News/Memos

BEGIN MEMO ===================================================================================== ORICHALCUM MILITARY FREELANCE GROUP, CO - !URGENT! PRIORITY ONE MEMO !URGENT! DATE: 25 AUGUST 2183 TO: [ALL COMPANY STAFF] FROM: ORICHALCUM HIGH COMMAND SUBJECT: RANK CHANGE AND RULES OF ENGAGEMENT AS A RESULT OF COMPLICATIONS ENDURED DURING THE FAILED ASSAULT AND SUBSEQUENT ESCAPE FROM THE TRAP AT THE TRIAD STRONGHOLD, THE COMPANY IS OFFICIALLY RESTRUCTURING IT'S RULES OF ENGAGEMENT AND GENERAL COMMAND STRUCTURE. THE USN-BASED RANKING SYSTEM WILL BE ABANDONED IN FAVOR OF A PERSONALIZED SYSTEM THAT BESTOWS PROPER PRIVILEGES TO ALL HANDS IN THE COMPANY AND TO BETTER PERSONALIZE THE COMPANY AS A UNIT AND A CULTURE. THE CONTENTS OF THIS MEMO WERE WRITTEN 23 AUGUST 2183 TO COME INTO EFFECT ON 1200HRS 25 AUGUST 2183. ALL CHANGES WILL BE INSERTED INTO THE COMPANY HANDBOOK WITHIN THE NEXT FOURTY-EIGHT HOURS; IT IS ADVISED YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PERIODIC ALERT SYSTEM TO REMAIN INFORMED. THE NEW SYSTEM WILL BE AS FOLLOWS: BREAKDOWN - THE CLERICAL GRADE IS BEING ADDED TO ACT AS THE THIRD BRANCH OF RANKS, STANDING AS THE DEMILITARIZED/TECHNICAL EQUIVALENT OF THE ENLISTED GRADE FOR CIVILIAN/CLERICAL AFFAIRS. THE ENLISTED GRADE IS BEING RENAMED TO THE ENGAGEMENT GRADE, RETAINING ITS ORIGINAL (E-) ABBREVIATION FOR EASE OF EMPLOYEE RETENTION; THE OFFICER GRADE IS BEING RENAMED TO THE OPERATIONS GRADE, RETAINING ITS ORIGINAL (O-) ABBREVIATION. A NATO- EQUIVALENT CHART DECLARING OF/OT GRADES OF THE NEW SYSTEM WILL BE CLARIFIED FURTHER WITHIN THE MEMO. THE RANKING SYSTEM WILL BE DIVIDED INTO FIVE TIERS. CHAIN OF COMMAND IS DETERMINED BY READING THE CHART BELOW FROM TOP-TO-BOTTOM, RIGHT-TO-LEFT. RANK CHART -  ______________________________________________________________________   ________  /             Rank |      Clerical     |   Engagement    | Operations  \ /  NATO  \ +---+---+-+--+--| |    ORICHALCUM(5) |                 COMPANY COMMANDER                  | SPECIAL  | +---+---+-+--+--| |             (-3) |        ---        |       ---       |   COLONEL    |          | | HIGH COMMAND(4-2) |       ---        |       ---       |    MAJOR     | OR9/OF2+ | |             (-1) |     EXECUTIVE     | SERGEANT MAJOR  |   CAPTAIN    |          | +---+---+-+--+--| |             (-3) |   ADMINISTRATOR   | MASTER SERGEANT |     ---      | OR7      | |    OFFICERS(3-2) |    SUPERVISOR     | FIRST SERGEANT  |     ---      | OR7/OF1  | |             (-1) |   [DEPT] MANAGER  | STAFF SERGEANT  | LIEUTENANT³  | OR6      | +---+---+-+--+--| |             (-3) | TECHNICAL EXPERT  |    SERGEANT     |    ARDIEN    | OR5/WO   | |     EXPERTS(2-2) |    TECHNICIAN     |    CORPORAL     |   BANNERET   | OR4/WO   | |             (-1) |   JR TECHNICIAN   |   SPECIALIST    |    REEVE     | OR4/WO   | +---+---+-+--+--| |                  |                   |                 |              | OR3      | |        STAFF¹(1) |     