HISS Drivers
| Melee RV 10 |
Coordination RV 10 |
Brawn RV 10 |
Fortitude RV 10 |
Intellect RV 10 |
Awareness RV 10 |
Willpower RV 10 |
Lifestyle RV 10 |
Repute RV -5 |
| Health: Fortune: |
40 30 |
Origin:
Unlike most of the other minions utilized in 1983 by the Cobra Command, the HISS drivers were exceptionally effective operatives, highly skilled in the use of their assigned weapon. They aren't as numerous as their infantry counterparts, of course, but they nonetheless make up an important part of the Cobra army, since they control the heavy hardware on missions.
Known Powers:
(none)
Limitations / Enhancements:
(none)
Equipment:
Helmet: all Cobra HISS drivers wear a helmet to increase relative safety on the field, and to protect from the ever-deadly head shot. Made from material value 20 metals, this helmet offers its wearer rank value 6 protection from any attack targeting their heads. This may not be enough to deflect all damage in a given instance, but it nonetheless helps to save lives.
HISS Tank: their claim to fame, every HISS driver is assigned his or her very own High Speed Sentry. This curious vehicle is essentially a tank, though it is built with irregular tank treads and a larger vertical profile than its horizontal one. Nonetheless, this vehicle is highly deadly in combat situations, and is easily a match for the GI Joe MOBAT. See its entry for more information.
Kevlar Vest: all HISS drivers' uniforms come equipped with a bullet proof vest, one that prominenty displays the Cobra sigil for the whole world to see. This vest protects its wearer from physical attacks at rank value 10, and offers rank value 4 resistance to energy-based assaults (laser, flame thrower, etc.). It is important to note, however, that this protection only covers a HISS driver's torso.
Pistol: in the event that one's HISS tank is disabled, its driver always has a spare firearm handy, stored somewhere on their person for quick access. These guns can be used to fire a single shot which inflicts rank value 6 Piercing damage, or a short burst which drains the entire magazine, but inflicts rank value 10 Piercing damage. The magazine can presumably hold 8 rounds before it needs reloaded.
Quirks:
(none)
Skills:
Guns: a given prerequisite, all Cobra operatives must have the ability to use a gun in combat; if they don't have it upon joining Cobra, they are trained - and quickly. Any HISS driver can use a regular, semi-automatic, or fully automatic gun or rifle with proficiency, doing so as though his or her Coordination trait was +1 RS higher than is indicated above.
Martial Arts style A or B: furthermore, all HISS drivers 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. Most learn style B, allowing them to make unarmed attacks at their Melee trait +1 RS, but some opt to learn style A, allowing them to Pound or Concuss opponents more easily than normal.
Military: 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 don't never get this far. This skill allows a +1 RS to any Intellect or Awareness ACTION based on the workings of military dogma.
Piloting: curiously, all HISS drivers are also cross-trained in the proper operation of the FANG helicopter, and as such, each and every one of them knows the basics of flying an aircraft, whether it be a helicopter or airplane. They can attempt aerial maneuvers with such vehicles as though their Coordination trait was +1 RS, though this bonus does not necessarily apply to aerial attacks.
Repair / Tinkering: since they are supposed to be experts concerning their own vehicles, all HISS drivers are given extensive training in the maintenance and repair of their assigned weapon, a skill that they can apply to most any other device. After all, if you can repair a broken tank tread out in the field, you can pretty much fix anything mechanical that comes your way.
Vehicular Combat: well trained in this aspect of warfare, all HISS drivers are given a several month long course in how to most effectively fight vehicle to vehicle, or to use their vehicle to advantage against infantry troops. This skill allows them to make any combat ACTION regarding their chosen vehicles at +1 RS to the applicable trait, whether it be an offensive or defensive move.
Contacts:
All HISS drivers theoretically have the entire organization of Cobra as their contact, in that they are members of the group and supposedly have the same goals. However, if it is more convenient to let a HISS driver get captured or otherwise take a fall, the Cobra Command is more than happy to let this happen. All this despite the fact that they are highly efficient and dependable operatives.
Costume:
The uniforms of the HISS tank drivers are very different from those worn by standard Cobra operatives. Essentially, it consists of primarily red trousers, a red belt, a red, long-sleeved shirt, and a red helmet. This was coupled with black, thigh high leather boots, black wrist braces, a black mask over their faces, a silver visor, and a blue Kevlar vest with a silver Cobra sigil painted on its center.
Notes:
Those recruits chosen to be HISS drivers are those who show unswerving dedication to Cobra's cause, have exceptional physical and mental ability, and are seemingly destined to be more than mere cannon fodder. Instead of going through the espionage training that ordinary officers experience, these operatives receive extensive vehicular combat and maintenance training - and it shows!
2008 Variations
Costume:
The second HISS Driver uniforms are very close in composition to their original. Essentially, it consists of primarily red trousers, a red belt, a red, long-sleeved shirt, and a red helmet. This was coupled with black, thigh high leather boots, black wrist braces, a black mask over their faces, a silver visor, and a silvered Kevlar vest with a red Cobra sigil painted on its center.
