PROLOGUE: THE ORIGIN OF ORDO LUCIS FALCONIS

We were called Ordo Lucis Falconis - the Order of the Light Falcon. Formed during the Protestant Reformation in Geneva, Switzerland, our group emerged amidst a climate of dramatic change and religious upheaval. The city of Geneva, under the influence of John Calvin, had declared itself an independent republic, a haven for those seeking refuge from the Catholic Church's dominance over much of Europe.

 

In this context of tension and reform, the Order of the Light Falcon was born. A group of scholars, merchants, and thinkers gathered in secrecy, united by a vision to resist oppression and preserve forbidden knowledge. This clandestine assembly adopted a motto that has endured through the ages: SAPIENTIA NECESSARIUM MALUM - "Wisdom is a Necessary Evil." This creed reflected their conviction that true understanding often requires difficult choices, even morally ambiguous ones.

 

The order's symbol, the falcon - specifically, the Peregrine Falcon - was selected with care. Known for its keen vision and unmatched speed, the falcon represented the Order's ideals of insight, precision, and vigilance. Its far-reaching gaze symbolised the Order's mission to see what others could not, to uncover hidden truths, and to act in times where none dare.

 

STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE

The Order's foundation was guided by a governing body initially composed of 5 members, later expanded to 11, known as the "Archivists". These eleven individuals wielded ultimate authority over the Order's direction, each bearing a symbolic alias to conceal their identities from even their closest confidants. Their real names were known only within personal, private matters and were kept secret from family and friends to maintain the Order's integrity and secrecy.

 

Each Archivist's alias represented an archetype, inspired by symbols and motifs of mysticism and esoteric knowledge:

1. "Death"

2. "The Hermit"

3. "The Magician"

4. "The Fool"

5. "The Tower"

6. "The Chariot"

7. "The Executioner"

8. "The Sun"

9. "The Star"

10. "The Moon"

11. "The Arbiter" (or "The Judge") - The final deciding vote in case of a stalemate among the other Archivists.

 

The Archivists hailed from diverse backgrounds: scholars, soldiers, merchants, and thinkers. However, each was chosen based on their unwavering dedication to the Order's cause and their capability to navigate the shadows of society. Beneath each Archivist, a cadre of agents, soldiers, and attendants aided in executing their commands and advancing the Order's mission.

 

Among these agents were the Falcons, elite operatives who became the eyes and hands of their respective Archivists. These Falcons, designated IR0 through IR9 in modern times, were entrusted with the Order's most critical assignments. Each Falcon reported directly to their respective Archivist, serving as both a trusted lieutenant and a potent enforcer.

 

THE ORDER'S PURPOSE AND PRINCIPLES

At its inception, Ordo Lucis Falconis was driven by a single, ambitious goal: to preserve, protect, and disseminate knowledge. The Archivists believed that "wisdom should NOT be dictated by the whims of those in power", who might hoard or destroy knowledge to maintain control. They dedicated themselves to collecting as much information as possible, curating it, and returning it to the world, albeit in subtle ways that allowed society to advance without direct interference.

 

The Order's guiding principle - "Wisdom is a Necessary Evil" - captured their readiness to "act in morally gray areas" to accomplish this mission. The Archivists knew that safeguarding and imparting knowledge might sometimes require deception, manipulation, and, if necessary, force. They understood that in order to keep dangerous truths from those who might misuse them, they too would have to tread carefully, accepting that their noble purpose demanded ruthlessness.

 

To achieve financial independence and protect themselves from external influence, the Order established self-sustaining funding through merchant enterprises and trade networks. They maintained commercial interests across Europe at first, different parts of Asia, Northern Africa, and later, in the colonies of the Americas. This strategy allowed them "to remain free from reliance on external patrons or governments", which would have exposed them to infiltration and manipulation.

 

EXPANSION AND EVOLUTION

With the dawn of the Age of Exploration and the colonisation of the Americas, the Order expanded its influence and established bureaus across continents. Although they had no interest in colonial domination, they took advantage of the shifting world order to extend their reach and create new networks of intelligence. The expansion allowed the Order to cultivate allies, secured critical information channels, and exert influence in emerging political and economic centers around the globe.

 

The Ordo Lucis Falconis adapted and evolved with the times, responding to changing political landscapes and advancing technologies. By the early 20th century, the Order underwent a significant transformation, modernising its structure, technology, and methods to keep pace with an increasingly interconnected and dangerous world.

 

As global conflicts escalated, culminating in two world wars, the Order recognised that they could no longer operate solely as an intellectual and covert entity. Their methods and infrastructure became more sophisticated, integrating scientific advancements in communication, cryptography, and surveillance.

 

THE REBIRTH OF THE ORDER: INFRARED INTELLIGENCE

In the mid-20th century, the Order underwent a profound transformation, rebranding itself as Infrared Intelligence (IR) to adapt to the rapidly changing geopolitical landscape of the postwar world. However, this shift was not merely a choice driven by modernisation but a calculated necessity. By this time, the existence and partial history of Ordo Lucis Falconis had come under the scrutiny of global superpowers, as well as numerous antagonistic factions determined to expose, dismantle, or co-opt its influence. The Order had become a hunted entity, with its very survival at risk.

 

To preserve itself and its mission, the Order initiated a tactical retreat from its traditional identity. It "severed ties with the old world", including many of its long-standing agents and allies, to create the illusion of a disbanded and fractured organisation. This deliberate fragmentation was designed to mislead adversaries into believing the Order had "fallen into obscurity", thereby diverting attention away from its core operations. But like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the Order re-emerged under the new guise of Infrared Intelligence, "a private military company and contractor that concealed its ancient roots behind the façade of modern professionalism".

 

This strategic "rebirth" allowed the Order to continue its work, modernising its methods and leveraging contemporary technology to remain effective in a world of satellite surveillance, electronic warfare, and shifting alliances. The roles of the Archivists and Falcons persisted, ensuring that the core structure of the Order endured. However, new technologies, such as encrypted communication networks and global satellite systems, enhanced their capabilities, enabling them to gather intelligence and conduct operations with a precision that aligned with their symbol of the peregrine falcon.

 

Infrared Intelligence adopted a system of coded designations for operatives (IR0 through IR9), ensuring anonymity and operational efficiency. Its reach extended into governments, corporate sectors, and military organisations, influencing events and shaping global stability from behind the scenes. This transformation also allowed the Order to cultivate a more accessible and adaptive image, blending seamlessly into the corporate and intelligence spheres while continuing its ancient mission.

 

While the core values, motives, and methods of the Order remained unchanged, they were veiled in the pragmatism of a modern world. The Archivists retained their ultimate authority, and their guiding creed, SAPIENTIA NECEASSARIUM MALUM - "Wisdom is a Necessary Evil" - which continued to define their actions. Despite the challenges of an increasingly interconnected and volatile world, the rebranded Infrared Intelligence thrived, ensuring that the Order's timeless goals of safeguarding knowledge, influencing global stability, and preserving humanity's collective wisdom remained steadfast.

 

THE LEGACY OF THE ORDER

The transformation from Ordo Lucis Falconis to Infrared Intelligence marks the journey of an organisation that began as a secret society of scholars and has grown into a sophisticated intelligence network operating on a global scale. The Archivists and Falcons of today are the inheritors of a legacy stretching back centuries, bound by the same principles of wisdom, vigilance, and sacrifice that motivated their predecessors.

 

Wisdom is a Necessary Evil