Tunnel Rat Strength Agility Intellect Willpower 6d 5c 5x 7d Hand Size: 4 (25) Edge: 2 Origin: Like every other member of GI Joe, save for a few statistical anomalies, Tunnel Rat is a normal human. No psionic discipline, magic schooling, or deific stature here, just a guy doing his best against the forces of evil with naught but his rifle and a nigh-fearless demeanor. Powers: (none) Hindrances / Augmentations: (none) Equipment: Explosives (i): being a combat engineer, Tunnel Rat occasionally has to blow things up. As such, he carries enough plastic explosives and detonators to produce several blasts of up to intensity 13 power, each of which inflict fragmentary (slashing) damage. Flashlights (i): you never want to find yourself in dark tunnels while in enemy territory. As such, Tunnel Rat carries several flashlights, each of which generate several hours worth of intensity 6 illumination, and feature several optional, colored filters (green, red, etc.) Grenade (i): when you just don't have time to set explosives, these do the trick. Tunnel Rat's grenades can be tossed anywhere within the usual range, and detonate to inflict intensity 10 damage to all uncovered targets within near missile distance of where it explodes. Knife (s): a must when wading hip-deep through icky subterranean tunnels full of nasty critters, Tunnel Rat can cut through items of up to m.s. 13 with this implement, given the time and inclination, or instead inflict his Strength +2 in slashing damage during melee combat. Rifle (a): when surprise is on his side, Tunnel Rat often makes use of a high powered rifle. He can fire this weapon to inflict his Agility +5 in damage per attack. Furthermore, it has a 'scope on top that he can use to gain a +1 to hit when he takes an exchange to ambush his foe. Sidearm (a): handy for close-range combat where his rifle isn't, this hand cannon is only slightly less deadly. Tunnel Rat can fire a single shot with it to inflict his Agility +4 in damage, or a magazine-expending, semi-automatic burst of such to inflict his Agility +5 in damage. Skills: Boxing (s): thanks to both his childhood and his Army training, Tunnel Rat has mastered this distinct fighting style. He can divide his pre-card play action score between two unarmed melee strikes, the last of which he may then attempt as a contingent action. Demolitions (a): a combat engineer and EOD specialist, Tunnel Rat is an expert in explosives. He may reduce the difficulty of actions intended to either set or defuse bombs in the field, and when doing the former, Tunnel Rat can usually tell where to lay explosives for maximum effect Guns (a): learned as a part of his basic training, this skill demonstrates Tunnel Rat's ability to wielding most conventional firearms. Whether he's firing a standard, semi-automatic, or fully automatic rifle or pistol, Tunnel Rat may do so with the benefit of a reduced difficulty. Military / United States (w): the basis for most of his talents, this 'background' skill has served Tunnel Rat well over the years. It gives him an instinctual understanding of military protocols, and allows him to lead fighting men and women into battle when necessary. Contacts: As a long-term member of GI Joe, Tunnel Rat can naturally rely upon his fellows for assistance should he need it; after all, the Joes look out for their own. Tunnel Rat's got plenty of additional contacts in military circles, not to mention all kinds of friends back in Brooklyn, too! Calling: Adventurer: Tunnel Rat has been tested time and time again throughout his life, whether on the streets of Brooklyn, in Ranger school, or by Cobra. Cynical and cocksure, he usually only enjoys himself while he's being severely challenged - particularly in some unknown locale. Costume: Tunnel Rat's first GI Joe field uniform consists of black trousers, a dark green shirt whose long sleeves are always rolled up, brown leather boots, a brown knife holster on his left leg, a gray leather belt, black leather gloves, green web gear, and a black bandana on his head. Personality: Tunnel Rat is virtually fearless. While he has one of the more difficult jobs on the GI Joe team, Tunnel Rat actually seems to enjoy it, since the challenge makes it more interesting. Couple this with a wry sense of humor and you've got a great Joe in the making! Real Name: Nicky Lee, grade E-5 Occupation: GI Joe EOD operative Legal Status: citizen with the United States with no known criminal record Marital Status: single Alias(es), if any: Toxo-Viper (one of his Spy Troops disguises) Group Affiliation: GI Joe, Night Force (GI Joe sub-team) Height: 5' 6" Hair: black Eyes: brown Weight: 140 lbs Other Distinguishing Characteristics: none Story: Tunnel Rat's family tree has more branches than most, being of Trinidadian Chinese descent, with bits of Irish, Spanish, and Indian thrown in for good measure. He grew up on Brooklyn's mean streets, which made him virtually fearless, and made him almost as tough as old shoe leather. After he enlisted, Ranger school finished that job, and you'd be hard-pressed to find something that scares Tunnel Rat. Sure, Tunnel Rat will run from something if he's got no chance of beating it, but true fear is something you won't find in this guy... he's just too tenacious. At the same time, he's reckless and possesses a wry sense of humor, which gives him a knack for getting into trouble one way or another. One would think that this would be a death sentence for a guy who defuses bombs and blows things up for a living, but not in this case. It actually makes Tunnel Rat startlingly effective at what he does. This is how he eventually got shoe-horned into working for the Joes. Not that he minded being assigned to the most prestigious military organization on earth (an assertion the Oktober Guard might disagree with, of course). Having joined the team shortly after the second Pit was demolished by Hawk in a bid to take out Cobra's high command (who had invaded the place while it was empty), Tunnel Rat was on Joe's payroll just in time for the group's first meeting with the deranged Cobra accountant, Raptor. This because Raptor had used his hacking skills to track down Tunnel Rat's payroll records, believing him to be a Joe. Noting that his pay had been forwarded to specific locations in the Rocky Mountains, he journeyed there, and sicced his trained attack raptors on the team. Once they found Hawk's convoy, which was headed to the team's new Pit base in Utah, Raptor sicced none other than Cobra Commander on the Joes. This villain was flying the Pogo Ballistic Battle Ball, a special invention of Fred 7's, a Crimson Guardsman with a knack for electronics. While his invention didn't take off in the Cobra arsenal, the Commander nonetheless used it to dramatic effect against GI Joe's convoy, which lacked proper air support at the time (you don't expect to get attacked by high tech terrorists while driving cross-country, you know). Despite this chicanery, Tunnel Rat stuck with GI Joe through thick and thin, having participated in several of its most infamous battles against Cobra, including the Cobra Island Civil War and the Battle of Millville. He remained a Joe until the team was disbanded in '94. (Historical Divergence) The Joes were intermittently active afterwards, but whenever they put out the call, Tunnel Rat was more than happy to answer it, lending a hand when Cobra hijinks went completely out of control, as was the case during the second Cobra Island Civil War... and of course World War III. * 1988 VARIATIONS * Costume: Tunnel Rat's first Night Force uniform is a variation on his original. It includes gray trousers, a black shirt whose long sleeves are always rolled up, brown leather boots, green leather belts, gloves, holsters, sheathes, and web gear, and a green bandana on his head. * 1990 VARIATIONS * Equipment: Mortar (i): useful for mass destruction, the mortar shells Tunnel Rat can drop into this device inflict intensity 14 fragmentary (slashing) damage to all within near missile distance of where they land, and can hit anything within, well, artillery distance. Pulse-beam Laser Pistol (a): this device fires a rapid pulse of laser beams, ionizing the air between Tunnel Rat and his target, allowing for maximum energy on that last pulse. This weapon inflicts his Agility +4 in Armor Piercing energy damage with every deadly burst (6 per charge). Sonic Cannon (a): this device generates tightly focused sound waves that inflict intensity 10 force or energy damage, depending on its setting. This device is energized by a large power pack mounted on Tunnel Rat's back, and can fire ten shots before it needs to be recharged. Skills: Advanced Guns (a): after being assigned to