High Command

    The ever-chaotic Board's habit of changing leaders every few months, while cutting down on the cults-of-personality and pride that would provide dangerous inroads for the Other Side, have the unfortunate side-effect of creating a marked lack of stability and consistency in decision-making. One Director's pet projects were inevitably another's waste of resources (naturally taking up valuable time and effort from his pet projects), and a particularly sweeping set of changes would often replace personnel as well, giving command posts a worryingly high turnover rate and handing inexperienced newbies rather more responsibility than was wise. In an effort to counteract this, when D&? infighting was at a dangerously self-destructive peak that saw Directors and their bloated entourages swapping on a daily basis, High Command was formed.

Somewhat akin to an executive committee, with undertones of a civil service, "them upstairs" are a group of ten Boardies appointed by internal elections, all with many years of experience in action, diplomacy, and low cunning. Their role is, in theory, to ensure projects of long-term interest to the Board aren't damaged by shifts in internal politics, and to run said projects when the Director is "unavailable" (read: Unwilling). In reality, they form a "power behind the throne" that usually quietly usurps as much power as the current Director is willing to let them.

Their political strength waxes and wanes depending on how much influence they can acquire, and may even vanish altogether during the infrequent periods when the Goddess issues direct commands, but most Boardies still quietly go to High Command for backing or funding when needed. It is also not entirely unknown for Boardies who have unsuccessfully petitioned the Director or FLEET's commanders to attempt to get their proposals pushed through "under the table" via High Command, although the current incumbents have adopted a dim view of such undermining of authority.

When FLEET were formed, it was no surprise that they rapidly moved to acquire influence at this level. Three of their highest-ranking officers now sit on the committee, and rumour hath it that the Admiral is lining up his mental crosshairs on his fellows to arrange a few more.