Cobra Officers
| Strength 6d * |
Agility 3d * |
Intellect 4d |
Willpower 4d |
| Hand Size: Edge: |
3 (17) 1 |
* Cobra Officers will generally have either Boxing or Martial Arts as a skill, but not both unless they are exceptional fellows. If an Officer goes with Boxing, they will have a d code for both Strength and Agility; this is the standard Officer choice for the most part. On the other hand, if they go with Martial Arts, a Cobra Officer will have an x code for Strength and a c code for Agility.
Origin:
The nameless and faceless, but not quite countless Cobra Officers are the more skilled variety of ground-level Cobra operative. These highly trained minions are those who tend to go places in the Cobra organization, as these are the folks often trained to operate vehicles or, if otherwise skilled, to act in a position more conducive to espionage or sabotage activities.
Powers:
(none)
Hindrances / Augmentations:
(none)
Equipment:
AK-47 Assault Rifle (a): this Russian-built, semi or fully automatic rifle is built to last, being readily adapted for almost any duty imaginable. Cobra Officers may discharge a single round with this firearm to inflict their Agility +4 in damage, a rapid, semi-automatic burst of rounds to inflict their Agility +5 in damage, or a continuous, automatic burst of fire to inflict their Agility +6 in damage.
Helmet (s): all Cobra Officers wear a helmet, to increase relative safety on the field and to protect from the ever-deadly head shot. Made of material strength 10 metals, this helmet offers its wearer intensity 4 (+1) protection from any attack striking them in the cranium. This may not be enough to deflect all damage in a given instance, but it nonetheless helps to save lives.
Knife (s): though they'd rather not do so, all Cobra Officers are equipped to fight hand-to-hand in the event that they completely run out of ammunition (and they usually carry several magazines to prevent this). These blades are of material strength 12, and in a Cobra Officer's hands, they can be used to inflict his or her Strength +1 in slashing damage with each deadly strike.
Skills:
Boxing (s): all Cobra Officers are trained in at least one form of unarmed combat once they hook up with the group, if they don't already have one under their belt. A majority learn the fine art of boxing, allowing them to divide their pre-card play action score between two unarmed melee attacks per exchange, the second of which will occur as a contingent action. *
Detective / Espionage (i): one of the skills that give Cobra Officers an edge over their subordinates is their ability to worm their way into a facility and then pose as an ordinary staff member, whether it be a nuclear power plant, defense contractor, or even a television station. Cobra Officers perform all infiltration attempts, and any other detective action, at one difficulty level lower than is normally required.
Guns (a): a given prerequisite, all Cobra operatives must have the ability to wield firearms in combat; if they don't have it upon joining Cobra, they are trained - and quickly. Any Cobra Officer can use a regular, semi-automatic, or fully automatic rifle or pistol with proficiency, doing so at one difficulty level lower than is normally necessary.
Martial Arts (a): a rare few Cobra Officers transform their unarmed fighting style into an art form. Those who have managed to do so will be able to resolve unarmed attacks at one difficulty level lower than would otherwise be required, a benefit which extends to any actions they attempt to dodge incoming damage or to catch weapons thrown at their person. *
Military (w): a quasi-military organization, Cobra encourages an easily recognizable (to those within, at least) command structure. As such, those not bringing experience in such matters tend to pick it up quickly, to rise through the ranks; those who can't typically don't get this far. This skill gives Cobra Officers an edge concerning military protocols and regulations.
* Remember: Cobra Officers will usually either Boxing or Martial Arts, but not both. Were some to indeed have both they'd probably be promoted out of this rank into something more flashy and/or better paying.
Calling:
Various Callings: the vast, vast majority of Cobra operatives have joined up for their own, evil purposes, so choose a villainous calling and go with it! Nominally, Cobra Officers are motivated by Greed or aspirations of World Domination, but anything else can really apply. For instance, Storm Shadow hooked up with Cobra to gain Vengeance, etc.
Costume:
The standard Cobra Officer uniform consists of a blue jumpsuit, one which bears the Cobra sigil, in silver, on the front upper torso. The uniform is then complemented by black leather gloves, black leather boots, a black strap-on knife sheath, a black, pouch-riddled belt, black webbing with pockets for extra clips, a black face mask, and a blue helmet with a black arrow designating rank.
Notes:
For years, being a Cobra Officer was a high point in the career of an aspiring terrorist, in that they got their own command and quite a lot of cash, to boot. Furthermore, the opportunities for advancement were quite good, and usually involved getting to be in charge of high tech equipment, like FANG helicopters or HISS tanks. Of course, an Officer could always become an elite Crimson Guardsman.
1989 Variations
Additional / Substitute Equipment:
Dragunov Sniper Rifle (a): this Russian-built, semi-automatic rifle is built primarily with assassinations in mind, though it can be used in a firefight when necessary. The gun itself fires rounds capable of inflicting one's Agility +5 damage per shot, though it can inflict their Agility +6 damage in a semi-automatic burst. It is also equipped with a scope, offering a +1 bonus during ambush attempts.
Pistol (a): in the event that one's Dragunov is disabled, a Cobra Officer often has a spare handgun handy, stored in a convenient shoulder holster for quick access. These firearms can discharge a single round which inflicts one's Agility +4 damage, or a short burst which drains the entire magazine, but inflicts their Agility +5 damage. The magazine can presumably hold 8 rounds before it needs to be swapped out.
Wraith Suit (i): the primary benefit of being a member of the Python Patrol, other than the increase in pay, is that the Cobra Officers who accept this duty receive the use of a handy wraith suit. This suit, which doubles as their uniform, makes the Officers transparent to infrared scanners and all manner of radio wave technology. This stealth technology functions at intensity 15.
Costume:
Cobra Officers chosen to participate in Python Patrol operations wear a uniform that, while recolored, is similar to that of the original Cobra Trooper's. This consists of a black snake-skin jumpsuit (with a red Cobra emblem on the chest), accompanied by yellow gloves, a yellow-green belt, yellow-green webbing, sheathes, holsters, and knee-pads, gray boots, a gray helmet, and a red face mask.
2007 Variations
Costume:
Only slightly modified for 2007 use, the Cobra Uniform includes a blue jumpsuit, one which bears the Cobra sigil, in silver, on the front upper torso. The uniform is then complemented by black leather gloves, black leather boots, a black strap-on knife sheath, a silver, pouch-riddled belt, silver webbing with pockets for extra magazines, silver knee pads, a silver face mask, and a blue helmet with a black arrow designating rank.
2008 Variations
Additional / Substitute Equipment:
Dragunov Sniper Rifle (v3) (a): this Russian-built, semi-automatic rifle is built primarily with assassinations in mind, though it can be used in a firefight when necessary. The gun itself fires rounds capable of inflicting one's Agility +5 damage per shot, though it can inflict their Agility +6 damage in a semi-automatic burst. It is also equipped with a scope, offering a +1 bonus during ambush attempts.
Explosives (v2) (i): more overtly performing their duties as saboteurs when serving in the Desert Assault Squad, Cobra Officers bring a fully loaded explosives kit with them while in arid climates. These bombs can be set on a timer to detonate at the Officer's leisure, and inflict intensity 12 fragmentary damage to everything within a radius inside near missile distance of where they were set.
Flashlight (v2, v3) (i): for use during night time operations, this handy tool allows the Cobra Officer to see at any time. Capable of producing intensity 8 illumination, it can be used to fill a small space with bright light, or everything within near missile range with intensity 4 illumination. It can also be used in a pinch to blind others (with surprise) or as a bludgeon (m.s. 9).
Oxygen-Iodine Laser Rifle (v3) (a): since the GI Joe team did the leg work to develop functional, portable laser weaponry, Cobra was only too happy to abscond with it for their own use. This particular weapon allows Cobra Officers to burn through targets when necessary, inflicting +4 Armor Piercing energy damage with each blast, doing so up to ten times before it needs a recharge.
Costume:
Cobra Officers began wearing a slight variant on their first ensemble in 2008. Their fifth uniform consists of a blue jumpsuit, one which bears the Cobra sigil, in silver, on the front upper torso. This is then complemented by black leather gloves and boots, a black knife sheath, a black face mask, a silver belt, silver webbing with pockets for extra magazines, blue knee pads, and a blue helmet with a black arrow indicating rank.
Those Officers who join Cobra's elite Desert Assault Squad earn the right to wear a uniform fitted for such environs. It includes a khaki jumpsuit, one with a red Cobra sigil on the front upper torso. This uniform base is complemented by black leather boots and gloves, black knee pads, a black knife sheath, a black face mask, a brown belt and webbing, and a khaki helmet with a black arrow denoting rank.
Alternately, Officers doing time in the Night Watch units have a much darker ensemble. Their uniform during such duty includes a black and gray camouflage jumpsuit, one with a silver Cobra logo on the upper torso, black leather boots, gloves, and knee pads, a brown knife sheath, a brown leather belt and webbing, a silver face mask, and a black helmet with a silver triangle displaying the Officer's rank.
* Note: 2008 had three versions of the Cobra Officer (versions 4, 5, and 6).
Extra Goodies:
Cobra directories featuring a version of the Cobra Officer:
| 1982 | 1989 | 2007 | 2008 |
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