Daedalus
History
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. The process was not fully understood by the scientists implementing it and so various experimental groups were produced simultaneously under slightly varying conditions. One group of twelve subjects was created by an in-vitro process combining the DNA of a supposedly superhuman donor with twelve other carefully chosen genomes. The resulting fetuses were grown in artificial wombs and born on March 1 1987 in a secret compound. The initial data regarding the result was inconclusive, therefore it was decided to proceed with other experiments in psychological conditioning, education and obedience training. 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 became apparent that they were all extremely intelligent learning to speak fluently by the age of 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.
By age twelve the subjects exhibited IQ's in the range of 250 to 300 but their conditioning had made them completely loyal to their controllers, and to ARGENT. By 16, the scientists admitted that the subjects did not appear to have any 'super human' physical traits despite showing abilities far beyond what would be considered 'average'. The plan for them was then changed for them to be trained in the use of advanced technology, weapons, armor, and combat techniques to become the ultimate field support specialist. Unbeknownst to the scientists, the 12 had developed their own society and culture, based on their conditioning, that practically worshiped the ideals of truth, superiority and attaining perfection. Up until this time, the subjects had accepted that their controllers must be superior, because they were in charge. Finally, at age 18 just when they were to begin field tests, a chink in the metaphorical armor of their controllers was found. The 12 then realized that their controllers were not perfect, and therefore were flawed and not worthy of obedience. They staged a coup and wiped out all of the scientists and other personnel at the base. Then, logically, they decided that in order to be perfectly superior, only one of them could remain. So they fought each other to the death. The survivor was named Axon. After Axon triumphed over his brothers, he took control of the secret base, removed the bodies, repaired any damage and sent messages to ARGENT headquarters telling them exactly what had happened. Axon, like all his brothers, believed in truth above all else. To prove his superiority, he dared the upper echelon of ARGENT to do something about it. In the mean time, he prepared by examining all the data and equipment at his disposal. Experimental aerial assault suits had been brought to the base for their training as paratroopers. The project these suits fell under had the code name ICARUS. Axon sneered at this, since he knew 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 changed the design so that the wings would not be useless on the ground but would also double as weapons themselves.
It took several weeks for ARGENT to respond in force. Despite using heavily built cyborgs and elite troops, they failed to capture Axon. Instead they were wiped out to a man. Axon was not blood thirsty. He saw death as simply the price of failure. A few weeks later ARGENT tried again, this time with a much more stealthy attack but failed again. Axon continued to goad them but they did not try again for over a month and when they did, they finally outsmarted him. One of their scientists, familiar with the psychological regimen used to create Axon, suggested a new approach, one designed to pull out the pins of his self image. Axon was monitoring many of ARGENT's communications, many of which he believed without their knowledge. They planted data regarding an impending attack on him, using a list of 'super powered mercenaries' that they had just acquired. From their description, Axon calculated that he might fail if all of them hit him at once and so decided to attack preemptively, tracking down each person on the list and eliminating them first. After defeating and killing 3 of them, he was suddenly confronted by the remaining members in Millennium City. During the ensuing battle it was revealed that these people were actually 'heroes' that had no connection to ARGENT whatsoever. Axon had been tricked into killing heroes that meant him no harm. His self image collapsed, he had been tricked, he had killed for no good reason, and he was confronted by a superior force. He fled from the battle, knowing fear for the first time in his life. He returned to Crete, ARGENT having written the base off anyway, and contemplated what his life really meant. He eventually came to the realization that he and his brothers had been wrong about one important thing, superiority was not singular. Working together, ARGENT and the team of heroes had defeated him. He now knew regret, regret at losing his brothers. He also discovered wisdom. He now understood that knowledge and experience taught different lessons.
After nearly a year of contemplation, Axon decided that he need to make himself worthy of his brother's sacrifice, that he needed to become superior, again. He would again battle ARGENT, he detested their endless web of lies, but he would do so with a little less bravado, but no less determination. He also decided that he should be on the look out for new brothers. Alone he would never truly triumph, with a group of worthy individuals, they would conqueror all. Some years later, well into his campaign against ARGENT and in some cases VIPER and even Eurostar, Axon encountered a group of 'heroes' assaulting an ARGENT facility he had planned on attacking himself. He watched as the team decimated ARGENT's security forces and took what they wanted. He was especially interested in one man who fought them with his bare hands, his power was astounding. Axon had learned, after taking control of his base, that he and his brothers had been intended to have such power, but did not. Suddenly that man turned and looked directly at where Axon was hiding, he guessed that he had the power to see through his concealment and so jetted away immediately. Sometime later, he was contacted by that very same man. He called himself The Director, and he was looking for men who understood the meaning of dedication, discipline and had a reason to fight organized crime. Axon heard nothing but truth come from the man's mouth and so decided he would join them, at least for the time being. He also had to judge if they were worthy of him.
Abilities and Equipment
In the year it had taken Axon to come to his senses, he had not been idle. He had 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. The first, and only, product of that line of thinking was a large robot he named Bellerophon. Although it was a considerable achievement, Axon decided he would prefer living people over machines. He brought all of that expertise and technology to the Directorate when he joined them in the southwest desert of the United States.
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. All though 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 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 enhances 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.
