Notable player and non-player characters.

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This message was last edited by the GM at 01:47, Wed 04 July 2018.

With apologies for stealing some gear stuff...

Saul Noble
Rank: WO4 - USMC, Detective - Memphis PD (both retired)
American, Age: 53 (Born Jonesboro, Arkansas)
Callsign: Gimp

Notable Equipment
Protection: Concealable Body Armor, Ballistic Helmet, MLBE Plate Carrier w/Level III SAPI Plates (F/R/RS/LS)
Longarm: Nighthawk Remington 870 Overseer 4 Shotgun w/ reflex sight
Sidearm: Glock 41 Gen4 MOS w/Beavertail Backstrap (Thin), Trijicon RMR Sight, Surefire XC2 Weapon Light w/Laser Sight
Melee: Whumping Stick

Language Profile
Native Fluency: English
Expert (12+): Pashtun

Skill Profile
Expert (12+): Interrogation, Persuasion, Leadership, Instruction, Small Arms (Pistol)
Advanced Proficiency (10+): Observation, Small Arms (rifle), Civil Engineer
Professional (8+) : Martial Arts (armed, unarmed), Riding, Swimming, Farming, Survival
Advanced Competency (6+): Autogun, Wheeled Vehicle, Stealth

Description
Saul's most obvious characteristic is the significant limp he displays from a gunshot wound he received x years ago from a gang member who disagreed with the possible legal ramifications of some poor decisions.  Although it's not required, he tends to use a stout wooden walking stick to help him get around.  It also comes in handy when people get out of hand.  Other than the limp, Saul is a middle-aged man with thinning hair and an easy smile.  If life has been hard, he doesn't show it in the face, his body displays the damage.  He's prone to sighs and dropping wisdom out of the side of his mouth when he figures someone might benefit or be paying attention.  Most of the time he wears blue jeans, hiking boots, and UnderArmor T-shirts that have some sort of cowboy motif on them.  Of course, that can be hard to see underneath the body armor he's gotten used to wearing.

Background
All Saul ever wanted to do was make the world a better place.  A child born of the 70's, he had the advantage of growing up as the Cold War ended and to cut his teeth in the Marines before the War on Terror really got going.  Saul's dad was a cattleman at a time when ranching was in decline, he told his son that if he wanted to stay in the business, he was going to need better income, so when his active service in the Marines was up, Saul elected to apply to the Memphis Police Department.  He served well, earning the attention of his superiors for his calm demeanor and willingness to work in the most distressed neighborhoods of the city.  He could make friends with anyone, was willing to talk to everyone, and gave easy smiles to the neighbors, fitting into communities that other cops felt were death traps.  To earn promotions, he knew he would need an education so he went to night school on the GI Bill (handy to help pay the bills with a new wife and daughter) and picked up a degree in psychology.  At the same time, he rotated to a Civil Affairs Unit in the Marine Reserve and began rotating back and forth to Afghanistan and hearts and minds missions.  The same personality traits that helped him in Memphis helped him in the midst of a civil war and he became known for his insight in the group dynamics and ways to leverage organizations. "Better Call Saul" took on a whole new meaning.

At home his wife joked that he knew the outside world better than his own world at home, which was probably true given that he made detective the same year he was put in the USMCs Warrant Officer Track.  He also started working on a master's degree in sociology from Georgetown with an emphasis in Gang Power Structures.  With his father ailing and Memphis streets changing, Saul made the decision to move his family back to the ranch he'd grown up on.  He considered the hour long commute well worth the opportunity to mold his three daughters into strong willed, independent women.

In 2027 with the world going to shit and his wife dying of cancer, Saul started focusing more and more of his time at the ranch.  Carissa, his youngest, had an application in to Memphis PD, hoping to follow her father's footsteps that he convinced her to pull in order to stay home and work on the ranch where the world felt a little safer.  Eva, his wife, passed later that year, his eldest daughter died in a nuclear fireball in San Diego (he assumes).  He's hoped to retire out before everything really went nuts, but that plan was ended when he was hit in the thigh with a bullet from a gang-banger's pistol.  One of the last major surgeries performed in Memphis left him with his limp but saved his life.

With a firm persistence, Saul put his life back together and moved his remaining family off the ranch and towards Little Rock in an old-time cattle drive ending on a ranch a friend from the Marine Corp had established.  The family ranch was just too close to Memphis when society started to unwind.  Evie, Saul's middle daughter brought her family and her veterinary practice with them.  When the call went out for a civil affair type mission, Saul felt comfortable leaving the new ranch to try and make the world a better place once again.  Carissa, his most head-strong daughter wasn't about to let him go alone.

Personality
Saul believes in word over bullets and the ability to win hearts and minds.  All that being said, he knows that some people are a cancer that need to be cut out for society to function, even if most people are just trying to do their level best to get along.  He's easy with a smile and easy to get along with.

Contacts
1 US Law Enforcement
1 US Military
1 US Blue Collar
1 US Criminal
1 US Academic
1 Allied Military
1 Allied Criminal
1 US Business
This message was last edited by the player at 19:43, Sun 15 July 2018.

Carissa Noble
Rank: Farmgirl
American, Age: 25 (Born October 19th, 2004, Memphis, TN)
Callsign: Rawhide

Notable Equipment
Protection: Ballistic Helmet, MLBE Plate Carrier w/Level III SAPI Plates (F/R/RS/LS)
Longarm: M4A1 with SOPMOD package, including Rail Interface System and Trijicon 4× ACOG
Longarm:: Grandpa's  Remington M700 .30-06 w/Steiner T5Xi 5-25x56mm SCR Reticle Scope
Sidearm: Glock 21 with Trijicon RMR Sight, Surefire XC2 Weapon Light w/Laser Sight
Melee: Brass Knuckles and a bad attitude

Language Profile
Native Fluency: English

Skill Profile
Expert (12+): Small Arms (rifle), Unarmed Martial Arts, Riding,
Advanced Proficiency (10+): Small Arms (pistol), Armed Martial Arts, Thrown Weapon, Swimming, Stealth, Wheeled Vehicle
Professional (8+) : Mechanic, Gunsmith, Medical (diagnosis, trauma aid, surgery), Veterinary (diagnosis, trauma aid), Farming, Observation, Survival
Advanced Competency (6+): Biology, Chemistry, Veterinary (surgery) Persuasion, Tracking, Scrounging

Description
Carissa is a big girl.  Big in the sense that she's run with the boys, lifted weights, went through a cross-fit phase, can hunt, ride, fight, and shoot.  She stands 5'10" before cowboy boots and weighs in at about a buck sixty five, give or take fighting weight.  She favors dark Carhartt pants, UnderArmor shirts (with slogans like "________ LIKE A GIRL"), and while she would love to live in Cowgirl boots, she's willing to get along with a well worn pair of Danner mountain boots.  Steel toes hurt more when you kick people anyway.  She tends to dominate the spaces she's in, out of shear size if nothing else.  That and an unwillingness to take shit from anyone.

