Damosca
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 20 February 1938 |
| Dissolved | 31 July 2000 |
| Superseding agencies | |
| Type | Domestic and Foreign Intelligence Service |
| Jurisdiction |  The Caropsyne Pontanore |
| Headquarters | Fornænda |
| Ministers responsible |
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| Agency executive |
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| Parent department | Defense Ministry |
The Damosca was the domestic and foreign intelligence service of Carops and her territories from 1938 until 2000. The organization was created by the Fostana in the beginning of the second year of the Great War against Loslakia and their allies. Over its sixty-two year existence, it had a reputation of being the most sinister and brutally efficient organization in the entire world. The Damosca was often accused of carrying out state terrorism against countries whose foreign policy disagreed with that of the Pontanore. These claims were always denied.
During Fostana Rule, the Damosca reported directly to the Chair. Once the Pontiana was reopened, accountability was transferred to the Government, in particular the Premier and the Defense Minister. During the Premierships of Phodric Dormond and Haldric Maldian, the power of the Damosca (which had been building up for decades), led by Pholomir Zarmal, was used to control the government into making increasingly more aggressive and dangerous foreign policy decisions. The full extent of the Damosca's influence over the government and scale of the atrocities it had carried out would be completely exposed by Miria Seranoda during the events of the Siege of the Pontiana.
In the aftermath of the Siege, Seranoda became Premier and not only dissolved the agency but declared it a terrorist organization. Goriath Moscana, her Defense and Interior Minister, delegated the former organization's responsibilities between the Casmara and the Sadriana. Over the first two years of her Premiership, Seranoda would purge many individuals with Dormondist political sympathies or with connections to the Damosca out of government and the military while some were ordered to undergo mandatory rehabilitation. These efforts would continue under her successors. Although weakened over the years, the Damosca continues to be a major threat to the Caropsyne Pontanore. Former Bureau Chief and most powerful member, General Zarmal, and many of his inner circle are still at large and rumored to be hiding in Polythia.
Under Fostana Rule
When the Great War broke out between the Caropsyne Pontanore and Loslakia and each sides respective allies, there was no intelligence agency which had put Caropsyne and Ardalian soldiers at a disavantage as their enemy had an extensive network of spies and informants. Not wanting to lose the race over information, the Fostana secretly created the Damosca as the war entered its second year. With great speed, the new agency proved itself to be extremely resourceful both in helping the military fight back against their various enemies while at the same time assisting the Fostana in supressing any opposition to their decisions. It was Damosca intelligence that led to Ardalian General Frelno Letzek's successful offensive deep into enemy territory. Loslakia and her allies would be defeated in 1942.
For the next forty-eight years, the Damosca would be the brutal arm of the Fostana's power at home and abroad. The Chair of the Fostana, Eremas Morclin had no hesitation in using its agents to supress domestic enemies to its rule nor hold them back from actively combating their rivals from behind the shadows. At home, they were known as the iron fist of the Fostana. They were known to arrest people deemed a threat to the stability of the state and the Fostana's power and bring them to the dreaded Lazenno-Verta Complex where they would subject them to brutal torture. The exact nature of its activities through the 1980's are unclear but there are a wide range of possibilities. One notable domestic event includes the 1988 assassination of Communist Party Chairman Garel Hermalas which was believed to be a Damosca exercise of force. For most its period under Fostana control, the agency would secretly build up its power and influence over the military forces, something that many would not recognize to be a direct threat to the country until far too late.
Abroad, they are believed to have carried out operations and organizing localized attacks against Loslakia that led to Caropsyne control over Gregon in the 1970's. In neighboring Ardalia, a former ally of the State, had become a dictatorship led by General Frelno Letzek. Damosca agents were suspected of attempting to assassinate him on no less than five times. In the months leading up to the 1982 Ardalian-Caropsyne War, the agency allegedly engaged in a coordinated bombing campaign and throughout the conflict orchestrated a disinformation operation.
Fostana rule over the state began to come apart in 1990 as both democratic and socialist movements grew bolder in their resistance. Damosca forces were brought in to brutally supress the Hermalas Socialist Uprising of 1991 led by Garel's son Meltham who they assassinated. Together with the army, over fifteen-thousand registered communists were arrested and thousands killed. The following year involved the Ariatra Protests. The Damosca had managed to curtail some resistance but the Fostana were ultimately forced to concide to the demands of the crowds. By declaration of Chair Roth, democracy would be restored in 1993 and the lower chamber, the Pontiana, would be reopened.