REGULAR²      |    PRIVATE²     |      ---     | OR2      | |                  |                   |                 |              | OR1      | \--+---+-+--+-/ ¹&²: TIER GRADES FOR STAFF HAVE BEEN TRUNCATED TO KEEP VISUALS CLEAR. PRIVATE AND REGULAR EACH HAVE INDIVIDUAL GRADES AND SUBTITLES FROM C1-1 TO C1-3, AND E1-1 TO E1-3 RESPECTIVELY. SEE YOUR UPDATED CREW ASSIGNMENTS FOR MORE DETAILS. ³: AS THE COMPANY GROWS, ADDITIONAL OFFICER RANKS WILL BE MOVED FROM RANK 4 TO RANK 3 PER NEEDS OF THE COMPANY AS HIGHER LEVELS OF CHAIN OF COMMAND BECOME NECESSARY. UNTIL THAT TIME, O3-2 AND O3-3 RANKS WILL REMAIN UNUSED. ===================================================================================== PART ONE OF THREE

PAGE BREAK ===================================================================================== TIERS - AS LISTED ON THE CHART, EACH BRANCH WILL BE FURTHER SUBDIVIDED INTO SEVERAL TIERS TO STREAMLINE THE PROGRESSION HIERARCHY. THE LISTING IS AS FOLLOWS: * TIER 1 DENOTES THE BASIC STAFF; THE BACKBONE OF THE COMPANY, REPRESENTING OUR TYPICAL RESPECTED EMPLOYEES FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. OUR STAFF IS ASSIGNED TO ONE OF MANY DEPARTMENTS BASED ON THEIR CONTRACT(S) AND WILL BE EXPECTED TO CONTRIBUTE TO A SAFE AND EFFICIENT OPERATION OF THE PHOENIX AND THE COMPANY AT LARGE BY COMPLETING TASKS THEY ARE GIVEN, ON THE BATTLEFIELD OR AT A SERVICE STATION. ALL STAFF ARE ASSIGNED A "COMMON" CLEARANCE CODE WITH ACCESS TO THEIR ASSIGNED DEPARTMENTS, RECREATIONAL AND STANDARD LIVING CENTERS. ROOM AND BOARD ARE PROVIDED; AS WITH MOST BASIC TIERS, PAY RATE IS BASED ON GRADE (SEE YOUR CREW ASSIGNMENT FOR MORE DETAILS) WITH POTENTIAL BONUSES BASED ON MERIT OR AS STIPULATED WITHIN CONTRACT COMMISSIONS. * TIER 2 DENOTES THE EXPERT STAFF; THROUGH HARD WORK AND EFFORT, THESE EMPLOYEES HAVE SHOWN PROFICIENCY IN THEIR FIELDS AND HAVE PROVEN THEMSELVES TO BE DEPENDABLE. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE COMPLICATED AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TASKS ON AND OFF THE FIELD, AND ARE CAPABLE OF LENDING THEIR KNOWLEDGE AS GO-TO CREW TRAINERS, LEADING BY EXAMPLE AND FOLLOWING PROCEDURE FOR THEIR TEAMS, SETTING THE BAR TO GUIDE ANY OF THEIR PEERS WILLING TO PROVE THEMSELVES. EXPERT STAFF START OUT WITH AN "INDUSTRIAL" CLEARANCE CODE AS WELL AS THE BASIC AMENITIES PROVIDED TO ALL STAFF; IN ADDITION, CERTAIN POLICY RESTRICTIONS MAY BE REDUCED BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THEIR DEPARTMENT OR THROUGH EXEMPLARY SERVICE. * TIER 3 DENOTES THE OFFICERS OF STAFF; FOR ANY SEASONED TEAM, THERE IS AT LEAST A FEW TALENTED INDIVIDUALS WHO STAND OUT AND TAKE CHARGE; THESE INDIVIDUALS STAND AS SOME OF THE MORE TALENTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMPANY'S CORE VALUES AND HAVE A DIRECT HAND IN HELPING THE COMPANY PROSPER BY BEING IN CHARGE OF THE COMPANY'S VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS. THEY