[CHAR] Jormungand: No Man's Land

[Reaper]

Name: Ephraim Tatsuya Nishizumi
Age: 28
Callsign: Hunter
Nationality: Singapore

Specialty: Electronic Warfare/Intelligence and Sabotage Operations

History:

Born to Japanese immigrants, Ephraim grew up in the small but prosperous city-state with all the education and security he could ask for. Displaying an aptitude for electronic engineering and computer science from a young age, his parents being founders of a tech company didn't hurt as he breezed through school and graduated university at age 18, when he was enlisted in the Singapore Armed Forces.

The small city-state relies on a citizens' army to provide for its defense, coupling that with modern technology to deter external threats and assist in humanitarian and peacekeeping operations in the region. Ephraim's technical ability saw him right at home in the Military Intelligence branch as a recce scout, using drones and electronic warfare to secure intel or sabotage enemy operations.

Near the end of his 2 years of compulsory service, however, his parents were killed in a bio-terror attack when a disgruntled and radicalized employee released a weaponized pathogen in the research lab. While his commanders gave him leave to see to his parent's affairs, he disappeared for 36 hours after the funeral. During that time, the man responsible for the attack vanished as well from under the noses of law enforcement who were getting close to arresting the culprit.

While rumors spread that Ephraim was the one who had "disappeared" the man responsible, there was no trace that indicated foul play was involved. Shortly after, the young man signed on as a regular in the SAF, determined to prevent the tragedy from happening to anyone ever again, before eventually being recruited by Jormungand.

His training as a recce trooper and later work collating intelligence as an officer already made for an impressive record, but Ephraim truly shined when he was given all the new equipment Jormungand had to offer. He led Alpha Team, codenamed "Hawkeye", meant to assist local forces in intelligence gathering, sabotage and HVT procurement operations.

Personality:

There are two sides to Ephraim - the serious, cool-headed and calm soldier when in uniform, and curious, sarcastic scientist when out of it. A devout Christian from birth, he seems to have no problems reconciling what he does as an operative and his faith. When asked, his answers are often evasive or brushed aside with dark humor, but one need only observe him in his private moments to see the conflict brewing in his eyes.

While he has a no-nonsense approach to his work, he understands the need for levity. He's pretty laissez-faire about how his team gets their duties seen to as long as they're done to satisfaction. His first priority is the survival of his team before the mission and will not tolerate any behavior that puts them in danger, whether from others or themselves.

Ephraim is cagey about his past, especially when it comes to what really happened after his parents' funeral. He shares funny moments and childhood stories easily enough, but easily diverts the conversation when it comes to a topic he doesn't want to talk about. One thing is clear, however, and it's that whatever lies behind his silence drives him. He's a fierce ally on or off the battlefield, and just a intimidating an enemy.

Preferred choice of weaponry:



ST Kinetics SSMG-21 - A .45 submachine gun developed in his homeland, the SSMG-21 is a low-recoil, accurate and versatile weapon meant for use in practically any environment. It's main selling point is that the platform is easily modifiable to fit the user's needs and can even be switched to an assault rifle variant if need be.



Advanced Recon & Engagement System (ARES) - A drone roughly the half the size of an adult male, ARES is a Jormungand developed drone built to operate in any environment in any role. Ephraim treats his as if it were a pet, nicknaming it "Blackwing". Where his SSMG-21 lacks in firepower, it's more than compensated for with ARES. It can carry anything from an assault rifle up to a 40mm grenade launcher with six rounds. It comes equipped with different sensors for mid to long range recon as well.

[TheWizardLizard]

Name: Emily Gerhman
Age: 26
Callsign: Long Nine
Nationality: England

Specialty: Scout-Sniper
History:
Born in London as the child of English ambassadors, Emily was groomed for a life of service to her nation from a young age. Her parents were veterans of the tense diplomacy of the Cold War, and both of them still served as liasons and diplomats to various Eastern European nations. Emily spent her early life in compounds all across the ex - Soviet Union, receiving the best care and education she possibly could have. She was intelligent, but couldn't muster an enormous amount of energy towards academics, and though her parents dreamed of her taking up a life of statecraft as they had, she wasn't so certain.

The decision was made up for her, tragically, by her mother's death when she was sixteen years old. It was never clear who'd done it, some violent anti-west group who never finished fighting the Cold War most likely. The sniper who shot her mother through the head on the side of the street had committed suicide before he could be apprehended.

Tensions were rising and ambassadors were recalled all across Europe, and Emily enlisted in the military without really knowing why - perhaps it was for revenge, or some desire to be useful in this increasingly chaotic world. Showing talent that surprised everyone (herself most of all), she ascended through the ranks quickly, being sent to an S.A.S training program and showing enormous proficiency as a marksman and solo recon soldier, able to hide, survive, and eliminate targets while isolated from her squadron.

For four years she fought dutifully in every hellhole she was sent to, following her orders to the letter with efficiency, ingenuity, and no particular enthusiasm. Finally, her squad was sent to Georgia, by now a failed state being torn apart by various local militias, one of which had taken up residence in the recently abandoned British embassy - one of those that Emily had grown up in. They were tasked with infiltrating the compound, securing any important British intelligence, and eliminating all hostiles.

The mission was a botch from the start. Someone had tipped the militia off about the Brit's arrival and the squad walked straight into a trap and was immediately shot to pieces. The sole survivor was Emily, who had gone off on her own to survey the compound and set up her rifle to cover the squad's advance. She fired on the men who had ambushed her squad, attempting to pin them so that the others could escape, but to no avail - she was forced to abort mission and evacuated the country, leaving the bodies of her squad where they lay.

With her unit destroyed, she was transferred to some new multinational peacekeeping organization - Jormungandr. Ostensibly she was sent because she was the best of the best, but part of Emily couldn't help but wonder if someone in the S.A.S stood to gain by removing the sole survivor of the doomed operation.

Personality:

Dispassionate. That's probably the best word to describe Emily Gehrman, both on and off the battlefield. She gives the distinct appearance of being unable to work up the energy to care too much about... anything, really. She's prone to sarcasm, cynical observations and sardonic wit, though she's not really mean-spirited, and she'll just as quickly chuckle alongside someone as she will at their expense. She's almost chronically bored, even in combat situations, and is prone to occasionally strange behavior (excessive 'trick shots', 'pranking' foes, leaving sarcastic graffiti for them to see) for little reason other than the fact that it amused her.

Emily is almost disturbingly comfortable with violence, to a degree that's alarmed several psych workers assigned to monitor her. She sees little horror in the deaths of her enemies and feels no guilt whatsoever in the taking of lives, though she's still capable of mourning the loss of her friends. Emily's not a completely emotionless sociopath by any means - she's capable of making friends and caring about them, though it doesn't happen quickly, especially not after the deaths of her squad of many years.

Preferred choice of weaponry:



MR 187 - A 50. caliber light semiauto sniper rifle developed in Italy, popular for its practicality and its well-made nature. Though its attachments are limited to a silencer, a scope, and a set of three barrels for range adjustment, it's renowned among scout snipers for its reliability - in the famous words of some astute soldier whose name has been lost to time, "Drop it in the mud, doesn't jam. Drag it through sand, doesn't jam. Mr. 187 is there for me more than my fuckin' wife."


OS 22, 'Oh Shit' - The standard issue backup weapon for the Modern S.A.S sniper, the 'Oh Shit' pistol (so named because of its use in stressful combat situations) is a 10mm pistol designed for rapid fire in close quarters with minimal recoil, to be used exclusively in combat situations where 'Mr. 187''s bulk makes the use of the more powerful rifle impractical.

[Viktor Denisov]

Name: Alastar Hughes
Age: 39
Callsign: Papa Thunder
Nationality: American
Speciality: Demolitions

History: Alastar was born an Army brat. His father was an artilleryman, and his grandfather was a combat engineer in Vietnam and Korea. He spent his childhood moving around as his father got stationed all over, even spending a few years in Germany. He attended JROTC courses in high school, graduating with honors. His grades weren't great, but he was driven by his desire to follow in the family tradition of armed service. He enlisted right out of high school, diving feet first into the military lifestyle.

