Ok, so is there any reason that a spy would have a cover job (legend?) that has absolutely nothing to do with spying? I know that some spies have jobs where they work at the embassy of the country they're in, and then get information back to their home country when it's needed. But is there any reason a spy would have a job that has NOTHING to do with intelligence?
The KGB used two types: its own officers, and agents recruited by them. Officers would again be divided into two types: legal and illegal. The "legal" officers would have diplomatic cover--attached to an embassy, etc., so that if they were discovered, they could only be expelled from the country, not arrested. They might also work for the UN.
Illegal officers were those without diplomatic cover. Preferred covers had to do with journalism or business, but any job could be used if it provided the necessary access to the people the spy was trying to recruit. Those people might include defense contract workers, scientists, politicians, or promising public figures. In general, an illegal officer would sound out promising contacts and then hand them over to an officer with "legal" cover, as the risks of arrest were considerable.
It doesn't have to be ultra-realistic and to-the-letter (the tone of the story is pretty fun and light) but I at least want it to be reasonable, believable, and something that could maaaybe happen in real life. (and it would be best if it is something that actually DOES happen in real life!)
For a list of covers and backstories used, you can Google the Russian spy ring (including the notorious Ms. Chapman) that was broken up last year. Do note however, that none of the operatives accomplished much from an espionage perspective, and that in some cases, they were quite careless of security.
(additionally, if there's anyone who can explain stuff about how spies are recruited to these sort of long-term assignments, where they live away from the home country for a long time and have jobs and lives there, I would really appreciate it.)
Where agents (people recruited and run by intelligence officers) were concerned, they would usually be operating "at home."
On the other hand, a typical officer of the KGB's First Directorate would be recruited fairly early in his career--for example, as he was finishing up university, he might be asked if he wanted to work for the State. If he said yes, it would be the beginning of a vetting process that included a stringent physical exam. He would then spend several years in the KGB's training school; and there would be a strong emphasis on foreign languages.
After completing KGB training, he might be kept to work at home, or posted to a job with diplomatic cover and allowed to take his wife, (though possibly not all of his children, who might live with relatives and attend school in Russia). Relatively few officers worked abroad as illegals, with or without their families.
thanks!
