Hawk

F
Ex 20

A
Gd 10

S
Ty 6

E
Ex 20

R
Ex 20

I
Ex 20

P
Rm 30

Res
In 40

Pop
Gd 10

Health:
Karma:

56
70

Origin:

Clayton Abernathy, known by the code name of Hawk, lacks super-human powers. However, he does possess an uncanny tactical mind and an inspired ability to lead others, which he uses to guide the GI Joe team in its fight against Cobra and other terrorists!

Known Powers:

(none)

Limitations / Enhancements:

(none)

Equipment:

Backpack: if not wielding a JUMP jet or any other device that would prohibit its use, Hawk often wears a backpack to hold various items necessary to complete a mission. These include special mission orders, maps, flashlights, emergency rations, and so on.

Fragmentary Grenades: Hawk usually carries a few of these things on the job. Each of these devices will, three seconds after they have been armed, detonate to inflict Remarkable (30) Edged Attack damage to every uncovered target within the area they explode inside.

Helmet: if not otherwise replaced by some other equipment, Hawk also makes use of a standard Army issue helmet, which offers him Good (10) protection against attacks striking him in the cranium. He also wears a pair of goggles on his helmet, to shield his eyes from launch debris.

Knife: should he run out of ammunition, or simply need to cut something in a jiffy, Hawk carries a blade with him whenever he's on a mission. In his hands, this Remarkable (30) m.s. knife will inflict Typical (6) Edged Attack damage to any opponent.

Mobile Missile System: when he began his tenure as GI Joe's field commander, Hawk was given control of the Mobile Missile System, which is basically a towed missile launching unit that can be rendered stationary and fired in seconds. See its entry for more information.

Sidearm: whether it's his trusty old Colt M1911A1 or a Beretta 9mm, Hawk always carries at least one sidearm. He can fire such weapons to discharge one round, inflicting Typical (6) Shooting damage, or a three-round burst to inflict Good (10) Shooting damage.

Quirks:

(none)

Talents:

Aerial Combat: a large percentage of Hawk's pilot training involved his learning the essentials of airborne combat. When flying an aircraft (whether it be a traditional vehicle or, say, a JUMP jet pack), Hawk may attempt combat actions at a +1 CS in rank.

Detective / Espionage: having fought off the diabolical plots of Cobra Commander for years, Hawk has evolved a truly sneaky demeanor, and can counter most any clandestine plot imaginable. Of course, he's also developed the ability to plan his own shadow ops, as well.

Guns: part of Hawk's basic military training involved learning how to use any standard, semi-automatic, or full auto gun effectively. This, and regular practice, allows him to make attacks with most firearms as though his Agility score was +1 CS higher than is listed above.

Leadership 2: Hawk is a natural leader, his technique having been enhanced greatly during his time as a West Point student and his years as the head of the Joe team. When he's leading a group whose Karma pool he belongs to, Hawk's mere presence will add 200 Karma to said pool.

Martial Arts type B: like his skill with most firearms, Hawk was trained in the sweet science of boxing as a form of self-defense. In melee, Hawk can make any punch, kick, head butt, knee smash, and so on, as though his Fighting rank was +1 CS higher than is listed above.

Military / United States: it goes without saying, but as a high ranking Army officer, Hawk has this skill as a general matter of course. This training offers him free contacts in the military, as well as an instinctive understanding of military protocol and procedures.

Piloting: Hawk has always had a love for aircraft, a fascination that he brought with him into the Army, who has trained him how to fly. This allows him to enhance any Control, Agility, or Reason FEAT roll involving the use and design of air-based vehicles by +1 CS.

Tactics: his years of training and experience have given Hawk the ability to plan virtually any mission. As such, when executing any plan he has devised (in battle or otherwise) to the letter, Hawk may attempt any action FEATs to bring said plan together at +1 CS.

Contacts:

As the leader of the GI Joe team, Hawk is known to every member of that group, which would gladly help him should he need it. Also, as a very high ranking Army official, he has friends amongst the Joint Chiefs of the Armed Forces - which never hurts.

Costume:

While in the field, Hawk wears a utilitarian uniform. It includes a long-sleeved, olive drab shirt over a red undershirt, olive drab trousers, black leather boots, a black leather belt with a silver buckle, and metallic webbing to hold various combat accessories.

