All-Star
U.S CitizenLegally Deceased
Criminal Record, Pardoned
Military Service Record
athaniel Carter was an all-star high school quarterback growing up in Hudson City and struggling to stay on the right side of the tracks when he developed the unique metahuman power of hyperkinesis and became a costumed crook. After an attempt to go straight led to his partner in crime murdering his lover, Nate went on a blood-soaked rampage which ended in a life-sentence at a maximum security prison. Broken, Nate was offered a second chance at life by the government funded Project Patriot and conditioned to be the perfect soldier. With his chequered past behind him, a fresh start before him and all the guns, grit and determination he needs to make the most of it, Nate charges into battle as the All-Star, kicking ass and taking names for truth, justice and the American Way.
Though his sarcastic wit, smug overconfidence and detached cynicism can alienate his allies just as often as they endear him to them, All-Star is as much a self-sacrificing hero as any of his fellow crimefighters. With a mouth that fires off as fast and as often as the guns he slings, All-Star defends his countrymen through thick and thin against the various threats stacked against them: domestic, foreign and -- more often than he'd like -- otherworldly.
Contents
Biography
Made in America: The Truth
The story of Nate Carter begins decades before his birth with his father, Geoffrey Carter's, draft into the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. An exemplary marine who went above and beyond the call of duty, it wasn't long before Geoffrey's superiors and the powers that be took heed of his superior abilities. In 1970, the clandestine government operation that would one day be known as Project Patriot was in its early stages of development. Seeking to take advantage of recent developments in the field of genetic engineering and metahuman science made by the super genius Dr. Alistair Monaghan, the then director of Project Patriot, Lawrence Smythe, chose thirteen servicemen of suitable physical and mental prowess from various branches of the United States Armed Forces to secretly inject with a radical gene-altering serum which would, in theory, bestow enhanced physical and mental traits known as 'Hyperkinesis' on any offspring they might have. Of these thirteen servicemen, Geoffrey Carter was the only African-American chosen. Seen as being more expendable than his white counterparts, Geoffrey was given a more radical and potentially lethal version of the serum which boasted a greater degree of hyperkinetic potential in his offspring at the cost of severe long term physical and mental health problems in himself.
Injected with the serum while receiving what he believed to be a series of vaccinations to ensure his healthy return to American soil, Geoffrey Carter returned to his civilian life as a dock worker in his hometown of Hudson City, New Jersey unaware of the fact that he was being constantly monitored by operatives of Project Patriot. For about a year he, along with the other twelve subjects of Project Patriot, went about their normal lives. Many of those who happened to impregnate their wives, girlfriends or lovers, however, soon began to present a massive setback for the Project Patriot heads when their subsequent children were all stillborn, seemingly as a result of the gene therapy on the genetically modified gametes of their fathers reacting negatively with the non-modified gametes of their mothers. After just two years of what appeared to be a resounding wave of failures, Project Patriot had only two subjects who could potentially give birth to hyperkinetic children -- Geoffrey Carter and Robert Hughes, a member of the U.S. Army. With the former having something of a distaste for women and the latter suffering from later diagnosed PTSD, it seemed as if Project Patriot was a remarkable failure and the U.S. government quickly swept it under the rug, forcing Dr. Monaghan to resign in shame and leaving little more than a skeleton crew to keep the operation running.
Contrary to what they believed, however, there was still a flicker of hope for Project Patriot in its two remaining subjects, a hope that would only be fully realised many years later. Geoffrey Carter, despite his misogynistic tendencies, soon found himself deeply attracted to Rochelle Masters -- a stripper he met at a co-worker's bachelor party and, after a passionate one night stand, he managed to impregnate her. Though reluctant to commit to marriage, Geoffrey felt honour-bound to make up for his own father's abandonment by staying to take care of his future son and, by the time the birth date neared, the two were married and living together in Freetown, Hudson City.
Born on the Fourth of July
Nate Carter was born somewhat prematurely during the early hours of July 4, 1972. Despite a number of birthing complications both early into the pregnancy and during delivery (likely caused by the intensified serum), he managed to pull through a frail, but relatively healthy baby. Relieved, his mother named him Nathaniel Jackson Carter, taking the names of the only two men she felt had ever treated her with love and respect -- her late father, Nathaniel, and her older brother, Jackson. Opting to spend the night drowning his sorrows at a local dive rather than waiting at the hospital and with his mental state gradually deteriorating due to the effects of the serum he was given, Geoffrey Carter missed the birth and instead spent the night in prison after a drunken bar brawl.
Growing up in the projects of Masonville, a young Nate found himself on the receiving end of his belligerent and increasingly unstable father's bad temper more and more frequently. Heated arguments grew into threats of violence and insults grew into domestic abuse as the years went by, colouring the young boy's hatred for his father and his desperate need to break free of Hudson City. Though Rochelle often did her best to take the brunt of Geoffrey's anger and physical abuse, a black eye and a few bruises were unavoidable every for Nate every now and then. By age twelve, Nate had experienced more than his fair share of pain and punishment at the hands of his father, who would use his failing grades, poor relations with teachers and fellow students and constant schoolyard fights as excuses to abuse him further.
Though both Rochelle and Nate both maligned Geoffrey for his abusive treatment, the once gruff but reasonable man soon began to question his own increasingly erratic behaviour. He became convinced that he was suffering from some form of PTSD and began secretly attending a group therapy session for war veterans. There, he met Frederick Muldoon -- a former U.S Marine and conspiracy theorist who had been fervently investigating a particularly secretive and seemingly non-existent government operation which he believed had performed experiments on American soldiers -- Project Patriot. Intrigued by Muldoon's theories and beginning to suspect that his loss of mental stability had been the effect of some kind of experimentation, Geoffrey began visiting Muldoon outside of therapy sessions and aiding him in his somewhat frantic investigations when he could.
At home, the growing Nate ran into a number of social and academic problems caused by his abusive and impoverished home life. With Geoffrey's erratic behaviour getting him fired from his job at the Hudson City docks and his mother being forced to return to stripping to help pay bills, Nate was far from a model student and often replicated his father's abusive actions with weaker children, regularly getting into fights and causing his mother no end of grief. Despite his poor behaviour, however, Nate cared for Rochelle and, though her skills as a parent and a positive role model were severely lacking, Rochelle cared for him in return. Encouraging him to take up sports to keep him out of trouble and away from his father, Rochelle took reduced shifts at the strip club to support Nate on his efforts to get onto Morrison Middle School's football team. Through her efforts and Nate's determination, he was eventually accepted onto the team and would continue to pursue sports throughout the rest of his academic life. Despite this, however, Nate's trouble-making tendencies only lessened slightly and he continued to be a bully and a delinquent, even joining up with a group of local vandals who would tag property in the area when he hit sixteen. During one particular act of tagging, the small gang was caught by a patrolling police officer and, seeking to buy his friends time to escape, Nate led the officer on a chase which ended in his being detained at the local police station. While waiting for his mother to retrieve him, he met another juvenile delinquent who had been caught picking pockets in the area -- Antoine 'Wheezer' Freeman. Enthralled by the older boy's tales and abundance of superficial charm, Nate became fast friends with Wheezer and the two maintained regular contact from that day forward.
Meanwhile, Geoffrey, becoming dangerously violent and irrational, desperately threw himself into his shared invetigation with Muldoon. The two, using their network of military connections and Muldoon's talents as an intelligence expert, discovered that Project Patriot was not only real, but also pioneered by Dr. Alistair Monaghan. Spurred on by their discovery, Geoffrey and Muldoon made contact with the retired Dr. Monaghan and angrily forced him to explain what he had done. Monaghan, suffering from a terminal illness, readily agreed in the hopes that it would redeem his soul and told them all about the gene therapy they had induced on the thirteen soldiers, the cause of Geoffrey's loss of mental stability and the lack of success they had. Shaken by the discovery, Geoffrey fled the room and went to drink himself into a stupor at the local bar.
Unbeknownst to any of the three men, however, Lawrence Smythe -- still leading what remained of Project Patriot -- had become aware of their snooping and, despite being advised not to by his new second-in-command, Kurt White, opted to have them all assassinated to tie up loose ends and prevent the operation's secrets from getting out. As Geoffrey drank in a bar, Smythe personally smothered Monaghan in his sleep and burned Muldoon to death in his home. He then set his sights on murdering Geoffrey. Breaking into the Carter residence in the middle of the night not knowing that Geoffrey was still drunkenly stumbling home, Smythe was unprepared to find a worried Rochelle waiting for her husband. When she panicked and threatened to call the police, Smythe beat her to death and left her body for Geoffrey to find, planting DNA they had on file to incriminate him. As he was leaving, however, he noticed a picture of Rochelle, Geoffrey and Nate together and realised that Project Patriot may not have been a failure after all. Deciding to keep tabs on Nate in the future, he fled into the night.
When Geoffrey Carter stumbled home from a night of drowning his sorrows, he was anguished to find Rochelle, the woman he loved despite his years of abuse, lying dead before him. Drunk and paranoid, he concluded that the government had realised how close he and Muldoon had gotten to the truth and attempted to phone his friend to no avail. Before he could decide whether or not it was a good idea to call the police, Nate returned home from a night out with Wheezer. Naturally assuming the worst upon seeing his father standing over the broken form of his mother, Nate launched himself at Geoffrey in a murderous rage. Fighting back, Geoffrey accidentally pushed Nate onto the kitchen counter, causing him to hit his head and opening a bleeding wound. Believing in his instability that he had also killed his son and already convinced that he was marked for death, Geoffrey called the police and fled the scene and would not be heard of or seen by his son for years.
When police arrived on the scene, they quickly realised that, while Nate suffered from a severe head wound, he was still very much alive. With his father a fugitive and his mother dead, a comatose Nate was taken to the local hospital for emergency treatment. What he didn't and couldn't know at that point, however, was that his life would never be the same again.
Rebirth
The blow to the head suffered by Nate had an unintended effect on the enhanced physiology oh his brain. When his brain struck the surface of his skull, the subsequent concussion served to 'jump start' the hyperkinetic potential endowed by Geoffrey's enhanced dosage of the Project Patriot serum. As a result, Nate's mind kicked into a state of accelerated cognition and efficiency that transformed him into every bit the living weapon he was intended to be. While Nate recovered from his injury thanks to the combined efforts his parents' co-workers and members of his high-school football team to help pay medical bills, he slowly began to discover the changes to his body. He could catch flies out of the air, recall the most minute details and pieces of information, bounce a baseball perfectly off any surface and at any angle to make it return to him, and manipulate a deck of cards with the trained precision of a casino performer, even tossing one so hard it embedded itself in the wall. Though he didn't quite understand what had happened to him, Nate was glad for the distraction from the reality of his situation and the loss of his mother and father.
When he was released from the hospital, placed in foster care and allowed to attend school again, Nate found that whatever had happened to him had drastically influenced his athletic capabilities. While playing quarterback in his first game back for the Northdale High Eagles, it was as if time very nearly slowed down to allow for reactions that seemed almost inhuman. He could move and manipulate his body with the precision and flexibility of an acrobat, throw, kick and catch the ball with unerring accuracy and think of new plays and strategies as if on instinct. Mopping the floor with the competition, Nate effectively won the game single-handedly and became a local celebrity for his achievement. Still enthralled by what he could do since his accident, however, Nate continued to test the limits of his abilities. Joining up with Northdale High's gymnastics, acrobatics, running and swimming teams, Nate found that he easily excelled in all of them and became known as Northdale High's 'All-Star' because of it. After school, he practiced parkour, quickly picking up even its most complex maneuvers. He joined a boxing gym and discovered he was a natural fighter. He even began learning Spanish to impress a girl, committing it to memory it with ease. It seemed as if Nate couldn't stop his constant regimen of physical activity as his graduation drew near and, with several college institutions fighting to give him a full scholarship for his athletic prowess, things only seemed to be looking up.
