Open Door Policy [BBS/Action option]

[commanderzabala]

Good morning, Garden. I trust your weekends are going well.

Now that you have had a few days to assess the impact of new leadership, and review the policies and procedures being implemented under it, I am certain at least some of you have questions. You may ask them here, or if you prefer a more private venue, you may visit my office to ask them in person.

~Commander Zabala

Comments

[fierybluebird]

I believe there's been some mistake with my ranking, Commander.

- Marco SeeD Rank 6 (and I'm sure that is a mistake that will soon be rectified.)

[redcinemareel]

[Standing RIGHT BEHIND YOU. So you don't do stupid shit. Or she may help. Unsure.]

[fierybluebird]

[Totally totally fuming. In pure composed deadpan such that only people who know him well would know the truth. Obviously his wife fits the bill.]

BBS

[espio]

Is the mandatory use of that potion really necessary?

Being human is only useful in social situations. In the field, it cuts back on our natural defenses. I have a prehensile tongue and tail, and more importantly, camouflage. You know - complete and total invisibility. I lose it when I use that potion, along with any strategical advantage that came with it.

What good will that do anyone?

[redcinemareel]

[Stroking his hair idly. That new commander rubbed her the wrong way, if only because she just didn't like her attitude. Grell could tell that the assembly went much deeper that disdain of her attitude.]

BBS

[redcinemareel]

But you're loud. Camouflage won't do any good if your enemy can hear you.

[espio]

[GRELL YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO POINT THIS OUT YOU ARE JUST SUPPORTING ZABALA]

When have you seen me using my invisibility in the field? I've used it effectively in missions before, and it played a significant part in passing my SeeD exam.

[redcinemareel]

[SHE LIKES STIRRING UP STUFF OKAY?!]

I'm just pointing out personal experience.

[espio]

It's not an accurate reflection.

[redcinemareel]

But not untrue.

[Action]

[fierybluebird]

[Well, he's a little soothed. Cranky as hell though and likely to completely crush anything he gets his hands on.]

I still have to give Espio his hat.

[Action]

[redcinemareel]

[He should crush the hat.]

He has a hat?

[commanderzabala]

SeeD Marco,

While I understand your displeasure with the re-evaluation of the ranking system, it is, unfortunately, necessary. To the left, records of missions and accomplishments have been shoddily kept and are spotty in many locations due to the severe variations in personnel caused by Time Compression. To the right... to be blunt, this downward revision is necessary as a cost-cutting measure. Put simply, Garden does not have the fiscal reserves necessary to pay high-level salaries at this time. The missions that will reward you an increase in Rank, if done competently, are also the ones that will bring in enough money to pay the salary for that new Rank.

~Commander Zabala

[commanderzabala]

SeeD Espio,

Bluntly, Balamb Garden's external reputation is in a shambles because of the presence of offworlders. I do not mean this as a slight against those brought here by Time Compression; it is simply a statement of fact. The introduction of the potion is to prevent those of you who are most dramatically alien to our world from inspiring fear or hostility in the people Garden needs to hire us and pay for the care and shelter of those same offworlders.

That being said, its use is not necessary in many field circumstances. I rely on the discretion of the mission teams in question to make that assessment.

Repercussions will only be necessary in circumstances where a mission is severely hampered by an inhuman appearance, or serious complaint is made to the staff of Garden.

~Commander Zabala

[fierybluebird]

[Okay, he can keep his cool about this. Just has to remember what it was like talking to his idiot division members or young kids who always wanted to rush off and prove themselves as being strong while Marco just wanted to keep them safe and the ship running. Still, that in itself is pretty galling to him.]

While I understand the difficulty of financial constraints -- [And how. Who ran a fleet of Moby Dick ships and kept 1600 pirates drinking and eating to their heart's content? This guy.] -- given the nature of the system which requires a certain rank to be met before those higher level dangerous missions can even be accepted; it nearly makes it impossible to adequately prove one's capabilities or not. And it was already a hassle not to graduate in six months, but a year and a half. You're now asking us to wait possibly several more years before the chances to prove ourselves again can even be met.

- Marco

[espio]

That's a bit better. When the potion's usage will compromise a mission, there's simply no point.

And I have another question.

What's the state of the sponsorship program? Because I was always lead to believe it was our sponsors that funded us, rather than the Garden directly.

[Action]

[fierybluebird]

I bought him one. Whitebeard mark and and everything.

[Digs out the Stetson with Marco's blue tattoo mark on it.]

[Action]

[redcinemareel]

[Okay, don't crush the hat.]

That's precious! A little cowboy chameleon pirate!

[commanderzabala]

For now, this is in large part correct. However, I can assure you that in addition to our standing missions (which do not result in a Rank increase, but do provide funding necessary to to pay things such as salaries), we are working diligently to obtain more missions that are of critical importance. Garden as a whole should see an increase in mission assignments henceforth.

In the meantime I will personally be evaluating our SeeDs' performance as well. It is my hope that, as our situation improves and I can gain a clearer understanding of all of you, I will be able to see rank and promotion given to those who are deserving. But I need to get to know you all, first.

~Commander Zabala

/butting in yet again orz

[redcinemareel]

I was under the impression that our sponsors have nothing to do with us after we achieved SeeD status, and we become directly employed by the Garden itself.

[fierybluebird]

Perhaps you should keep in mind, Commander, that we do not know you either.

- Marco

[Action]

[fierybluebird]

Aye! [That cheers him up at least. Baby brother will adorable *_*]

You think he'll like it?

Re: /butting in yet again orz

[espio]

Well, yeah. Once we graduate, we're employees - we provide services to the Garden that cover our own costs. At least, that's what's supposed to be the case.

But that's not really what I was asking about. I still want to know about the sponsorship program. I'm concerned about the off-worlders as a whole, as I'm sure it's the cadets that are the biggest expense.

[commanderzabala]

Sponsorships primarily focus on cadets, providing for their supplies and education. At present they are the majority of our recurring funding.

However -- and I know this will sound quite mercenary -- Garden is intended to turn a profit. Not only has it been failing to do so, but it is in fact bleeding money. Without getting into details, suffice to say that we have more than enough costs to outweigh our income, and at present certain investors are considering abandoning the Garden project as a whole as a relic of a bygone age. This would prove quite troublesome, as these certain investors own the building.

You can imagine there might be a great deal of money to be found in a flying citadel, were its inhabitants to be turned out so it could be converted into, say, a pleasure cruise or the like. My goal here is to ensure this does not happen.

~Commander Zabala

/joins the crowd \o/

[fierybluebird]

Graduated SeeDs are highly encouraged to help sponsor as part of being alumni.

[And Marco would know because really aside from presents for friends and creating a small network like what he had back home as much as he can in this world; that's pretty much where all his money's been going. Diamonds are elite and all that.]

[Yeah totally mentally mocking you two from over here. Diamonds are the best.]