Mainframe
| Strength 8d |
Agility 4d |
Intellect 8b |
Willpower 8d |
| Hand Size: Edge: |
4 (25) 2 |
Origin:
As are the vast majority of his teammates, Mainframe is a normal human, lacking ascendant powers of any kind. However, he is something of an electronics genius, and given a nigh-unlimited budget, has produced spectacular toys for the GI Joe team over the years.
Powers:
(none)
Hindrances / Augmentations:
(none)
Equipment:
Computer (i): Mainframe carries a military field computer with him while on duty. This reinforced (m.s. 8 case) machine can be used to interface with enemy computers when necessary, and can be fitted with all manner of media, as you never know what the enemy will use.
Furthermore, thanks to a handy communication pack that Mainframe carries with him, this computer can be used to remotely connect with databases, having an intensity 4 communication range (10 miles) - though it can go global thanks to 'bounces' from friendly radio towers.
Knife (s): a veteran of both the Army and the Marines, Mainframe knows to always have a blade on him, as they are useful everywhere. He can use this m.s. 12 blade to cut through items of like m.s., or to instead inflict his Strength +2 damage in melee.
Sidearm (a): Mainframe also carries a sidearm during missions, because even though his job is in computer work, you sometimes have to shoot somebody while stealing their data. He can fire a single shot to inflict +4 damage, raised to +5 in a short burst.
Skills:
Boxing (s): one thing you learn while going through Basic training is how to defend yourself - whether or not you have a weapon in hand. Mainframe can divide his pre-card play action score between two unarmed attacks, the last of which occurs as a contingent action.
Computers 2 (i): his primary field of influence, Mainframe is a master of computer hardware. Whether he's building one from the ground up or programming it to do amazing things, Mainframe may do so at a reduced difficulty, trumping with either Intellect or Willpower.
Electronics (i): furthermore, Mainframe is also incredibly well-versed in electronics theory and how it applies to combat. He excels when building or repairing any high tech devices - especially those embedded in vehicles - and receives a reduced difficulty when building or fixing them.
Engineering (i): finally, over the years, Mainframe has enhanced his skill with technology to cover all areas that his computers and electronics skills did not already deal with. Whenever building anything else, Mainframe does so at a reduced difficulty.
Guns (a): aving served in the military not once but twice, Mainframe has proven his mettle with most firearms. Whether discharging a standard, semi-automatic, or fully automatic rifle or pistol, Mainframe may do so at one difficulty level lower than is usually necessary.
Military / United States (w): Mainframe has been in both the Army and Marines before he was pulled for duty on the GI Joe team. As you can guess, he's got an instinctual understanding of the military mind set, and can recite the SOP even in his sleep (or so it seems).
Contacts:
As a member of the GI Joe team, Mainframe naturally can rely upon his fellows for assistance, should he only ask. This is particularly true as the man has served in a support role for the team for a very long time, and has even designed a lot of their specialized equipment!
Calling:
Soldier, with a secondary calling of Explorer: Mainframe tried doing the inventing thing for years, and while he often gets the urge to create great things, his heart lies in the military. At least mentally, that's where he gets the most 'bang for his buck'.
Costume:
Mainframe's first GI Joe uniform is pretty simple, and he stuck with it for many years. It includes gray trousers, a collared gray shirt, black leather boots and gloves, black holsters and sheathes for his weaponry, a black cap, and a black bandoiler holding various tools.
For a short time, however, he did wear a variation on this ensemble. It consists of magenta trousers, a collared tan shirt, gray leather boots, black leather gloves, gray holsters and sheathes for his weaponry, a magenta cap, and a magenta bandoiler this time.
Personality:
Mainframe is very enthused by computers and technology, and knows his way around both. However, Mainframe is also a hard, hard man, and has been known to do whatever it takes to win in a fight, no matter how dirty and underhanded the man has to act in the process.
