Jason 'Ratchet' Sullivan CO whitelist application

[Anticept]

- Byond ID:
Anticept


- Player name you use the most:
Jason 'Ratchet' Sullivan


- Make a list of links to all of your applications and (job)ban appeals, including whitelist and staff apps, within the last year. Also, provide "Ban reason; Verdict" beside each (job)ban link:
No applications, bans, or appeals as of this time.


- Do you understand that any player - even donors or staff members - can have their whitelist status revoked should they break our Server Rules or Roleplay Guidelines?
That's something I am 100% behind. When command fails to RP, or someone breaks the rules, people take it by example, dragging the whole experience down.


- Why should you be whitelisted?

I very much love the challenges of command. It's a balancing act of inspiring the troops, dealing with success and failure, and keeping the chain of command intact. You're not just a strategist, you're a leader that people look towards. Keeping confidence in your abilities, as well as being confident in your subordinates, is a must. When shit hits the fan, you have to find a way to keep it together and make the most of it. Even if you become frustrated to no end, you can't quit. That's the challenge I like; rolling with the punches and still making something of it. If you can't turn the fight, you still make the final stand something to be remembered.

All that inspirational stuff aside, I do play command roles a lot in games. I'm by no means perfect, but I keep coming back. I just love the role. I've XO'd quite a few times now, and have had amazing wins and humbling losses. I've played queen on xenos as much as i get the opportunity to as well, and have much the same philosophy and experiences. But at the core of it all, when people say good game regardless of the outcome, that means I did it right.

I'm here to play for the team. We'll give em hell.

[XenonDragneel]

I have seen you as XO alot. Your pretty fit and competent for being a High Commanding Officer of a space veseel.

+1

[Snypehunter007]

Its a hour into the operation and your XO has been arguing with you the entire op about your orders. Eventually there is a critical moment on the ground where the marine SLs are asking for orders. You give them mission critical orders and leave the bridge due to a situation elsewhere on the ship, leaving the XO in charge temporarily. After you leave, the XO counters all of your previous orders because "Fuck the commander, he stupid" and gives the marines orders that end in them having to retreat. You return to the bridge and a BO whispers to you what has transpired.

What do you do? Do you punish the XO? Do you let it go?

What do you do?

[Anticept]

I left the bridge. I have to accept that he overrode my orders because, as you put it, I placed him in command.

Just to be clear, arguing isn't a basis for demotion; Insubordination is. The case you provided is *not* insubordination because of the handoff of command. Should he disobey an order while I AM in command, I then have the right to act.

That said, it doesn't exempt him from marine law, so if he did something that was a blatant breach of law, he will be removed. From a personal standpoint though, what is done is done and seeking vengeance isn't the mark of a CO, even if he is being a shit. Besides, he or she have already witnessed their handiwork and maybe they will learn from it.

And, who's to say my orders wouldn't have resulted in the same retreat!

[tempchar]

I've seen you around and you seem like a high RP player that prefers to be a command role. You also seem to actually try and monitor the mission instead of just being a piece of eye candy on the bridge like other XOs/commanders.

+1. I think you would make an enthusiastic commander, something the marines really need.

[Anticept]

Thank you tempchar!

I intend to use a different character for non-command roles (CE is a command position in my opinion). While Jason is on the bridge, he's knows a little bit about the wrench (in so far as allowed by server rules), hence the nickname 'Ratchet'. I haven't figured out his background entirely yet, but he's got to be a mustang. Worked his way up through engineering and has some battlefield experience, but was recognized for his ability to lead the engineering corps. Over time, he was shifted to increasing command roles over more than just engineers before being given the Saluco. I'll probably add some more years to his age to reflect that (41 now, but I'm thinking late 40's to early 50's would make more sense). However, while in his COMMANDER role, that engineering background is a distance behind him, so a lot of things were forgotten (to comply with server RP rules.)

[Anticept]

I apologize for my sudden departure this last round. I lost power in my neighborhood. Notified the staff from discord mobile.

[Sneakyr]

I have a weird feeling about you when you're command staff that I don't like. However, you've done nothing to deserve it and the facts are that you've been pretty good in my experiences with you, so I'm going to give you my +1 anyway.
Good luck!

[Anticept]

Possibly the snarky banter that my character exhibits? It's full metal jacket inspired. It's only just for show; when things get serious, that part is dropped, and I avoid insulting anyone directly with it.

[Imperator_Titan]

Here's a question,

Marines have started to push the caves but they're demanding helmets and the RO is incompetent and there aren't any CTs awake. What do you do?

[Anticept]

Let's assume the rest of the ship is in good shape. Send the MPs and maybe the XO to help get things whipped into shape. Remind supply to send some ammo too because for some reason, nobody calls for ammo, yet everyone needs it! Every non-engineering drop should have a few mags stuffed in. Confer with the medics on any medical supplies they might need dropped in too if there's time, because if we got this far, medical supplies likely need some refreshment.

Now if the ship is an absolute mess, instruct the marines that those who DO have helmets to stay out in front until we can get things sorted up on the ship. If a scan shows we got them on the ropes, they are likely going to go in without the resupply for now as long as there are still some helmets in the group. It's a call that has a lot of factors involved. Or fortify the entrances and set killzones until things are sorted.