Background
While her daddy made it clear that he wasn't disappointed that none of his children had been born boys, Carissa took it upon herself to prove that she could do anything the boys could do.  Probably better.  Saul blames his wife for always playing the Annie Get Your Gun soundtrack in the car when Carissa was young.  Still, in a family of strong women, Carissa stands out.  She scrapped her way through elementary school, learned to shoot at five and her father's side and took to sports like a fiend.  Saul had to rein her in and direct her activities towards productive actions because she had a tendency to get into a bit of trouble by trying to show up the boys.  She's still got a few surgical scars to prove it.  Rodeo can be tough on a girl.  Or a boy.

Luckily, Carissa idealized her busy father and took every opportunity to hunt and train with him, entering run and gun drills and accompanying him to work.  She went through the Memphis Police Explorer's Program and was a fast favorite of the training officers.  Christmas of her 18th year was a set of body armor so she could train even harder.  Following her father's tendency to fill all available spare time with productive activities, Carissa started volunteering at the local fire department, eventually earning a paramedic certification.

When Saul held her back from the academy, she wasn't happy.  At all.  After a few months and his injury, she got over it.  Pretty soon she was defending the property while her father recuperated from his wounds, spending time with her sister Evie as both bad-ass aunt to her kids and as a vet assistant.  she continued her paramedic work, often becoming a roving healthcare worker on horseback as resources and trained personnel began to dry up.

Carissa never made it through college, a few junior college course were all she could manage.  But she's tried to use what she has, modeling her life after her father and seizing opportunities as they come, becoming a bit of a polymath. She can run a still, fix a tractor, set a broken bone, birth a horse and keep the family's weapons intact.  Leaving their farm sucked, no doubt about it, but they're in a safer place now.  Or they were, until Daddy decided to go and volunteer to head south.  Looks like she's going to have to keep him alive.

Personality
For all her confidence, Carissa is chasing the legend of her father and it tends to come out in brashness.  She's never taken any shit lying down and doesn't plan to start now.  Truth be told, she would have had to mellow as a police officer, and Saul is glad that it didn't work out most days.  Carissa works hard, plays hard, and will go toe to toe to prove she is up to any challenge.

Contacts
2 US Blue Collar
1 US Law Enforcement
1 US Military
1 US Business
This message was last edited by the player at 19:22, Sun 15 July 2018.

Lauren Cao

Age: 31 (born Oakland, CA, October 1999)
Rank: Captain, United States Air Force
AFSOC: 31PX (Security Forces)
Languages spoken: English (Native speaker), Vietnamese (Native speaker), German (Basic)
Primary Weapon: M4A1 Carbine w/ M68 CCO and AN/PEQ-2 laser sight
Secondary Weapon: M1911 Automatic Pistol
Melee Weapon: Gerber StrongArm Knife

Callsign: Falcon

Skills
Expert (12+): Navigation, Observation, Small Arms (Rifle)
Advanced (10+): Armed Martial Arts, Forward Observer, Grenade Launcher, Scrounging, Small Arms (Pistol), Survival, Unarmed Martial Arts
Professional (8+): Autogun, Climbing, Computer, Ground Vehicle (Wheeled), Instruction, Leadership, Medical (Diagnosis), Medical (Surgery), Medical (Trauma Aid), Parachute, Persuasion, Scuba, Small Watercraft, Stealth, Swimming, Thrown Weapon, Tracking
Competent (6+): Ground Vehicle (Motorcycle), Ground Vehicle (Tracked), Meteorology, Pilot (Rotary Wing)

Appearance

Lauren Cao stands five feet seven inches tall, with dark hair that falls to her collar when she lets it down but is usually worn pulled back into a tight bun. She is usually attired in Airman Combat Uniform fatigues in the Operational Camouflage Pattern, OCP or multicam, camo pattern, over which she wears an OCP Soldier Plate Carrier System vest which has the usual assortment of pouches attached. In non combat situations she will frequently replace her Enhanced Combat Helmet with either an OCP boonie cap or no headgear at all, while her eyes will be hidden behind a pair of gold rimmed Ray ban aviators.

Her fatigues bear a full color U.S. flag on the upper left sleeve as well as a nametape with the words U.S. AIR FORCE over her left breast pocket and a second nametape with her surname over the right. Rank insignia is worn on both of her collar points. Out of uniform she'll favour casual civilian dress, usually jeans or, in low threat situations and the heat of an Arkansas summer, cargo shorts, and a hooded top, while she'll occasionally be seen in a blue Air Force Falcons tee shirt (she was a member of the women's soccer team at the AF Academy).

Background

Lauren Cao was born in Oakland, California, in 1999. Her grandparents had sought sanctuary in the US after the collapse of South Vietnam in 1975 (her grandfather had been a Captain in the ARVN's 81st Ranger Group and faced a long spell in a “re-education” camp at best and summary execution at worst had he stayed in Vietnam). They brought with them her father, then an infant, and, along with her two siblings, Lauren was the first generation of her family to be born in the United States of America.

Her grandparents settled in California, worked hard to make a new life for themselves and their family. Lauren's father went to medical school, is a surgeon, or at least was before the War.  In the family home Vietnamese was the first language, particularly when Grandpa was around, and Lauren grew up virtually fluent in the language. As she became older and her grandfather told her stories about Vietnam she also came to hate the Communists, and developed a deep sense of wanting to give something back to the country that had taken her family in, culminating in her securing a place at the United States Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, obtaining a Congressional nomination from her US Representative, who knew both her father and grandfather.

Lauren was determined to do well at the Academy, throwing herself into every aspect of it, realized that as a girl in what was primarily a boys' club she had to give as good as she got. Graduating from the Academy in the class of 2020 with a Bachelor's Degree in History, she was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and assigned to the 86th Security Forces Squadron at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.  Before she left for Germany her grandfather gifted her the M1911 automatic pistol that he had carried during his own service with the ARVN, a weapon that she still carries.

Routine promotion to First Lieutenant followed in due course, and in 2024 Lauren was accepted for training as a Combat Rescue Officer (CRO).  Determined to be one of only a handful of female CRO's in the USAF, she completed the initial phases of the training - Army Airborne School, Combat Diver School, basic and advanced SERE - but dropped out midway through the actual seventeen week CRO course itself, something that she did not take well at all.

When the shit hit the fan Lauren was a newly promoted Captain, serving with the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. She was still at Barksdale when the War started, watched the BUFF's take to the skies once the nuclear genie had slipped out of the bottle. When lack of fuel grounded the last remaining B52's she initially found herself taking part in various operations aimed at maintaining law and order and providing humanitarian aid in north western Louisiana, until the Mexican led Allianza crossed the border and drove north.

