History Main / TheInfiltration

* In ''Anime/GirlsUndPanzer'', Yukari sneaks onto the Sanders school ship disguised as a student to find out more about their strategy. She gets found out and chased out of the school, but the captain has a good sense of humor about it.

* Treated like SeriousBusiness, and PlayedForLaughs, in episode 3 of ''Manga/IsTheOrderARabbit'', after Chiya shows an advertisement flyer to the other girls of where Sharo works, and thinks it's a seedy place. They all attempt to peek in the cafe to see what kind of illegitimate business dealings go on in there...only for them to find out it's a regular tea cafe, and Sharo spots them peeking through the window immediately.

** ''Literature/TwoKindsOfTruth'': For the first time in his 40 years in law enforcement Harry. He makes himself out to be a homeless opioid addict, in order to get the goods on the Russian pill smugglers who killed the Esquivelas.

** Also, when Mariska Hargitay was on maternity leave, Benson's absence was explained by saying that she was infiltrating an eco-terrorist group. In the aptly-named episode "Infiltrated", which marked Hargitay's return to the show, we briefly see Benson in this role.

%%* And ''Series/NewYorkUndercover''.

** There was another episode in which Picard and Riker [[spoiler:pretended they were under the influence of an alien parasite]].

* ''Film/AScannerDarkly'': Bob Arctor is a cop undercover to investigate about the production of Substance D.

* ''[[Film/SkyHigh1922 Sky High]]'' is about a Border Patrol agent who infiltrates a human trafficking gang that smuggles Chinese immigrants over the border from Mexico.

* Vin and Marsh infiltrate [[AristocratsAreEvil the nobility]] and [[CorruptChurch Steel Ministry]] respectively in ''Literature/{{Mistborn}}'', Vin as a rural lord's niece and Marsh as an eager adult acolyte. Vin doesn't get caught, but things go badly for Marsh, whose flayed corpse is found in a safe house next to a letter explaining that [[TheDreaded the Inquisitors]] suspect him. [[spoiler:He didn't get caught, either. Turns out he [[GoneHorriblyRight impressed his superiors so much]] with his [[SupernaturalSensitivity Seeker abilities]] and general acumen that they [[WasOnceAMan turned him into an Inquisitor]]. They still don't suspect him, and he stays undercover long enough to kill all the Inquisitors in their sleep]].

* In the ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' episode "[[Recap/JusticeLeagueUnlimitedS2E4TaskForceX Task Force X]]", the titular protagonists must get "inside" a bad-guy organization (The Justice League WatchTower) and pass as mooks to steal a MacGuffin, only this episode is an inversion because this is a VillainEpisode, but given we are seeing things from the [[PerspectiveFlip villains' perspective]], and the Justice League acts invokes BewareTheSuperman, this trope seems played straight.

* In the ''VideoGame/{{Thief}}: The Dark Project'' mission "Undercover", Garrett infiltrates the Hammerites by passing as a novice. This is the only time he does this though, since the Hammerite church is far too well-defended for even him to sneak into normally. He also needs help from several inside men to pull it off, and once inside must be careful to not be caught doing something a Hammerite novice shouldn't be doing.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'', [[Recap/JusticeLeagueUnlimitedS2E4TaskForceX "Task Force X"]]: Our protagonists (the Task Force X, AKA the Comicbook/SuicideSquad) must get "inside" a bad-guy organization (The WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague WatchTower) and pass as mooks to steal a MacGuffin, only this episode is an inversion because this is a VillainEpisode, but given we are seeing things from the [[PerspectiveFlip villains' perspective]], and the Justice League acts invokes BewareTheSuperman, this trope seems played straight.

* In Creator/PoulAnderson and Creator/GordonRDickson's ''Literature/{{Hoka}}'' stories, Alex Jones inflitrates the Hoka {{Pirate}}s to prevent actual fighting from breaking out.

* A regular staple of ''Series/MissionImpossible'', usually by the team's MasterOfDisguise.

