Kickstart Strength Agility Intellect Willpower 6d 4d 9b 6d Hand Size: 4 (25) Edge: 2 Origin: While he may seem like some sort of super genius, Kickstart is only human in a physical sense, lacking special powers of any variety. However, he does have a large mecha, that he built himself, which he uses alongside the GI Joe team in their fight against villains like Cobra! Powers: (none) Hindrances / Augmentations: (none) Equipment: Bullet-resistant Vest (s): woven with advanced fabrics and bolstered by armored inserts, this vest acts to dampen the lethality of incoming rounds. Any piercing damage striking Kickstart in the chest is transduced into bashing damage, losing -1 of its power while doing so. Grenades (i): should he have to blow something up without his Steel Marauder, Kickstart carries two of these devices on his vest. They can be flung anywhere within his normal range, inflicting intensity 10 slashing damage to all uncovered targets within near missile distance. Helmet (s): since he's usually the target of enemy fire while on the job, Kickstart always wears a helmet - whether or not he's piloting his experimental mecha. This protective headgear provides him intensity 8, or +2, protection against physical attacks striking him in the cranium. Monocular (w): attached to his helemt, this ocular aid greatly expands Kickstart's visual range. When he flips it down, the distance with which he can see distant objects without penalty is increased as if he possessed intensity 2 telescopic vision (2.5 miles). Sidearm (a): a backup should his Steel Marauder find itself disabled in the field, Kickstart keeps this weapon in a handy hip holster. It can discharge one round to inflict his Agility +4 in damage, or a short burst of such to inflict his Agility +5 in damage. Steel Marauder (i): both his claim to fame and his pride and joy, this advanced vehicle is Kickstart's principal weapon against America's enemies! A large mechs, or humanoid vehicle, the Steel Marauder is both heavily armed and armored, and covered in its own description. Skills: Boxing (s): another essential portion of his Basic training, Kickstart has also a competent practitioner of fisticuffs! He may divide his pre-card play action score between two unarmed melee attacks, the second of which he may attempt as a contingent action. Computers (i): an unrepentant gamer and master coder, Kickstart could easily earn a living with this skill alone. It allows him a reduced difficulty Intellect card play called for whenever he attempts to design, assemble, repair, or program computers. Electronics (i): similarly, this useful skill by itself would make Kickstart comfortable in a civilian career. Whenever he's designing, assembling, troubleshooting, or repairing an electronic or electrical device, Kickstart may do so at a reduced difficulty. Guns (a): a vital part of his military training, Kickstart has been trained in the fine art of gunplay. Whether he's wielding a standard, semi-automatic, or fully automatic rifle or pistol, Kickstart may resolve applicable ranged combat card play at at a reduced difficulty. Medicine (i): an ability that facilitates the development of human-like artificial systems, Kickstart uses his understanding of heuristics technology to develop robotics, humanoid vehicles, and more. He may resolve applicable Intellect-based card play at a reduced difficulty. Military / United States (w): the source of his fighting talents at least, this skill serves as a convenient origin of sorts for Kickstart. It describes his innate understanding of the SOP, as well as his ability to function seamlessly in a unit of fighting men and women. Contacts: Kickstart is a member of the GI Joe team, who not only developed one of their vehicles, but fields it against Cobra regularly! He's on relatively good terms with his fellow Joes, and can count them, as well as numerous other military and technology workers, as reliable contacts. Calling: Explorer, with a secondary calling of Protector: though his motivations were originally to create mechatech solely for the sake of doing so, Kickstart has evolved upon seeing its use in the field, and now wishes to protect others from its misuse. Costume: Kickstart's field uniform is primarily comprised of a long sleeved green shirt and green trousers, which he accents with black leather boots and gloves, a black leather belt, black kneepads, brown holsters, a brown bullet-resistant vest, and a green helmet. Personality: Joseph is a smart man with a vision, who puts the work in to make it a reality! He's also somewhat naive, however, and didn't fathom the use of his technology against innocents. Guilt over this drives him to push his Steel Marauder mercilessly against Cobra at every opportunity. Real Name: Joseph A. Rivera, grade E-5 Occupation: mecha pilot, developer Legal Status: citizen of the United States with no known criminal record Marital Status: unrevealed Alias(es), if any: none Group Affiliation: GI Joe Height: 5' 10" Hair: light brown Eyes: brown Weight: 175 lbs. Other Distinguishing Characteristics: none. Story: A certifiable genius, Kickstart is an expert computer coder and electrical technician, but the reason he mastered these abilities is to essentially carve out a field all his own. Combining his technological knowledge with an understanding of biological systems, he aims to build mechs! Humanoid vehicular systems, mechs have been in an experimental state for years. When aggressive recruiters notified him that a military organization actually uses them in the field, Kickstart was hooked - he signed up to join that unit before he'd even thought that choice out. Joining the Army, he blazed his way through the essential training that branch provides, not to mention the advanced schools required of those who wish to join the GI Joe team. Once he'd learned enough military craft, he was given an 'audition' of sorts by several of the Joes. This 'audition' is the same, brutal entrance exam that every other prospective Joe is subjected to. Not everyone makes it through this course, and often no one from a prospective group succeeds. But Kickstart's motivation was intense enough that he forced his way through it. After earning his place on the team, Kickstart went to work on his dream with the full expertise of the military in his corner. Mastering and building upon the Joes' previous expressions of mechatech, Kickstart went on to build his very first humanoid vehicle: the Steel Marauder! Larger and more powerful than other mechs that had previously been fielded on the earth's surface, Kickstart's Steel Marauder has a devastating effect on GI Joe's foes. Until they managed to steal and duplicate Kickstart's work, that is, and manufactured their own Deviants. Moritified that his own creations were being put to use by terrorists, Kickstart has taken Cobra's theft personal, and now personally drives his Steel Marauder into battle against Cobra's other mechs, doing his best to put them down before they can hurt anyone else!