# Active Operation - Clock Ticking

**Fragment ID:** TACTICAL_INTELLIGENCE_001
**Gameplay Function:** Tactical Intelligence (Time-Sensitive)
**Operation Code:** STOPWATCH
**Rarity:** Common (Must-find for mission success)
**Time Sensitivity:** CRITICAL (48 hours remaining)

---

## URGENT ALERT

```
╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║        SAFETYNET TACTICAL ALERT                       ║
║              PRIORITY: ALPHA                          ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

ALERT ID: TAC-2025-1147
ISSUED: November 15, 2025, 06:00 UTC
EXPIRES: November 17, 2025, 06:00 UTC (48 HOURS)
ISSUED BY: Director Netherton
DISTRIBUTION: All field agents

                  ⚠️ ACTIVE THREAT ⚠️

ENTROPY CELL_DELTA_09 is executing attack on:

TARGET: Metropolitan Power Grid Control Center
LOCATION: 2847 Industrial Parkway, Sector 7
TIMELINE: Attack window November 17, 04:00-06:00 UTC
METHOD: Physical infiltration + malware deployment
OBJECTIVE: Install persistent backdoor in SCADA systems

              ⏰ TIME REMAINING: 48 HOURS ⏰
```

---

## Intelligence Summary

**Source:** Intercepted ENTROPY planning document
**Reliability:** HIGH (corroborated by 3 independent sources)
**Verification:** Cell Delta-09 communications confirm operation
**Threat Level:** CRITICAL (infrastructure attack)

---

## Attack Plan (Recovered)

```
ENTROPY OPERATION: BLACKOUT PREP
CELL: DELTA_09
STATUS: EXECUTION PHASE

OBJECTIVE:
Install "Equilibrium.dll" backdoor on power grid SCADA
systems for Phase 3 activation on July 15.

TIMELINE:
48 hours from now (Nov 17, 04:00-06:00 UTC)
- Night shift has minimal security
- Maintenance window scheduled (legitimate cover)
- Reduced SAFETYNET monitoring (we checked)

ACCESS METHOD:
Physical infiltration via maintenance contractor cover
- Fake "EmergentTech Services" credentials
- Scheduled maintenance appointment (we arranged)
- Two operatives: DELTA_09_A and DELTA_09_B

ATTACK SEQUENCE:
04:00 - Arrive for "scheduled maintenance"
04:15 - Access SCADA terminal room
04:30 - Deploy Equilibrium.dll via USB
04:45 - Verify backdoor communication
05:00 - Plant secondary access (wireless dead drop)
05:30 - Exit facility
06:00 - Confirm activation from remote location

SECURITY BYPASS:
- Badge access: Cloned from actual EmergentTech employee
- Guard recognition: Night guard bribed ($25K payment)
- Camera loops: Pre-recorded footage (14 minutes)
- Technical alarm: Disabled via inside contact

CONTINGENCIES:
- If discovered: Abort, destroy evidence, extraction Protocol 4
- If captured: Maintain cover, lawyer up, Protocol 9
- If equipment fails: Backup USB in second operative's bag

SUCCESS CRITERIA:
✓ Backdoor installed and verified
✓ Remote command & control established
✓ Persistence mechanisms active
✓ Undetected until Phase 3 activation (July 15)

PHASE 3 VALUE:
This backdoor enables grid shutdown affecting:
- 2.4 million residents
- 6 hospitals (backup generators, but still impact)
- 347 businesses
- Emergency response coordination

Combined with 11 other infrastructure targets, creates
cascading failure demonstrating systemic fragility.

For entropy and inevitability.
```

---

## Immediate Action Required

### SAFETYNET RESPONSE PLAN

**OPTION 1: INTERDICTION (Recommended)**
- Arrest operatives on arrival (04:00)
- Secure SCADA systems
- Seize equipment and evidence
- Interrogate for cell intelligence
- **SUCCESS PROBABILITY:** 85%

**OPTION 2: SURVEILLANCE & CAPTURE**
- Allow entry but monitor closely
- Intercept during deployment phase
- Catch them "in the act" (stronger legal case)
- Risk: Possible malware deployment if timing fails
- **SUCCESS PROBABILITY:** 65% (higher risk)