* On ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'', this is an apparent specialty of recurring character Dana Lewis.

* A regular staple of ''Series/{{Leverage}}'', usually by whomever is going to be the Grifter for the job in question.

This is not just when they have to disguise themselves [[DressingAsTheEnemy temporarily]], but spend significant time among the villains and the {{Mooks}} themselves and even take on a role in their organization. Spending so long among the enemy can cause a NotSoDifferentRemark or, in a more severe case, lead to BecomingTheMask. Another risk is if the agent somehow loses his link to the parent organization, in which case can they can end up TrappedUndercover.

The protagonist must get "inside" a bad-guy organization and pass as a bad guy to accomplish a goal. Sometimes it's the other way around, where the bad-guy poses as a good guy.

This is not just when they have to disguise themselves [[DressingAsTheEnemy temporarily]], but spend time among the villains and the {{Mooks}} themselves. Spending so long can cause a NotSoDifferentRemark or, in a more severe case, lead to BecomingTheMask. Another risk is if the agent somehow loses his link to the parent organization, in which case can they can end up TrappedUndercover.

Contrast TheMole, where, as noted above, a bad guy is posing as a good guy. See also DressingAsTheEnemy. Sometimes involves becoming a FakeDefector. One subtrope is ImpersonationGambit, where the hero steals the identity of a real person the bad guys have never seen. FlockOfWolves is a comedy trope where everyone else turns out to be "infiltrators" as well. SuperTrope of BlackTieInfiltration, where the infiltration is done at a party or other social event. If this happens on a smaller scale, compare DeliveryGuyInfiltration, SurpriseInspectionRuse and/or JanitorImpersonationInfiltration. Police infiltration doesn't tend to get far if the bad guys CanAlwaysSpotACop, however. For large-scale infiltrations, where the good or bad guys have people infiltrated everywhere (or just in strategic locations, but the point is that you don't know who is and who isn't an agent), see WeAreEverywhere.

* ''Film/{{Serenity}}'' has Simon Tam infiltrating an Alliance-operated hospital to free little sister River from continued SuperSoldier experimentation and MindRape.

* In ''Comicbook/{{Invasion}}'' the Durlans use their shapeshifting abilities to mimic people in various teams and agencies in preparation for the coming invasion.

Contrast TheMole, where, as noted above, a bad guy is posing as a good guy. See also DressingAsTheEnemy. Sometimes involves becoming a FakeDefector. One subtrope is ImpersonationGambit, where the hero steals the identity of a real person the bad guys have never seen. FlockOfWolves is a comedy trope where everyone else turns out to be "infiltrators" as well. SuperTrope of BlackTieInfiltration, where the infiltration is done at a party or other social event. If this happens on a smaller scale, compare DeliveryGuyInfiltration and/or a JanitorImpersonationInfiltration. Police infiltration doesn't tend to get far if the bad guys CanAlwaysSpotACop, however. For large-scale infiltrations, where the good or bad guys have people infiltrated everywhere (or just in strategic locations, but the point is that you don't know who is and who isn't an agent), see WeAreEverywhere.

->''"Because, after all is said and done, an infiltrade must make an investigation on his own conscience.''

* ''Film/{{Alibi|1929}}'' features an undercover cop who assumes the identity of an alcoholic stockbroker and gains entry into the inner circle of a gangster ring.

* Brubaker's ''ComicBook/{{Sleeper}}'' is one of these with the added twist of his handler falling into a coma and leaving him trapped behind enemy lines with no one to report to.

* In ''Manga/CaseClosed'', many members of the Black Organization are revealed to be undercover agents sent by various police and intelligence agencies trying to destroy the organization from the inside. [[spoiler We also have Rena Mizunashi (code name Kir, real name Hidemi Hondou), who is with the CIA. Then there is Tooru Amuro (code name Bourbon, real name Rei Furuya), who is from the Japanese secret police]].