He enlisted as a combat engineer, just as his grandfather. Most of his first year of his service was spent training to do his job. He was a Corporal when he saw his first combat deployment. He was sent to Afghanistan, and spent two years there. When his enlistment was up, he promptly filed re-enlistment. He saw demolitions as an artform. He was able to do things few thought possible with minimal amounts of C4, and at the same time capable of bring down an entire city block with the force of an airstrike. If it exploded, it was in his domain. This passion, unfortunately, ended his career. He took a piece of shrapnel to the thigh, narrowly missing his femoral artery. He was medically discharged after a short period of time in a hospital.

It was a rough transition for Alastar. He didn't take to civilian life very well. He didn't suffer PTSD, but he struggled with adapting to being outside of a combat zone. He missed the desert sand, and the sounds of gunfire. He tried to settle down and get married, but it just wouldn't work for him. He grew increasingly reckless.

At the cost of his marriage, he signed up for a private security company and shipped back out. While he was there, he could tell that the political climate of the world was changing. He made a name for himself within that company, and was eventually recruited by Jormungand for his particular skillset.

Personality: Despite his rough appearance and passion for danger, Alastar is a rather cheerful and friendly guy. He always takes things in stride, and strives to upkeep the moral of his squad. He always keeps a smile, and laughs often. He cares very deeply for his teammates, going out of his way to keep them safe and secure. He abides by this, come hell or high water, and he would burn the world for their sake.

Equipment:

Mk103 Heavy Infantry Rifle: A slugger of a rifle. Chambered in the devastating 12.7x60mm Hercules ammo, it lacks the range that most large rifles claim, but has enough power to stop light armored vehicles dead in their tracks. The major drawback is the recoil. A combination of roller delayed blowback, a custom muzzlebrake, recoil distribution devices, and the sheer weight of the rifle help mitigate most of the felt recoil, but it is still more than most people can handle. Alastar, being such a large man by himself, can handle it well enough on his own outside of his armor.


Model 17 Bullshark: .454 Casull revolver known for its combination of sharp aesthetics and stopping power. It'd design philosophy follows the idea of a heavy, powerful sidearm. It's most visibly striking feature is the optics rail.


Brutus Military Combat Exo-Armor: The infantrymans response to armored vehicles. Non-explosive reactive armor layered over titanium carbide plates, an operator wearing the MCEA is a force to be reckoned with. Most small arms fire short of anti-material weapons fall short of penetrating the armor. Explosives have also proven effective to a point. Despite the strength of the armor, the MCEA is not without its drawbacks. Despite Servo-Muscular framework supporting the weight of the armor, the operator is not going to be going anywhere fast. Maximum speed under load is brisk jogging speed. Enclosed space is also a large issue. Tight hallways can be a hinderance to an operator, but making their own path is not. An added advantage is enhanced strength. A standard MCEA can heft the front end of a car, or bust through a brick wall.

[Gunther]

Deleted

[Opposition]

Sylvie Knox

Name: Sylvie Knox
Age: 24
Callsign: Fleur
Nationality: French
Specialty: Special Operations and Logistics

History:
Born the daughter of one of Parliament's Senators, her mother trading her life for hers due to complications in childbirth, Sylvie was raised rather distantly from any parental figure. Instead, Sylvie was cared for by her older sister. The two sisters lived a very lavish and sheltered life during their young lives. As Sylvie's older sister grew curious of the constant political turmoil that grew alongside them, she joined the Commandement des Opérations Spéciales. Being born to a Senator didn't come without its drawbacks though. Sylvie's father constantly seemed to have crosshairs on his back. Sylvie's sister wanted to protect good people like him, so she went off into Basic Combat Training. It wasn't long, though before Sylvie's sister finally came to understand the true innerworkings of France's current political standpoint. Sylvie's father was part of a corrupt game that blighted the French government. People were bribed, extorted, and killed, and Sylvie's sister saw only one solution. She took the man she once loved out of his game for good.

With her sister now on the run and both of her parents deceased, Sylvie lived out those last years of her childhood in an orphanage. She struggled to understand what her family had gone through, but that didn't stop her from wanting to be like her sister no matter what. She knew her sister's cause was just. At the age of eighteen, Sylvie went straight to work in her training to join the COS. Sylvie was nothing like her sister, unfortunately. Her militant practices were no better than the average soldier. She made it into the COS, but she wasn't cut out to be a soldier. It was a miracle that she made it into the COS at all, but what happened afterwards was even more of a miracle. Perhaps her name still had some sway. Struggling to succeed at even basic combat tasks, it wasn't long before Sylvie was transferred to a much different department: The First Logistics Brigade of Jormungand. Sylvie was tasked with learning to oversee the planning and carrying out the movement and maintenance of the paramilitary group. She was an apprentice at best. Although unhappy she couldn't match her sister's skill, Sylvie didn't complain and worked as a Logistician.

Almost all her days up to the present were spent on the Valhalla prepping the actual combatants and their gear for their missions. After two years spent on the Valhalla, Sylvie was given a rather special task that she jumped at the chance to accept. A convoy was to deploy in attempts to suppress a civil war and resupply troops in surrounding areas, and Sylvie was offered an assistant position to the convoy's overseer. It wasn't long into the journey that the convoy was going headfirst into a war zone. Sylvie, being stuck on the Valhalla for most of her time with Jormungand, was very surprised to be back in the action. It seems her COS training wasn't useless after all, for the convoy was hit with wave after wave of attacks. The convoys deployed forces had been halved within two months and extracting back to the Valhalla was an option that would have a similar fate. It was a grizzly experience, and Sylvie hasn't been in the field since.

Personality:
Sylvie is often described as very tactful and caring. It is rare for anyone to have ever seen Sylvie angry. Working on the Valhalla for her whole career has left her very soft compared to other Special Ops trained soldiers, and violence tends to be a last resort for her, though when the shooting starts, expect her to have your back. When in a squad, Sylvie tends to focus her energy on keeping everyone in high spirits and good health as well as keeping their situation always under control.

Cool-headed in most scenarios, Sylvie tends to be good under pressure. It is actually quite rare to even see her show much emotion, though that doesn't mean a rainbow of feeling aren't flying through her head. Her solemn and humorless expression often keeps morality high, but when Sylvie panics, that's when you know all has gone to hell.

Preferred choice of weaponry:


SC-A13 Less-Lethal Riot Scattergun - The SC-A13, also called the Scale Scattergun, was originally an augmented combat shotgun developed for Non-lethal rounds and gas grenades with its attached under-barrel grenade launcher. Utilizing High-Low propulsion systems and a light frame, the Scale's recoil is much less than that of a combat shotgun. The weapon's main outstanding feature is its versatility, allowing chemical agent shells of pepper spray and similar gases while still allowing regular 12 gauge projectiles.


Cape Et d'Épée - The C&E is the Commandement des Opérations Spéciales signature sidearm. It is a 9mm pistol that comes equipped with a standard suppressor and a sharp grip to maximize speed and efficiency when the firearm is in use. Quick, clean, and precise, that is what the C&E is all about.

[Xeron]

Nikodem Zuraw

Name: Nikodem Zuraw
Age: 27
Nationality: Polish
Callsign: Rzeka (Z-heh-kah)
Specialty: Navigation and Tracking

History:

Nikodem Zuraw was born and raised in a quiet city called Zawiercie located in Silesian Voivodeship of southern Poland. The town was always peaceful and had never really seen much action as it was not a huge tourist site nor was it as populated as the other cities only capping off at 51,880 people.