**OPTION 3: COUNTERINTELLIGENCE**
- Let operation proceed but deploy fake SCADA honeypot
- Operatives think they succeeded
- Track to cell leadership via backdoor communications
- Bigger intelligence gain, but infrastructure at risk
- **SUCCESS PROBABILITY:** 40% (highest risk)

**DIRECTOR'S DECISION:** Option 1 recommended
Lives > Intelligence gathering in this case.

---

## Tactical Details

### TARGET FACILITY

**Metropolitan Power Grid Control Center**
- Address: 2847 Industrial Parkway, Sector 7
- Security Level: HIGH (but vulnerable during maintenance)
- Staff: 4 on night shift (Nov 17, 04:00-06:00)
- Layout: [See attached facility blueprint - TACTICAL_001_A]
- Access Points: Main entrance (badge), service entrance (keypad)
- Camera Coverage: 16 cameras (can be looped)

### SUBJECTS

**DELTA_09_A** (Team Leader)
- Real name: [UNKNOWN - under investigation]
- Alias: "Michael Torres" (EmergentTech cover)
- Skills: SCADA systems expert, social engineering
- Threat: HIGH (experienced, trained in countersurveillance)
- Weapon Status: Likely unarmed (soft target infiltration)

**DELTA_09_B** (Technical Support)
- Real name: [UNKNOWN - under investigation]
- Alias: "Jennifer Park" (EmergentTech cover)
- Skills: Malware deployment, network penetration
- Threat: MEDIUM (technical role, less field experience)
- Weapon Status: Likely unarmed

### COMPROMISED INSIDERS

**Night Guard** (IDENTIFIED)
- Name: Robert Chen (no relation to Marcus Chen)
- Employment: SecureWatch Contractors, 3 years
- Compromise: $25,000 bribe (financial desperation)
- Status: Under surveillance, will be arrested with operatives
- Cooperation Potential: HIGH (not ideological, just bribed)

**Inside Technical Contact** (SUSPECTED)
- Identity: Unknown (investigating 3 suspects)
- Access: Alarm system control
- Role: Disable technical alarms during operation
- Priority: IDENTIFY BEFORE OPERATION

### EQUIPMENT TO SEIZE

- 2x USB drives with Equilibrium.dll
- Cloned badge access cards
- Wireless dead drop device
- Laptop with connection verification tools
- Communication devices
- Camera loop playback equipment

---

## Gameplay Integration

### MISSION OBJECTIVE: "Stop the Grid Attack"

**Required Intel (Find 3/5 to unlock mission):**
✅ **This fragment** - Timeline, location, method
⬜ Facility blueprint (enables better planning)
⬜ Operative identities (enables early arrest)
⬜ Inside contact identity (prevents alarm disable)
⬜ Backup plan details (prevents contingency escape)

**COUNTDOWN TIMER:**
- Real-time 48-hour countdown when fragment discovered
- Creates urgency in player decision-making
- Different outcomes based on when player finds intel:
  - Found immediately: Full planning time, all options available
  - Found with 24h left: Limited planning, best options still viable
  - Found with 6h left: Emergency response only, higher risk
  - Found with <1h left: Desperate interdiction, very high risk

**BRANCHING PATHS:**

**Path A: "By the Book" (Option 1)**
- Arrest on arrival
- Clean interdiction
- Lower intelligence gain
- Zero infrastructure risk
- Achievements: "Clean Sweep", "By the Book"

**Path B: "Catch in Act" (Option 2)**
- Wait for deployment attempt
- Stronger legal case
- Medium intelligence gain
- Low infrastructure risk
- Achievements: "Red Handed", "Perfect Timing"

**Path C: "Honeypot" (Option 3)**
- Counterintelligence operation
- Highest intelligence gain
- Track to cell leadership
- Medium infrastructure risk
- Requires additional technical setup mission
- Achievements: "Spymaster", "Long Game"

**SUCCESS VARIABLES:**
- Time remaining when intel found: ±30%
- Additional intel fragments collected: +10% each
- Player skill in planning phase: ±20%
- RNG factors (equipment failure, etc.): ±5%

