Bravo-9 Division

The Bravo-9 Division, also known as the Division of Naval Special Warfare Military Intelligence - Sector One and Task Force 157, is an intelligence division under the Office of Naval Intelligence's Section One assigned to FLEETCOM Sector One. The Division is known for collecting military-focused intelligence for special warfare forces assigned to Naval Command Sector One. Missions include Special Reconnaissance, Covert, and Clandestine Intelligence Gathering to support the defense of the United Nations Space Command. The Division holds several nicknames and callsigns, but most notably known as the assigned name, Bravo-9 Division. The insignia of the division is a "Silver Trident".

Mission
Bravo-9 Division is assigned to Sector One to gather intelligence, information, and assist in conducting operations alongside the UNSC Special Operation Forces. The division is capable of embedding intelligence and operation teams to assist on-the-ground SOF units with both tasks. Also known for conducting their operations, the division has its special operations force to enable the personnel inside of the command to conduct missions in-house.
 * Special Reconnaissance
 * Information Operations
 * Counter-Terrorism
 * Counter-Insurgency
 * Counter-Intelligence
 * Cyberwarfare Operations
 * Operational Preparation of Battlefield
 * Espionage
 * Direct Action

Organization
The Division Head is a Rear Admiral, a two-star flag officer rank that oversees all operations and activity within the division. The Division Head reports directly to the Section Chief and can to the Chief of the Office of Naval Intelligence if required. The Bravo-9 Division is broken up into six distinct centers that are led by a Captain, specializing in a discipline of special warfare. The number of Centers vary during time based on threats, conflicts, and needs of focus. During the Human-Covenant War, Bravo-9 had eleven Centers focusing on specific mission profiles while they had 9 during the Insurrection. The Special Operations Group is considered the action arm of Bravo-9 Division where it leads covert and clandestine operations. Counter-Intelligence, Information Operations, and the Special Warfare Mission Center are considered the foundational Centers for Bravo-9.

As of 2588, Bravo-9 Division is organized as:
 * Covenant Remnant Threat Mission Center
 * Counter-Intelligence Center
 * Counter-Terrorism Center
 * Information Operations Warfare Center
 * Network and Cyber-Warfare Center
 * Processing, Exploitation, Targeting and Dissemination Center
 * Special Warfare Mission Support Center
 * Bravo-9 Special Operations Group
 * Bravo-9 Training Center
 * Research and Development Activity
 * Tactics and Evaluation Activity

Activation and Buildup
In 2360 on Luna, Section One for the Office of Naval Intelligence established the Bravo-9 Group of the Bravo-7 Division to focus on colonies being established in the Epsilon Eridani system. The Group became known as the Office of Epsilon Eridani Intelligence which ranged from environmental intelligence gathering, studying the crew of the civilians leaving for the system, and embedding an intelligence unit into the fleet. Throughout the next two years, the Bravo-9 Group grew and broke off from the Bravo-7 Division to create their division by 2363. Recruiting officers and enlisted personnel from other divisions within Section One, the division continued to increase their focus around the Epsilon Eridani system along with building a database of each traveler and their history.

During 2364, a liaison who traveled to Mars learned about a UNSC Marine Corps Orbital Drop Shock Troops Division known as the 105th Shock Troops Division, looking to set up in the Epsilon Eridani system. The division made friends within the command and worked together to push out into the colonies. Till 2366, Bravo-9 staff worked connections through the UEG Senate, UNSC HIGHCOM, and CMA to push the activation of the division while working to build their base on Reach. For the next four years, the Bravo-9 Division prepared to launch along with Task Force Voyager to settle on Reach and become one of the first ONI units stationed on a distant colony. In 2370, the majority of the staff and operatives deployed with the Task Force.

Arriving at Reach in 2370, Bravo-9 began building SWORD Base as their new home. Before the construction, ONI Environmental Reconnaissance Teams scouted the area and marked it off for no one to trespass on. Along with SWORD Base, came a housing complex and a series of other facilities for the division to be up and running. By 2371, SWORD Base was functional for the division to begin their work and construction continued till 2373. Bravo-9 went to work on gathering intelligence on Reach, Tribute, and Circumstance, giving them valuable information without having to wait months for a ship.

