These past few weeks have been filled with excitement and effort. The first Navy Tour of Duty in the United Space Confederation has passed its halfway point: four weeks of Navy operations are complete, and two more weeks packed with navy-themed operations still lie ahead!
It is a tremendous undertaking, made possible by the many operations planners and commanders who dedicated their time and effort to bringing the Consul of War’s vision to life.
With that, it is time to take a deeper look at the Tour of Duty for our readers: what it is all about, what has been achieved so far, and, of course, what is still to come!
What is the Tour of Duty?
In naval or military terms, a tour of duty is “a set period of time that a person, such as a soldier or official, spends serving in a specific role, unit, location, or combat zone.” This somewhat applies to the USC Tour of Duty, the brainchild of the new Consul of War, Thomas Farrister (Mojomonkey).
Image Credit : Ilucide – Taken during Tour of Duty week 01 – Navy Hauling excursions.
The idea is a six-week tour, with each week themed around a type of operation. Each operation is tailored to help the org in one way or another, whether by generating money for the bank, gathering resources, providing security, or beating back the foes of the USC. All of these operations are of the highest tier, planned ahead of time and following pre-approved protocols so they can be executed safely and efficiently.
Additionally, and perhaps more importantly, the Tour of Duty presents a great learning opportunity for all participating USC citizens: a chance to be part of a well-oiled machine and learn to fly, fight, and operate together as one.
These higher-tier operations may not be casual and are much more tightly organized, but the rewards are significant. They ensure that the USC can quickly and efficiently mount a response to pirate threats and defend itself in case of an attack.
Editor’s personal note: I have observed far too often what can happen when an organization fails to give its members the opportunity to learn how to work together as one, communicate in high-stakes situations, mount a quick response, and organize an efficient defense or attack. Without that preparation, things can quickly descend into chaos, causing the loss of entire fleets.
The First Weeks
The Tour of Duty started with a bang and a diverse lineup of operations, as operations planners and commanders came together to kick off the very first USC Tour of Duty.
The first week centered on hauling cargo and commodities through dangerous sectors, mostly in Pyro, under heavy Naval escort. The goal was to generate as much cash as possible to bolster the reserves of the USC Central Bank.
Image Credit : Ilucide – Taken during Tour of Duty week 01 – Navy Hauling excursions.
As the creator and head of the whole effort, Farrister (Mojomonkey) kicked off the very first event, followed by several more Naval hauling excursions hosted by CptNeptune, Director Mackson (Jichael_Mackson), and BGThompson. All of the hauling convoys completed their trips safely, with very few issues aside from some technical difficulties.
The second week shifted focus to ground combat. Groups of four were sent to help the besieged Orison and rid the floating platforms of Crusader of the Nine Tails scourge that controlled several of them.
Although the group restrictions were tighter, plenty of teams still went onto the platforms and cleansed them of Nine Tails scum. After all, Orison is currently the temporary Stanton HQ of the USC. Crusader may be lacking in security, but the USC certainly is not. That week, both Director Mackson and Kil-Roy did a grand job leading several teams into the fray.
Image Credit : BGThompson – Taken during Tour of Duty week 03 – Rockbreaker excursions
The third week shifted again, this time to a mix of ground combat and mining as the Navy set its sights on the QV Rockbreaker stations. With the advent of crafting, the need for resources in the MES has skyrocketed. As a result, willing Navy volunteers were sent into the Rockbreaker stations to reactivate the giant mining laser and recover as many valuable minerals as possible.
Returning readers will know that the USC is very familiar with these stations, as many excursions have already been made to them. A great deal of knowledge has been gathered and the operation is now executed efficiently, although each Navy excursion added its own flavor and differences. Most notable was citizen o-Stargazer, who came prepared with extensive knowledge of the station and shared it with many newcomers.
Editor’s note: The Navy Rockbreaker excursion was the first of the many Tour of Duty events I got to host, alongside CptNeptune and Kil-Roy, who hosted their own operations. It still baffles me how exciting these stations remain after all this time. They have certainly not become boring just because we have been there countless times, and I hope to host more excursions there even after the Tour of Duty.
The event also showed how the Tour of Duty, even as a higher-tier event, can still be an opportunity for learning. Just because comms are more organized does not mean one cannot teach others where to find the right resource nodes or where to transport the capacitors.
Image Credit : BGThompson – Taken during Tour of Duty week 04 – Navy Carrier Excercices
Lastly during the fourth week was packed with many Carrier missions filled with excitement and a healthy dose of suprises, but we will write more about those when the Tour of Duty has wrapped up.
Looking Forward
Now four weeks of the Tour of Duty are behind us, and we are more than halfway done! It already feels like a lot, yet two more weeks remain. What is certain is that many citizens have thoroughly enjoyed this event. Some operations planners and commanders have even remarked on the high level of camaraderie and eagerness among participants.
We look forward with anticipation to the feedback on the Tour as a whole, and to seeing how future Tours of Duty may continue, evolve, or change, and how they could shape the USC.
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