the Sonic Fighters unit, Tunnel Rat was trained in the use of high-tech, energy-based weaponry. When wielding any weapon that uses directed energy attacks or energized projectiles, Tunnel Rat may do so at a reduced difficulty. Costume: Another variation on his first, Tunnel Rat's third GI Joe field uniform is comprised of khakis trousers, a dark green shirt whose long sleeves are always rolled up, brown leather boots, gloves, and sheathes, a black leather belt and web gear, and a dark red bandana on his head. * 2003 VARIATIONS * Equipment: M-60 Machine Gun (a): Tunnel Rat now carries this 'hog' with him on missions. He can fire this beast to inflict his Agility +6 in damage in a short burst, or his Agility +7 in damage when firing continuously, its starlight 'scope letting him fire without penalty at night. Spy Troops Disguise (a): upon rejoining the Joe team, Tunnel Rat received his first spy paraphernalia - a Spy Troops disguise. His is a fully functional Toxo-Viper suit, though functional is likely a misnomer, considering how well Cobra funds that particular unit's safety equipment! Skills: Advanced Guns (a): after being assigned to the Sonic Fighters unit, Tunnel Rat was trained in the use of high-tech, energy-based weaponry. When wielding any weapon that uses directed energy attacks or energized projectiles, Tunnel Rat may do so at a reduced difficulty. Costume: Tunnel Rat's fourth uniform is all-new. It includes brown and black camouflage trousers, a similarly colored T-shirt under a bright green jacket, green and black leather boots, gray and brown leather gloves, a black leather belt with dual hip holsters, and a green and black bandana. * 2004 VARIATIONS * Skills: Advanced Guns (a): after being assigned to the Sonic Fighters unit, Tunnel Rat was trained in the use of high-tech, energy-based weaponry. When wielding any weapon that uses directed energy attacks or energized projectiles, Tunnel Rat may do so at a reduced difficulty. Costume: Tunnel Rat's second Night Force uniform is based on his original. It consists of black and brown camouflage trousers, a green and black long-sleeved shirt, black leather boots and gloves, brown leather belts, holsters, and sheathes, green web gear, and a black bandana. His sixth costume is another all-new design. It is comprised of black and gray camouflage trousers, a grass green, long-sleeved shirt, black leather gloves, dark gray leather boots and knee pads, a green leather belt, a yellow harness to hold various gear, and a black bandana. Tunnel Rat's Desert Patrol outfit is another variation on his first. It includes orange and brown camouflage trouers, a dark green shirt whose long sleeves are always rolled up, black leather boots, a brown leather belt, sheathes, holsters, and web gear, and a green bandana. * 2005 VARIATIONS * Equipment: Anti-Venom Cannon (i): this large, back-mounted fires a liquid solution that can reverse Dr. Mindbender's 'Venomization' process when applied in a heavy enough dose. This was devised as a humane way to cure the unwitting victims of Cobra's unscrupulous recruiting methods. Assuming its targets resist, such as the leaders of some of Cobra's Venom troops, treat this as an intensity 10 power. Skills: Advanced Guns (a): after being assigned to the Sonic Fighters unit, Tunnel Rat was trained in the use of high-tech, energy-based weaponry. When wielding any weapon that uses directed energy attacks or energized projectiles, Tunnel Rat may do so at a reduced difficulty. Costume: Tunnel Rat's eighth uniform is a variant on his sixth. It includes black and orange camouflage trousers, a long-sleeved, dark yellow shirt, gray leather boots and knee pads, a gray leather belt, black leather gloves and web gear, and a black bandana on his head. * 2018 VARIATIONS * Talents: Advanced Guns (a): after being assigned to the Sonic Fighters unit, Tunnel Rat was trained in the use of high-tech, energy-based weaponry. When wielding any weapon that uses directed energy attacks or energized projectiles, Tunnel Rat may do so at a reduced difficulty. Costume: Tunnel Rat's Tiger Force uniform is comprised of blue jeans with black tiger stripes, a red T-shirt, black leather boots, blue fingerless gloves, a brown knife holster on his left leg, a gray leather belt, a yellow neckerchief, and an orange bandana with black tiger stripes on his head.