Behind the scenes, however, Nate still found himself distressed over the death of his mother and his inability to take revenge on his father. With constant physical activity and popularity only serving to distract him for so long, he became depressed and frequently contemplated suicide. In his endless pursuit of escapism, he fell in deeper with Wheezer's criminal activities, helping his best friend to sling weed. It was during a midnight jog to distract himself from his depressive thoughts that Nate stumbled upon a late night congregation at his local Catholic church. Intrigued, Nate entered the building and watched its reverend, Dennis O'Malley, preach on redemption and forgiveness. Touched personally by his words, Nate approached Father O'Malley in confession with his feelings of guilt and suicidal thoughts. Father O'Malley expressed to Nate that the only real way to alleviate those feelings was to give what he could to the people of the world, accept that not everything is his fault and seek to forgive his father for his sins. Feeling as if a weight was lifted off his shoulders, Nate resolved to be a good man from then on and, after being baptised, became a Catholic.
From that day forward, Nate was a changed man. He stopped bullying weaker children and started defending them from those who would, regularly helped out at soup kitchens and charity drives, and eventually fell out with Wheezer, unable to convince him to leave a life of crime behind. Though he still harboured a dark resentment towards his 'murderous' father and still felt some guilt over his mothers passing, Nate found a reason to go on in religion and had a promising future ahead of him.
Manifest Destiny
Things took a dark turn for the worst when Wheezer came back into Nate's life with a serious dilemma: after being caught stealing money from his boss, a local gang leader, to bet on a horse and subsequently losing it, Wheezer had been given a fatal ultimatum. Either he would find a way to return the money -- a total of $2500 -- by the end of the week or he would be executed. Though Nate wanted nothing to do with Wheezer's criminal activities, he couldn't leave the friend who had always been there for him out to dry. Knowing that going to the police would simply incriminate Wheezer and, based on the Hudson City Police Department's history of corruption, would most likely still end in his death, Nate concluded that the only thing they could do was somehow cooperate to get the money back. Together, the two hatched a plan to steal the money by holding up a local gambling arcade with fake guns. Unbeknownst to Nate, however, Wheezer managed to procure two real guns, reasoning that it was better to be prepared in case they were met with resistance.
Before the night of the heist, Nate visited Father O'Malley's confession and accidentally hinted that he would be doing something illegal. Concerned for the safety of one of the members of his congregation he was closest to, O'Malley decided to trail Nate on the night of the heist and persuade him to reconsider if he truly was up to no good. Together, Nate and Wheezer held a stake-out at the arcade they planned to rob and, when they believed there would be a minimal amount of employees and customers, they made their move. Donning masks, they held the entire arcade at gunpoint and Wheezer forced its manager to fill a bag with all the money in the safe. As said employee did so, however, another pressed the silent alarm while Nate was distracted. Quickly noting the employees action, Nate panicked and told Wheezer that the police were on the way. Also panicking and frustrated at the manager's pace, Wheezer threatened to shoot him to death. As he carried out this threat, however, he accidentally discharged his weapon and shot the man in the shoulder. The gunshot alerted a nearby Father O'Malley, who recklessly charged into the arcade to stop them. As Nate yelled at Wheezer for getting them real guns and tried to convince him to leave without the money, Wheezer refused to do so and insulted his former friend, telling him that he'd "gone soft". Angrily, Nate drew his gun and tossed it down, refusing to go to prison for Wheezer. As it hit the floor, however, it fired and hit Father O'Malley in the chest the moment he walked in. As Nate ran to the dying man's side, Wheezer hastily snatched the money and fled. Stricken with guilt, Nate held the dying reverend in his arms and tearfully apologised. With his last few breaths, Father O'Malley echoed his words to Nate about doing right by others and himself. As police arrived on the scene, Dennis O'Malley died and Nate Carter's once promising life fell apart in mere moments.
Though he was tried as an adult due to being just a few months away from his 18th birthday, Nate was seen as an otherwise upstanding member of the community and was only guilty of Father O'Malley's death through a circumstantial accident. In light of these facts, his deep regret and a merciful judge, he was charged with misdemeanor manslaughter and sentenced to one year at a medium security prison. Though by all accounts he had gotten off lightly for his crime, Nate's future was more or less over. He became despondent and wracked with guilt, praying almost every day for forgiveness and spending almost all of his free time in the gym or reading the bible. Frequently harassed by some of his fellow inmates for his youth, his taciturn demeanour and his repentance, Nate found himself on the receiving end of several beatings and was only able to protect himself from anything more severe with his own skills as a boxer.
It was during Nate's stay in prison that Project Patriot made a reappearance in his life. After the incident involving Geoffrey Carter and his role in the deaths of Rochelle Carter, Frederick Muldoon and Alistair Monaghan, Lawrence Smythe had been removed from his post through the efforts of Kurt White, who subsequently became the director of Project Patriot. Now in control of its limited operations, Kurt secretly watched over Nate and observed the development of his hyperkinesis. Monitoring his development from troubled teen to morally-upstanding athlete to a wayward young man with nothing to lose, Kurt decided that there would be no risk of disrupting his life by contacting him after he was charged for manslaughter and his chances at becoming a professional athlete or going to college on a scholarship were ripped away from him. Pulling some strings, Kurt got Nate released from prison three months early and was waiting to escort him by car back to Hudson City.
During their journey, Kurt introduced himself to Nate as a special metahuman recruiter for the U.S Armed Forces and explained the fine details of his hyperkinesis. He also, however, left out the classified information on the truth behind Project Patriot's origins, his mother's death, his father's instability and how his powers came to be. Instead, he informed Nate that his abilities were metahuman in origin and that, with the right training, he could be a true force for good in the world and atone for the sins of his past as a soldier. Apprehensive at first, Nate turned Kurt down and returned to Hudson City. Unable to hold down work due to the trauma of what had happened, Nate instead devoted his attention to locating Wheezer and trying to find some way to cope with his feelings of guilt, Father O'Malley's last words haunting his waking thoughts. It was during a reluctant return to the church that Nate was approached by the new reverend. After confessing his sins and internal conflict, Nate was persuaded by the reverend, in actuality a Project Patriot plant, to "set things right." With nowhere else to turn to and with nothing keeping him in Hudson City, Nate said goodbye to his sordid past and contacted Kurt: he was ready to atone for his mistakes.
Joining up with the United States Marine Corps and being placed in a special training camp primarily used for metahuman recruits, Nate excelled in basic training and earned the ire of his fellow marines because of it. Though this placed him on the receiving end of ritual hazing, there was one who took a shine to him -- an exceedingly patriotic female recruit with the power of technopathy named Amanda Cho. Throughout boot camp, Nate and Amanda remained close, cooperating with one another and constantly looking out for each other's interests. Nate gave Amanda a level of respect she rarely saw as a female recruit, and Amanda's passion for American ideals and life in general renewed Nate's spirit. By the time they had completed basic training, the two had begun a romantic relationship in secret. Becoming a Scout Sniper and Spotter team, Nate and Amanda participated in the American involvement in the Gulf War, where the two made a name for themselves for their tight work and efficiency. When the Gulf War ended, Nate and Amanda were stationed at the Camp Justice facility on Diego Garcia where they would meet with Kurt White and take on more specialised and advanced training.
It was during this training that Kurt hoped to capitalise on All-Star's hyperkinesis and take the first steps towards gradually molding him into a super soldier and a viable example of Project Patriot's potential. Along with Amanda, Nate trained day and night in various advance military skills and techniques for the next three years. In that time, Nate and Amanda's relationship grew stronger and, eventually, they married each other, deciding to leave their lives as marines behind and settle down back in America together as soon as they could.
Their plans were disrupted with the entry of the U.S into the Bosnian War in 1994. Nate and Amanda, equipped with their new training, were assigned to a ground-based strike team to counter Yugoslav forces. Despite the short length of the conflict and the minimal allied forces casualties, Amanda and two other soldiers were killed when their Apache crashed due to a malfunction during a simple training operation. Devastated by the entirely avoidable and senseless loss of his wife, Nate became despondent and wracked with grief once again, returning to a military base on American soil and spending most of his time between his regular duties alone.
Seeing an opportunity to sway Nate towards becoming a super soldier and sympathising with his loss, Kurt came back into his life in 1996 and gave him the partial truth about Project Patriot. Introducing it as a special government operation designed to find exceptional metahuman candidates and mold them into soldiers, Kurt explained that the reason he had been contacted in prison all those years ago was because Project Patriot saw a potential in him to be their greatest asset -- that his hyperkinesis endowed him with the potential to be a living weapon with the right training. Kurt made Nate a simple offer: in exchange for his unwavering dedication to his country and to the protection of its best interests, Nate would undergo a rigorous and unique training regimen that would transform him into the perfect soldier. Though Nate had encountered his fair share of tragedy over the years, the words of Father O'Malley and Amanda's love for America rang fresh in his mind. Deciding to do them both proud, Nate took Kurt up on his offer and set in course the series of events that would give birth to the All-Star.
A Star is Born
At Kurt's behest, Nate underwent intensive training around the world. From being taught in the ways of combat by some of the greatest fighters in the world to learning strategy from the greatest tactical minds of our generation, Nate was gradually transformed into an unstoppable killing machine. In the space of five years Nate served in private militias, participated in underground fight clubs, engaged in several top secret training operations and even spent time in a POW camp all for the purpose of systematically deconstructing him and rebuilding him from the ground up. Nate's hyperkinesis was honed and refined to the point of mastery, allowing him to accomplish physical and mental feats beyond known human potential. With the promise of redemption and the memories of those lost driving him forward, Nate exceeded all limitations.
His training was cut short, however, on September 11th, 2001. Though Kurt's original plans were to put Nate through at least five years of training and subsequent field testing, the tragedy that befell the United States of America and the subsequent establishment of a new kind of enemy prompted the higher powers in the U.S Government to force Project Patriot to bear results early. In an age of terror and global uncertainty, a symbol of the American power of perseverance in the face of hardship was needed more than ever and an immediate test of Project Patriot's ability to provide one became essential. Though he was being taught in the ways of jujutsu in Japan at the time, Nate saw the attack on the World Trade Center on the global news and was ready to answer the call to service almost as soon as it came. Returning to American soil for the first time in three years, Nate was thrown into the chaos of a post-9/11 world with very little preparation -- a lone gunman being told to go up against an unknown threat. Nevertheless, he accepted his responsibility, was re-enlisted into the USMC, promoted to sergeant and placed in command of his own squad.
When he flew into Afghanistan, Nate was given a level of preferential treatment by his superiors against his will, which made things more difficult when it came to dealing with his fellow marines, most of whom believed he was nothing more than a spoiled pet of the U.S government. As if to make things more complicated, an unexpected face from Nate's past resurfaced in the most unlikely of ways. As Nate was introduced to his squad, one of its members stood out from the crowd; older and wearier with age and hardship, Wheezer, clad in full USMC uniform, came face to face with Nate for the first time in seven years. Though Nate and Wheezer recognised each other on sight, both men decided to keep their mouths shut until they were in private. Once they managed to get a moment alone, Nate immediately attacked Wheezer and demanded that he explain why he was there. With no other alternative, Wheezer explained that, following the botched robbery of the casino, he had fallen deeper and deeper into his life of crime until he hit rock bottom. Seeking redemption for his past mistakes just as Nate had, he eventually enlisted in the USMC and became a devoted young marine. Though he still harbored some resentment toward Wheezer, Nate saw that he was a changed man and decided to forgive him. Taking the first step to reconciling their relationship, Nate and Wheezer agreed to cooperate with one another and try to maintain a sense of propfessionalism.
As the commander of his squad, Nate made waves during the early years of the war in Afghanistan. Known for being an extremely effective asset and honing those under him to be just as exceptional, Nate's old high-school nickname, 'All-Star', eventually began to stick (thanks in no small part to the efforts of Wheezer). As successful operation after successful operation passed by, Nate's squad came to be known as the "Hall of Famers" and their unwavering dedication to god and country made them a force to be reckoned with. On his own part, Nate's leadership earned him various accolades and the rank of Staff Sergeant. After three years spent serving in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan, the heads at the U.S Department of Defense decided that Project Patriot had a resounding level of potential to create super soldiers and took steps towards capitalising on the one they already had. In 2004, it was decided that Nate would be honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps and placed in a specialised unit within the Navy SEALs, using his unique talents to counter terrorism in a more surgical way.
