Surveillance (Investigate)
Base(s): Investigate
Usage: substitution(min+) -> chk(C,CC-S,surveil)= +M +Surveillance-Tools -> set(PC)= 8 +M(Stealth+S) +R
Usage (aspect): counter-surveillance(free-act) -> psv(C,CC-S) = 8 + M(Perception)+ R
Description: Practice in keeping an area or people under suveillance, without them knowing it.
This technique is a specialisation of Investigate when the main concern is observation of an area, individual or group of individuals. The main operation of this skill is being able to keep tabs on someone by following them and asking about them from others, without the target knowing that they’re being watched.
With ranks in this skill you can instruct others and place someone under surveillance, using a team of people. The idea is that when following someone, you hand off to another in the team, on suitably irregular intervals, so as to lower the likelihood of your target catching sight of the same person all the time.
When Surveillance starts to involve observation through drones (both robotic and nanorobotic) and tool-guided hacking of camera feeds, you will require Surveillance-Tools (requiring qualification, or suffering the penalty).
Counter-surveillance
Having ranks in this technique means that you are practiced in counter-surveillance as well. Whenever you are being surveilled, you get a passive Perception check aspected by this technique.
counter-surveillance(free-act) -> psv(C,CC-S) = 10 + M(Perception)+ R
This can be converted into an active check, if you have reason to believe that you are under surveillance already.