[OOC] Black Dawn Academy IC

[Malena]

Premise:
It's been seven months since the start of the war. When North Korea finally made good on its threats against Washington, the Pentagon building was the first casualty, the nuclear fallout sending the nation into a panic, surging westward toward the center of the country. Capitalizing on the upheaval, Isis took its revenge on the UK, firing missiles that took out a good quarter of the royal navy. With all of Europe drawn into the fray, it took weeks for anyone to realize that the strain of influenza making the rounds was anything out of the ordinary. By the time the CDC had done their due diligence, the death toll had reached one million. Another bomb dropped, this time in Paris. Brussels was next. More grew ill, and the number of bodies climbed. Two million. Three. People were getting more and more ill, and the bombs continued to rain down, almost indiscriminately.

As fear turned to panic, as fallout shelters began springing up across the globe in response to the madness that was World War III, a signal began broadcasting over the radio, an advertisement of sorts. Black Dawn Academy, a political/military training facility for gifted youths. The advertisement was brief, concise. It called for students between the ages of 17 and 21 to take an aptitude test online, those who performed to standards were offered sanctuary and training at Black Dawn, where they would learn the skills they would need to survive the war and help rebuild the world, after. Application was open; regardless of alliance, race, religion, creed, or country. Parents, desperate to save at least one or sometimes even two of their children, encouraged their offspring to take the test, risking their lives to leave bomb shelters and safe zones to gain access to the internet and a chance at survival.

What I'm looking for:
Definitely not looking for a big group. 5-7 max, and since inevitably someone(s) will drop out, we can add more if and as needed. I'm looking for characters between 16 and 21 years old with some sort of outstanding qualities that make them special enough to be hand chosen from among the thousands of applicants. I'm not looking for Mary-Sues, Anime girls, superheroes, etc. Black Dawn Academy is a highly-secretive training area, its location so secret that not even those that attended it are aware of what country houses it. Physical military training, political science training, leadership workshops, survival training, and more are all taught at Black Dawn, a place that will break down the best of the best and then build them up into something even better.

Which brings us to here:
Are you interested? I thought you might be. In lieu of the traditional CS, what I'd like is the answers to the OSA (Online Segmented Assessment), as outlined here:

Online Segmented Assessment

1)
2) City/State/Country of Origin
3) What do you consider the most important quality in a leader, and why?
4) Describe a time when you could have demonstrated good leadership skills, but failed to do so.
5) If you were the leader of a world power, what are the first three steps you would take toward ending the war?
6) In wartime, which is more important - military protocol, or the morale of the people?
7) Throughout all of history, name the leader whose style you would most closely emulate, and why.
8) Rank the following in order of least to most important: Wilderness survival, espionage training, getting a good night's rest, the art of persuasion, martial prowess, agricultural skill.
9) Which do you think has the capacity to be more dangerous in the long-term - the ongoing war, or the illness ravaging the population?
10) Describe your personality in in one concise paragraph.
____________________________________________________________________________________

[Submit]

Thank you for submitting your application. Should you be chosen, a representative of Black Dawn Academy will arrive to bring you to the site. Godspeed.
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Still accepting apps. Please post (or re-post as the case may be) your CS to this OOC thread BEFORE your first IC post, please. If you edit any info, please seek approval of the new details BEFORE your first IC post, please.

[Malena]

I'm reserving this space.

[Malena]

And this space as well.

[Salvation]

Nadia Burns, age 17.

Portland, Maine, United States of America

The Questions

3) Strength of will. Leadership is not a rewarding undertaking; all blame is laid solely at your feet, and regardless of what you do, you alienate someone. The road to Hell is paved with good intentions and someone in charge who wants to appeal to the masses and save their popularity does their people no good. Thus, strength of will, coupled with logic and informed reasoning, is a desperately valuable trait, and one found in a small number of individuals throughout the world.

4) It's likely ridiculous to peek back into my childhood for moments of poor leadership - children are inherently poor leaders to begin with - but it's in my childhood I have to delve because it's there I find the most obvious examples, if not the most philosophical. Leading games and childhood adventures often offers those pivotal minutes where you should have been a better leader and failed. You go out with your friends into the forest to find a place for a clubhouse and find a shack instead. Your friends want to enter the shack. You don't. You suggest not to. They tease you. You give in, because pleasing the masses outweighs will. You spend the next thirty minutes running away screaming because the shack isn't empty, it houses a wild animal, and when your parents ask you about the neighbor girl who hasn't been found yet at dinner that night, you think back and consider what you should have done differently. I wasn't a very headstrong child, and I was easily upset, and if I'd just been a little stronger in spirit, perhaps these things could have been avoided.

5) Step one, re-evaluation. Sit down and comb over what assets remain under my control, collect them and keep them nearby to check again when needed. Step two, planning. Take that previously garnered information and sit down with my team to work out a reasonable method of utilizing them to deal with the most imminent threat to myself and my nearest ally. Step three, utilization. Enact the previously concocted plan to the best of the abilities of my militia and/or ambassadorial team.

