Strength 6d

Agility 3d

Intellect 4d*

Willpower 4d

Hand Size: Edge:

2 (10) 0

* only the first two versions of the Cobra officers have the espionage skill; the newer ones have a 4x Intellect.

Powers:

(none)

Equipment:

AK-47 Assault Rifle (v1, v3): this Russian-built, semi or fully automatic rifle is built to last, being readily adapted for almost any duty imaginable. The gun itself fires a small burst of shells, acting as a +5 weapon when doing so, or a full-auto spread, acting as a +6 weapon in such a mode. The latter tends to burn clips, but Python Patrol officers carry several on hand...

Dragunov Sniper Rifle (v2): this Russian-built, semi-automatic rifle is built primarily with assassinations in mind, though it can be used in a firefight in a pinch. The gun itself fires rather large shells, making it act as a +5 weapon, though it can also be used to fire a small burst that allows it to act as a +6 weapon in a pinch. It is also equipped with a scope, offering +1 to hit in sniping situations.

Grenades (v3): in their newer incarnation, Cobra officers have been equipped with two grenades apiece, in addition to their other hardware. They carry one incendiary and one fragmentary grenade, both of which inflict intensity 10 damage of the proper type (fiery or shrapnel) to everybody within striking distance of the grenade's detonation - nasty, no?

Helmet (v1, v2): all Cobra officers wear a helmet, in order to increase relative safety on the field and to protect from the ever-deadly head shot. Made of material strength 10 metals, this helmet offers its wearer +2 protection from any non-frontal head attacks. This may not be enough to deflect all damage in a given instance, but it nonetheless helps to save lives...

Helmet (v3): in their new incarnation, all Cobra officers wear a variant of the Viper's helmet. This one is a gray affair with a silvery, acrylic/composite face plate that acts as a one-way mirror. The helmet offers +2 protection against head attacks, +1 against those targeted on their face plate. It also has an intensity 3 R.T.O. suite built in, offering effective radio communications within 25 miles.

Knife: though they'd rather not do so, all Cobra officers are equipped to fight hand to hand in the event that they completely run out of ammunition (and they usually carry several spare clips to prevent this). These blades are of material strength 12, and in a Cobra officer's hands, they can be used as +2 weapons with each deadly strike.

Multi-Layer Body Armor (v3): standard issue uniforms of the new Cobra officers consist of a utilitarian, multi-layered kevlar weave, a weave that offers them some protection from assault. This handy costume offers the Cobra officer +2 protection from physical attacks of any type. This may not protect against heavier artillery, but it definitely dulls small arms fire.

Pistol (v3): in the event that one's Dragunov or AK-47 is disabled, a Cobra officer always has a spare handgun handy, stored in a convenient hip holster for quick access. These guns can be used to fire a single shot, acting as a +4 weapon, or a short burst which drains the entire clip, but increases their effectiveness to +5. The clip can presumably hold 8 rounds before it needs reloaded.

Wraith Suit (v2): the prime benefit of being a member of the Python Patrol, other than the increase in pay, is that the Cobra officers who accept this promotion receive the use of a handy wraith suit. This suit, which doubles as their uniform, makes the officers invisible to infra-red scanners and all manner of radar technology. This stealth technology functions at intensity 15.

Hindrances:

(none)

Skills:

Boxing: all Cobra officers are trained in at least one form of unarmed combat once they hook up with the group, if they don't already have one under their belt. A majority learn the fine art of boxing, allowing them to divide their pre-cardplay action score between two unarmed melee attacks per exchange, the last of which will occur as a contingent action.

Espionage (v1, v2): one of the skills that give Cobra officers an edge over their subordinates is their ability to worm their way into a facility and then pose as an ordinary staff member, whether it be a nuclear power plant, defense contractor, or even a television station. Cobra officers perform all infiltration attempts, and any other detective action, at one difficulty level lower than is normally required.

Marksmanship: a given prerequisite, all Cobra operatives must have the ability to use a gun in combat; if they don't have it upon joining Cobra, they are trained - and quickly. Any Cobra officer can use a regular, semi-automatic, or fully automatic gun or rifle with proficiency, doing so at one difficulty level lower than is normally required.

Military: a quasi-military organization, Cobra encourages an easily recognizable (to those within, at least) command structure. As such, those not bringing experience in such matters tend to pick it up quickly, in order to rise through the ranks; those who don't typically don't get this far. This skill gives Cobra officers an edge concerning military protocols and regulations.

Calling:

Various Callings: the vast, vast majority of Cobra operatives have joined up for their own, evil purposes, so choose a villainous calling and go with it! Nominally, Cobra officers are motivated by Greed or aspirations of World Domination, but anything else can really apply. For instance, Storm Shadow hooked up with Cobra to gain Vengeance, etc...

Costume:

The standard Cobra officer uniform consists of a blue jumpsuit, accompanied with a blue helmet and bears the Cobra sigil, in silver, on the front upper torso. The uniform is then complemented by black gloves, black boots, black knee-pads, a black strap-on knife sheath, a black, pouch-riddled belt, black webbing with pockets for extra clips, and a black face mask.

Those Cobra officers who were promoted into the Python Patrol wear a uniform that, while recolored, is similar to the original Cobra trooper's suits. This consists of a black snake-skin jumpsuit (with a red Cobra emblem on the chest), accompanied by yellow gloves, a yellow-green belt, yellow-green webbing, sheathes, holsters, and knee-pads, gray boots, a gray helmet, and a red face mask.

After their rank's re-creation, the almost bottom-of-the-barrel Cobra soldier's uniform was actually changed into a variant of the Viper's. It consists of gray trousers, a gray vest, and a gray, short-sleeved shirt, coupled with a gray helmet that bears a mirrored face plate that completely obscures the features of its wearer. The uniform also has a black belt, black boots, and steel wrist guards.

Personality:

Originally, Cobra officers represented the best of the best, being highly trained and extremely highly motivated terrorists, those who hooked up with the organization in order to further their own, personal agendas. While criminal minded, these folk still knew what they were doing, and though they might fail in their missions, they weren't necessarily bumbling fools. The officers were the cream of the crop.

After Cobra re-created this particular rank, the general mindset of these folks was somewhat different. Being made up of the dregs of human society, these folk were the crackpots, the mass murderers, and all the insane anarchists who needed an outlet for their personal violence. They're only officers in name, really, in that the only thing separating them from troopers is the slightest hint of leadership ability.

Notes:

For years, being a Cobra officer was a high point in the career of an aspiring terrorist, in that they got their own command and quite a lot of cash, to boot. Furthermore, the opportunities for advancement were quite good, and usually involved getting to be in charge of high tech equipment, like F.A.N.G. helicopters or H.I.S.S. tanks. Of course, an officer could always become a Crimson Guardsman...

A few such officers, those who had not already been promoted into these glorious Cobra positions, were eventually routed into the Python Patrol. In this capacity, these fellows were intermediate-ranking members of this particular branch of the Cobra Island military, taking care of most of the group's day to day operations, and answering only to the Crimson Guardsmen brought in to run the Patrol.

When Cobra regrouped after almost being destroyed by U.S. forces, the Cobra officer rank was re-created. In its new role, the Cobra officer only represented a slightly more talented thug than a Cobra trooper, though the distinction is easily made with a uniform color change. These goons have no real special ability, other than the slightest skill to keep a unit together, and can only be promoted to one job - that of a Viper.