Commanding Officer Application - Mensla
What is your BYOND key?
Mensla
What is your Discord ID?
Mensla
What is your timezone in UTC?
UTC-05
Player Name You Use Most?
Mark Levine, Dausen Redford (XO, SO, SL), Hikari Iwamoto (CL)
Ban Appeals, Whitelist and Staff Applications:
Have you been banned in the last 3 months?
No
If so, why?
N/A
Command Knowledge:
How familiar are you with command positions?
I am very familiar all command positions. I’ve played a lot as XO, and SL, more recently focused on XO, and I’m intimately familiar with how commanding the operations goes. I’m more familiar with ship-side then ground-side. The only command role I’m not familiar with is QM but I’m quite familiar with requisitions as a department. I believe one thing command should do is prioritize the fun over the people versus the outcome of the operation. Winning a one hour siege MIGHT be possible, however, it would come at the cost of people’s sanity. Losing is fun and who cares about a win/loss ratio anyways.
Hours in XO:
99 hours
Hours in SL:
66 hours
Character Information:
Why did your character decide to become the CO of a ship?
Dausen was not content living in the isolated Weyland-Yutani colony with his family - he desired more and demanded even more from himself. Living in such a way for the rest of his life was unacceptable, and so he attended the University of Randlo. Here he majored in computer engineering with an associates in mathematics. After finishing his degree and having only held menial service and retail jobs, he gave himself pause to decide his course.
For almost his entire life, he’d seen the stars. The remoteness of the colony provided him many nights of star-gazing and occasionally a change to watch the cargo-freighters and pleasure vessels of the colony’s overseers. Life on the ground would not suit him. His decision made, he applied for officer training school and after successfully passing, he joined the U.S.C.M. as an O-1.
How did your character attain the position of CO?
Upon passing the officer training school, he was tasked with assisting the management of the U.S.S. Appomattox’s defense systems, owing to his background in computer systems. A few years elapsed and after applying and passing the test for First Lieutenant, he was made a staff officer aboard the U.S.S. Appomattox. During a patrol along the U.S.S. Appomattox’s route, it encountered a sizeable guerilla ship force and while it left the engagement victorious, it was in need of consequential repairs that were slated to last a few years. Dausen put bids in for numerous other postings and was eventually selected to serve aboard the U.S.S. Chantilly.
Aboard the U.S.S. Chantilly, he was approached by Weyland-Yutani representatives. They, having heard of his time aboard one of their colonies, saw him as someone sympathetic to their interests. In exchange for them putting in a good word for his promotion to Captain, they requested that he would look favorably upon them in future military excursions. Dausen had no qualms with this; having already been present in a Company colony, he was well accustomed to them. He eventually gained the position of Captain due to a favorable review from a promotion board and the current Captain’s unexpected transfer.
Throughout his tenure as Captain, he made sure to keep Weyland-Yutani a priority. He advised the Chantilly’s Major to take alternatives routes so as to not harm Company holding, and would also give more attention to Company personnel who boarded and be more open to hear their plans. He also assisted in a few of their advertisement campaigns, which showed him as an intelligent military man who really knew which Company products were the best for his men. Wanted to know what to smoke? Go with Balaji Imperial refined taste. Wanted the latest in bodily augmentation? Weyland BioSolutions was the choice for you.
Eventually, the Chantilly’s Major, who’s age was beginning to cause problems, eventually faced the dilemma of “up-or-out”, and when his promotion board did not review him favorably, he was shown the door. Dausen immediately jumped on the opportunity and applied for the position. With the good graces of both the U.S.C.M. and Weyland-Yutani and thanks to not only his driven purpose and ambition, but to his contacts at corporate, he was made Major of the U.S.S. Chantilly.
Although he was not a man of innovative stratagem or extreme brilliance, but a man luck, connections, and relentless determination for more.
Provide a short story of your CO.
Command Actions:
When do you believe it’s appropriate to pardon a prisoner?
