State Security Directorate
| State Security Directorate | |
 SSD uniform patch, usually worn on the right sleeve of an officer's uniform. | |
| Founded | 1711 AN |
|---|---|
| Branches |
Elgemine-SSD SSD-IO |
| Headquarters | Noursala |
| Leadership | |
| Director | William Alfe |
The State Security Directorate (Commonspeak: Stæt Sekuritie Direktarät) is the state security and intelligence service of Aerla. It is responsible for intelligence gathering, counter-terrorism, and security details of important persons. It's size and organization are kept classified. The SSD is operated independently from the Grand Army of the Republic, however there is much cooperation between both organizations.
Originally formed as the State Bureau for National Security (Stætburo för Nasonal Sekuritie, SbNS), the organization was reformed in 1711 AN to its current form under Director William Alfe, a police official from Harriston.
Often generalized as a “secret police” organization by the media and public, the SSD has denied this label, stating they are an “internal security organization”.
Headquarters
The SSD is headquartered within the Gerhart Building, located in downtown Noursala. Originally serving as a records office for the local government, the building is configured with several floors of offices. However, the top floor was reconfigured into a prison with the offices being converted into prison cells. Often complained for being bleak and damp, it's nonetheless secure as its thick walls are guarded by a special guard detail, the Hepqurtarwatchbatalion Nörsale. The building also contains an armory within the basement, equipped with assault weapons and riot gear. The building is located in what's known as "2 Public Security Plaza", directly diagonal from the headquarters of the Criminal Police at 1 Public Security Plaza.
The SSD is also known for operating countless safehouses and field headquarters in almost every parish in the nation. The locations of such safehouses are kept under lock and key. Disclosing the locations of them is a serious offense, with a sentence of up to 50 years in prison.
Departments
Elgemine-SSD
The Elgemine (General) SSD is made up of 12 main departments, or Ebtelinges, all charged with certain responsibilities. Each department is overseen by a Ebtilengehep, which reports and receives orders from the Director.
- Department I- Counter-intelligence
- Department II- Intelligence gathering
- D̶e̶p̶a̶r̶t̶m̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶I̶I̶I̶-̶ ̶A̶n̶t̶i̶-̶b̶a̶n̶d̶i̶t̶r̶y̶ ̶o̶p̶e̶r̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶s(Abolished 1730 AN)
- Department IV- Records
- Department V- Investigations
- Department VI- Prisons
- Department VII- Surveillance
- Department VIII- Eskörtkommand: Governmental Security Details
- Department IX- Customs
- Department X- Cybersecurity
- Department XI: Left-Wing Terrorism
- Department XII: Right-Wing Terrorism
- Department XIII: Counter-espionage
SSD-IO
The SSD-IO (Intenasonal Offiz) is the purported international intelligence branch of the SSD. It’s task is to help in the elimination of international threats to Aerlan independence and statehood. This is done via spying, espionage, and intelligence gathering. The SSD-IO is placed under the command of Söbdirektar William Brown, directly subordinated to the Office of the Director.
Ranks
| Rank code | Name |
|---|---|
| OF-10 | President of Aerla |
| Direktar (Director) | |
| OF-9 | Söbdirektar (Subdirector) |
| OF-8 | Ebtilengehep (Department Head) |
| OF-7 | Söbebtilengehep (Subdepartment Head) |
| OF-6 | Sektönhep (Section Head) |
| OF-5 | Overinspektar (Senior Inspector) |
| OF-4 | Inspektar (Inspector) |
| OF-3 | Yünorinspektar (Junior Inspector) |
| OF-2 | Overluetant-ov-Intelligens (Senior Lieutenant of Intelligence) |
| OF-1 | Leutant-ov-Intelligens (Lieutenant of Intelligence) |
| OF-D | Hokoffizerkandidat (Higher Officer Candidate) |
| OR-9 | Overstafswatchmjesta (Senior Staff Watchmaster) |
| OR-8 | Stafswatchmjesta (Staff Watchmaster) |
| OR-7 | Overwatchmjesta (Senior Watchmaster) |
| OR-6 | Watchmjesta (Watchmaster) |
| OR-5 | Underwatchmjesta (Junior Watchmaster) |
| OR-4 | Korpeloffizer (Corporal Officer) |
| OR-3 | Overoffizer (Senior Officer) |
| OR-2 | Offizer (Officer) |
| OR-1 | Kadet (Cadet) |
Controversies
Abuse of Prisoners
The organization has faced backlash from several activist groups for supposed human rights abuses. One case that gained notable media was the case of Rebecca Blackmore. Blackmore, a member of the People's Revolutionary Communist Party of Aerla's Noursala division, was brought to SSD headquarters for questioning in suspicion of a 1720 AN murder. Upon her release from SSD custody, she reported being struck in the back of the head and being beaten to near unconsciousness upon her reluctance to give information. Her accounts were denied by the agency, mostly under the pretense that she was a member of the PRCPA and therefore any accounts she may give were to be held in suspicion.
Another case that involved the death of Rudolph Echizan in 1724 AN. Echizan led police on a multi-day manhunt across the Gardenville Municipality after he shot his wife during a domestic dispute. After briefly crossing municipal lines into the Fort Cassian, the SSD stepped in to assist in his capture. After his car was spike stripped in the town of Rosemend, he was dragged out of his vehicle and beaten by an SSD Officer known as Hammond. He was taken to a local hospital and died of brain trauma. Hammond was officially discharged form the SSD, however no further charges were brought against the officer.
Undercover Operations
The agency has also came under fire for its use of plain clothed officers in intelligence gathering information. Many officers from Departments I and II often use plain clothes to attract less suspicion in their duties. This has caused issues with the Criminal Police, as they often accidentally ended up arresting SSD agents on-duty. This has led to increased levels of communication and cooperation between both law agencies.
These so-called "Plainclothes Men" have become something of a pop culture phenomena within Aerla. It's common to call someone a "Plainclothes Man" whenever catching someone doing something suspicious.
Derbenyov v. Mathis
In 1732 AN a Cerulean-born carpenter named Roman Derbenyov filed a legal suit against the SSD Overinspektar of the Shellford Municipality, Donald Mathis. Derbenyov had been granted political asylum in Aerla form Cerulea after an arrest warrant was issued against him for defamatory statements made against Premier Vladimir Volodin. Derbenyov settled in Shellford where he began work as a traveling carpenter and repairman. Soon after he claimed that SSD agents began leaving following his van out of town and leaving threatening voicemails, stating "Where you the one who bombed ol' Henry?" and "The Einhorns should've cut your dirty Bolshevik throat." At first, Derbenyov believed these were simply prank calls, until SSD agents knocked on his door and began to search his home without a warrant and began making throat-cutting motions towards him when he began to protest.
Derbenyov was found to have no links to the Cerulean Communist Party or any communist movements in Aerla. Derbenyov alleged that the SSD were harassing him based solely on his name. The case went all the way to the High Court of Aerla, in which the court ruled in favor of Derbenyov. The court found that Mathis had ordered his men to harass Derbenyov due to his Cerulean heritage. The SSD was ordered to cease their surveillance of Derbenyov and hand any relevant files in Mathis' possession to be reviewed further by a panel of justices.
In the wake of the case, Mathis was relieved of his post as Overinspektar and was dishonorably discharged from the SSD. He would go on to be charged and found guilty of Menacing and Intimidation, and was sentenced to a 10-year prison sentence. The case was an overall public relations nightmare for the SSD, as several news outlets focused on the racist treatment that Derbenyov faced.