6) Morale. The masses are a great asset, and also large, and potentially dangerous to anyone who tries to enforce protocol beyond their emotional breaking point. Internal riots are just as dangerous as war.

7) Genghis Khan. Throughout his lifetime, he exhibited sound judgement and an intense drive, even when it came time to divide his kingdom between his sons, making choices based on logical reasoning for the betterment of his dynasty even at the risk of alienating some of his peoples.

8) Martial prowess, wilderness survival, espionage training, getting a good night's rest, agricultural skill, the art of persuasion.

9) The illness. The war will rage until it dies, which might be sooner if more people die. There's nothing to rebuild if there's no people left in the wake of disease.

10) I consider myself intelligent, quiet and a bit scattered. I'm much less likely to brazenly throw caution to the wind or approach things head-on, as I prefer a cautious and subtle approach to all issues presented to me. Social connections come with some difficulty, but I endure them; I suspect I'm still standoffish with individuals I consider friends.

[Khelzar]

Dylan Harker, 21

1.

2) City/State/Country of Origin

Springfield IL - USA

3) What do you consider the most important quality in a leader, and why?

The ability to improvise. Every plan, no matter how good will eventually go down the drain. Something will go wrong, it's just Murphy's law. The weapon will jam, the door won't open, the car won't start. When something like that happens you want someone that can think on his feet, that can come up with a solution and boom, make things happen.

4) Describe a time when you could have demonstrated good leadership skills, but failed to do so.

There was that time, during gym class, when I was given the ever important task of being the captain... of the expected to lose team, during a dodge ball game. That wasn't my proudest moment, let me tell you. And the thing is, I know I could have led our little group of losers to victory, but I was too scared of what the much bigger, badder and not as handsome or smarter kids were going to do to me.

5) If you were the leader of a world power, what are the first three steps you would take toward ending the war?

What do others want? You need to figure that out, then find a way to hold it over them like a carrot on a stick. You develop the means to obtain it. Is it going to take an army? A group of engineers and scientists? And finally, you have to be able to hold onto it. So yes, we will need people that can punch others in the face, but only because everyone else is going to be looking to do just that. And if during those we can start working on the cure? All the better.

6) In wartime, which is more important - military protocol, or the morale of the people?

Morale. Military protocol is important, but the military by itself would be useless without the people to support it. If the people aren't happy, who's going to feed the soldiers? Maintain their equipment? Do the things that keep them able to be focused on defending the rest of us? After morale has been taken care of, then you turn toward military protocol.

7) Throughout all of history, name the leader whose style you would most closely emulate, and why.

Fucking Neil deGrasse Tyson. Because surviving in this new fucked up world takes skills, science and know-how. Because it takes some good old common sense. Because this isn't the time to let ourselves be weighed down by superstitions. Oh, you don't think he's a leader? Well, I got news for you, you're just plain wrong.

8) Rank the following in order of least to most important: Wilderness survival, espionage training, getting a good night's rest, the art of persuasion, martial prowess, agricultural skill.

Wilderness Survival, Espionage Training, Art of Persuasion, Martial Prowess, martial prowess, getting a good night's rest.

9) Which do you think has the capacity to be more dangerous in the long-term - the ongoing war, or the illness ravaging the population?

There's been how many wars through history? We were still kicking around after all those. No, the biggest issue here is this illness, our biggest enemy ends up being the stupid flu.

10) Describe your personality in in one concise paragraph.

Witty, savvy and smart. I know how to get dirty and down, but we're not going to survive this by punching people in the face. No, we need to work together, and we need to want to work together. So I can be a bit of a clown at times, because people do need a laugh or two here and there, but when it comes to buckling down and getting shit down? I'm your guy. I'm not religious, at all. Well, that's bullshit. Science is my god, and my god is good.

[Malena]

Jack Caesar

Before the war. California State University student, poli-sci major, future king-maker.

2) City/State/Country of Origin: Palo Alto, California, USA.

3) What do you consider the most important quality in a leader, and why? The most important quality in a leader is character assessment. A leader needs to know what to expect, and how to plan ahead for it. In order to determine what to expect, a leader needs to know how to read the signs of the people around him. Is this ally loyal, or resentful of your leadership? Is this enemy complacent, or are they planning to move against you? Are the people satisfied with your leadership, or are they a single incident away from civil unrest? Being able to read the language of the unspoken word is a quality shared by the best leaders in history. Those without this talent have unfortunately caused the situation we're in now. They didn't see this coming. They say no one did. I say someone should have.

4) Describe a time when you could have demonstrated good leadership skills, but failed to do so. My sophomore year, I was invited to the UN Summit as a student ambassador. I declined at the time, feeling as though my career path in political science didn't have time for humanitarian efforts. I had a new girlfriend, a scholarship, and though war loomed on the horizon, that just seemed like an opportunity for more doors to open to me. I declined at the time, and just years later, my girlfriend is lost - probably dead. My school was decimated in one of the earliest bombings, and war is all around us, closing doors on opportunities and lives all around us. Could I have made a difference? A useless question, now. I didn't go, and here we are today.

