Short-Fuze
| Strength 6d |
Agility 4c |
Intellect 6d |
Willpower 4d |
| Hand Size: Edge: |
3 (17) 1 |
Origin:
Born Eric W. Friestadt, the GI Joe operative known as Short-Fuze lacks super-human powers altogether. Despite this inherent normalcy, however, Short-Fuze has an uncanny knack for advanced math, being able to perform even the most complex calculations in his head.
Powers:
(none)
Hindrances / Augmentations:
(none)
Equipment:
Colt M1911A1 Pistol (a): since you can't use a mortar against close range targets, Short-Fuze also carries this firearm. It can be wielded to inflict his Agility +4 damage when firing a single shot, raised to +5 when attempting a semi-automatic discharge.
Helmet (s): since he works with explosives, Short-Fuze wears a helmet as a general matter of course, should something bad happen while on the job. This metal device offers him intensity 4 (+1) protection to his cranium, and it has a clear visor handy to protect his eyes, as well.
Knife (s): should he run out of ammunition, or simply need to cut something in a jiffy, Short-Fuze carries a blade on him at all times. In his hands, this knife, made from m.s. 12 materials, will inflict Short-Fuze's Strength +2 in slashing damage on any opponent.
Mortar (i): this weapon allows Short-Fuze to launch various projectiles, with significant range, at his targets. The shells that this mortar can fire typically inflict intensity 13 damage, and Short-Fuze can load several types of canisters into it, including:
* Explosive Canisters (i): these dangerous shells cause slashing damage to everything within near missile distance of their impact site, making them excellent weapons for the purposes of destroying tanks, buildings, or just about anything else, really.
* Incendiary Canisters (i): these deadly shells detonate to coat everybody within near missile distance of their impact with horrible napalm, which inflicts 2x SD energy damage (reduced by two each subsequent exchange until resisted).
* Smoke Canisters (i): these shells can obscure a target area with exceptional ability. Short-Fuze can rob those within near missile distance of where they hit of their action on a successful average difficulty mortar (strength) action, essentially by blinding them.
Skills:
Boxing (s): not known for his subtlety, Short-Fuze has learned a more offensive form of self-defense. If he finds himself in unarmed melee, he can divide his pre-card play action score between two attacks, the last of which will occur as a contingent action.
Guns (a): a basic talent that comes with his military training, this skill allows Short-Fuze to utilize any standard, semi-automatic, or fully automatic rifle or pistol, at a reduced difficulty. This skill doesn't extend to advanced, energy-based weaponry, however.
Marksman (a): above and beyond the capabilities of most artillerists, Short-Fuze excels in the use of non-adjacent weaponry. Whether wielding a mortar, bazooka, or even guided missiles, Short-Fuze strike with such weaponry at a reduced difficulty.
Mathematics (i): Short-Fuze can perform complex geometric and trigonometric calculations without assistance all too easily, allowing him to utilize line-of-sight weaponry with a further reduction in difficulty. This makes him exceptionally dangerous in battle.
Military / United States (w): a third generation military man, Short-Fuze knows how the Army does things. He intuitively understands military protocols, can easily interpret the chain of command and military instructions, and can lead a body of fighting men (and women) if necessary.
Contacts:
As one of the Joes, Short-Fuze can easily rely upon that organization for aid, should he find himself in serious trouble; after all, most times he would do so would be on a mission for them. Further, as a member of the military, he can also rely upon them for various resources, etc.
Calling:
Soldier: Eric comes from a long line of soldiers, so the military mindset has been virtually stamped into his mind. He doesn't mind all that much, though, because he enjoys his duty as a member of the armed forces - especially because being a Joe allows him to blow lots of things up!
Costume:
Short-Fuze's standard uniform consists of a pair of olive drab trousers, an olive drab long-sleeved shirt over a white T-shirt, an olive drab helmet with a clear visor, brown leather boots, black webbing to hold his gear, and brown leather holsters for his secondary weaponry.
Personality:
While he is a capable combatant, very effective with artillery in the field, and quite a logical person in general, Short-Fuze does have one fatal flaw: his impressive temper. He can't help but blow his top at least once a day, even if it's rather inconvenient for him to do so.
Such temper tantrums usually occur when his fellow Joes poke fun at his odd mathematical capabilities, or when somebody says something that offends his particular sensibilities. Of course, most of the Joes know better than to do this while he's 'on the job'.
Real Name: Eric W. Friestadt, Grade E-4 (later E-5)
Occupation: GI Joe artillery expert
Legal Status: American citizen with no known criminal record
Marital Status: presumably single
Alias(es), if any: none
Group Affiliation: GI Joe, Night Force (a GI Joe sub-group)
Height: 5' 9"
Hair: strawberry blond
Eyes: blue
Weight: 170 lbs
Other Distinguishing Characteristics: his plastic, horn-rimmed glasses sort of stand out, but other than that, none.
Story:
Short-Fuze is a tried and true military man. He can hardly help it; two previous generations of Friestadt men were career Sergeants, and he just sort of made his way into the job via osmosis. Not that he minds, as he thoroughly enjoys what he does.
And what he does makes lots of satisfying explosions.
You see, Short-Fuze is a trained artillerist, meaning that it is his job to obliterate things up with mortar fire. He has an edge over most such folks, however, in that he's a natural math whiz; Short-Fuze can calculate target azimuths in his head faster than a body with a compass can.
This natural aptitude gained the attention of one Colonel Hawk as he was assembling a covert, anti-terrorist force. Looking for the best of the military's best, he homed in on Short-Fuze's preternatural skill with mortar fire, and offered him a job on the nascent GI Joe team!
Glad to be part of such a prestigious unit, Short-Fuze didn't have to even think about his answer, and has been with the team ever since. For instance, he participated in the rescue of Dr. Adele Burkhart from the evil Cobra Commander, the Joe's first public operation.
He was also involved with several other missions over the next three years, after which he was pulled off active duty and given a desk job. This was to facilitate the Joe's self-administration, as over time, the team had expanded to the point that such a move was needed.
However, Short-Fuze was nonetheless called in to help with several other high-profile missions, such as the Joe's invasion of Cobra's secret US headquarters, Springfield, and their participation in the Cobra Island civil war between Serpentor and a false Cobra Commander.
Things change, however, and the Joe team was deactivated in 1994, since the threat Cobra posed to the world was reduced enough to be small enough for conventional forces to handle. A military man at heart, Short-Fuze simply returned to his Army post for several years.
(Historical Divergence)
However, Cobra eventually got its act back together, and renewed its attempts to conquer the world. As such, the Joe team was reactivated, and since he was already in the armed forces still, Short-Fuze gladly hooked up with his old pals to fight the good fight.
He fought with them through thick and thin, up through and during Cobra's greatest caper, the instigation of World War III itself, during which they almost took over the whole planet in one fell swoop. With Cobra apparently defeated again, though, the GI Joe team did not disband again.
They remained in full force to help the world hold itself together while it rebuilt the damage Cobra caused... which may take quite some time. But Short-Fuze is there along with his teammates, doing all that he can to assist as the planet pulls itself back together again!
1997 Variations
Equipment:
Bazooka (a): Short-Fuze's secondary implement of destruction, this device is can be fired to inflict his Agility +7 fragmentary damage with each attack. Short-Fuze can only fire this weapon once before it must to be reloaded, an action that takes him one full exchange to accomplish.
Costume:
After rejoining the GI Joe team in the late nineties, Short-Fuze donned a slightly modified version of his original 'union suit'. His shirt was a lighter green, his pants adopted a green camouflage pattern, and his boots changed to a glossy black color. The rest remained the same.
2004 Variations
Equipment:
Machine Gun (a): replacing his mortar while working in the Night Force, this weapon is still quite destructive. Short-Fuze can wield his machine gun to inflict his Agility +5 damage in a short burst of fire, raised to +6 damage in a withering, fully automatic firing pattern.
Costume:
When he joined the elite Night Force, Short-Fuze donned his third field uniform. This outfit includes black pants with a gray camo pattern, a green and black long-sleeved shirt, black leather boots and gloves, a black leather belt, and green webbing to hold grenades and other gear.
2005 Variations
Equipment:
Laser Rifle (a): after Snow Job proved their effectiveness, the Joes started using lasers during Arctic operations. Short-Fuze can fire this energy weapon to inflict his Agility +5 in Armor Piercing Energy damage per blast, doing so up to ten times before a recharge is required.
XK-1 Crossbow (a): used for winter operations, this is a new weapon to Short-Fuze - but he likes it regardless. Short-Fuze can fire this weapon to inflict his Agility +4 in piercing damage per attack, and can do so one or two handed - the former being done at an increased difficulty.
Costume:
Short-Fuze's fourth, Arctic wear uniform is a mostly white affair. It consists of white insulated trousers with black knee pads, an off-white, fur-lined jacket, a black belt, knife sheath, and webbing, insulated black boots, insulated white gloves, and his white helmet.
Extra Goodies:
GI Joe directories featuring a version of Short-Fuze:
| 1982 | 1997 | 2004 | 2005 |
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