Taking the unofficial name as the Division of Naval Intelligence - Epsilon Eridani System, ONI spent time mapping out the star system and locating possible areas for the UNSC Navy to construct shipping yards to house military vessels. Due to the small size of the population, the Division experimented with intelligence-gathering techniques throughout the 70s to improve their ability to detect, deceive, and dismantle enemy forces.

Bravo-9 helped build up the Department of Colonial Security around the Epsilon Eridani System by sharing information and tactics. While the DCS began focusing more on the population, Bravo-9 continued to put together a report about the possibility of the UNSC Navy making Reach a UNSC Fortress in what would later be known as the Inner Colonies. In 2386, the report had reached UNSC High Command and was approved for the UNSC Navy to begin establishing more bases around Reach. Known as Operation: EPSILON ERIDANI MIGRATION, the UNSC began working on moving more military units towards the Epsilon Eridani system while the Bravo-9 Division highlighted key areas for the UNSC Navy to establish themselves.

Epsilon Eridani Conflicts
By 2376, Bravo-9 joined Joint Task Force - Reach to provide intelligence in support of UNSC and CMA personnel conducting operations during the Settlement Skirmishes. In the early days, Bravo-9 was forced to battle with the Aerospace Force intelligence units for monitoring airborne and interstellar vehicles on Reach. The intelligence chief in charge of JTF-Reach assigned Bravo-9 to Manassas and New Alexandria to work with the 91st Marine Intelligence Regiment and support NAVCOM operations. Bravo-9 created a Joint Intelligence Center for both cities and coordinated collection efforts with the Marine Corps. Fusing the two units together, intelligence reports became more accurate and deadly throughout the Settlement Skirmishes. Following the takedown of Diaspora Leadership in 2377, major conflicts settled down and Bravo-9 continued to maintain their regional Joint Intelligence Centers. In 2379, the DCS sent intelligence liaison officers to help the JICs in tracking down targets across Reach. By 2380, the DCS had a unit working with Bravo-9 on handling colonial intelligence operations.

In 2381, Bravo-9 joined the Reach Planetary Security Forces/Regional Stability Operations and ran intelligence operations to support the counter-insurgency mission stood up by NAVCOM and the CMA. Running a satellite intelligence project in conjunction with a UNSC Aerospace Force intelligence wing, the two organizations gathered aerospace and ground intelligence to support combat operations around the area of operations. Bravo-9 started a Field Advisory Task Unit alongside the DCS to conduct classified operations in support of NAVCOM missions in the area. Along with the Command and Control Regional Areas being locked down by ground forces, Bravo-9 took on various roles of conducting anti-piracy operations, aerospace surveillance, and conducting a variety of targeting operations to prevent another growth of terrorism. As the end of the Epsilon Eridani Conflicts came to an end, Bravo-9 found themselves overstretched into too many areas within NAVCOM and needed an identity statement to shape their mission for future conflicts.

Inner Colony Wars - Yakovna Report
After the Inner Colony Wars abated, the Office of Naval Intelligence, Section One launched a comprehensive review on how the colonial divisions responded to the conflicts in Epsilon Eridani. Out of all of the divisions, Bravo-9 received high praise for their work. However, Rear Admiral Alisa Yakovna submitted a report for the entire division to be reworked. Her goal was to create a Naval Special Warfare Intelligence Division to support missions in Sector One. Several other divisions in the Epsilon Eridani were conducting the same naval intelligence-gathering missions as Bravo-9, which led to competition among the commands. Bravo-9 received the most attention due to their hands-on work with the 105th Shock Troops Division. With the establishment of Naval Special Warfare Command, Sector One, the Rear Admiral realized the command needed a dedicated naval intelligence unit to support special operations. In 2411, the division was reassigned as a naval special warfare intelligence division and became known as the Division of Naval Special Warfare Military Intelligence - Sector One.

In the wake of the rebranding, the division reworked their groups to include Maritime, Ground, Space, Air, and Cyberwarfare. ONI officers and enlisted personnel attended ODST and Ranger Training Programs to build a level of trust and friendship between the units. The command also worked on developing new technologies to identify, track, and engage enemy targets after conducting reviews of their actions during the Epsilon Eridani Conflicts. Bravo-9 began recruiting liaison officers from the Army, Aerospace Force, Navy, and Marine Corps to assist with building special warfare ready units to assist the UNSC in combat operations within the near future. They worked to establish the Naval Command Joint Intelligence Operations Center - Reach within the Highland Mountains to serve as the nerve center for all operations across Reach and the Epsilon Eridani system. Bravo-9 worked to establish Forward Intelligence Collection Centers around strategic locations to further support a surveillance net around the system.

Operation: ODYSSEY TURBULENCE
In the wake of the Inner Colony Wars, Bravo-9 worked on developing a database to store information on terrorist leaders and formulating plans to take them down. The project to collect information became known as the Colonial Economic Report where leaders were cataloged along with their movements. The division deployed field teams known as Economic Research Teams to move around the colonies and gather intelligence. They became notable for setting up orbital intelligence satellites to constantly track and locate enemies. Working with Shock Troop Divisions, Bravo-9 participated in the Counter-Terrorism Tracking Force as the premier intelligence unit to enable Shock Troops Regiments. They also provided intelligence to the Prowler Corps and assigned teams to the vessels to gather information for NAVSPECWAR.

By 2440, Bravo-9 and the DCS worked together to track down paramilitary leaders who were operating terrorist cells within the Inner Colonies. The operations were known to be covert and relied on the DCS to provide the personnel to Find, Fix, and Finish targets. Successful missions that reached the public had the recognition given to the DCS while Bravo-9 continued to work from the shadows. The action teams often consisted of DCS, Bravo-9, ODST, and Ranger personnel to carry out the raids. The joint efforts lead to the destruction of many terrorist cells living undercover along with rooting out any attempt of attacks. Their efforts were quietly rewarded even though the terrorist movements remained at-large in the Outer Colonies.

Throughout the rest of the 40s, Bravo-9 launched missions with Shock Troop Divisions to root out sanctuary cities in the border colonies between the Inner and Outer sectors. The division deployed field teams and infiltrated them into the cities to gather actionable intelligence along with figuring out the network of such cities. They were able to provide crucial information about what buildings to hit and who to capture at what time. Bravo-9 was known to withhold information from the DCS due to fears of the operation's cover being blown. It brought tension between the DCS and Bravo-9 to where the units slowly began working against each other. Despite the political issues, the Bravo-9 Division was successful in locating and identifying critical infrastructure for the ODSTs to hit and capture. Following the many successful raids, Bravo-9 was creditted with driving down the casualties cost and preventing many firefights due to their spot-on intelligence.

The Handover and Expansion
As the Outer Colonies grew, the UNSC wanted the CMA to relocate out to the Outer Colonies to provide security while the UNSC secured the Inner Colonies. Throughout the 40s, Bravo-9 ran projections and analysis to prepare themselves for conducting intelligence throughout the Inner Colonies in Sector One. CAA officials opposed the relocation since the UNSC was incapable of providing security to the Inner Colonies. Bravo-9 joined a special warfare pilot program within Naval Special Warfare Command, Sector One to determine if NAVCOM and NAVSPECWAR were capable of providing security in an orderly, quick, and efficient method. The pilot program was known as Naval Special Warfare Sector One Security Task Force and included several special operation forces under the command of NAVSPECWAR. At first, the pilot program struggled in rapid response to a crisis in wargame scenarios, and intelligence-collecting methods were often wrong. In response to the failures, Bravo-9 stood up an internet squadron known as the Inner Colonies Security Threat Analysis Squadron to be solely dedicated to the pilot program. The squadron combined several skillsets and personnel to synergize a cohesive effort to collect, catalog, and provide intelligence to the pilot program.

From 2442 to 2452, Bravo-9 began to perfect their intel collecting methods and prove their capability of providing security to the Inner Colonies. Their response time across many colonies greatly improved to a decentralized command and control structure. However, their actions brought criticism from the CMA and CAA due to Bravo-9 infringing their area of focus. Leadership ignored the CMA complaints and continued to expand their focus as preparation for taking over the Inner Colonies. After learning CMA case officers were trailing ONI personnel, Bravo-9 put together a counter-intelligence task unit known as Black Fruit. Black Fruit conducted defensive counter-intelligence with help from cyber warfare, cryptologic, and HUMINT specialists to evade CMA spies. Bravo-9 received heavy criticism from the DCS units stationed in the Inner Colonies for running counter-intelligence missions against them. Section One and NAVSPECWAR continued to support the missions and further used psychological warfare to deceive CMA units.

