The History of Echelon | Forums

[sameer_monier]

If anyone is interested, here is a part of the first SC book I am currently reading, providing information about Echelon sysem

Third Echelon is an organization no one is supposed to know about. The NSA—theNational Security Agency— is the nation's cryptologic establishment. It coordinates, directs, and performs highly specialized activities to protect U.S. information systems and produce foreign intelligence reports. Since it's on the edge of communications and
data processing, the NSA is naturally a very high-tech operation. For decades the NSA engaged in what I call "passive" collection of moving data by intercepting communications en route. The First Echelon was a worldwide network of international intelligence agencies and interceptors that seized communications signals and routed
them back to the NSA for analysis. It was a network vital to the United States' efforts during the Cold War. As the Soviet Union disintegrated and communications evolved,
high technology became the name of the game. The NSA created Second Echelon, which focused entirely on this new breed of communications technology. Unfortunately,
the immense volume of information combined with the accelerated pace of developing technology and encryption overwhelmed Second Echelon. NSA experienced its first
system-wide crash. As communications became more digital and sophisticated encryption more expansive, passive collection was simply no longer efficient. So the
NSA launched a top-secret initiative—Third Echelon—to return to more, shall we say, "classical" methods of espionage powered by the latest technology for the aggressive
collection of stored data. In other words, it was back to the nitty-gritty world of human spies out there in the field, risking their lives for the sake of taking a photograph or
recording a conversation or copying a computer hard drive. Third Echelon agents are called Splinter Cells, and I was the very first one. We physically infiltrate dangerous and
sensitive enemy locations to gather the required intelligence by whatever means necessary. Our prime directive, in a nutshell, is to do our jobs while remaining invisible
to the public eye. We're authorized to work outside the boundaries of international treaties, but the U.S. will neither acknowledge nor support our operations.
Thus, Third Echelon, a sub-agency of the NSA, consists of an elite team of strategists, hackers, and field operatives. We respond to crises of information warfare—a war that is hidden from the media and the ordinary man on the street. You're not going to see our battles on CNN. At least I hope not. If you do, then we've failed.

I wonder how 4th Echelon will operate.

Another piece of info is that Splinter Cell Agents never meet each other, they were kept separated, makes you wonder about Bob and Steve (Agent 1 and 2, Red and blue, whatever) and DA agents, even PT had a cutscene with 2 SC Agents, maybe there were teams and solo operatives.

[codenameeric]

That is key information. The sole purpose of Third Echelon - and all the Echelons for that matter - was to collect information and intelligence for national security. And, they all did it covertly. That's why so many people say Conviction and Blacklist are not Splinter Cell. They have nothing - I repeat nothing - to do with the purpose of Splinter Cells.

That's why I feel Blacklist should have Splinter Cell removed from its title.

Here's some more cool info from the original game's manual:

"In response to the growing use of sophisticated digital encryption to conceal potential threats to the national security of the United States, the NSA (National Security Agency) has ushered forth a new dawn of intelligence-gathering techniques. This top-secret initiative, dubbed Third Echelon, marks a return to classical methods of espionage, enhanced with leading-edge surveillance and combat technology for the aggressive collection of stored data in hostile territories. When intelligence deemed critical to national security cannot be obtained by traditional means, Third Echelon is granted clearance to conduct physical operations.

"Its existence denied by the U.S. government, Third Echelon deploys units known as Splinter Cells™: elite intelligence-gathering forces consisting of a lone field operative supported by a remote team. Like a sliver of glass, a Splinter Cell is small, sharp, and nearly invisible."

Do you see any of that in Blacklist or Conviction? Nope. And that's why they aren't Splinter Cell games.

[sameer_monier]

well to be fair for SCC, it doesn't talk about 3rd Echelon, it was telling a personal story for the main character of SC games/books Sam Fisher who was not a SC agent any more, so yeah it may not have the SC story but it is still a SC game.

As for BL, I would say it is still early to say, the Echelon System changed from a program of massive collaboration to a rather top secret program, how 4th Echelon handle the Blacklist threat is yet to be seen, maybe the will have a mix between Passive Intel Gathering and Aggressive Black Ops approach, yet again can't say without playing the game, at least 4th Echelon returned to being top secret again after what Reed has done with 3rd Echelon.

