Grand Slam

F       A       S       E       R       I       P       Res     Pop
Gd 10   Gd 10   Gd 10   Gd 10   Ex 20   Gd 10   Gd 10   Gd 10   Sh 0

Health: 40
Karma:  40

Origin:

Like the vast, vast majority of the G.I.Joe team, James is a normal human, a guy lacking any super human powers to speak of.  However, he might be considered a high tech hero, in that he wields a highly advanced laser assault weapon - the H.A.L. - and is often seen wearing the J.U.M.P. jet pack. 

Known Powers:

(none) 

Equipment:

H.A.L.:  the H.A.L., or Heavy Artillery Laser, is a very potent laser cannon that is too heavy to actually carry around; it must be towed from place to place (it cannot move under its own power).  This device is described in it's own equipment entry, so go check it out! 

J.U.M.P. (v2):  the J.U.M.P., or Jet Mobile Propulsion Unit, is an extremely advanced (and classified) strap-on vehicle that allows James (or anybody using it) exceptional mobility in battle.  Though somewhat heavy, it lets them fly about a battle zone with impunity, and is described in it's own equipment entry. 

Mirrored Helmet:  this mostly ordinary military helmet comes equipped with a ray-shielded visor, which comes in handy when you work with lasers for a living.  This visor is proof against laser (or other photon beams) of up to Incredible (40) intensity, protecting James's eyes from all but the strongest beams. 

Thermal Pads:  worn on his chest, arms, and thighs, these pads work to diffuse the force of impact and heat damage caused by explosions or laser weaponry (though the latter offers little real impact).  These pads offer the protected areas Remarkable (30) resistance to Heat and Kinetic attack. 

Quirks:

(none) 

Talents:

Advanced Guns:  unlike most of the original Joe team, James is skilled in the use of advanced energy weapons as well as your standard slug-throwers.  He can use these weapons just like any other gun, and this skill offers him a +1 CS to his Agility while doing so. 

Electronics:  having a serious degree in electronics engineering, James really knows his way around high tech gear.  As such, his Reason in such areas ought to be considered +1 CS, whether he be attempting to design, build, or repair electronic devices. 

Guns:  while he's usually seated in the H.A.L. or flying about in the J.U.M.P. unit, James can nonetheless use standard, semi-automatic, and full auto slug-throwers with competency, doing so as if his Agility score were +1 CS higher than it already is. 

Martial Arts type B:  thanks to his basic army training, James has the means to defend himself against attack should he find himself unarmed.  For instance, he can add a +1 CS to his Fighting score when making unarmed melee attacks - and James really knows how to dish 'em out... 

Military:  a member of the Army as well as the G.I.Joe team, James is well-versed in military practices and protocols.  His Reason score in such matters should be considered +1 CS.  Furthermore, this talent, as a background bonus, offers James the military as a free contact. 

Contacts:

James is a member of the G.I.Joe team, and as such, can easily rely upon them for help should he need it - especially since he's one of the original Joes.  Furthermore, as a military man, he can also call the Military a reliable contact as well, since they generally look after their own... 

Costume:

James originally wore a green pair of Army fatigues at all times, adorned with red (later silver) thermal pads on his arms chest, and thighs.  Furthermore, he wears gray boots and gloves, and a green helmet with a mirrored visor while in action. 

His second uniform was a much darker, olive green in hue.  He switched his boots and gloves to black (as opposed to gray), and his laser reflective pads were altered to be silver in color (presumably for a greater mirrored / refractive effect).  Other than the color change, though, it's the same suit. 

Personality:

James is a shy and unassuming sort. Unlike a lot of the other Joes, he's not a loud and obnoxious type, usually keeping to himself unless somebody needs him for something.  He often spends his off time reading, usually science fiction materials, either because he likes it or likes making fun of it. 

Of course, don't let this make you underestimate his combat prowess, especially with advanced laser weaponry.  He loves using his high tech gear to blow things up or otherwise render them useless, and he gets more than his fair share of opportunities to do so with the Joes.  Thus, he's a happy man... 

Real Name:  James J. Barney, grade E-5 (later E-7)
Occupation:  G.I.Joe techie, security, laser artillery
Legal Status:  American citizen with no known criminal record
Marital Status:  presumably single
Alias(es), if any:  none
Group Affiliation:  G.I.Joe

Height:  5' 10"
Hair:  brown
Eyes:  brown
Weight:  175 lbs.
Other Distinguishing Characteristics:  none 

Story:

James was a kid fascinated, obsessed even, with comic books and science fiction. This naturally led him to drool over high tech gear of all kinds, and he grew up to become an electronics engineer.  Joining up with the Army soon after, he quickly got involved with their advanced weaponry. 

He went through both Special Weapons and Advanced Technology schools, and with his true love for technology, he managed to graduate at the top of his class in both.  This drew the attentions of one Colonel Hawk, who was at the time assembling an elite force to serve on an anti-terrorist team. 

This team was G.I.Joe. 

In the capacity of a laser artillery trooper, it was James' duty to utilize the H.A.L. - a heavy assault laser - on Joe missions that needed an incredible amount of firepower.  He used it on several missions, including the Joes' rescue of Doctor Adele Burkhart, during which he used the H.A.L. to destroy Cobra tanks. 

On another mission, James found himself in conflict with the would-be poet, Major Bludd, when the villain hijacked a bus to flee the Joes.  Riding up on a R.A.M. cycle with Stalker, he smashed his way through the bus' windshield, and pummeled Bludd unconscious - a lot. 

Soon after this, James was taken off active duty, along with several other original Joes, in order to allow the team to perform its own administration; in other words, he was given a desk job.  Of course, James used this opportunity to get involved in the development of the Joes' new high tech gear. 

During one such test, of the new S.L.A.M. - Strategic Long-range Assault Machine - James and several other mobilized Joes were attacked by Raptor, an insane Cobra hawk-master, and Cobra Commander himself, wearing his battle armor and wielding a freakish Pogo assault pod. 

Still later, James was assigned to the training of prospective Joes. During an exercise for new trainees Budo, Repeater and Lightfoot, James wound up getting seriously injured, but his students managed to finish the operation without his help, thus proving their worth. 

James' final assignment was to the security of the new, third Pit, the Joes secret headquarters in Utah, and he helped to repel an invasion attempt by Cobra Commander during this time.  He filled this role until the Joe team was disbanded back in '94. 

Having nothing else to do, he returned to the Army as an advanced weapons researcher.  However, with a recent resurgence in Cobra activities, James has likely returned to the Joe team, lending his expert knowledge to their efforts against Cobra, and other terrorist organizations...