Sadponyik - Security Professions

History

From earliest times specialised 'nahum' were sponsored to provide protection to the local 'Naha'. These 'nahum' would supply soldiers in time of conflict, maintain warning signals, train local farmers in defence and provide advice on fortifications and defensive traps.

Often these 'nahum' competed against each other, sometimes violently, in order to gain the right to protect a region. The early security 'nahum' therefore soon became synonymous with the very 'samam' they were trying to protect against. To rectify this situation the 'Insurance' nahum would not insure against invasion whether or not a security 'nahum' was hired. So the 'Security Profession' was born and all security 'nahum' providing protection had to be authorized, audited and licensed before insurance was made available. As a member of the 'Profession of Professions' the Security Profession soon had to start training, qualifying and managing all the member security 'nahum' and their members. This service quickly grew and soon there were many such specialized nahum.

Defensive Strategy

The Security Profession adopted a complex strategy for handling the border regions. In general, the more advanced the bordering 'samam', the easier they were to manage peaceably, but the more primitive the 'samam', the more difficult.

The first step was threat identification (sotetsoputyog). This was carried out by long distance scouts who would travel and map out the regions looking for invaders or potential enemies. They would question traders and visit villages in order to build a threat map (sotets~sev). Often these scouts were also members of the geographic and mapping professions.

The next step was observation (sotetsifnud). Trained watchers would hide and observe the potential enemy, building detailed knowledge of their strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes they would capture and interrogate one of them, and sometimes they would enter the enemy camp. The security 'nahum' managing this operation had an obligation to report back to the Security Profession who subsequently provided a security threat analysis to the Insurance Profession. Together they would make a decision as to what, if any, further steps to take.

Usually the next step was to build a small network (sotefdejas). This usually consisted of getting to know several 'samam' on friendly terms and then passing intelligence back. If there was a potential problem then some 'Naha' were embedded into 'samam' population to provide more intelligence and even influence their behaviour.

Finally, if the situation was considered dangerous a delegation from the Security Profession would contact the 'samam' and negotiate. If this failed they would send in 'Sadponyik', if they weren't in place already.

The Sadponyik (Professional Killers)

'Sadponyik' are the 'Naha's equivalent of the Ninja and / or the Assassins. Their task was to get close to their targets either overtly or covertly. Not all their operations were assassination. Often they would poison the water, poison livestock, set fire to a building or create a spectacular event in the night sky using fireworks and loud noises and dress these up as bad fortune or angry gods. When assassinations were called for they would target the competent generals or people with specific skills. Sometimes the wife or child of the target would be killed or kidnapped.

Thus the 'Naha' phrase: "Be (either a) friend or afraid" (Esoju ~ yosen unya).

The Present

Most 'Naha' foreign intelligence activities have ceased over the last few hundred years as all their enemies vanished. Some South American and some African tribes have not been integrated into 'Naha' society so they are still monitored by a few security 'nahumar'. Most security is now devoted to organised crime with the 'Naha' civilisation. We understand that recently they have been given some considerable investment and they are currently building their capabilities specifically because their discovery of Earth. The Security Profession has now gained primary authority over all portals / transportation sites.

We cannot estimate how many 'sadponyik' there are here on this planet. We do expect the Security Profession to task teams to come over and we can expect their population and capability to rise considerably over the next few years. All 'sadponyik' networks will be passive unless/until some global event triggers them to disrupt our society.