The Arcona Contract Bureau, or ACB for short, is a new and unique service that allows the Dark Jedi of Arcona to help further the goals of the Shadow Clan by participating in mission-based tasks, referred to as "contracts". These can range from assassination and reconnaissance to VIP protection and everything in between. The Bureau is based out of the Sublevels of the Arcona Citadel and is run by the Bureau Commissioner who reports directly to the Overseer of the Contract Bureau. The current Commissioner is Celevon Edraven.
Arcona Contract Bureau History
A Brief on the Bureau
The organization that would become the Arcona Contract Bureau was founded in 34 ABY by Hapan nobleman Marick Arconae as a sub-branch of the larger Arcona Arena, formed in the image of the now-disbanded Bounty Hunters Guild, of which Marick was a member. By offering members "contracts", which are completely voluntary special assignments, the Bureau assists members by giving them outlets in which to test their skills and prove their worth to the House, as well as helping the Shadow House in a number of ways, many of which would be politically unwise to reveal to the general public.
Bluntly put, the Contract Bureau acts as a clandestine "catch-all" service specializing in dealing with those who bear ill will towards House Arcona, though without the bureaucratic red tape that tie the hands of Arcona's other "non-Sensitive" agencies. This, combined with the lack of a tedious chain of command, allows the Bureau to handle any contract that comes its way with unprecedented efficiency.
Assassination, VIP protection, reconnaissance, retrieval/destruction of secure information, and deep cover contracts are all handled by the Bureau and doled out to interested members.
A New Age
In early 38 ABY, Consul Marick Arconae sought to revitalise and recreate the Arcona Contract Bureau. Gathering a small group of allies, members of Houses Galeres and Qel-Droma, to be his staff, they quickly removed the dust from the old offices and began to toss out contracts to willing members.
Though they now had two more contract types. That of Recruiting and Piloting.
Standard Operating Procedure
The contracts handled by the ACB are not always assignments set forth by the Overseer or the DIA, but rather those of outside parties. Indeed, 85% of Bureau contracts are originally submitted as tips by non-Force Sensitive allies of the House, whose own agendas and goals would be set back if Arcona lost control of the Dajorra System.
All tips are sent in via a series of drop boxes spread throughout Estle City or a heavily encrypted HoloMail account, only accessible by the Commissioner and Overseer, for off-planet submissions. The identities of the senders are kept in the strictest confidence, though many do not even sign their tips or messages in the first place. A look at the Bureau's operating procedure is found below:
- Step 1 - A tip is submitted to the Bureau Commissioner by either the drop box of HoloMail account.
- Step 2 - The Commissioner reviews the tip and validates it by flagging the involved parties for observation.
- Step 3 - If the tip is valid, then it becomes a contract and the Commissioner begins putting together the necessary materials for the contractor who will fulfill the contract.
- Step 4 - The contract is then assigned to an interested contractor.
- Step 5 - The contract is fulfilled and the contractor reports back to the Commissioner. The latter then files a successful mission/after-action report.
About Contracts
When a tip becomes a contract, the Commissioner must first the classify the contract in two ways; the type of contract and its class, or difficulty. Currently, there are seven (7) types of contracts, though more may be added in the future, and four (4) classes of difficulty. A list of all available types and classes are listed below:
TYPE
The threats that Clan Arcona often encounters come in a wide variety and as a matter of course, so do the contracts offered by the Bureau. However, all contracts can be filed into one of the following types.
Though you can request a type based upon the chosen style of your Battleteam or personal preference, members are encouraged to expand their horizons by trying others.
- Those who have an idea for a new mission type are more than welcome to share their thoughts by either poking one of us on IRC or by emailing the Staff group (acb-staff@googlegroups.com).
Type 1: SECURITY
Type 1 contracts can range from being added to a VIP's security detail, escorting valuable cargo, guarding important facilities and other various forms of protection.
Type 2: ASSASSINATION
The elimination of a target individual or group ranging from political to personal, in a variety of methods including the normal sniper shot from afar to something completely unorthodox.
Type 3: INFILTRATION
Hacking, stealing, or breaking into secure facilities to accomplish goals that include anything from retrieval of stolen data to the destruction of enemy installations .
Type 4: RECON
These types of contracts often require contractors to rely more on stealth than all-out violence, in order to scout enemy locations and gather information or research.
Type 5: UNDERCOVER
Contracts of this nature require their contractors to go undercover with a hostile group, organization or an unaffiliated company with the mandate to bring it down from within.
