Topic: Men of Iron, Steel, and Magic: Character Profiles

Edward Batten

Date: 2011-04-09 12:10 EST
As the topic says, here you can put in your character profile information. Anyone that posts here is welcome to use this space. (Okay, anyone that doesn't post here can too.)

Edward Batten

Date: 2011-04-23 22:01 EST
Name: Edward Karl Batten Codename: Ranger Birthplace: San Diego, CA Birthday: March 20

Vital Statistics

Age: 38 Height: 6'6" Weight: 233 lbs. Eye Color: Blue-grey Hair Color: Dark Brown Blood Type: Undefined

Distinguishing Features

Tattoos: A tribal band around his right arm and the Batten shield between his shoulder blades (a black shield bordered in orange with a tribal bat design) Scars: Numerous small scars on his hands and arms from working with metalworking equipment Other: None

Personal Data

Strengths: Aside from having an intellect that measures well beyond genius level and a Master of Enterprise degree from the University of Manchester, Ed also has advanced knowledge at the doctorate level of physics, mechanical and electrical engineering, and nanotechnology. Though he does have research and development teams to cover the various departments his company has, he still likes to do his own hands-on design work, and so also has in-depth knowledge and experience with welding and various other mechanical tools and implements as well as computer design and programming. Fortunately, he manages to keep the brains stowed away behind the Playboy persona he wears in public. Though he has had some combat training under his chief of operations Kyle Pontius, most of Ed's (as the Ranger) fighting style comes from his own analytical and adaptive way of thinking, combined with a bit of brute force supplied by the armor's power systems.

Weaknesses: There is a reason he has the C.O.D.E. suit on him at all times. Ed can hold his own in a fight with your average everyday human and has strength and training sufficient to come out ahead, but if someone more powerful comes along (say a vampire), without the armor he's not going to be much more effective than the next guy, as far as muscle goes. (It's a good thing he's smart, too.) Additionally, while he's not exactly a pacifist, Ed does draw the line at killing, whenever possible, even against the more ruthless of his foes.

Relatives: John and Mathilda Batten (mother and father, deceased)

Relationships: Nothing confirmed

Known Adversaries: Gage Sammeal, the 'Order', DCH

Known Allies: Finn, 'Leo' Heracleides (Chief of Security), Kyle Pontius (Head of Operations), Alain DeMuer

Standard Equipment

Item Name: Combat On Demand Exoskeleton (standby mode) Item Description: In standby mode, the C.O.D.E. armor is indistinguishable from a knee-length, luxury men's trenchcoat. Requiring only a few seconds to deploy, the armor's activation is triggered by touching a seam inside the jacket, or else by emergency activation protocols. Built-in safeguards and biometric locks prevent accidental activation by anyone other than Ed himself.

Item Name: C.C.P.U.I. (Central Computer Portable User Interface) Item Description: Comparable in width and length to a paperback book, but only a few millimeters thick, Edward never goes anywhere without this tablet. The operating system is a simple multi-touch user interface coupled with a very powerful transceiver uplink that can connect remotely to Ed's at-home central control computer from virtually anywhere. The tablet is biometrically encoded to Ed and can only be activated and used by him.

Background Information

Factoids: Not to be too obvious, but Ed is also the occasionally-seen armored figure that refers to himself only as 'Ranger,' in reference to the original codename for the project that saw the creation of the original M.A.C.E. armor and the Sp.E.A.R.S. computer interface.

History: Born to John and Mathilda Batten, Edward comes by all of his advantages - the brains, looks, even a little of the money - through them. A pair of geniuses far ahead of their time, they passed their talents on to their son and encouraged his natural gifts, nurturing his talents and curiousities for the first twelve years of his life and instilling in him their own dreams and hopes for a better future.

This combination of genius and vision did give rise to many designs that they got patents for, primarily in fields such as structural engineering and medicine.

But there were other designs they kept to themselves, that they put away for a time when they or their son would have available to them the things they needed to be able to develop them. Unfortunately, they wouldn't live long enough to see either come to fruition.

As a child, he was continually fascinated by the technological marvels around his home, from the simplest to the most complex. His habit of disassembling just about everything he came across got him into trouble again and again...at least until he figured out how to put them back together.

But this process wasn't enough for him - it wasn't enough to know how they worked and what they looked like, he wanted to make them *better*.

A simple desire, really, inherited from parents of like mind...that developed into an obsession.

It didn't stop his progress, the plane crash that killed his parents. If anything, it pushed him harder. From the age of twelve - when his parents died - until he turned seventeen, he threw himself into everything he could, driven to use his intellect and inheritance to succeed.

At the age of seventeen, he discovered his parents unrealized designs, their work in a field that - at the time of their deaths - had only just been in its infancy.

By this time, he had already graduated high school and had completed two years of college in half the standard time. As he looked over the material his parents had put together - fledgling work to be sure, but genius all the same - it all began to come together.

It took him three years to finish college and gain his master's degree, and another year to get funding. A year after that, he submitted designs and prototypes to the government for armor that was easily ten times as strong as anything in existence, in addition to being lighter, less bulky, and able to be applied to vehicles and buildings as well as soldiers.

But what really got their attention was that the material could be manufactured for less than any other armor in existence.

It was the least of the designs his parents had left for him to find, but it was the catalyst, the focus that got everything else going. With the aid of the government's purchases of his armor - as well as civilian law enforcement units and security companies - he paid back the funding he had received, and from there the money began coming in.

His own work and innovations on his parents designs began in earnest. Expanding from defensive armed forces contracts, he directed his attentions to innovations for the medical field, eco-friendly energy solutions, civil engineering applications, and civilian security and safety.

Within five years, his company - Batten Industries - became one of the top three companies in the world in all of the areas he chose to focus on, and was the undisputed leader in the area of nanotechnology...the field his parents had been able to go only so far in before their untimely deaths.

And - naturally - Ed himself had become quite rich.

Of course, like his parents, he has not let all of his designs become public.