Personality:

Hawk is a proven leader, tactician, and patriot. He can be exceedingly stubborn and self-righteous at times, but this never interferes with his ability to lead the world's single greatest fighting force. He's not only the leader of the Joes, but the best friend of nearly all of them.

Don't let his charming personality confuse you, however, for Hawk is an exceptionally devious man, though one would have to be after opposing the endless scheming of Cobra Commander for so long. If anything, his time with the Joes has made him even craftier.

Real Name: Clayton M. Abernathy, Grade O-6 (later O-7, then O-8)
Occupation: leader of the GI Joe task force
Legal Status: American citizen with no known criminal record
Marital Status: single
Alias(es), if any: General Hawk, General Tomahawk
Group Affiliation: GI Joe

Height: 6'
Hair: blonde, then brownish-gray
Eyes: brown
Weight: 160 lbs
Other Distinguishing Characteristics: none

Story:

Hawk's first known assignment was the administration of a refugee camp in Borovia, an eastern European nation that was in the grip of a campaign of 'ethnic cleansing'. He became notorious during this assignment when, after a terrorist attempted to bomb thousands of women and children refugees within, he took responsibility for one of his subordinates getting VERY rough with the captured bomber.

When on trial in his court martial, Hawk was asked why he didn't simply allow the subordinate, a Sgt. Lonzo Wilkinson, to hang for torturing that terrorist for the information he needed to find the hidden bombs. Hawk simply stated that he couldn't let Wilkinson take responsibility for an act that, were their positions reversed, Hawk would himself had done to save the lives of those innocents.

Then using the same logic on his own superiors, Hawk challenged the court to decide just where the 'buck' stops, to prove that they were either the same as he - or simply willing to sell their own subordinates down the river to cover their own hides. Before a verdict could be reached in his court martial, however, the proceedings were interrupted by one General Flagg and his aide, 'Sparks' Verdi.

The result of their actions are classified, but in the end Hawk was freed. Hawk was not only returned to active duty, but promoted and given the task of forming Special Counter-Terrorist Group Delta, otherwise known as GI Joe: an homage to the original group of Joes formed back in the sixties. Hawk was chosen to form and field-command this group due to what General Flagg considered inscrutable character.

While forming this team, Hawk endured the tragic death of his fiancée, an event that only helped to focus him on doing right by other people, so that they wouldn't needlessly suffer as he had. Following Flagg's example, Hawk formed a team of twelve specialists from across the Army's various specialties. 'Abernathy's Misfits', this 'dirty dozen' he'd formed, were chosen for exceptional ability and goodness of character.

Not that Hawk chose every member of the team - there were more than the dozen Joes he was in direct command of. Flagg himself had overall command of the group, and had utilized his aide, Sparks, as an intermediary to the Pentagon, as well as Shooter, an Army sniper who served as a 'troubleshooter' to the Joes when they were in the field. These two were vital to the beginnings of the GI Joe team in its anti-terrorist operations.

The team had something of a rocky start, its first mission seeing poor Snake-Eyes getting horribly mangled in a helicopter accident, his face being burned beyond recognition. However, the three remaining Joes on board for the job (Stalker, Grunt, and Rock 'n Roll) nonetheless helped him in obtaining their goal - the rescue of George Strawhacker from a disguised group of Cobra troublemakers.

Encouraged by this success, Hawk continued to work with the Joe team as their field commander for several years, leading them on one successful mission after another. Most of these involved repeated run-ins with the diabolical Cobra Commander and his countless Cobra thugs, who were intent on conquering the world - no matter what it would take to achieve this victory.

Even though he enjoyed leading combat missions directly, as opposed to handling them from afar, Hawk was eventually promoted to base commander of the Pit. He then delegated field commander status to Duke, the Joes' Top Sergeant. Hawk didn't like leading from a desk, however, and when his superior, General Austin, suffered a heart attack, he was given another promotion.

Now fully in command of the Joes, Hawk rejoined the team in battle, his first field mission in a great while being the rescue of Snake-Eyes, Storm Shadow, and Ripcord from Cobra Island, a job that Wet Suit and Beachhead happily joined him on. Soon after, though, it was discovered that the Ripcord they rescued was, in fact, a disguised Zartan, who ultimately escaped Joe custody.

