Name: Twenty One of Fifty (Note: Subject prefers to go by “Blackjack”, anomaly pending further investigation. Of Project Vanguard, subject is the only one of 33 successful to show this trait, all other subjects show no signs of discontent with numerical naming system.)

Sex:Female

Age: 10 (physical and mental age appear to be early twenties.)

Appearance: Subject is of average stature, roughly 5’ 7” and about 160 pounds, not including the weight of cybernetics. Subject possesses dark auburn hair, which is kept in a ponytail. Subject has brown eyes and a pale complexion. Subject possesses a cybernetic optical prosthesis in her right eye, and both arms have been replaced with cybernetic prostheses.

(If anybody’s wondering, her arms look like the cybernetic arms you see on Adam Jensen in Deus Ex: Human Revolution. The cybernetic eye just looks more or less like a normal eye.)

Skills: Subject shows remarkable skill in the use of small arms, even accounting for training and conditioning, primarily semi automatic rifles and heavy hitting sidearms. Subject has been seen to fire all eight rounds of a full Sturm, Ruger Silverhawk Combat Revolver in under four seconds, with all rounds hitting their mark. Subject is also proficient in the maintenance of her firearms and other gear, and possesses knowledge of jury rigging electronics, where this latter knowledge originated from is still under debate and investigation. Subject has received basic field medicine and trauma training, and is also more than able at setting up temporary safe zones with standard issue Enviro-Tents.

Traits: Subject has been augmented with a Model 220 Optical Prosthesis, granting multiple modes of vision in one eye as well as other capabilities such as recording high definition video for playback later. Subject has also been augmented with a Series 26 Spinal Reinforcement and two Series 60 Military Grade Prosthetics in place of arms. Subject’s internal organs are largely intact save for the heart, which has been replaced with a high performance electrically receptive organic polymer cardiovascular organ, as well as a metabolic energy converter, also of organic polymer. While combat efficiency and overall situational effectiveness are greatly improved, subject is vulnerable to EMP weaponry (exposure to which requires at least an hour for autorecovery systems to repair damage to circuits) and requires far more nutrient intake than normal. Subject’s standard gear has been modified to accommodate this.

Personality: (Excerpt from the notes of Dr. Francine Ken Stein, PhD): Subject is most unusual, other surviving subjects of Project Vanguard appear to be functioning exactly as expected, autonomous but with little independant wants, not so with Twenty One, or, Blackjack.

Subject appears to have deduced downtimes in daily training schedule, and is often found in such downtimes either sleeping in a corner or otherwise occupied, usually at an information terminal. When asked about this behavior, subject responded with, “Because I’m bored. What do you expect us to do when we’re not shooting at steel plates, stand in a line?” This behavior is most peculiar, and the previous response is unique among Project Vanguard subjects, with others merely stating their occupation in a dull monotone, with no reference to first person. The stints at a terminal are also responsible for subject’s choice of a nickname, subject having discovered the card game blackjack at some point, and drawn the connection between her assigned number and the fact that she is an anomaly among the subjects.

Subject has been observed to idly poke other subjects on downtime, and ask researchers if there is some activity she might partake in. Subject is overall inquisitive and precocious, and appears to be highly suspicious of unknown people. This suspicion also shows itself in that the subject appears to have severe hindrances in socializing and human interaction, likely the result of mainly having no true peers to speak with. Several researchers are reluctant to deal with the subject after several practical jokes and other pranks were pulled, in one case causing a researcher to lose bowel control in surprise. Further psychological investigation after initial mission is pending, nonetheless, subject displays behavioural maturity in line with her physical age.

Backstory: Project Vanguard was initiated six years after the apocalypse, as it is now termed, using genetic material from a detachment of United States Marines stationed in Dallas at the time. The goal of Project Vanguard was to develop individuals with the skills and physiology needed to survive in the wasteland for extended periods of time and conduct field operations in the reclamation of salvage from the wasteland as well as research. Of Project Vanguard, numbers 1-10 were designated as research personnel and noncombatants, numbers 11-35 were designated as soldiers and escorts, while numbers 36-50 were designated as mechanics, engineers, and to provide other utility services.

Project Vanguard appeared to go well initially, with embryonic development proceeding normally. The project called for an accelerated initial growth rate, aging supplied zygotes to a physical age of roughly 20 in half the time, then the artificial growth hormones would be removed, and the subjects would ideally be ready for field work shortly after, with the culmination of training in chosen fields as well as physical and mental conditioning hopefully rendering the subjects prime candidates for extended trips in the wasteland. Unfortunately, several of the subject’s systems could not handle the strain of the regimen, and many expired even before leaving the growth tubes. The survivors all show diminished mental faculties and independent decision making, save for the anomaly Twenty One of Fifty. While the other subjects can operate independently, they lack any higher reasoning skills that would suit them for extended operations, showing only basic initiative in tasks other than those assigned to them. This is where Twenty One differs.

Roughly one month after being removed from the growth tanks, 21 displayed remarkable cognitive development, unlike the other subjects. Within a year, 21 had to be provided with additional activities to occupy her mind, and Dr. Stein, whose notes have been utilized in a prior segment, took it upon herself to provide the subject with a computer for personal use in downtimes, and to speak with the subject on a one to one level. Dr. Francine was the first to notice the subject’s preference for the nickname Blackjack as opposed to her assigned number, and to push other researchers into using this nickname also.

Unfortunately, Dr. Stein suffered an accident where she was exposed to lethal doses of hazardous chemicals, and died 12 hours later. Upon hearing this news, the assistant researcher described the subject’s reaction as, “devastated”, and subject was observed to confine herself to the small cell assigned to her and obsessively use the computer provided to her by Dr. Stein, only leaving for designated training and conditioning, and continued to do so up until being told of her first outside assignment. As subject is the only one of 33 to be viable for outside duty, having performed above expectations, the funding of Project Vanguard’s second generation depends on her performance in the field.

Equipment: Subject is to be equipped with a standard issue environmentally sealed armored suit, and 4/2 filter gas mask, with twelve extra primary filters and two extra secondary filters. Subject is equipped with a customized Sturm, Ruger Silverhawk Combat Revolver, with an extra twelve full 8 round cylinders. Subject is also armed with a FNH M39 BBR, modified for the heavier hitting 6.5mm cartridge, and twelve extra twenty five round magazines. Subject is also equipped with a breakdown Enviro-Tent, and spare parts for maintenance of the tent and her weapons. Subject has also been given an under-suit three gallon canteen, as well as purification tablets designed to break down or kill exterior toxins and other contaminants in small amounts of water. Subject carries two weeks worth of energy dense nutrient tablets, designed to provide enough energy for full function of cybernetics and biological processes.

(Again using DX:HR, the revolver looks and functions not unlike the one in the game, the main difference being that this revolver can use semi AP ammunition as opposed to HE ammunition. The rifle looks like a combination of the combat rifle and sniper rifle from the same game, with the magazine being located behind the trigger like other bullpups, and the barrel longer and similar in appearance to the one on the sniper.)

Other:

Subject is under orders to allow another member of the team she will be joining assume the leadership position, unless no other team members can adequately fill that role.