Updraft

Strength        Agility         Intellect       Willpower
5d              7b              5x              5d

Hand Size:      4 (25)
Edge:           2

Known Powers:

(none)

Equipment:

Hand Guns (a): Matthew carries two of these with him while on the job, both of which can be used to fire a single shot capable of inflicting his Agility +4 damage. One has semi-automatic capability (his Agility +5 damage) and the other has a scope (reduces aim/ambush difficulty by one difficulty level).

Helmet (s): being a pilot, Matthew makes sure to wear this thing while he's on the job - you never know when you're going to get hit (or shot) in the head. This item provides him his Strength +2 protection from physical attacks that strike him in the head, and like Protected Senses for his vision when the visor is down.

Knife (s): no matter what kind of high tech hardware you have at your disposal, sometimes you just need a simple tool to cut something - or someone. As such, Matthew carries a knife of m.s. 12 with him on missions in a sheath attached to his flight jacket, which he can use to inflict his Strength +2 damage in melee.

Retaliator (i): his primary implement in the war against international terrorism, this high tech helicopter is flown by (and was partially designed by) Matthew. This small, two-seat flying vehicle has considerable armaments and towing capability (and a scary 'capture claw'), and is described in its own vehicular entry.

Hindrances:

(none)

Skills:

Aerial Combat (a): not just a pilot, Matthew has the ability to fight effectively while at the stick of most any helicopter (or as a gunman for another pilot). He may resolve all combat actions while in the air at one difficulty level lower than usual, whether it's offensive or defensive in nature.

Boxing (s): a vital chunk of his Army training, Matthew has been educated in the fine art of utilizing his own body as a lethal implement - you never know when you'll find yourself completely unarmed. He may divide his pre-cardplay action score between two unarmed attacks, the last of which will occur as a contingent action.

Marksmanship (a): another portion of his Army basic training, Matthew has learned how to utilize most conventional firearms available should the need arise, whether foreign or domestic. He may fire most standard, semi-automatic or fully automatic rifles or pistols at one difficulty level lower than is normally necessary.

Military / United States (w): the source of all his other talents, this skill serves as a handy 'origin' of sorts for Matthew. In addition to providing the training for his other skills, the military has trained Matthew how to lead fighting men into battle if necessary - and has given him practical experience in doing so.

Piloting (a): a masterful pilot, Matthew has the ability to operate a helicopter like an extension of his own body. He may attempt to fly any such vehicle at a reduced difficulty, and as may use his Strength or Agility to resolve piloting actions (master level). But then he tends to wear them like a second skin...!

Calling:

Soldier: Matthew is a pilot for the Army - while the 'Army' is sort of incidental, it's true that being a pilot is a part and parcel of his existence. The man loves being in the air, and works constantly at being the best combat helicopter pilot he can be - heck, it helps him stay in the military to do what he loves. 

Costume:

While on duty Matthew wears a gray flight jacket with burgundy trim, elbow pads and shoulder pads, a khakis colored pair of trousers, black and burgundy boots and gloves, a burgundy leather belt, a burgundy holster for his semi-auto hand gun (rests on his hip), a burgundy sheath for his knife (rests on his shoulder) and a gray helmet.

Personality:

Matthew's a born flier - he loves being in the air, and he really loves helicopters. He has so much air time logged that it's often startling to not see him in the cockpit. But then he's gotten to the point that flying a 'copter isn't a science, and isn't an art form - it's virtually an extension of his own body.

Real Name: Matthew W. Smithers, Grade O-3
Occupation: helicopter pilot, flight instructor
Legal Status: citizen of the United States with no known criminal record
Marital Status: single
Alias(es), if any: Eggbeater
Group Affiliation: G. I. Joe

Height: 6'
Hair: light brown
Eyes: brown
Weight: 160 lbs.
Other Distinguishing Characteristics: none.

Story:

The Army has many helicopter pilots, most of which are pretty good when you get down to it. But pilots like Matthew are pretty hard to come by. This guy's one of the single best helicopter fighters the world has ever seen - but this has a whole lot to do with his curious, unique flying (and fighting) style.

You see Matthew has a sort of meditative, almost Zen flying style. He molds his mind and reflexes to the helicopter around him, even as it seems to shape itself to complement him - so much so that the vehicle will move with his own body language. You can actually tell he's flying a 'copter from almost any distance.

This strange ability has lended itself well to Matthew's Army career, not to mention various competitions; he's won the World Helicopter Championships for America on at least one occasion. Furthermore, he's served as a special instructor at the Army's Flight Warrant Officer school at Fort Rucker. He's just that good.

This is what got him selected to be a potential G.I. Joe operative. Matthew passed the 'audition' for the team easily enough, but he didn't see a lot of action with the group at first. This because he was actually aiding in the final design and construction of a rather unique helicopter - the one and only Retaliator.

This highly responsive helicopter was mainly designed with a pilot of Matthew's ability in mind, and is incredibly agile as a result. It's also able to haul a very large amount of cargo, and has a one of a kind 'capture claw' actually built into the tail, which Matthew can use to seize opposing ground forces if necessary.

Once he had a final working model of the thing, Matthew used it on various classified 'Special Missions' for the Joe team, the nature of which have yet to be revealed for the most part. Matthew is known to have been present during Cobra's last attack on the third Pit, in Utah, which was primarily a test of their new radar suppression tech.

Of course, the villains had to make a good show of it, and did their level best to total the place and everyone in it in the process. This attack failed of course, and Matthew and his many teammates drove off the invading terrorist forces. Shortly after this, however, the G.I. Joe team was deactivated - for the first time.

It is unknown exactly what Matthew did after the Joe team was disbanded in '94. He presumably remained with conventional armed forces, since there are few other places you can fly vehicles the government designed with you in mind. Regardless, Matthew remains ready to rejoin the new G.I. Joe team should it but ask him to!