(Barely.)

Hello again, my beautiful brethren and lovely friends, and good evening! It’s nearly mid-month now, so this rather belated report is a long time in coming, but for the first time in almost three weeks, I don’t feel like death, I’ve got sweet tea (yes Vyr it’s tea), and I’ve got all of you — so you know what that means?

IT’S FREAKING REPORT TIME!

Now, because this has been long-coming and we’ve important matters to address, I’m going to get right into the thick of things. Open your eyes up, boys and girls. You’ve got them for a reason! Strap in, pay attention, and come along with me!

---

The Citadel, Selen

39 ABY

The door to the Consul's office slammed open, and Arcia Cortel, Admiral of Arcona, came striding in with all the force of a hurricane. Slowly. Feet dragging. With teeth gritted so hard the guards outside cringed at the sound of bone creaking.

Well...the force of a hurricane with a woman wrapped around its ankles.

"PUUUHLLEEaaasseeee, Arcy," whined Atyiru, somewhat nasally, as her face slid across the carpeted floor, robes dragging dust and other grime as she clung to her Proconsul's leg with both arms and no small bit of help — it wasn't cheating! — from the Force. "Please, pelase, pelalsles."

"You're not even using words anymore," growled the Admiral, glaring down at her Consul with venomous eyes. Her brow twitched. "For the love of— Atyiru, get off. You're being childish."

"Well you're being mean."

"We discussed this MONTHS ago! My retiring is not new information. You've already approved it, you have a replacement in order—”

"But...but..."

Arms crossed, the Human frowned. "But what?"

"Well it didn't hit me until just now okay!" The Seer lifted her face from the floor, lip wobbling and silvery brows scrunched. "Look, I'll even cancel all the hook— er, I mean, call girls for Lover's Day. And stop skipping through the halls at all hours. And, and, oh! I'll, I know, I'll rescind the standing order to sing 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' whenever you enter a room! Eh, eh?"

"Atyiru," Arcia said, still obviously annoyed but more softly this time, like an exasperated older sibling. She pried her legs out of the Miraluka's hold, turned, and knelt stiffly - as only she could - next to her white-haired companion. "Stop it. You'll be fine, and I am not leaving the clan or the AAF."

"Yeah, but I'll miss you anyways. Who else am I going to bother day and night?"

"Oh, everyone, trust me."

"What was that?"

"I said you'll be fine without me." She nudged the other woman's shoulder, urging her to sit up off the ground. "You're the Shadow Lord, act like it and quit with the tantrum."

"A Shadow Lady throws tantrums exactly when she means to, exactly as long as she means to," Atyiru sniffed as Arcia rolled her eyes with emphasis. "Oh, Arcy, no one will be quite like you."

"For what it's worth, I'll miss this as well. There, now. Come on, work to do— why are you smiling like that?"

A face-splitting smirk was plastered over the Miraluka's face. She leapt to her feet and hopped up and down, pumping a fist in the air. "HAH! Bleu owes me twenty creds! I got you to admit it! You'll miss me, you'll miss meeeee," she sang, and tackled the Human into another hug. "Hahahah!"

"I hate you."

"No you don't."

Even Arcia, for once, almost smiled.

---

Carpe Diem, Seize the Day

Oh Captain, My Captain

Last week, I announced to you all — and the Brotherhood at large — that Arcona would be in need of a new Proconsul. Our dear Melons of Selen are retiring to paint french girls robes and beautiful sabers for all of you, and we’ve thanked them...er...him...repeatedly for his service. I say it one more time to the Brotherhood at large: thank you, Esca. You’ve been nothing but brave and brilliant.

Now, while he’s left some big shoes to fill, we still have to fill them. I can only express gratitude and appreciation to everyone who showed interest, but in the end, there’s only one person that I can name my new right hand.

Your new Proconsul, ladies and gentlemen, is Uji Tameike, better known to many of you as Donny (or S’nar).

A salute to those who’ve served, and a big, welcoming cheer for those who come next! WOOOOOOHOOOO!

Now Hiring Baristas! Aedile! Must be able to spell “Ashley” six different ways.

