Agent Washington (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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piper902020-09-22 05:56 pm
parannoyed) wrote in piper902020-09-22 05:56 pm
Entry tags:
A Clear and Consistent Manner | [locked/encrypted] cw: mention of shock punishment in narration
[Wash is quickly learning that Jorgmund isn't the hardest to lie to. One of the benefits of working with middle management in a corporation instead of army leadership, he supposes. They bought that the egg stasis containers Wash tampered with were hit by acid spray during battle, and they even bought his excuse for why they failed the mission objective, why he hadn't acted as a "corrector."]
[Nobody died, after all. Wash pointed out that he'd gone into a conflict where they hadn't even assigned a field leader and walked out with everyone alive. And aren't the New Hires a very expensive and difficult to replace asset, as well? Or else they wouldn't have the shock collars to ensure their compliance.]
[Jorgmund had agreed with his assessment and told him his performance was adequate, and that his assessment of the situation was correct.]
[Then they'd shocked him, told him they expected better than "adequate" in the future and that he wasn't supposed to follow through on a correct tactical assessment unless they told him to.]
[Wash can tell they're trying to soften all they're doing with faux benevolence and nice words with everyone else - why call them "New Hires" if not to make what they're doing seem normal and reasonable? He wonders if they're dispensing with that faux softness with him because they know he's competent enough to see right through it - and because they have an extra bit of leverage to ensure his total obedience regardless of what they do to him. It's a daunting prospect, having to work with people that think there's nothing he'll say no to and who know there's more of chance he'll never fight back than some of the other New Hires.]
[But for now, at the very least he gets to keep both his life and the implant, and now he has to focus on continuing to keep them. To do that, he needs this group to be able to meet their mission objectives (and he doesn't dare risk sabotaging that again). And to do that they need to get their act together. It's not their fault that last mission was disorganized and sloppy, it was Jorgmund's for sending a bunch of brand new agents out there with the regulars, with unfamiliar equipment, and having not even met yet.]
[But it's still a problem that needs to be resolved.]
[It'll also be a lot easier to perform to expectations when they're not randomly getting almost-murdered.]
[After the self-executing encrypted code executes (something he won't tell Jorgmund about on the off chance the resistance here is effective enough to actually get them all out, but will keep in his back pocket if needs it) he gathers intel first, quietly lurking and reading.]
[Then he introduces himself like someone who's used to walking into different situations and immediately bossing everyone around, as ones does (if you're a Freelancer, at least). His voice is clipped and a little stiff, but occasionally dips into dry and sardonic.]
I'm Agent Washington. I may have run into some of you on that mission with the aliens...
[A pause.]
From Aliens.
But otherwise I'm new here. I need a sitrep and an overview of your defense plans so I can recommended improvements.
Also, who's in charge here? I know Jorgmund hasn't appointed anyone formally - because I asked - but you had to have made some kind of decision informally.
[Because the alternative is total anarchy and who lives like that??]
Then again, that mission in Pilton was a disaster, so if you haven't chosen a leader internally, why not?
[Look at Judge Judy all up in here.]
[Nobody died, after all. Wash pointed out that he'd gone into a conflict where they hadn't even assigned a field leader and walked out with everyone alive. And aren't the New Hires a very expensive and difficult to replace asset, as well? Or else they wouldn't have the shock collars to ensure their compliance.]
[Jorgmund had agreed with his assessment and told him his performance was adequate, and that his assessment of the situation was correct.]
[Then they'd shocked him, told him they expected better than "adequate" in the future and that he wasn't supposed to follow through on a correct tactical assessment unless they told him to.]
[Wash can tell they're trying to soften all they're doing with faux benevolence and nice words with everyone else - why call them "New Hires" if not to make what they're doing seem normal and reasonable? He wonders if they're dispensing with that faux softness with him because they know he's competent enough to see right through it - and because they have an extra bit of leverage to ensure his total obedience regardless of what they do to him. It's a daunting prospect, having to work with people that think there's nothing he'll say no to and who know there's more of chance he'll never fight back than some of the other New Hires.]
[But for now, at the very least he gets to keep both his life and the implant, and now he has to focus on continuing to keep them. To do that, he needs this group to be able to meet their mission objectives (and he doesn't dare risk sabotaging that again). And to do that they need to get their act together. It's not their fault that last mission was disorganized and sloppy, it was Jorgmund's for sending a bunch of brand new agents out there with the regulars, with unfamiliar equipment, and having not even met yet.]
[But it's still a problem that needs to be resolved.]
[It'll also be a lot easier to perform to expectations when they're not randomly getting almost-murdered.]
[After the self-executing encrypted code executes (something he won't tell Jorgmund about on the off chance the resistance here is effective enough to actually get them all out, but will keep in his back pocket if needs it) he gathers intel first, quietly lurking and reading.]
[Then he introduces himself like someone who's used to walking into different situations and immediately bossing everyone around, as ones does (if you're a Freelancer, at least). His voice is clipped and a little stiff, but occasionally dips into dry and sardonic.]
