FOX

FOX, also known as SEAL Team 9, was a joint special operations group, headed by the United Federation Navy's SEAL program. Much like the SEALs, FOX was deployed to matters that threatened the Federation's national security, and their duties included search and recovery of high value targets, securing critical landmarks, and sabotaging or disabling hostile critical infrastructure to destabilize enemy operations without causing substantial physical damage. FOX was utilized for the majority of the Federation's "black ops" missions, due to their high success rate and security clearance levels. Although the existence of FOX was publicly known, all members aboard were listed as SEAL operatives for team 9, which was known to the public as a tactical rescue team. FOX was decommissioned in 2096, after it was nearly entirely wiped out during a rescue/recovery mission in the Sol System.

Formation
FOX was founded in 2077 in response to the discovery of hidden NANHI agents within the Federation government. At first, Navy SEALs held the primary responsibility of undertaking highly classified missions to destabilize NANHI operations, capture or eliminate personnel, and infiltrate enemy facilities to collect valuable information. However, as the majority of SEAL team members were compromised by information leaks collected by enemy spies, a new team was drafted to handle and combat NANHI intelligence, with it's members unlisted publicly. This team was listed as a SEAL team, with it's designation listed as a tactical rescue team. Throughout the rise of the Federation x NANHI conflict, FOX undertook a number of operations to aid the Federation, and with a success rate of 100%, the unit was given more budget and expanded. In 2081, the first UFMC member joined, and the team was designated as a joint operations group.

NANHI Operations
Fox regularly was deployed to infiltrate and recover classified intel from NANHI landmarks, sympathizers, and was used to regularly disrupt NANHI operations from building up outside of their authorized locations. Most of their activities included destabilizing NANHI civilian areas to encourage civil unrest, allowing Federation sympathizers to influence citizens to rebel. Other operations included the recovery and elimination of high value targets, namely those involved in the NANHI OP40 program, which experimented with genetic mutation to build a form of 'super soldier'. FOX also investigated and responded to reports of Federation personnel aiding and defecting to NANHI, detaining individuals found guilty and submitting evidence to the Federation's Department of Military Justice for judicial decisions. FOX operated smoothly and efficiently, and maintained secrecy throughout the majority of their service history. Due to the high security risk of the team, members were convinced to maintain their allegiance and security or face fatal consequences.

Operation Crying Child
In 2096, FOX was deployed on a joint rescue operation after Research Station Sol-66 reported hostile parties aboard the station following a meteor impact event. Originally believed solely to be a NANHI attack, the assault resulted in a total loss of communications. Station commanding officer Commander Jyunichi Miyamoto reported that an unidentified being had boarded the station carrying a viral agent on it that altered his staff, causing them to become highly aggressive towards anyone not infected. Initially planning on sending a destroyer to respond, naval command made the decision to activate FOX and dispatched all three teams to recover surviving personnel, as well as confirm that the primary containment specimens at the site are secure.

FOX arrived at the station and began to enter. Almost immediately, the primary assault team, led by Captain Richard Walker, was attacked by infected UF and NANHI personnel. During the initial assault, they succeeded in immobilizing one of the infected. However, the infected individual recovered, and attacked the team's medic, infecting him. He soon turned on his team, who was forced to neutralize him. As they continued, they encountered a large group of infected, including one that was carrying an armed MKX grenade. The device detonated, and killed most of the assault team, with the exception of Walker and then-Lieutenant Commander Crow Seetan. Seetan sustained serious injuries during the assault, and fearing that the mission would result in classified FOX members being infected amid possible NANHI soldiers, command authorized a clean-up operation using the third fire team, Reaper. Shortly after departing the Hyperion, the Reaper team shuttle sustained a blow from a chunk of the station hull thrown by the alien life form, and crash landed into one of the station's cargo holds. Reaper team engaged the individuals for a while, but were ultimately killed or infected. While returning to the extraction point, Walker and Seetan were attacked by infected members of the second FOX team, who were attacked and infected after the MKX blast, and neutralized all of them. Both Walker and Seetan were successfully extracted from the station, and underwent debrief. After a command meeting, it was determined that FOX would be disbanded until further notice. Walker and Seetan received compensation for their injuries, and were sworn to secrecy or face capital punishment.

Organization
FOX was organized by three fire teams. All members of FOX were pulled from their stations and serve aboard the Hyperion on a full-time basis. Operatives could select any job classification available on the ship provided that they passed the required training for it, as well as maintained their training when ordered. When activated, members would report to the general orders room and undergo the mission briefing before being deployed.