That means, however, that House Galeres needs a new Aedile (damn, this feels familiar). If you’re interested in the position (and I know some of you out there are eyeing leadership spots!) then please, do apply! I always love to see interest in leadership, especially in our family here. All are welcome.

We'll be holding applications Brotherhood-wide from now until Saturday, Feburary 20th, 23:59 EST/04:59 GMT. Please send all applications or questions to Atty ([Log in to view e-mail addresses]), Uji ([Log in to view e-mail addresses]), Starbucks Coffee, aka Braecen ([Log in to view e-mail addresses]).

Things we're looking for in said applications:

• A plan of action and ideas for the House moving forward
• Less than 24-48 hour email turnaround time
• Any past leadership in the Brotherhood or notable achievements listed
• Any leadership experience outside of the club or in real life that may be relevant listed
• Access to IRC and strong TG presence (TG is not technically required but is heavily encouraged)
• Ideas for the fictional expansion and improvement of the House
• Ability to listen, learn, mediate, work as a team, manage time, and problem solve (#ohanameansfamily)

Things to note when applying (aka helpful tips from the A-Team):

• Having taken and passed the Shadow Academy's Leadership courses will be looked upon favorably.
• Knowing yourself is a good thing. Tell us about what you can bring to the summit and where you could improve.
• Send applications to all the people we direct you to send them to. No, seriously. :P I’m going to say this every time now.

Fall of Perdition

Now that we’ve got the administration stuff out of the way, we can talk about the fun part! And by fun, you KNOW I mean stomping our enemies’ faces in until I’m rocking some shiny red boots.

What enemies do I mean? Well, unless you’ve been living under a rock (or, like me, sleeping in a cold medicine-induced haze) then you should know (coughcough) that we currently have a Clan event running called Fall of Perdition.

From the Galeres Aedile Report

The Shadows rise and fall with the tides of conflict. When all is settled, we will remain - Arcona Invicta.

After returning from the events of the Great Jedi War, Arcona’s fleet lay in shambles with many vessels disabled or in need of significant repair. The Clan returned to Dajorra space, intending to celebrate their victory and recover from their many wounds. Unfortunately, the remnants of the One Sith returned under a new title. The fleet of the organization now known as Perdition lashed out against S.C.E.P.T.E.R. assets throughout the Dajorra System.

The Dajorra Defense Force engaged Perdition forces, the two fleets clashing throughout the system in a series of small skirmishes. The resulting engagements drove Perdition forces into hiding, many of them fleeing into the system’s asteroid belt after the destruction of their last Imperial Star Destroyer left them at a significant disadvantage against Arcona’s Forces.

In the months that followed, Perdition took advantage of Arcona’s increased need for asteroid-mined ore. The small, maneuverable fleet struck a number of installations along the field's borders, until they finally drew the Nighthawk and its crew into a confrontation. Only the intervention of the Proconsul - commanding the NSD Invicta - kept the Nighthawk and its crew from being lost. Unfortunately, Kordath Bleu d’Tana, the Rollmaster and former Captain of the Nighthawk, was captured during the engagement.

Where we are now

Under the unified command of Arcia Cortel, the Arconan fleet moves to engage Perdition's forces. Employing the use of the NSD Invicta’s gravity well generators, the enemy is pulled from hyperspace, allowing the Dajorra Defense Force to attack while the Jedi forces of both Houses strive to eliminate Dassac, the leader of Perdition. The time to end Dassac’s continued defiance of the First Clan has come. Arcona has answered the call to arms once again.

Will you play a role in what is it come or sit idly by while your brothers enter battle?

---

The event’s first half comes to a close in two days, and the second is upon us! I don’t know about all of you, but I’m going to go get me some crescents, go write my part of the rest of this event, and go beat in some faces. Anyone want to join me?

Dat Civil War Tho

January’s end also saw the end of our supermassive parody competition series, Captain Arcona: Civil War. For the sheer volume of the competitions available, and the sheer horrible, horrible creativity of some of you crazies, I’m damn proud of the turn out. Well done, my insane lovelies. Even those of you who support soda or coke. :P

Congratulations to our winners, Warp, Maaks, and Mord (or, you know, their actual character names)! I’m totally gonna say that pop is the victor here since Warp took first. Consul’s veto (shutupErnor).

