaffed, but suffered from the factionalism that plagued the rest of the AFFS at the time, and would even refuse to hand over information if it felt doing so might weaken their power.<ref name=HDTFS66>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 66</ref>  [[First Prince]] [[Paul Davion (29th c.)|Paul Davion]] solved this problem by creating the MIIO, gathering all the independent groups under one umbrella organization, and lavishing it with funding and authority.  Less than a year after its creation, the MIIO was already proving its worth, and would quickly mature into one of the most effective intelligence agencies in the Inner Sphere.<ref name=HDTFS66/><ref name=HHD116>''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 116</ref>  During the latter part of the [[Succession Wars]], [[ComStar]] came to view MIIO as second only to their own [[ROM]] organization.<ref name=HDTFS78>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 78</ref>

==Organization==
Prior to the creation of the [[Federated Commonwealth]], the MIIO was headed by a Minister who answered directly to the First Prince, with a number of deputy Coordinators in charge of each of the MIIO's divisions.<ref name=HDTFS112>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 112</ref>  While there was some shakeup during and after the breakup of the FedCom state, this structure largely remained in place, with the Minister's title changed to Director and each major division now headed by a deputy senior director, along with six regional offices that oversee actual operations.  Each regional office corresponds with an area of the Federated Suns, located on [[New Syrtis]], [[Robinson]], [[Addicks]], [[Jesup]], [[Markesan]], and [[New Avalon]] (which also oversees all foreign operations).  Each division is fully autonomous and able to gather, analyze and act on any information it receives as it sees fit.<ref name=HHD116/><ref name=CO59>''A Guide to Covert Ops'', p. 59</ref>

===Bureau of Internal Investigations===
Estimated to be the largest of the MIIO's departments, with agents on every Federation world, the BII handles all background checks for government postings and the [[nobility]], polices the government bureaucracy for corruption or treason, and monitors the media and public organizations for sedition.  Technically the BII cannot spy on nobles or government officials without due authorization and assent from the Judicial Review or a Regional Review Court, but undoubtedly there have been times this requirement has been circumvented.  If a government official is suspected of wrongdoing, the BII handles the investigation, interrogation and arrest of the suspect and their accomplices.  Reports of the BII conducting assassinations of government officials are few and far between, but have nevertheless spawned conspiracy theories regarding the department.<ref name=HDTFS112/><ref name=HHD116/><ref name=CO60>''A Guide to Covert Ops'', p. 60</ref>

===Counterintelligence Division===
Originally a subdepartment of the BII, the CID became its own department during the [[Second Succession War]].  Known as the "Rat Catchers", the CID is charged with uncovering and neutralizing foreign agents, terrorists, and other enemy provocateurs operating within the borders of the Federation.  Towards this end it often works alongside BII, the Covert Ops division and the DMI.<ref name=HDTFS112/><ref name=HHD116/><ref name=CO60/>

===Covert Operations Division===
Covert Ops is charged with all operations against foreign nation-states and organizations, including information gathering, covert raids and assassinations.  Covert Ops agents provocateurs are considered the best in the industry at slipping into positions of importance in other realms, inciting unrest and slipping out without being caught.  Because of the nature of their mission, Covert Ops works closely with the DMI and other departments to coordinate their operations.<ref name=HDTFS112/><ref name=HHD116/><ref name=CO60/>

===Information-Gathering Services Division===
IGS is charged with gathering secret information through means other than [[w:Human intelligence (intelligence gathering)|human intelligence]].  Everything from public media broadcasts to private communications are intercepted, encrypted and analyzed by this division.  The IGS maintains listening stations on a number of border worlds and in systems with civil unrest, and reputedly uses specialized [[JumpShips]] and [[DropShips]] to patrol shipping lanes.  They also work closely with the DMI to pass on any information and analysis they might need.<ref name=HDTFS112/><ref name=HHD116/><ref name=CO59/>

===Military Intelligence Liaison===
The Military Intelligence Liaison was a department within the MIIO prior to the FedCom alliance whose main function was to facilitate coordination between the MIIO and DMI.<ref name=HDTFS112/> It was later subsumed as a smaller office within the Command Group.

===Command Group===
Created after the FedCom Alliance, the Command Group consists of the MIIO's Director, the deputy directors of each division and regional command, and various senior agents and controllers.  It also includes the vast bureaucracy necessary to run the MIIO, with personnel who don't fall under one of the major departments.<ref name=HHD116/>

==Insignia==
<gallery>
Image:MIIO logo.png|MIIO Insignia
Image:Miio-infogathering.png|Information Gathering Division
Image:Miio-covertops.png|Covert Operations Division
Image:Miio-internalinvestigation.png|Bureau of Internal Investigations
Image:Miio-counterintelligence.png|Counterintelligence Division
</gallery>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[BattleTech: 25 Years of Art & Fiction]]''
* ''[[A Guide to Covert Ops]]''
* ''[[Handbook: House Davion]]''
* ''[[House Davion (The Federated Suns)]]''


[[Category:Intelligence Agencies]]