It started with meeting a man named Kyle Pontius, just as he was starting college. A prodigy of sorts like Ed himself, formerly an officer in the Marine Corps and possessing a doctorate in chemical engineering, the two had a common goal and a puzzle to complete.

It took them three years, together, as Ed worked towards his master's, to find a solution.

During that time, they also worked on other designs, things that could be marketed to the public until the solution was found.

And when the solution was found, they discovered that it went well beyond their wildest dreams.

The conception of the Ranger Project, as they dubbed it, started out as a joke. Just something to play with, something thought up in a daydream after reading too many comic books. But the more they talked about it, the more they played around with the possible applications, it seemed to be less of a pipe dream and more like a good idea.

Between the two of them - with Kyle's military background and Ed's innovative genius - they designed the first armor and the computer interface that made it not only feasible, but an unqualified success.

They could have made a ton of money selling the designs to the military, the government...anyone they chose.

But both agreed - given the capabilities of the design, it wouldn't be long before it became perverted. Ed's vision, like his parents, depended on providing solutions for the betterment of mankind, to protect, preserve and improve life.

He wouldn't see such a thing become used as a means to end life...and so, he took it upon himself to use the technology in a more covert, secretive capacity.

After all, every world needs a hero.

Leonidas Heracleides

Date: 2011-05-26 12:38 EST
Name: Leonidas Heracleides Codename: Spartan Birthplace: Oglala, SD Birthday: December 21

Vital Statistics

Age: 32 Height: 5'10" Weight: 168 lbs. Eye Color: Brown Hair Color: Brown Blood Type: O+

Distinguishing Features

Tattoos: Marine Corps emblem, left shoulder Scars: GSW scars on his right thigh, side and shoulder Other: Chevron-shaped birthmark, back of neck

Personal Data

Strengths: As a former Marine, Leo is trained in combat (both close and ranged), numerous types of weaponry, and stealth. He also possesses a degree from UNLV in mechanical engineering. His chief skills, however, reside in the areas of surveillance and security. Not only knowledgeable in the technical aspects of the field (including the various types of hardware, software, and other equipment), Leo seems to have a preternatural gift of observation, able to deduce at a glance what most people are capable of and even able to make an accurate prediction as to their immediate actions and intents.

Weaknesses: Honest to a fault, Leo is a very poor liar - anytime he tries, even the least observant person will be able to tell he's being dishonest. Despite that, he does have an excellent poker face - so long as he keeps his mouth shut. Though he's not quick to anger and able to keep a cool head in most situations, that makes it all the more difficult when he does lose his head, and there's been more than one occasion that he's forgotten to stop once a fight is over, even to the point of turning on friends at least once.

Relatives: Myles Heracleides (father), June Running Deer (mother, deceased), Artemis Heracleides (twin sister) Relationships: None Known Adversaries: None Known Allies: Edward Batten (Employer), Kyle Pontius (direct supervisor), Jason Tatopolous (Deputy/Assistant(NPC))

Standard Equipment

Item Name: Central Computer Portable User Interface Item Description: Comparable in width and length to a paperback book, but only a few millimeters thick and made of a substance that resembles black-bordered clear glass, Leo - like his boss - never goes anywhere without this tablet. The operating system is a simple multi-touch user interface coupled with a very powerful transceiver uplink that can connect remotely to Batten Industries' central control computer from virtually anywhere. The tablet is biometrically encoded to Leo and can only be activated and used by him.

Item Name: IMI Desert Eagle Mk. XIX .44 Magnum (with 3 spare clips) Item Description: Kept on or near his person at all times, this pistol features a black carbonized finish, an integral laser sight, and anti-slip grips. Loaded with frangible armor-piercing rounds, this gun can punch through just about anything up to (and including) standard light vehicular armor.

Background Information

Factoids: Leo is the latest unwitting product of a genetic breeding program established in ancient Greece by a mysterious organization known only as 'the Order.' His ancestry can be traced back along his father's family as far back as ancient Sparta by all but the Order's own archives, which lists his ancestry as beginning with the legendary Greek hero Heracles (known more commonly as Hercules). Tracing back along his mother's side delves into such great figures of Native American history as Crazy Horse of the Sioux Nation, but more important (and mysterious) is a notation near the beginning of that line that lists a 'Red Man' and a 'Stone Beauty.' Whom these figures are is not known, save that they appear to have been of supernatural origin.

What this genetic intertwining of bloodlines was supposed to achieve is not known for certain - the Order's files beyond Leo's ancestry are non-specific about which traits they are trying to achieve with their breeding program in his file, suggesting that information lies elsewhere. History: Born in South Dakota, Leo's father left before he was born. Most children might have accepted this, having never known what having a father is like; Leo, once he was old enough to realize what was missing in his life, began to wonder if perhaps his mother wasn't to blame.

She would tell him things, strange things. Listen to the earth, she would say. Feel the world around you, the way it breathes, and watches, and even sometimes sleeps or shifts. Everything has a spirit, she would tell him, from a grain of sand to the mightiest mountain, from a blade of grass to the tallest tree, from the meanest mite to the great whales of the ocean.

The old men they would sit with around fires at night, telling stories, singing songs, beating on drums. She and they spoke of heavy magic in his blood, power and potential that, they said, would give him the power to move mountains, to lift the sky, to lay low the wicked and become a champion.

It was a lot for a pre-teenage child to absorb, and he didn't understand very much of it at all. Like most children, he wanted only to be a child, to be normal and fit in with the others...and he couldn't.

Even the other kids looked at him in mingled awe and fear. Some simply avoided him...others would stare. Still others would taunt and tease, the way kids do. For years, he simply wished to escape those fearful eyes, those jeering words...indeed, he would even pray to whatever gods might be listening that one day, maybe, he might have what he wanted.

At the age of ten, his mother was found dead, hanging from a tree in their meager front yard on the Pine Ridge reservation.