As Allianza forces approached the Texas / Louisiana State line Lauren was part of an ad hoc American force that had been flung together to try and halt the invaders. The fighting was bloody, brutal, with Mexican columns making it as far as Barksdale itself, causing heavy damage before they were repelled. Lauren was in command of a provisional Company that consisted mainly of surplus Air Force support and maintenance personnel and State and local law enforcement officers, and her unit was hit hard, almost overrun. After it was over it was suggested in some quarters that she had been reckless, had pushed too far forward, allowed her unit to become almost surrounded by the invaders. A few people went as far as to say it was only through good fortune that the whole Company hadn't been wiped out, and, as is the nature of such things, various versions of Lauren's role in what has become known as 'the Battle of Barksdale' are in circulation, most of which have been through various stages of embellishment.

Shortly afterwards Barksdale - or at least what was left of it after the fighting - was evacuated, with the Air Force blowing up anything they could not take with them. One column headed for Texas to reinforce the American forces fighting the Allianza there, while another, smaller, column went north, eventually ending up at Little Rock AFB in Arkansas. Lauren was in the latter group, and, along with other Air Force personnel at Little Rock, soon found herself engaged in operations supporting the Arkansas State Guard.

Contacts

1 x US White Collar
1 x Allied Military
1 x US Military
1 x US Academic
1 x US Government
1 x US Journalist

Psychological Profile

Cruelty:  Low to moderate. Lauren would deny that she has ever intentionally behaved cruelly towards anyone but sometimes she's had to make hard choices. She would argue that she has always acted in accordance with her training and has always tried to treat everyone that she's encountered fairly and decently but when you do make tough decisions, no matter how well intentioned, sometimes there are unintended consequences.

Loyalty: High. Lauren learned loyalty from an early age, loyalty to family, loyalty to her country. That loyalty manifested itself in a desire to give something back and serve her country. She firmly believes that a leader should not ask a subordinate to do something they're not willing to do themselves, so will lead from the front wherever possible, even when that may not be the most astute thing to do tactically.

Passion: Moderate to High. Lauren has always been driven to succeed, setting high standards for herself. She believes in the mission, believes in helping people that can't help themselves., although this may not always be obvious as she can sometimes come over as relatively cool and distant, can count her close friends on one hand. As a teenager she used to listen to her grandfather telling stories about Vietnam, about fighting the Viet Cong and the NVA. These stories left their mark on Lauren, caused her to have a deep loathing for the Communists and what they did to Vietnam (at least as seen from her grandfather's perspective).

Piety: Moderate. Lauren was brought up in the Buddhist faith and taught the veneration of her ancestors and although she continues to respect those teachings to a degree, religion does not play a major part in her life.

Sanity: Moderate. She's managed to stay reasonably level headed despite some of the things that she's seen since the War started, although she has been called reckless on occasion, with some people claiming that she pushes both herself and others too hard sometimes.

Selfishness: Low. Lauren would describe herself as an unselfish individual. who tries to put the team and mission needs ahead of her own.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:12, Thu 19 July 2018.

Call Sign: Sexton

Age: 47 (born January 8th, 1983, Pine Bluff, AR)

Languages: English (native), Spanish (basic), Haitian Creole (pidgin)

Key Skills: Leadership, Persuasion, Scrounging, Small Arms

Key Gear: notebook, radio, expensive 3-Gun competition firearms finally getting real use

---

Profile:

After the second shot of whiskey, C. Scott Guillory (the "C" is for "Chase," which he abhors) occasionally describes himself as the dwarf hidden in Governor Steve Ralford's chariot, whispering that the emperor, too, is mortal.  The truth is a bit more complex than that, but the two men have been close friends (some would say co-conspirators) since they met at high school baseball tryouts.  They attended UARK together, hiked and hunted across the Ozarks together, and aided and abetted each other's careers - Ralford in the Marines and later in law and politics, Scott in law enforcement before his election as Sixth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney.

During Ralford's 2022 run for governor, Scott was instrumental in keeping the campaign organized behind the scenes.  This set the precedent for his ambiguous position in the Ralford administration.  On paper, he was the governor's deputy chief of staff.  The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's editorial staff described him as "fixer" when they were feeling charitable and "hatchetman" when they took offense to his handling of a major issue.  Many of his tasks involved working with local cops and prosecutors and the state auditor's office to bring Ralford's anti-corruption platform to fruition.  Little Rock political operators also realized Scott was one of only two people to whom the governor had to listen - and he was marginally more accessible than the first lady.

After the 2027 nuclear strikes, Scott disappeared from public view for more than a year.  He resurfaced in early 2029 sporting a couple of mostly-healed bullet wounds and a small entourage of cops and National Guardsmen from Arkansas and Louisiana.  Upon his return to Little Rock, he slotted into place as the governor's usual representative in the state emergency operations center, giving Radford one unbiased source of information on the condition of his state (or at least one with known and trusted biases).

In light of his history, outside observers find it surprising that Scott is the civilian co-leader of one of the recovery outreach teams rather than the overall chair of the Governor's Recovery Task Force.  More experienced analysts are aware that Scott has never been content to sit in an office when he could be in the field.  Since 2029, he's seemed to be looking for something in reports coming in from across the state and what's left of the country.

---

Appearance:

Scott is a Mark One Model Zero dark-haired, dark-eyed, middle-aged white guy in mostly-decent shape, slimmer than he was a few years ago thanks to the post-apocalyptic weight-loss plan.  In a crowd, there's nothing remarkable about him.  He's missing the tip of his right ear, there's a bullet crease scar along the inside of his left bicep, and his sixth and seventh ribs show the remains of an entry wound and subsequent surgery, but none of those are particularly noteworthy in 2030.

Fierce self-discipline and a need to be taken seriously outside Arkansas eradicated Scott's southern/Ozark accent long ago.  He speaks in generic Middle American television diction with occasional small-town figures of speech and creative profanity calculated for shock value.  His well-honed poker face still carries a faint tinge of street cop professional detachment.

Before the war, Scott's self-assigned uniform was a charcoal gray suit.  The quality increased commensurately with his career trajectory, as did the selection of neckties, but the basic theme remained the same.  In the field, he's switched to lightweight cargo pants and expedition shirts, hiking boots, an Arc'teryx BAC hat with a subdued Razorbacks morale patch, and Oakley Flak 2.0 sunglasses.  He also wears a battle belt with his sidearm and two magazines, radio, karambit, trauma kit, a smoke grenade, and illumination.  For a planned gunfight, he changes into secondhand ASP olive drab BDUs, a Velocity Systems Scarab plate carrier, and an Ops-Core FAST ballistic helmet.  When there's vehicle support, though, he still travels with one gray suit in a cleaner's bag - just in case.

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)

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By the Numbers:

Expert (12+): Leadership, Persuasion, Scrounging, Small Arms (both)

Advanced (10-11+): Interrogation, Navigation, Observation, Survival, Tracking

Professional (8-9+): Archery, Armed Martial Arts, Disguise, Ground Vehicle (Wheeled), Instruction, Thrown Weapon

Armament: Wilson Combat Recon SR Tactical w/ Wilson Combat Whisper suppressor (general-purpose rifle); Beretta 1301 Tactical Marine (CQB); Remington 700 Titanium in 7mm-08 (hunting/sniping rifle); Glock 40 Gen4 MOS (tactical/anti-bear sidearm); Wilson Combat CBQ Tactical LE (court/barbecue sidearm)

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This message was last edited by the player at 22:10, Fri 13 July 2018.

