Fleet Recon

[Hellraiser]

Isn't one of the main sources of across the border intel what you get from long time sleeper agent spies?

I feel like this has been mentioned in fluff sources over the years.

I don't mean scouts inserted on world a month ahead of the invasion but actual citizens living on said world that send out C* messages (encoded), or transmit to passing jumpships/dropships (also crewed by spies v/s actual merchants) using home commo systems hidden in the basement, etc etc.

I think it's even been mentioned that sometimes those spies are known but left in place because if they are swept up it stops the info flow for a while but then a new one will take over & have to be found out again which generally is not a fast or guaranteed process & involves luck & the spy making a mistake, etc etc, or just bad spy-craft but I assume the IS has methods of collecting data over the border that doesn't just involve some unseen satellites or drive by picture runs.

[AlphaMirage]

I think it's even been mentioned that sometimes those spies are known but left in place because if they are swept up it stops the info flow for a while but then a new one will take over & have to be found out again which generally is not a fast or guaranteed process & involves luck & the spy making a mistake, etc etc, or just bad spy-craft but I assume the IS has methods of collecting data over the border that doesn't just involve some unseen satellites or drive by picture runs.

There is also the possibility that ROM gets one of their agents to 'leak' intel to opposing agencies via various means. One of their missions is to keep dynamic tension between the Successor States and they do have access to a wide range of sources and agents within various empires. ROM likely possesses incredible access to intimate details and do in fact control the means of conveying information interplanetary. As long as they have a reputable scapegoat to source the intel to the agency that got the intel might act on it after only minor consideration (and someone confirmation through their own agents or analysts) even though it might not be perfect and could in fact be doctored.

[Cannonshop]

I'm out.  Why? because every reply I can think of, ends up being a sarcastic flame, so I'm out.