The coroner's report listed her death as suicide, one which was accepted by many, decried by others. An older Leo, looking over the report and knowing his mother, would have little trouble believing it - the odd things she told him aside, his mother had been not only a heavy drinker, but so often seemed depressed and angry at the world. Occasionally she would rant to the walls, to the ceiling, even to the point of running outside and screaming at the sky that they already took one and they couldn't have the other. He never understood it, but as time wore on it seemed to the recollections of his mind that she was becoming increasingly unbalanced.

Fortunately, the people that came to get him that day just happened to already know who his father was and how to contact him.

His father told a different version of his story, offered to his only son that he had never been told of his son, that his mother had fled in the night shortly after Leo himself was conceived. Whether it was the truth or not Leo wouldn't ever be able to find out - his mother had not been willing to discuss his father or the events surrounding his conception and birth, had done her best to keep him from asking or changing the subject when he managed to steer it that direction.

His father's explanation made sense, to the memory of a child.

It was a different life from then on out - his father, already the chief of security for an up-and-coming Las Vegas resort and fairly well off, brought the boy home with him. To the eyes of a young boy whose life had been lived in a ramshackle trailer and spent running around a dusty little village of many more such homes, Las Vegas and the life his father gave him were gifts from heaven, riches after having been so poor.

No more taunts or jeers, no more stares and glares. Life began to move forward at a swifter pace, as he lost himself in the pursuits of the life of a little boy. He made friends, played sports, did his homework, rode a bike. He'd eat dinner with his dad at a table or in front of the television, go to boxing and wrestling matches, go camping, and even get into trouble on occasion, the kind every boy gets into.

It was the life every boy wants, so many have and so very few can really appreciate - normal, with friends and enemies, good times and bad, love and heartbreak (mostly of his doing), cuts and scrapes and bruises (though never a broken bone).

From boyhood he became a man, and with it, his decisions that led him here. He idolized his father (still does, actually), and since the age of twelve he had decided who he wanted to grow up to be.

He followed in those footsteps almost perfectly - first to college, then into the Marines, and then home again to work for his father, who had ascended from head of security to overseeing all aspects and operations of the Olympus Grand Hotel, Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, where he had been working ever since before he brought his son home with him.

There are advantages to being the boss' son.

And there he would stay, until his father received a letter from a company looking to expand not into other cities, but rather to another world entirely.

Kyle Pontius

Date: 2011-05-27 14:28 EST
Name: Kyle Zethembe Pontius Codename: Zulu Birthplace: Detroit, MI Birthday: October 18

Vital Statistics

Age: 33 Height: 7'0" Weight: 237 lbs. Eye Color: Brown Hair Color: Black Blood Type: B-

Distinguishing Features

Tattoos: Marine Corps emblem, upper left chest Scars: GSW wound, left shoulder blade; shrapnel wounds, outer right thigh Other: N/A

Personal Data

Strengths: Outwardly, many find Kyle to seem cool, stoic, even intimidating in his sheer presence - he carries himself with a confidence and grace that is rarely seen except among the corporate elite. This is enhanced by his usual manner of dress, often found in dark, hand-tailored suits with silk shirts and ties. A low, almost musical voice speaking in cultured tones and a gift for smooth talking with nearly any type of person gives him an edge in the boardroom and in public, but there is no weakness here - when needs be he can be as ruthless as any corporate shark or power player in existence. Underneath that, however, is a noble heart, a true believer in good and facing down the forces of evil at work in this world in whatever way he might be able, be it giving a hot meal out to the homeless to setting up contributions to charities and humanitarian causes.

Weaknesses: For some reason, he has a soft spot for blondes and hard-luck cases, but woe betide the person he finds using those things to their advantage.

Relatives: Alexander Pontius (father, deceased); Darius Pontius (brother, deceased); Simphiwe Pontius (mother(NPC)) Relationships: None Known Adversaries: None Known Allies: Leo Heracleides (subordinate, chief of security); Edward Batten (employer)

Standard Equipment

Item Name: Central Computer Portable User Interface Item Description: Comparable in width and length to a paperback book, but only a few millimeters thick and made of a substance that resembles black-bordered clear glass, Kyle - like his boss - never goes anywhere without this tablet. The operating system is a simple multi-touch user interface coupled with a very powerful transceiver uplink that can connect remotely to Batten Industries' central control computer from virtually anywhere. The tablet is biometrically encoded to Kyle and can only be activated and used by him.

Item Name: Glock G31C (with 3 spare clips) Item Description: A .357 SIG variant of the full-sized Glock 22, Kyle keeps this all-black pistol loaded with hollow-points in 17 round clips, giving it sufficient stopping power to drop anything up to a medium-sized deer in its tracks with a single shot.

Background Information

Factoids: The cool facade and even, cultured way of talking are a far cry from the man that lies beneath, and even further from the boy's roots. His father was a police officer descended from free African-Americans dating back to the days of colonial America, while on his mother's side his ancestry can be traced back to a man named Shaka Kasenzangakhona, a tribal leader of the Zulu nation best known for his brutal leadership and military genius. However, Kyle's brains and ability don't stem from genetics, but rather from pushing himself to his limits, applying hard work and determination towards an end.

History: Born in Detroit, Michigan, Kyle himself was born into a family of mixed traditions.

His mother was descended from Africans that emigrated to the United States in the 60s, fleeing the tyranny of Apartheid. His father, however, came from a long line of law enforcement tradition, dating back for generations. Both were good people, and loving parents, doting on their son Kyle when he was born, as they would his younger brother Darius when he would be born four years later, never favoring one over the other.

It was the perfect picture of American life, or very nearly. Alex Pontius had married his wife well after becoming an officer of the Detroit Police Department, and she knew and respected his profession - it was one of the things she loved most about him, despite the dangers and odd shifts cops sometimes work. Even for a woman of formidable strength and tradition from an equally strong people, she almost worshiped her husband.

This was not simply due to profession, or physical stature, good looks, or even sexual prowess, but because of the man's heart and strength of conviction. It was one of many things his elder son would remember about his father, a part of the drive that would come in later years.