The FOX unit consists of a maximum of fifteen permanent members, each with a unique specialization. If additional specializations were necessary, current team members would be cross-trained as needed, or additional SEAL teams would be dispatched to aid. FOX team members could come from any branch of the Federation military. However, command positions for FOX were reserved for Naval personnel. FOX consisted of two teams, assault and science/recovery. A third team, Reaper, was typically not deployed unless one of more members defected, or were immobilized. Reaper team remained on standby, and if deployed, were tasked with capturing or eliminating anyone threatening the integrity or security of the unit, including other FOX team members. The Federation kept Reaper team as an emergency backup in the event a FOX member was captured, due to their high level of knowledge of top secret Federation intel. Reaper team was only deployed once on other team members, during the operation on Sol-66, and all members were killed before they could perform their duties.

Assault Team (Hammer)
Consisting of five members, Hammer team was the primary assault/entry team. Hammer team consisted of a team leader, an explosive specialist, a psychological warfare specialist (for interrogations and capture), and a combat medic, which was typically a Navy corpsman.

Scientific Research and Recovery Team (Scalpel)
Typically reserved for operations requiring the identification and containment of research data or specimens, Scalpel consisted of two armed operatives for security, and a team of three doctors with varying specialties: One in bacterial diseases and virology, one in cybernetics, and one in emergency medicine serving as a field medic/doctor.

Rogue/Emergency Asset Protection, Extraction, and Recovery Team (REAPER)
Reaper team held one mission: to recover or terminate any FOX assets on the ground in the event they were compromised. FOX operatives serve with the knowledge that if they are captured and rescue is impossible, that they risk being terminated by Reaper. Reaper was also unique in the sense that all operatives serving on the team were classified, even from fellow FOX members, to ease the execution of duty, as well as prevent members from being targetted by their peers due to their stringent mission orders. Reaper agents wear unmarked uniforms, are barred from wearing or carrying identification of any types (ie: dogtags, CAC cards, photos of them or family, etc), and undergo painful fingerprint and retinal operations to hide their identities. All Reaper agents also wear a universal anthro-style helmet to prevent identification of their species, and their tails are either restrained around their waist, a leg, or are surgically removed.

Although existing from the day FOX was formed, Reaper was only activated to terminate existing FOX personnel once, and the operation resulted in the deaths of all members. After it was discovered that Reaper was after them, Richard Walker and Crow Seetan filed official complaints with naval command, and the Federation military advised them that they would bar any formation of 'clean-up' teams in the future.

Readiness Levels
FOX utilized several fireteam combat levels during their missions. These levels determined the way FOX handled various situations, whether using a stealth, non-lethal approach, or by executing a full force assault.

Green Alert
Green Alert, not to be confused with green light (meaning, clear to proceed), was an alert condition that meant proceed with operation as normal. Typically used when no irregularitie to the mission are present. Weapons are on safe and standing by, sound suppressors engaged. All weapons use is to be authorized before execution unless previously indicated during briefing.

Green Alert Light was used to signal that non-lethal techniques were to be used. Energy-based stun weapons, physical takedowns, and Taser style weapons only. Typically used in recovery missions.

Yellow Alert
A yellow alert was used to signal a situation where hostiles may be on high alert. Typically used in active combat zones or in recovery operations where the target may be aware that someone would be coming for them. Weapons fire is restricted to as-needed only, although less-lethal weapons are preferred. Anyone subdued or neutralized is to be restrained and hidden to avoid discovery.

Orange Alert
Used when unknown activity outside of intel reports is observed, or when local hostiles become aware of Federation activity. Weapons activity is restricted, but all teams are on high alert. Hostiles that are alerted to the team are to be quickly dispatched and a secure location is to be established until suspicion goes down.

Red Alert
Used when FOX operatives are discovered, or if gunfire is detected. Weapons are free and all teams are authorized to fire at will. Typically only used when an extraction is attempted to allow operatives to hurry to the exfiltration site.

Violet Alert
A violet alert is reserved for hostiles who are exposed to biological or radioactive materials which could be a hazard to FOX operatives. If not already, Scalpel team is activated and dispatched to recover samples. All fire teams are authorized to fire at will. If not already, all teams are to wear CBRN certified HAZMAT gear, including masks and heavy gloves.

Blacklight Alert is used in the event of a contagious disease, pathogen, or mind-altering cognitohazard breaking containment and posing a significant risk to an isolated area or location, such as a starship or space station. In the event of such a breach, all Federation facilities are equipped with emergency purging failsafes, such as a napalm-based purging system, total shutdown of life support, and on-site nuclear warheads to ensure total destruction of the site, any intel within, and any trace of the infection. Sol-66 was outfitted with such a means. However, the Federation was unable to activate it for a number of reasons, such as the loss of the commanding officer who carried the access codes, the presence of high value specimens in containment, and damage to the control systems due to the meteor storm.

Black Alert
A black alert was used to signal the immediate activated of Reaper team, and to initiate a 'clean house' protocol. All surviving operatives on a mission were to be terminated or detained, and any intelligence recovered to be destroyed. Bodies of individuals terminated during a black alert are to be ignited and destroyed to prevent identification. Official statements from the Federation in the event of a team members death in such a circumstance are ready, with a cover story in place to protect the teams secrecy.