[MadamTampini]

http://i49.tinypic.com/zuo6xe.jpg
http://i48.tinypic.com/24mwe84.jpg
http://i45.tinypic.com/30wuh68.jpg
http://i48.tinypic.com/wgqg4m.jpg

Off topic to the 3E discussion but the books don't get mentioned very much on the forums, so I thought I'd show off a little... hehehe... Jackie Fiest is my long time friend who actually brought me to this forum, she was banned by an overly emotional moderator who seems to not even have mod powers anymore (phew. I wish I could petition for her unbanning, though). She also hooked me up with my two signed SC books

On topic... Yes the games have strayed far from what Splinter Cell was (I wanted to say, is supposed to be, but others have brought up that we really shouldn't say that, even though that is how I feel) 4E (god that is sooooo cheesy) I would guess, since they have requisitioned the classic Xrd Echelon name that it will be more like it was before, small group, and I hope that leads to low-impact ninjaing as well. Who knows how it will work though, especially if Sam can call in airstrikes (which I think is hilariously out of place).

[SolidSage]

The First Echelon was a worldwide network of international intelligence agencies and interceptors that seized communications signals and route them back to the NSA for analysis.
The NSA created Second Echelon which focused entirely on this new breed of communications technology.
So the NSA launched a top-secret initiative—Third Echelon—

@Madame Tampinin
Yeah, 4th Echelon is real 'cheesy'

Our prime directive, in a nutshell, is to do our jobs while remaining invisible to the public eye.We're authorized to work outside the boundaries of international treaties, but the U.S. will neither acknowledge nor support our operations.
Thus, Third Echelon, a sub-agency of the NSA, consists of an elite team of strategists, hackers, and field operatives. We respond to crises of information warfare—a war that is hidden from the media and the ordinary man on the street. You're not going to see our battles on CNN. At least I hope not. If you do, then we've failed.

@Codenameeric
That would be the 'no detection' sections of SCC where there were civilian sector Police Officers and Security.
I love how you omitted the 'key information' from your quote so you could falsely support your incorrect argument.

As far as what we "see in Blacklist", I think it's a bit early to assume we know what 4E's mission statement is. But just from Sameer's excerpt you can see that Echelon objectives have changed with each new version.

I think you should remove the 'codename' from your member name because it doesn't really jive with what I think a 'Code name' is supposed to be. It should just be 'Eric' then I would be okay with you using that as your name for everyone in the forum to call you by, otherwise it's just not acceptable.

[bluewolf042000]

Third Echelon was only top secret maybe in just one game (SC1). Afterwards everyone knew about it, since you had Brunton coordinating with the other agencies, perhaps to avoid another CIA fiasco. Hell, even the Israelis knew about it and tried to use it to their advantage. Can't kill someone who doesn't exist.


Good thread Sage. Most people here complain without having a clear idea of what Echelon really was. Like you said, it was also a sort of information network, which is why you had Grim sometimes saying "I'll run it through Echelon, see what I can find"

[SolidSage]

@Bluewolf
Sameer started the thread but I agree with you and think it's important that we don't define Echelon by our own personal views on it. There's already too much 'assumed ownership' of the series. It just gets silly when you hear players telling you what SC is when the proprietary owners (Ubisoft) are saying something different.
4E's purpose is up in the air right now but I see the transition as a claiming of franchise 'ownership' by the Team, that was selected by Ubisoft, to represent the series.

Saying a SplinterCell is supposed to never be detected is saying an SC never EVER makes an error. That's way too much fantasy for me.

The NSA may have had a clear idea of what they wanted 3E to be, but identites can change with time and leadership changes. The U.S.A isn't the same as it was under other Leaders only short years passed, the same is true for many other Nations.
We don't even know if 4E is even part of the NSA anymore or if it has become it's own entity entirely. It doesn't make sense to me to make factual claims about things that we don't have a good amount of information on.

[SolidSage]

@Codenameeric
"A splinter cell is small, sharp, and nearly invisible". That's your quote. What are the 'sharp' and 'nearly' words meaning to you in that sentence? I take the sharp to mean they are quickly dangerous and the nearly to mean, well, nearly, as in NOT actually invisible. Or they CAN be detected, whereupon the 'sharp' comes back into play.

It also says in the manual for SAR, "it is the year 2003" and "the choice between leaving a witness or a corpse is no choice at all".

[bluewolf042000]

Ooops my bad, but still good thread, good points.

We don't know much about 4E but its an entirely new outfit with maybe even new MO and chain of command. But its good to see that the team aspect is back, with the voice in your ear and everything. And Grim back is the cherry on top. (she's been involved ever since 2E)

[SolidSage]

Here is the manual description for SCC: Notice the first line, "now operating as a FREE AGENT", and then later, "and because third Echelon rules no longer apply to him, Sam will do ANYTHING HE HAS TO.."







And here is the controller configuration for SAR: notice all the controls related to 'shooting'. I guess the original creative team expected the player to be doing quite a bit of it.