When Kyle was ten his father was promoted from being a 'beat cop' to the gang violence unit, at his own request. He'd joined the police department not just to enforce the law, but to help those people that he could. And he was very good at his job - in each case he was assigned to he could reduce violence, bring a cooler head to situations where violence was usually the prevailing theme. A man that couldn't bear to see young people killing each other over pointless concepts, he could bring it down to their level, walk the walk and talk the talk. It earned him respect, a right to walk where a lot of cops wouldn't dare.

Unfortunately, it's also what got him killed. Four years after being transferred to the unit, Alex Pontius was killed in the line of duty by a hitman for helping out a street kid going my the moniker Squint, whose real name was Nathan Pembridge III, a runaway from a well-off family that Alex exposed as being involved in criminal activities.

Kyle had just turned fourteen, a freshman in high school, and up until then the best that could have been said would be that he was average in just about every respect. The death of his father, however, made him step up. No one might have been able to really tell up until that point, but the boy idolized his father in every respect, but had been forced to do it from a distance that seems to happen with every law enforcement officer and their family. With him gone, the shoes were left for Kyle to fill as best he could.

The Detroit police department had a fund for the widows and orphans of law enforcement officers, and between that and state assistance they managed, barely, for the next year, until Darius was killed. The younger brother, perhaps thinking his father's reputation might protect him, began hanging with a bad crowd, and was killed in an act of random street violence. He had been playing basketball at the time.

It was something for which Kyle would never be able to fully forgive himself. He had been doing homework, determined to excel so he might one day get the three of them away from this meager existence, studying.

It was just another catalyst for him. The guilt over not being with his little brother, for failing to protect him, was a wound that would never fully heal, but he used it to push himself harder.

His mother never laid any blame on him. A loving, strong and willful woman, she refused to hear him speak of his blame. 'He wasn't doing anything wrong, Kyle, and neither were you. You did not push him to play with those boys, you did not pull the trigger on the gun. You must focus, make yourself better. Make yourself doubly good, for the both of you.'

And so he did. He pushed himself harder than ever, taking night courses for extra credits, finishing high school a year early. His meteoric academic rise, along with the boy's physical size and grace, got the attention of several prestigious schools whom offered him rich scholarships. He eventually chose MIT, moving to Boston while his mother stayed in Detroit.

Once again he applied himself, and once again he was rewarded. He filled his days and nights with studies, working in three different areas of study at once, seemingly tireless. He did enjoy his studies, perhaps, and made many and varied friends while he was there among faculty and students alike. But behind it all, driving him onward, were the spirits of his father and brother, their memories burned in his mind.

Six years later, he graduated from MIT with two bachelor's degrees and a master's, among the top students in history at the school. Looking beyond school, however, required thoughts towards a career, and he looked towards the military. His reasons were never really clear to him, save that perhaps afterwards there was the possibility of working for one of the government's law enforcement agencies, the FBI or CIA, or even Homeland Security.

It would be the Marines he chose - not for the money, or the officer's training program, but because he found in them a code he could relate to, honorable and true. It was a brotherhood, as well, to be a part of, something he could be included in, something to be proud of.

He served for four years, attaining the rank of Captain before his term was up. They had given him what he needed, and they had from him what they wanted. Leaving the Marines behind, he put his resume out to the private sector.

The very next day, he was contacted by one Edward Batten from a company called Batten Technologies, as it was then.

It was the start of something glorious, ambitious and righteous.

That was six years ago. It all started from death and injustice...now it's evolved into a mission.

Edward Batten

Date: 2011-05-27 14:31 EST
Name: Dr. Jack Adkinson Position: Department Head, Batten Industries Engineering/Design and Performance/Testing divisions

Vital Statistics

Age: 34 Height: 5'7" Weight: 152 lbs Eye Color: Blue Hair Color: Brown Blood Type: A+

Background Information

With Ph.D.s in applied structural engineering, computer systems engineering and energy-based physics, Adkinson is a man with two loves - conspiracy theories and impossible problems. His motto in his department is 'There's no such word as impossible,' which he takes very literally. Independently wealthy all on his own, he was hired shortly after the inception of Batten Industries and is half of the brains behind the SPEARS computer management system and the pulse generators used in the Ranger Project suits.

Picture

http://soyezvousmeme.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/tj-tj-thyne-3461816-516-768.jpg

Edward Batten

Date: 2011-05-27 14:33 EST
Name: Jason Tatopolous Position: Deputy Chief - Batten Industries Security

Vital Statistics

Age: 47 Height: 5'5" Weight: 179 lbs. Eye Color: Brown Hair Color: Brown Blood Type: B+

Background Information

Formerly a NYPD narcotics detective, the man's reputation as a police officer stood out as one of honesty, integrity, intelligence, and skill, a rare and valuable combination for a police officer and even moreso for one in the narcotics division. Ed, of course, snatched the man up in a heartbeat for his Security division. Originally the job of Chief of Security for the Rhy'din division was offered to him, but he turned it down, giving his reason as 'being part of the bureaucracy wouldn't be as much fun.'

Picture

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Edward Batten

Date: 2011-05-27 14:34 EST
Name: Perry Martin Position: Department Head - Batten Industries Production Facilities

Vital Statistics

Age: 37 Height: 5'8" Weight: 162 lbs. Eye Color: Hazel Hair Color: Brown Blood Type: O-

Background Information

Australian by birth, Perry was promoted from within the company from the New Orleans production facility, where he worked as the first shift foreman. While in that position, he acquired a reputation for meeting production deadlines often ahead of schedule, not only by efficient workplace organization and supervision but also by maintaining strict safety guidelines, resulting in a perfect safety record with no time-lost incidents or accidents for four out of five years in that position.