While Bravo-9 was prepared for the handover, the rest of the UNSC Navy was staggering behind in having a strong fleet. In 2454, Bravo-9 received a substantial increase in its budget. The division added the Research and Development Unit to set all special projects under, a full-time Medical Corps detachment, enhanced support networks, and better equipment. The division began shipping operational officers and enlisted to more elite schools and giving them better training. Tapping into the NAVSPECWAR budget, Bravo-9 began building a better communication network to relay information across Reach and to units in orbit. Later in 2454, the UNSC took control of providing security to the Inner Colonies in Sector One. Bravo-9 worked closely with NAVSPECWAR commanders in nearby systems to provide intelligence and secure missions for their personnel.

Operation: FREQUENT TUNDRA
The Bravo-9 Division began launching missions into the Outer Colonies alongside Shock Troops Divisions to conduct intelligence-gather for NAVSPECWAR. Teams ran cyberwarfare, counterintelligence, electronic warfare, and psychological missions in the Chi Eridani and 68 Eridani systems. Other teams included operational preparation of the battlefield and setting up covert listening posts to monitor activity. Many Non-Offical Cover personnel were used to infiltrate the local governments to understand their organization and who were the major players. Bravo-9 also spent time working alongside ODST Reconnaissance Platoons and helped with snatch-and-grab missions. The Air Group became notable for using stealth technology to bypass radar and allow NAVSPECWAR insight on how to scramble enemy radars with electronic warfare. Bravo-9 formed a joint network group to establish a presence within the homegrown intelligence networks created in the Outer Colonies known as the Peleton Group.

Bravo-9 became notorious for conducting espionage missions against the DCS and Outer Colony governments. They located major players in the growing movements. The Division was able to use their findings to help diplomats and government officials understand the growing concerns in the Outer Colonies. Their analysis fell to deaf ears and their actions were brought into question after a failed espionage mission. Despite their setback and failure, Bravo-9 continued to perfect their espionage missions and added counter-intelligence to create disinformation campaigns.

Insurrection
In the wake of the Far Isle Bombing and the rise of secessionist movements in the Outer Colonies, Bravo-9 was assigned to a NAVSPECWAR Task Force known as Task Force 1-42 on Reach which encompassed a mix of ISR and Targeted Killings against the People's Occupation. The Division placed Secessionist Targeting Teams across the planet to deploy along with ODSTs and provide critical intelligence to the deployed units. Coordinating with other NAVCOM intelligence units, Bravo-9 formed Task Force Odin as the main effort to collect, catalog, and produce actionable intelligence for NAVSPECWAR in 2495. Members from Bravo-9 were assigned a temporary duty to support the ORION Project and further enable the ORION project teams to conduct special operations in the Outer Colonies. Bravo-9 leadership was able to provide information about the growing threats in the Outer Colonies to High Command and deployed teams to the Outer Colonies shortly after.

Arriving at Eridanus II, Bravo-9 worked on taking the DCS mission over and spreading it across NAVSPECWAR intelligence units to benefit NAVCOM's mission. Throughout the last years of the 25th century, Bravo-9 worked closely with Shock Troop detachments to capture or kill high-value targets while launching their own missions. Bravo-9 remained in the spotlight of leading the hunt against the Insurrectionists by netting major players and launching unconventional warfare tactics against secessionists. The usage of psychological and cyber warfare became two major fronts to counter the insurrection movement along with creating double agents. As the insurrectionists adopted in the fight against the UNSC, Bravo-9 pioneered intelligence-gathering tactics to create fake insurrection networks and use them as a means to track communication. However, Bravo-9 received criticism for its tactics in the early 26th century by SPECWARCOM. Personnel from SPECWARCOM cited Bravo-9 was blurring the lines between civilian and military intelligence despite the failure of the DCS on Eridanus II.

At the turn of the century, Bravo-9 deployed assets to Eridanus II and Mamore to combat the rampant Insurrectionist movements. In the wake of the Haven Arcology bombing, Bravo-9 submitted reports of the intelligence faults and how to improve counter-proliferation. The division began deploying alongside Marine Corps Chemical Biological Incident Response Force units and coordinating the hunt to prevent nuclear devices from falling into the hands of the enemies. Bravo-9 joined ONI/ODST hunter-killer teams by pairing field analysts with recon teams to track and eliminate insurrectionist leaders. Following the declaration of Operation: TREBUCHET, Bravo-9, and other NAVSPECWAR intelligence units enjoyed their wider target range and increased their operational tempo. The United Libration Front along with the Freedom and Liberation Party networks were being destroyed and rooted out as Bravo-9 worked their networks to crush the insurrectionist movements. During the National Holiday investigation, Bravo-9 assisted with the cover-up and provided alternative facts to ONI Section Two to produce a false story.

