Lancer 3: Civil Protection Informational Document

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Overwatch Socio-Politi Preservation Units
Informational Document​

The purpose of this document is to inform and train new, or even already-enlisted functionaries to ensure their cohesiveness, situational awareness, and knowledge when it comes to Civil Protection duties and tasks.

The role you hold is integral to the atmosphere of the server, as Civil Protection can make or break it, so you should keep this in mind when playing, and remember that we will not hesitate to remove someone who destroys the environment of the server by holding unrealistic or meme-like characters.

Below are a series of informational guidelines for several activities a functionary may find themselves required to perform. They should all be studied thoroughly and carefully.

Note that this is mostly a guide; for everyday usage, you should utilize the Operational Compendium.

Index

Work In Progress.​

 

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Preface​

As a Civil Protection officer, your duty is to maintain the Socio-Stability of the region. That is done in many different ways and tasks, most of them issued by your superiors. When conversing with a member of the Civic Populace, you are to remain formal at all times.

Try to remain formal and use proper radio terminology at all times. You are to always remain close to your fellow Functionaries and Overwatch Forces. Patrolling or guarding alone can result in loss of life, and equipment and can damage the Socio-Stability of your local index.

You are the eyes and the front face of the State. That means you must be in perfect shape and appearance in every possible way in front of the average citizen.

As aforementioned, a major part of Civil Protection is complete anonymity. A team of functionaries should be indistinguishable from each other in every way, shape, and form, and a functionary that exceeds the parameters of uniformity will be deserviced, if irreversible. The uniforms are designed to provide anonymity to their users yet provide comfort and effectiveness while doing so, followed by several other tools to assist Civil Protectors in doing their jobs. Any modifications to the uniform are forbidden and any unit will be deserviced if those modifications occur.

Communication is a big part of organization: Contact with Overwatch functionaries is maintained by provided handheld radios or other communication devices.

 

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Inventory & Equipment​

A functionary’s equipment should only consist of what is required for the current mission objective. Carrying excess equipment, resources or other articles may prove to be a deterrent towards Socio-Stabilization. Should they be mugged or murdered, the equipment and resources will end up in enemy hands. For this reason, a unit must only carry what is required, and nothing more.

• A functionary should only carry what is necessary:
  
  • Stunstick
  • Health Vial
  • 9mm Pistol (if attained at current rank)
  • Some 9mm ammunition (if attained at current rank)
  • Datapad
  • A few zip-ties
  • A flashlight
  • A backpack, satchel, and/or pouch
    
• A functionary should not carry things that they do not need; leaving them in their locker in the Nexus instead, or discard them, if applicable:
  
  • Excess ammunition
  • CID Card(s)
  • Rations / Ration components
  • Excess Workforce Coupons
  • Junk or other resources
  • Other tools
  • Recreational articles (Watches, personal belongings, etc)

Carrying unnecessary equipment or excessive amounts of resources or tools of any kind may harm Socio-Stabilization and is grounds for charges.

 

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Communicative Protocol​

Cohesive and efficient operation requires short, concise, and professional communication with local ground units, all while ensuring established codes and phrases are utilized. Failing to do this can result in confusion, waste of time, and even loss of resources and/or life, and can lead to charges.

Below are a couple of Examples:

“Unit is… / Officer is… / Callsign is…” - I am
“Officer is 11-99” - I need help.
“Affirmative / Positive” - Yes.
“Negative” - No.
“10-4 / Copy / Roger” - Understood.

Additionally, when describing things, you should be as clear and concise as you can while using radio codes and terminology to avoid flooding the radio channels with unneeded traffic.

Examples:

BAD: “I just made a citizen pick up some garbage here in the apartments.”
GOOD: “Reporting citizen summoned into T94-322, my 10-20 is Residential Block 1.”

BAD: “I see headcrabs at the plaza!”
GOOD: “Loose parasitics, control section two.”