ARE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING CREW AND RESOURCES; CLERICAL AND ENGAGEMENT OFFICERS ARE EXPECTED TO DELEGATE AND PRODUCE RESULTS; OPERATIONS STAFF ARE EXPECTED TO COORDINATE BETWEEN EACH BRANCH AND COOPERATE WITH THEIR TEAMS FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS. OFFICERS START OUT WITH A "NOBLE" CLEARANCE CODE AND ARE PROVIDED WITH CONTROL OF THEIR DEPARTMENT. OFFICERS ENJOY FURTHER REDUCTION IN RELEVANT RESTRICTIONS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE PROVIDED WITH UPGRADED HOUSING AND THEIR OWN OFFICE SPACE TO MAKE USE OF FOR THEIR OPERATIONS. * TIER 4 DENOTES THE RANKS OF HIGH COMMAND; EXEMPLARY MEMBERS AT THE TOP OF THE COMPANY THAT CREATE AND GUIDE THE COMPANY GOALS AND POLICIES. ANY RANKING MEMBER OF HIGH COMMAND IS EXPECTED TO HAVE CROSS-TRAINED AND HAVE GENERAL PROFICIENCY IN MATTERS FROM EVERY BRANCH AND USE THIS EXPERTISE TO MAINTAIN SMOOTH COMPANY INTEGRATION, AND ARE THE FIRST TO TAKE DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT AND/OR DANGEROUS TASKS WHEN NECESSARY. HIGH COMMAND TYPICALLY START OUT WITH A "MITHRIL" CLEARANCE CODE AND HAVE ACCESS TO DEPARTMENT REPOSITORIES AND LOCALES OF THE COMPANY AS THE LEADING AUTHORITIES OF THEIR BRANCHES. MOST (BUT NOT ALL) RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED. INCOME STRUCTURES ARE RESPECTABLY INCREASED, HOWEVER ALL HIGH COMMAND EMPLOYEES SHOULD EXPECT TO BE TREATED AS EXEMPT FROM AVERAGE PROTECTIONS OF EMPLOYEE PROTECTIONS DUE TO THEIR HIGH-RISK COMPENSATION. * TIER 5 DENOTES THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY OF THE ORICHALCUM MILITARY FREELANCE GROUP. COMPANY COMMANDERS ARE EXPECTED TO BE ONE WITH THE COMPANY, ACTING AS THE HEART, SOUL AND FACE OF THE COMPANY, AND THE HIGHEST RANKING REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY WHEN THE NEED ARISES, STANDING EQUIVALENT TO THE "GENERAL OF THE ARMED FORCES", "CORPORATE EXECUTIVE OFFICER" OR ANY SIMILAR RANK, IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE ABILITY OF THE COMPANY TO OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY OF ANY FOREIGN ENTITY. HOLDERS OF THIS RANK ARE UNEQUIVOCALLY (CO)OWNERS OF THE COMPANY TO OPERATE AS THEY SEE FIT. [BEGIN AMENDMENT, 24 AUG 2183. AUTHORIZED BY PLURALITY VOTE (THREE-OUT-OF-FOUR, ONE ABSENT) BY HIGH COMMAND AT THE TIME OF THIS WRITING. SIGNATURES: 天乃踊, H.M., J.D.] FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION ONLY, COMPANY HIGH COMMAND IS AUTHORIZED TO AND HEREBY GRANTS THE APPOINTMENT OF FOUNDING COMPANY COMMANDER UNDER THIS PROTOCOL TO ELYSIA BAUMANN, FOR HER STALWART EFFORTS IN FOUNDING AND OPERATING THE COMPANY SINCE IT'S INCEPTION IN 2178, TO BE HELD CONCURRENTLY WITH ANY STANDING RANK UNTIL SUCH TIME AS PROMOTION WITHIN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND PERMITS. HIGH COMMAND FURTHER DECLARES THAT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS APPOINTMENT, BAUMANN'S GRADE OF FOUNDING COMPANY COMMANDER IS ESTABLISHED TO HAVE PRECEDENCE OVER ALL OTHER GRADES IN THE COMPANY, PAST OR PRESENT. THIS AMENDMENT DOES NOT EXPIRE IN THE EVENT OF BAUMANN'S DEATH OR DEPARTURE FROM THE COMPANY, AND CANNOT BE REVOKED WITHOUT THE UNANIMOUS AUTHORIZATION OF THE AMENDMENT SIGNATORIES. [END AMENDMENT. SIGNATURES: 天乃踊, H.M., J.D.] ===================================================================================== PART TWO OF THREE