Call Sign: Moray

Age: 32 (born 19 May 1998, Houston, TX)

Languages: English (native), Spanish (bar dialogue)

Key Skills: Civil Engineer, Combat Engineer, Scuba, Small Watercraft

Key Gear: applied mathematics, mechanical advantage, commercial explosives

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Profile:

Alexandra Chastity Murray was not supposed to turn out like this.  The youngest of three daughters, she was discouraged from taking an interest in her father's demolition business.  Possessed of a strong contrarian streak, though, Xandra found much more entertainment in her father's workshop than in any of the ladylike (or even acceptably-tomboyish) pursuits toward which her long-suffering parents tried to direct her.  When she started dating his employees, her father compromised enough to send her to Texas A&M for a dual major in business administration and civil engineering, figuring he'd prep her to take over the office side of the company.

That might have worked had Xandra not gone on a diving excursion in Mazatlan during spring break of her junior year.  The world under the waves was her anti-drug.  For the first time in her life, she found relative peace.  A month after graduation, she was in Seattle for commercial dive school at the Divers Institute of Technology.  A year after that, she was one of a handful of women working underwater construction and demolition in the Gulf.  She and her father even reached an agreement: if she stopped ruining or poaching his staff, he wouldn't tell her mother just how dangerous her work was.

Xandra was working a salvage contract in Memphis, raising a string of sunken grain barges, when the bombs fell.  She and the other survivors of her crew made it across the Mississippi before things got really bad - and then they made the mistake of telling an Arkansas State Guard unit what their skills were.  The guys weren't exactly conscripted but they got offers they couldn't refuse.  Xandra escaped official scrutiny, mainly because none of the Guardsmen could believe her claimed resume.  She drifted for a bit, surviving by doing odd fix-it work, until she linked up with an Arkansas Department of Transportation repair crew.

For the last year, Xandra's been working out of Little Rock, propping up various bits of failing infrastructure.  It's kept her fed but she's been going insane from the monotony.  No one was surprised when she volunteered for the Governor's Recovery Task Force the day the initiative was announced.  Truth be told, a few people were relived.

---

Appearance:

At a stocky and broad-shouldered 5'3", Xandra doesn't look like anyone's idea of a commercial dive tech.  With her short black-dyed punk hairstyle (she recently ran out of dye for the acid-green tips) and voluminous collection of ink and piercings, she doesn't look like anyone's idea of an engineer, either.  That's okay.  She's used to people underestimating her.  When they bend down to sneer at her, that makes it easier for her to kick them in the balls.  Or to break into their lockers and fill them with Japanese octopus porn.

Xandra is as thick-skinned as one might expect from a woman who's spent a decade succeeding in an industry that suffers from a terminal case of testosterone poisoning.  Her style - adopted from her father, though she'd never admit it - is to accept no bullshit, demonstrate her competence early and silently, and never cut corners on safety.  Not at work, at least.  In her personal life, she had what one might charitably call a high-risk lifestyle before the war.  She's since cut back on the drinking and dropped smoking as too expensive, and she hasn't gotten any more body modifications for fear of a nasty infection, but the consequent lack of stress relief is starting to make her twitchy.

Her usual post-apocalyptic wardrobe is distinctly blue-collar: Levis or Carhartts, T-shirts with various offensive logos or pop culture references, steel-toed work boots, and a pair of cheap sunglasses forgotten and pushed up on her head while she squints into the sun.  Her one appearance indulgence, when such things were possible, was paying the premium for American-made apparel.  For the Task Force mission, she's picked up a set of ASDF combat gear - which she promptly de-patched with a dive knife and started decorating in Sharpie.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)

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By the Numbers:

Expert (12+): Civil Engineer, Combat Engineer, Scuba, Small Watercraft

Advanced (10-11+): Armed Martial Arts, Excavation, Meteorology, Small Arms (Rifle), Swimming

Professional (8-9+): Acrobatics, Biology, Climbing, Computer, Electronics, Geology, Intrusion, Mechanic, Medical (Trauma Aid), Metallurgy, Riding, Small Arms (Pistol), Stealth, Unarmed Martial Arts

Armament: TBD

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This message was last edited by the player at 22:11, Fri 13 July 2018.

Age: 35 (Born Albany, NY, June 1995)
Languages spoken:  English (Native speaker), Spanish (basic law enforcement and tourist phrases)
Primary Weapon: Heckler & Koch HK416 Carbine w/ Aimpoint CompM4 red dot sight
Secondary Weapon: Glock 22 Automatic pistol w/ multilight
Melee Weapon: Baseball bat

Callsign: Doc

Skills
Expert (12+): Medical (Trauma Aid), Small Arms (Rifle)
Advanced (10+):  Biology, Ground Vehicle (Wheeled), Medical (Diagnosis), Medical (Surgery), Small Watercraft, Stealth, Swimming, Unarmed Martial Arts
Professional (8+): Armed Martial Arts, Autogun, Chemistry, Climbing, Computer, Electronics, Grenade Launcher, Interrogation, Intrusion, Leadership, Navigation, Observation, Persuasion, Scrounging, Survival, Thrown Weapon
Competent (6+): Forgery, Ground Vehicle (Motorcycle), Ground Vehicle (Tracked)

Appearance

Mike Carswell is five feet eleven inches tall, with a jaw that is covered by a semi permanent layer of stubble and dark hair is usually worn under a faded and crumpled desert tan baseball cap with a Don't Tread On Me morale patch velcro'd to the front, while his grey eyes are often concealed behind a pair of wraparound Oakleys.

Mike's usual field attire is a set of OD BDU's which are devoid of any insignia except a low viz MEMS patch on his left shoulder, over which he wears a black plate carrier assault vest. If he's expecting trouble he'll stick his ballcap in a pocket and replace it with an OD TC-2002 'gunfighter cut' MICH Helmet. His vest used to have a Medic patch velcro'd on to it but he's long since discarded that, having come to the unfortunate conclusion that there are some sick fuckers out there who saw it as a nice little bullseye to aim at, so these days other than the patch on his arm he doesn't wear anything that would give a clue as to what his role is, carrying his 'on hand' medical supplies in a pair of anonymous black MLBE pouches.

Background

Born in Albany, New York, Mike Carswell moved to Arkansas with his family when he was sixteen when his father landed a job as a VP with Bank OZK (at the time known as Bank of the Ozarks). After leaving school with his GED, Mike Carswell spent a couple of years drifting from one job to the next. Realizing that he didn't want to work in retail or an office he briefly considered enlisting in the military - specifically the Navy - before deciding to apply for a place at the MEMS (Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services, the Little Rock EMS service) Rookie School, following which he qualified as an EMT.