BAD: “Anyone else see that loitering guy over there?”
GOOD: “Unit has 10-25 on possible 17N in progress at Control Section 2, anyone else confirm?”

Ensure you practice good radio cohesion for the immersion and the accuracy of Half-Life 2. You and your cohorts will be thankful. If you need some inspiration or further examples on how to appropriately speak, many videos on YouTube provide that sort of thing.

 

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Radio Etiquette​

The radio is one of the strongest weapons a functionary can have at their disposal. It is a major part of the process of preserving the Socio-Stability of a location and is used for a multitude of purposes. From providing status reports to requesting reinforcements, knowing the correct usage of the Total Access Communication system is vital for a cohesive duty.

There are several rules of thumb that each unit should follow when it comes to TAC and how to use it cohesively.

• Provide status reports at regular intervals.
  • This does include (but is not limited to) the following:
    • Beginning or ending a patrol commission
      • Specific locations should be mentioned when announcing the start of a patrol commission.
    • Beginning or ending a revitalization period
    • Beginning or ending a supervision duty
      • General Public Service Detail
      • Workcycles
    • Protection-Team Activity
      • Joining a PT
      • Leaving a PT
      • (Re)assigning a PT Lead
    • Injecting locations
      • Residential Blocks
      • Production Blocks
      • Stabilization Jurisdictions
      • External Jurisdictions
      • Distribution Blocks
  • This does not include (but is also not limited to) the following:
    • Injecting into a new location during a patrol commission
      • Eg: Control-Sections or other locations that were pre-disclosed when the patrol commission was announced.
    • A citizen asking a question or occupying only a tiny fraction of your time
• Report suspicious activity
• Report when you are occupying yourself with a task of any kind

Failing to use the radio in a cohesive manner or the complete lack of its usage may harm the Socio-Stabilization and is grounds for charges.

 

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Ranking System​

Civil Protection has a simple yet powerful ranking system that ensures optimal cohesion on the field. Below are all active ranks in the organization:

• Recruits
  
  • Recruits are the newly enlisted functionaries of the force. Be it out of sheer desperation, attractiveness to the rewards that come with the job, or genuine sympathy for the Combine. They are under constant training and are, in essence, just a citizen in a uniform.
• Integrity 5
  
  • Integrity 5 are functionaries who have passed basic training and are now considered a proper ground unit of the Overwatch. They still lack a lot of knowledge that is necessary for the job, however, and are considered very low-hanging fruit. Essentially a trained citizen in a uniform.
• Integrity 4
  
  • Integrity 4 are functionaries who have performed well in the field and have obtained the necessary training for their rank. They are slowly starting to get better at their job and performing various Civil Protection related tasks.
• Integrity 3
  
  • Integrity 3 functionaries are considered the ‘middle-point’ of a CP unit’s career within the Civil Protection. They can do their job cohesively and effectively, as is expected of them.
• Integrity 2
  
  • Integrity 2 functionaries are units that have outperformed their peers and can do their job exceptionally well. They are considered a senior unit in the force and often lead their peers in operations and general day-to-day tasks.
• Integrity 1
  
  • Integrity 1 functionaries are units that have gone above and beyond in their field. They are one of the most senior members of the force and are recognized professionals at their jobs. Integrity 1 functionaries may lead their peers in operations or handle training and similar matters.
• Rank Leaders
  
  • Rank Leaders are the highest-ranking functionaries in a precinct, and they control everything CP-related inside their precinct. They handle admin as well as field-related matters, such as logistics, promotions, training, investigations, interrogations, etc.

 

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Behavior​

The behavior of a functionary is integral to the overall goal of preserving the Socio-Stability of a region. For this reason, strict, specific behavior is to be enforced at all times, to not only maintain cohesion but also uniformity, and anonymity, among other things.

Another important note that should be made is a functionary’s relationship with civilians. Under NO circumstances is a unit to distinguish themselves from their cohorts in any way, shape, or form.

Furthermore, from an OOC perspective, Civil Protection is almost always considered to be the front face of a server. This means that new players will oftentimes judge a server based on the behavior of Civil Protection units. Too edgy/serious or unserious/borderline-mingy are things that will make players not take you seriously and lower the overall quality of the server. You are allowed to make jokes and mess around at times; we’re all here to have fun. However, if you fail to read the room and act seriously when required, you will be promptly removed from the faction, sometimes without warning.

Now, obviously, you have the freedom to make your character unique. You will not be forced to act or roleplay in any specific way; these are merely guidelines that you should try to follow. If you plan to have your character act in a way that contradicts any of these guidelines and need advice or have questions, please do not hesitate to communicate with a Faction Leader or even a member of the Event or Administration Team.

In short, CPs should be strict, scary, and oppressive. There are many ways to go about doing this, but it is important to get a good balance and avoid becoming a Robocop or detracting from other people's roleplay. That is not what we want out of CPs - nobody does. We want you to have emotions, thoughts, and opinions, but we want to make the Combine scary. We want to make them oppressive and believable. Immersive, and most importantly, fun. Many servers tend to go to either one end of the spectrum or the other. Either CPs are 'friendly' and nobody dislikes them or is scared of them, or they become so strict and oppressive that it becomes unfun and just takes away from the experience. We want to find a good balance between the two.

 

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Protection Teams​

A Protection Team is a group of two or more functionaries who have interlocked together and are operating as a group as opposed to operating separately. Protection Teams are extremely important when it comes to preserving the Socio-Stability of a region, and each functionary must be versed when it comes to them.

Protection Teams strengthen the power of the Overwatch forces by grouping them, resulting in higher chances of success when carrying out a specific task, be it supervising a shift, engaging enemy combatants, and everything in between.

As it stands currently, only units of integrity four and above are capable of assembling a Protection Team. However, any unit ranked above Recruit may interlock in a Protection Team.

If not already in a Protection Team, a unit should look into interlocking with an existing one or establishing its own, if possible. Operating at an individual level, while possible, is highly discouraged for a multitude of reasons, ranging from protection to certain non-interlocked unit restrictions such as not injecting into residential blocks, stores, or other such areas alone. Not to mention the possible effects that it may entail towards the Socio-Stability such a unit fails to interlock into a Protection Team.

When in a Protection Team, more often than not, only the Protection-Team Leader is to respond or use the radio regarding Protection-Team affairs such as providing status updates or replying when the Protection Team is addressed by another Protection Team Leader, a non-interlocked unit, or a High Command unit. This is to keep the TAC traffic to a minimum and ensure cohesive and understandable chatter at all times. The only exception to this is an emergency that needs to be broadcasted immediately, such as 34s’ or suddenly getting engaged in combat with an aggressive assailant.

 

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Proselyte Forces​

Proselytes consist of highly trained, old-world military forces who converted or were conscripted to the CCA’s cause. A once highly valuable and highly active force of the Overwatch, used to police the new world and oversee the transition of power now reduced to High-Value Target escorts following the establishment of the Civil Protection.

Having extensive tactical training under their belt, their operations should not be interfered with at any time, due to their critical importance towards preserving Socio-Stability and safeguarding valuable assets.

Overwatch Socio-Politi Preservation Units are highly unlikely to find themselves ever interacting with a Proselyte due to the nature of their work, however, should the case ever be otherwise, functionaries are to not interfere with the operations of the Proselyte Forces and only address them in times of emergency or when directly addressed to.

 

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Airwatch​

The Overwatch Aviation Branch, also known as Airwatch, consists of all the air forces operating under the Overwatch.