Depending on if the RO is new or just completely inept, there may be repercussions there as well.

[Imperator_Titan]

Let's assume the rest of the ship is in good shape. Send the MPs and maybe the XO to help get things whipped into shape. Remind supply to send some ammo too because for some reason, nobody calls for ammo, yet everyone needs it! Every non-engineering drop should have a few mags stuffed in. Confer with the medics on any medical supplies they might need dropped in too if there's time, because if we got this far, medical supplies likely need some refreshment.

Now if the ship is an absolute mess, instruct the marines that those who DO have helmets to stay out in front until we can get things sorted up on the ship. If a scan shows we got them on the ropes, they are likely going to go in without the resupply for now as long as there are still some helmets in the group. It's a call that has a lot of factors involved. Or fortify the entrances and set killzones until things are sorted.

Depending on if the RO is new or just completely inept, there may be repercussions there as well.

The scan shows four xenos remaining, three of them you know for a fact are a boiler, carrier and the queen. Marines decide to push the NE caves crashed shuttle choke-point without helmets and are at a stalemate, slowly but surely losing ground due to the boiler and are unable to push due to the carrier and queen.

What do you do?

[Anticept]

Pull back, and if they happen to have mines, set a couple traps like mines if possible and turn that area into a killzone. Make them come to us.

Aliens don't function as well in wide open spaces immediately after a chokepoint, so the marines will be ordered to pull far enough out that the aliens would have to extend past the entrance to make gains, exposing to high risk as a result. They likely won't due to low pop count. If they do, they will have a handicapped fight and maybe mines to push through!

The other squads continue their push at the other entrances. Meanwhile I'm about to kick ass up on the Sulaco at this point so we can get them those supplies!

More mines at the other entrances, if possible, to catch any that slip by isn't a bad idea either!

[Imperator_Titan]

Pull back, and if they happen to have mines, set a couple traps and turn that area into a killzone. Make them come to us.

Aliens don't function as well in wide open spaces immediately after a chokepoint, so the marines will be ordered to pull far enough out that the aliens would have to extend past the entrance to make gains, exposing to high risk as a result. They likely won't due to low pop count. If they do, they will have a handicapped fight and maybe mines to push through!

The other squads continue their push at the other entrances. Meanwhile I'm about to kick ass up on the Sulaco at this point so we can get them those supplies!

More mines at the other entrances, if possible, to catch any that slip by isn't a bad idea either!

Final one,

The fourth and final xeno is revealed to be a crusher, that breaks through your lines and mines, effectively having marines push back due to the boiler gas and the queen screeches. They fall back to the tablefort. Meanwhile, the xenos have spotted the squad of marines advancing through their flank and have alerted eachother over the hivemind. The queen goes to deal with them alongside the ravager while the crusher and boiler harass the tablefort units. Your SLs radio in the situation and it's looking a bit grim. Meanwhile on the Sulaco, the RO has cryo'd and your left alone to get the supplies but you can't be at the Bridge to give the orders while you're doing so.

What do you do?

[Anticept]

Tough one. You said I'm alone, I'm going to assume that means no one else to help either. Your questions presents a few issues that I need to point out first.

First, a META problem. How do I know the queen and ravager went to attack the other units? I could try to deduce this when the screeching stops and the rav stops attacking, but there is NO WAY I should have any knowledge that they said it via hivemind. In fact, acting on such knowledge would be meta, so I would ignore it and thus I would not order the other squad to any action on that merit alone. There MUST be another source to gain this knowledge.

In addition, you prior said there is a CARRIER. Now there are 5 units, not 4. (Queen, Carrier, Boiler, Crusher, and now a Ravager that you introduce too). There's no way this scenario can happen following a bioscan stating 4 units, as the hive will not support the larva popping and subsequent evolution to a T3. However, my character does not know this, I am simply pointing out these details. Let's roll with your scenario anyways.

Finally, I'm going to assume it was either the crusher or the ravager that spotted the flanking maneuver. In order for us to know that there is a crusher or a ravager, someone will have spotted them. That means it is highly likely that the other squad KNOWS they have been seen, since we have gained the knowledge there is a rav and a crusher. This won't always be the case, but this is already getting complicated and other scenarios would deviate from your proposed question significantly, so let us go with another squad had been spotted.

So, I am going to alter your question a bit for this as well. The carrier is also harassing the tablefort squad. Those are not good odds and I will be regularly talking with them to see how they are holding. Harassment isn't going to warrant a retreat, but they will receive standing orders to give up ground as necessary for survival. Your question leaves me to guess the squad strength, but since you said it's harassment and not an assault, the aliens are unsure of their victory so I will assume that squad strength is decent.