However, while Zartan posed as the Joe he thought dead, Ripcord in turn stole Zartan's identity, and infiltrated Springfield - Cobra's US headquarters. Once Ripcord called the Joes to tell them this, Hawk led a full-force assault against the town, one which succeeded in driving Cobra out, but not before they created the genetic construct known as Serpentor, and destroyed all evidence of their presence.

As such, Hawk had little documented justification for his attack on the town, and the Joe team was temporarily suspended. During this time, Zartan acted on his knowledge of where the Joe's secret base was situated, and told Cobra Commander its location. As such, he, Destro, Serpentor, Zartan and his Dreadnoks, and various Cobra operatives were able to invade the place, as it was mostly empty.

Hawk was being interrogated in the Pit at the time by his superiors, and to prevent Cobra from taking the facility, he blew it up, burying Cobra Commander and Destro alive on the lowest floor of the subterranean base. Having proven that Cobra was still a menace, his surviving boss, one General Hollingsworth, dropped the charges against Hawk and reinstated the Joe team.

Hawk led the group as a mobile unit for a time, giving Cobra no hint as to where they were, since they had no permanent base. They eventually rebuilt the Pit deep in the desert of Utah, away from civilian targets and in a much more defensible area. Shortly afterward, Hawk was called upon to lead the Joe force into Cobra Island, at the request of Serpentor, to aid him in the nation's current civil war.

Though he didn't like the idea, Hawk nonetheless did as he was ordered, though the end result of this was the death of Serpentor and most of his Crimson Guardsmen supporters. This allowed an impostor Cobra Commander to take power, and under his lead, Cobra's effectiveness in general slipped greatly. This general lull in Cobra's threat to the world only lasted until the original Commander reclaimed his throne.

As this occurred, Hawk had to deal with various forces within the Pentagon who didn't like the idea of the Joe team and its relative independence in the chain of command. Right after the Cobra Civil War, these corrupt generals, the Jugglers, had the entire Joe team arrested, and then tried to kill both Hawk and General Hollingsworth, though their plan ultimately was unraveled by several Joes.

The team and all of its members were cleared after this debacle, and though several Jugglers tried to cause more problems for the team over the next few years, the Joes continued on in their battle against tyranny in general - and Cobra in particular. Hawk himself gladly led this fight as the years wore on, through thick and thin, though he tried not to step on Duke's toes as he did so.

Particularly exhausting conflicts Hawk participated in include the Battle of Benzheen, during which several Joes lost their lives, the Battle of Millville, in which Cobra had joined forces with the alien Megatron, and a particularly hairy fight between Cobra Commander and Destro over his Trans-Carpathian palace, which itself could change shape thanks to Destro's use of transformer-like technology.

However, things changed in the mid-nineties, and once the Pentagon again decided that Cobra was no longer a direct threat to America, they disbanded the Joe team anew. This turned out to be more than just a temporary turn of events, however, and most of the Joes resumed conventional military service during this lengthy period of time - or retired from the armed forces altogether.

(Historical Divergence)

It took Hawk several years to convince his superiors that the Joe team was still necessary to fight Cobra - and other groups just like them. Finally, though, Hawk reassembled the Joes, starting out with the original operatives that helped him to make the world a safer place. However, though he wanted to fight with them directly versus the forces of Cobra, Hawk found that he couldn't.

You see, he fell into a unique position to get a long-standing foe of his, the group of generals known as the Jugglers, under control. When invited to join their ranks, Hawk did so to keep tabs on what they are doing, which freed up Duke to lead the team directly - and would allow him to use the Joes to battle both Cobra and corruption stemming from the military itself!

This situation lasted for several years, though as time went on it became harder for Hawk to control the Joes' escalating activities along with the Jugglers' excess. As this situation came to a head, Hawk was paralyzed in battle with Zartan, when the villain shot him in the back while posing as Cobra Commander, lodging a bullet in his spine. Until the bullet could be removed, Hawk was confined to a wheelchair.

Despondent, Hawk abandoned the Joes for a time to deal with his own issues, though he returned to the fold when the Red Shadows made several attempts on his life. By this time, the GI Joe team was under the command of General Joe Colton himself, as it restructured itself yet again in the wake of the Red Shadows' defeat - and the subsequent death of the Jugglers, who were always holding them back.

Though still paralyzed, Hawk continues to aid the GI Joe team as a vital advisor, though he has more than a little payback in mind for the Commander... even if it wasn't actually that villain who crippled him. To this end, he has sent several Joes on 'side' missions on his own. He also did his best to aid the team throughout World War III, during which Cobra almost conquered the entire world at long last.