It was towards his final days serving as a marine that Nate stumbled upon a conspiracy by corrupt higher ups within his company's ranks to sell military surplus, weapons and technology to terrorist cells within Pakistan. Though he originally planned to simply alert Kurt, the shocking discovery that Wheezer had allied himself with the corrupt officials as a gofer between themselves and the terrorists prompted him to take matters into his own hands in the hopes that he could save his friend. Trailing him to one of his clandestine meetings with a potential buyer, Nate spied on Wheezer as he made the deal -- a very large sum of gold in exchange for a cannister of highly experimental neuro-toxin confiscated from VIPER. Knowing what would happen if such a dangerous resource got into the wrong hands, Nate single-handedly launched an attack on the meeting and forced the terrorists to retreat without their product. In the rush of combat, Wheezer took the neuro-toxin and attempted to flee as Nate gave chase. Eventually, this led them to an abandoned power station where Nate attempted to talk Wheezer into giving himself up and letting him help his case. Angered at Nate's sanctimonious sentiments, Wheezer attempted to kill him in a close quarters brawl. Though he had the element of surprise, Nate managed to overpower him and kicked him face first into the neuro-toxin cannister. As Wheezer choked on the neuro-toxin filling his lungs, he stumbled off of the raised platform they had fought on and into a still active power generator. As Nate watched in horror, Wheezer was violently electrocuted, filling the air with his choked screams. The subsequent explosion incinerated his body and set the power station on fire, forcing Nate to retreat. Though the evidence he obtained from that night toppled the entire arms dealing conspiracy, Nate had lost one of his few friends in an avoidable accident and would be haunted by that memory even after leaving the Marine Corps.
Nate served as an operator in the Navy SEALs for just over three years, participating in a number of successful missions and earning the rank of commander before being honorably discharged in 2007. Though Nate had been an exceptional operator, he had always felt more at home with the Marines Corps and still held on to some regrets about what had happened to Wheezer. Returning to American soil and receiving several medals and honours for his years of service as a Marine and a SEAL, Nate took his time off to return to Hudson City for a while, hoping to regain some semblance of stability in his life. He quickly found that, without some sort of war to fight, he felt lost and depressive. Fortunately for him, the Department of Defense had been concocting their own plans on what to do next with their wayward super soldier. Though Nate had served his time, the war on terror still raged on. The face of terrorism and the way it was fought continued to evolve and, while forces like the Al Queda and ISIS were a dangerous threat to American interests, super terrorist coalitions like VIPER, ARGENT and GAIA brought the fight to American soil. Metahuman crime presented a bigger threat to the country than ever before and, though registered, most superheroes acted as independent agents with interests that didn't always coincide with the U.S Government's. It was Kurt White, an avid follower of superhero activity, who proposed an unusual -- but not untested -- idea; what if the U.S government had its own superhero -- an agent who would act as a one man strike team, simultaneously tackling international dangers to U.S interests and acting as an inside man within the superhero community? This agent would effectively have all the obedience, reliability and pragmatism of a trained operative while enjoying the positive publicity, connections and relatively unchecked jurisdiction of a caped crusader. Fully endorsing the notion of such a unique and flexible asset, the Department of Defense gave Project Patriot an unlimited budget to transform their super soldier into a superhero.
Though he was initially reluctant to engage in what he saw as a waste of time, Nate was eventually persuaded by Kurt that he would do more good as a symbol than he ever did as a mere soldier. Outfitted with the best gear, guns and training money could buy and a star-spangled red, white and blue outfit, Nate Carter burst onto the costumed scene as the Soldier Supreme, the Star-Spangled Marksman -- the unstoppable All-Star. Working closely with the CIA, the Department of Defense, PRIMUS, UNTIL and even the Protectors of the World, All-Star soon made a name for himself and proved to be an outstanding success. Gradually, the heroic facade fell away to reveal a genuine hero lying beneath the surface and, as the years went by, All-Star became every bit as respected and devoted to seeking justice as the traditional heroes he fought alongside. While he still answered to his country and acted as a special metahuman operative, he frequently risked life and limb fighting enemy forces his training never prepared him for. Having finally found his place in the world, All-Star's exploits became the stuff of legends to military personnel and civilians alike and, though he was met with many ghosts from his past, he never faltered in the face of adversity.
From the ashes of the troubled Nate Carter, the high-flying All-Star had been born.
Made In America
During his eight year career as All-Star, Nate continued to use the U.S government's resources to locate his missing father. With murderous intent still fresh in his mind, his search finally bore fruit when he learned of a man matching the description of Geoffrey Carter (abeit slightly older) living out in a favela in Rio De Janerio, Brazil. Making sure to cover his tracks and temporarily dropping out of the Protectors of the World's active roster, Nate journeyed to Brazil to verify the identity of his potential father and kill him in cold blood.
When Nate arrived in Rio De Janerio, he stalked the lookalike and, after determining that he was, in fact, his father, waited at his modest home to kill him. When Geoffrey showed up, Nate instantly held him at gunpoint and demanded he explain why he killed his mother and left him without a family. Weary from a life spent on the run and wracked with guilt over what transpired all those years ago, Geoffrey merely apologised to Nate and accepted his death. Angry at his acquiescence, Nate beat his father and demanded an explanation. Before he could be angered further, however, he noticed a photo of his father in a United States Marine Corps uniform posing with his fellow marines on an end table. Surprised by the revelation that his father was once a marine, Nate further noticed several bottles of anti-psychotic medication on the same table. His hesitation prompted Geoffrey to explain himself.
Geoffrey relayed his investigation into the truth behind Project Patriot to Nate and the attempt to cover it up with the deaths of Frederick Muldoon and Dr. Monaghan. When Geoffrey discovered Rochelle's corpse, he fled in a panic and subsequently went on the run, his state of mind afflicted by the gene therapy and his paranoia rightly mounting. Over the coming years, Geoffrey had gone into hiding and had devoted much of his life to trying to fully understand what Project Patriot had done to him and, while he had kept an eye on Nate for the first few years, he soon accepted the fact that his son's life would be far better without him. As his investigation continued, Geoffrey discovered that most of the technology and research used in Project Patriot was being held in a top secret military storage facility where it would be hidden from the public eye and where no evidence of its existence could be brought to light -- a sort of 'dead zone'. Shaken by the notion that he was a manufactured experiment and the implication that his entire life had been manipoulated by Project Patriot, Nate refused to believe Geoffrey and instead argued that he was merely trying to save his own skin.
At that moment, a smoke grenade flew through the window of Geoffrey's house. Acting quickly, Nate grabbed his father and escaped out the back door. As they fled through the favela, they quickly became aware that a highly-trained and heavily armed team of operators were pursuing them with the intent to kill. Reluctantly arming Geoffrey with a gun, Nate engaged in a shootout with the men in the middle of the favela. When the combat ended, Nate seized and interrogated one of the men, demanding that he reveal who he was working for. Though it took some force, the man eventually broke and revealed that none of them had ever formally met their employer, who had dealt with them primarily through back channels and encrypted lines as to remove all accountability. Realising that Geoffrey may have been telling the truth, Nate begrudgingly decided to cooperate with the man he had spent almost his entire adult life hating to uncover the truth.
Nate and Geoffrey returned to North America to confront Kurt White directly. Cornering Kurt at his private residence, Nate demanded that he tell him the whole truth about Project Patriot and his own recruitment. Finally understanding that the jig was up, Kurt explained that the previous director of Project Patriot, Lawrence Smythe, was the one who ordered the increased strength gene therapy to be tested on Geoffrey and was directly responsible for the deaths of Muldoon, Dr. Monaghan and Rochelle. Though he was subsequently removed from his post thanks to Kurt's efforts, he was reassigned to a position within the Department of Defense and was able to climb the ranks to once again hold a position of power. Kurt theorised that Smythe had been keeping a close eye on Nate for fear that he would one day stumble upon the truth and had personally contracted mercenaries to stop him. Though he personally regretted using the foundations of Smythe's corruption to push Nate into becoming a super soldier, Kurt insisted that it was for his own good and that it potentially saved him from government ordered assassination. Spurred on by this truth, Nate resolved to blow the lid off of Project Patriot's secrets, despite Kurt's warnings that it would have dramatic consequences on everyone involved -- himself included. When he saw that Nate would not be swayed from his task, Kurt revealed to him the location of the Dead Zone: a hidden U.S military compound on a man-made island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Bidding Kurt farewell and warning him to keep his head down, Nate left with Geoffrey to find the Dead Zone.
Calling in a favour with the private security company Broadsword, Nate and Geoffrey took a borrowed biplane out to the Pacific Ocean. Landing a few clicks away from the Dead Zone, Nate and Geoffrey swam to its shore and prepared to infiltrate the facility. Little did they know, however, that Smythe had been keeping close tabs on them the entire time. Knowing his special connection to Kurt White, Smythe confronted him and, when he wouldn't give up Nate's plans, captured and tortured him for information. Once he discovered that Nate had planned to go to the Dead Zone and uncover Project Patriot's secrets, Smythe arranged to ambush him there with his mercenaries. Arriving there first, Smythe seized control of the facility under the guise of official government business and set about locating the Project Patriot lock-up and destroying all evidence of its existence. Nate and Geoffrey arrived just in time to find Smythe and his men setting about their duty. Stealthily working together, Nate and Geoffrey dispatched of several of Smythe's men before they were discovered. As the commencing shootout plunged the Dead Zone into chaos, a wounded Smythe fled towards a lock-up full of prototype suits of power armour and donned one.
As Smythe resurfaced wearing a strength enhancing suit of power armour, he caught Geoffrey off-guard and struck him in the chest, mortally wounding him. Angered, Nate fought the more powerful Smythe to a standstill and, eventually, managed to fire a shotgun blast into his chest, apparently killing him. Rushing to his father's side, Nate struggled to stabilise his condition to no avail. As he lay dying, Geoffrey apologised to Nate for all the wrongs he never had a chance to rectify. Distraught, Nate forgave his father and comforted him in his final moments. When he finally passed away, Nate said a prayer for him and left to find the Project Patriot lock-up. By the time he had arrived, however, Smythe's remaining men had already torched most of the physical evidence and were preparing to execute a bound and beaten Kurt. Killing the men, Nate freed Kurt and asked him for any alternative means of exposing Project Patriot. Kurt reasoned that it'd be highly likely any information would be stored on the Dead Zone's computer mainframe. Before they set off towards their goal, Kurt apologised to Nate for the manipulation he had played a part in over his years and expressed condolences over Geoffrey's death. Thanking Kurt for always being at his side, Nate forgave him for his role in Project Patriot and the two friends resolved to finish their mission together.
Fighting his way past security measures and armed guards with Kurt, Nate arrived at the Dead Zone's mainframe, accessing its database and proceeding to upload all of its files on all of its hidden projects to the internet. Halfway through the upload, however, the Dead Zone's self-destruct sequence was remotely activated. Revealing that he was very much alive, Smythe arrived in the mainframe room and swore to kill both Nate and Kurt and leave their bodies to be incinerated along with the rest of the Dead Zone's secrets. Forcing Kurt to leave, Nate fought Smythe to protect the upload of the Dead Zone's files and shut down the facility's self-destruct sequence. Taking Geoffrey's body with him, Kurt boarded one of the Apaches that had been used by Smythe and his men and waited, hopefully, for Nate to resurface from the facility.
Back in the Dead Zone, Smythe got the upper-hand over Nate and managed to drive his own knife into his side. Before he could stop the upload, however, he realised that Nate had subtly placed an explosive on his back. Barely even having a chance to shout out, Smythe was blown apart in a fiery explosion. With the upload completed and the self-destruct sequence too far gone to be aborted, the wounded Nate had just two minutes to escape with his life. As Kurt watched from the Apache, the Dead Zone was rocked by the first in a series of devastating explosions. With no other choice but to abandon Nate, Kurt flew away from the island and watched from the skies as it was incinerated by explosions.
Amidst the scandal and controversy that dominated news cycles for the next few weeks, Kurt had his men investigate the sunken remains of the Dead Zone for any sign of Nate. Though several charred bodies were found and Smythe's own power armour covered corpse was eventually retrieved, no sign of Nate's body was found and, after a while, it was decided that he couldn't have made it out of the Dead Zone alive. Geoffrey Carter's name was cleared of the murder of his wife and his body was buried in Nate's place beside Rochelle's, the official story being that Nate had died on a classified mission that went wrong. Lawrence Smythe was labelled a rogue terrorist with no connection to the U.S government and blamed for all that had transpired. Over the coming weeks, many branches of the U.S government was forced to face responsibility for their secret and controversial activities and several projects and organisations were terminated or scrapped, Project Patriot included. Resigning amidst the media blitz, Kurt returned to his home to drink to Nate's memory. As he poured a glass, however, he received a text on his private phone from an unknown number. When Kurt checked the message, he found it contained only two words: signing off. With a knowing smile, Kurt responded with an equally brief message: permission granted. His spirits restored, Kurt finished his drink and began reapplying for government jobs.