5) If you were the leader of a world power, what are the first three steps you would take toward ending the war? First: A tactical dismantling of the tactical leadership in hostile foreign nations. North Korea, Syria, Afghanistan - remove their leadership and the infrastructure crumbles. Second: Shore up any loose ends within the UN. Re-negotiate peace treaties, forge new alliances, broker an 'Us vs Them' stance that clearly paints the picture of who is on our side and who is an enemy. There can be no neutrality this time around. Not with this much at stake. Third: A concentrated push with our sworn allies into those countries aligned against our own, for a total annihilation of those that would see this war prolonged.

6) In wartime, which is more important - military protocol, or the morale of the people? Military Protocol. A war fought with precision, disciplined soldiers, and a solid command structure is one that can be waged with efficiency and a minimum of casualties. High morale is a side-effect of war waged well, not a goal.

7) Throughout all of history, name the leader whose style you would most closely emulate, and why. Stalin. Stalin came into power while his country was at an all-time low. Despite the fact that many like to parade the high death rate of the time, it is important to note that those deaths can be directly attributed to Lenin's administration. Far from passing the blame, Stalin accepted the flawed nation that was handed to him, and under his iron-fisted rule, the country flourished, becoming a military power and quadrupling it's resource output, restoring an economy that had collapsed twice, and holding off Hitler, a feat accomplished by few in that era. During this time of war and rebuilding, the world needs a Stalin to help pick up the pieces and put them back together better than they were.

8) Rank the following in order of least to most important: Wilderness survival, espionage training, getting a good night's rest, the art of persuasion, martial prowess, agricultural skill. Getting a good night's rest, the art of persuasion, espionage training, wilderness survival, agricultural skill, martial prowess.
9) Which do you think has the capacity to be more dangerous in the long-term - the ongoing war, or the illness ravaging the population? The illness. Nuclear fallout has a maximum radius. This disease operates under no such confines. It is spreading without an end in sight.

10) Describe your personality in in one concise paragraph. Strategically-inclined, I prefer to formulate a plan of action instead of a committee. When I have a goal I do not deviate from it, when I have an order I do not take short-cuts and I do not leave a job half-done. My commitment to my obligations is paramount, my pride is not a weakness but a signature upon my contract of personal honor.
These days, the strategic moves I plan aren't simply for my country, they're for the human race.

[Jozarin]

Joséphine Fournier, 17

1)

2) Montreal, Canada

3) Knowing your resources. As a leader, you need to be able to efficiently put each person in the best place for them, and allocate resources. You need to be able to find important information and materiel quickly and efficiently. Without knowledge of what is available to you,
you will not be able to use it as efficiently as you can. And that, to me, is the essence of leadership.

4) I was practising mounted orienteering with some of my friends, and one of our number, Jack Collin, got lost. It was a while before I realised, and, as the leader of the group, I decided that we would never find him, and figured that we'd get authorities to help once we got out. He lost a hand that day, and we were never the same again. If I had kept all my party in mind, none of that would have happened.

5) I would see how my predecessor tried and failed, and immediately fix that as far down into the problem as possible. Next, I'd extend attempts at diplomatic solutions, but at the same time, I would be mobilising as much of the population as I can so that there is swift response if (when) diplomacy goes south.

6) It depends on the size of the military. In larger militaries, protocol is easily more important - there needs to be strict chains of command, for orders and actions to be carried out as efficiently as possible. Protocol is necessary for that, when there are many people. With a smaller sized military, the morale of the people is necessary, as it relies on their support more and more.

7) I strive to imitate Otto von Bismarck. He managed to unite Germany through strategic warfare, not expending anything he didn't need to. Once he had a united Germany, he used mostly-peaceful means to maintain his Fatherland's Power

8) Wilderness survival, getting a good night's rest, the art of persuasion, martial prowess, espionage training, agricultural skill.

9) Illness can be contained. War cannot. The war is easily more dangerous.

10) I would say I am loyal, disciplined, and independent. My reserved manner belies how friendly I can be with those I get to know. I am Catholic, but not devoutly so. I wouldn't say that I am that far from the norm, although that just be my perspective messing with me.

[Malena]

@Khelzar@Jozarin@Salvation

I've posted the results of your OSA scoring in The Character Thread. These will be updated throughout the characters' time at Black Dawn Academy. It is to be considered OOC information until such a time, if ever, the characters make an IC effort to access the Academy Instructors' notes on their progress. This means you may certainly keep in mind OOCly that this is the outlook that the Academy has on your character, but it cannot be used ICly as information that your character is aware of. I'm extending this courtesy breach in IC/OOC information as I think it makes for interesting analysis, knowing what the NPCs think of your character. Please don't abuse the courtesy.

[Malena]

@Jozarin@Khelzar@Salvation

Merry Christmas, everyone. Now post or Santa is going to sell your toys on eBay.

[Jozarin]

@Malena@Salvation

@Khelzar hasn't been online in 4 days. Maybe we should continue without him until he comes back on.