PAGE BREAK ===================================================================================== CLEARANCES - AS NOTED PREVIOUSLY, FIVE CLEARANCE LEVELS ARE BEING INTRODUCED TO PERMIT ACCESS TO CERTAIN RESTRICTED DOCUMENTS AND AREAS ON BOARD THE PMV FREE PHOENIX AS WELL AS ANY FUTURE FACILITIES WITHIN THE COMPANY. CLEARANCE CODES ARE BEING NAMED AFTER HISTORICALLY DOCUMENTED METALS/ALLOYS/METALLURGY. THE VALUE OF THE CLEARANCES ASCEND WITH THEIR NUMERICAL VALUE. SOME RANKS ARE NOTED TO START WITH THESE CLEARANCE LEVELS BUT IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE A HIGHER OR LOWER CLEARANCE BASED ON RECOGNITION OR DISCIPLINARY ACTION. KEEP IN MIND THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL CLEARANCE CODE IS TAILORED TO THE NEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUAL CARRYING IT. * LEVEL 1: COMMON CLEARANCES (BASED SOME OF THE OLDER BUILDING BLOCK METALS KNOWN IN HUMAN HISORTY, SUCH AS LEAD, COPPER, TIN, ETC) PROVIDES FREE ACCESS TO ALL RECREATIONAL AREAS DURING THEIR OPERATING HOURS (IF ANY) AS WELL AS AN INDIVIDUAL CREW MEMBER'S PARTICULAR WORK RESIDENTIAL QUARTERS. THIS CLEARANCE ALSO PERMITS THE HOLDER TO CARRY SIDEARMS AND TOOLS ON UNRESTRICTED COMPANY PROPERTY, AND (IN THE CASE OF THE ENGAGEMENT DIVISIONS) THEIR ASSIGNED MATERIALS WHILE EXECUTING AN ASSIGNMENT¹. ALL PERSONNEL ARE EXPECTED TO BE TRAINED IN GENERAL WEAPONS USAGE; AS SUCH, THEY ARE PERMITTED TO OWN THEIR OWN WEAPONS AND BRING THEM WITH THEM TO COMPANY PROPERTY, BUT THE COMPANY MUST BE NOTIFIED AND CERTAIN WEAPONS MUST BY REGISTERED AND APPROVED BY THE COMPANY PRIOR TO CARRY OR USE. THE COMPANY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ALTER, REFUSE OR TERMINATE THIS PRIVILEGE AS THE NEED ARISES. * LEVEL 2: INDUSTRIAL CLEARANCES (BASED ON SOME OF THE ALLOYS AND BASES OF SEVERAL EARLY TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTIONS, SUCH AS BRONZE, IRON, STEEL, ETC) FURTHER PROVIDES ACCESS TO STORAGE AREAS WITHIN THEIR DEPARTMENTS AS WELL AUTHORIZATION TO FORMALLY MAKE REQUEST FOR SUPPLIES. THIS CLEARANCE ALSO PERMITS THE HOLDER TO CARRY CERTAIN APPROVED WEAPONS IN RESTRICTED COMPANY PROPERTY AND (IN THE CASE OF THE ENGAGEMENT DIVISIONS) CARRY THEIR ASSIGNED WEAPONS ON UNRESTRICTED COMPANY PROPERTY¹. [NOTE: PLEASE DON'T CARRY FLAMETHROWERS IN THE MESS HALL OR TESLA BEAMS INTO THE REC CENTER. EVEN IF YOU HAVE THE CLEARANCE FOR THEM. WE DON'T WANT ANY FUNNY IDEAS. -MAJ. 