Well done! Now go look at the one I just advertised. :P

Actually, finish reading this first. But you get my point.

Lives Extraordinary

There is a time for daring...

Episode VII Celebration - Over!

As you’ll recall, we spent our holidays and New Year raving about the newest addition to Star Wars canon. And, in proper fandom fashion, the Dark Council ran us some competitions for the event! You can check out the results here in Sarin’s official release. Well done to everyone who participated, and a round of shout outs to:

• Mord, whose team got first place in the Run-On!
• Kat, Wally, Skar, and Ninj (and Calindra!) on their team’s second place finish in the Run-On! #teamunicorn
• Brae-Brae for second place in Trophylicious
• Esca for second place in Playing With Fire
• Kiwi/Mirus/Rhace/whateven for first place in Postulation and Argumentation and third place in the Database Hunt.

You guys rock!

A Fist’s Farewell

In case you didn’t notice...which...hopefully you did…Valhavoc is retiring as FIST, and Sarin will soon be reaching a decision regarding his replacement. Be sure to have read his final address and to drop him a thank you if you haven’t already. Val’s done awesome and deserves love (and all the dinosaurs he likes).

And there is a time for caution…

Meanwhile, the Grand Master’s Invitational Tournament is winding to its dramatic close as well! It’s the final round, people, the final showdown, the last bout. Our own “Red Right Hand,” Timeros and our “Token Lightie,” Turel face each other for the Championship title!

Check out Wally’s latest awesome newspost coverage and follow their match here. Be sure to cheer on both competitors!

#InTimmyWeTrust #OhanaMeansFamily #AmIUsingTheseRightYet #SorryRevsIKnowYouHateHashtags

And a wise man understands which is called for.

Across the pond...of darky...sith...black goo? Eh who knows what, but across it, there’s some jobs open! Besides our own search for an Aedile in Galeres, Clan Scholae Palatine is also looking for an Aedile. You can find the opening and application details right here if you’re interested. Apply to all the things! Don’t be shy or scared! You’re too awesome for that (duh).

Other News, Reports, and Happenings

• Chamber of Justice Verdicts
• Herald Report #11
• Voice Report #11
• Headmaster Report #19
• Wiki Tribune Report: New Canon
• Odan-Urr Consul/Proconsul Report February (Relationship status: “It’s Complicated”)
• Qel-Droma January Report
• House Galeres January Report
• Nighthawk Report 004
• Shadow Gate Report #9
• Battleteam Styx Report 3
• Soulfire Report

Recognition

I want you guys to know that I had to delegate (yes Atty is learning to delegate omg) three people just to get all these awards and promos together. That’s how much you’ve all done in just one month of this new year. Just one month, and look at all of this. Look at you all who reached new Equite ranks when you never thought you would before. Look at the medals you’ve earned for all that amazing things you have done.

When you put the effort in, you will be rewarded. When you raise your voices, you will be heard. When you stand as brothers and sisters and strive to make something more of yourself, you will succeed. You prove that to me — and everyone here — each day, Arconans, my friends.

Be proud of it.

Promotions

K'tana

• Savant

Lonewolf

• Knight

Terran Koul

• Augur

Zakath

• Seer

Uji Tameike

• Seer

Stang Mach

• Hunter

Mac

• Knight

Emily Hune

• Raider

Rhace Tarrin

• Lieutenant Colonel

Wes Biriuk Erinos

• Battlemaster

Merits

Kordath

• Sapphire Blade

Lonewolf

• Dark Cross

Marick

• Steel Cross
• Dark Cross
• Steel Cross

Skar

• Dark Cross

Strategos

• Grand Cross

Timeros

• Steel Cross
• Anteian Cross

Ernordeth Puer-Irae

• Grand Cross

Rulvak Qurroc

• Grand Cross

Celahir Erinos Arconae

• Grand Cross

Talos Erinos

• Grand Cross

Jake Blazer

• Anteian Cross

Rayze Erinos Arconae

• Dark Cross

Nikola Valtiere Erinos

• Anteian Cross

Uji Tameike

• Anteian Cross

Stang Mach

• Anteian Cross

Braecen Kaeth

• Sapphire Blade

In The Land of Melons

For almost eight months, I have served as your Proconsul and I have to say, it has been a blast. It comes time, however, for me to step down, as you all are aware from the announcement of Proconsul Applications. I just wanted to tell you all that I have never been prouder of the Clan as I was and have been these past months.