Under Dormond
The first election in sixty years occured in April 1993 which resulted in Phodric Dormond becoming Premier. The Damosca had been led General Golmas Jarmald in his capacity as the Fostana's Chief Military Advisor. He retired the day of the Pontiana's reopening. Dormond, now Premier, appointed decorated General Larimas Folmer to lead the agency in his place. A proud Caropsyne patriot, the Premier in partnership with his second-in-command Haldric Maldian who was serving as both Interior and Defense Minister in his cabinet, would triple the investment in the military. The Damosca, having long built up its influence, benefited and would siphon considerably for its own activities. This was only known them. The Fostana, despite no longer being in total control, believed that the new government would try to rebuild damaged relations with nations they had hurt, but this would not be the case.
Dormond and Maldian instead began to implement an aggressive foreign policy that were considered antgonistic against countries whose foreign policy disagreed with that of the Pontanore's. Numerous countries, including Curiastan were attacked ranging from bombings to assasinations and poisonings because they were deemed to be a threat to long-term influence in developing countries. Dormond's Foreign Minister Miria Seranoda who had fled into political exile in Ardalia gave a fiercely critical television speech in which she claimed the Premier was responsible for organizing (possibly with Damosca support) the Great Oil Crisis of 1996 and accused him of being ruled by the intelligence service itself into pursing a violent and bloody foreign policy. Dormond resigned afterward and was succeded by his political ally Maldian following a snap election, however, the former Premier was given a desk job at the Damosca.
Under Maldian
As both Defense and Interior Minister, Haldric Maldian was aware there had a power struggle between Folmer and high-ranking General and Bureau Chief of the Damosca, Pholomir Zarmal for six months. Zarmal, given his extensive network within the militry and power base within the organization itself was able to transfer executive power from the position of Chairman to his own, effectively reducing Folmer's role to that of a civil servant. Technically Zarmal was accountable to not only the Premier but also the Defense Minister, Goriath Moscana, but it mattered little: he was essentially the most powerful person in the Pontanore. In the aftermath of the struggle, Folmer would join the Defense Ministry and serve as the Pontiana Military Liason.
The neighboring Republic of Ardalia plunged into a civil war in 1996 between the legitimate government and the Nationalist Front. Maldian's Government pledged to uphold the 1994 Treaty of Taerisz in which the Pontanore would defend its friend by providing money, weapons and soldiers. Unknown to the Premier, Zarmal had ordered the Damosca to arm and finance the nationalists in an effort to split the country with the intention of ultimately influencing Ardalian government policy, just like what he was doing in the Pontanore.
Zarmal would push Maldian to increase his aggression against Curiastan, espeically with the rise of Dictator Andart Sadner. In an potential propaganda coup, Curian Intelligence was planning to kidnap Maldian's sworn political enemy Miria Seranoda. Damosca informants had learned of the plan in April 1997. Although the Premier hated her, he could not allow his rival humilate the Pontanore or its security agencies. Maldian instructed Zarmal to get to her first and bring her to Euvodora. With an elite team of agents, Zarmal was able to sneak into Ardalia and get to her hiding place mere minutes before the Curians. He told her that the Premier was willing to 'forgive' her by giving her the role of Administrator-General of Euvodora in exchange for the ceasation of her public criticism of him and his policies. She agreed to it but Zarmal knew she privately still loathed not only him, but the Premier as well.
Over a year after the events of the Oil Crisis, the Pontanore State of Chonoré (also known informally as Jajiland) was in complete rebellion in what would be known as the 1997 Jaj Revolution. Maldian, who was maintaining the hardline foreign policy of his friend (and quite possibly pushed by Zarmal), decided to put down the insurrection with overwhelming force. Along conventional military forces, the Damosca was sent in to support operations against the Jaj Independence Front. Not known until 2000, the Damosca was responsible for organzing 'death squads' to eliminate thousands of JIF fighters and supporters including the movement's second-in-command, Chandi Zaka. Damosca forces engaged with agents sent by Curian dictator Sadner who were attempting to aid the rebels. Some Curians were dealt with ruthlessly including one whos brutalized body was shown on international television, having been mauled by dogs. They would also be responsible for killing and purging many other innocent Jaj, a total of which is unknown to this day.