天乃踊 御坂] * LEVEL 3: NOBLE CLEARANCES (BASED ON CERTAIN HIGHLY VALUED, CORROSION-RESISTANT METALS, SUCH AS SILVER, GOLD, PLATINUM, ETC) FURTHER PROVIDES ACCESS TO THE FULL FACILITIES OF THEIR DEPARTMENT, UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO THE OFFICER DEPARTMENT, AND THE AUTHORIZATION TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS AND RESOURCES, PROVIDED THESE APPROPRIATIONS ARE MADE IN WRITING AND SUBMITTED TO HIGH COMMAND AND ANY RELEVANT OFFICER IF CROSS- DEPARTMENT ACTION IS BEING MADE). THIS CLEARANCE FURTHER PERMITS THE HOLDER TO CARRY PERSONAL ARMS ON RESTRICTED COMPANY PROPERTY OR WHILE ON ASSIGNMENT¹. [NOTE: REAFFIRMING THAT LAST NOTE FROM THE MAJOR. JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN SPIN AROUND YOUR BELOVED WHATEVER-YOU-CALL-'EM DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD. I WILL PERSONALLY MAKE YOU PAY FOR ANYTHING YOU BREAK, EVEN IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT. -LT2 DALTON] * LEVEL 4: MITHRAL CLEARANCES (BASED ON THE METAL OF LORE) FURTHER PROVIDES THE RIGHT TO WRITE POLICY, DECLARE RESTRICTIVE ACTIONS AND HIRE OR TERMINATE EMPLOYEES IN THEIR BRANCH. THIS CLEARANCE FURTHER PROVIDES THE HOLDER THE AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE (INTER)NATIONALLY RESTRICTED MATERIALS SUCH AS CHEMICALS AND FIREARMS; TRAINING IS PROVIDED TO COMPLY WITH CERTAIN LICENSING AND LEGAL REQUIREMENTS.  * LEVEL 5: ORICHALCUM CLEARANCES ACT AS A ROOT CLEARANCE; THE HOLDER IS FREE TO ISSUE ANY CLEARANCE AND ACCESS ANY AREA OR MATERIAL AS THEY SEE FIT.¹ ¹:AS SUBJECT TO STANDING COMPANY POLICY, INTERNATIONAL LAW OR LOCAL LAWS OF A HOST COUNTRY, IF APPLICABLE. NEW ACTION - EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, HIGH COMMAND IS LIMITED IN IT'S CAPACITY TO FIELD ITSELF AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSSES DISRUPTING THE CHAIN OF COMMAND. AT THE TIME OF THIS WRITING, ONLY TWO TIER FOUR OFFICERS ARE PERMITTED TO BE FIELDED ON AN OUTBOUND ASSIGNMENT, EXCEPT IN CASES OF CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO THE COMPANY'S STATE OF BEING. FOURTY-EIGHT HOURS FROM THE TIME OF THIS WRITING, ALL RANKS WILL BE REASSIGNED TO FOLLOW THE NEW SYSTEM. RANKS/CLEARANCES MAY SHIFT AND CERTAIN BENEFITS PROVIDED OR RESCINDED EXCEPT WHERE PROTECTED BY CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION. ===================================================================================== PART THREE OF THREE

AUTHORIZATION ===================================================================================== ELYSIA BAUMANN, COLONEL, ORICHALCUM MILITARY FREELANCE GROUP 天乃踊 御坂, MAJOR, ORICHALCUM MILITARY FREELANCE GROUP HUNTER METSA, FIRST LIEUTENANT, ORICHALCUM MILITARY FREELANCE GROUP JOHN DALTON, SECOND LIEUTENANT, ORICHALCUM MILITARY FREELANCE GROUP ELECTRONICALLY SIGNED, DATED AND AUTHORIZED 23 AUGUST 2183. THE CONTENTS OF THIS MEMO ARE TO GO INTO EFFECT IMMEDIATELY EXCEPT AS NOTED SEPARATELY WITHIN. ===================================================================================== END MEMO