Almost. Thanks to Hawk and the Joes, Cobra was defeated yet again, their Commander jailed in an undersea prison built specifically for him. With its leadership lost, the terrorist organization fractured and went its separate ways. Mind you, Cobra had nothing to hold it at bay except for the GI Joe team - which was more than ready to end the lingering threat of their enemies once and for all!

1986 Variations

Costume:

After his promotion to Brigadier General, Hawk donned his second GI Joe field uniform. It includes green camouflage pants, a dark brown, leather Army pilot's jacket, a black belt with a silver buckle, black leather boots, and black leather hip and shoulder holster for his guns.

1991 Variations

Additional / Substitute Equipment:

Jet Pack: occasionally, Hawk needs to survey a battle from the air, and no standard aircraft are present. When this situation arises, he can don his personal jet pack, a collapsible back-worn rocket that is a marvel of modern engineering, which has these vehicular characteristics:

C
Ex 20

S
Ex 20

B
In 40

P
Sh 0

In addition to its remarkable flight capability (for something with such small wings and rockets), the jet pack is armed with four mini-missiles. Each of these projectiles can be fired to inflict Remarkable (30) Edged Attack damage to a foe, with an approximate range of one mile.

Submachine Gun: when flying about on his miniature jet pack, Hawk most often makes use of this weapon. It inflicts Typical (6) Shooting damage per single shot, or Good (10) Shooting damage if Hawk fires a magazine-exhausting, semi-automatic volley of bullets at a foe.

Costume:

Hawk's third uniform, rarely worn, is basically a dark green flight suit, complete with an airtight, metallic brown helmet (with the required clear visor), brown boots, brown gloves, and various brown straps all over. He basically wore this only when he used his miniature, collapsible jet pack.

1992 Variations

Additional / Substitute Equipment:

Assault Rifle: Hawk began to use one of these weapons in his later years as a Joe commander. Aided by a scope for a +1 CS to hit with aimed / ambush fire, this gun inflicts Good (10) Shooting damage in a single shot, raised to Excellent (20) in a semi-auto burst of lead.

Revolver: Hawk always has a spare firearm on him, regardless of his other armaments. In ceremonial dress, he often replaces his Beretta or Colt with a beautifully crafted antique revolver. Either way, these weapons inflict Good (10) Shooting damage per shot.

Costume:

Hawk's fourth uniform was donned after being promoted to Major General, and consists of a burgundy leather jacket, burgundy leather boots, off-white and red camouflage pants, a red leather belt with a silver buckle, a white cap, black sunglasses, and a black grenade bandolier.

1993 Variations

Additional / Substitute Equipment:

Armor Bot (v2): while he had his own, personal Star Brigade armor, Hawk was also responsible for piloting the massive GI Joe mecha known as the Armor Bot. This highly advanced and exceedingly powerful robotic combat system is described in its very own entry.

Jet Pack (v1): occasionally, Hawk needs to survey a battle from the air, and no standard aircraft are present. When this situation arises, he can don his personal jet pack, a collapsible back-worn rocket that is a marvel of modern engineering, which has these vehicular characteristics:

C
Ex 20

S
Ex 20

B
In 40

P
Sh 0

Laser Rifle (v2): while fighting evil in space, Hawk makes use of a heavy assault laser rifle instead of conventional weaponry, to prevent recoil from throwing him about in battle. This weapon can be fired to inflict Excellent (20) Armor Piercing Energy damage per deadly strike.

Star Brigade Armor (v2): for a very short period of time, Hawk utilized an extremely heavily armed suit of space-fitted combat armor, while serving as the GI Joe 'Star Brigade' commander and while driving its Armor-Bot. See the Star Brigade armor descriptions for more information.

Submachine Gun (v1): when flying about on his miniature jet pack, Hawk most often makes use of this weapon. It inflicts Typical (6) Shooting damage per single shot, or Good (10) Shooting damage if Hawk fires a magazine-exhausting, semi-automatic volley of bullets at a foe.

Costume:

Hawk's fifth suit is similar to his third, being another flight suit - it just came in a different color scheme. The greenish-gold elements changed to bright yellow and green, while the brown stuff transformed into a glossy black state, save for the helmet, which went bright yellow.

