The !md feature in Mecha allows rats to list a case for deletion, which is done after review by an overseer or above. This means that the case as a whole is completely removed from our rescues database, and neither counts as a success or a failure on the leaderboard. This feature, although handy, needs to be applied in the right way.

Invalid cases that can be deleted

You can mark these types of cases for deletion:

• Fake cases,when we know it is fake before sending anyone on a rescue. I.e, someone mistakenly triggering a ratsignal, or using !inject improperly.
• Duplicates - more than one case from the same client, usually caused by reconnecting using the IRC client in rescue mode, after the rescue has been cleared.
• Clients who change their mind - before we dispatch rats to their case. If rats have been dispatched, it is a valid case, and we record it as a success.
• Clients who immediately leave chat - Clients that start a rescue, but do not respond to our communications, or immediately leave IRC.
• Clients who have pushed the wrong button - i.e, their intent was just to chat with us, but they did not understand the green button, or want to see how the system works.

Cases that should NOT be deleted (even if you think they should)

• Cases where the client changes their mind after rats have been dispatched on their case. Record the rescue as a success.
• Cat calls - fake cases in an attempt to lure us out for target practice, or who intentionally signal and fake a rescue 'just to see how we do things'. ALWAYS write paperwork on these, and file as successful.