Striker
All information provided on this page is Out of Character knowledge. Please only use it as a spring board to roleplay, and not as comprehensive knowledge of Striker. If you feel your character might have access to any of this information, please contact me in game prior to using the info. All information provided in the HeroBox is accessible to anyone with access to the proper databases.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contents
Appearance
John Wheeler wears his age well and at the age of 55 he is incredibly fit. He clears the six foot two mark, and his military posture lends him an extra air of presence that almost demands attention, or at least a straight back.
His features are square, and worn from decades of work in harsh environments, but it lends itself to a rugged handsome appeal. He sports a five o'clock shadow by noon, and it is a source of endless frustration for the spit and polished military man. His hair is a clean cut of deep brown that bears the gray touch of his age at the temples and in streaks through the longer bits.
Personality
John is a gruff, no nonsense sort of guy. He is a professional that puts great stock in respect and strives to give it whenever possible. That said, once another has shown disregard for the rules of respect John can quickly return the favor. He has a long slow burning fuse, but once he reaches his threshold, God hath not the fury he unleashes. He is a trusting soul, trying desperately to believe in the best of humanity, but his work often brings him into direct conflict with the worst.
He is a responsible sort that takes his work, and life, very seriously and does not tolerate folks monkeying around in it. He protects his friends, and is reliable to help them when they are down.
He's got an old sense of humor and often treats those around him like his 'youngins' regardless of age.
Background
John Michael Wheeler was born on April 13, 1957 in rural Lewiston, Illinois to Emil and Margret Wheeler. He was the second child of three, his brother Carl being six years older and his sister Samantha three years younger.
Abilities
Master Marksman: Twenty plus years of assorted firearms experience in hundreds of different combat situations has left John with amazing marksmen skills and nerves of steel when dealing with steady shooting. He is classified as Olympic Champion skill.
Linguistics: His time spent in the Green Berets required John to be well versed in the languages of his theater of operations. He is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, Hebrew, Arabic, and Farsi.
Martial Arts: John has spent his entire military career studying Advanced Close Quarter Combat fighting style, and considers himself very proficient at disarming and dispatching enemies with his bare hands. This deadly self-evaluation is only emphasized by his Expert 1 classification in the Israeli designed Krav Maga. Tae Kwon D is more of an efficient side hobby, John has acquired a Purple Belt in the Korean Martial Art.
Dancing: Prior to her death, John had spent well over ten years in formal ballroom dancing with his wife. He is diverse in his knowledge and fancy in his foot work, though with his bad knee and a missing partner, he rarely has a chance to demonstrate his skill.
Equipment
Armor
Striker wears a version of the Advanced Combat Enhancement Suit(ACES) classified as the Mk:V Battler Pattern. It expands on the standard ACE Suit design adding several new tricks that are unique, but not exclusive to the Battler.
- Internal Robotic Medical System (IRMS): A large robotic medical kit in the shape of a semi-circle that integrates into the armors chest plate over the wearers heart. It can perform on the fly medical aid to the user, including intravenous injections of nanobots that can repair internal damage to the suit wearer.
- Integrated Wrist Mounted M-39 Arc Taser: The M-39 Arc Taser was developed to solve the limiting factor of ammunition for the standard tasers issued to any crowd control units. Benchmarked at a reliable range of 50 feet, the M-39 can deliver two homing electrodes that have no tether requirements. Instead the onboard macro computer calculates the impact site then generate a 50,000 volt charge directly into the target. The charge is enough to incapacitate the most stubborn of foes of average to large size. The taser then rotates in a new pair of homing projectiles and calibrates the a new signal.
- Tac-Ops Visor: Often a standard attachment to the ACE Suit, the Tac-Ops visor was developed to send and receive tactical data that could be analyzed and then put to use by the suit's wearer. The Mk:V's Tac-Ops takes this ability a step further. Using sophisticated facial analysis software and access to the UNTIL satellite system the Battler can ID a criminal from a quick glance of the face, or even a gesture as simple as a hand wave. The systems can also evaluate dramatic changes in the users environment and react without user consent to active on board counter-measures. In the case of the Battler this often results in the Force Dispersion System(see below)activating.
