Strength 6d

Agility 7b

Intellect 6x

Willpower 5d

Hand Size: Edge:

3 (17) 1

Known Powers:

(none)

Equipment:

Helmet: knowing just how deadly most artillery can be (since he tends to be the one that dishes out punishment with like weaponry), Matthew always wears a helmet while on the job. This device offers him +2 protection from any head-based attack, assuming it doesn't hit him in the face.

Monocular: this handy device gives Matthew the effective vision of an eagle. Enhancing his range of vision to line of sight, this lens enhances his ability to spot Cobra (or other) positions, and thus obliterate them. Other than that, though, this device offers him no special bonuses.

Semi-Automatic Pistol: a sort of back-up weapon should Matthew find himself unable to use his Slugger while on a mission, this vest-holstered piece is his last martial resort in a pinch. It can be fired to inflict damage as would any other +4 weapon with a single shot, +5 in a semi-auto burst.

the Slugger Self Propelled Cannon: Matthew truly loves this beastie, since it's essentially a 175mm gun on wheels. When he's not jamming on heavy metal music, he's usually firing this thing, either at Cobra gear or on the test range. This heavy duty weapon has its own vehicular description.

Hindrances:

(none)

Skills:

Artillery: on top of his training in the use of guns, Matthew has also been well educated in the use of more... intense hardware. Whether he's firing a mortar, a shoulder-mounted anti-tank rocket, or even the gun on his Slugger S.P.C., Matthew may do so at a reduced difficulty level.

Boxing: while he does prefer to utilize guns (really big ones) in combat, Matthew has nonetheless been trained in the use of unarmed fighting techniques - just in case. As such, the man can divide his pre-cardplay action score between two attacks, the last of which occurs as a contingent action.

Driving: while mostly an artillery expert, Matthew has also learned how to drive most ground-based vehicles when necessary (after all, many really big guns have to be mounted on a vehicular chassis). When driving such a device, Matthew can attempt any driving action at a reduced difficulty level.

Marksmanship: a large portion of Matthew's Army basic training involved him learning how to fire a gun effectively in battle. When firing a standard, semi-automatic, or fully automatic rifle or pistol, or even an oddball gun like a shotgun, Matthew may do so at a reduced difficulty level.

Military / United States: serving as a handy origin for his many skills, this talent represents most of the ability granted by Matthew's basic training. This skill imparts unto him an almost instinctual understanding of military protocols and procedures, and allows him to lead fighting men into battle if necessary.

Calling:

Soldier, with a secondary calling of Thrill-Seeker: Matthew is a patriotic fellow, to be sure, but the man didn't necessarily sign up with the armed forces out of a sense of duty, oh no. You see, he really gets off in the midst of loud noises, whether they come from music or something he's shooting.

Costume:

When on the job with the Joes, Matthew wears a practical, comfortable field uniform. It consists of a black pair of trousers, a brown, long sleeved shirt, a green bullet-proof vest (with gun holster mounted on top), a green leather belt, a green helmet, brown leather boots, and black leather gloves.

Personality:

Matthew likes loud things - he always has, and always will. He was born around noise, grew up in a noisy part of town, and digs loud music. He's not happy unless noise is exploding around him, whether the source is his stereo or the report of a gun he's firing. He has an unnatural love for peanut brittle.

Real Name: Matthew Harris Breckinridge, grade E-5
Occupation: artillery specialist
Legal Status: citizen of the United States with no known criminal record
Marital Status: single
Alias(es), if any: none
Group Affiliation: G.I. Joe

Height: 6'
Hair: red
Eyes: blue
Weight: 175 lbs
Other Distinguishing Characteristics: none

Story:

Matthew was born and raised next door to a Louisville, Kentucky foundry. While it isn't certain, this may account for his love of loud noises - he was around them though his entire childhood. This definitely explains his love for heavy metal music, as well as the reason he went for artillery training.

After all, when asked why he chose such a military specialty, he simply replied "I want to hear them go bang." He's quite the competent artillerist, too, knowing his job in and out; it makes his job that much more satisfying when he actually blows something up besides the dirt on a test range.

Matthew's artillery skill and quirky personality got him noticed by the G.I. Joe team, who was about to add a new weapon, the Slugger, to its ever-growing arsenal. Since they needed several folks with such skill to man the things, they got him the necessary vehicular training and scooped him up.

He served on the team for several years, participating in all kinds of missions against the evil forces of Cobra, a terrorist organization determined to rule the world. Most of these have yet to be declassified, of course, so their true nature has yet to be revealed. Save for one notorious one, of course.

While on a supposed 'milk run' mission in Trucial Abysmia, Thunder and several other Joes ran into much more opposition than they had planned for, and were captured. Their ersatz jailers, Tomax and Xamot, misinterpreted the dictates of their Commander, and in turn ordered their prisoners killed.

When their would-be assassin (one of Cobra's new Saw-Vipers) opened fire on the captured Joes, several of them attempted to shield their fellows from the gunfire with their very bodies, Matthew being one such Joe. As such, he died on the spot, though some of the Joes he saved eventually escaped with their lives.

After dealing with their foes, the surviving three members of the G.I. Joe team originally sent on this mission collected the many bodies of their fallen comrades, including Matthew, in order to give them a proper burial upon getting them home. In fact, Matthew received a burial in the Arlington national cemetery.

A posthumous honor, but one nonetheless.