Psyche-Out

Powers:

(none)

Equipment:

Helmet (s): Kenneth recently started wearing this sturdy head gear while at work - it beat his old headband, after all. It provides Kenneth +2 protection against head-based physical attacks, and allows him to see special readout data from his radio wave equipment.

the Joe-Com (i): this is a new device given to all Joes since the group's reactivation. This high-tech wristband functions as an audio/video transceiver with various other goodies built in to help a soldier on the go, and is described in greater detail in its own equipment entry.

Radio Wave Equipment (i): Kenneth carries a rig of highly advanced radio wave transmission gear with him on missions. It consists of a primary emitter he can use to beam signals at a specific target, who is bombarded with ultra low frequency radio waves.

These waves have the effect of inducing paranoia in Kenneth's target, and function at intensity 10. People subjected to these U.L.F. waves must pass a Willpower action against this intensity to act normal despite what the signals are doing to their very brains.

In addition to this, Kenneth has additional gear that allows him to serve as an 'RF bomb' of sorts. Thanks to a back mounted generator, along with control circuitry on his chest and various emitters he can strap on to his body, he can transmit radio frequency 'noise' in all directions.

This is an effective Electronic Counter Measure, which can easily jam radar units and communication signals equally well, doing so with intensity 10 ability. Such systems have to overcome Kenneth's interference in order to function at all, though they'll still be less than fully effective.

Semi-automatic Pistol (a): handy should one of his targets get wise to Kenneth's trickery, this sidearm is good for putting down most any opposition. It can be fired to inflict his Agility +4 damage in a single shot, raised to his Agility +5 in a semi-automatic spread.

Hindrances:

(none)

Skills:

Boxing (s): all members of the military are trained in the art of self defense, and Kenneth is no exception. Whenever he engages in unarmed melee, Kenneth may divide his pre-cardplay action score between two attacks, the last of which occurs as a contingent action.

Manipulation (w): in addition to his psychological training, Kenneth is well-versed in the fine art of convincing people to do what he wants - often without them even knowing it. He should receive a reduced difficulty in all efforts to manipulate others, whether covertly or overtly.

Marksmanship (a): though direct action isn't his primary specialty, Kenneth can still readily shoot conventional firearms should the need become apparent. Whether it's a standard, semi-automatic or fully automatic rifle or pistol, Kenneth can fire it at a reduced difficulty.

Military / United States (w): he gained his degree before enlisting, but Kenneth saw that the Army was the way to go for his future. Having been properly indoctrinated, he has an instinctual understanding of the S.O.P., and can easily function in a martial environment.

Psychology (i): the source of his college study, Kenneth is an expert in the human mind and how it operates. He should receive a reduced difficulty on any actions required when predicting the behavior of others, which comes in handy while deciding how to manipulate them...

Calling:

Explorer: Kenneth is always trying to figure out just what makes people tick. Of course this can cause some difficulties when he starts analyzing his teammates' actions and behavior while he's supposed to be reasoning out Cobra's...

Costume:

Kenneth's third Gi Joe uniform is a whole new deal. It includes a light blue jacket worn over a black turtleneck sweater, light blue trousers, black leather boots and gloves, a black leather belt, a chromed thigh holster for his pistol, and a black, device-laden helmet.

Personality:

Kenneth is a very smart individual, who can't help but exert his knowledge of the human mind upon others. He thinks in symbolism and is inherently duplicitous, not because he's a shady person but because he's always trying to think 'ahead' of his enemies by several steps.

Real Name: Kenneth D. Rich, Grade O-2 (later O-3)
Occupation: psy-ops expert, counselor
Legal Status: citizen of the United States with no known criminal record
Marital Status: single
Alias(es), if any: none
Group Affiliation: Gi Joe, Night Force (Gi Joe sub-group), Super-sonic Fighters (Gi Joe sub-group)

Height: 5' 10"
Hair: blonde
Eyes: blue
Weight: 165 lbs
Other Distinguishing Characteristics: none

Story:

Kenneth got his start at the University of Berkley, where he received his degree in psychology, particularly in deceptive warfare. You can kind of get a hint at the nature of his work by his doctoral thesis: 'the Use of T-Shirt Slogans in Enemy Troop Demoralization.'

Once he had his degree, Kenneth became involved with all kinds of experiments involving the inducement of paranoia using ultra low frequency (U.L.F.) radio waves, a methodology all too familiar to the military, who has dealt with similar Cobra technology in the past.

From there Kenneth enlisted in the armed forces, and was quickly put to work at Fort Bragg, where he became a leading expert and pioneer on broadcast-based behavioral modification. This bleeding edge work got him noticed by the powers that be, however.

It wasn't long before this psy-ops expert was recruited onto the Gi Joe team. Once he'd managed to survive the Gi Joe entrance exam, Kenneth was mixed in with the rest of the Joes, though they were in the process of building their new base in the time, and somewhat paranoid.

Investigating this with Chuckles, Kenneth inadvertently discovered the Joes' biggest new secret: the Defiant space complex! The two were finally 'cleared' shortly after this though, and quickly got to work with their new teammates against various international terrorists.

Kenneth's specific work involved a lot of highly classified, Special Missions work. His job was to anticipate Cobra actions in the face of various threats and events, usually helping the rest of a field group to perform some nefarious deed or another against them without their knowledge.

He continued on with the Joes for years, slowly becoming more and more vital to the team. He's worked with the Night Force and developed experimental gadgetry both for his own use and for the team's 'Sonic Fighters' experimental weapons group.

When the Joes folded temporarily in '94, Kenneth continued his work with conventional military forces, as the Army can always use men like him to do predictive analysis on enemy action. He remained there in this capacity even after the Joes were reactivated a few years later.

Of course, when the Joes have need of him, Kenneth is always ready to lend his specialized assistance to his team, as he did both during the second Cobra Island Civil War and of course World War III itself, helping to narrowly avoid a Cobra takeover of the entire world!

Extra Goodies:

Gi Joe directories featuring a version of Psyche-Out: