Commanding Officer Application - AgentTine
What is your BYOND key?
AgentTine
What is your Discord ID?
agenttine
What is your timezone in UTC?
UTC-5
Player Name You Use Most?
Jakob ‘Fumble’ Fleming
Ban Appeals, Whitelist and Staff Applications:
None.
Have you been banned in the last 3 months?
No
If so, why?
N/A
Command Knowledge:
How familiar are you with command positions?
Very familiar with marine-facing, ground-side oriented leadership positions - I have an extensive background of Squad Leader, particularly in Alpha. I have spent that time attempting to improve upon my groundside-CIC communication skills, as well as maintaining squad-wide cohesion under the overwatch as CIC. I think there is still room for me to improve upon here, however, I believe what I have developed thus far on SL is sufficient.
I also have played XO quite a lot in recent weeks, and have gotten a good feel for running the operation, both independently as the Duty Officer and under the careful eye of the CO. I have learned what it means to take charge of the operation, and have a good feel for operating with a wide variety of information, from a limited, helmet-camera only perspective to listening to a fully packed comms channel and several SOs informing me of the operation groundside. I believe I have a lot more room for growth in my capabilities here, but I have already learnt a lot thus far.
An important quality I developed during my time as SL, is trying to build rapport with those around me. I try to speak to people where I can, and learn their names, to talk to them again in future rounds. I think it’s an important quality for a CO to have, and necessary for them to be a functioning, well-integrated part of the community.
I am still a new player and consider myself as such, having started playing about a month ago. However, something I have prioritized during my stay here has been improvement, trying to learn from my mistakes and get slightly better every round. I have made many, many visible mistakes during my time here, but I have sought to move past them and stay kind and understanding, asking around to figure out what went wrong.
No matter what the outcome of my CO application is, I wish to use the feedback I have gained to improve upon in the future.
Hours in XO:
36.9
Hours in SL:
68.7
Character Information:
Why did your character decide to become the CO of a ship?
Fleming, (aged by around ten to fifteen years compared to his current appearance ingame), always felt drawn to leading his fellow man, and guiding him along. He joined the Colonial Marines after a brief stint in a local militia, outside official purview. Fleming grew to love the men who served under him and wanted to foster their individual personal growth.
Following an incident with his commanding officers, he saw many flaws within himself, and sought to improve himself. Fleming would study like never before, securing some leave to do so. With time spent away from the battlefield, Fleming began to mature, and with a commission in hand, would seek to climb higher and higher - all to improve the corps that he was fond of.
How did your character attain the position of CO?
During his youth, his recklessness was mistaken as bravery, and he earned many promotions, prevailing through harsh circumstances by grit and sheer luck alone.
Eventually, Fleming wanted to see things “from up above” and went to college for a commission. It was out of character for him, and very difficult because of that, but his hard work and prior accomplishments earned him considerable recognition from above.
With the passing of time and due dilligence, what was once a foolhardy yet well-intentioned Sergeant, became a composed and competent commander.
Provide a short story of your CO.
Command Actions:
When do you believe it’s appropriate to pardon a prisoner?
Pardons are a strong tool in the kit of CO’s, given to them via the trust placed in them by the WL, much like the BE. However, they are a tool with limits, and thus have a unique place in the CO toolkit.
If misused and used too frequently, pardons would become stale, and detrimental - overruling the MPs and their authority unnecessarily for self-perceived gameplay gains or whatnot, contributing to a lower quality round and worse roleplay.
In pardoning someone, the magnitude of the crime would be a consideration. Capital crimes are completely out, and so are most minor ones, given that these minor crimes have a limited sentence and are already executed upon at MP discretion. Most minor crimes, anyway, can effectively be “pardoned” with NJPs, to which MPs have full discretion over.
For these major crimes - intent and roleplay is most important.
Give some examples of when you would or would not use pardon.
Would NOT pardon:
Briefing occurs, and marines begin to load onto the Alamo. As this happens, the scout announces on the radio that they intend to break into CIC. They are caught outside, and attempt to cloak out, but fails. This spec is then told by MPs to stop fooling around, and to drop with the other marines. They do not do so, and are promptly arrested. They then ask for a pardon, so that they may make the next drop.
Fleming would NOT pardon this spec, as although they have a valuable role on the battlefield, they have wildly misused their own capabilities in a way that was actively disruptive to the marine corps as a whole. Not only that, but they refused to “shape up”, when given the opportunity to do so. They missed the first drop on the basis of their own actions, not because because MPs had mistreated them. Shenanigans are tolerated to a certain extent, but this action was both blatant, and constitutes Neglect of Duty. It was actively disruptive to the round and marines onboard the ship.
Would NOT pardon:
A Staff Officer is smoking in Medbay before briefing, and asked by an MP to stop. They refuse, and insult the MP for it. They are then arrested. This SO is highly talented, and would likely prove themselves as a good asset to CIC.