**FAILURE STATES:**
- Complete failure: Backdoor installed, goes undetected
  - Enables infrastructure attack during Phase 3
  - Contributes to "Bad Ending" conditions

- Partial failure: Operatives escape but attack prevented
  - Infrastructure safe, but no arrests
  - Cell remains active for future operations

- Pyrrhic victory: Attack stopped but casualties occur
  - Guard killed in shootout
  - Infrastructure damaged in struggle
  - Moral/ethical consequences

---

## Related Intelligence

**CROSS-REFERENCES:**

**Strategic Context:**
- STRATEGIC_001 (Phase 3 Directive) - This is one of the infrastructure targets
- ENTROPY_HISTORY_001 - Pattern of infrastructure targeting
- 11 other similar operations in planning (need to find those intel fragments)

**Tactical Support:**
- TACTICAL_002: Facility blueprint and security details
- TACTICAL_003: Operative surveillance photos and behavioral profiles
- TACTICAL_004: Equilibrium.dll technical analysis and kill switch
- TACTICAL_005: CELL_DELTA operations history and methods

**Technical Intelligence:**
- TECHNICAL_001: Equilibrium.dll malware analysis
- TECHNICAL_002: SCADA vulnerabilities exploited
- TECHNICAL_003: Dead drop wireless device specs

**Evidence for Prosecution:**
- EVIDENCE_007: Bribery payment to Robert Chen
- EVIDENCE_008: Fake EmergentTech credentials
- EVIDENCE_009: Intercepted planning communications

---

## Time-Sensitive Actions

### IMMEDIATE (Next 6 Hours)
- [ ] Identify inside technical contact (prevents alarm disable)
- [ ] Confirm Robert Chen's cooperation or arrest
- [ ] Stage SAFETYNET response team nearby
- [ ] Obtain search warrant for facility
- [ ] Prepare arrest warrants for operatives

### SHORT-TERM (6-24 Hours)
- [ ] Conduct facility reconnaissance
- [ ] Brief tactical team on layout and plans
- [ ] Establish communication protocols
- [ ] Position surveillance on likely approach routes
- [ ] Coordinate with local law enforcement

### OPERATION (24-48 Hours)
- [ ] Final team briefing
- [ ] Equipment check
- [ ] Position at facility (03:00, 1 hour before)
- [ ] Execute chosen plan (arrest/surveillance/honeypot)
- [ ] Secure evidence and subjects
- [ ] Debrief and analyze results

---

## Educational Context

**Related CyBOK Topics:**
- Security Operations & Incident Management (Incident response, threat hunting)
- Critical Infrastructure (SCADA security, power grid protection)
- Malware & Attack Technologies (Backdoor deployment, persistence)
- Physical Security (Facility protection, insider threats)

**Security Lessons:**
- Scheduled maintenance windows create vulnerability
- Insider threats (bribed guard) bypass physical security
- SCADA systems are critical infrastructure requiring special protection
- Time-sensitive intelligence requires rapid response
- Multiple layers of defense prevent single-point compromise

**Operational Lessons:**
- Intelligence value vs. risk assessment
- Time pressure affects decision quality
- Planning improves success probability
- Contingency planning essential
- Coordination between technical and tactical teams

---

## Player Discovery

**Discovery Location:**
- Found during investigation of CELL_DELTA communications
- Hidden in encrypted file on compromised server
- Requires decryption puzzle (moderate difficulty)
- Time-sensitive: Available only during specific scenario window

**Discovery Impact:**
- Immediate countdown timer activation
- Mission branch unlocks
- Tactical planning interface opens
- Team briefing cutscene triggers
- Player must choose approach

**Emotional Response:**
- Urgency (countdown creates pressure)
- Responsibility (lives depend on player action)
- Tactical challenge (multiple valid approaches)
- Satisfaction (preventing infrastructure attack)

---

**CLASSIFICATION:** TACTICAL - IMMEDIATE ACTION
**DISTRIBUTION:** Field agents, tactical teams
**HANDLING:** Time-sensitive - execute within 48 hours
**STATUS:** ⏰ COUNTDOWN ACTIVE ⏰
