DIRE
Dimensional Investigation, Reconnaissance, and Enforcement (DIRE) is a Raven department that supports the Interdimensional Research Treaty Organisation (IRTO) and other organisations conducting dimensional research with a militarised expeditionary force intended to protect expeditionary teams in members with hostile native flora and fauna. The department was created in 2140 by General Ernst Köhler, a well-known tactician with extensive prior experience in the Bundeswehr. Though under the Dimensional Security Accords DIRE is strictly a defensive force intended to protect expeditionary team members when their lives are directly threatened, the practice of bringing military into foreign dimensions remains significantly controversial.
| Department overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 3 July 2140 |
| Jurisdiction | Interdimensional |
| Headquarters | Descent Sector D, Black Mountain, Dunwich City, Northern European International Zone |
| Department executive |
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| Parent Organisation |  Raven |
DIRE teams are not allocated for all expeditions. They are only allocated where justified by pre-expedition surveys (as conducted by unmanned expeditionary drones). The presence of native flora and fauna is not in of itself a reason to allocate a DIRE team; their presence must pose a credible risk to expeditionary team members, even if it is low. However, the presence of sapients, even if considered low-risk, always justifies the allocation of DIRE assets due to their potential unpredictability. The number of assets allocated depends on the assessed risk level; while the average is a 4-5 agent team, expeditions may be sent with as little as one agent.
History
During the initial formation of Raven's bureaucracy, a need was identified to provide a force capable of protecting personnel on expeditions to potentially hostile dimensions. Previously, IRTO personnel would rely on facility security teams or hired PMCs for high-risk operations, who were neither trained for the task or adept at crisis management.
The Bundeswehr was, at the time, responsible for developing and training much of Raven's Armed Services division alongside the militaries of several other European Defence Alliance nations. Gen. Ernst Köhler was identified to lead DIRE for his tactical creativity and previous experience in exophysical operations; he had previously been assigned to a high-tier unit within the German military responsible for active responses to exophysical threats.
Duties
As defined in its name, DIRE has three main duties: investigation, reconnaissance, and enforcement. Investigation refers to the assistance of scientists on expeditionary duties; reconnaissance refers to surveying for threats in foreign dimensions that may pose a threat to expeditionary team members or, in rare situations, the home dimension itself; and enforcement refers to the enforcement of the Dimensional Security Accords on expeditionary team members, actively preventing them from doing anything in contravention of the law, with the power to detain them if they do. DIRE soldiers are even permitted to use lethal force against expeditionary members if they attempt to do something that could pose an imminent threat to the safety of the home dimension, such as attempting to provoke local sapients into a war.
In extremely rare situations, DIRE teams may be sent "undercover" into foreign dimensions such as Tachlat in order to gather intelligence, especially where sapients are involved and there is a credible risk to the home dimension. The use of DIRE in this way must be authorised by the High Council. These special teams blend in with the local population and carry limited or no weapons.
Tactics
General Köhler built DIRE on the principles of Auftragstaktik (mission command). Every DIRE commander is given freedom of planning and execution for their mission, which is important in the field in foreign dimensions where communication with Raven Command may not always be possible. When assisting expeditionary teams, the DIRE team is placed under the authority of the lead expedition scientist (though strictly following the chain of command via the present DIRE commander); but only insofar as to assist in achieving the expeditionary team's scientific objectives, and only where said objectives do not place either the expeditionary team or the DIRE team at risk, or commit violations of the Security Accords. If under imminent threat or engaged in combat, the mission priority switches from assisting the scientists from carrying out their objectives to the protection of the science team and their immediate escort back to the bridgehead.
Note that while the DIRE team may be under the authority of the science expedition, it is never under the command of the expedition. The scientists may not give DIRE agents direct orders; they may only give the DIRE commander a request, who may reject the request if it is dangerous or illegal. "Scan the terrain ahead" or "Set up a bridge to cross this ravine" are examples of valid requests; "Kill the local wildlife so we can push forward to the objective" is not.