Daedalus
'History
The Beginning
Axon Daedalus was born on the island of Crete as part of an experiment sponsored by ARGENT to create their own "super soldier" process that they would later market. It used data stolen or bought from various other projects along the same lines. The project had two goals, first; to create a reliable process for creating super humans, and two; creating a group of super powered soldiers to work for ARGENT. Being a completely new and experimental process, several groups of subjects were created using slightly different methods. One group of twelve subjects were created by an in-vitro process combining the DNA of twelve carefully chosen genomes from across the world with a sample of DNA the company had acquired on the black market. Although they could not determine the exact nature of the sample, preliminary testing had shown it to have various advanced characteristics. Simply cloning the sample had proven to be unsuccessful. The resulting fetuses were grown in artificial wombs and born on March 1 1987 in a secret compound in western Crete. The initial data regarding the result was inconclusive, therefore it was decided to progress with other experiments in psychological conditioning, education and obedience training while the subjects grew and could be tested further later. It quickly became apparent that the DNA they all shared was dominant as they were all generally alike in appearance and mannerism. Within 2 years it also became apparent that they were all extremely intelligent, learning to speak fluently by age 1. By age 2, the 12 subjects began to develop their own language for conversing with each other. By age 5 it was clear that physically they were superior, but not yet showing any signs of being 'super human'. Their psychological conditioning was performed by a scientist that believed logic, truth and a superior self image would make them implacable foes. Because of their rapid mental development, they were forced to use an accelerated conditioning program that was modified to become a quasi-religion designed to quell their inquisitiveness and engender fanaticism.
By age twelve the subjects exhibited IQ's in the range of 250 to 300 but their conditioning continued to make them completely loyal to their controllers, and to ARGENT. The only thing the scientists could not control was the new language the subjects had developed for themselves. It changed on a yearly basis, making any translation quickly obsolete. After a particularly long discussion, the 12 boys engaged each other in combat, with one boy being killed at the end. When questioned about why they had done this the only reply was that he was inferior. The scientists were conflicted about this development. On the one hand they approved of the ruthlessness it demonstrated, on the other, it indicated that the subjects had developed their own criteria on who was superior and who was inferior. At some point the scientist themselves might be deemed inferior. In the end they decided not to contradict the judgement.
By age 16, the scientists had to admit that the subjects did not appear to have any 'super human' physical traits, despite showing abilities far beyond what would be considered 'average'. In order to salvage what was already a considerable investment, it was decided that they would best serve as field support personnel expertly trained in maintaining and repairing high technology during operations. By this time, 3 more subjects had been killed. Up to this point, they had not been presented with a problem they could not solve, nor an opponent they could not defeat. They had had no contact with the outside world and so didn't not like this change in their status. They had been training to be warriors, not technicians. This implied that they were all inferior. However, they also accepted that their own evolution was incomplete and so continued to obey. Finally, at age 18 just when they were to begin field tests, a chink in the metaphorical armor of their controllers was found. Two more subjects had been killed by this time, as well as 3 instructors, leaving 6. When they had not been punished for killing the instructors, the subjects decided that meant that their judgement was infallible and therefore it was time for everyone to be judged. They staged a coup and wiped out all of the scientists and other personnel at the base. Having freed themselves, they quickly became aware of how ignorant of the world they lived in they were. It shook their confidence, enough so that they paused to study all the information that was available to them.
The subjects then assimilated this new world into their own conditioned world view. The whole world was a new place to prove their superiority. All would be judged. They would win over all or die. After this, if they survived, they would test each other again to discover who was the true paragon. It took several weeks for ARGENT to respond in force to this state of affairs. Despite using heavily built cyborgs and elite troops, they failed to defeat the 6 subjects. Instead they were wiped out to a man. The subjects were ruthless, but not bloodthirsty. They took joy only in triumph, not in death. Death was simply the price of failure. A few weeks later ARGENT tried again, this time with a much more stealthy attack but failed again. The subjects then decided to go their separate ways and to return here after a period of 50 years to face their own judgement. One subject stayed behind to secure the base for their return. That subject had been named, Axon.