The Siege of the Pontiana
Haldric Maldian's foreign policy had become so nationalistic, isolationlist and hardline (supported by Foreign Minister Thormond and heavily influenced by the Damosca) that it had prompted people to take action in the name of saving the Pontanore from itself. Euvodora Administrator-General Seranoda, Defense Minister Moscana, and Health Minister Alza Permentanna would unite, and alongside Fostana Chair Roth, decided to remove Maldian from power and end the Damosca's reign of terror.
On the afternoon of 3 July 2000, the Fostana abruptly stopped its proceedings mid-session and marched upon the Pontiana, effectively invading the lower house. Upon their arrival and admittance into the building by Seranoda and Permentanna, the Fostana Chair (and Seranoda) would engage in a heated argument with Premier Maldian. As the sun set, the upper house conveyed its demands that the Pontiana remove the Premier and call for immediate elections. The following morning the Pontiana's Executive Committee convened and Seranoda would provide evidence showing the enormous links between the Dormondist political grouping and military and Damosca figures and the later's high level of influence over government policy. She also presented materials concerning the various atrocities it had committed. Seranoda would offer a resolution removing Maldian and calling elections.
For four days, the Executive Committee would discuss the evidence and decide what to do. 9am PST on 7 July, they passed the resolution but it would be at that moment when what was supposed to be a bloodless event turned violent. Shortly later, many smoke grenades were fired off, causing chaos in the building. The Damosca had been observing the proceedings from afar and decided they needed to take matters into their own hands to keep Maldian (and themselves) in power. Prior to the committee's vote, Zarmal and several dozen Damosca agents made use of the sewer system and hid in the basement of the Pontiana. Once news broke out, they stormed the Pontiana, attacking members of both the lower and upper chambers.
Zarmal ordered his men to find and kill Miria Seranoda and her compatriots. She was found by the Damosca but was saved Fostana Chair Roth. Permentanna had been captured and they tied her to a chair. Her captors would beat repeatively into denouncing her ally. Some agents had managed to reach the Executive Committee's suite of offices but were repelled by Defense Minister Moscana. By the beginning of the afternoon, it became clear to the Damosca that they had failed in their effort to keep Maldian in power and they began to flee. Many, including General Zarmal, managed to escape through the sewers but others were either killed or arrested by the arrival of the Casmara.
The attrocities committed during this battle, and the chaos created are believed to have been what drove Maldian to take his own life. He was found hanging from a light fitting on the ceiling of his office within the Pontiana Building, draped in the flag of the Pontanore. A suicide note expressed severe regret and guilt at the events that had unfolded during the siege.
The End of the Damosca
A civil administration would run the country for three weeks while elections were carried out. Overwhelmingly, Miria Seranoda's New Left Movement would take over the Pontiana with her at the helm as Premier. The first act of her Prmeiership would be the formal dissolution the Damosca and subsequent declaration as a terrorist organization. Arrest warrants were issued senior leaders of the Damosca including Zarmal. Some lower-ranking officers and agents were ordered to undergo mandatory rehabilitation and others were purged altogether. The Casmara and Sadriana would each assume half of the Damosca's former responsibilities.
Current Status
The Damosca remains an internationally-recognized terrorist organization. Former Bureau Chief Zarmal is the world's most-wanted man - the Casmara has issued an international warrant for his arrest and are offering a reward of over fifty million Credita. Besides the general, Pontanore authorities are also seeking other high-ranking officials including Majors Elias Gorphan and Zelemas Harnices amongt others. The Casmara suspect the general and his armed Damosca supporters are operating out of hidden bases throughout the continent of Polythia.
Over the next decade and a half, Zarmal and his supporters would occasionally release messages decrying the government of the day saying that they were condemning loyal patriotic Caropsynes who were only doing their jobs in the name of protecting the country. Premiers would respond by saying they were a threat that needed to be completely eliminated.
After lying low for many years, the organization claimed responsibility for an assassination attempt on Premier Almas Josc. In June 2019, Zarmal orchestrated a bold attack upon the government in the Assault of Terese Molda. This most recent attack has sent shockwaves throughout the Pontanore and prompted heighted security measures. Until the Damosca are truly defeat, they will continue to be one of the most dangerous threats to the Caropsyne Pontanore.