Though seemingly dead, the memory of Nate Carter would live on and his legacy would soon inspire others to pursue their own truths -- for better or worse...
Homecoming
Powers
Hyperkinesis
As a result of his father being subjected to radical and highly experimental gene therapy in order to make his offspring a soldier "perfect in body and mind", All-Star has the unique power of hyperkinesis. His brain processes information, movement and external input at a significantly faster rate than a normal human's, subconsciously taking in all spatial information around him and performing complex subconscious calculations and mental operations based on it. This higher cognitive functionality is aided by a vastly enhanced level of communication between the hyperkinetic mind and the rest of the body due to significantly augmented somatic and sensory networks. This allows him to make split-second calculations and assessments which would take even the most advanced human brain several minutes to do and react to these calculations instinctively. Though this doesn't inherently make All-Star a genius, it does give him perfect accuracy and hand-eye coordination, as he is able to mathematically work out factors such as distance, air resistance, trajectory and more in milliseconds. This aptitude for quickly processing information also gives him enhanced agility, dexterity and reflexes. In addition, All-Star's memory has been enhanced and accelerated to superhuman levels allowing him to learn and memorise skills, actions and information much faster than an average human and to retain and recall that information with near photographic precision. This enhanced memory makes him far more resilient to memory loss and erasure but also causes him to 'dump' unimportant bits of information such as the names of minor acquaintances. All-Star's hyperkinesis also makes him highly resistant to telepaths, his mind too fast for many to even get a lock on.
Perhaps one of the most unusual applications of All-Star's hyperkinesis is the ability to throw almost anything with inexplicable force, accuracy and power, allowing him to weaponise a variety of mundane items. The exact explanation as to how is, heretofore, unknown, but All-Star is able to throw or launch anything from rocks and pebbles, pens, playing cards, toothpicks, tools, broken glass, boomerangs, teeth, paper-clips, rubber-bands, needles, nails and more with implausible accuracy and strength, allowing them to travel distances they normally shouldn't be able to travel while penetrating or damaging things they shouldn't be able to.
The upper limits of hyperkinesis and its growth as a power are still being explored. It is theorised that, in a more intellectual subject, hyperkinesis might have developed in a different way, unlocking psionic and precognitive abilities instead of the physical and sensory ones seen in All-Star. Whether or not these powers will eventually be unlocked by All-Star remains to be seen, though some believe his power of projectile enhancement may be an early manifestation of psionic prowess.
- Perfect Accuracy
- Accelerated Cognition
- Enhanced Agility
- Enhanced Dexterity
- Enhanced Reflexes
- Enhanced Memory
- Psionic Resistance
- Projectile Enhancement
Abilities
Peak Human Condition: All-Star, through intensive training, has reached the pinnacle of human conditioning and athleticism. He has all the physical prowess of an olympic-level athlete at the top of his/her game and could be considered a near perfect physical human specimen in some regards. Capable of pulling off complex acrobatic feats, enduring even the most strenuous activity and showcasing feats of human strength that would give a powerlifter pause, All-Star is a physical powerhouse by anyone's margin. Though these days his age threatens to catch up with him, All-Star's body remains a finely-tuned machine which keeps him one step ahead of the opposition.
Master Marksman: All-Star is an extensively well-trained marksman with years of experience. Though his training alone has more or less made him into a top-grade marksman, his hyperkinesis also lends itself to his talents to increase his proficiency as tenfold. He is arguably one of the greatest marksmen alive and has performed feats of marksmanship which often appear to be far outside the realm of possibility, such as ricocheting fired bullets off of multiple surfaces to hit his target, making airborne shots with uncanny accuracy and hitting weak points most people wouldn't even be able to locate from a mile away. With his mastery over his hyperkinesis growing and his limits being pushed on a regular basis, All-Star is only becoming a more proficient marksman as time goes by.
Master Strategist and Tactician: Years of military training, operations, high-school football and field leadership of the Protectors of the World have given All-Star an aptitude for strategy and the application of tactics both on and off the battlefield. As a result of his hyperkinesis, All-Star's mind is often able to intuitively grasp the most minute details about situations and use them to rapidly formulate plans of action and reaction, making him a fast-thinking and highly improvisational leader who thrives off of changing circumstances. As such, he typically takes charge of situations and puts his enhanced tactical prowess to use whenever he feels he needs to, as befitting of a self-proclaimed 'tactical genius'. Whether it's facing down a single supervillain or an army of foes, All-Star strives to always have a plan, a contingency and the flexibility to pull more from his ass when needed.
Expert Hand-to-Hand Combatant: Despite his preference for more long-ranged combat, All-Star is a very lethal hand-to-hand combatant and is an expert in Boxing, Muay Thai, Sambo, Silat, Savate, Pankration, Jujutsu and Krav Maga. On top of this, he has a 3rd degree black belt in the MCMAP, which provides a more brutal and practical alternative to martial arts. He has also undergone some training under his ex-girlfriend, Sparrowhawk, in the ways of Aikido and Eskrima. Additionally, All-Star has spent a few years as both a prisoner routinely forced to fight in a pit in the Tadmor Prison and as a member of a Brazillian fight club, picking up some Bacom and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the process. In combat, All-Star usually sticks to a brutally surgical blend of Muay Thai, Sambo, Silat, Savate, Krav Maga and MCMAP with a few choice techniques from his other fighting styles thrown in every so often to keep his opponents guessing.
Expert Athlete: Having been an athlete for a large part of his adolescence and continued in his athletic training during his adulthood, All-Star's athletic prowess rivals that of most Olympic-level athletes and even manages to dwarf them in some areas. As a talented acrobat, gymnast, swimmer, runner, quarterback and traceur, it isn't surprising that his athletic experience has valid combat applications
Military Expertise: All-Star has picked up a plethora of useful skills from his time spent training in Project Patriot and his subsequent years as a part of several military outfits. As a former U.S Marine, Navy SEAL, CIA Field Agent, PRIMUS Operative and Agent of UNTIL, All-Star has been extensively trained in advanced weapons, scuba, close quarters combat, rapid assault, counter surveillance, covert communication, HALO/HAHO, urban sniping, threat elimination, covert influence, interrogation, interrogation resistance, reconnaisance, survival, field medicine, espionage, military strategy and more, he possesses all the knowledge and skills of a living weapon. He has subsequently spent a great deal of his career putting them into practice and honing them to the point of mastery, arguably making him one of the most lethal men alive.
Multilingualism: Over the years, All-Star has become fluent in nine languages with the help of his hyperkinesis. Having learnt Spanish during his teenage years and Arabic during his tenure with the USMC, he has since developed a command over Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, French, Italian and German during his time as a spy and a superhero.
Equipment
The S.T.A.R.S Suit
Designed by SteelTech's advanced warfare division, the SteelTech Advanced Recon Stealth Suit (or S.T.A.R.S Suit) represents the bleeding edge in military grade technology for the U.S. soldiers of tomorrow. Designed to enhance and support the natural abilities of ground infantry, the S.T.A.R.S. Suit was intended to give recon operatives the ultimate upper hand in the field. As a prototype, All-Star's suit is the only one in existence and has been custom tailored to suit him.
A mesh undersuit of highly resistant protective duracloth topped with an outer layer of military-grade synthetic lightweight para-aramid fibres and a ballistic vest woven with flexible carbon nanotube plating provides its wearer with protection against all forms of dangerous elements while remaining flexible and comfortable enough to allow for long periods of intense activity. Additionally, the suit is lined with a layer of protokinetic gel which reactively alters its temperature and changes its density to conform to the wearer's shape. The protokinetic gel can also harden in response to impact and pressurize to potentially save the wearer's life should they fall incredible distances or be placed under high gravitational forces.
Cohesive nanotechnology planted within the innermost layer of the suit allows it to meld to the wearer's body, acting as a 'Second Skin' which simulates muscle fibre and subsequently enhances the wearer's strength, speed and agility to just slightly above human levels. This 'Second Skin' also syncs with All-Star's S.T.R.I.P.E.S and uses the same nanotechnology to monitor and maintain his physical condition, stemming lactic acid build-up; carrying out defibrillation and keeping him operating at peak capacity. In addition, it treats and eventually immunizes the wearer against harmful toxins, poisons, diseases and other similar internal hazards as well as dampening their heat signature, offering some protection against thermal imaging. Perhaps one of the most useful functions of the 'Second Skin', however, is its 'Rigidity Response' system which reacts to the breakage of bones and heavy bleeding by intensifying pressure on the affected areas, allowing its wearer to continue operating through such injuries for much longer without worsening or succumbing to them.
The S.T.A.R.S. suit's functionality doesn't stop at the suit itself, though. The bracers, made up of a low-density questionite alloy, offer added protection during close quarters combat and have ridges which allow the wearer to block, break or disarm melee weapons The boots, meanwhile, use strategically placed dura-gel padding to protect against sprains, breaks and penetration. They also use a system of clasps over laces to minimise the risk of tripping, are steel-toed for durability and combat applications and possess an under layer of adaptable polyfibre which increases comfort and protects the wearer's feet from water, infection and inflammation. Additionally, patented 'Nightrunner' stealth technology has been built into the rubber soles, greatly suppressing the volume of the wearer's footsteps. They also house small underwater propellers which dramatically increase the wearer's swim speed. The gloves are padded with questionite and kevlar for added protection and combat effectiveness. The pouches are also magnetised for added security.
The entire suit is woven in with interlocking nano-scales designed to reduce drag and air resistance and repel water like a swimsuit, allowing for increased adaptability for aerial, high speed and water based missions. These scales also make it highly resistant to heat, electricity and cold.
- Enhanced Durability and Protection
- Enhanced Stamina and Endurance
- Survivability and Adaptability Features
- Protokinetic Gel Padding
- 'Second Skin' System
- Enhanced Strength, Agility and Speed
- 'Rigidity Response' System
- 'Nightrunner' Stealth Technology
- Resistance to Heat, Electricity and Cold
S.T.R.I.P.E.S
Developed by SteelTech, these S.T.R.I.P.E.S or SteelTech Real-Time Information Perception and Evaluation Specs are designed to perceive and analyse their wearer's surroundings and possess a myriad of features which give All-Star the one up he needs when out on the job. Effectively a mini-computer with all the processing power to match, the specs come with an advanced tactical HUD which monitors All-Star's ammo, physical condition, mission objectives and direction among other things. In addition, they allow him to lock on to hostiles via a sophisticated targeting array, giving him a better tactical grip of combat situations. They also possess a heartbeat monitor which can be used in conjunction with a body temperature monitor to calculate the emotional and physical state of those around All-Star, enabling him to detect the bodily changes associated with lying, infection and, more frequently, death. The specs possess high powered telescopic lenses with thermal, night, sonar, electromagnetic field and ultraviolet imaging and a 'Smart-Fit' function which molds them to the contours of All-Star's face without the use of arms or straps, preventing them from falling off in all but the most frantic of situations. Additional features include: facial and armament identification, size and weight estimation, GPS tracking, a geiger counter, holographic projection and a video/photographic camera. Perhaps his most iconic piece of gear, All-Star is rarely seen in the field without his eyewear.
More recently, the S.T.R.I.P.E.S have been modified by Dodger to allow for wireless access to nearby technology and share a two-way connection to her own computer mainframe, allowing her to see through them and communicate with All-Star. She can then utilise her own technical skills as a hacker and intelligence expert to aid him during his missions, remotely accessing technology through the S.T.R.I.P.E.S and relaying information to and from her base of operations.
Specialised Ammunition
All-Star knows better than anyone that it pays to be prepared, especially when fighting alongside and going up against people who could crush you without a second thought. As such, going into battle with specialised ammunition on-hand allows him to better adapt to circumstances in which he'd typically be at a hefty disadvantage.
