A divided South African country. Two warring factions, both alike in ideal, but both very much unable to adapt and compromise. Both willing to fight, and to die for their idea of a free country. But neither willing to give it to the other side. Both armed, both with men willing to see it through, but none of them willing to kill their neighbours.

International mercenaries. Hundreds, thousands of them. All looking for money, all of them hard, steel tough and cold hearted. They are willing to kill where the natives aren't. They can pick up the rifles and guns to kill the other side. All they want is the money they are promised. They don't care about ideals or about beliefs. Just money.

A shadowy, stealthy black marketeer. A man who seems to have his hands on every weapon in the country. He's supplied guns to both sides, and to the last remnants of the African Army that is holed up in the country. Everyone says he's the cause of the battles. Is he?

You, you are former military, or former police. It doesn't matter. You've been drifting for awhile now. But your government has found you, and offered you a deal. For any past crimes, you'll be forgiven. And for a large sum of money, atleast half a billion of your countries currency, you will be supplied with a pistol, a map, a melee weapon, and your preferred means of infiltration into the country. Your mission? Kill the black Marketeer known as the Scorpion and either destabiliize the country enough for fighting to break out and outside forces to have the reason to move in, or stop the war entirely.

Upon completion of your missions, you will be extracted, to the country of your choice, and the money wired into the account of your choosing.

Good luck.

---

CS:

Name:
Age:
Training: (What outfit were they in? What other training do they have? Were they doing merc work after being discharged? Were they imprisoned? Doing terrorist work?)
Equipment: (One pistol of your choice, one melee weapon of your choice)
MO: (When they were working for the army/navy/specops, what was their role?)
Misc: (any info you may want to include)

---

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines.

Interested.

Name:Rhys Griffiths
Age: 32
Training: SAS, Defion Internacional, Bodyguard work
Equipment: M1911, Bowie knife
MO:
SAS:
1991 - Victor Two
1997 - Operation Tango - Bosnia
2000 - Operation Barras - Sierra Leone
Mercenary:
General defense/offense work - 2001~2006
Bodyguard work - 2007 ~ 2008
Misc:

Name: Arran Mackenzie
Age: 37 (1977)
MO: Scout/Recon

RN (Royal Navy) 1996-2003
-Naval Reconnaissance Team Member/Leader
-Skilled with SOFLAM
-Good Swimmer
-Particpated in Yugoslav Crisis, 1999
-Participated in Battle of Basra, 2003

SBS (Special Boat Service) 2004-2010
-Highly skilled with RIB Boats (Duh)
-Well trained in Stealth Operations
-Reconnaissance/Scout Soldier
-Capable of Diving Usage
-Talented with Krav Maga/Knives
-Effective with Silenced/Specialized Weaponry
-Operations in East Timor, Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia

Equipment:
-Sig Sauer P226 (Grey)
-SOG Knives Tomahawk

History: Born in Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides (Scotland), Arran was born to a teacher of a mother and a drunk of a father. He made no mistake when after having pretty poor grades, joined the RN, or the Royal Navy in 1996. He served aboard a frigate for around six months, before getting himself involved in some more ground action, where he found that he was far more effective as a soldier than a mariner- ashore in Iraq in 2003, in Basra as a RN Naval Reconnaissance team. He had balls. He lost three toes on his left foot following an IED, and was notably known for still fighting, with L85 in hand, after even this before then getting himself checked out. While seen by some of his squad as an unrelenting psychopath and by others as a bold and brave man, sometimes this mentality works well in warfare, and his eventual progression into SBS training was inevitable. He became a honed and refined stealth operator, sent in either pairs or teams up to twelve on operations that the SBS, like it's American counterpart, the US Navy Seals, would carry out where military intervention didn't really happen. Over time, he ranked up to Staff Sergeant within his time-frame of service.