General Abernathy's sixth uniform wasn't really a uniform, so much as it was a high tech, Star Brigade manufactured space armor. It was a large, black, green, and golden affair, and he only wore it while he was in space for a short time. It's simply too expensive to risk in common combat.

1997 Variations

Costume:

After the Joes reassembled the first time, Hawk donned a variation on his second GI Joe uniform. It includes gray camouflage pants, a dark brown, leather Army pilot's jacket, a black belt with a silver buckle, black leather boots, and black leather hip and shoulder holster for his guns.

2000 Variations

Additional / Substitute Equipment:

Assault Rifle: Hawk began to use one of these weapons in his later years as a Joe commander. Armed with a scope for a +1 CS to hit with aimed / ambush fire, this gun inflicts Good (10) Shooting damage in a single shot, raised to Excellent (20) in a semi-auto burst of lead.

Submachine Gun: when lacking greater firepower, Hawk uses one of these as his primary assault weapon. It inflicts Typical (6) Shooting damage per single shot, or Good (10) Shooting damage if Hawk fires a magazine-exhausting, semi-automatic volley of bullets at a foe.

Costume:

Hawk's eighth uniform is similar to his fourth, albeit with better colors. It consists of a worn, brown leather jacket, black leather boots, dark green camouflage trousers, a dull blue leather belt and grenade bandolier, dull blue hip pouches, a green cap, and black sunglasses.

2002 Variations

Additional / Substitute Equipment:

Costume:

Hawk's ninth field uniform is like his fourth (and eighth). It includes a tan leather jacket over a white T-shirt, gray trousers, black leather boots with green ankle-guards, a green grenade bandolier, a brown leather belt, green hip pouches for gear, a tan cap, and silvery sunglasses.

2004 Variations

Limitations / Enhancements (Devil's Due Continuity Only):

Wheelchair Bound: after a fight with Zartan (then disguised as Cobra Commander), Hawk was left paralyzed by a bullet wedged into his spine. As such, he is highly limited in movement (maximum 1/2 area per turn), and has Shift 0 Strength and Agility in his lower body.

Additional / Substitute Equipment:

Assault Rifle: Hawk began to use one of these weapons in his later years as a Joe commander. He can fire this heavy assault weapon to inflict a three-round burst to inflict Good (10) Shooting damage, or Excellent (20) in a fully auto, 'rock and roll' display of leaden fire superiority.

Costume:

Oddly, Hawk's tenth GI Joe uniform is the one that mostly resembles conventional military dress. It includes an Army green coat over a white T-shirt, Army green trousers, an Army green cap, brown leather boots, gloves, webbing, and pouches, and gray knee pads.

2008 Variations

Additional / Substitute Equipment:

Laser Rifle: after Snow Job proved their effectiveness, the Joes started using lasers during several operations. Hawk can fire this energy weapon to inflict Good (10) Armor Piercing Energy damage per blast, doing so up to ten times before a recharge is required.

Mirrored Helmet: this mostly ordinary military helmet comes equipped with a ray-shielded visor, which is handy when you work with lasers. This visor is proof against laser (or other photon beams) of up to Incredible (40) intensity, protecting Hawk's eyes from all but the strongest light.

Costume:

Hawk's eleventh uniform is virtually identical to his first. It includes a long-sleeved, olive drab shirt over a red undershirt, olive drab trousers, black leather boots, a black leather belt with a silver buckle, and metallic webbing to hold various combat accessories.

2011 Variations

Additional / Substitute Equipment:

Submachine Gun: when lacking greater firepower, Hawk uses one of these firearms as a secondary assault weapon. It inflicts Typical (6) Shooting damage per single shot, or Good (10) Shooting damage if Hawk fires a magazine-exhausting, semi-automatic volley of bullets at a foe.

Costume:

In 2011, Hawk adopted an all new, twelfth uniform. It includes a gray T-shirt beneath brown web gear, gray shoulder pads, dark gray trousers beneath gray thigh pads, gray knee pads, black leather boots, gloves, and holsters, a gray helmet, and blue goggles.

* Note: 1991 saw two versions of Hawk (Versions 3 and 4), as did 1993 (Versions 5 and 6).

Extra Goodies:

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Hawk Universal Heroes Text File Download

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Hawk Imagery

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GI Joe directories featuring a version of Hawk:

1982

1986

1991

1992

1993

1997

2000

2002

2004

2008

2011

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