Following Operation: TALON, Bravo-9 was blindsided by the operation and launched their own investigation towards the mission. ONI Section Zero shut down the investigation and Bravo-9 began looking at ONI Section Three closer. With more activity located on Jericho VII, Bravo-9 was seeing their intelligence pushed off to other units within Section Three. The insurrectionist activity was driving down by an unknown force and the Bravo-9 Division was looking for clues to figure out how. However, their questions had to wait once they heard about the first contact with an enemy known as the Covenant on Harvest. Officers within the Bravo-9 began working their networks in Sector Two to learn about the enemy and prepare for a possible confrontation with the Covenant in Sector One.

Human-Covenant War
Following the declaration of war by the Covenant on Humanity, Bravo-9 immediately launched Project ATLAS to gather data on the Covenant and its capabilities. During 2525 and 2526, the division analyzed combat footage and provided training simulations for NAVCOM personnel assigned to NAVSPECWAR on war-gaming and predicting battles. The division learned about the Covenant glassing colonies and the systematic targeting the Covenant used on retreating ships. The Division declared a new mission and forward-deployed intelligence-gathering teams to warn Outer Colonies in Sector One about the growing Covenant threat. The Operations Staff of the Division met with ONI Signal and Prowler Corps to combine their counter-intelligence efforts, which became known as the Ajax Program to help staff and deploy counter-intelligence personnel aboard Prowlers. In 2529, Bravo-9 deployed a diplomatic team to meet with the People's Occupation to cease the Insurrectionist fight on Reach and to join efforts in the Human-Covenant War.

In 2530, Bravo-9 came into the contact with the Covenant during the Battle of Eridanus II. Personnel who were deployed to Eridanus II suffered an 88% casualty rate and the division recalled the assets. Bravo-9 then engaged the Covenant at Fractus Asteroid Belt, Eirene, August II, and, Rampart, where they suffered a 72% casualty rate. However, their counter-intelligence efforts proved to be effective in distorting the swift Covenant attacks. Cyberwarfare teams began experimenting with targeted attacks against Covenant systems and finding their success in scrambling sensors to provide cover for retreating forces. Bravo-9 went on to join Operation: HYPODERMIC utilizing the Ajax Program and began running covert reconnaissance missions into the Outer Colonies. The Division also worked on studying combat footage to help produce better technology and material to combat the Covenant arsenal. Creating the Burian Protocol, all Bravo-9 personnel were ordered to wipe any data they were not able to secure in 2534. The protocol was soon written away after the establishment of the Cole Protocol in 2535. The Division stood up an Astronavigation Collection Unit inside of the Special Operations Group to help with securing UNSC Astronavigation personnel in the event of a Covenant invasion. In 2537, the division joined Operation: WORMBOX to support the counter-intelligence operations.

In 2538, Bravo-9 declared the Trident Recruitment Program and ordered their staff to recruit civilians to serve as contractors and consultants in the fight against the Covenant. Contacting academic professors, subject matter experts, and retired UNSC service members, Bravo-9 went to work on collecting, analyzing, and producing intelligence. Most notably, the Covenant Study and Analysis Group worked with university departments in studying the Covenant and its tendencies. The division grew in size as the Covenant continued to wage its war against the UNSC. The establishment of the WINTER CONTINGENCY protocol in 2539 helped the Division follow a clear objective of how to coordinate their efforts during a Covenant invasion. The division commander published a memo, known as the Scrambler, to include decentralized command and control to planetary stations that Bravo-9 operated on with specific instructions on combatting a Covenant invasion.

Throughout the 2540s, Bravo-9 elements were present at Miridem, Alluvion, Sargasso, Minab, Camber, and Roston. Utilizing EW and Cyber Teams, they learned to trick Covenant sensors and navigation but continued to sustain heavy casualties in each sustained battle. The Space Group became famous in 2547 for its ability to divert a Covenant assault away from an evacuating colonial fleet by scrambling Covenant sensors. The Division Commander published a new directive for all deployed assets to a colony to work together and form Task Units with nearby intelligence groups to help counter the Covenant threat. Additionally, Bravo-9 began tapping further into private corporations and contractors to support the major influx of intelligence on Covenant activity. As the Covenant continued to close in on the Inner Colonies and Reach, Bravo-9 prepared a list of alternatives to ensure the safety of Earth and other colonies remained intact.

Known as the darkest three years of Bravo-9's history, 2550 to 2552 was when the division suffered its heaviest losses. They participated in the Battle of Ariel, Reach, and Tribute. Reach and Tribute was considered the worst due to Bravo-9's internal directive of defending the planets and their secrets. Home to FLEETCOM Sector One and almost every major regional command to the Sector, Bravo-9 tasked themselves with wiping every possible record to protect Earth. They were effective in destroying critical cyber infrastructure, erasing mountains of classified data, running insurgency campaigns in Covenant-occupied territory, and waging covert action operations on Covenant leadership. By the time Reach fell, Bravo-9 had suffered a 76% casualty rate and were a 40% effective intelligence-fighting force. By the time Bravo-9 had arrived at Earth, they reorganized with support from a Marine Intelligence Regiment, elements from other Section One groups, and its sister division Hotel-12 from FLEETCOM Sector Three.

Relocation and Restructure
Following the Human-Covenant War, the Bravo-9 Division went to work on rebuilding their ranks and organization. In the wake of Admiral Margaret Parangosky's retirement, Bravo-9 continued to adapt as the Office of Naval Intelligence was restructured and organized. Bravo-9 added a valuable mission profile to the Special Operations Group, assassination. Assigned under the newly created Target Exploitation Squadron, the Division created a new training program to help train and form a group of officers and enlisted personnel to carry out operations. Under the Division Commander, the Target Exploitation Squadron was created as a means to act swiftly against in a time-sensitive event. Other units included dedicated Covenant Analysis Squadrons to collect intelligence on the fractured Covenant remnants.

Bravo-9 personnel were assigned to the Prowler Corps to assist in Search and Rescue missions while informing intact colonies about the end of the Human-Covenant War. The division assigned intelligence cells, regional affair officers, and subject matter experts to Fleet Admiral Joseph Harper's task force in support of Operation: FORTRESS SIEGE. Following Operation: FORTRESS SIEGE success, the division deployed intelligence collection teams around the system to gather information about the splintering Covenant forces. The Division also ran intelligence collection missions on Reach to ensure all materials and contents were in the right hands.

Locating Tribute as their next resettlement, the division moved to Tribute FLEETCOM Military Complex and stood up Office of Naval Intelligence Saber Base. Essential personnel and their families were moved to Saber Base's housing complex in 2554 while the rest of the Division moved in by 2557. Bravo-9 stood up the Families and Personnel Support Activity within the organization to support the active-duty personnel and families. By 2558, the Division erected a monument known as the Fallen Trident in commemoration for all who were killed while serving for the Bravo-9 Division. As Saber Base became the headquarters for Bravo-9, the division created sub-installations across Tribute to prevent another catastrophic event similar to what happened at Sword Base.

Operation: NIRVANA
Following the end of the Human-Covenant War, Bravo-9 launched Operation: NIRVANA as an internal operation to gather updated intelligence, rebuild databases, and coordinate intelligence missions alongside other NAVCOM organizations. The two major focuses Bravo-9 took were Xeno Intelligence Activity and Insurrection Intelligence Activity. With the establishment of Joint Occupation Zones around Sector One, Bravo-9 deployed Field Surveillance and Operation Teams with a variety of skillsets to collect information on Xeno Activity. Following the creation of the Artificial Intelligence Department in the Research and Development Unit, Bravo-9 deployed AIs to assist with data harvesting and mining on colonies. Given the ability of the Covenant to cut off crucial data flow, Bravo-9 developed alternative means to keep collecting and understanding information without needing to connect to a data center. Following Operation: HIGH TIDE, Bravo-9 worked on studying Covenant Remnant Groups and cataloged their threat to the UNSC and other organizations working in FLEETCOM Sector One.

