Strategic Capabilities Office (Nouvelle Alexandrie)
| Office of Strategic Capabilities of Nouvelle Alexandrie | |
| Official seal of the Strategic Capabilities Office | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1721 AN |
| Preceding agency | Office of Advanced Defense Research |
| Jurisdiction | Federal government of Nouvelle Alexandrie |
| Headquarters | El Fuerte, Cárdenas, Federal Capital District |
| Employees | 3,250 (classified) |
| Annual budget | 8.7 billion écus (1742 AN) |
| Agency executives | |
| Director | Dr. Catalina Vega-Montoya |
| Deputy Director | Lt. Gen. Marcus Aurelius Navarro |
| Parent agency | |
| Motto: Praeparatio Futuri (Preparation for the Future) | |
The Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) is a secretive research and development agency within the Department of Defense of Nouvelle Alexandrie, responsible for developing revolutionary, high-impact defense technologies. Established in 1721 AN, the SCO works at the intersection of scientific research, military application, and strategic planning to create transformative capabilities that address emerging threats to New Alexandrian and Raspur Pact security interests.
History
The Strategic Capabilities Office was formally established by Royal Decree 1721-062 following the revelation of extraterrestrial threats during the Theogiorickan incursion of 1721 AN-1722 AN. The agency evolved from the smaller Office of Advanced Defense Research, which had previously operated as a subdivision within the National Research and Development Corporation. The Council of State at the time, led by Premier Paolo Antonio Aguilar, determined that a dedicated agency with expanded authority and resources was necessary to accelerate the development of critical defensive technologies.
The initial mandate of the SCO focused primarily on orbital defense systems and counter-space capabilities, working in close coordination with the nascent Nouvelle Alexandrie Orbital Defense Initiative. By 1725 AN, its portfolio had expanded to include hypersonic weapons, directed energy systems, quantum computing applications, and advanced materials research. Following the 1733 AN Streïur uis Faïren nuclear exchange in Benacia, the SCO received substantial additional funding and authority under the government of Marissa Santini to accelerate development of defense systems.
Major Projects
While most SCO projects remain classified, several initiatives have been publicly acknowledged:
NOVA Shield Integration
The SCO serves as the primary implementation authority for the integration of NOVA Shield technology with the National Strategic Defense System of Nouvelle Alexandrie. This project represents the office's largest current funding allocation, with completion expected by VIII.1743 AN.
MINERVA Project
A collaborative initiative with Vegnese partners focusing on advanced artificial intelligence applications for threat assessment and response coordination. The system has reportedly achieved decision latency under 0.5 milliseconds with 99.997% threat identification accuracy.
AEGIS Initiative
Research program focused on miniaturizing NOVA Shield technology to create localized protective fields for individual installations, vehicles, and potentially personnel. Prototype testing has demonstrated successful repulsion of heavy weapons fire from package small enough to fit on standard military transport vehicles.
Project GUARDIAN
Adaptation of defense technologies for civil applications, including systems capable of mitigating natural disasters through precisely modulated energy fields.
Partnerships
The Strategic Capabilities Office maintains extensive collaborative relationships with domestic and international partners:
- Domestic: Javelin Industries, National Research and Development Corporation, AlduATOM, NovaNav Technologies
- International: Dingo Enterprises (Natopia), Sentient Solutions Inc. (Vegno), Concord Alliance Defense Technology Commission
The SCO also serves as Nouvelle Alexandrie's primary liaison to the Raspur Pact's Joint Military Council for matters pertaining to advanced technology development and the Planetary Defence Network.
Controversies
Despite its technological achievements, the SCO has faced criticism regarding oversight, transparency, and cost control. The Cortes Federales' Defense Oversight Committee has repeatedly requested greater access to SCO operational details, citing concerns about budget overruns and project management. In 1738 AN, the High Court of Justice of Nouvelle Alexandrie ruled that while operational specifics could remain classified, the SCO must provide more comprehensive financial reporting to designated parliamentary oversight bodies.
The SCO was also implicated in the Emergency Shipbuilding Program procurement scandal of 1719 AN, though subsequent investigations cleared the office of direct wrongdoing while identifying procedural weaknesses in its contractor vetting processes.