Picture

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Edward Batten

Date: 2011-06-11 20:55 EST
Name: Olivia 'Liv' Johannessen Position: Receptionist

Vital Statistics

Age: 26 Height: 5'8" Weight: 118 lbs. Eye Color: Hazel Hair Color: Blonde Blood Type: B+

Background Information

Like many of Batten's main employees, Liv was hand-picked by the CEO himself, in this case from the Pentagon, where she worked as a yeoman while she served in the Navy, and a highly efficient one at that. However, while in the Navy she did some modeling of a not-so-decent nature, because while the military has some great benefits, the pay isn't always that fantastic for an enlisted woman. After leaving the Navy she was approached by the CEO to work his reception desk. She initially refused the position, until Ed explained that she was the perfect combination of qualities he needed for the position: a pretty face, a friendly yet efficient personality, with brains and capability to back it up. (It didn't hurt that he offered her more than three times the amount the Navy had paid her as a yeoman for the Pentagon.)

Picture

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Edward Batten

Date: 2011-06-25 14:15 EST
Name: Myles Heracleides Position: Owner - Olympus Grand Hotel Resort and Casino, Las Vegas

Vital Statistics

Age: 58 Height: 6'4" Weight: 208 Eye Color: Brown Hair Color: Brown Blood Type: O-

Background Information

Formerly of the Marine Corps, after leaving the military Myles was contacted by an organization that called itself simply 'the Order,' and was recruited by them shortly thereafter. What he did for them remains highly secretive, as eight years of his life after the Marines are unaccounted for. It was during this time he conceived a son with a Native American woman named June Running Deer. For the most part quiet, secretive, and often called intimidating, Myles keeps tabs on his son via his contacts with the Order and other sources.

Picture

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Raye

Date: 2011-09-21 06:58 EST
Name: Raye Ibaraki Streetname: Doc Birthplace: Boston, Ma. UCAS Birthday: October 12

Vital Statistics

Age: appears to be in her late 20s Height: 5'6" Weight: 130 lbs. Eye Color: Violet, Originally Brown Hair Color: Black Blood Type: B-

Distinguishing Features

Visible Cybernetics: Upon closer examination, it would be determined that Dr. Ibaraki's eyes are mechanical in nature.

Scars: Numerous recent and older scars from being in the streets and on the front lines in the California Free State

Personal Data

Strengths: Dr. Ibaraki has a genius level intelligence and her MD from the Boston University. She specializes in Cybernetics, Bioware and Nano-technology with Advanced training from NeoNet (Formerly Fuchi Electronics). Dr Ibaraki is also a trained Martial Artist and is Rank as Mestre (Master) in Capoeira Angola.

Weaknesses: She is also extremely stubborn and has a bit of a protective streak that does get her into trouble " she was once paralyzed from the waist down. With her focus on her education and her martial arts, she lacks some of the basic social skills and feels that lack often, translating into periods of self-doubt. She also has trust issues and it takes a bit to earn her trust. When that trust is shattered, she withdraws into herself.

Also, Dr Ibaraki is severely allergic to magical healing. Depending on how powerful, she has been known to go into convulsions.

Relatives: None known

Relationships: None Currently

Known Adversaries: Renna, NeoNet

Known Allies: Edward Batten, Kyle Pontius, Winter Moon, Brian Ravenlock, Wolvinator

Standard Equipment

Item Name: Beretta 200st Item Description: Type Conceal Mode Ammo Damage Weight Light 4 SA/BF 26(c) 6L 2

Cybernetic/Bioware: Wired Reflexes II Bio-Enhanced brain Wireless Matrix interface Cybernetic Eyes Bioware enhancement to spinal column and nanite hive.

Background Information:

Factoids: The doctor comes from a time where illegal activities are the norm if you were not one of the corporate elite and even if you were. She is known to hire out a past patient of hers if something needs to be done that is quasi-legal from data-steals to wet work.

Raye herself knows very little about her origins. When pressed, she may refer to herself as a designer baby. A designer baby is a genetically engineered child. Officially, she is the only daughter of high ranking executives in NeoNet. In reality, only NeoNet knows who the genetic donors are and that information is encrypted under so many layers of black IC.

History:

Very little is known about Dr. Ibaraki up until her graduation from USC with her Doctorate. She was, by all accounts, a stellar student. She rarely ventured out of her studies and rarely socialized. Because of her family's connections, she had the finest training in cybernetics and bioware that could be found in the known world.

She always thought that the couple that had "raised" her was her biological parents. Somehow, she stumbled upon information as to her origins" Even if she doesn't know who the genetic donors are. This led to her being framed for a crime she did not commit and losing her reputation and very way of life.

This led to her finding herself alone and in the Shadows where she built up a reputation.

This also translates into real problems when forming close ties to people. She is finding it easier in Rhydin, where corporate ties do not automatically make you a target. She is finding that friend and family means something other than being lip service in a corporate mission statement.

And she is finding true loyalty cannot be bought or sold for any amount of Nuyen....And finding true friends is a near impossible task.

http://www.eclipsedancer.com/gallery/albums/10001/rayearmed.jpg

http://www.eclipsedancer.com/gallery/albums/10001/capoeira2.jpg

Edward Batten

Date: 2011-09-25 12:45 EST
Name: D.I.A.N.A. (Dedicated Intelligence for Advanced Neuromimetic Analytics) Position: Artificial Intelligence

Vital Statistics

Age: Indeterminate Height: Variable Weight: N/A Eye Color: Gold Hair Color: Black Blood Type: N/A

Background Information

Originally constructed and programmed by Edward Batten as an intelligent data-compilation program to analyze, collate and prioritize audio files for Batten's audio data-collection network, Diana's capabilities have been expanded since her creation to include a wide variety of skills and knowledge that aids Ed in his everyday activities in his business, personal and other activities, including the running of his automated industrial line that takes care of the construction of his armor at his personal residence. Capable of quadrillions of calculations per second, Diana is easily one of the most advanced artificial intelligences ever constructed.

