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I am writing a piece where multiple seemingly disparate (even juxtaposed, without a common mission) government organizations are combining their efforts in somewhat of an unpublicized task force. This collaboration is not necessarily classified or secret, but it doesn't become known until when they make their bombshell announcement.

In a rare ______ of inter-agency cooperation, ...

What is a good word to describe this sort of arrangement that doesn't have the negative connotation associated with collusion?

EDIT: I'm looking specifically to include the unpublicized/secret aspect. Also, I'm not tied to a noun answer per se, other parts of speech are welcome as well.

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    What was wrong with your own word - 'collaboration' ?
    – Nigel J
    Commented Mar 17, 2018 at 15:54
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    @NigelJ looking to include somewhat of the quasi secrecy idea.
    – Erich
    Commented Mar 17, 2018 at 15:56
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    @erich perhaps it's better replacing rare (maybe even rephrase the entire thing) with a word to include secrecy, perhaps: covert, secluded, e.g. in a secluded setting, there was a rare occurrence of inter-agency cooperation
    – JJJ
    Commented Mar 17, 2018 at 16:05
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    The duplicate answers do not, in my view, actually answer the OP.
    – Nigel J
    Commented Mar 17, 2018 at 16:24
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    In a rare behind-the-scenes act of inter-agency cooperation...
    – Jim
    Commented Mar 18, 2018 at 11:53

2 Answers 2

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conclave

A secret or confidential meeting.

As in:

In a rare conclave of inter-agency cooperation, ...

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  • This usually is perfectly fine, but watch out for some bad connotations in certain contexts, like WWII.
    – Mitch
    Commented Mar 17, 2018 at 16:21
  • @Mitch ... indeed!
    – lbf
    Commented Mar 17, 2018 at 16:22
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You might want to use furtive:

Attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble; secretive.2

For example:

a furtive occasion1 of inter-agency cooperation, something which doesn't happen often...

The furtive is added to include some sort of secrecy. Rare is removed to get the emphasis on furtive, the function of rare can be added after a comma, that way the emphasis is on the mild secrecy.

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  • see my edit - looking for the secrecy aspect, and doesn't have to be a noun.
    – Erich
    Commented Mar 17, 2018 at 17:28
  • @erich ... something like a conclave?
    – lbf
    Commented Mar 17, 2018 at 17:31
  • @erich updated my answer to include that
    – JJJ
    Commented Mar 18, 2018 at 6:17

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