Mike spent two years as an EMT before qualifying as a Paramedic in 2019. He got a buzz out of his job. On the good days he was saving lives, making a difference.  Although there were bad days too. That came with the job. He met Luisa in 2020. She worked for Stephens Inc, a Little Rock based independent financial services firm. They got married the following year.

In 2024 Mike was looking for a new challenge, and successfully applied for a place on the MEMS STAR (Special Tactics Advanced Response) team. Sworn in as a Law Enforcement Officer, he was part of a small team that provided medical support to Federal, State, and local LE agencies tasked with high risk operations throughout the State of Arkansas. He also managed to get himself a Bachelor's Degree in Biology from UA Little Rock.

Things with Luisa had been on the rocks for a while though and she and Mike ended up getting divorced in 2025. He hooked up with Gabby shortly afterwards (Luisa wrongly thought that Mike and Gabby had been sleeping together while she and Mike were still married). Gabby was a cop with Little Rock PD. Things were different with her. They got each other, could talk about the stuff that happened during a shift. The bad stuff.

Then the War started. Mike expected to get drafted but wasn't. "Essential occupation", some shit like that. When the nukes started flying things went to Hell real quick and Mike and Gabby found themselves facing a whole new world of challenges, ones that they could scarcely have imagined a few years ago.  Still, they stayed together, and  when the Governor set up his Recovery Task Force they both volunteered, ended up on different teams. Maybe they'd be able to make a difference, help some people, although sometimes it feels to Mike like all they're doing is putting a band aid on a major trauma.

Oh, and Luisa works in the Governor's office.

Contacts

1 x Opposed Criminal
1 x US Criminal
1 x Allied Law Enforcement
1 x Allied journalist
1 x US White Collar
1 x US Blue Collar
1 x US Law Enforcement

Psychological Profile

Cruelty: Low to Moderate. Mike has, on occasion, done some bad things since the War started, things that he's not particularly proud of and doesn't plan to talk about, other than maybe with Gabby. He rationalizes that by telling himself that it's not like he did it for kicks, he did it because he had to.

Loyalty: Moderate to High. Mike's fiercely loyal to those close to him, primarily his family and friends. If anyone tries to mess around with any of those people his reaction is likely to be swift, acting without thinking.

Passion: Moderate to High. He can come over as a bit of a wiseass sometimes, cynical, flippant, gives the impression that he doesn't really care about shit but that's partly his way of coping with stuff.

Piety: Low. Mike's not overly religious, doesn't particularly dwell on the thought of some higher power.

Sanity: High. He's reasonably level headed, plans on making sure it stays that way. He's seen what can happen to people who let things get to them and mess with their heads, doesn't intend on being that guy. His one weakness is probably Gabby. He worries about Gabby when she's out in the field - even though he knows that she is more than capable of looking after herself as far as he's concerned the worst part of what they do is the fact that they are out of contact with each other for extended periods of time so if anything has happened to her he wouldn't know.

Selfishness: Low.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:12, Thu 19 July 2018.

Call Sign: Cleveland
Age: 25
Rank: E-5 (Staff Sergeant) USAF Security Forces (or AANG equivalent)
Languages Spoken: English
Primary Weapon: Remington 870 MCS w/reflex sight
Secondary Weapon: Glock 19

Chevelle grew up in a run-down, predominately African-American neighborhood on the outskirts of Cleveland, Ohio. While many of her high school peers were dropping out, getting pregnant, or joining gangs, Chevelle dreamed of getting out and making a better life for herself. The U.S. military, specifically the USAF, offered her a way to do that. She enlisted after graduation, joining the USAF security forces, and, after basic and specialist training, was assigned to McDill AFB. An affair with a married officer (Chevelle knew that he was an officer, but not that he had a pregnant wife at home- until a chance encounter with the seemingly happy couple at the base PX) put the breaks on the upward trajectory of her carrier, and resulted in an involuntary transfer to Little Rock AFB, at the time, a veritable USAF backwater (this was just as well, because McDill AFB was destroyed by a 1 Mt airburst on Thanksgiving Day, 2027, whilst Little Rock AFB was spared).

Not too long after the transfer, Chevelle decided that she really enjoyed living in Little Rock, eventually, convincing her mother and younger sister to relocate there. In 2029, all USAF and AANG personnel remaining in Arkansas were absorbed into the Arkansas Self Defense Force by executive order of the state governor.

Appearance: Chevelle stands a muscular 5'5" tall, with dark skin and brown eyes, her naturally curly hair cut USAF regulation short. In the field, Chevelle wears standard-issue AANG Airman Battle Uniform (in digital tiger-stripe camouflage pattern) with USAF-issue TYR EPIC female body armor in OCP pattern camoflage.

Personality: Chevelle is confident and assertive. Rules and regulations are meant to be followed, not ignored. Those that do the crime must do the time. Chevelle tends to distrust men that she doesn't know very well.

Skills
Expert (12+):  Small Arms (Rifle), Small Arms (Pistol), Grenade Launcher, Unarmed Martial Arts, Ground Vehicle (Wheeled)
Advanced (10+): Armed Martial Arts, Thrown Weapon, Leadership, Interrogation
Professional (8+): Instruction, Computer
Competent (6+): Observation

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This message was last edited by the player at 05:55, Sun 26 Aug 2018.

Call Sign: Chef
Age: 21
Rank: E-4, Arkansas State Guard
Languages Spoken: Marshallese, English
Primary Weapon: M249 PIP w/ ACOG (hand-me-down from ex-teammate Cole Anderson)
Secondary Weapon: M9 pistol (ANG surplus)

Jackson Kabua was born to young, immigrant parents, Marshall Islanders lured to U.S.A. by the Tyson Food Corporation with the promise of steady work and a path to full U.S. citizenship. They joined the largest Marshallese community in the continental United States, located in Springdale, Arkansas. Jackson grew up in company-owned trailer park, surrounded by a large extended family (expanded further by chain-migration). Like many in his tight-knit immigrant community, Jackson struggled in school, his only enduring interest in academics being a CTE culinary arts class he enrolled in during his sophomore year of high school.

After over a decade working on the killing floor at a Tyson processing plant, Jackson's father decided that he'd had enough of poultry. He hadn't found the American Dream in Springdale, so he decided to venture out and look for it elsewhere. With his meager savings and a little help from the community, he bought an old food truck and moved the family to Little Rock (Jackson had just turned sixteen). It took about a year, but the Kabua family's Marshallese-Mexican Fusion proved exceptionally popular with the neo-yuppies in Little Rock's business district (so much so, that his father eventually was able to buy a brick-and-mortar restaurant downtown). When not barely avoiding flunking out of school, young Jackson spent nearly all of his waking hours behind the gridle, or behind the wheel, of 'Kabua's Fast Island Cuisine'.