I believe pardoning a prisoner should be based on two factors:
- Are they remorseful
- What was their behavior before, during, and after the arrest
The mission criticality of a person will have no bearing on my choice, unless it is absolutely necessary and all other alternatives have been exhausted (an example being the only doctor aboard). An Executive Officer who is spiteful towards the MP during his plea for a pardon is an Executive Officer I can not trust. What’s to say he won’t cause issues for MPs in the future?
If I’m sticking my neck out for someone, I want it to be someone I know won’t make me regret it.
Give some examples of when you would or would not use pardon.
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The marines are having a boxing match in the gym before briefing. An MP goes to break up the spar before briefing occurs, and while attempting to do so, receives a few hits from a marine. The MP attempts to arrest them but the marine who threw the punch is evading them and running off. Dausen is called for an appeal and when in the brig, the marine calmly explains the situation to Dausen and states his case as to why the assault and RA charges should be dropped. The marine pleads, saying that he did not mean to swing on the MP as he was in the middle of a spar and was running away because he believed the arrest to be unjust. While Dausen sympathized with the marine’s accident, he would not pardon them as they resisted arrest. He would inform that if they had not resisted arrest and had peacefully gone to the brig, he would’ve pardoned them as they were calm and cordial and their intent was not to cause harm.
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Dausen is leading the operation when he is informed of green XX-121 having been manufactured aboard his vessel without his knowledge or permission. After the hive is put down and the researchers detained, he is called into the brig to handle the appeal of one of the researchers. The chief medical officer had been arrested for sedition and the entire department had been charged with subterfuge for assisting the chief medical officer. The research is angry saying while yes he knew about it, he didn’t work on it at all and he was just focused on creating stimulants. Dausen moves to question the chief medical officer, asking whether or not the researcher knew it was illegal. The chief medical officer states that yes, they all knew, and that he had told them to keep it a secret, to which they all agreed. Dausen returns to the researcher and upon announcing his findings, the researcher becomes angry, cursing the chief medical officer, calling him a liar, and in general being a great nuisance to the ears. Dausen would not pardon this research as while he did not participate in causing the threat, he actively deceived command by not alerting Dausen to the hive. The researcher’s attitude was also unacceptable and the researcher is prone to re offending given the fact they have already lied.
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Dausen is off sipping tea with the on-board liaison discussing Weyland-Yutani related manners when he hears over the radio that a marine is being arrested for major DTGP and disorderly conduct. As Dausen enters the brig, the MP informs him that they arrested the marine for throwing a hand grenade in the firing range. The MP argues that although marines are allowed to shoot there, they shouldn’t be throwing grenades as the firing range is not meant for such purposes, and they’re causing a huge scene on the ship, making people think there’s a terrorist. The marine is apologetic, saying he just wanted to see how large an HEDP’s explosion was for future reference. Dausen would pardon them as their intentions were merely to inform themselves and not to cause harm. Dausen believes that no one should be punished for attempting to learn the game’s mechanics in an appropriate manner.
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The dropship pilot is being mobbed at the cockpit door for evacuating too early and when he steps out, he starts getting punches thrown at him, along with knives and other objects being used. He draws his pistol and starts firing at the group of marines. A few MP who happened to be outside the Alamo assisting with unloading, rush in to break up the scene using disablers and pepper spray. Dausen, having issued the order to evacuation via telephone, would issue a pardon and/or arrest cancellation. If he was able to make it to the scene before the dropship pilot was in the brig, he would order an AC. If not and I was too late, Dausen would issue a pardon for the crimes of AWDW and FTFP. While certain legal experts could argue that the presence of MPs negates any need for the person to act in self-defense, Dausen vehemently disagree as the dropship pilot would be fearing for his life and acted out this fear.
When do you believe it’s appropriate to use a Battlefield Execution?
