Rook

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A trained sniper and former member of a special forces unit, Rook and his team mates were betrayed by one of their own; the armored powerhouse Black Queen. Left bloodied and presumed dead amongst the bodies of his fallen comrades in the Canadian wilds, Rook survived thanks to the ministrations of a local native tribe's shaman. Unfortunately he was unable to fully heal Rook, resulting in the loss of his left eye. Rook subsequently retrained himself to use his right eye for targetting.

Returning to civilisation, Rook left active duty with the canadian military and was seconded to the UK, and became a member of the MOD sponsored Valiant supergroup. During this time he turned his attention to tracking down Black Queen. He has been distracted from his mission by requests from local authorities and the Champions to assist with capture of other fugitive villains.

Beginnings...

Warren was born on June 30th 1976 at White Horse General Hospital on the banks of the Yukon River to Lucas and Elizabeth McKenzie. Lucas McKenzie was a Corrections Officer at the nearby Wolf Creek Juvenile Corrections Centre, while Elizabeth (a US Citizen by birth) was a Primary School Teacher.

Warren's childhood and teenage years were mostly uneventful except for the death of his father in a traffic collision. This loss caused Warren to retreat into himself, becoming something of a loner. He found it difficult to make and maintain close friendships for fear that he would experience more loss.

The events of July 1992 - destruction of Detroit and partial destruction of neighbouring Canadian city, Windsor - had a major effect on Warren. Shaken out of his melancholy by the damage and loss of life on such a grand scale, Warren made a decision that would change the course of his own life forever.

A Soldier's life for me...

File Photo

At the age of 17 (and with his mother's permission) Warren applied for and was accepted into the Canadian Military. After showing a natural aptitude with firearms during basic training, Warren was earmarked for deployment to the Special Weapons Detail.

Due to his outstanding results at training, Warren was encouraged to continue his formal education alongside his military training in order that he could gain a commission in the future. Following the advanced weapons training with the Special Weapons Detail, Warren showed an almost preternatural aim and ability with weapons which led him to be co-opted for several overseas operations.
Service History:

Promotion - Corporal [1993 Dec 17]
Following Completion of Special Weapons Training and first deployment

Operation RECORD [1994/1998/2000/2001]

Canadian support to the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observer Mission (UNIKOM)

Promotion - Master Corporal [1994 Nov 30]

Operation PALLADIUM [1995/1996]

Contribution to the NATO Stabilization Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina

Operation STANDARD [1996]

Support to United Nations Support Mission in Haiti (UNSMIH)

Promotion - Sergeant [1996 Aug 15]

Operation STABLE [1996/1997]

Support to United Nations Support Mission in Haiti (UNSMIH)

Completion - B.S. Management (2:1) [1997 Jun 30]

Promotion - Second Lieutenant [1998 Jan 24]
Following Completion of Officer Training

Operation REPTILE [1999/2000]

Canadian peacekeeping contribution to the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL)

Promotion - Lieutenant [2000 Sep 30]

Operation TOUCAN [2000/2001]

Peacekeeping support to the International Force in East Timor and United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET)

Operation APOLLO [2001]

Operations in support of the United States in its military operations in Afghanistan.

Operation ATHENA [2001]

Canadian deployment with the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan

Promotion - Captain [2001 January 31] - Transfer to command of Major General Brock, Special Projects.

Operation Checkmate...

Early shot of Rook's battle armor

While in Afghanistan in 2001, Warren was approached by a Major General Brock. Brock had been charged with forming a covert team of military specialists to fight the growing menaces which were appearing in Canada almost daily it seemed. Whether super powered villains attracted to Canada by the likes of VIPER and ARGENT or alien invaders, the Military was not willing to leave the defense of the nation to the handful of so called Super Heroes which called Canada home. Intrigued by this new challenge, Warren readily agreed to join the team. Strings were thus pulled and Warren soon found himself stationed near the small Manitoba town of Churchill on the western shore of Hudson Bay.