When WWIII came, Jackson couldn't avoid the draft. He was swept up by the Army, for which he became a 92G (Food Service Specialist). After abbreviated basic and Advanced Individual Training (as a cook), PFC Jackson was shipped to the ETO where he spent most of his tour cooking for the men and women of the 5th Infantry Division. On one particularly desperate occasion, during a Russian Federation breakthrough near Kalisz, Poland, now-Specialist Jackson was thrown into an ad-hoc rifle company made up of cooks, clerks, and assorted REMFs. He barely escaped with his life. Later, during a BM-30 Smerch rocket strike on his fleeing column, Jackson was seriously wounded, requiring his eventual evacuation to the U.S.A.- little did anyone know that it would be one of the last flights out of the ETO. After a lengthy and painful rehab and convalescence, Jackson hitchhiked his way back home to Little Rock. Technically, Jackson is a deserter, having made no effort to return to his posting after the bombs dropped. The Arkansas State Guard, desperate for experienced manpower, decided to overlook this little adminstrative detail.

Appearance: Vaguely Asian (to the unaccustomed eye) in physical appearance, Jackson has dark skin and thick, black wavy hair. In the field, he wears the standard-issue OCP ACU top that he went AWOL in, and Wrangler Jeans (after his OCP ACU trousers were shot up during a gunfight in the McGehee Police Station- they've since been cut down into makeshift shorts).

Wounds:
Serious shrapnel wounds to his torso (Kepno, Poland, 10/31/2027)
Two GSW's right leg- one above, one below the knee (McGehee, Akransas, 7/17/2030).

Personality: Jackson is fairly quiet and easy going. He loves to cook. He wants to protect his family and he figures that the ASG will give him the best platform with which to do so. Jackson was largely unaffected by his brief but intense taste of combat in Poland- in fact, during the battle, he was easily able to overcome his fear, holding off the better part of a Russian platoon for the better part of an hour, mostly on his own, with a commandeered M240, a feat for which he was awarded a Bronze Star.

Skills:
Expert (12+):  Ground Vehicle (Wheeled), Cooking, Autogun, Small Arms (Rifle), Scrounging
Advanced (10+): Small Arms (Pistol), Thrown Weapon, Unarmed Martial Arts, Survival, Swimming
Professional (8+): Computers, Navigation, Survival
Competent (6+): Spanish

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This message was last edited by the player at 04:19, Wed 25 Sept 2019.

Call Sign: Rebel
Age: 24
Rank: Private First Class, Arkansas State Guard
Languages Spoken: English
Primary Weapon: Smith & Wesson M&P15 w/ Bushnell TRS-25 Trophy Red Dot
Secondary Weapon: Remington 1911 R1 Enhanced Double Stack (won in a card game)

Duane grew up poor white trash in rural Arkansas (near the Louisiana state line). His home life was, by all accounts, pretty fucked up, which probably explains his general disrespect for authority. He struggled in school, got himself expelled for fighting, and did time in juvenile hall for shoplifting and vandalism. He found some degree of solace in a automotive engineering diversion program, and upon "graduation" he got a job at a local garage. He generally enjoyed the work, but his paychecks (minimum wage minus court-ordered restitution payments) left Duane perpetually close to broke. Desperate for cash, he let an acquaintance from juvie talk him into boosting cars. This side-job proved fairly lucrative, but it didn't last long. Duane was collared after rolling his boosted whip at the end of a wild high-speed chase. In addition to multiple parole violations, Duane was charged with grand theft auto, felony evasion, and resisting arrest. His public defender got him a deal- plead guilty to GTA, and the prosecution would drop the rest of the charges. Five years (with good behavior) sounded better than 15-20, so he took the deal, and Duane was shipped off to the state pen to start doin' his time.

An angry, brash Duane Skillins pushed back against pressure to join the prison's predominant white supremacist gang, landing him a severe beating. He was in "protective custody" (read: solitary confinement)- after a lengthy stint recuperating in the prison infirmary- when WWIII began. A year into the war, Duane was working in the prison motor pool, biding his time until his first parole hearing. As an incarcerated felon, Duane was ineligible for the draft, but in late 2027, in light of the Allianza Militar de Estados Latinomericanos' (AMEL) invasion of the American Southwest, the governor of Arkansas offered non-violent state prisoners amnesty in exchange for enlisting in the recently-reactivated Arkansas State Guard/Arkansas Self Defense Force. Duane, eager to get out of prison, took the opportunity.

His pre-incarceration training and experience landed Duane a position as a mechanic/driver in the State Guard's motor pool. He found that he enjoyed the work- especially driving and repairing military vehicles- and could largely tolerate the ASDF's relatively relaxed personal conduct/discipline policies. Duane was instrumental in returning an Oshkosh M1278 Heavy Guns Carrier Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) to working order for the ASDF (this vehicle was later dubbed Razorback and assigned to STAR Team Sierra for its upcoming operation).

Appearance: Duane is of average height and wiry build. His body is liberally sprinkled with ink of generally poor quality and questionable taste. Duane's got a ruggedly handsome, yet somewhat boyish face (marred by a few scars and missing teeth), brown hair, and grey-green eyes. In the field, Duane wears commercial hunting clothing (Browning Hell's Canyon Speed A-TACS camouflage pattern shirt, pants, and jacket) requisitioned by the ASDF. When playing grease monkey, he wears coveralls over his field uniform.

Personality: If you want something done, don't order Duane to do it- ask nicely, or you'll likely end up cussed out and disappointed. Ever since his prison beating at the hands of white supremacists, Duane's had an intense dislike for bigots of any stripe. In high-risk situations, Duane displays a fearlessness bordering on recklessness. He favors weed over booze (the latter tends to result in aggressive behavior), and has somehow managed to stay off of hard drugs. Duane likes his music- mostly Southern Rock and Outlaw Country- loud, and his women wild. Deep down inside, though, Duane just wants to be loved.

Skills
Expert (12+):  Ground Vehicle (Wheeled), Mechanic, Unarmed Martial Arts, Small Arms Rifle, Intrusion, Scrounging
Advanced (10+): Small Arms (Pistol), Observation
Professional (8+):
Competent (6+):

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This message was last edited by the player at 02:03, Wed 25 Sept 2019.

