Agares Tretiak

My apologies to anyone who started writing an essay already. I meant Half-inch margins. Also, for those not familiar with MLA format, this is a useful resource on MLA format. />http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

Brothers and Sisters in arms, it is time once again to begin the Praetorian Guard Candidacy Trials. For those of you new to the Ordo or were not around for the previous trials, I will explain the process and some of the expectations, as well as what the Guard does. First, the Praetorian Guard serves as the Imperator's personal legion. In theory, every Praetorian is answerable only to the Imperator and the appointed officers of the Guard. In practice, the Guard works as an elite cadre of officers, who's martial prowess is only matched by their experience and and loyalty. They represent the best the Ordo has to offer in every respect. The trials are an opportunity for those who wish to join, to demonstrate they posses the qualities the Praetorian Guard seeks in its members. It is a rare opportunity, since at most, the Trials might happen once a year, depending on vacancies within the Guard. Second, the Trials take approximately a month to complete. Unlike the previous trials, a certain degree of training and inclusion into the operation of the Guard will be involved in the trials. Similar to many Special Forces training systems, the training and testing are combined, and will move in phases, covering certain aspects of the Guard's expected traits in candidates. More information will be provided on the phases, scheduling, and Trials expectations after we pass the application phase. Thirdly, there are certain expectations for those who wish to try to join the Praetorian Guard, those are as follows: - At least E-3 in rank. - A clean Curia record in a preliminary background check. - Must be cleared by the AiR in a preliminary background check. - Otherwise a member of the Ordo in good standing. - Willing to devote incredible amounts of time to the Ordo. Secondary (not strictly required) expecations: - We look for experienced members of the Ordo, usually with at least a year's service under their belt, however exceptions have made it into the Guard. - A strong indication of activity and meaningful accomplishments within the Ordo - Frequent participation with support branches of the Ordo, such as the IEA, Armatura, Tactica, Munitorum, or involved with one of the Special Branches, Curia or AiR. - Frequent involvement in combat and preferably, raids. I would encourage, as would the Imperator that any and all who wish to participate, submit an application essay! Which brings us to the first phase of the Trials. If you're already eager to join the Guard, that's the first step. You're a Praetorian Hopeful! The next step is to become an applicant. There are two stages to the application. First, you must submit an essay explaining your desire to join the Praetorian Guard (why you wish to join) and what -you- would bring to the Praetorian Guard that would make you an ideal candidate (why should we take you). It must also fulfill the following requirements, or be turned down out of hand. 1. Name, Rank, Branch 2. Date of Essay 3. Proper spelling and English grammar. Excessive errors will result in a denial. 4. Double spaced, in 12 point font, Times New Roman, one inch margins 5. We look for two pages of properly structured information. This means there is an introduction, body, and conclusion type of format used. 6. Essays MUST be submitted in either .ODF (open office format) or .RTF (RichTextFormat). All other formats will be denied. 7. Essays will be emailed as an attachment to the following email address: [email protected] 8. ALL ESSAYS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY NEXT MONDAY, the 7th of Feburary 12 PM, CST. LATE ESSAYS WILL BE DENIED. The subject line must follow this format: "<YOUR SL NAME> Application Essay" Example: "Ron Bleac Application Essay" A few further suggestions on your essays: - Read up on MLA format, if you're not used to writing essays! There's a dozen websites out there that give you this information. - Do not list your merits or mention them, unless you can name specifically why you received a particular merit and how it might relate to your qualifications. We will do a thorough examination of your service record in the Ordo. - Do not lie! The entire Praetorian Guard, plus Aryte, the Curia, and AiR will be involved in reading and examining the essays. We will know! so don't do it. Once you've submitted your essay, you will be sent within 24 hours (usually) an email saying if your Essay passed initial examination. This means that your essay met all basic criteria listed above. At that point, it will be considered officially 'submitted'. We will then examine the essays for their content and quality. If it passes a vote of the standing Guard members, you will then be listed as an official Candidate for the Trials, in a follow up post in this thread announcing the Candidates for the trials, and the trial schedule. In the mean time, all interested should become thoroughly acquainted with the Carta Praetorian, though there are some changes in a few sections regarding the trials. the Carta Praetorian is the central organizational document related to the Praetorian Guard. If you are not familiar with it by the time you submit your essay, you will have a very difficult time moving forward in the Trials. The Carta Praetorian can be found here: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B59xCZt5c_WFMDc2OGU3NzQtNTBkMS00NGFmLTk4YWQtOGU3OGVlNjg4MGYz&hl=en The Praetorian Guard is made of people who are without a doubt, fanatical in their devotion to the Imperator. It cannot be stressed enough that during these trials, you will be tested in a variety of ways and many of them will test your endurance, patience, and ability to handle stress. In many cases, these will be extremely difficult. If you become a candidate, you have been warned beforehand and have consented to the various trials and their execution. Finally, I hope that all those interested do submit an essay and participate in this opportunity! Ave Imperator, Agares Tretiak Lord Praefectus of the Praetorian Guard

