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Introduction to the Magpies
Founded amongst officers and officials who were involved with the USCM’s founding in 2101, the Military Organization for Development and Innovation (MODI) was created as an organization with the goal of securing the USCM's future through establishing favourable relationships between the USCM and military innovators. This, inevitably, led the organization to become highly supportive of the many corporate entities that supply the USCM with its guns, dropships, ammunition, and technological developments. Consequently, this reputation has branded MODI members the nickname of 'Magpies' within the USCM, as a reference towards their tendency to focus on corporate relationships and cutting-edge equipment, alongside external suspicions of greed and mishandled funding.
Unlike the other major factions relevant to USCM officers, the MODI is, by its very principle, a faction that solely exists within the UA military branches. However, due to the very strong relationship grown between the USCM and most MODI-aligned entities, as well as a stronger distrustfulness of unaligned corporations that often supply the other UAAC branches, the USCM is the premier military branch in which MODI-aligned corporations have large support bases.
Average support amongst high-ranking requisitions officers for the MODI has been invariably strong throughout its existence, with requisitions almost always being the first to become aware of the integral role many R&D industries play in the USCM’s strong position. As a result, MODI’s leaders have often been those high-ranking requisition officers who are undoubtedly convinced of the effectiveness of MODI’s ideological cause.
Despite this, MODI is inherently fractured by the nature of corporatism and competition. With aligned entities including foreign corporations, mega-conglomerates, ancient MIC developers, and even various government-contracted companies, it’s little wonder that individual members of MODI often tend towards certain sponsors more so than others. While the faction’s overarching goals remains the same, and the upper echelon generally ignores the individual squabblings to work towards maintaining the USCM’s technological edge, the vast majority of common MODI members are in it for themselves or whoever is supporting them, whether that’s for the sake of easier promotions, generous benefits, or a cushy retirement plan after service.
Currently, the leader of the overall organisation is UAAC Procurement & Requisition Adjutant Kurt Schmidt. He came to prominence in the faction after spearheading the practicalities of the Marine 70 programme and has been the leader of the MODI ever since. He has garnered very strong respect in the organisation due to his discerning personality, and his focus on innovative weaponry gives the UA the edge in skirmishes, yet he is an ageing man. Due to the little time he spends in cryosleep, and a job that has demanded much of him in the over 12 years he has been in the position, he has begun to be seen as someone stuck in the fighting style of the Dog Wars. Because of this, and some controversies related to him, some people within the MODI have begun looking for his deposement.
USCM Division Logistics Commander Geoffery Lamden is a similar story. His tenureship under Colonel A.W. Shanks onboard the USS Arrow of Gold has led to an impressive level of military technological supremacy within his command in spite of his budget and supply being cut year on year. His policy of requisitions officers being granted all of the technologically advanced gear, so they may distribute it to the correct troops instead of conscripts or other wasteful troops, has led to a maximisation of the effectiveness of the important gear he has to give out. Yet his command has also been criticised: his love of the M4A1 MK1 has led to the ageing weapon still being in service (in a limited role) onboard most of his ships he has supplies; the supply of NVGs to troops under his command has been notoriously low, leading to rationing; and his emphasis on over-stocking of HEAP ammo has often lead to incidents with exploding cargo storages. Supporters within the MODI argue this is simply a man making the most out of a poor situation: MK1s have to be stocked because the attachment advantages of the MK2 aren’t realised with an attachment shortage; NVGs are being prioritised to FORECON to maximise their effectiveness and flare supplies are being increased to compensate for standard infantry; HEAP is required to be overstocked because of a shortage of fire support ammunition that means the standard infantry has to do more work.
History
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Leadership
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Ideology
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Relations
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