In the wake of the Human-Covenant War, a massive refugee crisis allowed for Insurrection hotbeds to set up on worlds they were previously denied. Given the fragility of the UNSC and the newly formed Phoenix Initiative, Bravo-9 established the Preemptive Threat Assessment Engagement Board as a means to interdict and prevent Insurrection activity from growing on recovering colonies. Notably, the Special Operations Group became notorious for carrying out covert operations and activities against Insurrection targets. The small footprint force allowed Bravo-9 to handle matters in a quiet fashion with little attention from the public sphere. The fusion between groups and units within Bravo-9 enabled the organization to execute complex missions in-house. As the Special Operations Group moved from Insurrection to former Covenant Leadership, they began experimenting with new tactics on conducting assassinations in dangerous environments.

Throughout the late 50s and early 60s, Bravo-9 conducted another internal review to find their Mission Focus and Area of Expertise in FLEETCOM Sector One. Ranging from the Concord all the way to Forerunner Expeditions, Bravo-9 turned their attention to the collection of intelligence on emerging and ongoing threats surrounding Xeno activity. With Insurrection activity being handled by other intelligence forces, Bravo-9 shifted their focus to the Covenant splinter groups by studying their leadership, organizational structure, reporting Significant Activity, and launching teams to investigate Forerunner Artifacts. As a result, Bravo-9 became one of the few organizations solely dedicated to focusing on Xeno activity and actively tracking its effort with a special warfare focus.

The Istana Reports
In 2559, Rear Admiral Weller Istana published a series of classified internal reports surrounding the focus of the Bravo-9 operational strategic and tactical doctrine. Notably, the Istana reports placed a strong emphasis on returning to an intelligence collection organization. Throughout the Human-Covenant War, the Division became more tactical and hands-on with conducting intelligence-related operations. While the outcomes benefitted the organization, Bravo-9 wasn't executing its core mission consistently. The reports were designed to recognize the growing problem within the organization, identify the key issues, and create a new foundation for the Division. The overhaul was known as a radical concept among many of the senior leaders and pushed back against because of the lingering threats the UNSC faced in a post-Covenant environment. However, through numerous Capability Exercises, the Division barely met the standards of their respective counterparts.

The Instana Report became Operation Rebirth within the organization and Admiral Istana laid the groundwork for restructuring the organization. In an analysis of deployed operations, the majority were considered to be handled by ODSTs or Tridents. Engaging High-Value Targets in combat was not Bravo-9's main focus and led to a complete overhaul of the Special Operations Group, the tactical arm of the Bravo-9 Division. With the Target Exploitation Squadron protected, the Special Operations Group focused on small and tactical support operations compared to being similar to an ODST platoon. The Captain ultimately gave up the Special Actions program which allowed ONI Officers to command NAVSPECWAR units, which drew heavy criticism. With the ODSTs and Tridents properly staffed, the use of the Special Actions program became pointless. They stood up the Covert Activities Squadron to conduct similar operations from the Special Actions program, in-house. Individuals within the Special Operations Group remained trained closely to ODSTs and could augment teams with the ODSTs, but were no longer the lead effort. The small shift turned the power back from Bravo-9 to NAVSPECWAR and caused a series of security reports to wonder if it was the right decision.

During the second phase of Operation Rebirth, the Division began restructuring their intelligence focus towards Covenant remnants and splinter groups. Two major areas they built up were the Xeno Counterintelligence and Xeno Espionage Directive to help with providing proactive initiatives to launch such operations. Bravo-9 began focusing on major Covenant activity across the Sector and left Human activity for other Section One Divisions to handle. The restructuring allowed for Human Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence to make headways to where Xeno Sources could pass along sensitive information and give the UNSC an understanding of Covenant activities outside their system. The final directive became known as the Xeno Planetary Targeting Directive to where Bravo-9 collected information on Xeno colonies and planets. With the information, Bravo-9 could launch better and more effective operations inside of Covenant-controlled space.

The Concord Quartet and Operation: STATEBACK
Following the restructure, Bravo-9 launched their first long-term operation on the Concord known as Operation: STATEBACK. It became known as one of the most ambitious covert operations taken within Bravo-9 due to the dangers of failure. In 2563, an Operational Counter-Intelligence Team began vetting potential xeno-assets to provide intelligence on the Concord. By 2564, an Asset Exploitation Team deployed to Joint Occupation Zone - Soell System and recruited two low-threat assets with high potential. The duo built the foundation for Bravo-9's upcoming espionage campaigns across Joint Occupation Zones and all the way to formerly Covenant-controlled space. As their success grew, Operation: STATEBACK utilized their informants and individuals to build information on the Concord, the UNSC could use to their advantage.