Hammerhead Ammunition uses advanced hyper-thermal technology to melt through metal, kevlar and anything else someone might wear for protection with superheated shots. Hellfire Ammunition uses contained hellfire shells cooked up by military sorcerers to bypass magical defenses with mystical fire which is very difficult to extinguish by normal means, making it extremely effective against magic-based and intangible foes. Blessed Silver Ammunition uses a tried and true method to keep supernatural monsters, demons and the undead at bay. Gel Ammunition expands into a solidifying gel on impact, making it significantly less-lethal than standard ammunition. Tranq Ammunition consists of bullet-like darts tipped with powerful sedatives for additional non-lethal capabilities. Brickbuster Ammunition uses nanoexplosives to detonate into a concussive blast on impact, generating enough force to make your average brick think twice before throwing their strength around. Tracer Ammunition is a special ammo type which uses bullets laced with a resonating electromagnetic charge to allow the shooter to tag and track targets over moderate distances.
It is uncommon for All-Star to keep more than a few magazines of specialised ammunition in his personal armory at any given time due to most of it being appropriately expensive. Fortunately, FMJ and rubber rounds are always in abundance.
Dual Steeltech A001 Last Patriots
Specially designed for use in Project Patriot, the Steeltech A001 Last Patriots is a revolutionary new handgun which is designed to be "smarter than the average firearm". Incorporating semi-automatic fire, manual and automatic focusing and targeting, the Last Patriot boasts a low recoil, a large magazine capacity, a comfortable ergonomic grip, impressively long-range firing capabilities and enough stopping power to pose a threat to even some mid-level bricks. Smart firing technology allows the user to seamlessly transition between semi-auto and three round burst firing types and an in-built laser sight can be toggled on to give an added bit of security in combat situations. In short, it's the perfect handgun for someone in All-Star's unpredictable line of work.
A Last Patriot can only be operated by its designated owner, whose genetic signature is programmed into the gun's memory. Any attempt to use a Last Patriot by an unauthorised party results in the gun releasing an electrical discharge into the wielder and locking down.
The All-Star Arsenal
All-Star's arsenal of weapons, gadgets and technology is rather impressive to say the least. This arsenal is usually stored at whatever he uses for an armory at the time and includes:
- Mk 12 Special Purpose Rifle
A designated marksman rifle outfitted with a high-tech scope, custom selective fire, a suppressor, a collapsible bipod and a side-mounted motion tracker.
- AR-15
A more lightweight and less hi-tech alternative to All-Star's kitted out MK 12 SPR, the AR-15 is used as a semi-automatic rifle by All-Star when he wants to be a little less overt.
- M110 SASS
A sniper rifle. Boasts an effective range of approximately 800 metres and a lightweight, ergonomic design. It can be disassembled in less than three minutes and serviced without tools. All-Star's M110 SASS has been outfitted with a hybrid scope with thermal imaging and standard settings, a detachable suppressor and an additional frame designed to lower recoil.
- Barrett M82
An anti-materiel rifle, All-Star's Barrett M82 has been modified to penetrate some of the most durable metals known to man and several layers of obstacles. Like the M110 SASS, it also possesses thermal imaging settings.
- Dual SIG-MPX-Ks
An alternativve to Last Patriots, the lightweight SIG-MPX-K submachine gun is capable of punching through body armour when using standard rounds and is, according to All-Star, the height of modern gunslinging fashion.
- Smith & Wesson Model 500
With its abundance of stopping power and its reputation as the most powerful handgun in the world, this revolver fires rounds powerful enough to put down elephants and buffalo. It carries five bullets in its cylinder at any given time and All-Star is capable of firing it with very little recoil, a testament to his often underestimated strength.
- Dual Smith & Wesson M&P Shields
Compact and effective, the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield provides a lightweight alternative to All-Star's usual handguns and acts as a handy concealed carry firearm.
- Mossberg 590
A combat shotgun. The Mossberg 590 is usually slung at All-Star's waist for quick and easy access, provided he's actually carrying it at all and is perfect for close quarters missions.
- M4A1 Carbine
Lightweight and good at spitting a bunch of bullets in the direction of anyone who looks at you funny, the M4A1 Carbine is a popular rifle. For All-Star, it provides the perfect deterrent against overzealous mooks and has a detachable grenade launcher.
- HK UMP-9
A submachine gun. The HK UMP-9 comes with a custom suppressor for added stealth when operating.
- M249 LMG
Relatively lightweight, durable and effective, the M249 is everything one could want from a light machine gun: a nigh-unstoppable killing machine.
- MGL-140
The MGL-140 is a US military made variant of the M32 MGL and acts as a lightweight six-shot grenade launcher. All-Star's personally modified MGL-140 is capable of firing Explosive, Semtex, Tear Gas, Knockout Gas and Beanbag rounds.
- FIM-92 Stinger
A light to carry, easy to operate surface-to-air missile, All-Star usually uses his FIM-92 Stinger to blow planes, choppers and the odd power armoured combatant out of the skies.
- M3 MAAWS
The M3 MAAWS as a recoilless rifle designed to give infantry a lighter, cheaper alternative to traditional rocket launchers. All-Star doesn't use his very often, but it's useful to have it around anyway.
- PSE TAC 15 Crossbow
For times where All-Star requires absolute silence at the cost of reload speed and fire rate, his PSE TAC 15 Crossbow is always waiting in the wings. The crossbow comes with Standard, Armour-Piercing, Explosive, Timed Explosive, Net and Shock arrows.
- SteelTech L95 Particle Rifle
The latest in a line of weapons specifically designed to combat high-powered metahuman threats, the SteelTech L95 Particle Rifle is a lightweight energy rifle capable of firing bolts or concentrated beams of hyper concussive particle energy. Fueled by an energy efficient fusion battery, it requires no reloading, instead releasing excess heat periodically between use and within seconds in the event of overheating.
- 'Moxie'
All-Star's combat knife, which he affectionately nicknamed. Crafted from a lightweight, but extremely durable, metal alloy and edged with a super thin layer of nano-plasma to help cut through more durable enemies, Moxie is one hard-hitting dame.
- Strider SMF
A military issued tactical folding knife, the Strider SMF's compact size and folding mechanism makes it the ideal tactical knife for survival situations.
- Dual Gerber Mark II Dagger Knives
For times when the enemy is giving you a run for your money and a large combat knife would be impractical, All-Star always carries two Gerber Mark II Dagger Knives. Lightweight and with a shorter blade length than Moxie, the dagger knives provide an agile alternative for fast-paced close quarters combat.
- Tech Grenades
Utilising modern weapons technology to provide an effective yield despite their compact size, tech grenades are small metallic balls which can be primed and expanded at the press of a button. Using a SteelTech developed gascalled 'Adaptagen' which reacts differently to exposure to different catalysts, tech grenade effects can be altered on the fly, allowing for maximum adaptability. Tech grenades can be primed to be Explosive, Fragmentation, Incendiary, Cryo-Foam, Stun, Smoke, Tear Gas or Knockout Gas.
- Proximity Discs
These handheld discs feature state of the art motion detecting technology which enable them to detect any movement within a preset area and detonate when something passes through its sensory range. Along with the range of its motion detection, the size of a proximity disc's area of effect and the parameters for detonation can also be set to suit the situation. They come in Explosive, Shock, Concussive and Stun.
- Rebreather
A small rebreather no bigger than a harmonica. It allows All-Star to breathe under water and in low oxygen conditions. The rebreather can also double as a respirator, giving him resistance to gas-based attacks.
- Hybrid CO2 Laser
A pen-like device capable of projecting a concentrated laser beam at the push of a button, allowing the user to cut through various sturdy objects while out in the field. Can also be focused for welding purposes.
- Stun Rod
Simple in design and function, All-Star carries a hand-sized stun rod taser on his person at all times. His particular taser has been modified to allow for much higher voltages when dealing with durable metahumans.
- SteelTech Grapnel Gun
Compact, collapsible and lightweight, the SteelTech Grapnel Gun functions by using a 'magazine' of of compressed CO2 to launch a hyper-tensile nylon cable with a weighted prong at bullet speed. The line can then be reeled in via a powerful motorised spool system to either pull the wielder upwards or to pull the targeted object towards them. It can also fire a secondary cable from its lower barrel. This can then be anchored on the shooter's end to create a zip-line using the gun itself as a pulley. All-Star's grapnel gun can also be attached to his belt for added security when in motion.
- Medkit
All-Star usually keeps a small medkit loaded with bandages, tourniquets, medical tools, healing salves, water, suturing thread, painkillers, antiseptics, burn ointment, water purification tablets, combat gauze, flares, glow sticks and other vital medical supplies on his person while out in the field.
'Liberty Belle'
'Confiscated' from a group of international terrorists during a coordinated attack on the Barlowe Building, 'Liberty Belle' -- or 'Belle', for short -- is a state-of-the-art combat ready Grav-Bike outfitted with its original offensive and defensive armaments as well as a number of custom features put in place by Nate in his spare time. Though 'Belle' was badly damaged when Nate first got his hands on it, he has since spent a hefty amount of time repairing and modifying it (with the help of his more technologically proficient friends) and treats it almost as if it were his own child, regularly maintaining it and lovingly personalising it. With its exceptional speed, extensive firepower and an abundance of sentimental value, 'Liberty Belle' is one of All-Star's most prized possessions. These days it sits in storage and it hasn't been used for some time.
- Aluminium Composite Hull Plating
- Compact Hyper-Fusion Jet Engine
- Onboard Flight/Targeting Computer /w Built-In Communication System and Voice Command
- Under-Mounted Particle Blaster
- Dual Retractable Miniguns /w Specialised Anti-Materiel Ammunition
- Dual Retractable Anti-Air Turrets /w Specialised 'Stormbreaker' Anti-Air Ammunition
- Six Compressed Medium-Range Tactical Missiles
- Four High-Powered Long-Range Tactical Missiles
- Thirty-Two SMART Micro-Missiles
- Two 'Bunker Buster' Air-To-Surface Missiles
- Two 'Afternoon Delight' Incendiary Missiles
- Titanium Cable Grappling Line Launcher
- In-Built Stealth Technology /w Low-Power 'Silent' Feature
- In-Built Multiband Scanner
- Advanced Electromagnetic Safety System keeps rider mounted in the event of turbulence or elaborate combat maneuvers
- In-Flight Stabilisation System negates the negative effects of G-Force and allows rider to maintain control of the bike
- Capable of reaching just below supersonic speeds when pushed
- Synced to All-Star's STRIPES, allowing him to control it from afar
Personality
All-Star is often described as being 'rough around the edges' and very much looks the part. Tall, muscular and rugged, he is attractive in a conventional macho sense of the word and outwardly comes across as your typical meathead. In fact, it is not uncommon to see All-Star in bandages covering fresh wounds, a very obvious new bruise or, in some cases, missing teeth. However -- with short-cropped hair, a full beard, sharp, vigilant eyes and a host of old battle scars -- All-Star possesses the presence of an grizzled veteran, weathered and experienced from a lifetime of fighting. As such, he carries himself rather paradoxically with both the bearings of a soldier and a rogue and can look resolute and stern just as readily as he can look sly and unkempt. He typically compensates for his brutish outward appearance with a warm demeanor and natural charisma.
A product of his difficult upbringing and unconventional lifestyle, All-Star is a complicated man with loner tendencies. This is not, however, because he has a particular distaste for social interaction but, rather, because he enjoys being alone with his thoughts. Though he comes across to many as a bit of a jock due to his macho mannerisms, he compensates for a lack of formal education with a natural practical intelligence and a cunning, unorthodox tactical mind belied by both his macho looks and his seemingly flippant and foolhardy nature. Often walking into situations in which he is outmatched, outgunned or underestimated, All-Star tends to deal with matters in his own unique way and enforces his methods with an action-oriented mindset and a take charge attitude. Unfortunately, this also means that he often makes no attempt to hide his stubborn side if he encounters conflicting ideology on or off the battlefield. Death is a large part of All-Star's life and, as such, he has developed something resembling indifference towards it. Though he is more often than not responsible for the death he so regularly encounters, All-Star almost never kills in the company of heroes and always seeks alternatives if possible, even when operating alone. That isn't to say he shows any real remorse when it comes to killing, however, as he typically views his victims and targets as people who deserved or needed to die. In fact, ending a life has become as mechanical an action in All-Star's eyes as brushing his teeth -- a fact which frightens him just as much as it further detaches him from the gravity of the act. The fact that he considers killing and harming others one of the few things he's genuinely good at only makes matters more complicated and gives way to further internal conflict.