* This is the basic plot of the ''Manga/PsychicSquad'' SpinOff, ''Anime/UnlimitedPsychicSquad''. [[spoiler:Andy is an agent of an American Esper Intelligence organization sent to infiltrate the Esper terrorist group PANDRA.]] Comes complete with NotSoDifferentRemark and hints of BecomingTheMask.

* In ''Manga/CaseClosed'', this occurs three times within the Black Organisation. First is Rena Mizunashi [[spoiler: aka Hidemi Hondou aka Kir who is with the CIA]]. Second is Shuichi Akai [[spoiler: aka Rye who is an undercover FBI agent]]. Third is Tooru Amuro [[spoiler: aka Bourbon aka Rei Furuya who is from the Japanese secret police]].

* ''ComicBook/XMen'' comics: Cyclops goes undercover as Eric the Red, redirecting his EyeBeams to appear that he has [[FamilyFriendlyFirearms energy weapons]] in his armor's hands. (Both the Eric the Red and Red X identities were used later by actual villains, and the identities are now associated with them, not the original disguised heroes.)
* This was The ''ComicBook/UnknownSoldier's'' whole career. Impersonate someone, get inside the target area, terminate the target (officer, secret weapon, intelligence gatherer, Etc). Sometimes he could get the target's protectors to terminate the target for him.
* Brubaker's ''ComicBook/{{Sleeper}}'' is one of these with the added twist of his handler falling into a coma and leaving him trapped behind enemy lines with no one to report to.
* ''ComicBook/MortadeloYFilemon'': "Objetivo: Eliminar al Rana" and "El Tirano".

* In ''Fanfic/FadedBlue'', Greg moved to Beach City to spy covertly on the "bad guys" - the Crystal Gems - made all the easier when Rose Quartz develops a crush on him. Only Greg starts realizing that for supposedly violent, evil warriors, they're quite likable and protective.
* In the ''Temeraire'' fanfic ''Fanfic/BlackWingsBlackSails'', when Laurence takes the crew of the ''Allegiance'' prisoner at the behest of the Tswana and presents the prisoners' options- prisoners of the Tswana to be used for an undecided fate, or a year of service in Laurence's pirate crew -Granby takes the latter option, hoping that he'll have an opportunity to get aboard Laurence's flagship and free Dayes from confinement. It's unclear if Laurence is aware of this possibility, but nonetheless, it doesn't seem to be working out for Granby, as he winds up holystoning the deck on a different ship and accompanying Laurence into Capetown for supplies.

* ''Film/{{Serenity}}'' has Simon Tam infiltrating an Alliance-operated hospital to free little sister River from continued SuperSoldier experimentation and MindRape.
* ''Film/InfernalAffairs'', played by Tony Leung Chiu-Wai.
* ''Film/ReservoirDogs'' has the main characters trying to figure out which one of them is an undercover cop. Sure they can figure it out, if the right guy lends them an ear.
* ''Film/WhiteHeat'' has an undercover agent posing as a prison inmate and subsequently joining Cody Jarrett's gang.

* Also TruthInTelevision: ''Film/TheInfiltrator'', about a US Customs agent who wormed his way into the Escobar drug cartel to help take it down.

* ''[[Film/SkyHigh1922 Sky High]]'' is about a Border Patrol agent who infiltrates a human trafficking gang that smuggles Chinese immigrants over the border from Mexico.
* ''Film/TheConspiracy'': Characters infiltrate an ancient secret society.

* ''Film/{{Alibi|1929}}'' features an undercover cop who assumes the identity of an alcoholic stockbroker and gains entry into the inner circle of a gangster ring.

* In Creator/PoulAnderson and Creator/GordonRDickson's ''Literature/{{Hoka}}'' stories, Alex Jones inflitrates the Hoka {{Pirate}}s to prevent actual fighting from breaking out.

* On ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'', this is an apparent specialty of recurring character Dana Lewis.
** Also, when Mariska Hargitay was on maternity leave, Benson's absence was explained by saying that she was infiltrating an eco-terrorist group. In the aptly-named episode "Infiltrated", which marked Hargitay's return to the show, we briefly see Benson in this role.