2009 Variations
Equipment:
Arctic HISS: their claim to fame, every HISS driver is assigned his or her very own High Speed Sentry. This curious vehicle is essentially a tank, though it is built with irregular tank treads and a larger vertical profile than its horizontal one. The Arctic HISS in particular is especially outfitted to function under Arctic or Antarctic conditions, and is expanded upon in its own vehicular entry.
M16A3 Machine Gun: in addition to their usual sidearm, HISS Drivers operating the Arctic variation on their classic ride make use of a machine gun in the execution of their various duties. These are select-fire rifles, inflicting rank value 6 Piercing damage with a single shot, rank value 10 Piercing damage in semi-automatic fire, or rank value 20 Piercing damage when fired fully automatic.
Survival Gear: Drivers working in cold weather climates as operators of the Arctic HISS are typically equipped with cold weather survival gear on top of their firearms and the actual Arctic HISS itself. This heavy duty apparel provides them rank value 20 resistance to cold damage, which comes in handy when your ride throws a track and it's twenty degrees below zero.
Talents:
Survival: HISS Drivers plying their trade in the Arctic are often given survival training from the Snow Serpents, from which most of them receive their cold weather gear - and they don't mind, because HISS Drivers make for great distractions while the Serpents going about their business. A HISS Driver who has received this training can normally scrounge up enough food, water, and shelter to persist in the Arctic indefinitely.
Costume:
The third HISS Driver uniforms are far cry from their original - but then, they were altered for use under cold weather conditions. It consists of a padded, fur-lined, white and gray camouflage patterned coat, a similarly padded and hued pair of trousers, black leather, fur-lined boots, black belts and web gear, an off-white helmet, a blue mask over their faces, and a bronze visor.
2010 Variations
Equipment:
Gonfalon: often the figurative standard-bearers of Cobra's military action, HISS Drivers making use of the Mark 5 take this function quite literally. Carrying this long pole with Cobra adornments attached at the top, HISS Drivers readily lead the rest of the organization into battle - or can bludgeon pesky Joes in the head with this material value 30 blunt implement.
HISS Tank, Mark 5: their claim to fame, every HISS driver is assigned his or her very own High Speed Sentry. This curious vehicle is essentially a tank, though it is built with irregular tank treads and a larger vertical profile than its horizontal one. The Mark 5 is similar to the Mark 4 in that its driver area and weapons can elevate to acheive fire superiority, and is described in its own vehicular entry.
Costume:
The fourth uniforms of the HISS tank drivers are somewhat similar to their first in appearance. Essentially, it consists of primarily maroon trousers, navy blue belts and web gear, a maroon, long-sleeved shirt, and a maroon helmet. This was coupled with black, thigh high leather boots, black gloves, a black mask over their faces, a silver visor, and a blue Kevlar vest with a silver Cobra sigil painted on its center.
2012 Variations
Equipment:
HISS Attack Scout: their claim to fame, every HISS driver is assigned his or her very own High Speed Sentry. This curious vehicle is essentially a tank, though it is built with irregular tank treads and a larger vertical profile than its horizontal one. The HISS Attack Scout is a pared down version of the general HISS style of vehicle, namely for scouting missions, and is described in its own vehicle entry.
Costume:
Save for its coloration, the fifth HISS Driver uniforms are the same as to their originals. Essentially, it consists of black trousers, a black belt, a black, long-sleeved shirt, and a black helmet. This was coupled with black, thigh high leather boots, black wrist braces, a black mask over their faces, a black visor, and a black Kevlar vest with a silver Cobra sigil painted on its center.
2015 Variations
Equipment:
HISS Rail Sentry: their claim to fame, every HISS driver is assigned his or her very own High Speed Sentry. This curious vehicle is essentially a tank, though it is built with irregular tank treads and a larger vertical profile than its horizontal one. The HISS Rail Sentry is quite like the original, save for the advanced rail guns mounted on its turret, and is expanded upon in its own vehicle description.
Machine Gun: in addition to their usual sidearm, HISS Drivers operating the neon variation on their classic ride make use of a machine gun in the execution of their various duties. These are select-fire rifles, inflicting rank value 6 Piercing damage with a single shot, rank value 10 Piercing damage in semi-automatic fire, or rank value 20 Piercing damage when fired fully automatic.
Costume:
The sixth HISS tank driver uniform is similar in composition to their fourth, if not in coloration. Essentially, it consists of orange trousers, silvered belts and web gear, an orange, long-sleeved shirt, and an orange helmet. This is coupled with black, thigh high leather boots, black gloves, a black mask over their faces, a silver visor, and a silver Kevlar vest with a gold Cobra sigil painted on its center.
Extra Goodies:
Cobra directories featuring a version of the HISS Driver:
| 1983 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2012 | 2015 |
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