Countdown

F Ex 20

A Gd 10

S Ty 6

E Ex 20

R Rm 30

I Ty 6

P Ex 20

Res Rm 30

Pop Fe +2

Health: Karma:

56 56

Origin:

The Gi Joe operative known as Countdown is, despite what his teammates think, simply a normal human. They may say he's super-humanly smart, super-humanly capable, and super-humanly boring, but the truth is he's just a highly skilled pilot and engineer.

Known Powers:

(none)

Equipment:

Grappling Hook: David can fire this magnetized hook to attach himself to just about anything ferrous in space: space craft, satellites, tiny planetoids. It has a line of Remarkable (30) m.s., and can easily grip something even if it doesn't 'hook' it, per se.

Semi-automatic Pistol: though the idea is to fight the enemy from his space craft, you never know when things aren't going to go as planned. David can fire this weapon to inflict Typical (6) Shooting damage in a single shot, +1 CS in a semi-automatic burst.

Space Suit: when he has to 'step out' of his space craft, David will usually be seen in his space suit; he typically wears it while flying anyway (just in case), but it's not always totally sealed up unless he's on a walk. David's space suit has these capabilities:

* Jet Pack: this back pack is large, yet smaller than a Manned Maneuvering Unit, and allows David to maneuver about while in space (when outside a craft, at least). It allows Feeble (2) ranked flight in the vacuum of space (not fast, but it's better than drifting).

* Resistance to Cold and Pressure Variance: a self-sealing, pressurized suit, David's uniform offers him Monstrous (75) protection against these damage forms, a necessity when working in the cold, hard vacuum of space (if you want to last a while, at least).

* Self Sustenance: finally, David's helmet has a built in oxygen rebreather installed within, which helps to recycle his air - so that he need not carry about a bulky supply of pressurized, breathable atmosphere. This device works at Feeble (2) rank for air (two day supply).

Quirks:

Acceleration Tolerance: David has a near-legendary stamina, and can shrug off the effects of acceleration much better than others - even his fellow fighter pilots! His body can tolerate one additional area of acceleration per turn before it starts to wear on him.

Talents:

Aerial Combat: not only can David fly most any air or space craft, but he can fight with them, too! While he is engaged in aerial or spatial combat, David may roll combat FEATs wielding his vehicle (whether offensively or defensively) at a +1 CS to the applicable rank.

Electronics: in addition to being a crack fighter pilot, David is also a certified electronics engineer. He should make applicable FEAT rolls, whether they regard electronic knowledge or design / repair work, as though his Rsn was +1 CS in rank.

Guns: an essential portion of his Air Force training, David has learned how to fire most conventional firearms with ease. Whether he's wielding a standard, semi-automatic or fully automatic rifle or pistol, David may do so as though his Agy was +1 CS in rank.

Martial Arts type B: as a part of his basic training in the Air Force, David was trained how to defend himself outside of an airplane - and without a gun. When unarmed, David may attack an opponent with any maneuver he likes (punches, kicks, etc.) at his Ftg score +1 CS.

Military / United States: David is a long time member of the Air Force - you have to be to become an astronaut, really. As such, he knows the S.O.P. like the back of his hand, and can function in a military environment without even thinking about it.

Pilot / Air and Space: but one of his many specialties, this skill represents David's mastery of just about anything that flies. Whether it is in the air or in the depths of space, David can fly it as though his Agy was +1 CS higher than is listed above.

Contacts:

David is a highly capable - if not so exciting - member of the Gi Joe team. As such, David may readily rely upon his fellows for assistance should he but ask - the Joes are a tightly knit group, and always try to do right by each other, you see.

Costume:

David's first Gi Joe uniform is a space suit! It is primarily white with blue trim; a padded and bulky affair to protect him in space. It includes black boots, white gloves, blue knee pads, a cyan and white helmet with a mirrored visor, and black webbing to strap on his jet pack.

Personality:

David is supremely capable. The problem is that he's also supremely boring. His personal skills leave a bit to be desired, as he tends to only talk about his work and hobbies, and little else. Though his friends don't find him exciting, they at least find him dependable.

Real Name: David D. Duboski, Grade O-3
Occupation: astronaut, fighter pilot, electronics engineer
Legal Status: citizen of the United States with no known criminal record
Marital Status: single
Alias(es), if any: none
Group Affiliation: Gi Joe, the Star Brigade (Gi Joe sub-team)

Height: 5' 11"
Hair: brown
Eyes: brown
Weight: 171 lbs
Other Distinguishing Characteristics: none.

Story:

David grew up to be an incredibly boring person in Plainfield, New Jersey. Not because anything's wrong with the town, mind you, but because David has a passion for things that most people find unbearably dull. The highlight of his day is winning his latest chess match.

He's no frail, pencil-protector wearing academic, however. While he's an accomplished electronics engineer, David is also quite adept in air combat. The man can pull insane maneuvers thanks to his seemingly super-human tolerance for acceleration - he can easily withstand 5 Gs!

His mind is usually working in overtime, and he can multi-task better than almost anyone else in the military. It's been said he can fly a plane with one hand and fix the instrumentation with another - all while playing three different games of chess in his head!

This ability got him into the N.A.S.A. program, and he's flown on more than one occasion on the space shuttle - he's a fully qualified shuttle commander, even. With all of this staggering capability, you can tell why the Gi Joe team simply had to have David on their team.

He breezed through the Gi Joe entrance exams - his incredible stamina and smarts helping him there - and was quickly put to work with the team's other astronauts. As Countdown, he often works with Payload when that man is flying the Defiant - or the Crusader.

Tasked with fighting Cobras in the upper atmosphere, David is also often called on to fix satellites - either the Gi Joe team's or others - damaged by Cobra's chicanery. He has the skills and the temperament for it... even if he has to knock them off of 'em first...

Extra Goodies:

Gi Joe directories featuring a version of Countdown:

1989

1993

1994