As a child Nikodem was very quiet and reserved, average at best. He grew up with no military background from his immediate family of one older brother and two younger sisters. His father was a professor at the University of Administration and Management while his mother stayed home and doted on her children. He flew through his schooling making few friends. One in particular was the motivation for him to join the Polish Naval Forces. Her name Aleska, her father was a part of the 3rd Ship Flotilla and was in the Support Unit often handling search and rescue missions in the Baltic Sea. This was his exposure to the world that is the Polish Navy. Aleska often talked of her father's wondrous adventures at sea with Nikodem, letting his imagination take off. Aleska soon moved away as her mother had passed and the thoughts of the Navy left with her. He would go on to graduate through school with a degree in management and begin a new life. That was until Aleska returned to Zawiercie and rekindled her friendship with Nikodem. She brought new tales of the sea and of her father who was now retired from the Navy. With the fire lit beneath him once more, on an impulse he moved from Zawiercie with Aleska to the Navy port city of Gdynia.

In Gdynia he enlisted for the Navy but failed his first time entrance exam. Aleska helped him study the second time around, improving his english, getting him better acquainted with what was needed to be learned and even going so far as to briefly study under Aleska’s father. During this study period his reflexes and quick thinking abilities enhanced significantly, his weak melee abilities that he started with became his most deadly weapon. Though he was standard with his gun, hand to hand combat is where his strengths truly lay. Not only that, but his nact for being a natural tracker was discovered. The second time around he successfully made it in, the same section as Aleska’s father; 3rd Ship Flotilla. But he had the option to be either a Support Unit or as the Submarine Unit. Nikodem ultimately decided on Submarine Unit when Aleska pushed him to do so. She claimed she wanted to hear new, different stories about the sea. He then proceeded to train in Submarine technicians and operations where he learned the ropes of the Baltic Sea.

After a few years, Nikodem was transferred to the Jormungand sector where he took up his role as a navigator. This transfer caused strain on his marriage with Aleska causing them to split but with no hard feelings. Merely they went their own separate ways. Now that Nikodem has gone a while being the best in his field he is on his search and rescue for the man known as Hunter.

Personality:

When Nikodem was younger he was a quiet and reserved boy, until he met Aleska who was a bright and energetic person who changed him to be a lot more open with people. Her leaving had detrimental effects on him as a person. He reverted back to his introvercy, his grades skyrocketed as he was then focused only on his studies. His time in Gdynia was wild with Aleska back in his life, but the crushing reality of his failure to get into the Navy quickly cut this short, he once more became much more focused. Not necessarily introverted but he was very text-book oriented and played by the rules exemplifying the perfect textbook Naval Officer. Straight edged and serious, as most jokes tend to go over his head.

Most people enjoy making fun of Nikodem’s hard edge personality by doing even the most simple things with unconventional methods. This is not to say he cannot think on his feet, but he prefers much more ruler based ways of doing things. His need for structure and rules to discipline his every action makes him very keen to commanding officers as he does nearly anything he is told to do without much hesitation or questions asked. Though his morals can get in the crossfire of his actions, the ability to set them aside to get the job done is what makes him so very textbook.

Though he is very by the book, he does stand for those he deems himself to be close with. Even going so far as to question a position of authority for those he truly holds dear to him. His old, playful personality he claims is left with his beloved, Aleska, but yet there is a small glimmer there every so often when he is with the set of people he truly feels comfortable with.

Preferred Choice of Weaponry:


201B The Valak: The Valak serves as a pulse rifle, firing bursts of 3-5 shots at once. Unlike your typical constant streaming rifle, the pulse nature gives an opening for close range combat. It's shots not only are fatal but can cause a target to be stunned while injured giving less room for a chance to escape. It's also a lightweight rifle with little recoil but this gives it less power overall.


Obecny Krok: This knife is 5.2 inches long, running through the inside of its brass frame is the inner workings of a taser. A rubber easy grip handle is on the end with the taser’s on and off switch at the butt of the knife. This knife is heavier than most and makes it inconvenient only to be used in a close up situation. Hand to hand combat comes in handy when using such a weapon, the skill required to use item is high yet with a rewarding payoff..