Fort Churchill is an Arctic site on Hudson Bay with a rail link. It is near the point of maximum auroral activity. This combination of circumstances made it ideal for far-north sounding rocket launches. Initially used by the Canadian Army in 1954, construction of more elaborate facilities in support of the International Geophysical Year began in 1956. The range was closed again in December 1958 after the IGY program ended. It was reopened again in August 1959 by the US Army as part of its network of sounding rocket stations. This allowed use of the site by other groups over the years. In late 1960 a fire largely destroyed the facilities at Fort Churchill. When the United States decided to end its activities at Churchill by June 1970, the Canadian National Research Council took over operations to support the Canadian Upper Atmosphere Research Program. The Canadian military also found the site useful for characterization of the ionosphere for military communications.

Fort Churchill / Operation Checkmate

By the 1990's the facility was inactive and various attempts to revitalize it failed. It was at this point that the Canadian Army chose to use the site as a base for several of it's covert projects. The majority of the new base was built underground with only several small structures at ground level to give any indication of habitation. The movement of people in and out of the site was explained as chemical and fallout testing due to the checkered history of the site. In late 2000 use of the site was allocated to Major General Brock for Operation Checkmate.

Brock began his monumental task by setting up his operations team and tasking them with reviewing the best and brightest that the Canadian Military had to offer, alongside collating as much information on threats to Canadian soil as they could beg, borrow or even steal. By the end of the year Brock was ready to begin assembling his first team.

Alpha Team Leader

Code: King
Rank: Colonel, Army
Name: Jean-François Lévesque
Place of Birth: Quebec

Aerial Surveillance & Assault

Code: Queen
Rank: Major, Air Force
Name: Nicole Reuben
Place of Birth: Toronto

Ground Surveillance & Assault

Code: Rook
Rank: Captain, Army
Name: Warren McKenzie
Place of Birth: Yukon

Strategist & Explosives

Code: Knight
Rank: Lieutenant, Army
Name: Ruth Levy
Place of Birth: Israel

Intelligence & Extraction

Code: Bishop
Rank: Sub-Lieutenant, Navy
Name:Jacques Dumbrille
Place of Birth: Ontario

All members of the team were supplied with equipment suitable to their role, including an advanced battle armor customised to each person's skills. For example, Rook's armor provided him with advanced stealth capabilities, while Queen's flight suit allowed her much greater agility than any plane she had flown.

Initially the team proved to be successful working together well to uncover and remove several VIPER bases. Shortly however it seemed that VIPER began to anticipate their moves, and so each time they arrived at a targeted location they found it empty. Although Brock conducted an intensive investigation no evidence of infiltration of Checkmate by VIPER operatives. Details of missions were nevertheless restricted to senior personnel and to the team itself. As the string of failed missions continued to run on, tensions between team members began to rise. Despite not wishing to distrust their comrades each began to suspect one of the others of inadvertently or deliberately letting details of their operations slip.

The situation came to a head finally in the summer of 2001. After arriving at what appeared to be yet another in a long series of suspiciously empty warehouses, the ground team were attacked from the air by a volley of anti personnel missiles. Missiles which had been specifically tailored to pierce the Checkmate armor. Always quick on his feet, Rook had managed to shield himself somewhat but as he lay battered under the bodies of his fallen team mates, his sight blurred by blood from his own wounds he caught a glimpse of their attacker before slipping into unconsciousness. An attaker wearing a rather unique Checkmate Flight suit.

Rook recovers from his injuries

Some days later, Rook awoke in a small hide covered tent. Raising his hand to his aching head he found the left side of his face bandaged tightly with heavy padding over his eye. His right eye was unimpeded however and he began to take in his unfamiliar surroundings as a deep growl of a voice behind him said gruffly "We found you crawling in the forest at edge of our hunting grounds. I have done what I can for your wounds." Rook struggled to turn around but found his body refused to budge more than a few inches, and he was forced to reply to the disembodied voice, "My Team Mates?" he asked, dreading the answer. "We found none alive. We buried them near where they fell to prevent animals disturbing the remains. When you regain your strength perhaps you will be able to tell us what happened."

The Valiant Few...

Going Home...

Coming Soon...

Skills: Almost preternatural aim and ability with weapons. Given Code Name for ability to sit on sidelines and shoot directly on targets a long distance away. (All team members were named for chess pieces)

Rook maintains a large stockpile of weapons and equipment in his base. His current standard field kit consists of the following:

S.T.A.S.H. (Subspace Transportation And Storage Handler):
Created by Professor Zack Zapperoni, this small device creates a subspace pocket into which large items can be stored and retrieved. Rook uses it to ensure he has an adequate supply of weapons and ammo in the field.

2 x Modified Browning 9-mm Pistols:

Browning 9mm HP

The Browning 9-mm pistol is a personal protection weapon used mainly in close-quarter combat. The pistol is semi-automatic, recoil-operated, and magazine-fed. It is equipped with a magazine safety, an applied safety catch, and fires 9-mm x 19-mm ammunition. The Browning is use by those who require a sidearm that can be rapidly drawn and fired, even in confined spaces. The pistol consists of a barrel, a slide, a breech block, a frame, and normally a 13 round magazine. Rook's 9-mms have been modified to accept a 20 round magazine with quick release/reload mechanism.
Specs:

Weight: 1.1 kg
Length: 19.69 cm
Muzzle velocity: 350 m/s
Maximum range of fire: 50 m
Effective range of fire: 25 m

Modified C8A3 Carbine Rifle

C8A3 Carbine Rifle

The light-weight C8A3 is air-cooled, gas-operated, and magazine-fed. It can easily be disassembled for inspection and cleaning. The C8A3 is an evolutionary or mid-life program upgrade from the C8 carbine variant. It is equipped with ambidextrous controls, low infrared signature furniture and an extendable butt to better fit personnel wearing protective equipment. The C8A3 can also be fitted with a bayonet for close combat. Its primary sighting system is the holographic sight which is designed for close combat. The holographic sight is supplemented by an adjustable front and backup sight. Much of the furniture has been replaced with composite materials to further reduce the weight.
Specs:

Weight: 2.8 kg (reduced from standard 4.1 kg) (with full magazine, EO tech sight, sling)
Sustained rate of fire: 15 rounds per minute
Maximum rate of fire (semi-automatic): 65 rounds per minute
Effective range of fire: 300 m
Maximum range of fire: 2350 m

Modified C3A1 Sniper Rifle - 7.62 mm

C3A1 Sniper Rifle

The C3A1 sniper rifle can deliver highly accurate fire at a target up to 800 metres away. The variation of the C3A1 that Rook prefers consists of a one-piece McMillan composite stock with an adjustable butt and cheek piece, as well as a handstop with an attached bipod. Rook's C3A1 has been modified to reduce it's weight.
Specs:

Weight: 6 Kg (reduced from standard 8 kg)
Maximum range of fire: 800 m

Modified C9A2 Light Machine Gun

C9A2 Light Machine Gun

The C9A2 light machine gun (LMG) is primarily used as an infantry support weapon. Equipped with an adjustable bipod, it is normally fired from the prone position and is solely capable of full automatic fire. The C9A2 is air-cooled, gas-operated and equipped with a rotating bolt locking system. Designed with a dual feed system, it fires from a disintegrating link belt of 200 rounds. In emergencies, a 30-round rifle magazine can be used instead. The primary sighting system is an optical sight. The C9A2 has a low infrared signature, a foldable and extendable 4-position butt, a cover with a longer rail mount and adjustable rear sight assembly and a short barrel assembly with folding handle. Rook has again modified this C9A2 to lose a significant amount of weight while retaining it's other specifications. Most if this weight loss has been achieved by use of composite materials. The loss of weight allows Rook to use this weapon more comfortably while on the move. The C9A2 can maintain a high sustained rate-of-fire due to its two interchangeable, quick-change barrels; the disintegrating belt feed system and the open breech firing system, which prevents cook-off.
Specs:

