Commanding Officer Application - M4L4SS4S
What is your BYOND key?
M4L4SS4S
What is your Discord ID?
uponds
What is your timezone in UTC?
UTC-8
Player Name You Use Most?
Sampson ‘Ironfist’ Ponds
Ban Appeals, Whitelist and Staff Applications:
Mentor Application - M4L4SS4S Mentor, Denied
M4L4SS4S - Yautja Application Yautja, Accepted
Mentor Application - M4L4SS4S Mentor, Accepted
Have you been banned in the last 3 months?
N/A
If so, why?
N/A
Command Knowledge:
How familiar are you with command positions?
I am familiar and comfortable with all the available command positions on board the Almayer. I have served as XO both during high and low pop, which has given me experience running an operation during both times of the server. I can run an operation independently during low pop in CIC, knowing how to dial OB cords, send out squad supplies, and manage the available marines regardless of how high or low the numbers may be in any squad. I have dabbled as an SO to be the eyes for my squaddies and keep them from being horribly flanked by the Queen and even by backlines harassing the medics. I have enjoyed the pleasure of working with others directly groundside as a squad leader, knowing how and when to keep my squad together for a push or when to pull back to lick our wounds for a better attack later.
Altogether, I am confident and comfortable being able to be in a command position during a round, both on the ground directly in the action and topside, directing from the CIC bubble or the OW console.
Hours in XO:
112.7
Hours in SL:
81.1
Character Information:
Why did your character decide to become the CO of a ship?
Having been commissioned as an officer after serving as a sergeant, Sampson was adamant about being the change he wanted to see—that of officers not being stuck-up pansies cooked up hundreds of kilometers away from their men while shouting for suicidal charges but rather down in the dirt with all his brothers fighting the good fight. Sampson wants to change how the enlisted view officers and change the corps culture. What better way to do this than by modeling it on his own ship?
How did your character attain the position of CO?
Sampson was commissioned as a staff officer after serving for many years as a sergeant to begin pursuing his ideals of changing the officer corps’ attitude towards the enlisted. Sampson worked his way up the chain of command, eventually landing a slot as executive officer of a vessel under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Calhoun. Sometime later, Sampson would be transferred to another ship under the command of Major Dafoe as a part of a research operation. Following the successful operations with the aforementioned Command Officers, Sampson would be promoted upon recommendation to command a vessel of his own to properly enact and demonstrate the change he wants to be in the corp.
Provide a short story of your CO.
Command Actions:
When do you believe it’s appropriate to pardon a prisoner?
I would pardon a prisoner based on the following conditions:
- They are remorseful of their crime.
- Wanting to reform and return to their duties
- The crime is within my ability to pardon; hence, it is not above the severity of a major crime.
- The prisoner’s release will be a net positive for the operation overall.
As pardoning a prisoner causes me to be liable for their further actions if they are arrested again, I uphold my conditions to ensure that whoever I pardon is not likely to re-offend, leading to the operation being endangered by the person being arrested and potentially myself due to the offender.
Give some examples of when you would or would not use pardon.
1: During low pop hours, a researcher or doctor is arrested for DaSO. If he actively demonstrates that he wants to help with the wounded, isn’t giving (for what is most accessible to say) “bad vibes,” and is respectful during the process, then yes, I would pardon them so that they can contribute to the betterment of the operation. Because of how the doctor/researcher acted, I do not believe that he would re-offend, and if there is a pile of wounded climbing up, it would only make sense to me to release them to better the operation.
2: I am firmly against roles such as spec, smart gunner, or even medics abusing their limited slots. For example, a spec is arrested for assault, and they treat the arresting MPs disrespectfully, saying, “Obviously, the most important squad role will get a pardon!” Regardless of the spec they choose to opt into, even if it’s low pop hours. This player is likely to re-offend, leading to more issues down the line. I wouldn’t pardon them as they do not fit the criteria I uphold for myself.
3: An MT breaks in and steals Jones. During the ensuing chase by the MPs, they gib Jones. Once they’re arrested, they start demanding an appeal or pardon. (Jones’ remains have yet to be found.) Because the MT cannot be trusted in any capacity, I would deny their appeal and not even consider a pardon for them, as they have demonstrated that they’d rather spend their time breaking the law than contributing to the operation. After Jones’ remains are found, I would move to execute the MT for the murder following the execution procedure.
4: I awaken from cryo late into the operation. During this, the Bravo SL elects to mutiny the XO for XO’s incompetence. As the SL and his men are mutinying, I would order the arrest of all mutineers for sedition. Once in the brig, the SL asks for a pardon. They were cooperative and calmly explained the situation and why they were mutinying. While I am grateful for their cooperation, I wouldn’t pardon them, as the charges of sedition are a capital crime and far exceed my ability to pardon the SL and his men.