After five years of service in the SBS, something went terribly wrong. An operation in Somalia in 2010 left two of his squad dead, and three of his mates injured from twelve. Someone was going to take the blame. And unluckily for Arran, he was the man who was busy pushing forward when there were comrades of his coming down. He was suspended without pay, but this was insane. He was angry. He turned to drug dealing and left, and found his training apt to deal with the reality of the streets. He was arrested consequently a year later, after making what was effectively half a million from Methamphetamine, one of the largest groups in Northern Europe. He was thrown into a cell for four years, out of his fifteen year sentence. Until someone came along and offered a way out. Arran was deniable as an asset, and the blame game had just found him unlucky- he was a talented SBS operator, and he had capability where many other inteligence assets would just get blown open. Sent to Africa, he was instructed to hunt the Scorpion. No support, just the release of his jail sentence, the "accidental" return of his drug money, and whatever money that Scorpion had on his head. It was too good not to go for. A chance to at least buy himself into some more conflict, and redeem himself. And make some cash while at it. He needed a Zodiac upriver, and that was what the British Government gave him- from there on out, he was now out for some money.

Appearance:
Almost completely bald shaven, and with a thick brown beard, as well as being fairly built from his time in prison, Arran is a nutter if there ever was one. He has brown eyes, and stands about 6"3 tall. Arran usually wears a blue T-shirt with a pair of outdoors trousers, as well as a Boonie hat, painted a distinctive digital green. A pair of black Oakleys join this, further separating him from the locals in a way. He is well built, having a tattoo of a Wyvern on his back, a mythological dragon-like creature, as well as having a strong Scots accent. He is missing three of his toes on his left foot, from a previous IED in Iraq, something that is the most prominent of his war wounds- the rest being small scars and bruises. He isn't eloquent, or refined. He is a thug from first appearances, and happily looks like a man who would take a life in either warm or cold blood.

Okay so. I would like to clarify.

Those CSs posted are okay. But I want to Clarify. In this case their MO (Mode of Operation) Would be a tangible role they had played. For example, when I post my character his MO will be a Point Man, being at the front of an advance or the first guy to a door to initiate the breach. Other Roles include Autogunner, Rifleman, Marksman, Explosives Expert, Breacher, Heavy Weapons Expert.

These essentially can tell me and other players what your character is best at. This isn't saying that's all they are good at, everyone of these characters I expect are going to be Special Forces. We have SBS and SAS, my character will be Joint Task Force Group Two, the second of two special forces of the Canadian Army, well known for counter terrorism and covert tactics. Hell they are so covert that during the War on Terror no one even knew that JTF2 was active in the area until 2011 when the entire outfit was pulled out of Afghanistan.

So I went on a tangent there sorry.

Anyway, King, Nap, you guys don't have to go back to give me that idea, but for future applications I'd like that to be clear. And the more info you give me the better. It makes it more fun to read, and gives alot more character to the characters.

Apperance: Edward
Name:Edward Brewer

Age:36

Training:Edward served a tour in the US army, he went back in after some problems at home and signed on for US Special forces and passed training there, served two years in US SPECFOR before being noticed by "GRAY FOX" for skills that would make a perfect ISA agent. There he was taught offensive and defensive driving, phone and wire tapping, counter sniping, counter insurgency tactics, and interrogation methods.

Equipment: USP .45 Compact, QTF Scarab flip knife

MO: Intelligence/Deep recon and Marksmen

History: Edward was born and raised in a small town in Georgia, he lived a pretty uneventful life he was a gifted student, a noted teachers pet, but also a great athlete doing baseball, track, and foot ball throughout his high school year. Senior year he met his girlfriend and they were gonna go to a big city college together. Well that didn't happen instead Edward got her pregnant and with no means to support her he signed on to the US army in 1997 when he was age 18.

He was stationed at Camp Darby in Italy and he did three year stint there mostly studying and being bored. When his tour was over and he returned home his girlfriend had taken his child and left him for another man. He stayed stateside until shortly after the 9/11 attacks. Where he underwent US Army SPECFOR training. He passed and learned a whole bunch of skills while he was training there, he learned things like survival, how to dig spider holes, fight unconventionally, and how to cook a snake (yummy.) He fought in the waning days of Operation Anaconda alongside ISA operatives. He was then put on a watch list by the ISA for potential recruits due to his dedication and skill to his mission. He also took part in several key missions in Iraq before finally being approached by the ISA.

The ISA approached him. They asked if he wished to train to be one of the very best, he agreed and they taught him a wide many skills for working deep cover. A lot of his missions under the ISA are classified but a few have been leaked. Like his mission in Central American sent to take care of a drug lord, the ISA's involvement in locating Osama, and many other missions. But soon he became war weary didn't want to fight anymore and in 2012 he was allowed back home.

He suffered from severe culture shock after coming back state side. He had left when touch screen tech seemed like a thing of the future and now it was everywhere, throw in a healthy dose of PTSD and you had a loose cannon ready to blow. And it did blow it blew up in a bar fight. Two drunk men were harassing him and when things turned physical his training kicked in and he killed both of them. Crushed the windpipe of one and broke the neck of the other he was taken into custody.

In court he knew he was screwed and he didn't fight it. He only said one thing in court and it was in response to the judges question about how could a soldier do this to two men he said. "The difference between a murderer and a soldier is a soldier gets a medal for killing people." He was thrown in prison and he rotted there for another two years before he was approached by someone high up in the DoD.

They gave him a way out, work for them and do what he does best for him and make a lot money and a clean break. Or sit there and rot in prison for perhaps the rest of his life. He took them up on their offer and soon found himself being shipped to an African country to destabilize the region so they could bring peace to it.

I shall have a character up later tonight.

Though question, why only a pistol?

I assume it's to basically augment the feeling of being underequiped. I assume it's easy to get an AK at some point- though I'd expect it would be a rusty and faulty piece of shit, when we have one by two dozen posts or so I guess.

Name: Michael Sheppard
Age: 34 (1976)
MO: Pilot/Special Ops

Equipment:
-Beretta M9
-Gerber LMF II Aircrew Survival Egress Knife

History: Michael Sheppard was born to a wealthy family and was the son of Patrick Sheppard, a utilities mogul. By the time he was fourteen years old, his father had already planned his life for him. However, Sheppard had other plans and wanted to join the United States Air Force. This heavily strained his relationship with his father and never spoke to him since.

After his education at Stanford, he joined the Air Force and after his officer training he participated in several top secret missions, particularly in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, but he also visited every continent. He trained to become a pilot for a large variety of aircraft, such as the Apache helicopter, Blackhawk and Cobra helicopters, as well as a V-22 Osprey and an F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter, after he graduated from Test Pilot School.

At the height of Michael's airforce career, he reached the rank of Major, and was regularly deployed all over the world on missions that may never see the light of day. This secrecy and long periods abroad led to his then wife Natalie, a CIA analyst, leaving him. This led to Sheppard taking more dangerous missions and more risks in the field, earning him a black mark after an unsanctioned rescue mission to save the lives of three servicemen. While this rescue was successful, he did the same thing again trying to save his best friend after his Blackhawk had been downed, however this rescue was not successful and Sheppard's superiors believed his actions exacerbated the situation and led to his friend's death.

In 2008 he was captured on a top secret mission in China. The US denied his existence and he was left imprisoned and tortured for 4 years. He eventually managed to escape and make it over the border. His time in China made him grow to hate the USAF for not sending anyone for him. Returning to the States he quit the Airforce although he soon became bored with civilian life and he began working as a mercenary, mostly in Africa and South East Asia.

Recently he and his employers, a group of anti-government rebels in South East Asia, were captured by forces loyal to the regime. Michael festered in a dingy jungle prison for a few months, faced with regular questioning, despite his attempts to explain he was just a mercenary. Then one day his cell door slid open to reveal an officer of the United States Air Force with an offer involving a small South African country and a man going by the name of the Scorpion.

Appearance:

Name: Lazarus Victor Stamp

Age: 43 Born 1971

Training:
Princess Patricia Light Infantry Second Company
Joint Task Force Two: served Haiti Rebellion and the War in Afghanistan
Private Military contract work in Sierra Leone, Rwanda and Egypt, working oil field, diamond mine and black book research security, big money, no asking questions, just watch the perimeter stuff.