Perhaps as a sort of coping mechanism to deal with the tragic circumstances which often surround him, All-Star has a cynical and wry sense of humour which he readily demonstrates through irreverent quips and aloof banter. This often gives those working with him the impression that he is detached from or ambivalent towards the events that conspire around him which, naturally, causes friction between himself and those who take a more severe approach to heroics. However, his constant quips and unflappability also serve purpose of inducing the calm needed to keep his powers operating at peak capacity, making them all but essential. Despite outward appearances, All-Star takes what he does very seriously -- to a fault, even. It becomes apparent to anyone that studies his behaviour that there is a keen perceptiveness behind his bravado. Indeed, a history of recurring failure and loss have made All-Star all too well aware of his shortcomings, often causing him to be especially hard on himself and fueling his near self-destructive need to prove his worth to others. Hiding these insecurities behind a veneer of arrogance and machismo, All-Star often keeps those closest to him at a 'safe' emotional distance, rarely letting them get close enough to gain a thorough understanding of his personal issues or inner thoughts. This compulsive need to keep others out of his affairs can be evidenced by his negative reaction to press and popularity.
A patriot and a soldier at heart, All-Star has a deep sense of personal honour and loyalty towards his country, friends and its ideals. He is a natural guardian who seeks to protect those around him from even the slightest danger and strives to uphold his personal values in the face of adversity. He takes a great deal of personal responsibility for the well-being of his friends, family and teammates and is prone to shouldering excessive levels of guilt when they are injured or killed by something he could have prevented -- especially when in a leadership position. Full of grit and stubborn as he is strong-willed, he maintains an unwavering devotion to what he holds dear and rarely backs down from a fight, even in the face of far more powerful opposition. Perhaps still seeking to atone for his sordid past, All-Star is always willing to lay down his life in the name of a worthy cause and prides himself on being the first one in and the last one out of any combat situation he walks in to. Though his methods and style are often unorthodox and highly improvised, he is a born leader who always thinks on his feet.
Something of a 'workaholic', All-Star rarely takes time off from his work for the government and as a Protector, preferring to throw himself into even the most dangerous of missions rather than be left to his own thoughts, most of which are extremely pessimistic. As such, he is rarely ever in the same place for more than a short period of time and is constantly hopping around between his various responsibilities. When he does have some precious free time, he typically spends it drinking, practicing his combat skills, maintaining his armory, exercising or engaging in one of his less diligent hobbies. Outside of drinking and socialising with those closest to him, All-Star regularly gambles and plays video games as an outlet for his competitiveness. Due to the stressful nature of his job and the importance of staying relaxed in relation to his hyperkinesis, he also engages in several more calming activities. These include playing his harmonica; attending to his bonsai tree and listening to jazz. In addition, he is a a highly skilled chef and a huge fan of westerns, thrillers, martial arts films and, more bafflingly, musicals; Bruce Lee, Clint Eastwood, Sylvester Stallone and Julie Andrews are all cinematic idols of his. He also isn't one to say no to a good political thriller or military book when the mood strikes him, as his love of John Grisham and Sun Tzu proves.
All-Star's approach towards romantic relationships reflects his fast-paced lifestyle. He regularly flirts with the women in his life regardless of intent and places little value on the sanctity of sexual relations. He sees physical intimacy as completely independent of romantic feelings and usually engages in it as a means of either releasing pent-up stress or seeking comfort. This approach naturally has a negative effect on his ability to maintain long-term relationships, many of which end due to his inability -- or unwillingness -- to connect with his partner on a significant emotional level. At times, he even directly sabotages said relationships on a subconscious level. Still, anyone able to pull him into a meaningful romantic relationship and chip through his exterior will find him to be a loving and devoted partner, grateful for their dedication.
All-Star's Myers-Briggs personality type is ENTJ.
Friends & Allies
(OOC: This section has been cut down to help make the page a little less lengthy. If your character's no longer on the list, it don't mean I don't still love you, baby.)
Ada Clover
After Sparrowhawk's apparent betrayal of the Protectors of the World during the Eugenics War, All-Star and was forced to take on a firmer leadership role in order to help bring his rogue partner to justice. Emotionally vulnerable and conflicted as he was, All-Star had a brief affair with Ada Clover in a desperate bid to escape the pressures of their situation and eventually began dating her exclusively once Leviathan had been defeated, breaking things off with Sparrowhawk. Coming out of his more intense romance with Sparrowhawk, All-Star is happy to be in a more natural relationship with Ada and is more than happy to take things slowly.
Adapto
Though All-Star and Adapto had shared interactions in the past and were relatively amicable towards one another, a recent trip to a fractured universe created through the power of the Polychoron led to both All-Star and Adapto gaining control of the unknown artifact at the same time, creating a link between their consciousness and sending them to another plain of existence. There, All-Star and Adapto bonded and made a shared decision to undo the damage to the Megaverse done by the Polychoron, restoring reality to its natural state. Despite no longer being 'one', however, their time sharing a consciousness has developed their understanding of one another and led to a developing friendship.
Artifist
All-Star and Fist have something of a love/hate relationship. With both often being on the receiving end of the other's jabs and quips, they're much more compatible on the battlefield than they are off of it. All-Star trusts Fist to have his back at all times when he's out in the field and makes sure to have her back just as much.
Fantasma
A more recent addition to the Protectors roster, Fantasma is as opinionated as she is bold and isn't afraid to tell someone what she thinks of them. With a personality so similar to All-Star's, the two are prone to heated arguments and squabbles over even the smallest things. Regardless of their bickering, though, All-Star trusts Fantasma to be straight with him when it really matters and appreciates her fiery temperament.
Katsuo
Perhaps the member of the Protectors most similar to him in terms of upbringing and world views, All-Star quickly befriended the taciturn Katsuo and sees him as a confidante -- someone he can vent his grief and misgivings about the more controversial aspect of his job without fear of judgement or chastisement. All-Star also trusts Katsuo to take the pragmatic approach both when fighting and when making hard choices - a trait which he sees as invaluable.
Riptide
Riptide and All-Star have an odd relationship built as much on camaraderie as it is on thinly veiled contempt for one another. All-Star cites that Riptide is one of his best friends because he's just as much of an asshole as he is and Riptide often says words to the same effect (when not stating that All-Star is the bigger asshole). Ultimately, All-Star trusts Riptide both on and off the battlefield and couldn't think of anyone else (of the same sex) he'd rather go out for a drink with.
Sparrowhawk
Though they have recently gone their separate ways romantically, Sparrowhawk and All-Star still share a professional and personal relationship. All-Star sees himself as one of the few people who understands Sparrowhawk due to their past together and provides her with emotional support when he can. Despite the turbulence of their romantic past tohether, All-Star still genuinely cares for Sparrowhawk both as a friend and as a partner.
Others
Protectors Of The World
African Violet: All-Star and African Violet don't have the deepest relationship, despite their both being charter members of the Protectors. They are friendly acquaintances who work well together with no real friction.
Chivalry: All-Star finds Chivalry's 'roleplaying' to be off-putting and readily refers to him as a fruitcake. Though he respects the hero's apparent achievements, he aims to keep him at arm's length until he sees his competence in the field for himself.
C.O.P.: All-Star gets along with C.O.P. and sees him as someone who doesn't let self-righteousness get in the way of doing good. He's prone to ribbing the robot when they do interact.
Dobergirl: All-Star thinks of Dobergirl as a little sister and teases her accordingly. Still, he trusts her more than most superheroes and the two have developed a rapport on and off of the battlefield.
Grey Osprey: Though the two have only met passingly, All-Star respects her weapon of choice and is happy to see another 'underdog' fighting the good fight.
Kaira: All-Star is wary of Kaira at the best of times. He finds her behaviour to be erratic and unsettling and her unwillingness to divulge information to be irritating. While he doesn't care for her in the least, though, he appreciates her intelligence.
Keioisis: Like Dobergirl, All-Star sees Kara as a younger sibling and is prone to teasing her. Unlike Dobergirl, he is rather protective of Kara due to a promise made to her 'father', Keioseth.
Phenom: An arrogant blowhard bound to get himself into trouble, Phenom reminds All-Star of himself in a lot of ways and, as a result, he often treats the younger man with disdain and disapproval, lecturing him on his flaws and insisting he turn his behaviour around.
Razira: All-Star and Razira don't always see eye-to-eye. He sees her sense of morality as antiquated and her motherly tendencies as cloying. Regardless, he trusts her to an extent and holds no ill will towards her, even considering her to be a friend.
Seadragon: Seadragon scares All-Star just a little bit. His short-temper paired with his devastating power means that he would rather not have to lead the Atlantean into a fight.
Sentinel: All-Star thinks of Sentinel as one of the more handy Protectors to have around at any time. During Sparrowhawk's betrayal, he made use of her as his de facto second in command and readily relied on her strategic advice. He's much less appreciative of her deadpan remarks.
Voreen: All-Star doesn't know much about the plant-based alien but views her vast powers as nothing short of a tactical treasure chest in the field. He's also fond of the tight curves of her outfit.
Wildeye: All-Star hasn't interacted with Wildeye much and has no real knowledge of his prowess in the field. In fact, he often forgets the manimal's name and his existence on the team.
Zelara: Despite their minor romantic history, All-Star sees Zelara as a sister and the two remain on rather good terms. All-Star trusts her expertise to support him in a fight.
NPCs
Agent Kurt White: All-Star's handler and the director behind Project Patriot, Kurt White was the one who personally sought out and enlisted All-Star in the government project. Prior to meeting All-Star, Kurt was a freelance government agent who severely damaged his left leg on a mission and was forced to take a 'desk-job', as it were. Although All-Star still doesn't know Kurt's real name, the two are close and trusted friends.
Geoffrey Carter: All-Star's biological father. Despite the many years that have gone by since his disappearance, All-Star still harbours a borderline homicidal hatred and crippling fear towards his abusive father and occasionally takes time out of his schedule to search for him.
Amanda Cho: All-Star's late girlfriend from a simpler time. A criminal who worked with him and Wheezer, she was killed by Janus Gang hitmen hired by Wheezer. Her death still deeply affects All-Star, who hails it as one of his grandest mistakes.
Antoine Freeman: All-Star's one-time best friend and partner in crime. Also known as the supervillain Wheezer. All-Star blames himself for Wheezer's mutation as much as Wheezer does and desperately seeks ways to end his path of vengeance, to no avail. Wheezer simply wants All-Star to suffer as much as possible.
Rochelle Masters: All-Star's late biological mother. An uneducated stripper, Rochelle attempted to do her best to ensure her son had as good a life as she could give him, but was struck down before she could. All-Star loved his mother, warts and all, and still references her most memorable piece of advice to him -- 'Don't be good, be the best there ever was.'
The Hall Of Famers: A specialised squad of Marines led by All-Star during his tour in Afghanistan. Though several of the Hall Of Famers were lost in battle or simply went their separate ways, All-Star remains in contact with Sgt. Tyler Keaton, his second-in-command who would go on to do black-ops work, Cpl. Donald Duffy, who currently operates as the vigilante known as the Chauffeur, Cpl. Stephen Lang, who now works for the private military company Broadsword, LCpl. Javier Niebla, now a surgeon operating in Venezuela, and PFC Matthew Tracy, who has since climbed the ranks to become a Colonel. Outside of those five, All-Star has since ran afoul of PFC Christopher Ackerman and Cpl. Ian Parks, the former of which became the supervillain known as Ultra-Patriot and the latter of which has snubbed him following a personal controversy.
Rogues Gallery
(Lovingly compiled and filed by All-Star's case officer, Kurt White. He knows what a rogue is.)
Threat Level Key:
| ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ |
|---|
| ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ |
|---|
| ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ |
|---|
| ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ |
|---|
| ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ |
|---|
| ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ |
|---|
| ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ |
|---|
| ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ |
|---|
| ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ |
|---|
WHEEZER
Real Name: Antoine 'Wheezer' Freeman
Powers/Abilities: Gas Mimicry and Manipulation
Occupation: Mercenary For Hire
Origin: Science
Motivation: Money/Emotional
Once All-Star's closest friend and surrogate brother, Antoine 'Wheezer' Freeman's molecular structure was radically changed when the future star-spangled sharpshooter took revenge on him for causing the death of his girlfriend, inadvertently bathing him in dangerous chemicals. Thought to be dead, Freeman returned as Wheezer, using his powers over gaseous substances to devote his life to making All-Star's a living hell. His complete devotion to that cause makes him All-Star's most dangerous enemy and the one most likely to finally be his undoing.