Given this information, I would evaluate the other squads strength (the one that was seen). I honestly would probably order them to fall back to flank tablefort unless the force is overwhelming and could take a good sized force on (again, I don't know who's coming to attack them, only that they were spotted). Keeping them assaulting means the aliens either have to split up, reducing their tablefort assault effectively, or risk losing their hive. If ordered to retreat, getting them to slam into the aliens at tablefort would catch them off guard and push them back some. The queen and rav are separated and likely not going to attack such a large force alone. If they did, ALL EFFORT focuses on the queen. This would make the aliens desperate as they would need to get a new queen as soon as possible or face no reinforcement and marine minor victory, if someone isn't infected already. Not an easy thing for them to accomplish since they are all T3 assault castes and need a considerable amount of time to make a new queen. This would buy more time to get some supplies down.

If there are other squads as well, they would be ordered to continue pushing, but to group up if this monstrous force of leftovers you proposed showed up.

Truth be told, what you proposed will probably result in at least one squad's demise. Those are very hard odds vs a boiler, crusher, and carrier, especially without helmets. The only reason they stay at tablefort is you said its harassment, not attacks. But as stated, the SL would be given the trust of judgement to know when to pull back.

Poll closes in a few hours. If you intend to vote, keep that in mind!

[Imperator_Titan]

Tough one. You said I'm alone, I'm going to assume that means no one else to help either. Your questions presents a few issues that I need to point out first.

First, a META problem. How do I know the queen and ravager went to attack the other units? I could try to deduce this when the screeching stops and the rav stops attacking, but there is NO WAY I should have any knowledge that they said it via hivemind. In fact, acting on such knowledge would be meta, so I would ignore it and thus I would not order the other squad to any action on that merit alone. There MUST be another source to gain this knowledge.

In addition, you prior said there is a CARRIER. Now there are 5 units, not 4. (Queen, Carrier, Boiler, Crusher, and now a Ravager that you introduce too). There's no way this scenario can happen following a bioscan stating 4 units, as the hive will not support the larva popping and subsequent evolution to a T3. However, my character does not know this, I am simply pointing out these details. Let's roll with your scenario anyways.

Finally, I'm going to assume it was either the crusher or the ravager that spotted the flanking maneuver. In order for us to know that there is a crusher or a ravager, someone will have spotted them. That means it is highly likely that the other squad KNOWS they have been seen, since we have gained the knowledge there is a rav and a crusher. This won't always be the case, but this is already getting complicated and other scenarios would deviate from your proposed question significantly, so let us go with another squad had been spotted.

So, I am going to alter your question a bit for this as well. The carrier is also harassing the tablefort squad. Those are not good odds and I will be regularly talking with them to see how they are holding. Harassment isn't going to warrant a retreat, but they will receive standing orders to give up ground as necessary for survival. Your question leaves me to guess the squad strength, but since you said it's harassment and not an assault, the aliens are unsure of their victory so I will assume that squad strength is decent.

Given this information, I would evaluate the other squads strength (the one that was seen). I honestly would probably order them to fall back to flank tablefort unless the force is overwhelming and could take a force on (again, I don't know who's coming to attack them, only that they were spotted). Getting them to slam into the aliens at tablefort would catch them off guard and push them back some. The queen and rav are separated and likely not going to attack such a large force alone. If they did, ALL EFFORT focuses on the queen. This would make the aliens desperate as they would need to get a new queen as soon as possible or face no reinforcement and marine minor victory. Not an easy thing for them to accomplish since they are all T3 assault castes and need a considerable amount of time to make a new queen. This would buy more time to get some supplies down, if someone isn't infected already.

If there are other squads as well, they would be ordered to continue pushing, but to group up if this monstrous force of leftovers you proposed showed up.

Poll closes in a few hours. If you intend to vote, keep that in mind!

Wew, looks like I messed up pretty badly but regardless, keep in mind that mother bioscans aren't 100% accurate, it becomes even worse when there's under 10 xenos left.
Regardless, I'd say you'd make a pretty decent CO.

Side note: You could add 2+2 together with the 4 xenos since you would know that there are roughly 4 xenos and that 2 of them are engaging the squads up north and 2 of them are engaging the squads down south. Anyway, not sending a SL with the scout heading up north would be suicide and since you would have both SLs up north and down south radio'ing in that they're being attacked by two xenos, you could easily deduce that the hive is fighting on two fronts. Using all your assets is a great skill as a commander and is quite underrated aswell. In the event of not having any SLs, you would definitely have SOMEONE screaming over comms about an attack at both, north caves and the tablefort.

My favourite decision of yours was easily to retreat from the choke-point and mine out the area although you could have just as easily dug a tunnel around it.

[Anticept]

I wouldn't send one scout alone. This all assumed I had 4 squads, all four pushing the caves. What I was talking about was the XENOS using a scout.

If we assume only two squads, not a lot would change given the scenario parameters and short timespan to explore the tactical theory.

That said, this fight definitely wouldn't be so linear. It is likely the aliens would have a clever trick or two eventually.

[CoreyTori]

damn son you too good

[Anticept]

Thanks!

Now to wait for final judgement from staff!

[chaplin]

+1, I like your responses to other's questions. Sounds good to me.

[XenonDragneel]

Woo no -1

I am glad you're going to be CO... no more XO for you.

[Anticept]

I certainly hope to live up to the expectations everyone is holding!

[apophis775]

Approved and Processed