Real Name: Blaine L. Parker, Grade E-5
Occupation: computer expert, infantryman
Legal Status: American citizen with no known criminal record, legally deceased in the Devil's Due continuity branch
Marital Status: divorced
Alias(es), if any: Dataframe
Group Affiliation: GI Joe
Height: 5' 10"
Hair: black
Eyes: brown
Weight: 185 lbs.
Other Distinguishing Characteristics: none
Story:
Mainframe originally enlisted in the Army back in the day, just in time to spend a good year in Vietnam (though good may not be the right word for it). It was long enough for him to get his Combat Infantryman's Badge, which was enough to set him up on a huge Gi Bill ride.
Thanks to this support, he got his degree in computers from MIT (once he was discharged from the Army, at least), and made his way to Silicon Valley. Mainframe made a ton of money there thanks to his advanced skills and enthusiasm, but he was bored out of his mind.
Re-enlisting, this time in the Marines, Mainframe finished Boot Camp at the top of his class, easily out-pacing recruits much younger than himself. Due to his expertise in computers and sheer physical ability, Mainframe was recruited onto GI Joe in no time.
Once on the team, he was immediately put to use as a field computer technician, occasionally fixing gear that broke down in the field, but more often engaging in dirty tricks against Cobra computer systems. His first major mission saw him doing just that with Dusty.
Led by a young guide, Rashid, the duo were taken to a Cobra Terror Drome hidden in the desert, which the two broke into as soon as they could get in; the thing was hidden in an oil tank. Once there, Mainframe successfully hacked into their computers, and linked them to GI Joe's.
Thanks to this work, the Joes figured out just how these things worked, not to mention their true purpose. Once this was done, a local patrol found Dusty and knocked him cold, capturing Mainframe and Rashid. However, Mainframe tricked the guards and beat them senseless.
Launching the Firebat inside the Terror Drome, he set it up to fire upon the exterior of the Drome, thus giving him and his compatriots the cover they needed to escape. Though Rashid didn't respect Mainframe's talents at first, he eventually realized just how dangerous the man was.
Whether in the field or as 'just' a technician, Mainframe has served the Joe team well.
(Historical Divergence)
When the team was temporarily deactivated, Mainframe returned to Silicon Valley, this time taking Dial-Tone with him. Combining their skills, the duo cashed in on the high tech boom at the turn of the century, and each made a respectable fortune with which to retire on.
They returned to the Joes upon its reactivation, bringing new skills to bear in the Joe team's arsenal. Building them all kinds of new gewgaws, Mainframe then set about the construction of the team's most impregnable base ever: the Rock. However, he wouldn't live to see it finished.
This is because, at the end of the second Cobra Island Civil War, he was assigned with Flash to destroy a Cobra EMP generator, and the duo were captured after they'd set a whole lot of explosives in the place. Before they could escape their captors, the bombs went off.
2008 Variations
Equipment:
Submachine Gun (a): heavier than Mainframe's usual armament, he can discharge a single shot from this weapon to inflict his Agility +4 in damage, a short burst of rounds to inflict his Agility +5 in damage, or hold the trigger down to inflict his Agility +6 in damage.
Costume:
Mainframe's third GI Joe uniform is once again his first. It is comprised of light gray trousers, a collared light gray shirt, black leather boots and gloves, black holsters and sheathes for his weaponry, a black cap, and a black bandoiler holding various tools.
2011 Variations
Equipment:
Submachine Gun (a): heavier than Mainframe's usual armament, he can discharge a single shot from this weapon to inflict his Agility +4 in damage, a short burst of rounds to inflict his Agility +5 in damage, or hold the trigger down to inflict his Agility +6 in damage.
Costume:
Mainframe's fourth uniform is a variation on his second. It includes light brown trousers, a collared light brown shirt, black leather boots and gloves, grass green holsters and sheathes for his weaponry, a grass green cap, and a grass green bandoiler holding various tools.
Extra Goodies:
GI Joe directories featuring a version of Mainframe:
| 1986 | 2008 | 2011 |
* Note: 1986 saw two versions of Mainframe (Versions 1 and 2).
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