Office of Naval Intelligence

''This article describes about the intelligence branch of the UNSC. For the music, see The Office of Naval Intelligence (Song).''

The Office of Naval Intelligence, acronym ONI (pronounced as oʊni), is the intelligence service branch of the UNSC Navy. Its formal name is the UNSC Military Intelligence Division. Admiral Margaret Orlenda Parangosky was the head of ONI until some point before 2558 at the latest, at which time her protege Serin Osman replaced her as head of the Office of Naval Intelligence.

Introduction
The Office of Naval Intelligence is a division of the UNSC Navy that is responsible for counter-espionage and propaganda.

Although it is under the jurisdiction of the Navy, ONI appears to report directly to HIGHCOM. It is responsible for intelligence matters across the UNSC. As such, ONI employs members of other military branches, and even civilians, to complete the Division's shadowy work.

Many of its functions and subdivisions, like the Beta-5 Division and the SPARTAN-III Program, are enigmatic, and its personnel are regarded as mysteries by mainstream naval officers. ONI personnel, especially officers, are often referred to as "spooks". Agents appear to enjoy significant latitude in the discharge of their duties, often violating moral boundaries or acquiring vast amounts of UNSC resources to achieve their ends.

Operations
The Office of Naval Intelligence often operates independently of other UNSC branches. At times it contravenes the law and UNSC protocol to complete top-secret missions. It appears to have an unusually large amount of military equipment for an intelligence service, and has a strong fleet presence. The Office of Naval Intelligence possesses a destroyer-sized prowler-class starship, the, which is used as a command vessel and a secure conference location. ONI also maintains the UNSC's Prowler fleet, a major source of Covenant deployment intelligence, under the auspices of the UNSC Prowler Corps. ONI also manages field intelligence with units such as ONI Recon 111 liaising with mainstream UNSC military units.

Intra-ONI dynamics are often strained with intense competition amongst its own personnel. Agents operate under heavy scrutiny with mistakes often leading to demotion or death.

Section Zero
The most secretive section, Section Zero's existence is not general knowledge outside ONI. Details of its role and operations are limited. Based on the records of an AI named Melissa, it is thought to be ONI Internal Affairs, charged with rooting out and eliminating illegal programs. It is very discreet in its work. The true nature and activities of Section Zero are highly classified and unknown outside the ONI command hierarchy. Zero is, essentially, an internal investigations division that polices other ONI activities.

This section has gained notoriety as the section that keeps and maintains sealed SPARTAN-I Program file archives, including Avery Johnson's. As Internal Affairs it enforces the rules and ensures standards are met. It is authorized to use lethal force in the course of its operations.

Section I
Section One is the main branch of ONI and the branch most often utilized by the UNSC. Information released by Section I includes evacuation notices for colony worlds and Covenant force deployments.

Section II
The propaganda branch of ONI. It handles communication between colonies to reduce the spread of rumors and information that would damage morale. It was responsible for releasing details of the SPARTAN-II program to the public to boost morale throughout the UNSC. Once information about the Spartans was released to the public, Section II had to maintain the Spartans' near-mythical status within the military by listing those killed in action as MIA. It was believed that news of Spartan deaths would cripple the UNSC's already-flagging morale.

Section III
The top-secret projects division of ONI. It is responsible for the SPARTAN-II project, the NOVA project, the MJOLNIR Program, and many other "black ops". Though a few of Section III's programs are well known and celebrated for their success, the Marines and top brass of the UNSC treat most with contempt. This is especially true of the Spartans, who are regarded as "freaks" by some Humans. Beta-5 Division is the sub-cell of Section III that operates the SPARTAN-III project. The Spartan-III project was kept secret from the vast majority of Section III. This is not particularly unusual as Section III is a large division with numerous sub-cells. The division and compartmentalization is to ensure secrecy and security.

UNSC Prowler Corps
The ONI branch that handles the Prowlers and its electronic intelligence gathering.

ONI Signal Corps
The Signal Corps is tasked with broadcasting radio signals in order to confuse Covenant fleet and troop movements, diverting attention from UNSC Colonies that are evacuating.

ONI Security
ONI Security is the Office of Naval Intelligence's security force recruited from the UNSC Army and UNSC Marine Corps. They provide security for sensative locations such as Ivanoff Research Station and various sites on Requiem.

ONI Ships

 * STARS
 * - Retired
 * UNSC prowler
 * - Retired
 * Stealth Cruiser
 * ONI PRO-49776
 * Sahara-class heavy prowler
 * Sahara-class heavy prowler

Reach

 * CASTLE Base
 * ONI Medical Facility
 * HIGHCOM Armory Omega
 * Sword Base
 * Olympic Tower (ONI HQ)

Onyx

 * Zone 67
 * Camp Currahee

Earth

 * Chawla Base
 * HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6
 * Beta-5 Division Ordnance Testing Facility
 * Alpha Site

Arcadia

 * Unknown ONI facility

Installation 03

 * Ivanoff Research Station

Oban

 * Operation: DAYBREAK

ONI Units

 * ONI Recon 111
 * Kilo Five

ARG
343i currently has an ARG where "agents" engage in ONI operations on Requiem, while searching for glyphs that unlock experience or armor such as Radier armor or Wiseguy emblem. These agents make up ONI Section III divisions such as the 96th Field Recon Company, and the 117th Cryptology Unit under the 77th Tactical Intelligence Group. They have engaged in several operations, such as Operation: Little King.

Trivia

 * The Office of Naval Intelligence is a real life existing organization within the U.S. Navy that was established in 1882. It is also the oldest intelligence agency, thus the most senior of the United States military and intelligence community, similar to the fictitious department.
 * Because the Office of Naval Intelligence is based on the real life organization of the same name it is possible the other branches in the UNSC have their own intelligence branches based on real counterparts, such as the Army's Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM), though they have never been seen or mentioned.
 * ONI's motto, "Semper Vigilans", is also the motto of the United States Civil Air Patrol. The phrase is Latin for "Always vigilant."
 * ONI not only culls its ranks with internal Navy personnel, the organization selects operatives from a number of branches and often recruits civilians.
 * ONI's pre-Halo 3: ODST insignia features the all-seeing eye, a nod to ONI's line of work.
 * "Oni" is also the name of one of Bungie's previous games, which predates Halo: Combat Evolved.
 * The ONI insignia can be used as a multiplayer emblem in Halo 3: ODST and Halo 4.
 * In both games an ONI base is featured (Halo 3: ODST and Halo: Reach), both are slated to be destroyed to prevent sensitive data from falling into Covenant hands. ONI Alpha Site on Earth was destroyed by ODST Trooper Mickey. The facility on Reach was never shown as being destroyed, however the artifact chamber below was. It may have been glassed with the planet.
 * ONI shows great autonomy in canon, seemingly answering only to HIGHCOM.
 * In the Japanese language "Oni" means demon. It is an ogre-like creature from Japanese mythology which is known to deceive and devour its prey.
 * Apparently, ONI has its own coffee brand that stimulates paranoia, though this is probably just speculation from Captain Serin Osman and Staff Sergeant Mal Geffen. It is said to taste like Jamaican coffee.