Equipment: Colt King Cobra, firing .357 magnum rounds, Trench knife modeled after the Mark 1 WW2 trench knife, the blade is 10 inches long, and has a double edge. The knuckle duster has wider finger gaurds and half inch long spikes.

MO: Pointman, conversant in a variety of means of entering locations, and breaching buildings. Autorifleman, skilled in the use of Light machine guns and high rate of fire weapons. Covert operative, trained in stealth and urban warfare and the use of stealth tactics to get a job done. Knife combatant, skilled in the use of the knife.

History:

Grew up in Western Canada, around Fort McMurray. His father was an Oil Sands worker, his mother as a Pediatrician in one of the Ft. McMurray hospitals. Lazarus was born to this well educated and well mannered pair several years back. He was your average bouncing baby boy. He went through school like every one else does. Getting decent grades and showing an aptitude for physical education and of all things chemistry. His father thought he'd be a shoe in for oil sands work. But he surprised everyone after high school.

He enlisted into the army right out of high school. No one expected that. The Canadian army was glad to have him. He was shipped down to CFB Edmonton to do his training there, and while there, was approached by the Princess Patricia's Light Infantry regiment. After his training and graduation he was given a place within the Pats. He served with distinction and did what every soldier does, serve his country honorably and faithfully.

It was this honor and faith, that got him visited one day by a recruiter from a group that he didn't even know existed. Sure he'd heard about the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, but he had never heard of the Joint Task Force Two. The second of two special operations groups the Canadian Army fielded. He was given a chance to join the ranks of this covert group of soldiers. Serve his country in a differant way. He took that chance. And joined the ranks of the JTF2 as an operator. He served in Afghanistan and in Haiti in various counter terrorism operations and in covert hits on major and minor targets.

When his time with the army rolled out, he left with honor, and promised never to talk about what he had done. He went on to civilian life. But it wasn't the same, he still craved combat. So he sought out other means of serving. And got hired on with a private military firm. He began work as a security contractor. Going to places like Tsunia, Russia, Northern China and Mongolia to name a few places.

When he was contacted by the Canadian government, he was in Rwanda doing diamond mine private security.

He was shipped back to Canada, where the government told him about what is going on in that nameless little african country. Too much, that black marketeer destabilizing the whole place to hell. That little conflict could cause the whole unstable country to go into melt down. He was offered money, and if he did anything during his time away that might have earned him a black strike, they'd be wiped clean as well as the Canadian Government could do.

Lazarus agreed, and asked what he needed to do. He smiled when he heard the mission. And only asked what he could take in with him...

Name: Sarah Verwoerd (Known in France as Marianne Lambert)
Age: 51

Training:
-RHODESIA: At an early age the Zimbabwean Liberation Movement forced her and many other whites to receive rapid training that would be complemented by real combat experience. Although it was short, her experience in the RSF was to her description her most useful as it focused on basic infantryman combat in a counter-guerrilla role without much in term of artillery or air cove.
-SOUTH AFRICA: After the fall of Rhodesia Sarah went on to serve the Apartheid regime of South Africa to try and protect it against unrest and foreign fighters, this complemented her training with the use of anti-armor weaponry although she didn't have the occasion to use it on Angolan tanks before the regime fell.
-EXECUTIVE OUTCOMES: A contact allowed her to join the mercenary company with which she worked until 1995, this broadened her skill set but also kept her doing work in Africa. As the concern for an actual retirement plan that didn't involve spending the rest of her life in a South African shithole became more pressing however she left.
-FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION: Joined anonymously the Legion and was naturalized French as Marianne Lambert. This complemented her commando training and ability to work with more high tech equipment and within a more strict hierarchy. She also got officer training in the late 2000.

