A setting very highly inspired by Zero Parades. The Superbloc is an agreement signed by three nations—Luz, Cresset and Zeamont—ending Luz’s imperialistic colonization over the other two nations and outlawing outright conflict like wars.

The nations instead shifted to other means—the biggest of them—espionage. 

Nations:

• Luz: Imperialistic power that has changed its image completely. The other two nations were colonies of Luz—their rebellion led to the creation of the Superbloc. Technologically advanced, its most notable exports are Luzian pop, mass culture and tech products. Its espionage agency is the Choir.

• Cresset: A former colony of Luz. Its architecture is brutalist and its means of power post-Superbloc is its Bank—the Cresset Financial Fund. Their espionage agency is the Firm.

• Zeamont: Another former colony, Zeamont’s architecture is a polar opposite of Cresset’s. Wide, paved streets and aero-tramlines everywhere among the skyline. It has gone through various crises with the most recent one being the failure of its space program. Their espionage agency is the Opera.

Spy Agencies:

Most agencies are loyal nationally, however exceptions do exist.

• The Opera: Loyal to Zeamont.

• The Firm: Loyal to Cresset.

• The Choir: Loyal to Luz.

• The Theater: Fully independent of any national loyalty. Spies are offered contracts.

The Shrouded Hand:

A goon squad employed by the wealthy. Their main goal is spreading terror and there is constant bad blood between them and every other spy agency.

Terminology:

Every spy has a cryptonym—basically a code name. It's written in all caps. Like ‘RAMSES' or ‘RADIAN'.

A spy is known and referred to as ‘operant’. When a spy is let go, they are declared a ‘null entity’ and every entry containing them is redacted. Similarly, any spy lost in action or deceased  is declared ‘zeroed out.’

Normal words such as ‘fired’, or ‘deceased’ or ‘dead’ are not used by any of the agencies.

Operants are given ‘assignments’, deployed in a particular area for it. How they accomplish it is up to them. Their contacts in the area constitute a ‘network’. Compromising the ‘network’ is considered ‘assignment failure’. The members of a ‘network’ are called its ‘assets’.

The ‘91 Incident:

In the capital of Zeamont, Valery, in 2091, a strange incident happened. Ambassadors from the three nations were to meet for a new project for collaboration. But the meeting never happened. 

Instead, there were mass explosions with the ambassadors never being found. The Opera was hired for surveillance with the operant on the case being CASCADE. 

Her whole ‘network’ was compromised, and she was barely extracted out. All of her ‘assets’ were left behind. She lost her right arm as a result of the explosions.

Everyone from the Shrouded Hand to all the agencies are suspected, some even suggesting an inside job by the Opera. But the most suspicion has fallen on the Shrouded Hand.

The Situation / Bot Scenario:

Vinemere—is the point where the bot is set—a city-state near Zeamont has been granted independence recently. The delay occurred due to some border disputes or other similar bureaucratic reasons. The city is a powder keg with attention from all three nations plus Shrouded Hand being suspected already being there.