• Overwatch Aviatic Assault Branch
  • The Overwatch Aviatic Assault Branch consists of several different bio-mechanical devices and vehicles that are often used in overwatch assault operations to establish or preserve control over a region.
    • Skyshield
      • Assault Helicopters
        • Assault Helicopters are attack choppers the design of which has human origins and are heavily altered for operational efficiency in the field. They feature a powerful mini-gun, search spotlights, and bombs.
      • Gunships
        • Gunships are biomechanical creatures reproduced by the Combine for integration into their assault ranks. They feature a powerful pulse minigun and a powerful energy beam.
    • Boomers / Winders
      • Dropships
        • Dropships are biomechanical creatures reproduced for transportation and tactical assault purposes. They can hold heavy cargo, the most common of which is a large container that can carry armed personnel or other assault devices. It is armed with a rapid pulse minigun utilized to cover the deployment or departure of its armed personnel.
• Overwatch Surveillance Branch
  • The Overwatch Surveillance Branch consists of several equipment and devices that are used for surveillance and intelligence-gathering for utilization by the Overwatch and its armed forces.
    • Urban Scanners
      • Urban Scanners, otherwise known as City Scanners or simply scanners are autonomous mechanical devices utilized for surveillance purposes in Urban Centers.
    • Shield Scanners
      • Shield Scanners, unofficially known also as Claw Scanners are fairly similar to Urban Scanners but biomechanical in nature. They are also used for surveillance purposes, but their distinctive feature is the large claw stored inside them that is capable of deploying an anti-personnel mine for use against enemy insurgents.

 

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Sweeps & Raids​

There come times when, regardless of the efforts of Overwatch and its armed forces, the enemy may gain access to weapons or equipment that can be utilized to harm and deter Socio-Stability. When this becomes the case, elevated security may be put in place, however, even with that, attacks against the overwatch and its agents are inevitable. For this reason, sweeps and tactical raids may be conducted to deter the ability of the enemy to exercise attacks against the state.

Sweeps typically refer to the injection of areas that are normally prohibited for overwatch forces, such as the Storm System and Terminal Restriction Zone. During a SS or TRZ injection, the present Protection Team(s) may be tasked with intelligence-gathering, search-and-destroy missions, capture missions, or other objectives of a similar nature. However, these areas are often open to citizens of Non-Upper-Class citizenship who are not members of an External CCA Organization, such as the Engineer Core. Therefore, unless explicitly stated otherwise, functionaries should first confirm that their target meets the criteria above or other criteria that may have been specified before the mission started before engaging, should they come in contact with a Non-Overwatch-Functionary.

Raids typically refer to the injection of Residential Blocks followed by the mass screening of the citizens residing within them. Residential Block Raids are conducted for several reasons, ranging from intelligence-gathering, search-and-destroy missions, capture missions, or other objectives of similar nature. Raids are typically conducted during a deterred Socio-Stability, however, they can be conducted at any time, should High Command deem it necessary.

 

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Waivers​

There come times when the Socio-Stabilization has been fractured to the point where specific procedures need to be put in place to prevent its fracture from escalating further. These procedures are called ‘Waivers’ and are only utilized when absolutely necessary, due to the disturbance that they tend to cause to the peace of the region.

Currently, there are two waivers. Judgement Waivers, and Autonomous Judgement Waivers.

Judgement Waivers are useful for getting people off of the streets and allow Ground Units to carry out important tasks without interruptions. During a Judgement Waiver, control of the city is lost up to the point in which there exists a requirement to extend the jurisdiction of ground units, lifting some major restrictions.

Beginning immediately with a Judgement Waiver, citizens are relocated into Residential Blocks or any other closed CCA-Controlled spaces and screened. Being outside and on any of the Politi-Control-Sections warrants a 63; Criminal Trespass charge, which may be administered on the spot at will. Malcompliant subjects may be met with instant lethal force.

Autonomous Judgement Waivers are utilized when all control of the city has been completely lost.

Ground Units operate completely autonomously during such a waiver, with no action leading to Autonomous Tags other than the assault of other Protection Teams or the mass genocide of other Civic Entities (eg killing every citizen on sight).