Equipment:
-MAC Mle 1950 Pistol
-Machete

MO:
-1979: Rifleman, RSF
-1980-1987: Rifleman, SADF
-1987-1988: Military Police, SADF
-1988-1989: Rifleman/Team Leader, SADF
-1989-1995: Rifleman/Team Leader, Ex-O PMC
-1995-1998: Spec-Ops Breacher, FFL
-1998-2003: Spec-Ops Team Leader, FFL
-2003-Now: Command Officer (Captain)

Misc:
Sarah genuinely was tired as hell of Africa when she joined the Foreign Legion and she did so of a real desire to have her french citizenship and retire at 55, not exactly lacking the money after years of work at Executive Outcomes although the Legionnaire pay did give what she lacked to switch from a simple home to a country villa. She even felt loyalty to her new country, something she didn't feel since Rhodesia, but this somewhat quickly vanished when a group of Generals took her in a room and told her that unless she agreed to take care of their little problem in South Africa they'd remove her citizenship and even have her arrested for crimes against humanity, which in truth she, along with many people during the Apartheid era, were guilty of by UN standard. If she succeeded however she'd upgrade her villa to a chateau. Thus Marianne Lambert announced to the Legion that she was retiring as the prepared to go to South Africa to secure her real retirement.

Appearance:
'Well Conserved' would describe Sarah rather well and although now one third of her blond hairs are gray and the other are becoming duller by the year, she does look like someone in her early 40s. Her face, although it has some wrinkles, is still hard and even somewhat chiseled, with a dignified appearance that generally commanded the respect of her men while she was in the legion, her light blue, now turning gray gaze of steel making her seem like someone who's seen worst. Otherwise she's a 5ft6 woman that prides herself on not having saggy tits. Visibly a woman of strength, she has a 'Rhodesian Forever' tattoo on her shoulder (the 'o' of Rhodesia and Forever being two bullet exit wounds) and a 'Ex-O 00059' on her Right arm. Of course, other scars of different causes cover her body.

Five characters so far. I'm surprised. And a little misty to see this get so much interest.

All the CSes for far look good. Everyone is good to go. We'll wait a little longer.

So Skepic and Voltus can drop their CSes. If I see nothing by tomorrow morning I'll start the In Character part of posts for us.

On second thought, I don't think this RP is for me. Sorry for botherin ya

Question are the borders manned or unmanned?

I'd believe that some posts would be manned (though bribery is your friend), but perhaps not other ways. So the airspace, no way do they have a control on that at the moment. Rivers, backwater smuggler routes and perhaps other methods are likely to work. As Arran is doing. I might set up my fixer character shortly that I have discussed with Big- as a secondary character that you might encounter, though of course, will be regulated.

sorry but im dropping out of this

The borders would be manned most likely in places where it would be beneficial for a group to have a presense. So in some places yes the borders posts are manned, but there would be large tracts of land between the manned posts where it'd be easy to slip across with ease.

Mind you, that doesn't mean there aren't patrols along the borders. Armed Technical trucks with GPMGs or even black market HMGs and perhaps just perhaps GMGs. They can't watch 100% of the border at 100% of the time, but it's possible that there might be a truck passing by. It'd be rare but it could happen.

All options for an inflitration are open. So use your imagination.

The most heavy defenses would be at manned posts. 10 foot tall walls, fences, razor wire, gun emplacements. But the best you might get in unmanned areas is maybe a 5 foot barbed wire fence, that might not even be in good repair. Gaps in the wire etc.

Have fun with it right?

Fixer CS! He's called Magnus, he's a fixer, so he fixes things. Not a contract killer. Just someone who "fixes" things. You won't see him a lot, and this is a character that will indirectly, play a part in a plot, so don't worry- he won't be joining the main band of mercs. He has an appropriate context in the scheme of things.

Name: Magnus Gunnarson
Appearance:


(Taken before his retirement from the Kustjägarna- he's aged a little more.)

