Down on the planet of Caissa, I enter Carlsen City. A light mist hangs in the air as I slog my way from the star port out onto the street looking for transportation to Lisi Military Academy.
Before hailing a taxi I get hit with a heavy downpour that drenches me head to foot. As soon as it starts though, it ends. Just in time for me to duck into the cab with a squelch of my travel suit.
I manage to dry off my brief case by the time we pull up to the Academy. I pay the driver and step out, only to get hit by another brisk downpour. This interview better be worth it…
A cadet offers me an umbrella and leads me across campus. Lines of trainees practice drills on a soggy field as we walk past. In the distance, we see the domes of hangers and three dropships parked, ready to take off at a moments notice.
The cadet leads me to a nondescript two story ferrocrete building, set a little apart from the rest. Standing outside I see a familiar sight.
Commanding Officer of the RND Richard Millich stands before me, famous fedora on his head, camel rain slicker round his shoulders, and a cigarillo hanging from his mouth.
Richard: Hey there! Welcome to Caissa. Was your flight okay?
Kenneth: Oh yeah, flight was fine. You definitely have some precipitation around here, don’t you.
Richard: Hehehehe, well let’s get you inside before it hits again.
Once inside, we headed down a well lit hall. Cadets polished the floor and stood to salute when Richard walked by.
Once we reached his office, Richard hung up his slicker and indicated a chair for me to sit in. His desk is impeccable as cadets carry files in and out in a hurried manner.
Richard: Ethel, make sure we aren’t disturbed. Any questions, send them down to Wise’s office.
“Yes Commander.” Ethel, a bespecked lady who looked around the corner, shooed the cadets off, set a coffee set on Richard’s desk, backed out and closed the door.
“All right, let’s begin.”
K: Tell me a bit about the path you've taken that has brought you to Caissa. Did you start in RND or where there other clans before?
R: Actually, originally we were under Chris Daniels of Clan Wolverine. Our history goes all the way back to Clan Wars IV, before the league began titling these events by year.
K: Clan Wolverine, that name brings back some memories for a lot of folks I've met.
R: Understandable. It was a different league then. Clan Wars have changed a lot since I started taking part.
K: So after Clan Wolverine, you've been immersed in the RND framework of clans. What were some of the highlights of that time?
R: That has to be the Golden Year. In twelve consecutive Clan Wars, one of the units under my command, the 99th Chessmen R&D Corps, won Gold, unbroken.
R: I'm especially proud of this, as this was done with two different commanding officers, myself and Mel Gibbens, with the help of 36 players over that time span, a steady turnover. That unit's emblem still adorns the Zadok today.
K: RND has always managed to produce both excellent clans and players alike. What things do you look for and work on to help maintain this level of performance?
R: Dedication to improvement is and has always been the key to a great player. It's easy to become complacent and easy to become comfortable among friends.
R: The RND has always considered itself a friendly cadre of scientist warriors, but a professional organization nonetheless.
R: Any player who wants to be a true Chessman needs to keep that top of mind and constantly strive for more within themselves in order to constantly hone their edge for themselves and for the sake of the team.
R: The Gold Standard, as we call it, isn't about championship results, but about championing the virtues needed to get there.
R: In order to play a big game, Chessmen have to think and believe a big game first in as many aspects as possible.
K: So, like in all things, the world of Mecha combat and it's champions are always evolving and progressing. What are your aims and goals for yourself and those that you lead?
R: We seek as many opportunities for long term success, mastery and camaraderie for as many people as possible, on as many fields of battle as possible.
R: Our goal now is to replicate and then surpass our prior accomplishments, both on and off the field.
K: There are many very standard ways of improving ones level of performance. Niode mechs, gear, and weapons. Resource management. Watching experience gains. Collecting the right combinations of mechs for various formations. What are some things that you've preached to your pilots that might be considered more outside the box?
R: That's proprietary Chessmen information. Hehehe.
K: Hehehe, that's fine. Well, we're getting near the end of our time together, is there anything else you'd like to touch on or tell our community?
R: I think that there are dozens of ways to play, each of which are valid. There's a clan for each of them. However, sooner or later, any game becomes an investment of time, money, or both.
R: Those who arrive at that commitment often seek the clan that reflects the way that they play. Why do that when they can find a clan that challenges them instead?
R: It's smart to seek strength, and it's smarter to seek adversity. Never take your gaming for granted, because you'll run up against truly dedicated, highly invested, professional players. Talk to them. Learn from them. If you can, join them.
R: Amid professional players, even the newest players can reach out and benefit. This is still a welcoming player base even as higher and higher standards develop. The best story is the one you write.
K: That’s some excellent advise Richard. Well, that’s all the time we have today as I’ve got a flight to take to somewhere a bit more dry. I want to thank Richard Millich for his time today as well as the community at large.