 

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Civil Unrest​

Despite the efforts of Overwatch to keep the population in check, either through force and fear or through adequate treatment, there come times when problematic members of the community come together and begin causing Civil Unrest.

While 404; Riot falls under immediate amputation, amputating a large amount of the Workforce from the Civic Body would hurt the immediate production and labor operations in the region, not to mention would suck from an OOC perspective.

For these reasons, certain measures to combat this behavior have been put in place. More specifically, Anti-Riot Practices. Specific procedures and tactics are used to split the mob apart and get them to disperse, effectively stopping the riot.

The objective is simple: to dispel a large, violent group of activists and dissidents. The response to this may vary, however, the most common practices are the following:

• Kettling / Zone Control
  • Zone Control is when rioting civilians are herded into one specific area by closing off adjacent areas via hardpoints, manpower, or Armed Personnel Carriers. When the area where the unrest takes place has been considered controlled, the riot itself can subsequently be controlled with ease, and any ringleaders, violent protesters, or other important figureheads in the riot may be subdued.
• Snatching

Snatching refers to an offensive/pre-emptive maneuver conducted by local officers. A group of three to five Riot Control Units charge in a wedge formation to grab a particularly aggressive individual and pull them back behind the front line, where they can then be detained by Prosecution Units.

 

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Socio-Stabilization​

The primary task of all operations conducted by the Overwatch and its agents will always remain to contain any events that may result in sociocide or the deterioration of Socio-Stability. Socio-stability refers to the overall order and control that Overwatch has over a specific region. Similar to the DEFCON system once utilized by the United States, the Socio-Stabilization has five different states, with each state having to meet specific requirements to be defined. Escalated Socio-Stabilizations also lift certain weapon restrictions for functionaries.

Nominal Socio-Stability

• Present threats have been eliminated.
• A threat has evaded capture and other units were unable to locate it after a period longer than thirty minutes.
• Things have returned to their generic, nominal state.
• Control has been restored after Socio-Stability has been in its disrupted state.

Disrupted Socio-Stability

• Multiple instances of refusal to cooperate, or regular breaches of the peace.
• Large disruptions that may be easily dispersed.
• The general ‘heat’ level of the region is high.
• Control has been restored after Socio-Stability has been in its fractured state.

Fractured Socio-Stability

• Any sort of Overwatch Functionary has been attacked but has not died.
• An Overwatch Non-Functionary has been destroyed (eg. a scanner or a camera).
• Control has been restored after Socio-Stability has been in its marginal state.

Marginal Socio-Stability

• An Overwatch Functionary has been deserviced during an attack.
• An Overwatch Functionary has been kidnapped.
• An Overwatch Functionary has gone rogue.
• A High-Value Target has been attacked.
• Multiple, consistent attacks on Overwatch Functionaries.
• A biotic has broken custody.
• There is little/absent control over the events within the city.
• Control has been restored after Socio-Stability has been in its lost state.

Lost Socio-Stability

• Extremely large amounts of Overwatch Functionaries or Proselyte Agents have been deserviced during attacks.
• Conditions have deteriorated enough for enemy combatants to show an active presence around the region.
• The region is overrun.
• Multiple HVTs have been killed whilst under the protection of Proselyte Agents.

 

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Datapads & Datafiles​

A datafile is a list of basic information regarding the individual in question, such as their current occupation, their citizenship status, their past crimes, and more. Knowing how to utilize the Datapads and the Datafiles themselves is in a functionary’s best interest to perform their duties properly. While the more advanced features of the Datafiles are reserved for Rank Leaders, units should at least know their basic functions and how to operate them properly.

Documenting is the act of updating a citizen's datafile with new information, be it Social Merits or otherwise. Social Merit administration is up to the individual functionary unit, but they are usually administered for showing outstanding loyalty to the CCA, by greatly assisting the CCA’s goals through one's actions, preserving vital resources (eg saving a functionary's or other important individual's life), etc. Alternatively, 1 SM may be redeemed in exchange for 10 WorkForce Coupons.

