Diffal succeeded the late Drefsab as Chief of Intelligence for the Race's Conquest Fleet on Tosev 3. He served in that position from the time of Drefsab's death until the Peace of Cairo and well beyond, even past the arrival of the Colonization Fleet. He was not as capable at the task as had been his predecessor; it was under Diffal's watch that Straha was able to defect to the United States, for example. He later personally admitted lacking Drefsab's ability to think, but did the best he could.