5: A cargo tech is forcing marines to sign paperwork for each item they receive in the req line during the initial 20 minutes of the operation. The CMP opted to arrest them for a case of subterfuge. Regardless of how the CT acts, I would not allow them an appeal. They were actively hindering the operation by wasting the crucial first 20 minutes of the round by forcing time-consuming RP onto others. Alternatively, I’d assign an MP or SO to handle Req while the cargo tech serves his time.
When do you believe it’s appropriate to use a Battlefield Execution?
It is appropriate for a CO to use BEs conservatively and within the context of the situation. As the BE is an option that can quickly take someone out of the round, I would use it sparingly when given the opportunity. I prefer RP out situations in which I can have the backup of the MPs and medical staff to ensure that all involved are kept relatively safe and can generate a story from the encounter. However, in situations where such luxuries cannot be had, I would opt to BE someone to eliminate dangerous personnel to the operation and other crew members.
Give some examples of when you would or would not use Battlefield Execution.
1: My first example where I would use a BE would be if another player is actively undermining my authority, leading to the marine force being wiped out. During the hijack, after the ground operation has been lost, the Marines have been evacuated and are treating their wounds and rearming. I’m in the CIC and order marines to hold in CIC to push back the oncoming Xenos. The CMP disagrees and announces they will have a lower engineering position after mine. I would warn the CMP not to misdirect the Marines and follow up with a clarifying announcement. However, the CMP continues to undermine me over the radio and tries to redirect the remaining personnel. Because of this, I would execute the CMP, as he is actively hindering the operation by splitting up the remainder of the crew, which would lead to Xenos picking off the crew during the hijack.
2: If a player is actively ignoring their duties and instead opts to enter restricted areas and grief, I would not go straight to executing them but instead choose to arrest them on the spot. My primary example of this would be if an MT spends their round breaking into the CO’s office, steals Jonesy, gibs the cat, and proceeds to break into the CIC and eat the meat in front of all the command staff. I would immediately order the arrest of the MT for NoD, Trespassing, Theft, and Animal Cruelty. Because the MT is not an active threat (even if he kills Jonesy, sadly), I wouldn’t go straight into executing him because even if the MT killed a bonded animal, I would like to RP the situation out by having the MPs arrest and process him. But if there are no MPs, then it’s a straight execution without any remorse.
3: I would BE a marine or DP if they launched the Alamo prematurely during evac after warning them not to. Say an SL runs to the cockpit as we prepare to evacuate; I yell over the radio and point at them. I ordered them NOT to launch yet as other marines still need to load in. But the SL hears the Queen’s screech in the distance and launches the Alamo, leaving behind marines to die at the claws of the besieging Xenos. Because the SL caused the needless deaths of other marines, reduced the marine population before hijack, and actively ignored a member of command, I would see it as necessary to execute them because what is stopping them from doing a similar thing again during the actual hijack as we’re holding the lifeboats.
4: I would BE a marine for active mag dumping into another marine while on the planet. We’re making first contact with a Yautja, and the Yautja becomes hostile and starts kidnapping marines; Marine 1 protests against the other marines and myself that the Yautja is friendly. A bit later, we’re fighting the Yautja, and Marine 1 is upset and proceeds to mag dump into Marine 2 and accidentally beheads them. I would yell at the marine, “What the hell are you doing!?” and as Marine 1 proceeded to open fire on Marine 3, I would BE them for the murder of a marine and attempting to murder another while on the planet engaging a hostile extraterrestrial.
5: For cases of a marine interrupting my briefing, it would vary whether or not to BE them. It comes down to different scenarios. For example, if a marine constantly hits the briefing bubble glass, I would order them to stop and sit down. If they continue, then I would smack them with a baton. Once the marine backs down, that is the end, and we will continue with the briefing. For another scenario, say I’m having a briefing in the hangar, and a marine keeps climbing up on the crane and bumping me off. I ordered them to sit with their respective squad, but the marine was persistent and even went as far as to remove the megaphone from my hand, which became an obvious distraction. I would chokehold this marine, table them, and throw them away from the cargo crane. This way, I can demonstrate to the Marines that they won’t push Command around in the operation. If the same marine or another continues interrupting the briefing, I would have MPs arrest them on disorderly conduct, as no more interruptions would be allowed. If I lack MPs, I would opt to BE the marine as they have been given enough opportunities to listen to the briefing.
