Private
The entire thing was. They were deep within SHIELD all along and then came out with the supposed death of Director Fury. But I learned a lot from their science department even though everything was compartmentalised so you never could quite tell what they were working towards.
That's what it does seem to be, yes. But if I ever get that world in the dreams, I will remember that.
Yes, it is. It wasn't completely in the know. We're working with the ATCU, but Hive's plans? Not as known.