* In ''VideoGame/SleepingDogs'', Wei Shen is an undercover cop trying to take down the Sun On Yee Triads in Hong Kong.
* The ''modus operandi'' of the ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' series.

* This is whole premise of ''VideoGame/SplinterCell: Double Agent''.

* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', in order to recruit "Archangel" for their mission, Shepard has to first pose as a freelance mercenary, joining the other mooks-for-hire hired by the three major mercenary groups on Omega, hellbent on taking Archangel out. After taking a moment to subtly sabotage the mercenaries efforts and equipment, Shepard heads across the bridge to Archangel's compound, before immediately turning around and begin taking out their former "allies".
* In ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'', the Imperial Agent does this on multiple occasions, [[spoiler: for an entire chapter at one point.]]
** Infiltration becomes the endgame goal of most light-sided Imperial characters in one form or another, with Sith Warriors/Inquisitors wanting to reform the Empire from within, Imperial Agents [[spoiler: erasing their identity with the Black Codex so they can help the Empire without having to worry about Sith infighting]], and Bounty Hunters [[spoiler:defecting from the Empire completely and becoming Republic moles.]]

* In ''Franchise/StarWars'' game ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' the PlayerCharacter, looking for a MacGuffin, has to infiltrate a [[spoiler:Sith Academy, posing as being interested in becoming a student.]]

* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', when Aerith([[SpellMyNameWithAnS s]]) was kidnapped by Shinra Corp, Cloud, Barrett, and Tifa all try to do this in order to save her from Shinra.
* {{Subverted|Trope}} in ''[[VideoGame/HenryStickminSeries Infiltrating the Airship]]''; while the title implies the main character, Henry Stickmin, is going to infiltrate an aircraft owned by an evil organization named the "Toppat Clan", he does not go undercover as a Toppat member in the actual game, and the one time he ''is'' mistaken for a member of the Toppat Clan, he ends up [[GameOver leaving in an escape pod]].

* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/InspectorGadget'' featured this, appropriately titled '''The Infiltration''', with M.A.D. MasterOfDisguise Presto Change-O impersonating Inspector Gadget to sneak into a top secret worldwide police conference in London. The viewing audience can tell the phony Gadget from his stereotypical bad English teeth and crazed eyes, [[SpotTheImpostor while the rest of the cast initially can't,]] until the real Gadget accidentally bonks Chief Quimby with his Gadget Mallet.

* In the third episode of ''WesternAnimation/TaleSpin'''s pilot series, ''Plunder & Lightning'', [[HeartwarmingOrphan Kit Cloudkicker]] [[spoiler: pretends to betray Baloo, Molly and Rebecca in the Iron Vulture to his former mentor Don Karnage, to allow them to escape. The fake deception is so convincing and surprising that Baloo believes himself betrayed, and angrily leaves Higher For Hire with the [=SeaDuck=] to Louie's to party his cares away, until he hears Kit desperately radio for help in the fourth episode.]]
* In the episode "Kennel Kittens Return" of ''WesternAnimation/PoundPuppies2010'', Squirt "volunteers" to be [[PaperThinDisguise disguised as a cat]] to retrieve the team's stolen invention from the rival cat organization.
* Elisa does this a couple times in ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'', both times involving uncovering operations by mobster Tony Dracon.
* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'', [[Recap/JusticeLeagueUnlimitedS2E4TaskForceX "Task Force X"]]: Our protagonists (the Task Force X, AKA the Comicbook/SuicideSquad) must get "inside" a bad-guy organization (The WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague WatchTower) and pass as mooks to steal a MacGuffin, only this episode is an inversion because this is a VillainEpisode, but given we are seeing things from the [[PerspectiveFlip villains' perspective]], and the Justice League acts invokes BewareTheSuperman, this trope seems played straight.
-->'''Colonel Flagg:''' ''This tower is so big and has so much staff in it no ones is going to notice us... [[TemptingFate unless one of you do something stupid]].''