I believe a battlefield execution should be used if my command is being usurped, a legitimate threat that has no quick, peaceful alternatives is at hand, or LRP behavior. A lone marine shouting “Mutiny command!” outside the CIC reception can be handled by officers and does not require the intervention of the Mateba. Round-ending people should be for the benefit of the round, not a tool to air your personal grievances with someone.
Give some examples of when you would or would not use Battlefield Execution.
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Dausen is deployed with two of the finest picks from the shipside MP department to serve as his personal honor guard. In the fray of battle, one of his guards is quickly lunged and thrown into the darkness by an XX-121 warrior. In the course of the push onwards, Dausen and the other marines present manage to reach the front, along with the Charlie squad lead. Suddenly, the Charlie squad lead starts yelling over his squad channel and in-person to not revive the honor guard because they’re, “Fucking shitters who arrested one of us for no reason.” Redford almost suffers an aneurysm upon hearing this; such contempt for the dead will not be tolerated - nor will he stand for anyone attempting to deny the privilege and glory of life to an innocent. Dausen acts quickly, overruling the squad lead, both in-person and over the Charlie squad channel. The Charlie squad lead, whether in hubris or merely to spite Dausen, replied with, “Yeah fuck you CO, MP are griefers.” Dausen would immediately run over and execute the squad lead for this act of not only defiance but for wanton disregard of another person’s well-being.
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After the gunfire has ceased, Dausen would look around the command room to find the dead body of the lone ship-side MP officer, the mess technician, and numerous CLF insurgents. Redford, having escaped most of the gun-fight due to the protection afforded by his command bubble, would step out to survey the situation. In a normal, fully-staffed Almayer with numerous MP officers, Redford would not do what he was about to do. Unfortunately, Dausen had been given this task - to succeed with less than standard. These were not innocents, they were terrorists who attempt to seize command and had they successfully done so, would’ve damned dozens of souls on the ground, leaving them to be torn apart by the XX-121. After having announced the CLF presence aboard the Almayer and requesting medical personnel to his location, he would execute every member of the CLF. He could not afford the risk of the CLF possibly overwhelming the lone officer.
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Dausen is speaking with the on-board Weyland-Yutani liaison in regards to the XX-121 presence they’ve discovered ground-side. Without prompt, the liaison opens his office shutters and reveals a hidden containment cell within his office. Dausen, whose eyes are now wide in shock, immediately questions the meaning of this. The liaison calmly replies, “Well, you know best Mr. Redford, Weyland-Yutani is always looking for live samples,” Dausen knows how dangerous things have gotten, yet knows this is a delicate situation and wishes to resolve it in a calm and clean manner. He moves away from liaison and radios the ship-side MP to immediately make their way to the liaison’s office and arrest him for the crime of sedition, and to bring weapons to put down the XX-121 hive before it becomes a greater threat. Dausen, while most certainly having the option to remove half of the liaison’s skull with a quick shot to the skull, decides against this. The liaison is clearly not attempting to release the XX-121 hive and while he had committed the crime of sedition, he could be dealt with in the legal system. However, should the situation devolve into the liaison threatening to release the XX-121 hive before any MP officers could arrive, Dausen would brandish his weapon and warn the liaison that doing such would result in his death.
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A group of marines is yelling outside the brig, demanding the SADAR be pardoned. Dausen stood there and surveyed the scene. While formulating a response to calm down the marines, one of them lunges for one of the MP officers present in the lobby, wielding a chair. He starts bashing the officer repeatedly. The other marines, while egging on the fighter, chose not to participate and merely watch the numerous MP officers struggle to restrain him. Dausen would elect not to execute the marine for a variety of reasons. A main reason being that the officer was in no serious threat of serious physical harm. A second being that with the presence of so many officers, his intervention would not be necessary. And the third, perhaps most important reasons, was that doing so could push the gathered marines past their boiling points and incite a riot. If there was a calmer and more professional way of handling the situation, Dausen would take it.