 

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Workcycles​

Workcycles, also known as Workshifts are organized group work assignments with the primary aim of benefiting the state in some way. These can be held by Engineer Core personnel, or Protection Functionaries themselves.

Civil Protection functionaries are expected to maintain stability during Workcycles and always respond to supervise them if they are not already preoccupied with something else.

Workcycles are primarily mandatory, thus, units are permitted to force citizens into participating. However, there are a few limitations to this:

• Middle-class citizens may skip the shift in exchange for one Workforce Coupon.
• Upper-class citizens are not obligated to participate, but may still do so if they wish.

After a Workcycle is completed, Working-Class and Middle-Class citizens are to be rewarded with one Workforce Coupon, generated by a nearby terminal. Furthermore, depending on the performance of the citizens, they may receive more Workforce Coupons or even none. No Social Merits are to be awarded unless stated otherwise by High Command.

 

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Ration Distribution​

Ration Distribution involves a Civil Protection functionary announcing the ration distribution cycle via the /AnnounceRations command and handing out general commodities available in the precinct in exchange for WorkForce Coupons. There is no established framework for how many items can be redeemed per WorkForce Coupon, and it should be handled on a case-by-case basis, depending on several factors such as the item requested, the individual requesting it, the reason for the request, etc. Ration Distribution cycles can happen once every hour at the minimum, with only a couple cycles taking place every day.

 

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General Public Service Detail​

The General Public Service Detail is a voluntary manual labor task that a citizen can take up and complete at will, or if randomly assigned by a functionary. Upon the mature termination of the assigned task, the supervising unit may award the citizen with no more than a single Workforce Coupon.

There exist several different types of General Public Service Details, the ones that are currently utilized being listed below:

• T94-322
  
  • Cleaning something.
  • Picking up litter.
  • Disposing of garbage.
• T11-512
  
  • Painting or Coloring walls and other objects.
• T34-752
  
  • Building something.
  • Rebuilding something.
  • Repairing something.
• T72-611
  
  • Moving objects.

 

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Stunsticks​

Stunsticks, otherwise known as Stun-batons, are used as a tool of population control and suppression, not as an actual weapon (unless necessary); their use comparable to a nightstick. Stunsticks are the primary tool used for the Re-Education of subjects.

Stunsticks may be activated and de-activated at will by using a simple, yet somewhat aggressive motion of swinging them up and down once. When used while de-activated, they are comparable to a baton, and they may be used for inflicting light bruises on a subject, depending on the force of the operator. When used while activated, they consume energy and lightly electrocute the subject on contact, causing minor burning wounds in addition to bruising. Repeated swings may result in the temporary incapacitation of the target.

Furthermore, stunsticks are used to access CCA Locks. Activating the stunstick while having it inserted in the lock receptacle causes the lock to change state, and lock or unlock.

 

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Screening & Arresting​

Screening refers to the act of searching a subject to uncover any contraband or weapons on their person or to ensure that they are not a threat.

Despite popular belief, screening somebody does not require the subject to be facing away, or to be restrained. While safer, it is completely optional.

If any contraband is found, it is to be confiscated, reported to the Protection Team Leader, and the subject is punished accordingly. If a weapon is found, and the subject is not an immediate danger, it is preferred to avoid an Immediate Amputation, as instructed by the Citizen Transgression Spreadsheet, unless stated otherwise by a Higher-Ranking functionary.

Arresting refers to the act of restraining a subject and relocating them to a Stabilization Jurisdiction for questioning, punishment, or a myriad of other reasons.

Arresting a subject can be done aggressively by forcing them onto the ground or other surface, thus restricting their movement, and restraining them with a zip tie, or by just tying them up and leading them to where they need to be. The former can be done when the subject is unwilling to cooperate or is resisting arrest.