Type 6: RECRUITING
This type of contract is one that is rarely requested as it will occasionally require the contractor to manipulate the target into joining the Dark Side, seducing someone towards joining their cause, or even their unit. This type could be seen as the most difficult.
Type 7: PILOTING
Contracts of this nature require the contractor to utilize their skills as a pilot to accomplish the task that has been set out by the Commissioner or Staff member. This is another rare contract type.
CLASS
After a contract is classified into one of the seven types, it is then given a difficulty rating by the Bureau Commissioner, which is known as the contract's class. Under Commissioner Marick Arconae (then Del’Abbot), Brotherhood ranks were assigned to the classes of difficulty as a convenience to those Dark Jedi who would be requesting contracts. This classification has been continued in the newest version of the Contract Bureau. However, it should be noted that while it is recommended that a contractor sticks to the class that corresponds with his/her rank, he/she is under no obligation to do so and may request higher.
Those who request a contract below their rank will only achieve a grade of Satisfactory, no matter how well the contract was carried out and written.
A-CLASS
Beginner/Entry Level missions. Equivalent Brotherhood rank(s): Novice to Jedi Hunter
B-CLASS
Intermediate Level Missions. Equivalent Brotherhood rank(s): Dark Jedi Knight to Equite II (Krath Archpriest/Obelisk Prelate/Sith Battlemaster)
C-CLASS
Advanced Level Missions. Equivalent Brotherhood rank(s): Equite III-IV (Krath Epis/Obelisk Exarch/Sith Battlelord - Krath Pontifex/Obelisk Primarch/Sith Warlord)
S-CLASS
High Risk Level Missions. Equivalent Brotherhood rank(s): Elder Rank and Above
Grading Scale
Keeping with the commonly held stereotype of Dark Jedi in general, nothing is ever as simple as it appears. The same holds true with the Arcona Contract Bureau; while completion of the contract is priority one, each contractor is also graded on his or her handling of the contract, resulting in an overall grade given to them by the Commissioner or a Staff member, often in the post-mission debriefing.
The goal behind grading each contractor is mainly to praise the areas they did well in (for example, the execution of the target) and also offer constructive criticism in the areas deemed lacking, providing ideas and advice on how they could improve. The types of grades are shown below:
Incomplete
The contract was failed to be completed on time. No credit is given.
Needs Work
The writer completed the contract, but shows that work is severely needed. The writer demonstrated a lack of control of the English language, had problems with tense, prose, and overall storytelling.
Satisfactory
A well written contract. Passable for a mid-level placement in a competition. The writer shows a safe command of the English language, crafted a story that was readable but not overly entertaining. Spelling and grammar errors scattered but easy to see. Basic plot structure is demonstrated.
Excellent
The writer demonstrates a strong command of the English language. Spelling and grammar issues are minor and far between. The story is enjoyable, there is signs of character development and properly used plot devices.
Superior
Reserved for writing that deserves to be published. Perfect command of syntax, grammar and spelling, combined with the ability to tell a truly riveting story. Expert command on plot devices, rich character development and interactions, flowing sentences that create an overall beautiful piece of story artwork.
Grade Points
- Incomplete = -2 points
- Needs Work = 1 point
- Satisfactory = 2 points
- Excellent = 3 points
- Superior = 4 points
Score Board
Within the Sublevels of the Citadel, where the Contract Bureau has its offices, there is a large holographic screen that constantly displays the amount of "reward points" of each Arconan who has taken out a contract from the Bureau. The amount of points awarded depend on the grade that the contractor received. The Bureau Commissioner and Overseer are responsible for keeping the Scoreboard updated and are the only ones with access to it. It should also be noted that the existence of the Scoreboard is merely an effort to boost camaraderie amongst Clan-mates and promote friendly rivalries.
Special Note
For the highest number of scores on the Scoreboard in the monthly checks, the member that scores the highest will receive the title First Blade of Arcona. The current holder is Rollmaster Andrelious J Inahj, though that is liable to change unless he can stay at the top of the list.
Trivia
- Page updated/edited by Celevon Edraven
- Talos Omerta is the original author of the wiki page.
- The Arcona Contract Bureau is founded in the likeness of the Bounty Hunters Guild, or BHG. Many Arconans, including Wally (Marick) and Teroch Erinos Arconae, were members of the Guild before coming to the Dark Brotherhood.