Viper was spending a calm summer evening reviewing the Financial Records for the Dayton Motor Freaks. This was what he did to relax, others went on walks but he found that it took too long to get anywhere and that just raised his blood pressure. The Horde was strong, he didn't need the books to tell him that, but they were getting tight on cash to buy raw materials and fuel.
“What's the problem?” he muttered to himself.
He knew of a warehouse full of G&P paper products since Understudies always got the job of taking inventory for the Exchequer. That could be expected since G&P got special treatment at the tollbooths. But trading toll passage for product shouldn't drain the treasury. This continuing loss had been haunting him for quite awhile and he decided he would bring it up with the Exchequer the next time they met.
Viper set aside the Tome, shutdown the associated computer database and settled down to surfing the late night GFPN newsfeeds. One channel he stopped at had this GothRat with a strong East Coast accent in a heated discussion with the commentator.
“What you talk’n about?” yelled the Rat.
“Well, you say there is great evil in this land, where is it? GFPN has taken the remnants of seven dysfunctional networks and turned it into the greatest Media Company anywhere, free speak has never been this pervasive“ replied the commentator.
“Get out of here. You show what you're told and give token coverage of other views at 3 AM like we're doing right now.”
Jerry Springer the fourth? No wrong channel. Normally he would have just kept surfing, not caring much for the talk of vermin. But he stopped to look at the sword he held at his side. How did he get that into the studio? GFPN security was pretty tight ever since the Cactus Liberation Front's attack of the Dallas studio during the Governors debate.
He remembered hearing of a Rat with an Artifact sword who spouted off about what was wrong in America today. Was this the same guy? It was definitely late too many things were going through his mind.
“What do you mean, I have full control over the content on this program, I make eight figures and have two homes, New America is Great!” glowed the GFPN announcer.
“I'm talking about an America in fragments, fighting amongst ourselves, but always behind the scenes is an unseen power guiding and controlling the groups, keeping us weak and divided.”
“Are you so blind as to not see the strings?” added the Rat after a pause.
Viper's life was fine; he had obtained status, private quarters, and extra food rations. What was wrong with the way America was now, the Horde was a force to be reckoned with, controlling the vital road interchange between I-75 and I-70. Most corps paid the small tolls rather than run the mutant gauntlet. Like was good. Then he thought of the financial records, maybe the world wasn't quite perfect.
“Computer define a task for tomorrow, follow up on the Horde's revenue drain.” Viper said to the wall panel. Viper's dog ‘Dog’ looked up from his nap; “sorry pal no snacks tonight it's time for bed.” was Viper's groggy reply.
<<< >>>
The next day Viper made it a point to walk by the Exchequer Gemini's office. “A moment of your time, if I may, Sir?”
“Yes, come in.” Gemini said from behind the large wooden desk of this musty office.
“I have a few questions about our finances. It seems we're losing money somewhere over the last few years and it's starting to hurt.”
That's odd, we're making quite a bit from tolls, where is it all going?” Gemini said with an eyebrow raised.
I haven't figured that out, but there seem to be a lot of small accounts, not any large ones that I've found.” Viper then sighed and added; “We're being pin pricked to death.”
“Well look into this, we're months from the year end books but this sounds important.”
As Viper walked back to his desk he wondered who could be behind this drain. Who? Why?
Short of having the mutants check their own records, no one was brought in to audit the books, if you can't trust family who can you trust.
<<< >>>
The unshaven and haggard Viper looked away from the monitor rubbing his eyes. He had found over a dozen automatic monthly withdrawals that had been established against the Horde's accounts. It wasn't Sosueme First Global Bank; the trail kept coming back to an internal source within the Horde. But it was very convoluted; someone had hidden his or her trail well. Several Swiss accounts were getting fat at the expense of the Dayton Motor Freaks, and that had to stop. Who could he trust and who could he not, nothing like getting paranoid when you're hot n the trail of an embezzler.
“So Dog, who could be doing this?” Viper said looking down at the shepherd mix that had been sleeping on the bed beside Viper's desk.
Just then there was a knock on the door, “Enter” replied Viper more to the computer than to the unknown visitor. Gemini entered Viper's quarters, Viper stumbled in his rush to stand.
“Sir, to what do I owe the honor of your presence?”
“Just wanted to check on your progress into these account transfers” commented Gemini.
Well Sir, I've found a several regular occurrences of withdrawals from Horde accounts, I've not determined who, why or to whom. Ahhhh Overseer Sir I never mentioned account transfers, how did you know?”
“I've been monitoring your computer usage, just to make sure everything is on the up and up.”
“As I say Sir, I have a few leads but don't know who has done them, but he or she is draining the Horde of most of our cash reserves. Based on this information should we not alert the Dominator and the internal security forces.”
“Why would we want to do that young man?” Gemini replied as he pulled a gun and pointed it at Viper.
“Well, er, maybe I was a bit hasty, I don't think I‘ll ever figure out who is taking the money. Perhaps a new assignment is in order for me, what do you say Sir?
“I agree, how about cremation test subject.”
“That's not exactly my first choice, how about a pizza delivery man.” Viper replied as Dog perked up his ears.
“You don't think I can let you live after finding all of those carefully concealed transfers, do you?”
“One could hope” Viper replied and then yelled “Dog, PIZZA” pointing at Gemini as he ducked low behind his desk. The mutt lunched at Gemini taking him off guard allowing Viper to avoid the bullet that went into the chair that he had been sitting in. Viper's short legs carried him to and on top of the prone body of the Exchequer. Dog had given him time to reach the tall accountant, who had not seen combat in many years. The animals ‘attack’ was more a knock ‘em down and take their food move that Dog had perfected over the years.
