Theme:
The Idea: Directorate for Scientific Intelligence Research (DirSIR)
The Aspect: Where Agents Get Those Wonderful Toys
The Face(s): Jennifer Garcia
Description:

(DirSIR).


Founded in 1975, the Shop has been the center of the CIA’s technological “edge”. Sometimes jokingly referred to as “the Toyshop”, they are essentially the CIA’s Q-Division, with a few differences. Many of The Shops more profitable inventions are made available to the public… eventually.


Agents assigned to the Shop serve in three traditional capacities. Administrative posts are obvious, as are scientists assigned to the various projects underway. Field agents are typically assigned either to test prototypes (“Troubleshooters” in Shop parlance) or to investigate/recover the tech of rival organizations.


In addition to straight up technological hardware, the Shop has dabbled in pharmaceuticals, with limited success and disastrous failures (see Project LOT-6). Current hot projects include a pistol that will only fire when held by its legitimate owner, a wifi LCD screen as thin and light as ordinary paper, and a variety of limb and organ replacement projects. Past projects include the “cash card” (a debit card, usable in any ATM, that spoofs the machine into thinking it is attached to a valid, high balance account), its cousin the “access card” (scans through a database of nearly 200,000 default pass codes to open electronic pass card systems), as well as the “spray-on surveillance system”, an aerosol delivered wifi camera that can be sprayed nearly anywhere with a 500m range.


The Shop in NYC

Overseen by Dennis “Denny” Harrell, a former USAF Colonel, the R&D department is overseen by Dr. Ian Lesko (who is technically one of the oldest (founding?) members of the Order of St. Giles, once known to the world as Nicola Tesla). Senior Field Agent Jennifer Garcia rounds out the administrative team on site.


Admin operates out of the first sub-basement, consisting of a reception area, and three offices that are found along the hallway that leads back from reception. An elevator and fire stairs are at the far end of the hallway, leading to the second sub-basement, jokingly referred to by the agents on site as “the Batcave”.


“The Batcave” consists of seven large lab spaces, and a dozen smaller office spaces. Labs easily dominate this level, each separated by extensive airlock and decontamination chambers. All spaces on this level are completely Faraday-shielded.


Access to sub-level three (“the Fortress of Solitude”) is severely restricted, and permitted only by a two-key system reminiscent of nuclear launch facilities. Each of the administrative team holds a key, so at least two of the three must concur that need exists. Here lies the arsenal, and behind yet another fail safe (this one requiring all three keys) lies “the Vault”, a graveyard of sorts for failed experiments, or projects that succeeded too well (and sometimes as the final resting place for their creators and/or creations…).