Weight: 8 kg (reduced from normal 11.35 kg) (with full ammo box, optical sight, sling)
Sustained rate of fire: 50 rounds per minute (short bursts)
Rapid rate of fire: 100 rounds per minue (short bursts)
Effective range: 600 m
Maximum range: 3000 m

UNTIL NEMESIS DATABASE

Obsidian Star

Name: Obsidian Star
Powerset: Infernal Supernatural
Mentality: Mastermind
Minions: Supernatural Demons
Status: At Large

Killed in a battle with the forces of the elder god Ammogh-thoth , diminutive canadian hero White Dwarf was resurrected to become his agent on Earth. His previous gravitational powers had been replaced by a supernatural arsenal.

White Dwarf (Source: Project Checkmate Database)

Obsidian Star: Resurrection

UNTIL NEMESIS DATABASE

Black Queen

UNTIL NEMESIS DATABASE

Black Queen

Name: Black Queen
Powerset: Powered Armor
Mentality: Maniac
Minions: Power Armor Enhanced Robots
Status: Imprisoned

Revised Checkmate Armor
After being thrown back in time, as in 1960s Canada.
Returning to Canada
Exoskeleton (built by iRun Man)
Out of Costume
Urban Spec Ops
Urban Spec Ops (Turnaround)
Arctic Spec Ops
Arctic Spec Ops (Turnaround)
Aquatic Spec Ops
Night Spec Ops
Night Spec Ops (Turnaround)
Desert Spec Ops
Desert Spec Ops (Turnaround)
Jungle Spec Ops
Jungle Spec Ops (Turnaround)
Mac exercising at a local Gym
Mac back in White Horse (with his truck in the background)
Mac working with UNTIL as a Security Consultant
More to Follow...

One of Rook's favorite places to relax is Hurricane Harry's Bar & Lounge in Midtown, VB.

Fun Fact? - June 30th 1976 - Canadian Parliament votes to abolish the death penalty

Original Concept: Rook's original concept was a homage/combination of Punisher (Marvel), Nick Fury (Marvel)/ John Lynch (Wildstorm) with a bit of Wolverine (Marvel) thrown in. His name is in fact derived from Punisher > Frank Castle > Castle also called a Rook > which led to the chess concept in the background story.

Fort Churchill, Manitoba

COMMENTS & IMPRESSIONS If you have a connection with or an anecdote about Rook, please leave a comment below. (Note: Seperate comments with a <hr> tag)

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ROOK

Identity:

"I read and learned and fretted more about Canada after I left than I ever did while I was home. I absorbed anything I could on topics that ranged from Folklore to history to political manifestos... I ranted and raved and seethed about things beyond my control. In short I acted like a Canadian."
Will Ferguson

Biographical:

Name:	Warren McKenzie
Aliases:	Mac, Rook
Species:	Human
Nationality:	Dual Citizenship Canadian American
Ethnicity:	Caucasian
Marital:	Single
Relatives:	Lucas McKenzie (Father Deceased) Elizabeth McKenzie (Mother)
Occupation:	Security Consultant
Base:	Vibora Bay / Millennium City

Physical Traits:

Gender:	Male
Age:	37 (Actual) 47(Physical)
Height:	Confidential
Weight:	Confidential
Physique:	Stocky / Muscular
Hair:	Dark Brown
Eyes:	Confidential
Skin:	Weathered
Other:	Missing Left Eye

Powers & Abilities:

Powers:	Confidential
Abilities:	Confidential
Equipment:	S.T.A.S.H. 2 x Mod Browning 9mm Pistols Mod C8A3 Carbine Rifle Mod C3A1 Sniper Rifle 7.62mm Mod C9A2 Light Machine Gun