Muskrat

Powers:

(none)

Equipment:

Grenades (i): Muskrat carries two of these explosives pinned to his vest while on the job. He can fling them up to one area away, to inflict intensity 10 damage to all uncovered targets within near missile range of where they detonate.

Helmet (s): though he didn't used to wear a helmet, Muskrat started in order to take advantage of his new head-mounted missile launcher (no, really)! It provides him +2 protection against fire and physical attacks, and like Screened Senses for his sight and vision.

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.

Machete (s): while most Joes carry a knife in the field, Muskrat's is... larger. This foot-long blade can be used to cut through most vegetation with ease. It is built from m.s. 12 materials, and can inflict +2 damage in melee or cut through items of like m.s.

Machine Guns (a): though he prefers his shotgun, Muskrat does carry more rapid-fire weapons into the field these days. He can fire one of these weapons to inflict his Agility +5 damage in a short burst, raised to his Agility +6 damage when fired fully automatic.

Missile Launcher (i): a recent addition to Muskrat's arsenal is a missile launcher that he aims with his head, as it attaches to his helmet (!) It can only fire one projectile at a time, but this projectile inflicts intensity 10 damage upon striking its target.

Semi-automatic Pistols (a): back-ups for his shotgun, should he be unable to fire it, Muskrat carries several handguns on his person, on hip and chest holsters. They can be fired to inflict his Agility +4 damage in a single shot, raised to +5 in a semi-automatic burst.

Shotgun (a): Muskrat's weapon of choice, he can fire this to devastating effect. His pistol-grip shotgun inflicts his Agility +5 damage to all targets within a 30 degree arc in front of his person, easily allowing him to hit multiple targets in a pinch.

Hindrances:

(none)

Skills:

Boxing (s): Muskrat didn't need help in the fine art of self-defense, but you know how the military is. He can divide his pre-cardplay action score between two unarmed melee attacks, the last of which occurs as a contingent action.

Marksmanship (a): Muskrat didn't really need training in the use of guns by the Army either, but they helped polish his technique some. Whenever wielding any modern firearm, whether a standard, semi-automatic or fully automatic rifle or pistol, Muskrat may do so at a reduced difficulty.

Military / United States (w): while it isn't really the source of his skills, the Army did help Muskrat to fine tune his techniques to a professional level. Of course it did pound the Standard Operating Procedure into his head, so he fights effectively in a group now.

Survival (w): growing up in the wilds of Louisiana, hunting day by day for food, Muskrat learned this skill much, much younger than most military recruits do (if they ever do). He can easily scrounge up enough food, water and shelter to persist in any terrestrial environment.

Calling:

Soldier: Muskrat enjoys the military life - after his harsh childhood, he finds it to be fun! He's more than happy to use his skills in the defense of his friends and family, as well as to serve his country to the best of his ability!

Costume:

Muskrat's third Gi Joe field uniform is... conspicuous. It includes a dark blue vest beneath an orange armored plate, tan and dark blue trousers, tan colored boots, tan and orange wrist guards, orange holsters for his guns, and a tan colored helmet with a missile launcher attachment.

Personality:

Ross grew up tough and wild, and is known for holding his own against all manner of scofflaws in the swamps surrounding his Thibodaux, Louisiana home, even as a child. Despite this, he displays an almost innocent manner in both speech and behavior at times.

Real Name: Ross A. Williams, Grade E-4
Occupation: infantryman
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 (a Gi Joe sub-group)

Height: 6' 1"
Hair: brown
Eyes: hazel
Weight: 160 lbs.
Other Distinguishing Characteristics: none.

Story:

Muskrat is one tough cookie. Like fellow Joe swamp rat Gung-Ho, Muskrat spent his wee years hip-deep in the swamps of Louisiana, where he grew up hunting raccoon, wild pig, or anything else that moved down there. You wind up tough when you have to hunt up your lunch every day.

This crucible allowed Muskrat to hold his own even against the local moonshiners, chain gang escapees, and even smugglers who gave him grief while trying to score his next meal. Enlisting in the Army was pretty much a vacation to the man, and Ranger / Jungle Warfare training a summer camp.

Far from being taught how to fight and survive in an exotic location, this was merely reinforcing Muskrat's existing skills, and the man managed to teach his instructors a thing or two about swamp fighting. This is ultimately what got the man his position on the Gi Joe team.

He joined the team in 1988, after breezing his way through the group's generally grueling entrance exams, and had his first mission alongside several other new Joes, including Hardball, Charbroil, Rumbler, and Hit & Run, way out in the Caribbean sea.

The tectonic disruption that had created Cobra Island had seemingly just produced another small island, and the Joe team was charged with keeping Cobra off of that rock until the U.S. could claim it; the Joes succeeded, but the rock proved too unstable, and sank again soon afterwards.

Muskrat's next mission saw him in action on American soil - in the heart of New York City, in fact, where the team was charged with stopping Cobra (who were disguised as Iron Grenadiers) from raiding a classified facility housed in the heart of the Chrysler building.

Muskrat was present on several additional missions with his fellow Joes, a large portion of which were classified Special Missions, the details of which have yet to be revealed to this very day. He continued on with the Gi Joe team until it was deactivated in 1994.

What Muskrat got up to after this time is unknown; he found most conventional military service unchallenging. He may have simply returned to the swamps to entertain himself, but this has yet to be revealed. He has answered the call when the reformed Joes asked for help, however.

He did so during the second Cobra Island Civil War, as well as during World War III, when Cobra came close to conquering the entire planet! After this, the Joes were maintained at full strength, and Muskrat has stayed on with his old war buddies ever since.

Extra Goodies:

Gi Joe directories featuring a version of Muskrat: