14APR12 - Weekly Meeting

[Aryte]

[18:01:12] Aryte Vesperia: Statistics

Sworn members: 310

Cadets: 6

Applications

New: 12

Accepted: 0

Denied: 5

Review: 7

Operations

Defensive: 86

Offensive: 24

Allied Assistance: 0

[18:02:04] Aryte Vesperia: Diplomatic notes for the week: combat throughout the week has proved to be very upbeat and successful. Operations have carried Ordo through a wide deployment scheme, involving a large amount of organizations. Notably, we had a bit of a political run in with Ark mid-week. In short, after abuses perpetrated against us during assaulting Ombra, the decision was made to share our sentiments with Ark through duplicating the reception we receive by providing them the same experience here on Titan. Needless to say, they did not like that. In other news, relations with 2142 are stabilizing. The “edge” has been taken off after some discussion and letter sharing. It is too early to tell what will become of it, but we are working to unpoliticize our combat with them.

[18:03:39] Aryte Vesperia: Unit reports this evening?

[18:03:43] BurrWolf Qin Raises his hand for Terra

[18:03:48] Aryte Vesperia: Mr. Qin.

[18:03:53] BurrWolf Qin: Hello, Ordo! This week was great, lots of raids went out and we slaughtered our foes like the bleating sheep that they are!

[18:04:03] BurrWolf Qin: For the Alpha Cohors, we've had a very busy week all around. And are looking for more members the outlook for next week looks great! Get those raids in, guys, we need 'em.

[18:04:18] BurrWolf Qin: Trainings are going to be put underway for Evalidus: (New Tonitrus) so look out for those events -- if you're in a Bravo squad, look into getting out there and partaking in the training, it really goes far in showing interest and dedication.

[18:04:40] BurrWolf Qin: Praescius and Insidiae has been rocking as well, Keep it up gents.. if you're interested in being in Ron's Jaeger squad, Or one of Afevis's battle-dogs, give either of them a ring.

[18:04:51] BurrWolf Qin: For Bravo Cohors: Good job stepping up lately, seen a lot of new faces out there in the balttlefield. Keep up the good work and get your raids in along with your training! ('Specially TP training!)

[18:05:01] BurrWolf Qin: That's all for Terra tonight.

[18:05:25] Aryte Vesperia: Thank you. Mr. Schuman?

[18:05:44] Ethan Schuman: Hooooooolly cow. With all the new recruits, Astra is getting to be as fat as a certain someone (whose name begins with K but we're not allowed to make fun of any more). In the past 48 hours alone, we've picked up three new members, with one coming from Schola, one coming from Terra, and our good friend Kithsuneca coming back from inactivity and transferring over. Their presence add a lot of strength and leadership potential into a roster full of pilots who possess the same. Rei is settling in nicely as the TSCOM XO, and he and Sebris are fully reviewing both flights, sending IMs to people to knock the cobwebs out of the inactive members. Achtai and Xoza are now living together happily, and both have returned to full duties, thankfully in time to assist with the rush of new members. In addition to this, Astra Staff has moved its meeting time to 6PM SLT on Tuesdays, at it is a much more convenient time for all of us.

[18:06:39] Ethan Schuman: On one final note, Nikki and I have finally formally decided on a callsign system. When a pilot joins Astra, other members of the group will get to know them. After a certain amount of time, Nikki and I will talk with everyone to get a feel for the individual. Then, she and I will assign them a callsign based upon a few different factors, including names, nicknames, combat performance, and personality quotes. At the next meeting, the pilot's callsign will be announced in the Astra address.

[18:07:00] Ethan Schuman: Some callsigns have already been decided upon. The first round will be announced next week.

[18:07:18] Ethan Schuman: That's all from Astra this week.

[18:08:06] Aryte Vesperia: Thank you. Any additional reports?

[18:08:57] Aryte Vesperia: Thank you. Moving right along!

[18:09:03] Aryte Vesperia: > General Updates

[18:09:25] Aryte Vesperia: Development has been solid over the course of this week, especially in the material realm. It is with a great degree of excitement that I am able to inform everyone both the Tonitrus and the Hades have been released for general unlock. Both weapon platforms are an excellent addition to our armory—especially the latter, which has replaced one of our oldest pieces of gear with a far more accurate and decisive mortar.

[18:10:31] Aryte Vesperia: Development has been solid over the course of this week, especially in the material realm. It is with a great degree of excitement that I am able to inform everyone both the Tonitrus and the Hades have been released for general unlock. Both weapon platforms are an excellent addition to our armory—especially the latter, which has replaced one of our oldest pieces of gear with a far more accurate and decisive mortar.

[18:11:17] Aryte Vesperia: (people talking about volley ball distracting me.)

[18:11:21] Aryte Vesperia: The Tonitrus has taken its place as an ultra-effective force multiplier, providing a primarily anti-infantry and room clearing weapon that is chiefly unique enough to warrant its own mechanism. Unlike the Adjudicator, it is entirely designed around the function of lobbing grenades. It is a heavy weapon, but one with a great deal of capability and versatility invested in it. Any team looking to put hurt on an area, clear a room (air burst grenades <3), or make maximum effectiveness out of a small number of personnel . . . will value the Tonitrus.

[18:12:21] Aryte Vesperia: Further, the HUD update is pending in the near future. Our final obstacle has been overcome with the acquisition of the necessary font to maintain the textures on it. The HUD will be a welcome change to our current model, giving the general soldier a bit more bite and effective tools in situations we’ve been facing.

[18:13:22] Aryte Vesperia: Lastly, it is important to note that prices have been revised in the armory. Several weapons have been decreased to reflect their use and to promote purchase. These may not be permanent decreases (esp. in the Tonitrus’s case), so take advantage of them as you can.

[18:14:16] Aryte Vesperia: > Combat / Cards

[18:14:41] Aryte Vesperia: As a foreword: phenomenal work this week. A strong performance on the battlefield—over 3 a day, pushing close to 4 on average. I was very impressed with the fortitude and diversity of the teams, especially against some very tough targets. Thank you and congratulations to everyone.

[18:15:40] Aryte Vesperia: Now, regarding the contest. Results are in and are simply being verified for validity. There are a few people who have doubtlessly obtained a slot, per the sheer gravity of their raid performance. To name a few: Carrious Darbyshire, Kiba Dreamscape, and Marc Gravois. The remaining list will be published by tomorrow’s end.

[18:16:53] Aryte Vesperia: To everyone who pulled it off: damn good work! And thank you to everyone who participated. It was a great opportunity to really show what we’re made of. I thank you, again.

[18:17:49] Aryte Vesperia: > Battlefield Excellence

[18:18:35] Aryte Vesperia: As a reminder, please be sure to expend all of your options when in a raid leadership role. Call for assistance when necessary. If assistance isn’t available, dig in and hold out until that assistance becomes available. Victory is not always simple and sweet. Sometimes you need to find a hole and fight tooth and nail until the back-up arrives.

[18:19:07] Aryte Vesperia: Ordo’s combat functions are diverse and have the compliments of many angles. Use them all. They have and will continue to lead us to great amounts of success.

[18:20:47] Aryte Vesperia: > Keynote

[18:20:59] Aryte Vesperia: For this evening’s keynote, I would like to discuss the importance of remaining objective. Specifically, in the manner of interacting with other Ordo personnel as peers or command staff.

[18:22:30] Aryte Vesperia: Foremost, it is important to realize that every individual here suffers from the same natural sense of bounded rationality. Bounded rationality essentially is the idea that as decision makers, humans are incapable of handling the level of information and analyzing necessary to be considered scientifically rational. To be rational, as it stands, is to be capable of systematically make a decision based upon all possible alternatives—in reality, it is improbable that every possible outcome is even capable of being known, let alone understood by the human mind. As such, only a select number of alternatives are consciously present: all of which are based upon an individual’s perspective. In short, every individual develops their own idea of what is truly rational.

[18:24:15] Aryte Vesperia: Bounded rationales play a big part in our interaction with one another. Each of us has our own basic perception, which can be easily influenced by notions provided to us by others. This becomes especially important when it is one of a negative value—for example, hearing that X member did Y action. It creates a tendency to label member X with the expected behavior.

[18:25:42] Aryte Vesperia: Expecting and labeling an individual as prone to a behavior ensures that, well, the individual’s behavior henceforth will be highly scrutinized and result in an inevitable repeat (or equivalent response for another action). In short, by expecting member X to act in a specific way, individuals treat them in a different manner, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy or cycle of activity.

[18:27:25] Aryte Vesperia: To overcome this, it is important that all members, especially command staff, approach every interaction objectively. Take every event case by case, ensuring that all individuals are afforded the benefit of the doubt and the opportunity to demonstrate their intent. To be objective is to be balanced and provide more accurate decision making, based solely upon the evidence provided in the event itself.

[18:28:33] Aryte Vesperia: That said. Outstanding work this week. It's been a pleasure. You all have a wonderful evening. Get them raids our and take it to the enemy. Dismissed!

[18:28:34] Aryte Vesperia snaps his fist to his chest, presenting a brief salute.

[18:28:38] BurrWolf Qin salutes! "For the Glory of the Imperium!"

[18:28:40] Larry Furlough salutes!