I'm Agent Washington. I may have run into some of you on that mission with the aliens...
[A pause.]
From Aliens.
But otherwise I'm new here. I need a sitrep and an overview of your defense plans so I can recommended improvements.
Also, who's in charge here? I know Jorgmund hasn't appointed anyone formally - because I asked - but you had to have made some kind of decision informally.
[Because the alternative is total anarchy and who lives like that??]
Then again, that mission in Pilton was a disaster, so if you haven't chosen a leader internally, why not?
[Look at Judge Judy all up in here.]
VIDEO
We don't really have a leader. [Much to his distaste, but he had dropped the ball a little when the time came to seize control of the group.] Several of us have taken charge at different points, but a solid, centralized leadership position is untenable when dealing with this situation, especially with 'New Hires' getting transferred or 'fired' seemingly at random.
Better, I think, to have a group of experienced people to rely on in case someone goes missing rather than one or two people holding all the cards. Especially when there's so much work to be done.
Adding to that, we don't have a choice in who goes on what missions, so flexibility in command matters is a key point.
video
That way whoever is assigned, there might be at least someone ready to lead on any given mission. And the rest of the group should train with them so they're comfortable taking their orders.
What has Jorgmund done so far to train everyone as a unit?
Re: video
Jorgmund takes no action for that kind of training. And the people who are willing to take classes in small unit operations and leadership tend not to be the people who need to take those classes.
[Peer pressure only goes so far and Armstrong can't exactly have anyone flogged for flouting a command.]
Jorgmund's training is largely in weapons and physical training. And the man in charge of the physical training lacks... flexibility.
Re: video
[Buuut he can read it and knows it and doesn't really care that he's getting it. Every single commander in every single war game the Freelancers trained in gave him that look.]
Lacks flexibility how?
Re: video
His combat training is similarly flawed, leading to several of us having to teach in our off time.
[There's a pause and a raised eyebrow.]
Are you competent to teach anything along those lines?
[After all, there's a big difference between being able to do and being able to teach.]
no subject
[It's a nice way of saying "I used to have to go into a terrible unit and help them get their shit together enough to have a chance at winning a war game they didn't know they were in."]
That sometimes entailed training or re-training them.
[Being an external corrective force helps explain why he's willing to just waltz in and be a bossy britches.]
I was SOF for most of the time I served so I have plenty to draw from.
I'd be willing to toss my hat in the ring to help train the group.
no subject
You'll understand that I'll have to see you in action.
[The others, he'd already seen. Either in training, during a friendly spar, or on an actual mission.]
You'll also understand that you can't force anyone to attend classes with you. I'll point students your way or you might have some approaching you themselves, but certain members value their independence and won't take to any commands from someone outside of people they already respect. For example, Jack there has aspirations of being a supervillain. Ben Reilly, while he was here, simply refused any non-mandatory training.
This isn't the military. NJPs aren't an option and, if someone raises a stink, you can find yourself in a very unpleasant position if you've tried to make things work the way you expect them to. If not from Jorgmund, then from your fellow New Hires.
[They were, after all, bonded through shared adversity. Adversity Wash had yet to truly taste.]
no subject
[It's best if the people offering training are aware of each other's skill sets and coordinating, and understandable that someone already offering training wants to make sure someone new legitimately has skills. So their work isn't undone or duplicated.]
[As for the rest...he shifts a little where he's sitting right now in his bunk, looking thoughtful.]
I don't expect to spontaneously gain authority. I don't really want authority. I'm no leader.
But it sounds like Jorgmund's training is bad enough that just offering something better might be a good way to make a few people choose to show up.
And the more ready everyone is to face...whatever's out there, the more chance they all have at surviving long enough to maybe get out of here.
[He needs them to be ready, because this isn't his first time being surrounded by metal walls and that means he needs it to be the last time.]
[He chews the inside of his cheek.]
I know I don't exactly have the best, ah, let's call it a bedside manner. I was running some...unpleasant solo ops for a while. I used to have a better way with people before, that I think I can draw on again.
[Aka he can remember how to fake it.]
no subject
[Boy howdy does he.]
Working here for as long as I have, yeah. You've got people glad just to have the lessons. Every mission there's someone else realizing a bit of their education is missing.
A bit of a spar will probably tell me more than asking Planker to set up a field exercise. His are a little difficult if anyone's unprepared and tend to wear some people out.
no subject
[LOCKED for Wash's delicate ego]
Appreciated, though.
no subject
If it comes down to it, you could always duel him to settle all the leadership questions. S'how mercenaries handled things where I come from.
[next he'll suggest trial by combat!]
no subject
Maybe if I point Mac and Bunny at him, he'll realize military discipline isn't the cure.
[A little pause.]
Not so sure we can settle all of our leadership questions like that, though. Someone like Brainiac might object.
no subject
[not mercenaries, so, different rules...]
I'm sure the sparring will get your point accross quick. Words are cheap for fighters, anyway.