Mercer

F
Ex 20
A
Gd 10
S
Gd 10
E
Ex 20
R
Ty 6
I
Ex 20
P
Rm 30
Res
Ex 20
Pop
Fe -2

Health:
Karma:
60
56

Origin:

As are his fellow Renegades, Mercer has no special powers to speak of, but he can hardly be considered 'normal' by any definition of the term. He's an expert combatant and enjoys his work, whether he's fighting for the angels or for the bad guys.

Known Powers:

(none)

Limitations / Enhancements:

(none)

Equipment:

Grenades: while on the job, Mercer typically has at least one of these devices pinned to his vest. He can fling them anywhere within the normal range, at which point they will explode to inflict Remarkable (30) Edged Attack damage to all within the area they detonate inside.

Kevlar Vest: one functional item he retains from his days as a Cobra Viper, Mercer still bears his bright red, bullet-resistant vest. This item provides his torso Good (10) protection against conventional, physical injuries - from bullets to knives.

Knife: Mercer knows you can't always rely upon your favorite sidearm, no matter how much easier that may be. He thus carries a blade as a backup, which is made from Incredible (40) m.s. materials, and can be used in melee to inflict his Strength in Edged Attack damage.

Sidearms: Mercer carries several of these hand cannons on his person, all of which can be used to discharge one round, inflicting Typical (6) Shooting damage, raised by +1 CS when he fires them in a semi-automatic spread of gunfire.

While his backup gun has no other special properties, his signature piece is also equipped with a silencer. This device reduces the report of his gunfire to a Feeble (2) level of sound, which keeps most people from knowing he's firing it unless they're at close range.

Quirks:

Repugnant Personality: it's hard to decide if it's his aggressive behavior, abrasive tendencies, or even his shifty, secretive lifestyle, but something about Mercer just puts others off. He makes Popularity FEAT rolls at a -2 CS as a result of his (many) character flaws.

Talents:

Crime: having worked as a Cobra operative, as well as in the capacity of a mercenary for years, Mercer has several unconventional capabilities at his disposal. Whether picking locks, posing as someone else, or simply trying to remain inconspicuous, Mercer does so at a +1 CS.

Guns: a skill he learned in the Army way back, which was reinforced during years as a Viper, this talent represents Mercer's ability to fire most conventional firearms. Whether it's a standard, semi-automatic, or fully automatic rifle or pistol, Mercer can use it at his Agility +1 CS.

Martial Arts type B: Mercer has always been good with his fists, and has had that tendency backed up with years of martial training. He can attempt any unarmed attack, whether punching, kicking, biting, or anything else, as if his Fighting score was +1 CS higher than is listed above.

Military / United States and Cobra: Mercer has served as a member of the United States Army as well as doing his time as a Cobra Viper. To say he knows all about the military mindset and functioning in a martial environment would be something of an understatement.

Contacts:

Mercer has few contacts to speak of. He can definitely rely upon his fellow Renegades for assistance in any matter, as they're tightly-knit and used to getting their hands dirty. Though technically a Joe, Mercer isn't on good terms with the vast majority of the team.

Costume:

Mercer's first costume mainly consists of old Viper uniform bits. It includes a black pair of leather boots, blue trousers with gray trim, a black leather belt, a red Kevlar vest with various pouches and a holster attached, one black glove (right hand) and a digital wrist watch (left hand).

Personality:

Mercer is abrasive, secretive, and aggressive, traits you don't normally think of in the form of a GI Joe operative. Of course, being an ex-Cobra Viper who the Joes make use of for valuable intelligence on his former teammates, they'll tolerate him and his attitude - if barely.

Real Name: Felix P. Stratton, Grade E-5 (equivalent)
Occupation: mercenary, ex-terrorist
Legal Status: citizen of the United States with an impressive criminal record
Marital Status: single
Alias(es), if any: Richard S. Cecil
Group Affiliation: GI Joe, the Renegades (GI Joe sub-team), former member of Cobra

Height: 6' 1"
Hair: light brown
Eyes: blue
Weight: 202 lbs
Other Distinguishing Characteristics: Mercer featrues an anti-Cobra tattoo on his left arm, and wears a full beard and moustache on occasion.

Story:

Mercer was originally an ordinary member of the Army back in the day, content to do his duty for his country until tragedy struck. When he couldn't afford the medical bills for an ill family member, Mercer was instead recruited into the higher paying forces of Cobra.

Mercer did his time with them for a few years, even serving as one of their elite Vipers. However, he eventually grew discontent with their inherently evil philosophy, and made his escape from Cobra Island one night in a stolen hydrofoil.

Seeing the opportunity Mercer represented, the GI Joe team got ahold of the man for its own purposes, thinking to use his extensive knowledge of Cobra activity to its own advantage. The problem with this was that most of the Joes couldn't work well with him.