I’m going to keep this short, as I’m not one for long winded goodbyes. Continue being great, Arcona. I will still be on the ‘Hawk helping fight the good fight while we prep for an eventual War. Thank you all for the amazing eight months and here’s to many more as I return to BT status! Keep Uji busy!

Arcona Invicta!

The Adventures of Atty and Arcy...a.k.a. Ask the A-Team

It’s the last edition of Ask the A-Team, and Esca’s answered a couple questions especially for the occasion. There may even have been tears. Granted, those might have been me, but still. Yes, I know I don’t have eyes and can’t actually cry. No, I don’t care, shut up and eat a rainbow.

Without further ado, on we go!

Okay one more thing...if you’ve got suggestions for what Donny and I call this segment...I’ll take ‘em!

Ahem.

Wally asks, #asktheateam Without the Melons to guide our forces, do you think there will be any decrease in military efficiency for the ADF?

• Atty: Have you met her? As if the troops are any less terrified of disappointing just because she’s not the Proconsul anymore. :P Or better, as if she’ll ever leave off leading our military while she breathes.
• Arcy: Doubtful. Arcia is a hardass and known brilliant strategist with a love for the Fleet. I’m sure she will remain as an advisor, and I’m sure the Shadow Lady will refuse any attempt at resigning her Admiralty within the Fleet. She’ll still be around, just not as visible.

Wally also asks, #asktheateam Atty: You've now been Consul almost a full year. Looking back, what do you think the most important thing you've learned as a leader that you would share as advice to the future/upcoming leaders in Arcona/the DB.

• Arcy: I bet she says something about rainbows.
• Atty: How to spread rainbows. >:P In seriousness, I think I would share one of the toughest lessons I learned this last year. While there are many I would advise to anyone looking for such lessons — plan your events and the fiction for them ahead of time; learn time management; and always, always be patient with working with, managing, balancing, and mediating your summiteers and subordinates — I think the one I would stress is this: you are going to have to make choices.
• Sometimes, they’re easy, clear cut, and “good.” Those are the ones that don’t worry you at odd hours, the ones that you don’t even have to think too much about. Then there’s going to be wrong ones. Ones where you made a bad choice and screwed up. No sugarcoating, no excuses. Be honest with yourself and others about those mistakes when you make them. This is just my opinion, but “saving face” and “looking good” to the outside world only goes so far. While it is good practice to be united in the decisions you make, and for entire summits to publically support those decisions, to be a unified whole like that, it’s also good to be honest, and be humble. Shame is not the opposite of pride, but its source. Only humility is the true cure for shame, and I’ve had to freely admit to my share of screw ups more often than many would guess. But the thing is? I’m better for it.
• Okay, okay, Atty, what point are you getting to here….Well, while you have those “right and wrong” decisions that are pretty black and white, you also have the ones that aren’t. A lot of the time, you might find yourself in situations where there are no right choices. There’s just the best of the bad, because the situation is bad. My advice to you, dears, is to take those times, make the best choice available to you of all that bad, and stand by it. Don’t worry, don’t be anxious, don’t feel bad. You have to be able to recognize limits, when you can do no better or no more, when the only thing you can do is do worse...or move forward. Always move forward. And at the end of the day, whether you’re right, wrong, or just as right as you can be, move forward with those choices. That’s my advice. It probably seems weighty and pointless, but when you’re a leader, you worry and question. Thing is, when you’re a leader, even then, you have to lead and make the calls anyway — get up and do it.

