Hightower

Strength 10x

Agility 15c

Intellect 15d

Willpower 17x

Hand Size: Edge:

4 (25) 2

Origin:

Like the other members of the Build Team, and as are his fellow Autobots, Hightower is an electromechanical entity from Cybertron, a robot that strives to prevent Decepticon dominion of the universe. This alien may also be from another time period, making him doubly out of place on earth.

Powers:

Cybertronian Physique: like his fellow Autobots, Hightower is a robotic entity of Cybertronian origin. As such, this uncanny marksman has, by his very nature, the use of a large variety of abilities that reflect this. His very body gives Hightower these super-human powers:

* Body Armor (s): made (or formed) from primarily metallic materials, Hightower is considerably durable. His sturdy, inorganic composition affords Hightower intensity 8 (+2) protection from attack, enough to make him strongly resistant to most basic human assaults.

* Growth (a): Cybertronians come in all manner of sizes, few of which align with the human norm. Hightower, for instance, nominally stands at about eighteen feet tall in his humanoid mode, which grants him this power at intensity 4 as a general matter of course.

As such, this dutiful sentry possesses a +4 size factor. This grants him a +4 bonus to the damage he inflicts on normal sized foes, while theirs suffers a -4 against him. Conversely, he suffers a -4 penalty to strike standard sized enemies in the first place, while they gain a +4 to hit him.

* Microscopic + Telescopic Vision (w): all Transformers can alter their visual sensitivity where distance is concerned. Functioning at intensity 2, these powers let Hightower see objects up to a mile distant with ease, and allow him to read items on microfiche.

* Radio Transceiver (i): as are most Transformers, Hightower is equipped with an audio / video transmission system. This communications rig allows him instant contact with any other Cybertronian within a wide radius of his person, having intensity 7 range (100 miles).

* Resistance / Invulnerability to Disease and Poison (s): as an inorganic life form, Hightower possesses complete immunity to poisons and organic diseases. He also possesses intensity 30 (+7) resistance to more chemically creative forms of disease.

Corporeal Gestalt (a): a member of the Autobot Build Team, Hightower can merge with his fellows to form the mighty Landfill. This intensity 15 power allows him to join with Wedge in one of three possible configurations - serving as either of Landfill's legs or both his arms.

Crane Cannon (i): when he transforms into his humanoid mode, Hightower's crane is reborn as a deadly weapon, an oversized (even for a Transformer) flamethrower. He can use this devastating weapon to inflict intensity 12 fiery (SD energy) damage with each terrible blast.

Headlights (i): to better emulate earth vehicles (and since they're handy in the dark), most automotive Transformers on earth are equipped with a convenient set of headlights. These twin lamps can be used to generate intensity 8 illumination, which make driving at night no problem.

Shape Change (a): whenever he desires, Hightower can transform between his humanoid and crane mode, and often does so quickly in battle for tactical purposes. This power is voice-activated, however ('Hightower, Transform!'). Hightower moves with intensity 2 speed in his crane form.

Super Digging (a): Hightower can use this power either by himself or in tandem with the rest of the Build Team. If tunneling solo, Hightower may do so at intensity 1 speed, but if all four members of the Build Team work together, they can dig through the earth with intensity 2 skill.

Hindrances / Augmentations:

(none)

Equipment:

Crane Magnum (a): supplementing his primary firearm, this weapon is essentially a large, chemical slugthrower. Hightower can use this hand cannon to inflict his Agility +4 damage with every blast. Hightower stores this weapon in a sub-space pocket when he's not making use of it.

Skills:

Advanced Guns (a): in addition to his capability to fire most any standard kind of gun, Hightower can also make use of advanced, energy-based devices in battle. He should receive a reduced difficulty on attacks using his crane cannon - or any other energy-casting weapons available.

Engineering (i): as are the other members of the Build Team, Heavy Load is a competent engineer, able to build any item or structure he needs to, thanks to his advanced Cybertronian knowledge. He can resolve actions required while building something at a reduced difficulty level.

Guns 3 (a): Hightower is renowned galaxy-wide as one of the best sharp shooters alive. As such, he can be considered a world-class expert with this skill, allowing him the use of an autotrump (barring the use of Doom cards) whenever utilizing any firearm - and a reduced difficulty!

Contacts:

As a member of the Build Team, Hightower is naturally able to call upon his fellows for assistance at any time - though it's more likely that he will be helping them in a pinch. Furthermore, being an Autobot means that he can count on that large group of warriors for help when necessary.

Calling:

Guardian: Hightower is a natural exemplar of this calling, for he lives to preserve the lives of others - he's more of a defensive fighter than anything else. He has dedicated his skills to maintaining the continued existence of the Autobots - and Wedge in particular.

Likeness:

In his vehicular configuration, Hightower appears to be a average, ordinary crane - if bright red in coloration. When he transforms into his humanoid mode however, Hightower appears to be a large, red and silver robot built from various bits and pieces of a construction crane.

Personality:

Hightower is a cautious, careful Autobot, constantly on guard for danger on any front. He feels it is his duty to protect the Build Team from harm, and though Wedge's recklessness confounds him, he's often dispensing advice and other wisdom to his fellows when not engaged in combat.

Real Name: Hightower
Occupation: Autobot architect, warrior
Legal Status: citizen of Cybertron with no known criminal record on earth
Marital Status: inapplicable
Alias(es), if any: none
Group Affiliation: the Autobots, the Build Team

Height: 18'
Hair: inapplicable
Eyes: black
Weight: several tons
Other Distinguishing Characteristics: Hightower is composed of a strong alien metal that is primarily red in color, with bits of silver in places, regardless of his current configuration.

Story:

Not a whole lot has been revealed about the origins of the Autobot known as Hightower, but he has gained fame throughout the galaxy as both a master marksman and a tireless sentry. In fact, he is rumored to have been the guardian of the one and only Vector Sigma at one point!

Hightower eventually wound up working with Wedge and the Build Team. When not working on various construction projects with his fellows, he's constantly on the lookout for trouble, ceaselessly analyzing all data available to him to perceive threats to Wedge and company.

You can imagine how distraught Hightower became, then, when Wedge pushed Optimus Prime into letting him and his Build Team participate in the fight against Megatron on earth. Before this, the Build Team had simply worked on making the earth Autobot-friendly, as it were.

Though their first fight was a disaster, the Build Team has gained experience working together in combat, and are now a capable fighting force in addition to expert architects. A large part of this success comes from Hightower's efforts to neutralize threats before they materialize.

Hightower didn't have to go too far out of his way to do this though, for the Build Team entered the fight somewhat late in the game, and the Autobots ultimately proved victorious against Megatron and his flunkies. With this threat defused, the Autobots were no longer needed on earth.

There's plenty of clean-up to do before they leave, however. While the other Autobots can take off at will, it has fallen upon Hightower and his teammates to remove all the advanced, Cybertronian technology scattered across the earth, and this may take quite some time.

As such, Hightower may be staying on earth for awhile...!

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