R: Thank you Ken, and safe travels!
<End Transmission>
Before hailing a taxi I get hit with a heavy downpour that drenches me head to foot. As soon as it starts though, it ends. Just in time for me to duck into the cab with a squelch of my travel suit.
I manage to dry off my brief case by the time we pull up to the Academy. I pay the driver and step out, only to get hit by another brisk downpour. This interview better be worth it…
A cadet offers me an umbrella and leads me across campus. Lines of trainees practice drills on a soggy field as we walk past. In the distance, we see the domes of hangers and three dropships parked, ready to take off at a moments notice.
The cadet leads me to a nondescript two story ferrocrete building, set a little apart from the rest. Standing outside I see a familiar sight.
Commanding Officer of the RND Richard Millich stands before me, famous fedora on his head, camel rain slicker round his shoulders, and a cigarillo hanging from his mouth.
Richard: Hey there! Welcome to Caissa. Was your flight okay?
Kenneth: Oh yeah, flight was fine. You definitely have some precipitation around here, don’t you.
Richard: Hehehehe, well let’s get you inside before it hits again.
Once inside, we headed down a well lit hall. Cadets polished the floor and stood to salute when Richard walked by.
Once we reached his office, Richard hung up his slicker and indicated a chair for me to sit in. His desk is impeccable as cadets carry files in and out in a hurried manner.
Richard: Ethel, make sure we aren’t disturbed. Any questions, send them down to Wise’s office.
“Yes Commander.” Ethel, a bespecked lady who looked around the corner, shooed the cadets off, set a coffee set on Richard’s desk, backed out and closed the door.
“All right, let’s begin.”
K: Tell me a bit about the path you've taken that has brought you to Caissa. Did you start in RND or where there other clans before?
R: Actually, originally we were under Chris Daniels of Clan Wolverine. Our history goes all the way back to Clan Wars IV, before the league began titling these events by year.
K: Clan Wolverine, that name brings back some memories for a lot of folks I've met.
R: Understandable. It was a different league then. Clan Wars have changed a lot since I started taking part.
K: So after Clan Wolverine, you've been immersed in the RND framework of clans. What were some of the highlights of that time?
R: That has to be the Golden Year. In twelve consecutive Clan Wars, one of the units under my command, the 99th Chessmen R&D Corps, won Gold, unbroken.
R: I'm especially proud of this, as this was done with two different commanding officers, myself and Mel Gibbens, with the help of 36 players over that time span, a steady turnover. That unit's emblem still adorns the Zadok today.
K: RND has always managed to produce both excellent clans and players alike. What things do you look for and work on to help maintain this level of performance?
R: Dedication to improvement is and has always been the key to a great player. It's easy to become complacent and easy to become comfortable among friends.
R: The RND has always considered itself a friendly cadre of scientist warriors, but a professional organization nonetheless.
R: Any player who wants to be a true Chessman needs to keep that top of mind and constantly strive for more within themselves in order to constantly hone their edge for themselves and for the sake of the team.
R: The Gold Standard, as we call it, isn't about championship results, but about championing the virtues needed to get there.
R: In order to play a big game, Chessmen have to think and believe a big game first in as many aspects as possible.
K: So, like in all things, the world of Mecha combat and it's champions are always evolving and progressing. What are your aims and goals for yourself and those that you lead?
R: We seek as many opportunities for long term success, mastery and camaraderie for as many people as possible, on as many fields of battle as possible.
R: Our goal now is to replicate and then surpass our prior accomplishments, both on and off the field.
K: There are many very standard ways of improving ones level of performance. Niode mechs, gear, and weapons. Resource management. Watching experience gains. Collecting the right combinations of mechs for various formations. What are some things that you've preached to your pilots that might be considered more outside the box?
R: That's proprietary Chessmen information. Hehehe.
K: Hehehe, that's fine. Well, we're getting near the end of our time together, is there anything else you'd like to touch on or tell our community?
R: I think that there are dozens of ways to play, each of which are valid. There's a clan for each of them. However, sooner or later, any game becomes an investment of time, money, or both.
R: Those who arrive at that commitment often seek the clan that reflects the way that they play. Why do that when they can find a clan that challenges them instead?
R: It's smart to seek strength, and it's smarter to seek adversity. Never take your gaming for granted, because you'll run up against truly dedicated, highly invested, professional players. Talk to them. Learn from them. If you can, join them.
R: Amid professional players, even the newest players can reach out and benefit. This is still a welcoming player base even as higher and higher standards develop. The best story is the one you write.
K: That’s some excellent advise Richard. Well, that’s all the time we have today as I’ve got a flight to take to somewhere a bit more dry. I want to thank Richard Millich for his time today as well as the community at large.
R: Thank you Ken, and safe travels!
<End Transmission>
