The Information Self-Defense Force, also known as (ISDF or I-SDF), is a concept of what would a fourth branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces as proposed by Tom Clancy, in 2007, for the Splinter Cell media franchise. Its stated purpose is the defense of Japan from information warfare attacks.
Overview of the Fictional I-SDF in Splinter Cell.
Japan's I-SDF was created to counter-act against information attacks, both domestic and foreign. The main reason for its creation was the Georgian Information Crisis against the United States of America in 2004. Since the U.S. struggled to deal with the information attacks, Japan formed the I-SDF under Otomo's supervision. However, the I-SDF came under fire from many nations, including the United States, as it violated Article 9 of the Japanese Post-war Constitution of 1945 after World War II. Article 9 forbade Japan from mobilizing a military force capable of striking beyond its borders as a result of its imperialist conquest of the Pacific Ocean, and the creation of the I-SDF was seen by many as a remilitarization of Japan. Among the I-SDF's most vocal critics were the People's Republic of China and North Korea, two countries with a long history of tension with Japan.
The I-SDF's main facilities were located at the Kokubo Sosho, a large Japanese military facility on the main island of Honshu. The facility also hosted several American personnel.
History
2006: Indonesian Crisis
The I-SDF was briefly mentioned during the Indonesian Crisis because of the recent information attacks two years earlier. Throughout the course of events in the crisis, news reports indicate that numerous protests were held worldwide against the I-SDF's formation, most prominently in Asia, as the action is seen as disobedient to Japanese post-war constitution. According to an undercover agent in Sadono's refinery in Kundang, Indonesia, the I-SDF is known to intercept sensitive conversations broadcasted electronically and assassinate unwanted individuals, including two "CIA resources". Sam said the NSA encryption is secure, but the agent doubted it. He gave Sam the intel regardless, and Sam handed it to Third Echelon after he was extracted from Sadono's villa.
2007: Cyber Attacks/East Asian Crisis
The I-SDF becomes a prominent organization during the events of the Cyber Attacks in 2007. Tensions in East Asia are on the rise as China and North Korea implicate the I-SDF in the engineering of information warfare attacks against their two countries, and began blockading Japanese shipping as a response to Japan's refusal to acknowledge their alleged remilitarization. The United States responds by sending their Navy's highly advanced information ship USS Clarence E. Walsh to the Yellow Sea to emphasize the solidarity of Japan and its allies. As all of this occurs, Admiral Otomo helps Third Echelon track down the users who are using the Masse Kernels to their advantages. When a blackout occurred in New York and Japan, Admiral Otomo assumes the worst, giving hints to Irving Lambert of a possible war to come.
Lambert later acknowledges to Otomo that someone within Displace International may have been engineering the crisis by forcing famed computer analyst Abrahim Zherkezhi to launch information warfare attacks against both sides. Otomo lends his assistance in tracking Zherkezhi down by putting tabs on Displace's activities. After the USS Walsh was destroyed by a North Korean anti-ship missile that was force-launched through an information warfare attack, tension between U.S. and North Korea being to escalate rapidly. Third Echelon moved in to capture Zherkezhi, who was moved to Displace's retreat in Hokkaido, Japan. Otomo had Sam Fisher collect tabs from the retreat's phone lines for later analysis. It was later found that Displace CEO Douglas Shetland was the mastermind of the conspiracy, and murdered Zherkezhi before he could be captured into protective custody.
Evidence was later found that North Korea did not attack the USS Walsh intentionally, but in spite of this new evidence, North Korea proceeded to attack South Korea as retaliation against Japan and the U.S. As both sides committed to open warfare, Fisher tracked Shetland to Tokyo, where it was found that the information warfare attack that launched the missile had in fact originated. Shetland was preparing to exchange the Masse Kernels with his accomplices, whom Fisher was to identify at once.
Fisher penetrated a bathhouse where Shetland planned to meet with his partners, and encountered two I-SDF troops who were monitoring the meeting. Growing suspicious, Lambert attempted to contact Otomo, but he was unavailable. Fisher reached the meeting and found Shetland meeting with his contacts who, to his shock, were none other than the I-SDF itself. Shetland was in the process of exchanging the Masse Kernels with his I-SDF contacts when the meeting went sour, prompting both sides to fire upon each other. A massive shootout occurred between Displace and I-SDF troops, but Fisher pursued Shetland regardless and killed him before he could do any further damage.
With Shetland out of the picture, Third Echelon turned its attention to Admiral Otomo, whom they feared was being sanctioned by the Japanese government. Fisher infiltrated the I-SDF's main facility at the Kokubo Sosho and eavesdropped on the war room, where the J-SDF's commanders were due to speak to Otomo. Otomo declared that they were to order the immediate remilitarization of Japan, and that the Emperor was to repeal the post-war Constitution immediately. If his demands were not met, he would attack his own country with a forced missile attack from North Korea in 96 hours, which will bring the world to war once again. Desperate, the generals secretly ordered the G-SDF to assault the I-SDF's underwater bunker in the hopes of disabling Otomo's offensive capabilities. This attempt failed as the G-SDF assault team was ruthlessly killed by Otomo's automated turrets and I-SDF troops. Enraged by this attack, Otomo went forth with his threat to destroy one of his own cities.
With sufficient evidence that Otomo was acting against the Japanese government, Fisher is given fifth freedom and went underground in an attempt to apprehend him. After fighting his way past the I-SDF's defenses, Fisher destroyed the servers by which the missile attack from North Korea was being coordinated, effectively preventing the attack with only moments to spare. Fisher then moved in to capture Otomo just as the latter attempted to commit suicide, and Otomo was handed over to the authorities.
I-SDF troops
The I-SDF troops wear olive green and black colored uniform, black helmets, gas masks, red eye protection glasses and Single tube night vision googles with red phosphors as seen in the level "Bathhouse". Their googles emit a red colored ray.
Aftermath
Otomo was brought before the Hague and out of honor took full responsibility for the crisis in Asia, effectively ending the ongoing war. Otomo was removed from his post as head of the I-SDF. The I-SDF was recognized as a clear threat to world peace and was disbanded by the Japanese government.
Trivia
- The I-SDF is first mentioned in the news reports of Pandora Tomorrow, as it was undergoing its formation at that time. Later reports stated that it had become fully active.
- The I-SDF plays a much larger role in Chaos Theory and before the South Korea is being invaded by the North, I-SDF is considered as friendly faction.
- I-SDF is mentioned briefly in Splinter Cell: Essentials. In both main storyline and bonus mission.
- The I-SDF are one of the enemy factions in Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory who are seen equipped with Night Vision Goggles, the other being Displace Mercenaries.
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