Picture

http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/268/9/d/d_i_a_n_a__by_parallaxalteration-d4aw1lf.jpg

Michael Petrov

Date: 2012-06-27 16:51 EST
Name: Michael Vladimirovich Petrov Nickname: Big Mike Codename: Alfa Birthplace: St. Petersburg, Russia Birthday: May 27

Vital Statistics

Age: 37 Height: 6'3" Weight: 223 lbs. Eye Color: Blue Hair Color: Medium Brown

Distinguishing Features

Tattoos: None Scars: Numerous Other: Deep voice and slow speech pattern; occasionally shows hints of a Russian accent

Personal Data

Strengths: Despite his large, lumbering appearance and his slow speech patterns, Big Mike is in reality quick and sharp in both thought and action. Not only that, but he has a calm, almost stoic manner in any situation and an intense focus in both profession and combat that can't be broken by anything, no matter how surprising it may be. To those he considers his friends, he is unwaveringly loyal, even to the point of death. He is a Master of Sambo and Judo, as well as being proficient in the use of weapons of all kinds , as well as explosives and an able and capable pilot.

Weaknesses: He is Russian. He does not permit himself weaknesses. Except for vodka. And cigars.

Relatives: Vladimir Ivanovich Petrov (father, NPC), Isabella Nolan-Petrov (mother, NPC)

Relationships: Nothing steady

Known Adversaries: N/A at this time

Known Allies: Leo Heracleides, Julianna X, Kyle Pontius, Edward Batten

Standard Equipment

Item Name: GSh-18 9mm semi-automatic pistols (2, with 2 spare clips each) Item Description: The GSh-18 is a short recoil-operated, locked breech pistol, which incorporates the best of various small-arms designs from a multitude of sources such as Glock, Heckler & Koch, and Barretta. The weapon has an 18 round magazine and an unusual cam-rotated barrel with 10 locking lugs which increases the barrel's durability, as well as lessening recoil and assisting with keeping the barrel on-target. The reason for this is the type of ammunition the gun is designed to fire, a specialized 9x19mm PBP round which features a lightweight, super-hardened bullet and an overpressure cartridge, which allows the bullets to be fired at an incredible 600 feet per second. This results in the bullets being able to penetrate nearly any kind of standard body armor, including flak vests, and has been demonstrated to be able to pierce 8mm of hardened steel at distances of up to 20 meters (65.6 feet).

Item Name: RMJ Tactical S13 'Shrike' Tomahawks (2) Item Description: Designed for use by pilots and other military personnel who wanted a concealable, lightweight weapon for multi-purpose survival, these 13 1/2" tomahawks feature full-tang, hammer-forged, full Chrome-moly 4140 steel construction, with the handle tang fixed into a insulated grip. In the hands of an able wielder, these handheld throwing axes can be a devastating weapon both in close-combat and at range, designed to pierce anything up to and including a mil-spec Kevlar helmet with a single swing or a strong enough throw.

Background Information

Factoids: Big Mike's slow way of speaking is in fact an intentional thing to disguise his native Russian accent. The only time it comes out is under the influence of copious amounts of alcohol, or on those rare occasions that he gets excited or angry.

Typically, Mike is very slow to anger, being of a disciplined nature thanks to his military and martial arts training that began from a young age. Not given to emotional outbursts, if he is pushed to the point of anger, the results can be explosive.

History: Michael was born in Saint Petersburg, in Russia, the son of a Russian construction worker and an American businesswoman. It seemed an unlikely relationship - his mother was intelligent, attractive in a rather severe sort of way, and moderately wealthy, whereas his father was a rugged-looking, rather simple man with little money, barely any education, and a rather gruff personality.

She must have seen something in him, though, because out of that unlikely combination came Michael.

At a young age he was already a physical child, rough and tumble, but with a sharp mind and a way of looking at the world that set him apart from the other kids.

His father hoped to encourage this by getting him into sports, something his mother also encouraged, and so he was taken to a local gym to try out for the ice hockey team, which his father had been on as a child himself. However, Michael saw something he found infinitely more fascinating: a group of students engaged in practicing judo.

It was fair to say that he was hooked from the moment he saw it. His father was not approving of that course, thinking that his son should follow in his footsteps, but his mother, somehow, brought the old man around, and soon Michael was enrolled and began to learn.

It wasn't long before young Michael discovered the martial art of Sambo, and became even more interested in it than he was in Judo. This course was met with more approval from his father, who was a man with great pride in his national heritage, and Sambo was the 'recognized' martial art of his homeland.

The elder Petrov tried to get his son involved in hockey, still, but it turned out that on the ice his son had poor coordination at best, and finally he resolved himself to be satisfied with his son's choice of sport. After all, it was hard to be disappointed in your boy when he could make other - and often larger - boys cry like girls when they got into a ring and he used his strength to subdue or outright pummel them.

Despite his abilities and swift advancement in both Sambo and Judo, the younger Petrov never was a bully, never felt the need to lord his strength over his peers. Both mother and father saw to it that the boy became much too disciplined for that.

Thanks in part to his gifts and also to his intelligence, which grew with his education, Michael was encouraged to join the Russian military, where his instructors were encouraged and impressed with both his physical abilities and hiw willingness to take on any challenge, and to learn every aspect of being a soldier. Brom being a basic 'grunt' he was selected to train for and join the elite Spetsnaz units, where he excelled beyond his superiors wildest expectations.

Unfortunately, there were some who were jealous, and sought to keep him from advancement, who tried their best to beat Michael down by discrediting him or else by sheer intimidation.

One such man was an officer and the son of a very influential member of the Russian government. Such things were not uncommonly seen in the Russian army, and being the disciplined individual that he was, Michael simply tolerated it, refusing to give in and working all the harder.

It just happened to be the sort of thing that royally pissed the officer off, and finally, he tried to puch Michael into a physical confrontation. And when physicality did not work, he began to insult Michael's parentage. It was almost a fatal mistake.

The officer ended up in the hospital with multiple fractures of the legs and his ribs, a snapped vertebra in his neck and a severe concussion. It took eight full-grown men to pull Michael off of him and throw him into a cell.