Threat Level:
| ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ |
|---|
INCARCERATED
THE INFILTRATOR
Real Name: ???
Powers/Abilities: Shapeshifting, Invisibility
Occupation: Professional Spy For Hire
Origin: Tech
Motivation: Money
The ultimate man of mystery, no one knows the Infiltrator's true identity or origin -- at least not anyone still breathing. A spy-for-hire with a cold, calculating approach to all he does, he first encountered All-Star while infiltrating Project Patriot disguised as its director, Kurt White. Though his presence was uncovered and he was promptly thwarted, the Infiltrator has since become a persistent thorn in the side of anyone his clients pay him to pursue, replace or kill. A true professional through and through, the Infiltrator is always as deadly as he is elusive.
Threat Level:
| ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ |
|---|
ACTIVE
WARHAWK
Real Name: Senji Dojima
Powers/Abilities: Master Archer and Hand-to-Hand Combatant
Occupation: Mercenary For Hire
Origin: Natural
Motivation: Money/Emotional/Ideals
Once the heir to the Dojima Weapons Development Company of Japan, Senji Dojima's silver spoon was ripped away from him when a clan of ninja assassins murdered his father. Seeking revenge, Dojima infiltrated the clan, learned its ways and, eventually, killed its leader. With his revenge had, Dojima became the Warhawk - an infamous mercenary righting the wrongs of the world by killing those he considers to be unjust and anyone who stands to defend them. He has crossed paths with All-Star many times and, though they respect one another, they remain stark foes.
Threat Level:
| ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ |
|---|
INCARCERATED
THE MIRROR
Real Name: Dr. Klaus Hirsch
Powers/Abilities: Reflection Manipulation
Occupation: Master Criminal (For Hire)
Origin: Tech
Motivation: Money/???
A brilliant but troubled German physicist specialising in the reflection of light, Klaus Hirsch promptly murdered the rest of his team once he finally perfected his mirror suit and became the master criminal known simply as the Mirror. Since then, he has established himself as a renaissance man of crime, going from assassinations and mercenary work to grand heists and human trafficking. With his mastery over his powers growing every day, his only consistent motivation seems to be his own burgeoning god complex. He was killed when All-Star trapped him within a mirror and shattered it.
Threat Level:
| ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ |
|---|
DECEASED
THE QUARTERMASTER
Real Name: ???
Powers/Abilities: None
Occupation: International Arms Dealer
Origin: Natural
Motivation: Money/Power
With a family history of arms dealing dating all the way back to the Renaissance era, the Quartermaster is the latest in a line of mysterious, masked war profiteers who have accumulated wealth and infamy by exploiting human misery. This Quartermaster sees himself as more of an individual than his ancestors and seeks to set himself apart from the family tradition by being the last and the greatest Quartermaster who ever lived - by perpetuating war throughout his entire lifespan. Amoral, self-serving and as ruthless as they come, he just might achieve his goal.
Threat Level:
| ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ |
|---|
ACTIVE
THE SOVIET SUPREME
Real Name: Ivan Grigorivich
Powers/Abilities: Gravitational Aura Projection/Manipulation
Occupation: Self-Proclaimed 'Flag-Hunter'
Origin: Metahuman
Motivation: Fame/Insanity
A USSR loyalist metahuman circus strongman with the ability to manipulate a personal field of gravity surrounding his body to devastating effect, Ivan Grigorovich eventually took his obsession with Soviet Russia to extremes, donning the identity of the Soviet Supreme and waging war on all other patriotic heroes standing in the way of 'Soviet supremacy'. He has since been responsible for the deaths of over thirty patriotic heroes worldwide, taking scraps of their costumes as tattered trophies. He has also developed a particular obsession with All-Star, due to his being 'the one that got away'.
Threat Level:
| ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ |
|---|
INCARCERATED
CLOWNFACE
Real Name: Lester Goodman(?)
Powers/Abilities: Skilled Hand-to-Hand Combatant and Marksman
Occupation: Mercenary For Hire
Origin: Natural
Motivation: Money/Insanity/Ideals
There is little that is known about the man beneath the Clownface mask. Known only by the alias 'Lester Goodman', he was allegedly brought up poor in the deep south and is assumed to have been a victim of heavy child abuse before killing both his parents. At some point, he fell into the world of organised crime and became Clownface, working his way up the ranks and laughing all the while. Cruel, sadistic and very good at his job, Clownface takes great pleasure in subverting the expectations of anyone he meets.
Threat Level:
| ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ |
|---|
PRESUMED DECEASED
DOLLAR BILL
Real Name: William Powers II
Powers/Abilities: None
Occupation: International Crime Lord
Origin: Natural
Motivation: Money/Power
For some men, it isn't enough to have money and power: they want all of it. William Powers II is the founder and president of Powers Technology by day and the ruthless, megalomaniacal known as Dollar Bill by night. With his considerable wealth and connections making it easy for him to take a passive role in most criminal activity, he rarely gets involved to the point where he would be caught red-handed and is all too willing to cut ties when he is. Virtually untouchable, he seeks to win back 'his city' from the rising tide of costumed heroes and villains turning it into a farce.
Threat Level:
| ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ |
|---|
ACTIVE
COMMANDER PROPAGANDA
Real Name: Bashir Davda
Powers/Abilities: Emotion Manipulation
Occupation: Political 'Revolutionary'
Origin: Metahuman
Motivation: Ideals
A soldier of fortune, Bashir Davda had seen more war than any one man should and was more than happy to voice his malcontent at the state of the world he saw and even happier when he came to the realisation that his words had the power to radically amplify and manipulate the emotions of those who listened to them. Creating an amplification helmet and abandoning his life as a soldier in favour of a new calling, Davda became Commander Propaganda and has since made every effort to shape the war-torn third world in his image, using his powers to bend the masses to his will.
Threat Level:
| ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ |
|---|
PRESUMED DECEASED
CAPTAIN HOOK
Real Name: Horatio Fischer
Powers/Abilities: Weaponised Hook Hand
Occupation: Super Criminal (Revenge Gang)
Origin: Tech
Motivation: Money
An underpaid and underachieving mechanical engineer making pocket change as a handyman at a local auto shop, Horatio Fischer's 'big push' came when his employers refused to compensate him for an on the job accident which robbed him of his left hand. Rather than seek legal advice, Fischer used his squandered talents as a mechanical engineer to juryrig a weaponised hook hand and launched an attack on his former employers' autoshop, his rampage only ending when All-Star intervened. With thoughts of revenge now behind him, he sets his sights on that elusive 'big score'.
Threat Level:
| ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ |
|---|
INCARCERATED
HENCHMAN
Real Name: Ronald Blake
Powers/Abilities: Vast Number of Skills and Talents
Occupation: 'Hench' For Hire and President of Hench Co.
Origin: Natural
Motivation: Money
A mercenary arms dealer and 'Hench for Hire' making up for what his lack of exceptional talent with determination, charisma and quantity over quality, Ron Blake - or Henchman - prefers to stay out of the affairs of superheroes and supervillains so long as he isn't being paid to meddle in them. Opportunistic and just a bit cowardly, he'll just as readily turn a gun on All-Star as he'll help him out of a jam and has even gone so far as to fight alongside him on certain occasions. Regardless, All-Star trusts the man about as far as he can throw him, and rightfully so.
Threat Level:
| ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ |
|---|
ACTIVE
AGENT HUNTER
Real Name: Garrett Hunter
Powers/Abilities: N/A
Occupation: Agent of Metahuman Affairs (Department of Defense)
Origin: Natural
Motivation: Money/Power
A ruthlessly ambitious federal agent, Garrett Hunter became the director of Project Patriot through the use of underhanded tactics to unseat Kurt White. As director, Hunter cut corners to one-up his predecessor, introducing powers to subjects and not taking psychological factors into consideration, resulting in the creation of the violently sociopathic Ultra-Patriot. As punishment, Hunter was demoted and suspended, his duties returning to Kurt White. Though not a criminal, Hunter is extremely vindictive towards Kurt White and All-Star and has regularly attempted to seek revenge on both.
Threat Level:
| ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ |
|---|
DECEASED
ZAMBALA
Real Name: Queen Zambala Yaminde III
Powers/Abilities: Various Forms of Zoziu Poison, Super-Genius Level Intellect, Brilliant Toxicologist and Hypnotist
Occupation: Queen of Zombavu
Origin: Natural
Motivation: Power/Ideals
Inspired By: Queen Bee II (DC), Count Vertigo (DC), Talia al Ghul (DC), Doctor Doom (Marvel), Purple Man (Marvel)
Born to the king of the sovereign nation of Zombavu, Zambala Yaminde III's first-class education made her into a brilliant toxicologist with an expertise on the mind-manipulating poison of Zombavu's national plant, the Zoziu flower. Captain Collider first encountered Zambala when her father, the king, went insane. Together, they overthrew him and placed Zambala on the throne. Unbeknownst to Captain Collider, however, Zambala had perfected the poison of the Zoziu flower to the point where its scent could bend others to her will and, with it, set her father on his self-destructive path. Despite this, Captain Collider was forced to leave her to her rule for Zombavu's sake.
Threat Level:
| ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ | ██ |
|---|
ACTIVE
Weaknesses
Frankie Say Relax: While All-Star's hyperkinesis enhances his accuracy, reflexes and procedural memory beyond that of a normal human's in most cases, heavy stress can have the inverse effect, making him far less competent than the average person. As a means of countering this weakness, All-Star is often flippant and detached in and out of combat and goes to great lengths to ensure he always keeps his cool.
Muh Emotions: Although he is a highly skilled marksman who openly brags about it, All-Star harbours hidden feelings of inadequacy about his power and how useful it makes him, especially when working alongside superheroes and especially since uncovering the truth behind his origins.
You're Gonna Carry That Weight: All-Star's done a lot of bad in his life and has taken more than a few lives. Though he likes to pretend it doesn't bother him, his self-loathing, despair and deep-seated regret occasionally bubble to the surface.
Almost Human: Technically speaking, every element of All-Start's hyperkinesis besides the projectile enhancement is fully achievable by a normal non-augmented human being, despite it being extremely unlikely for most to have the genetic potential to do so. For all intents and purposes, All-Star is simply a normal human operating at the very peak of human genetic, physical and mental potential and is certainly a normal human in terms of physiology. This makes him vulnerable to all the external and internal hazards that most people would be vulnerable to.
Soldier Boy: As a military man, All-Star does things a lot more rigidly than the average hero. While this can have its advantages, it often causes hesitation when dealing with legal grey areas and means that he'll sometimes unquestioningly follow orders from his government superiors.
Hello, Nurse: All-Star has a natural weakness for the ladies and, while a pretty face and a few flirty words aren't enough to completely disarm him, they do cause him to drop his guard a bit under the right conditions.
U Dont Fukkin Control Me: All-Star has issues with his mind being influenced by outside forces such as telepathy and chemicals. His fear of being manipulated in such a manner is so severe, it borders on being a phobia.
Young and the Reckless: Though he is a talented strategist and tactician, no one can say that All-Star isn't reckless at the best of times, preferring to think of a plan along the way rather than 'waste time' coordinating his efforts before acting.
Soundtrack
1. Freedom - Anthony Hamilton & Elayna Boynton
3. Gotta Knock A Little Harder - The Seatbelts
6. You Know My Name - Chris Cornell
7. Devil In Me - Jamie N Commons
8. Paradise Circus - Massive Attack
10. Two Against One - Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi
11. Black - Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi
13. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood - Nina Simone
15. I'll Take It All - Joss Stone
17. Dream A Little Dream Of Me - The Mamas & The Papas
RP Hooks
- All-Star frequents Sherrera's Bar, often spending his time drinking and fleecing other bar patrons out of their money by playing darts.
- All-Star is a video gamer and a fan of First-Person Shooters, often playing them online in his spare time.
- All-Star is a sports fan and will openly discuss it with anyone.
- As a freelancer, All-Star is at the United States Department of Defense's beck and call and gets assigned to a number of jobs which involves working with the likes of UNTIL, PRIMUS, the FBI and the United States Military.
- All-Star is a top-class chef, having taken up cooking as something of a hobby.