Ahem. Historically, the Praetorians were only loyal to specific Emperors. They got huge salaries in comparison to the rest of the military, had a huge set of forts around Rome, and considerable power and influence. They also killed a fair number of the men they were supposedly sworn to protect. Admittedly, many of the ones they killed were weak, ineffectual, or insane. All this in mind... ...the Ordo's Praetorian Guard are unquestionably loyal to the Imperator (<3). Also, I want to go to Istanbul and carve into an exterior wall the words '"Sorry I was late, guys" - Ron'

I have tested and used an early prototype armor system for a larger than human sized mech. It is feasible, but requires that certain design parameters are met. We would not be able to go into an R&D project hurly-burly and think we could throw it together. It would take resources in terms of time and effort and lots of playing around with little details. The current Munitorum standards do not promote these things, given that we have priority projects that are based on reliable and tried-and-true methods of production. Essentially, we -could- produce mechs, but the end result would not be what you proposed and would take more time than right now would be permissible given other, more important projects. I would love to have mechs, too, but as it stands, anything larger than human with armor is A. too impractical without refinement B. too radical to be adopted as allowable by most enemies we'd most like to use them against. In short, Anly is evil.

Mine was completely made up on the spot, to point out what political double talk looks like. The rest of theirs seem like cut and paste "Insert name here" speeches of some sort of outrage.

He is not an esquire. Or a squire. To be perfectly honest, in my humble opinion, he is nothing much at all.

Am I to take it, also, that when raid clearance is given to a Tier 4 raid led by the respective ranks, there is the expectation that on the After Action report for combat, the name of the officer who cleared it should be listed?

Notice neither one denied it being pretty gay. I'm going to grab popcorn.

This isn't intelligent. I can talk like you guys use a computer to do for you, in my sleep. :| It's the same as putting rabid attack dogs in silk suits. The words seem pretty, until you put together what it means. Then you realize essentially thinly veiled attacks on other people, using emotional arguments rather than rational debate, in an effort to detach you, my dear listener, from your morally established system of beliefs. That is why I oppose Mr. Witherspoon, Esq, of 156 J, Downing Road, Essex New Hampshire. He is a man who utilizes his silver tongue in a manner to beguile and obfuscate genuine rhetorical exchanges of finely cogitated thought, with nothing less than haberdashery and a peculiar form of demagoguery, concealing his ill intent in esoteric vocabularian abuses of our beloved language. This unwarranted harassment of our principled and civilized discussions regarding the ephemeral and indefatigable non-physical manifestation of greatness and liberty that is our democratically appointed legislative representatives is an affront to our very humanity. We immerse ourselves in clever hyperbole, detracting from the essential formation of a conscionable public process of political examination, one that Mr. Witherspoon and certain key figures within the supposedly 'esteemed' media utilize at every turn to not so much set the agenda for discourse, but to set what we are being told the agenda might be. I realize my phlegmatic approach to such issues might not elucidate some of my audience, but it is time to show that this is not the time for meiosis in my address to you, but a strong dose of the characteristic gumption and vigor that makes us a great public. Thus, we must raise our voices, despite petty internecine disagreements, and see the gestalt of what besets our very way of living. I know I am not alone, when I quote Cicero, "Appetitus Rationi Pareat" or "Let our desires be ruled by reason." (for those of us who didn't pass Dr. Hardwick's Classical Latin class). We should hold these words to our bosom, use them as a shield against the inequities of our foes, and wield them unilaterally against those who would deprive us of our divinely instated rights. Let us not consider, for even a moment, that our opposition would show a moment of mercy, for in that moment, they will have won. Rather, let us quickly understand our rights of suffrage, and utilize them properly in the pursuit of egalitarian policies in our electoral jungle. Allow me to close, by stating this is a giant steaming heap of bullshit and that if you read through this and understand what I said, I will shake your hand. Admittedly, I will then use hand-sanitizer afterwards.

To fire extremely high velocity, explosive or stunning (non-lethal) rabbits from my forearms. In infinite supply.

Ah, but do they involve any real scottsmen in the filling?

*tests the edge of his halberd* I want to be clear, this is not a threat. I don't like threats.

Thank you, Ron. I'm sure many of us history buffs as well as those who know a bit about you, understand what an opportunity this is as well as the importance of what this means.

Dear god.

101. Anlysia kills small animals.