So, Mercer 'vanished' from the Joes' roster in time, only to resurface randomly alongside two other misfits the Joes tends to keep on the payroll. This team, the Renegades, is yet another of Sergeant Slaughter's 'elite' groups, goons he took it upon himself to hammer into soldiers.

By any means necessary.

So though the Joes don't like working with Mercer, he nonetheless helps them out alongside his fellow Renegades, often engaging in 'off the books' missions the normal team can't afford to get caught doing. And when dealing with Cobra, the Renegades get a lot of dirty work.

The Renegades aren't always active though - just the opposite, really. So when not working covertly for Uncle Sam, Mercer tends to do mercenary work, though he avoids working for completely unscrupulous clients for the most part... it reminds him of Cobra too much.

(Historical Divergence)

When the Joes were deactivated for a time, Mercer embraced his merc work fully, though upon the group's subsequent reactivation he serves as a reserve member of that organization. He is called upon from time to time to help the Joes on missions when no one else is available.

Even if his teammates hate the idea of working with him. But they do respect his sheer ability, not to mention his insight into the behavior of Cobra's countless goons. Sometimes that's almost enough for them to ignore his terrorist history and his surly attitude.

Almost.

1991 Variations

Equipment:

Chain Mail Armor: for some reason, Mercer took to wearing chain mail armor on his right arm in 1991. This gives his arm the same protection his Kevlar vest provides his chest against physical attacks, and increases his melee damage with that arm by +1 CS.

Machine Guns: supplementing his preferred sidearms, Mercer may fire a single shot with these weapons to inflict Typical (6) Shooting damage, a short burst of such to inflict Good (10) Shooting damage, or fire continuously to inflict Excellent (20) Shooting damage.

Stanford Rocket Launcher: Mercer has added this devastating weapon to his arsenal recently, mostly because he's one of the few Joes strong enough to lug it and its ammunition around. It fires projectiles that have these vehicular characteristics:

C
Ex 20
S
Am 50
B
Gd 20
Damage
Remarkable (30) Edged Attack (fragmentary)

Costume:

Mercer's second GI Joe uniform is different than his first. It includes a black pair of leather boots, blue trousers with red trim, a black leather belt, a black, red, and silver Kevlar vest with various pouches attached, black gloves, and, oddly, a chain mail right arm sleeve.

2006 Variations

Equipment:

Machine Guns: supplementing his preferred sidearms, Mercer may fire a single shot with this weapon to inflict Typical (6) Shooting damage, a short burst of such to inflict Good (10) Shooting damage, or fire continuously to inflict Excellent (20) Shooting damage.

Costume:

Mercer's third GI Joe uniform is another all-new affair. It includes a brown and white camouflage vest, blue jeans, a brown leather belt, brown leather boots, brown and white camouflage shin and thigh pads, a black bandoiler, and a black thigh holster for a sidearm.

2011 Variations

Equipment:

Machine Guns: supplementing his preferred sidearms, Mercer may fire a single shot with this weapon to inflict Typical (6) Shooting damage, a short burst of such to inflict Good (10) Shooting damage, or fire continuously to inflict Excellent (20) Shooting damage.

Shotgun: for closer combat, Mercer sports this weapon. He can fire birdshot with it to inflict Typical (6) Shooting damage in a sixty degree arc, buckshot to inflict Good (10) Shooting damage to adjacent targets, and slugs to inflict Excellent (20) Shooting damage to one foe.

Costume:

Mercer's fourth costume is almost identical to his first. It includes black leather boots, black knee pads, black leather gloves, a black leather belt, blue jeans, and a red Kevlar vest with various pouches and a holster attached, worn over a red sleeveless shirt.

2018 Variations

Equipment:

Machine Guns: supplementing his preferred sidearms, Mercer may fire a single shot with this weapon to inflict Typical (6) Shooting damage, a short burst of such to inflict Good (10) Shooting damage, or fire continuously to inflict Excellent (20) Shooting damage.

Shotgun: for closer combat, Mercer sports this weapon. He can fire birdshot with it to inflict Typical (6) Shooting damage in a sixty degree arc, buckshot to inflict Good (10) Shooting damage to adjacent targets, and slugs to inflict Excellent (20) Shooting damage to one foe.

Costume:

Mercer's Marauders costume is a variation on his first. It includes black leather boots, light green knee pads, blue leather gloves, a black leather belt, light green, dark green, and brown trousers, and a brown Kevlar, pouch- and holster-laden vest, worn over a blue sleeveless shirt.

Extra Goodies:

Mercer Universal Heroes Text File Download

Mercer Imagery

GI Joe directories featuring a version of Mercer:

  1987 1991 2006 2011 2018  

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