Wasn't sure where to put this in the topic, so I'm just sticking it near the top. Anyway, I know I've had a lot over the past couple days, they just keep popping up in my mind. I'll probably cut down on them soon, I've just had a lot of things I've wondered. I'm only asking questions I don't think have actually been addressed in the actual stories, but if they have (other than my "where can I find story x" question earlier) I'm sorry, I just haven't seen the mission or story in question in that case. :P Anyway, not sure if it's been covered, but about how much contact with the outside world would one say Agents are allowed? Like, not just emails or calls (since mail has been referenced with the Postal Department), but occasional leave and the like. I'd assume very little or none, especially in the case of (again for lack of a better term) "shore leave" in the world out of HQ (which sounds like it'd be mostly a reward or something), but so far in all the stories I've read (by now I've read quite a few, but not every one) I don't think I've seen it directly referenced or answered.

Also, one that's always bugged me is about the New Caledonia city itself. Wouldn't the French government (hell, even people of New Caledonia, or whoever owns the first spy satellite to orbit near it) kind of notice a new, presumably large, city sprouting up in their territory and investigate? Sounds like the sort of thing that'd blow the PPC's cover wide open, especially if the HQ entrance in the mountains is also found. My first thought was an SEP Field on the entrance and city, but it'd have to be a really big field to cover a whole city, and unless it was there from day one I'd think someone would go, "hey, it looks like somebody's building a new city, did we commission one to be made there?". And then there's the issue of roads possibly leading there. Just something that's been on my mind about that, I never for the life of me could figure why the PPC city in New Caledonia never brought down the world's governments on it, either with troops or simply delegates there to ask just WTF is going on. Technology as it is now (though PPC tech seems way more advanced than World One tech), building a city without anyone noticing just doesn't happen. I don't mean it rudely, that one's just always been on my mind. Fridge Logic, if you will.

The way I've understood it is that you ask permission to write/post ppc missions. You do not ask for permission on specific agents. Meaning, you do not have to reapply for permission if you decide to start working with a different agent, or introduce cameo agents in your stories.

The writing sample is to show you have a decent enough grasp of grammar and punctuation as to not embarrass the PPC. You don't need permission for the actual content of the writing sample (well, perhaps you would if you want to use other people's agents in that writing sample, but I don't think your question was about that.).