Throughout 2565 and 2567, the Concord Quartet began solidifying their Crown Jewel Informants. They were successful in recruiting a Discovery-Priest, a senior leader in the Buried Blade, and a Warrior-Diplomat. All individuals were targeted and recruited when they were in UNSC Controlled Space proving Bravo-9 abilities to build sources and an expanding network. Along with their Crown Jewels, Bravo-9 collected star maps from former Covenant species merchant ships to build an understanding of the Arterial Network and how to plan out long-range strikes within the network. Other information came through digital espionage and other methods to gather essential information on homeworlds, crucial colonies, and routes. For the remainder of the 60s, the Concord Quartet became one of the most valuable intelligence resources the UNSC had at the time. Individuals who became informants were given numerous luxuries ranging from visits to Forerunner sites to passing along intelligence on the desired target.

In 2572, the Crown Jewel report made its way to High Command and reported an upcoming political divide within the Concord. The Concord Quartet informants shared similar opinions. Bravo-9 took the initiative to build a deep-strike protocol on Arterial Network if the UNSC was attacked again. But in 2573, the Hidden Eyes began rooting out the Concord Quartet and forcing many of the informants to flee and hide. When Bravo-9 caught word of the Hidden Eyes, they began securing informants and bringing them to UNSC Controlled Space, much to the objection of many. The relentlessness of the Hidden Eyes allowed no Crown Jewels to escape and scatter the rest of the network. Their efforts proved to be pointless due to the damage done by the intelligence network and the exposure of the Concord's activities. Many of the informants were executed for their actions and caused an inter-galactic crisis.

Operation: STATEBACK was one of many espionage campaigns launched against the Concord. In private, Bravo-9 was praised for their recruitment of individuals and rich intelligence reports. Their efforts also proved the value of Navy Human Intelligence operations to the UNSC High Command and their skillsets being needed. As a result, Bravo-9 began focusing on future long-term espionage operations in gray zones such as Joint Occupation Zones and during joint species deployments to build a more sustainable network against their enemies. Under the Ground Group, the Field Operations Activity was stood up as a joint clandestine and covert espionage outfit focused on building xeno assets with help from artifical intelligence, digital targeting analysts, and HUMINT collectors to give the UNSC every edge in weakening their enemies from afar.

Recruitment
The Bravo-9 Division is one of the few Office of Naval Intelligence Special Operations Intelligence Divisions that allow direct entry from enlisting or commissioning. Due to the division's assigned sector, many of their recruits are drawn from Sector One. It is also known for recruiting intelligence personnel from the UNSC Aerospace Force and UNSC Marine Corps. The Division offers summer internship programs for UNSC Officer Candidate School Academies to give insight into the working of the division a potential career field after the intern commissions into the UNSC Armed Forces. Enlisted personnel is also given direct entry to the division, but previous experience in another intelligence unit is preferred to help build the enlisted personnel's background.

Professional Development
Unlike other Special Operations Divisions, the Bravo-9 Division holds far different standards for its personnel. Enlisted personnel undergoes Section One Non-commissioned officer school where NCOs are taught to lead other enlisted personnel and advance through their career with fundamental leadership skills. Many non-commissioned officers are able to earn a university degree during their time at the division to ensure their critical thinking is improved upon. The Bravo-9 Division also requires all senior non-commissioned officers to attend a senior enlisted academy to become an E-9 within the division.

Officers are required to attend a UNSC Military Graduate Academy by O-4 to advance into the ranks of senior officers. Requirements were created to ensure officers were able to specialize in their fields and learn more about other issues. Officers seeking to become a Flag Officer have the opportunity to attend a UNSC Military Graduate Academy between O-5 to O-6 where they're able to prepare for an assignment as a Flag Officer. The Division works closely with other graduate academic institutions to provide educations to officers unable to attend a UNSC Military Graduate Academy.

Stations

 * UNSC Naval Command Mare Nubium Base (Luna, Sol System, SolCore) 2360 to 2370
 * Office of Naval Intelligence Sword Base (Reach, Epsilon Erandi System, Kepler Sector, Sector 1) 2370 to 2552
 * UNSC Naval Command Mare Insularum Base (Luna, Sol System, SolCore) 2552 to 2553
 * Office of Naval Intelligence Saber Base (Tribute, Epsilon Erandi System, Kepler Sector, Sector 1) 2553 to Present