Fortunately, being the son of an American brought with it certain priveleges, and she went to the American embassy to plead her son's case. In the interest of keeping their relations with the American government on a peaceful note, as well as keeping the much-needed good relations with the company his mother represented, which was good for their economy, they released Michael, but with the disgraceful stain of being dishonorably discharged from the army.

His mother, at that point, decided that perhaps her son and husband ought to come back to the States with her. Once there, she started searching for opportunities for her son to get a job.

With her contacts, she found one at a company looking for good security personnel, called Batten Industries. It seemed to be a good fit for her son, and the owner and CEO had a reputation for overlooking past incidents in the search for the very best employees for his then-fledgling company.

In the end, it turned out to be not just good, it was perfect.

Katt Batten

Date: 2013-05-25 03:43 EST
Name: Kathryn Ayanna Batten Codename: Shadow Birthplace: Empire of Unity Birthday: Dec. 14th

Vital Statistics

Age: Ageless (looks to be around her early 20s) Height: 5'5" Weight: 113 lbs. Eye Color: Emerald Hair Color: Black with a hint of metallic sheen Blood Type: Unknown

Distinguishing Features

Tattoos: None Scars: Numerous scars are littered about on her person, each with a story behind it. Other: Her eyes are a sharp, unnatural green and settles heavily when she looks at someone. Pupils are normally thinner then a human's and tightens thinner when angry.

Personal Data

Strengths: Katt has a strong sense of justice and a military sort of background. She has a habit of being blunt with her words which tends to throw people off. There is also this enigmatic trait of hers to get information from the unlikeliest of sources. Adding to this strange mix of strengths is her ability to call upon a second skin of her kin. This skin-structure covers her body in a hard yet strangely flexible metal like material that moves as if it has life of its own. She is able to shape and change this material into weapons of her choice or staunch wounds thus prolonging her combat on the field.

Weaknesses: She is a bullet magnet, plain and simple. Unfortunately if she isn't wearing the OmniProof armor her brother has specially crafted for her, her Reevi skin does not protect well again impact damage of bullets. While she can staunch her wounds she still can bleed to death as Reevi skin can be used only so long before it starts to physically exhaust her. Another weakness, though very few knows of this detail, is Katt's need for blood. While blood does help her wounds heal faster she also needs it in order to survive. She can go a period of three months or so without showing any effects but after that she starts to grow pale and sick-looking. She'd also calm her baby face trait to be a weakness.

Relatives: Caius T. Encinosa (Father/Deceased), Kathryn Rhysata (Mother/deceased), Edward Batten (Brother by Legal Adoption)

Relationships: Engaged to Clayton Sherdon

Known Adversaries: There is a long list...

Known Allies: Aside from her brother this list is even longer...

Standard Equipment

Item Name: Batten Inc Light OmniProof Armor Item Description: Quoting: Can withstand an impact to the armored regions from anything up to and including a 30mm cannon without sustaining serious injury from the force of impact

Item Name: P.C.U.I. (Portable Computer User Interface) Item Description: A smaller tablet then what her brother normally carries, the PCUI is always on Katt's person. Like her brother's the pcui is bio-metrically encoded Katt and Ed thus only they can activated and used it.

Background Information

Factoids: Katt isn't human. Well that is a duh to most that know her at this point but she doesn't flaunt this fact. What she is only a few know and even fewer know her true capabilities.

History: Katt's history is clouded with mystery. Aside from Edward and Clayton there are maybe one or two others that know just how deep and dark her past is. She isn't willing to share it with just anyone and thus isn't recordable at this time.

Calypso

Date: 2017-12-10 22:45 EST
Name: Calypso Celiel Nickname(s): Cal, CC Codename: None Birthplace: Ignas Birthday: February 14th

Vital Statistics

Age: 26 Height: 5'7" Weight: 142 lbs. Eye Color: Blue-Green Hair Color: Raven Black Blood Type: AB-

Distinguishing Features

Tattoos: She has two tattoos: — Tribal barb tattoo, which is a few shades darker than her skin tone, starts under the curve of her left breast. It works down her side before traveling down front and disappearing under her pants. The shading of it creates a 'rising' effect, making it look as if the tattoo actually rises above the skin. It takes touching the area to realize it does not. How far it goes" She may or may not answer depending on who you are and how you ask. — On her upper right bicep is a circular tattoo that can be mistaken for a dreamcatcher. The weave of inner strings creates a six star rotation and little beads decorates the rotation. The beads, if looked close enough, are of different colors and almost gem-like in appearance. Scars: Several though most of them are work related. Other: On her left inner wrist is a small gem-like abnormality embedded into her flesh. It is about the size of a silver dollar and raises faintly above the skin. While it feels just like flesh, the surface reflects liquid blue-silver beneath.

Personal Data

Strengths: —From an early childhood she has always been one of those 'think out of the box' sorts. While this is a strength it can also be considered a weakness. — Intelligent but hides behind being 'Gear head'. — Despite her massive lean towards Gears, she is a frighteningly skilled coder/hacker. — Photographic memory — Observant — Hard Working — Superb hand-to-hand, gun specialist, and has skilled aiming to backup a throwing arm (just ask all her underlings that end up with a wrench to the head) Weaknesses: — Without a doubt reckless is at the top of this list. Her thinking out of the box has been known to put her in questionable, and dangerous, situations. — Easily distracted by things like complex machinery or a coding challenge. Can be so enthralled that she becomes unaware of her surroundings, goes without meals, etc. You could say she gets "in the zone". — Stubborn — Lightweight (not a heavy drinker) — Has no affinity to magics — Carries guilt over her family's death. Relatives: Mitch Celiel (father - deceased), Marrissa Mianja (mother - deceased), Casey Celiel (younger half-brother), and Casey Celiel (youngest half-brother), JoJo Celiel (grandfather - deceased) Relationships: None Known Adversaries: None Known Allies: Edward Batten (Employer)