Wally asks, #asktheateam Will the next PCON require a letter "A" in their name to preserve the "Ask the A team" hashtag, or will we be forced to adapt?

• Atty: pinches Arcy’s cheeks No, we’ll look for a new name. It is not proper to just borrow a name! Everything has a name. Especially the ever-changing wind.
• Arcy: There can be only one “A-Team.” Even if the next PCON has an “A” in their name, they wouldn’t be part of the “A-Team.” crosses arms

Donny asks, #Asktheateam for both of you: where do you see fictionally, your characters proceeding during this year as the Clan moves towards another war?

• Atty: Just my character, huh? I expect Atty will go one of two ways: crack in the head a bit and go full on, sunshiney-murder crazy, (more dark side) or grow to be more of a shadowy-lightie champion of sorts, encouraging everyone to better themselves and unite for what’s to come (more light side).
• Arcy: Arcia has been paying close attention to the DIA lately “off-screen.” I’m sure something will be seen in light of this Soon ™.

Turel asks, #asktheateam what, if any, IC development of the ARC-COU alliance do you foresee in the near future? Do you see that as something that will last beyond your term as Consul? Can COU finally change its Facebook status to "In a Relationship" with Arcona :p

• Atty: IC, given how close we’ve been growing OOC (and somewhat IC in a couple instances) with all the #ARCCOU domination, I’m actually pretty optimistic that the alliance will strengthen and be foreversies...assuming COU can accept the fact that we’re tied to TAR too. :P I definitely think this is something that will last beyond me as Consul. I see too many friendships to imagine it any other way (so, while complicated now, I totes approve a toothbrush at the apartment in the future).
• Arcy: I have a feeling it would be more of a “It’s Complicated.”

Celevon asks, #asktheateam Terran told me Ohio is now officially part of Canada. How does this make you feel?

• Atty:
• Arcy: I’ll present him an Ewok and Wookie fur coat for his next visit.

Sam asks, #asktheateam how do you see the Clan developing fictionally in light of recent story arcs and the new canon? Will anything change much? What are your plans for the immediate future to give overarching plot lines room to develop?

• Atty: As Arcy mentions, we’ve got some talking to do, not just as a new Con-Pcon team but as a whole summit heading into the New Year, particularly with some recent comp proposals. However, in general, I see the Clan moving towards a couple things: a) an eventual feud with another Clan b) closer ties to both Odan-Urr and Tarentum developing, as well as some reflection therein on Arcona’s growing “Gray” identity, and c) settling Arcona and all our pieces and parts into our new home when the New Canon update releases (Soon ™). I don’t expect anything to change terribly much — from what it has since we last discussed our alignment and identity, that is — but much of our military, world building, and associated topics will be revamped in the future. As for immediate events...we’re wrapping up one plot now with Fall of Perdition, and will be beginning another in March that could last us quite some time depending on its reception. Stay tuned.
• Arcy: I have ideas I cannot openly discuss, but I will leave this for the Shadow Lady and her new Scion.

Ernor asks, #asktheateam can Atty kick Arcia out of the airlock in a retirement fiction?

• Atty: Part of the ship, part of the crew. Part of the ship, part of the crew.
• Arcy: This doesn’t make sense. The Airlock does not recognize Arcia. She never leaves the ship.

Ernor asks, #asktheateam can you make esca draw a tombstone gfx for his pcon term?

• Atty: It didn’t happen. :P
• Arcy: I could probably make this happen.

Slagar asks, #asktheateam Does Arcy have any post-Proconsul plans? Hitting the paid lecture circuit, opening a Proconuldential Library? Working with Habitat For Humanity?

• Arcy: Continuing to hide on a ship and offer assistance to the Herald and Shadow Lady as required. Mostly the hide on a ship part.

Kalon asks, #asktheateam Gary?!

• Atty: Heeeeeeeey, buddy! Got that family to save?

In Closing

It’s been extraordinary, my friends. I’ve been your Consul for a year now, and we’ve had a hearty start to this new one. For once, I find myself without the words. All I can really say is thank you.

Well...and, of course, as always,

Arcona Invicta!