Abernathy Clark
Age: 38 (born Twin Creeks, MT, May 1992)
Rank: ?
Military Occupational Specialty: 11B (Infantry)
Languages spoken: English (Native speaker)
Primary Weapon: M4A1 Carbine w/ iron sights
Primary Weapon: Hoyt Carbon Defiant Compound Hunting Bow
Secondary Weapon: Barette M9A1
Melee Weapon: Heirloom Bowie Knife

Callsign: Tusk

Skills

Expert (12+): Archery, Navigation, Observation, Stealth, Survival, Tracking
Advanced (10+): Climbing, Riding, Grnd Veh(Wheeled), Machinist, Scrounging, Small Arms (Pistol), Small Arms (Rifle), Snow Skiing, Unarmed Martial Arts
Professional (8+): Early Firearms, Farming, Grenade Launcher, Grnd Veh(Motorcycle), Grnd Veh(Tracked), Gunsmith, Intrusion, Mechanic, Swimming, Thrown Weapons
Competent (6+): Armed Martial Arts, Autogun, Tac Missile, Small Watercraft

Appearance

Abernathy (Abbie) Clark stands 6'2", not so much lanky as thin and gangly, as though he walks with a perpetual stoop. Greasy brown hair cut short rings his weather beaten face, with deep ridges of premature aging and wrinkles. His nose is fairly bulbous, with blood vessels bright red, clearly from too much drinking. His skin isn't much better, tan and stained from a life of over-exposure. His one decent feature are his crystal blue eyes, lit with the sparkle of above-average intelligence.

Abbie's typical clothing while on a mission includes a boonie hat, MOLLE II tactical webbing, and typical BDU bottoms, all in OCP camouflage. He also wears a maroon t-shirt under his rig, and wears a pair of old Merrell hiking boots along with a pair of woodland camo hunting gloves. He's never seen without his Hoyt Carbon Defiant Compound Hunting Bow over one shoulder and his Colt M4A1 over the other, along with a woodland camo long range hiking pack.

Background

Abernathy (Abbie for short) is a country boy that grew up with his family in a cabin in the middle of nowhere, western Montana - close to the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. He spent most of his youth hunting and fishing to help feed his family. He did some minor work on a farm, but largely had no usable corporate skills, and hated big cities. Due to his upbringing, he didn’t get much in the way of an education, and wasn’t a particularly attractive guy, being a bit of a loner and having a lack of social skills.

At the age of 22, he got a serious case of wanderlust, and wanted to see the world, so he went down to the local Army recruiting office in Missoula. After boot, he joined 10th Mountain Division and deployed to Afghanistan. During his time in the military he gained an affinity for drinking far too much alcohol, which became a problem later in life. He served 2 tours overseas and returned to the states, leaving the Army as soon as his term was up. He lost touch with his parents during this time, as they didn't have a working phone and he was on the other side of the world.

After a stint or two being homeless across a number of southern states, he ended up settling into Shreveport, LA, managing to make enough money to live off of by doing odd jobs - doing a bit of ranch work on the outskirts of the city along the Red River, fixing minor machinery, etc. While there, he met a woman named Lorna McBride and fell in love. They have an on again off again relationship, until in 2026 his alcoholism finally caused her to leave him. He returned to Western Montana at that time to reconnect with his parents, finding out upon his return that his mother had died in his absence. When the nukes fell, he heard that Shreveport was a target due to it's proximity to Barksdale AFB. Not being able to reach Lorna by phone due to the grid being destroyed, he decides to hitch his way back to Louisiana, only to eventually reach Shreveport and find it an irradiated ruin.

Fearing the worst, he starts hitching his way slowly back north, ending up in Little Rock...

Contacts

1 x US Blue Collar
1 x US Blue Collar
1 x Allied Criminal

Nashoba "Nash" Carterby

Age: 44 (born 17th June, 1986)
Languages Spoken: English, Choctaw, basic Spanish, rudimentary Russian

Current Service: Arkansas Self Defense Force
Rank: Staff Sergeant (OR6)

Former Service:
 - 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry, 10th Mountain Division
 - 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Arkansas National Guard)
 - US Park Ranger Service

Callsign: Talker

Notable Skills:
 - Expert (12+): Small Arms (Rifle)
 - Advanced (10+): Armed Martial Arts, Climbing, Gunsmith, Navigation, Observation, Persuasion, Scrounging, Small Watercraft, Stealth, Survival, Swimming, Thrown Weapons, Tracking & Unarmed Martial Arts
 - Professional (8+): Autogun, Grenade Launcher, Ground Vehicle (Wheeled), Instruction, Interrogation, Leadership, Mechanic & Riding

Notable Weapons:
 - Patriot Ordnance Factory P308 Edge Semi Automatic Rifle (7.62mmN)
 - Mossberg 930 Semi Automatic Shotgun (12 Gauge)
 - Winchester Model 70 Hunting Rifle (7.62mmN)
 - Smith & Wesson M&P40 Pistol (.40 S&W)
 - Ruger SR9 Pistol (9mmP)
 - Tactical Tomahawk
 - Survival Knife

Notable Equipment:
 - US Army Issue Advanced Combat Helmet
 - MOLLE Plate Carrier Vest in Forest Pattern with Level 3 Plates
 - AN/PRC-148 Radio, with military headset
 - AN/PVS-14 Night Vision Goggles with mount for Advanced Combat Helmet
 - Night Owl NOXB-5 Explorer Pro 5X Night Vision Binoculars with Infrared Illuminators

---

Psych Profile:

Cruelty (Moderate to Low): Despite the stress of two tours of Afghanistan during his original service in the Army and then being wounded in Belarus when he was reactivated with the National Guard, Nash hasn't developed a cruel streak. His outlook on life is still to seek the best in people, though he is very much hardened to the realities of war and life in a post apoc world. He is capable of being ruthless if needed however but doesn't regard this as being cruel.

Loyalty (Very High): Nash is a very loyal man, particularly in regards to his comrades in arms, his country and his state.  He is proud of being an American and believes very strongly in doing his bit to protect his homeland and re-establish legally elected government control. To some however it might seem like he is clinging to a set of rules and social conventions that have ceased to exist but he still believes in them himself.

Passion (High): When Nash decides on a cause he is very dedicated in his approach and puts all of his efforts into it, staying very focused. Potentially his passion for a cause can become slightly obsessive, though he is wise enough to take a step back occasionally and re-evaluate what he is doing and why. Currently he has decided that helping to re-establish society in central Arkansas is that cause.

Piety (Moderate to Low): Nash was raised a Protestant by his parents, though he wasn't a regular Church goer even as a child. As an adult his attendance has become even more infrequent, though he still has an inbuilt respect for members of the clergy, regardless of their denomination. Over the last ten years or so he has become more interested in the Choctaw Religion, though mostly from an academic point of view, keen to understand his heritage.

Sanity (Very High): A combination of his parental upbringing and service in the Army has made Nash a very calm and level headed man. This has then been built on during his time as a US Park Ranger with a number of courses related to conflict resolution and members of the public. He has been trained to deal with stressful situations and to remain calm and though he has found warfare very tough at points, he has found that he deals with it very well, even when it involves the loss of a friend.

Selfishness (Moderate to Low): Nash very much prefers to be part of a team and so his natural inclination is to treat others as he would like to be treated himself - in a welcoming and selfless way. He tries to put people at ease with a friendly smile and actively looks to build relationships with his comrades and to foster a team ethic amongst his co-workers.

---

Description:

Nash is a stocky man who has started to feel the effects of both age and injury. Standing just under six feet in height and weighing a little over a hundred and ninety pounds, he was much more powerfully built in his youth. His upper arms are covered with old tattoos, the result of his time in the Army, and he wears distinctive wooden earrings.