* In ''Manga/DetectiveConan'', this occurs three times within the Black Organisation. First is Rena Mizunashi [[spoiler: aka Hidemi Hondou aka Kir who is with the CIA]]. Second is Shuichi Akai [[spoiler: aka Rye who is an undercover FBI agent]]. Third is Tooru Amuro [[spoiler: aka Bourbon aka Rei Furuya who is from the Japanese secret police]].

Contrast TheMole, where, as noted above, a bad guy is posing as a good guy. See also DressingAsTheEnemy. Sometimes involves becoming a FakeDefector. One subtrope is ImpersonationGambit, where the hero steals the identity of a real person the bad guys have never seen. FlockOfWolves is a comedy trope where everyone else turns out to be "infiltrators" as well. SuperTrope of BlackTieInfiltration, where the infiltration is done at a party or other social event. If this happens on a smaller scale, compare DeliveryGuyInfiltration and/or a JanitorImpersonationInfiltration. Police infiltration doesn't tend to get far if the bad guys CanAlwaysSpotACop, however.

* ''Film/DungeonsAndDragonsTheBookOfVileDarkness'', a TV Movie sequel to the Film/DungeonsAndDragons films centers around TheHero infiltrating group of villains in order to rescue his father.

This is not just when they have to disguise themselves [[DressingAsTheEnemy temporarily]], but spend time among the villains and the {{Mooks}} themselves. Spending so long can cause a NotSoDifferent moment or, in a more severe case, lead to BecomingTheMask. Another risk is if the agent somehow loses his link to the parent organization, in which case can they can end up TrappedUndercover.

* This is the basic plot of the ''Manga/PsychicSquad'' SpinOff, ''Anime/UnlimitedPsychicSquad''. [[spoiler:Andy is an agent of an American Esper Intelligence organization sent to infiltrate the Esper terrorist group PANDRA.]] Comes complete with NotSoDifferent and hints of BecomingTheMask.

* This is the basic plot of the ''Manga/ZettaiKarenChildren'' SpinOff, ''Anime/UnlimitedPsychicSquad''. [[spoiler:Andy is an agent of an American Esper Intelligence organization sent to infiltrate the Esper terrorist group PANDRA.]] Comes complete with NotSoDifferent and hints of BecomingTheMask.

* In ''FanFic/FadedBlue'', Greg moved to Beach City to spy covertly on the "bad guys" - the Crystal Gems - made all the easier when Rose Quartz develops a crush on him. Only Greg starts realizing that for supposedly violent, evil warriors, they're quite likable and protective.

* This is the basic plot of the ''Manga/ZettaiKarenChildren'' SpinOff, ''Anime/[[Anime/UnlimitedPsychicSquad''. [[spoiler:Andy is an agent of an American Esper Intelligence organization sent to infiltrate the Esper terrorist group PANDRA.]] Comes complete with NotSoDifferent and hints of BecomingTheMask.

* This is the basic plot of the ''Manga/ZettaiKarenChildren'' SpinOff, ''Anime/TheUnlimitedHyoubuKyousuke''. [[spoiler:Andy is an agent of an American Esper Intelligence organization sent to infiltrate the Esper terrorist group PANDRA.]] Comes complete with NotSoDifferent and hints of BecomingTheMask.

Contrast TheMole, where, as noted above, a bad guy is posing as a good guy. See also DressingAsTheEnemy. Sometimes involves becoming a FakeDefector. One subtrope is ImpersonationGambit, where the hero steals the identity of a real person the bad guys have never seen. FlockOfWolves is a comedy trope where everyone else turns out to be "infiltrators" as well. SuperTrope of BlackTieInfiltration, where the infiltration is done at a party or other social event. If this happens on a smaller scale, compare DeliveryGuyInfiltration and / or a JanitorImpersonationInfiltration.