All will be Judged
Axon had decided privately that he would test himself against ARGENT almost exclusively. Each subject had taken a cache of weaponry/technology with him to begin his quest. Axon was left with experimental aerial assault suits that had been brought to the base for their training as paratroopers. The code-name for the project these suits fell under was ICARUS. Axon sneered at this, since he had learned that it was DAEDALUS who had actually made the wings for he and his son, and that Icarus had been an utter fool. Daedalus had been a superior man surrounded by fools, which is exactly how Axon felt right now. He decided that he would be the new Daedalus, reworking and improving what he considered rudimentary designs. He created a new, powered, aerial assault suit that had its own built-in weapons and would enhance his strength and durability. He also changed the design so that the wings would not be useless on the ground but would also double as weapons themselves. Axon then began his campaign. At first it went well until ARGENT determined that he was working from their own database and determined to change all operations he had information on. His targets began to disappear. Had to dig deeper into the ARGENT database for fragments of forgotten information he could act on. He ran across a file marked as dubious that had a supposed list of superhumans, all designated with letters from the Greek alphabet. Axon could not determine what the file meant exactly but assumed they must be agents of ARGENT. Perhaps the very ones that had been judged his superiors. He would target them next.
With his battle suit and advanced training, Axon was able to track down and combat 3 of the superhumans on the list and defeat them. Defeat always resulting in death, as it should be. What Axon did not know, was that the file had been stolen from SOCRATES and that the computer system quickly deduced what was happening when it recognized the victims and the order of their deaths. SOCRATES decided to inform all the remaining people on this list that their lives were in danger. It also recommended that they come together to put a stop to the unknown assailant. The individuals on the list had all been unknowns, unclassified as hero or villain. Fortunately it turned out that they were all inclined to be heroic and thus the Greek Patrol was born. The Patrol knew who the next target would be and Ambushed the assailant when he arrived. He was tough and crafty but was quickly subdued. Daedalus expected to be killed but was shocked when he was not. He was even more shocked when he learned that these people had nothing to do with ARGENT whatsoever. He then slipped his bonds and retreated to the hidden base on Crete. He had to face being beaten, being mistaken and being inferior to those super humans.
For the next year, Axon contemplated his new world view and a reason for being. He decided that although he had been physically inferior to the superhumans, he had also been considerably more intelligent, as the ease of his escape demonstrated. He could overcome his physical inferiority with technology, there was no shame in this. He also decided that ignorance did not equate to inferiority. All knowledge had to be learned, one way or another. He continued to experiment with and improve technology left behind in the ARGENT base. He had become an expert in programming, computer design, bio-mechanical design and electrical engineering. He had constructed new weapons and had contemplated building his own 'team' of robots for times when he was simply outnumbered. The first, and only, product of that line of thinking was a large robot he named Bellerophon. Shortly after this achievement he was contacted by a mysterious individual who called himself, The Director. One of the members of the Greek Patrol Axon had tangled with before had been known as Rider Theta. Theta had tagged Axon with a few microscopic nanites to keep track him if need be. Since then, Theta had joined a group that was determined to bring an end to ARGENT as well as others. He had told The Director about Daedalus and how he had declared his own intentions to battle the erstwhile corporation. The Director explained that he was putting together a group of like minded individuals and that they desperately need someone with Deadalus's intellect and determination. The offer intrigued Axon. He had never felt needed before. It appealed to his ego, and coincided with his own plans more or less. He decided to accept the other at least temporarily, pending judgement.
'Powers and Equipment
Axon is a bio-engineered human being endowed with superior physical and mental abilities. He is able to leap twice his own height, run a mile in 3 minutes and lift(press) 850 pounds. His reflexes, dexterity and senses are all preternaturally acute. Although he is an excellent marksman, Axon prefers engaging in physical combat. He has been trained in several modern unarmed combat techniques as well as Wing Chun Kung Fu.
He has a high genius level intellect capable of learning and understanding many fields of study. His initial conditioning focused on very specific subjects and he has had little contact with the outside world so is just beginning to learn non-technical subjects. He is already an accomplished roboticist and electro-mechanical engineer.
He is equipped with a light but powerful armored suit whose primary function is flight, quietly, at high speeds and high and low altitudes. It is primarily composed of a man-made isotope of aluminum and titanium, with other parts made of questionite. It is able to withstand impacts up to medium powered rifle bullets. It is designed to enhance the wearers strength allowing him to lift(press) 3 tons. It does not hinder movement in any appreciable way, affording the wearer high agility. It can travel at mach 2 for 3 hours before the fuel cells deplete. It is water and air proof with an internal air supply lasting 4 hours. It can survive depths of up to 800 feet. It is also equipped with tasers in each gauntlet that have a range of about 50 feet and produce 50,000 volts. The wings are semi retractable and are made of Questionite. Honed to a razor edge, they make excellent weapons.
