Scoop F A S E R I P Res Pop Gd 10 Gd 10 Ty 6 Gd 10 Ex 20 Gd 10 Ex 20 Ex 20 Sh 0 Health: 36 Karma: 40 Origin: As are almost all of his fellow GI Joe operatives, Scoop is naught but a normal human. He lacks special powers of any variety, though he does have a large amount of advanced, government-issue hardware on hand, so one could consider him a high tech hero if they were so inclined. Known Powers: (none) Limitations / Enhancements: (none) Equipment: Binoculars: helping him to spot interesting things in the distance, these visual aids greatly increase Scoop's situational awareness. He can use these to increase his effective visual range by four areas, extending it out much further before he has trouble seeing faraway objects. Helmet: Scoop usually wears this sturdy headgear while at work - safety is everyone's job, after all! It provides him Good (10) protection against physical attacks striking him in the cranium, as well as like Screened Senses for his vision, thanks to a handy, red-tinted visor. Knife: you never know when you're going to have to cut something - or someone - in the field. As such, Scoop always carries a blade with him on the job, which can be used to inflict Edged Attack damage in melee, or to cut through items of up to Incredible (40) m.s. Sidearm: though not primarily a combatant, Scoop carries a respectable hand cannon on him at all times. Scoop can either fire a single round from this weapon to inflict Typical (6) Shooting damage, or a three-round burst to inflict Good (10) Shooting damage. Video Equipment: while in the field, Scoop always has his video equipment ready. It consists of a hand-held camera, connected to a backpack that can record said video and transmit it to a remote location if necessary, doing so with Good (10) ability (25 mile range). Quirks: (none) Talents: Electronics: Scoop's got a Masters degree in electrical engineering, granted as a part of his rather complicated college schedule. As such, he should be given a +1 CS on any FEAT roll requried when either operating, designing, building, or repairing electronic devices. Guns: a skill everyone picks up in the military these days, Scoop can easily operate most conventional firearms. Whether he's handling a standard, semi-automatic, or fully automatic rifle or pistol, Scoop may do so as though his Agility was +1 CS higher in rank. Journalism: his primary career choice, Scoop enjoys digging into a situation to find out the Truth. His work in this area grants him a +1 CS to efforts to generate compelling audio or video accounts of current events, and gives him numerous bonus contacts. Martial Arts type B: an ability that everyone acquires in their Basic training, Scoop can easily defend himself should he find himself without weapons. He may attempt any unarmed melee attack (punch, kick, etc.) as though his Fighting was +1 CS higher than is listed above. Military / United States: while he wasn't originally headed towards a career in the military, Scoop enlisted to best use his talents to get at the Truth. He can now fight effectively in almost any combat group, and knows the SOP like the back of his hand. Contacts: Scoop is a member of the GI Joe team, and while it took his fellows a while to warm up to him, Scoop has definitely proven his mettle in the field on multiple occasions. He also has numerous additional contacts in journalist, military, criminal, and academic circles. Costume: Scoop's GI Joe field uniform is... bright. It is comprised of a long-sleeved yellow shirt beneath a green vest, yellow trousers, black leather boots and belts, black gear pouches on each of his legs and arms, and a green helmet with a large red visor built into it. Personality: Leonard believes in the truth, no matter the cost. That's why he enlisted in the military as a combat correspondent. He could've landed a cushy network job, but knew the Army had better tales to tell than a normal job with a network news team. And the Joes have proven him right! Real Name: Leonard Michaels, Grade E-4 Occupation: journalist, microwave technician Legal Status: citizen of the United States with no known criminal record Marital Status: married Alias(es), if any: none Group Affiliation: GI Joe Height: 5' 10" Hair: light brown Eyes: brown Weight: 155 lbs Other Distinguishing Characteristics: none. Story: Leonard had it all upon graduating from college. He'd earned an advanced journalism degree, not to mention a Masters in electrical engineering. He could've written himself a ticket with the news organization of his choice, from CBS to CNN, but Leonard wanted something more. He'd wanted to tell real stories, not the silliness that networks usually engage in. To this end, he enlisted in the Army, and became a combat correspondent. Sure, there was a lot less money in it, but Scoop (as he was called by his fellow recruits) felt he was doing the right thing. His character and skills got him noticed by the GI Joe team, and they had an offer for him that he simply couldn't refuse. While the vast majority of what he would experience could never be made public, he would be able to bear witness to a large variety of the Joe team's missions. Agreeing to their terms, Scoop tried out for membership in the elite military organization, and managed to squeak through the grueling GI Joe entrance exam. Of course, on his very first mission, Scoop was called upon to record the capture of Sierra Gordo counter revolutionary El Jefe. There, he met several of his new teammates, though they weren't too happy about having him along for the ride, what with him being the new guy. Not to mention his hauling sixty pounds of camera equipment, and not a whole lot of firepower to back himself up in the event of a mishap. As things turned out, the Joe team's ambush went bad. Outnumbered by a staggering number of Iron Grenadiers, the Joes tried to retreat, but several were wounded in the process. To defend a shot up Tunnel Rat, Scoop had to smash his camera over the head of an attacker. On the plus side, all of the Joes survived the debacle, and really, that's the important thing. Scoop was also on hand to witness the defeat of El Jefe later on in Sierra Gordo, when his former Iron Grenadier allies turned on him and his new, monopolistic backers. Scoop went on to cover a wide variety of GI Joe missions for posterity and the defense department, as he was ordered. He continued to do so until the team was deactivated for a time in 1994, at which point he seems to have moved into the civilian news market after all. (Historical Divergence 1: Devil's Due comics) He stayed there until the GI Joe team, once reactivated, called upon him anew. Whenever the Joes need Scoop for a special mission (or a Special Mission), he's more than happy to drop whatever other story he's working on to aid his fellow Joes in any way he can! (Historical Divergence 2: DIC Cartoon series) Scoop was a member of Cobra, having joined that organization after his parents' house was wiped out in a battle between GI Joe and Cobra. When the Commander convinced Scoop that GI Joe had done the deed, he embraced Cobra as a means to attain revenge against the Joes. Not just serving as a member of Cobra, Scoop pursued their goals whole hog, until he was offered a position in their elite Crimson Guard. This afforded him the opportunity to work undercover against his enemies in the GI Joe team, which got him very, very close to them. When he lucked into the confidence of the Joes, Scoop was actually offered a position on the team. Taking it, he spied on the group while Cobra's dueling leadership vied for the so-called Dragonfire, a mystical energy source that seemed capable of doing almost anything desired. While attempting to help Cobra secure this source of overwhelming power, Scoop discovered the truth about his family's death: that Cobra was the force that destroyed his home, not GI Joe. Incensed, he then switched sides, and ultimately helped GI Joe save the day. While many Joes were leery of Scoop, much like they were of Mercer, most of the team ultimately embraced Scoop as one of the Joes. He had a whole lot to tell them about Cobra operations, what with his having been secreted within their deepest circles, after all! * 2017 VARIATIONS * Equipment: Submachine Gun: when he must be more active in the field, Scoop can fire a single round from this weapon to inflict Typical (6) Shooting damage, a short burst of such to inflict Good (10) Shooting damage, or fire it continuously to inflict Excellent (20) Shooting damage. Costume: Scoop's second GI Joe field uniform is like his first. It consists of a long-sleeved orange shirt beneath a green vest, orange trousers, black leather boots and belts, black gear pouches on each of his legs and arms, and a green helmet with a large red visor built into it.