Age: 48 (1966)
Experience:
Swedish Navy Kustjägarna: 1984-2007
-Explosive Specialist
-Hardened Marine- Over 20 years of service
-Officer Trained- reached Captain.
-Saw UN Deployment to Sierra Leone, Darfur, Somalia, Mali

Independent Fixer: 2007-Now
-Knows how to deal with local matters.
-Speaks Local Language (as well as Swahili and Afrikaans)
-Lived in Country for over five years

Equipment:
Zestava M/70 with Folding Stock
Makarov 9mm
Carbon-Colored Scout Knife

Bio: Born in Kiruna, Northern Sweden in 1966 to a housewoman and a Iron miner of a mother/father respectively, Magnus was brought up in a tough, rugged and inhospitable part of the world. He wanted to travel, and his father, whenever he wasn't in the mines, showed him how to hunt Reindeer and Elk. Learning how to shoot got him going. So he joined the Swedish Navy, specifically, the Kustjägarna, and got a hell of a kick out of doing that as his job. And over twenty years, he gained Officer training, Explosives Handling training, learned Arabic, French, fluent English and other talents. He left in 2006 after his unit was actually disbanded, and he decided he wanted to get involved in Africa, a place he had visited on UN deployments. Moving to an un-named African country, he settled down as a fixer of sorts, meeting a set of mercenaries and one man in particular, named Scorpion.

Scorpion relied on Magnus to deal with matters that indirectly, he could not handle. Getting friends, shipments through. Smuggling was one branch. Dealing with locals was another. Magnus was a third party, and was trusted with making things connect. He wasn't a Dealer- but he knew how to make links work, and run logistics. He was the man in the dark, whilst in other business, consolidating mercenary activity, though he acted in a way that connected mercenaries anonomously to either of the rebel organizations. He eliminated the loud psychopaths whilst keeping the peace in places where war was making too much loss, and not enough profit, on a local scale amongst a few little warlords. He did what he had to- and was well learned with the local populace's methods. However, Scorpion made one mistake. and got Magnus to make the wrong link- two individuals who never should have met did, and things went south. He and Scorpion cut ties, and Magnus blames him for what happened- a shoddy buisness mistake that ruined a perfectly profitable venture. He wants revenge, but understands there is no direct way. He waits and bides his time, aware that Scorpion walked away expecting nobody to come from Magnus. Right now, he's still a fixer in the country, but acts low key, and makes his living dealing with problems that mercenaries require. Specialist equipment, getting fake documentation for inner-country movement, as well as from time to time, independent contracting work in dealing that can give mercenaries a serious payday if they've got the capability. He knows what works and what doesn't- and he can help a mercenary out with trouble, for a certain fee- though his services are not in the employ of now killing people in cold blood. He removed himself from this line of work- and knows this would be a risk to his role as a fixer. He always keeps his eye open for opportunity, and is waiting for the right set of mercenaries- to make him a killing, and perhaps deliver his vengeance. Business is not something he is looking for in Scorpion. Just sending the message, but in time and in the right place. For now, there are other means, he thinks to himself.

Misc: Magnus is calm. He just doesn't stress or worry too much, he takes concern when needed and keeps his eyes wide open on the world around him. Experience has taught him a lot. He almost is local, yet at the same time, remains on the outside, skirting around problems. In the eyes of many locals, even despite him being white, he is respected, not causing violence or at least keeping peace in a way. He knows how to deal with African matters- and thinks for the long term, being wise and skilled in thinking things out over time. He sometimes will not understand brash or ridiculous propositions, but understands full well what a competent action will achieve with the right skill. He knows what means will come to what end, and while the short term may brush him up, he can always find the right contact, deal or action to turn the odds in his favor so long as he has a card left on the table to play.

I am loving this. All the characters have made some sort of contact- the stories spinning together and all, I am liking this. Sarah and Sheppard, Arran and Laz, and in a particular way, Magnus and Edward (well, that pairing won't work out entirely, but hey). I don't Magnus to be a main character- he's more of a sideshow, he'll remain a lot on the sides, though certain things you can go to him as with an NPC. Things I will imagine will spin out- and in time, things will be awesome to watch.

Alright, so what kind of mission should Sarah and Shep get? Mainly wondering if both group should end doing the same or something, or maybe we can wait until later to unite the group?