Weapons
- Glock 20 10mm:
- Desert Eagle Mark XIX: Reverently named Faith and Retibution, Stiker's big bore guns are not his favorite weapons for the field, considering them generally too unwieldy for Florentine Style gun fighting. He has dusted them off for Takofanes and his zombie horde though, having the weapons engraved and touched with gold inlay to demonstrate the weapons names and newly blessed status from Father Darius. Shot for shot, these massive hand cannons effectively down zombies in a single well placed trigger pull.
- Heckler and Koch MP5:
- M4 Assault Carbine:
- AA-23 Assault/Submission Shotgun:
- H.I.T. Multi-Purpose Rocket Launcher:
- M90a Mini-Vulcan:
Powers
Striker has no quantifiable powers that have been documented by himself or others. In truth John has a mild affinity for kinetic control that only triggers subconsciously under certain circumstances. It has been theorized and tested in a military facility but scientists had no way of building a control environment suited to the gauging the ability, but still the hypothesis stands as John has never once even grazed a bystander in a hail of bullets in a true combat environment.
Connections
David "Psionistar" Smith & Zarp Draken: Two of the earliest members of Meta-S.W.A.T.. While their methods of operation vary, both are valued for their input and perspective. John trusts them to do what is right in a given situation and they remind him to not take himself too seriously.
Mr. Grimm: What first appeared to be nothing more than a bad attitude lone wolf, turned into a good friend after a long conversation in the chill of Canada. Grimm has always had John's back and vise versa.
Spitfyre: The one person that could have taken John's life and completely thrown it on its ear. She's reminded him how to live, love, and move on after loss. If once there was any doubt, it is now fairly clear in the aftermath of the Blood Moon that there is something strong between these two polar opposites.
Keioseth: Known as Striker's Little Brother. They are a dependable pair, always willing to help one another out.
Blue Family: Out of all the groups of heroes out there, it seems unusual that an employed Police Officer would gravitate towards a street gang of super humans and meta-naturals, but he has. The Blue Family not only demonstrates Honor Amongst Thieves, but a strong sense of belonging and community care. They remind John of why he is doing what he is doing.
Opinions
((Commentary from those that know, or think they know, the man behind the mask.))
"Once you get past the stuffed shirt, he's a pretty razor guy. Actually believes in what he's preachin' and cares about his people, plus he cooks." --Spitfyre
"Striker? If there was ever a guy I'd want watchin' my six, it'd be him. Sure, he's a bastard, but he's my CO. That's what they do." -- Flynn
"The committment this man has to his people and mission are second to none, but it's his ability to motivate you that is truly profound. It's like he has this way of daring you to be better than you already are and because he's John Wheeler, the last thing on Earth that enters your mind is letting him down." -- Psionistar
"The LT is hard on us. We're always training and working and drilling. He doesn't say much, but he listens really well and has this way of shooing away any doubt that he cares." -- Phalanxer Yellowjacket X
"I have never been more proud to work for another human being as I have with Lt. Wheeler. There's something really satisfying about someone who actually appreciates what you do. He's like the kickass, no-nonsense uncle everyone wanted as a kid...except he's also paying me, which is just the icing on the cake." -- Skylance
"Bossman? Hell, he's great for a beer, he's great for a hostage crisis, he's great for a laugh. He's like a fine aged wine, just seems to keep gettin better. Except for the knees." -- Silver Eagle
"Lt. Wheeler is a man I've come to respect. His leadership in the final stand against Takofanes was inspiring. But I wonder, is there more to him than the duty to his cause? Part of me wants to find out..." -- Darius Phen
Trivia
- Favorite Book: Jurrasic Park
- Favorite Musical Artist: Kansas/Bon Jovi
- Favorite Color: Red
Meta-Data
Theme Songs
Main Theme: 3 Doors Down - Citizen Soldier
Motivation: Chad Kroeger - Hero
Current Status: AC/DC - Back in Black
Comeback Fight: 30 Seconds to Mars - This is War
Live Action
Character Actor: Dennis Quaid
Inspirations
Nick Fury; for his military professionalism as well as many of his visual features.
Rorschach; for his strange moral conservatism
ADB III ((AKA My Dad)); easily the biggest contributor to Striker's personality, I've leaned a lot on my dad for inspiration and suggestions.