This is a case of a Minor Crime, which Fleming would not seek a pardon for. Although the SO would be very helpful, I am capable of operating without them, and the SO had a very easy way out - by simply complying with Marine Law and showcasing their respect for it as a commissioned officer. Not only that, but they disrespected the authority of the very same MPs to which we all rely on for ship justice and security. It is conduct unbefitting of an officer, to whom the marines look up to, and so Fleming would NOT pardon.
WOULD pardon:
A PVT, waking up later in the operation from cryosleep, is being led by a more experienced marine, when he suddenly sees an MP. Noticing the red symbol next to them, he opens fire in a panicked manner, and nearly kills them. However, he stops after his partner tells him to. He is then arrested, submits peacefully, and charged with attempted murder.
This is a capital crime, to which I do not ordinarily have the authority to pardon alone, according to Marine Law. However, friendly fire mistakes like these happen all the time to new players, especially ones unaccustomed to CM-SS13, where HvH combat is not the priority, and symbols next to names might indicate enemies of some kind.
Fleming would send a fax to High Command, explaining the situation at hand, and request a pardon on their behalf. This is a special case, where there was no malicious intent involved, and leniency should be granted to a vulnerable and new member of our community. Executing them or keeping them in the brig for the remainder of the round helps no one and only sours this new player’s opinion on us.
When do you believe it’s appropriate to use a Battlefield Execution?
Battlefield Executions have many of the same qualifiers as pardons - permitted only because of the trust granted by the community and admins into them, and with only a handful of permissable cases.
In this case, while pardons are used to allow a player to play the rest of the round unhindered, BEs are meant to do the opposite - prevent the further play thereof. I would seek to be cautious yet decisive with my BEs - using them only when there is a direct threat to my life or others, but also when there are indirect threats due to the rippling of consequences (i.e, in order to prevent operational failure or disruption thereof), that MPs are presently incapable of handling. I would refrain from their use otherwise should they be available and in the area, and allow them to handle the matter instead.
Give some examples of when you would or would not use Battlefield Execution.
Would BE:
A MT is running around the ship, causing extreme mayham. They are screwdrivering doors everywhere, from CIC to Medbay, and occasionally hacking them in order to shock marines. Several marines nearly perma or burst in Medbay as a result - unable to enter Medbay - and the MPs are all tied up chasing this dangerous man. Eventually, he pops up in CIC once again.
Although Fleming would prefer instead for this man to be arrested alive, he is clearly causing significant disruption onboard the Almayer and his malicious intent is causing harm to others.
Thus, I would BE him on the spot, to end the wild goose chase ASAP, and send an ahelp about it, as this marine is certainly breaking server rules by causing grief. Fleming can NOT in good conscience allow this buffoonery to continue.
Would BE:
I am deployed groundside, with a RTO pack, and leading the marines to perform a flank. A FTL sees me, and starts attempting to call me, despite me being nearby. I pick up, unsure why he is doing this, and he he shouts “Nuts!”, before hanging up. He calls several more times, distracting me from my duties. Each time after the first, I order him to cease.
Although perhaps a Minor Crime in other circumstances, this level of annoyance when directly fighting groundside elevates the crime to Disorderly Conduct. Other people might need to reach me, and hearing a phone ringing constantly while watching out for Queen footsteps & paying attention to the radio is active sabotage to the operation. This FTL could be doing anything else with his RTO at the frontline, but is instead attempting to be funny.
I would BE this marine upon the fourth or fifth time he does this, as there are no MPs available on the scene, and they are not permitted by SOP to deploy directly to the frontline to perform an arrest. He is also actively undermining my authority as CO by refusing an easy-to-follow and sensible order.
Some level of shenanigans is, once again, to be expected and can be tolerated, but there is a time and place for it, and at some point, it needs to cease. Fleming would feel it necessary to end this nonsense as swiftly as possible, and to re-assert his authority amongst the men as the Commanding Officer.
Would NOT BE:
Briefing has just ended, and marines are preparing to drop on the Alamo to the LZ. Suddenly a marine throws several grenades into the ship, killing several and delaying the drop by a considerable amount of time. MPs are already on the scene and arrest him before he causes further harm or is killed by fellow marines. He later professes that it was “for fun”.
Although this marine actively killed many of his fellow marines, his apprehension was swift, and the situation was under the control of the MPs. An execution might perhaps be scheduled at a later date - dependent on my own authorisation according to Marine Law - however, to execute them extra-judicially would be a contravening of proper authority and justice, in Fleming’s view.
The situation does not need further intervention, nor does Fleming need to insert himself in as a defender of the law - that’s what the MPs, CMP, and Warden roles are for. Let this marine undergo process by the onboard justice system in a proper manner. It aids shipside roleplay in this way.