- All-Star can't help but appreciate a good gun.
- Are you a woman who frequents social spots and is currently dating around? Odds are you may have been on the receiving end of All-Star's flirtatious nature in the past.
- All-Star spent four years serving with the United States Marine Corps during his early years as an operative of Project Patriot, obtaining the rank of Staff Sergeant.
- All-Star has some connections to the Japanese Yakuza, having worked with and against them in the past. He can still pull a few strings with the more reputable branches and isn't exactly popular with the less reputable ones.
Trivia
- All-Star is primarily inspired by: Hawkeye (Marvel), Bullseye (Marvel), Captain America (Marvel), The Punisher (Marvel), Nick Fury (Marvel), The Comedian (DC), Jason Bourne (Bourne Trilogy), Jack Bauer (24), Sam Fisher (Splinter Cell) and Solid Snake (Metal Gear Solid). Additional influences include: Deadshot (DC), Isiah Bradley (Marvel), Wolverine (Marvel), War Machine (Marvel), Bloodshot (Valiant), Ethan Hunt (Mission: Impossible) and James Bond (James Bond).
- All-Star really does get around. He has had (often brief) flings with Virgil Landekl, Adriana Seymour, Emily Caine and Claire Thompson and was in a long-term relationship with Alexandra Harper before starting a new one with Ada Clover
- All-Star is a bit of a gamer. His favourite genre is, predictably, First-Person Shooters and he maintains a very high position in a number of online leaderboards.
- All-Star absolutely loathes magic and anything to do with it. While he doesn't outright disbelieve in it like other magic haters, he believes that absolutely nothing good comes of it and that magic would not be sorely missed if it were to disappear from this world.
- All-Star is occasionally mistaken for General Freedom and other patriotic heroes by ignorant civilians, crimefighters and villains. This is a source of chagrin for him.
- All-Star often whistles or hums the song 'Yankee Doodle', especially when put under stress in the middle of intense combat. It helps him relax.
- All-Star is a huge fan of Bruce Lee and adopted many of his philosophies growing up. This is largely what motivated him to learn Jeet Kune Do.
- All-Star has a bonsai tree named 'Bosley' which he regularly maintains in his spare time. He finds it relaxes him. Until someone touches it, that is.
- All-Star's penmanship is atrocious. Like, doctor level atrocious.
- All-Star keeps a signed picture of Julie Andrews in his wallet. Of course he does, she's a national treasure.
- All-Star is a fan of the works of James Patterson and enjoys political thrillers in general.
- All-Star doesn't like hospitals or doctors. They make him antsy. He also has a phobia of being controlled or manipulated against his will.
- All-Star is ambidextrous, and not afraid to show it when shooting at you with a gun in each hand.
- All-Star plays a mean harmonica. Just ask him.
- All-Star has always been something of an alcoholic. He frequently drinks for the sake of drinking but is kept coordinated by his hyperkinesis. In other words, his brain processes the alcohol so quickly that it takes much more than the usual human amount to get him drunk.
- All-Star is a frequent smoker of Redford Cigars. This is largely due to the fact that his first cigar was a Redford given to him by Kurt White after their first successful mission together. He prefers to use them sparingly and usually sticks to the cheaper and more portable cigarettes when he needs a fix in the field.
- You haven't lived until you've tried All-Star's fluffy, chewy 'All-Star Apple Pancakes'. With a delicious dusting of cinnamon and a drizzle of hot syrup to make them just that bit more scrumptuous, they're his most prized dish.
All-Star's Adventures
All-Star: That's Not My Name!
A huge battle is being waged throughout Millennium City. Guess who's late for the party? It's not General Freedom.
All-Star: Scared Starless
There's nothing to fear but fear itself. And maybe bullets.
All-Star: The Interrogation
Ever had one of those days where you woke up in the nude to a bunch of buff guys interrogating you? Nate has.
All-Star: Same As It Ever Was
Have you ever wondered what it is that made Nate the man he is today? No? Whatever, here's a story about it in seven bite-sized chunks*: I - II - III - IV - V - VI - VII
*Story chunks may or may not be bite-sized. Please do not try to eat story chunks.
All-Star: Breaking Point
Stranded in Venezuela with no gear, no back-up, a frightened little girl depending on him and an entire terrorist cell out to put him six feet under, Nate Carter is on a mission that'll change his life forever. With the world closing in on him and a shadowy conspiracy threatening to swallow him whole, can Nate prove once and for all that he really is as good as he says he is?
Covers All-Star's recent week-long absence from the Protectors of the World
Chapters: I - II - III - IV - V - VI - VII
All-Star: Ceasefire
A day can mean anything to anyone. To Nate Carter, a particular day in his life stands out among the rest and tells a story of memories, promises and moving on.
All-Star: Road to the Eugenics War
Nate and Riptide meet at Mercy Hospital to discuss plans and consequences in the aftermath of Sparrowhawk's betrayal, concluding with a firm resolve.
Art Gallery
Guns? Check. Pouches? Check. Stylish Neckwear? Check. All-Star's ready for anything when he's wearing his standard outfit!
This modern costume has a neat little belt with a star on it. That's nice. Isn't that nice?
All-Star's got a whole new look. It's darker, it's edgier, it's beardier and it's sleevier.
Nate Carter pictured with jacket. Not pictured: other jacket.
Dual STA001 Last Patriot Handguns
The MK12 SPR
The AR-15
The SIG-MPX-K
The Smith & Wesson Model 500
The Smith & Wesson M&P Shield
The Mossberg 590
The M110 SASS
The Barrett M82
The M4A1 Carbine
The HK UMP-9
The M249 LMG
The MGL-140
The FIM-92 Stinger
The M3 MAAWS
The PSE TAC 15 Crossbow
The SteelTech L95 Particle Rifle
'Moxie'
The Strider SMF
The Gerber Mark II Dagger Knife
The Stun Rod
The Grapnel Gun
It's all about style. (Art By Avionetca)
Every time he salutes the sky turns into a flag. (Art By Daggerpoint)
Lift weights everyday. (Art By Eric Guzman)
He'll probably end up getting billed for that. (Art By Eryck Webb)
Explosions have damn fine asses. (Art By Eryck Webb)
James Bond doesn't say 'Aw Jeez', but whatever. (Art By Eryck Webb)
Life's a beach. Might as well enjoy it. (Art By Eryck Webb)
He still bleeds red, white and blue, at least. (Art By Eryck Webb)
No, he's not carrying enough gear. He can still move. (Art By Eryck Webb)
In his combat ready onesie. (Art By Eryck Webb)
Why does he need a rifle AND a crossbow? Because sometimes you just really need to shoot people in as many ways as possible. (Art By Taclobanon)
This isn't what it looks like. (Art By Kenpudiosaki)
Okay, so that's another window. (Art By Kenpudiosaki)
Haha! Windows are for breaking! (Art By Kenpudiosaki)
I can neither confirm nor deny the fact that All-Star is aiming at a window. (Art By Kenpudiosaki)
I whip my scarf back and forth. (Art By Phil Cho)
Decapitated, stuffed and mounted on some villain's fireplace. (Art By Phil Cho)
That one time All-Star got really drunk and woke up in the late 18th century. (Art By Ravietta)
All-Star and Sparrowhawk pose as the universe implodes around them. (Art By Rose McClain)
My muttonchops are all that. (Art By ryan-cone)
Not Pictured: Star-Patterned Underoos (Art By Suppa-Rider)
And they said taking a rifle on safari was a dumb idea. (Art By tohdaryl)
Take that, unidentified off-screen enemy I was too cheap to pay extra for! (Art By tohdaryl)
Why is he wearing his current day shades during his origin story? Why you ask? WHY?! (Art By Tovio Rogers)
You know, this whole window thing is gonna bite him in the ass at some point. (Art By Zachula)
Falling To Your Death: Now With 100% Less Windows! (Art By Zachula)
Crossbow Phase! (Art By Zachula)
THIS IS AN AGGRESSIVELY PATRIOTIC THING THAT IS HAPPENING. (Art By Zachula)
Comments
"Homies help homies. Sorry I couldn't do it when it mattered, Nate. See you on the other side." - Adapto
"He can be a bit of a bastard, but for what it's worth, he's a good guy. Puff the Gun-Toting Dragon, eh? I bet people are gonna start usin' that some time..." - Snowtalon
"Nate underestimates his true value, regardless of how boastful he comes across to others. I'm a better person for having met him, and that's not something I say about many. A partner, an ally, a friend... and much, much more." - Sparrowhawk
"All-Star? He's pretty cool actually. Don't have a single problem with him. We got similar viewpoints, come from similar backgrounds, and not to mention, he's got a helluva shot. He's alright in my book." - Anarchy
"My opinion about Nate changed. I still haven't spent much time with the guy, but he's once told me something that's been sort of shifting in my head for a while. He said something about his skills defining who he was. That not being the best about what he does would make him lose his identity... That, kind've opened up an old wound of mine. And I kinda, sorta freaked out at him." She pauses for a moment. "I apologized, later on. But yeah, he and I got a little something in common, on that, I think. I'd have to chat with him about it at some point." - Natasha Roy
"Having worked with All-Star a few times recently, I'll admit he's rather rough around the edges at first, but he's cool-headed and determined to get the job done - some things I can't say about some of my powered colleagues." - The Peacemaker
"Almost as good a shot as I am. ..Almost. Other 'n that he takes his job seriously and handles his shit 'n that's more or less all ya can ask for." - Desperado
"An excellent ally. He is accurate, carries the right equipment to allow for a high degree of versatility on the battlefield and is quite capable of handling his job. He doesn't seem to know the difference between an android and a robot, however." - Doll
"A big mouth, but his heart's in the right place." - Thundrax
"He's always wearing sunglasses. I think he has light sensitive eyes or something. And he said I was childish! I'm not not childish... right?" - Impsblood
"He's a hater with a silly mustache. Come on bro, don't be like that." - Zee
"He is a fun person with a love for living life. I always enjoy the time I spend with him. I do not think his facial hair is creepy, either." - Greymist Wanderer
"General Freedom? He's an alright guy, I guess, but I always thought he was like, bigger, you know? And angrier. Less shooty, too. Oh well!" - Dohwa
"Nate? I like Nate. He's the sort of asshole you like having around because he makes you feel better about yourself." - Riptide
"Handsome, professional and he really knows how to wear his guns and moustache. He's not as good with women as he likes to think he is though." - Demoness
"Definitively not the 'shoot first and ask questions later' type, as evidenced by his taking advantage of an opponent being surprised in order to... ask them questions. But yeah, he does seem to like his guns. And dislike other peoples' kneecaps." - Snow Leopard
"Terrible taste in facial hair and his inability to recognize that I'm a woman aside, he's definitely someone I know I could rely on in a fight. He strikes me as the sort to not let something as silly as being outclassed ever take the fight out of him. And if he's half as good as he thinks he is..." - Artifist
"The first true friend I made on this world, and one of the finest examples of Terran warrior-hood in- ..What? Stop giving me that look, you know what I meant!" - Zelara
"Impressive enough, I suppose." - The Doctor
"World's. Dumbest. Mustache." - Blue Freedom
"Cool guy and he always is vewy fwiendly! I wike him a lot! Hi Mr. All-Star!" - Chocolate Chip Chelsea
"A real professional. Ready to face any situation that's thrown at him, even if he complains about it a little bit sometimes. All-Star's alright in my book." - Victory
"He cheats at poker." - C.O.P.
"He seems like a pretty cool guy, despite wearing sunglasses all the time. What, does he think he's a rap star or something? Er, anyway, we seem to get along pretty well. And he's pretty hot." - Ada Clover
"I can't decide if this guy is over the top or really bat shit insane from all the stories I've heard. So far he seems like a very capable field leader and an generally cool guy. And a fellow brotha who's a metahuman is always a plus in my book. Wait he's tapping Sparrowhawk?! That black sumuvabitch..." - SoulStar
"He is a sincere man. Perhaps a little too sincere." - Voreen
"Loudmouth." - Katsuo
|
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Active: Captain Collider • All-Star | ||
| Inactive/Incomplete: Mach V • Science Stork • The Flea • Bearzerker • Kid Billionaire Henchman • Captain Cash • Citizen Z • The Lovecraftian Man • Screwball • Patricia Pan | ||
| Misc: Frontiersmen | ||
