Inside Crossfire returns this month to tell you more about the most famous community members of SWAT and Crossfire. Let's bring you once more behind the scenes, to show you hidden aspects about the game, the clans and the people. This month I interviewed a legend that is making his return along with many of his missed old clan mates, IOC Leader, Centaurian :
Interviewer : Vice-Admiral Sam Thomas (SA_ARROW) of the Silver Arrows.
Guest : Centaurian Alpha of the Independant Operators Consortium
Thanks for accepting my invitation to answer these questions CA, let's begin.
Q: Who is the man behind Centaurian ? What's he like in real life ?
A: As many here know, I'm getting a bit longer in the tooth than most players, having been born at the beginning of the Space Age. I was raised at a time when the common culture was to accept personal responsibility for one's life, and leave the world a better place than when one found it. As an engineer, I have many ways to do that, but as a Christian, I have a greater motivation to do so!
Q: Where are you from ?
A: I was born in Arizona, one of the last frontiers of the United States. Today, it's 110F outside, and the forecast for this week is higher temperatures...
Q: What jobs did you had in your life ?
A: My family heritage has been hardworking, entrepreneurial, and responsible, so I have done a little of everything, from shoveling manure on a farm to delivering newspapers; from retail clerk in a 24-hour convenience store to aerospace machinist; from chairman of my professional society chapter to design engineer. Every job has challenges and opportunities for growth!
Q: Does Centaurian have a dream to realize ?
A: Everyone has a dream to realize, but many have stopped dreaming. This has happened to me from time to time, but I take some time away to be renewed & refreshed, and the Dream comes alive again. There are many things ahead for me, as soon as I get serious about achieving them: a couple of books to write, mountains to climb, communities to build, family to care for.
Q: What was your dream when you were a child ?
A: In my primary school years, the space program was new and exciting. Nuclear power was becoming a reality, social progress was being made, and the future teemed with possibilities. My biggest dream then was to go into space, to see where man was going. Remember, 2001: A Space Oddysey? It all looked so convincing! Yet, even with the challenges we face today, I may yet be able to buy a ride to space in my lifetime.
Q: How have you been introduced to Freelancer ?
A: I discovered FL when buying games for the first computer I built, in 2004. It took me a while to get used to its style, and was surprised to discover multiplayer mode, and that so many people were playing it. Shortly thereafter, I discovered than FL (like so many games) also had a mod community, and found Crossfire.
Q: When did you joined the SWAT community ?
A: I was originally intimidated a bit by the size & activity of the SWAT/CF community, but since I was already hooked on the mod, decided to take the public approach to learing the mod faster & working through RP & gameplay issues. I registered officially in November, 2005.
Q: Have you played any roles as staff member for the Crossfire series ?
A: SWAT & CF have had many talented people making contributions to both the mod & community over the years. Unfortunately, many people have moved on, due to changes in RL situations, personality conflicts, or whatever, so I decided early to make a difference by making contributions of my own. Starting a clan & becomoing a clan leader put me in a more responsible position, so it was only natural to me that helping where I could was a part of leadership. I built a large part of the download database on SWAT, loading mods, screenshots, and other goodies for several SWAT-supported games. I worked hard for a few years on the RP format for CF, with respect to ASF/CSF, and how to balance the normal clan RP modes. I also did work on the CF mods in the database, infocards, rumors, quests, and voices, since I have never managed to get enough time to learn ship/base modeling.
Q: What is your best moment in Crossfire ?
A: Best moment in Crossfire?? Hard to say, since it is all good; but I recall some memorable RP battles, defending the server (in-game) from mailicious invaders, and some of the contests we have run.
Q: You told me briefly that IOC was created through several incidents... Could you tell us the story ?
A: IOC was originally conceived as a covert association of freelancers, who were tired of being preyed upon individually by pirates. The idea was to know each others' character names, and come to the aid of any clan member who needed it, so the pirates would not see us coming. Since I have always repected OP's right to set conditions for RP and community membership, I was up front with him on this concept, but he had good reasons for forbidding a covert clan. So, once we had 10 active players recruited, IOC announced its first IPO in January, 2006, laying claim to the Casius system, which we have called home ever since.
Q: Many new players don't know much about IOC (Even me since i arrived quite late in the 1.7 Era...). What is IOC's goal in Sirius ?
A: IOC is the Independent Operators' Consortium, and although it is a bit of an oxymoron to say that it is a clan of freelancers, its structure is to make it so as much as possible. Our main RP is smuggling, but we found that predation by pirate and police alike made a "merchant marine" contingent for trader protection a necessity, so we have a number of mercenaries within our ranks. In 2007, I introduced the concept of trade monopolies to CF, setting out several classes of "BMG" cargo that clans could "protect" from inappropriate possession. IOC's monopoly is in bio-hazard cargo, which is basically any cargo that is toxic or otherwise hazardous to life. It's a dirty job, but somebody's got to handle it!!
Q: What kept you away from CF for so long ? Any RL adventures you want to share with us ? What made you come back ?
A: I was away from CF for an extended period (maybe 4-5 months?), because all my energy was being consumed by my job. I found myself in a mechanical engineer position in January, 2009, without an engineering degree of any kind. I have worked as a manufacturing engineer for many years, solely on the strength of my experience in manufacturing, but now was forced to learn new disciplines without the benefit of a classroom or the luxury of mistakes! And in a bad economy, I could not assume another position was just around the corner at my age, so I had no choice but to focus on the one thing. I wish it were more glamorous than that, but I did post some pics of a large project we completed this spring. There was never any doubt in my mind that I would be back in a ship on the server, and I kept Casius system rent current the whole time.
Q: Any advice you'd give to beginner clan leaders that hope to take their own place amongst the top clans ?
A: For aspiring clans & their leaders, I can only say that your satisfaction with your experience here at Crossfire will be in direct proportion to your devotion to your mates. If you are just going to "give it a try", don't bother, because if your heart is not in it, your clan will see your lack of commitment. I can name 10 clans who have gone by the wayside because there was a lack of commitment & purpose in the clan RP. Also, if a clan makes it too hard or too easy for its members to take ownership of their roles, the clan is doomed. As a "clan of freelancers", IOC has had to balance different goals & styles of its members, while maintaining some sense of honor & fair play. This is never an easy task, and still no guarantee of success. But, if your goals are clear, and your commitment unwavering, you will at the very least gain the respect of others, and some satisfaction of having made a solid contribution to the community.
Q: What question would you like to be asked and what would be your answer ?
A: What has become of IOC? Recently, a few of our veteran players have returned to active duty, and are rebuilding our fleet. Our bases in Casius got major upgrades in CF 1.8, and we have been busy mapping the new systems opened up to us by the GMG, Coalition & Dom K'vash. A major update to our Forum is planned, as soon as I can get my fleet back up to grade, and we will once again be protecting Sirius & Altair from unqualified handling of bio-hazards. Any player with 100 hours of server time can apply for IOC membership by sending a PM to myself, Tyrael or Bugma. See you in space!
That was much interesting Centaurian, thank you.
well done !
As for remakign them you'd need to spend some time in Inner Core and Sirius 