He keeps his thinning hair long, tied back into a short pony tail, with many flecks of grey amongst the black. His facial hair is normally well trimmed into a mustache and thin goatee that gives him the look of a gang member rather than either a Soldier or a Park Ranger. This look is deceptive however as his smile is very friendly and disarming, the result of calming down lost tourists and stopping drunk campers arguing over noise.

Like many members of the ASDF he has improvised his own uniform from a mixture of civilian hunting camouflage clothing and left over military fatigues. His jacket has a number of different patches sewn onto it, some official from the units he has served with and others not. Depending on need he carries a rifle of some kind, often a Patriot Ordnance Factory P308 Edge Semi Automatic, as well as a pistol, usually a Smith & Wesson M&P40 in a drop leg holster, and wears body armour and webbing.

---

Personal Statement:

OK, some introductions are probably due now that we have time to talk over a coffee and get to know each other a little. I'm Nash Carterby, currently a Staff Sergeant with the Arkansas Self Defense Force. My name is actually Nashoba, pronounced nah-shoh-bah, but ever since kindergarten kids and teachers have been getting it wrong so Nash has stuck. I'm fine with Nash. Or Carterby. Only other Choctaw tend to call me Nashoba.

Before the war I had various jobs but the main one was as a Park Ranger at the Ouachita National Forest. I was there for a little over seven years and it was a great life, helping visitors, running the park and living and hunting in beautiful countryside during my personal time. Some people might have reckoned that it was boring but I loved it. I'd even go as far as describing it as idyllic.

More relevant to why I'm here now is that in my twenties I served six years as an Infantryman in the Army, leaving with the rank of Sergeant. I was in 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry, part of 10th Mountain, and I did a couple of tours of the Stan, the first to Kunar Province in 2009 and the second to Kandahar Province in 2011. They were tough but I know guys who endured way tougher than I did, though I saw my fair share of action over there. Service in the Army has been part of my family for generations, we've been true patriots for a long time. One of my great, great grandfathers was Victor Carterby and he was a Choctaw Code Talker during the First World War. Compared to what he and other relatives of mine went through a couple of tours of Afgan weren't too bad.

I left the Army in early 2013 and had a series of Joe Jobs until I became a Park Ranger. I missed the Army though so I joined the Arkansas National Guard after I'd been out for a while. You know, like lots of Vets do, partly for the brotherhood and partly for the extra income. I was living in Caddo Gap by then and that was a short drive from Arkedelphia so I joined 2nd Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry as a Sergeant and was made a Staff Sergeant after a couple of years. When the war started we were activated and I deployed to Europe with them to become part of the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. I saw action in the Ukraine and then Belarus and was wounded and evaced home from there. As well as massive concussion damage and internal injuries I took a piece of shrapnel to my left shoulder and it needed major reconstructive surgery to build it back up again. It still aches when it's cold and my arm hasn't been as strong since.

Back home I spent several months in rehab and therefore wasn't able to return to Europe once I was fit enough to do so. I volunteered for the ASDF instead and I've been serving with them ever since. There ain't a lot of call for Park Rangers any more so it seemed like a good idea.

Oh, in case you haven't noticed I'm Native American, of mainly Choctaw ancestry, though I've got a bit of Chickasaw and Mexican on my mother's side. If we're getting into hobbies then I'm a massive science fiction fan, I've been hunting since I was a kid and I love a bit of whittling.

In reply to Nashoba 'Nash' Carterby (msg # 14):

Armand Campbell
Age: 24 (born Muscle Shoals, AL)
Rank: N/A
Military Occupational Specialty: 19K (Armor)
Languages spoken: English (Native speaker), Chickasaw(Few words)
Primary Weapon: G3A3 w/ iron sights
Secondary Weapon: HK USP .45ACP
Melee Weapon: None

Callsign: Blue Falcon

Skills

Expert (12+): Archery, Heavy Gun, Small Arms(Rifle), Swimming, Gnd Vehicle(Wheeled) Stealth, Tracking
Advanced (10+): Small Boat Handling
Professional (8+): Small Arms(Pistol), Gnd Veicle(Tracked), Gnd Vehicle(Motorcycle)
Competent (6+): None

Appearance

Armand Campbell is 5'8" tall and has a slight frame from years of chronic drug use. With his black hair long in the middle but shaved on the sides(a 'fauxhawk', if you will), brown eyes and Chickasaw Nation tattoos, at first glance Armand might seem like a Native American. However, a keen observer will note that he doesn't have a drop of native blood in him, and that his ancestors come from Austria, not Nortern Alabama.

Armand wears RealBush civilian hunting cammo under his issue Kevlar vest and Helmet. He has spare clothing, but that is RealBush as well, just fall cammo patterns instead of his usual summer favorites. The effect is that, like his Deerslayer tattoo states, Armand is a hunting enthusiast that can track a man just as easy as he can track a deer out in the wild.

Background

Armand Campbell is a twenty-four year old fishing/hunting enthusiast who grew up in a trailer park on the Tennesse River not far from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Like all white boys from Northwest Alabama, Armand is convinced that because he has black hair, he has a lot of Chickasaw Indian in him. He doesn't have a drop of indian blood in him although the tattoos on his forearms and legs say differently.

The closest Armand comes to having Chickasaw blood in him was the fact that his Austrian ancestors were in Alabama in the 1800s when the US government gathered all the Chickasaw in the area and shipped them to Oklahoma, the famous Trail of Tears. Like most Americans, Armand Campbell knows little to none of his true family's history, jusy myths and rumors passed down from generation to generation.

Armand was kicked out of the US Army for possession with intent to distribute. Meth: it's what ruined his teeth and his Army career. After the Army he took heavily to the bottle and would have drank himself to death had it not been for finding Jesus and becoming a born again Christian.

When he was working construction an old Army acquaintance contacted him and asked him if he wanted to work with him as a Private Military Contractor. PMCs were hiring, and Armand did two tours in the Congo protecting Chinese firms rebuilding Congolese infrastructure.

When he returned to the States Armand bought a bass boat but invested the rest of the money in the NYSE. He moved to Arkansas because he met a girl from there, but it didn't really work out. He wanted to enlist when the Twilight War started, but his Dishonorable Discharge made enlisting in the active duty Army not an option for him.

Armand Campbell has an 85 IQ. He thinks human gestation is 14 months long, and that the Mason-Dixon line starts at the northern border of Alabama. He has multiple tattoos all over his body, many to do with killing deer and being a member of the Chickasaw Nation. He stands at 5'8", and has a slight frame due to years of chronic drug use.

Just because Armand isn't book smart does not make him useless. He understands basic infantry tactics, to include patrolling and setting up ambushes. Mr. Campbell might be a civilian but sees himself as a warrior, both due to his 'native blood' and his love for firearms and the Army. He is a weapon of war; a Samurai looking for a noble lord to serve.