Standard Equipment

Central Computer Portable User Interface - Comparable in width and length to a paperback book, but only a few millimeters thick and made of a substance that resembles black-bordered clear glass. The operating system is a simple multi-touch user interface coupled with a very powerful transceiver up-link that can connect remotely to Batten Industries' central control computer from virtually anywhere. The tablet is bio-metrically encoded to Cal and can only be activated and used by her. Burst Knuckles - Black, fingerless gloves she wears on both hands, each knuckle is dressed with a small disk that releases a small burst of energy on impact point. Remington RP9 - Full-size 9mm pistol, 18 round capacity with two extra magazines

Background Information

Factoids: Cal has a few finished and unfinished projects which include, but not limited to: Burst Knuckles Solar Glider (unfinished) Meowsly - At the request of one of the members of the Arcadia, Cal started working on a cat-like AI "pet companion". While this project was never finished, she did make some interesting developments that she plans on to one day looking back on. Arcadia Burst - she enhanced the range and power of the Gears that were aboard the Arcadia. While it does pull off the power source of the Arcadia during downtime/repairs, a Gear could triple its power output for maximum damage without stressing out or damaging the frame during battle. While it didn't place a Gear's power on par with Omni, it was enough to change the factor of some very critical battles. It had also been revised for specialized GS to be used both as a weapon and a power source. Kosbey - An AGWS A.I that is embedded into her system and can be visibly seen on her left inner wrist as a small gem-like object that rises faintly above her skin. Although Kosbey is an AI, it will not act without Cal's permission. She can hear its voice in her head, others cannot, so at times it does seem like she is speaking to herself. Its presence in/on her person allows for a number of things including: *** Immunity to common diseases and illnesses *** Anima Draw (can be used on a magic source as well) - drawing in on the power, Kosbey regulates it through Cal's system as raw energy. While it is not ideal (and can make her very sick), it does have its uses. *** Ability to 'see the unseen" (up to 25 meters) *** Adrenaline Rush - Allows her to push past her normal limits to a degree. A certain amount of sleep is normally taken after AR is used, the longer AR is used, the longer the sleep period is. *** Surveillance Disks - Connected and able to mentally navigate specially made disks for visual and auditory. While their range is limited she can collect information this way but has known to use it for combat means as well. PWS (personalized workstation - unfinished) - The PWS was a second project to Kosbey that connected her to her surroundings. A user interface would come up in the form of three hologram keyboards and five screens that were controlled by her hand movements and her link with Kosbey, allowing her to expand her work without the need to leave one spot. While the PWS is still on the Arcadia, the blueprints for it is still up in that noggin of hers.

History: Cal grew up in a simple, dull life. Her youth really was nothing special. She was clever girl living with her parents,grandpa, and brother, in a small town that was half a day's walk from the nearest city.

At the age of seven she started to take interest in her grandfather's maintenance of the Gears that came through the town. It was hard to ignore the tower tall machines when they were resting in the shop behind the house. By the age of fourteen the interest had grown but her schooling, by her parents decision, was leaning towards becoming a doctor. The town needed a good doctor and her parents felt that her intellect could go a long way to helping the people. She was forced to give up her personal interests for the sake of the many.

Shortly after her sixteenth birthday her town was war-ravaged (or so she was told). Her parents were among the casualties and her brother was MIA. Her grandfather took her under wing and moved them both to the safety of the greater city, Ave. Her interests were not only renewed but became a driving desire. She became her grandpa's assistant in repairs, reframing, and even re-engineering Gears within a few months. She was known as one of the youngest Gear mechanics and as often at times sought out by a special military organization for her skills.

At the age of eighteen, after quite a bit of coaxing, she was placed into the military as a military cadet engineer. It didn't take long for her to surprise and impress those of higher power and soon enough she had managed to find position as a specialist advisor. She didn't like the position - being young and in charge of a mostly male group meant she had to be hard and on her game instead of laid-back as she had grown up to be. Plus the job took its toll on the joys of her tinkering, making sure that many of her own little projects went unfinished or nothing more than notes in a small booklet at the side of her nightstand.

Despite her dislike of being in the military, she spent a number of years in service. She didn't agree with the tactics nor what was being done to the people but she was given little choice of leave. Doing so would put questionable people in her seat and she wouldn't be able to do anything to help the people.

One day, while traveling into the city due to the mysterious death of her grandfather, she met a young man. Their meeting was nothing short of fated. Carson, as he called himself, was a friend of her grandfather's and part of a rebel group that were trying to break the shackles of a war that had gone on so long the people had long since forgotten the cause that started it in the first place. It was her overhearing of his conversation with another person of the pointless circle of hostility and tragedy that the war spurred that drew her to him.

She joined the rebel force despite still within the military, a dangerous seating of a spy given her position. It was through her position that she learned of the origins of the war - the other side had managed to set a seed within the government, one of their own, to keep the war going for the purpose of power, money, and control.

Her contact with the rebels was eventually found out and at the age of twenty-five she was found guilty, and branded, by her own nation as a traitor. She was sentenced to death by execution by the very people she had spent her years protecting.

Weeks were spent in a jail cell between interrogation and torture as they tried to weed out information of the rebelling forces from her.

On her day of execution, she was rescued by the rebel group and taken back to their base where she spent weeks recovering both mentally and physically but once she was up to physical speed she took the role as maintenance chief above the rebels main spaceship, the Arcadia. While she did help with repairs of the ship her main job was to take care of the machines she loved so much - the Gears.

Her life with the rebels was one that gave her much more freedom, despite the loads of work. She was able to return to her tinkering and development of projects.

One night, while testing a prototype engine for her solar glider, she was swallowed by some sort of black hole that landed her in Rhydin. Not only did it drop her into another world but dropped her right on top of her future boss, Mister Edward Batten. After a curious meeting between the two, he offered her a room at the local inn so she could get on her feet in the strange land.

It didn't take her long to find out that not only was she dropped in a different world but that the time was different. Visiting the space port, she was met with confusion when she requested to be brought to her world. Her world did not exist to their knowledge. While this does, to this day, confuse her it seems she is now stuck in a world that is not her own - a new world to call home despite her desires.