Both combatants wrestle for the gun, rolling back and forth across the room. Viper gained the advantage when Dog licked the Exchequer on the face as he rolled up to him. That moment of disgust was the distraction Viper needed to turn the gun back toward Gemini, and in the tussle the gun fired then all was silent.
Viper lay on the ground sucking in air, what was he going to do, he had just killed the Exchequer. “Think man” he said to himself, he had to disappear, Gemini had to disappear, who else was apart of this plot, who could he trust?
After getting what wits about him that he could, Viper looked at his watch three hours till dusk, he'd have to wait to ‘dispose’ of the body until after dark. In the meantime he'd go back to the computer and the dozen transfer accounts that he had found. Over the next few hours Viper moved and adjusted each account re-vectoring the money back to the Horde, all but two that is. Viper set-up a Swiss account in his name and vectored the two transfers to his new account. A “Finders Fee” or call it a “Stipend”, that was how Viper justified it, besides he would need money if he left the Freaks tonight as he had planned.
As Viper waited for nightfall he packed his meager possessions and readied his quad for travel. He left a mail message for the Dominator stating that he had found ten accounts that were transferring funds outside the Horde without authorization and that he was resigning his position in the Freaks to pursue an independent life on the road. With the message Viper left much of his research on the ten accounts. “Computer, send attached message to Dominator Grind at 0900 tomorrow.”
Viper moved Gemini's body, which he had neatly stuffed in a G&P oversized trash bag, 3 ply – the good kind, outside and onto the pull cart that attached to his quad. He'd take the body off to Miami Thunderhawk territory and dump it; one more dead mutant there wouldn't be noticed. “Come on Dog it's time to go.” And off into the night they rode.
STORMREAVER DATA FILE CLASSIFIED PERSONNEL INFORMATIONName: Viper Alias: Lee Gray
Age: 37 Sex: Male
Height: 5’ 10” Weight: 185 lbs.
DoB: 2 Jul 2105 PoB: Huber Heights, OH – Mutant suburb of Dayton
Previous Faction: Dayton Motor Freaks (Mutant)
Current Position: Recruit in Guard and Scout Guild
Sponsor: Warpeyes Petitioning for Yeoman Scout
Viper was born of mutant parents in the outlays of Dayton, Ohio with the given name of Clyde O’Conner. The most outwardly evident mutation are his short legs, and as such avoided many of the warrior sporting events that were the pride of the town. He went through the trade schools that were offered to aspiring Mutants, and always seemed to concentrate more on the brain than on the brawn. He was drawn into the Dayton Motor Freaks (DMF) faction because of his abilities to get an old factory in Troy back up and running. The plant was abandoned by the Harley Megamotor Corp after one too many raids by the DMF. The reworked plant has been able to supply all the motorcycle needs of DFM and a few “prized” units are sold or traded to other Mutant clans. The name of the town has become synonymous with quality; perhaps you've heard of the term “Troy Built”. Because of this success, the Horde renamed him Viper in honor of the quick striking vehicle he helped to deliver (or was it a barb regarding his speed a-foot?).
As a reward for his efforts in the factory he was given command of a pack of freaks. While he commanded the troops well, avoiding several ambushes, he proved to be a weak marksman. In an effort to get that ‘big gun’ out of the hands of a ‘bad shot’ the Freaks moved him to a job in the office of the Exchequer. After several years of loyal service, and large amounts of time on the practice range, Viper was again given command of a unit of troops, this time with the new title of Overseer. Another shortcoming became apparent after a time, that being the mutants short legs, Viper was unable to rush forward and take control as many other Overseers had done. Overseer Viper thought of a solution to this ‘shortfall’ by going back to the Troy plant and began working on a new vehicle for himself and the clan. The Troy Quad Mk I was the product, a four wheel bike with excellent off-road capabilities. The first prototype, nicknamed the “Beast” became his pride and joy. Several field tests followed and the “Beast” became well known for it's firepower and the distinctive growl the machine made as it roared into battle. Viper's “beast” was also modified with a targeting system, which definitely helped the poor sighted, weak shooting mutant.
Overseer Viper was rewarded with a promotion to Understudy to the Exchequer. There Viper learned much about the methods by which the DMF came upon their trade goods and weapons. In many ways Viper saw that the DMF had sold out to the G&P Megacorp by allowing their goods to pass through Freak territory without incident. There were only so many ways one could use soap and paper towels! Other Megacorps were targeted hard based on input from G&P, what is going on here? Corps are the enemy, aren’t they? Something was going on here, and Viper used his position to review the ways of the world, and the more he saw and read the more he grew discontented with the ways of the Horde. It was through a GFPN late night newsfeed that Viper heard of this Rat with an artifact blade that spoke of strange things, evil things, happening in America. Viper was the first to contact Warpeyes from across the Appalachians. This relationship grew becoming Warpeyes’ first electronic convert. Viper packed up his stuff, renounced his allegiance to the DMF, and rode off on “Beast” to join the newly formed StormReavers faction. Viper has been ‘on the road’ ever since, with a new found sense of freedom and power that knowledge and the StormReavers provide.
Viper met Warpeyes for the first time at a gathering of the faction in Columbus. There Warpeyes and Red Storm Rising had brought Viper and his old enemy, Gray Wolf Running, to spread the gospel of the new way, and to promote their cause to the various groups who would stop to listen. Viper was again called into service, following Warpeyes North to inform those in the town of Milwaukee at the largest gathering of would be converts, spending many hours informing the passers-by of this new way. Following these deeds, Viper has scheduled demonstrations at four local establishments and has gone out on his own to a gathering of the unknowing in Toledo. It was here where Viper watched the Battle of Ohio, seeing his old mentor Grind die to a lucky shot from those cheese infested McDonners. November brought another opportunity to spread the word as he traveled to Ft Wayne, making a profitable campaign for the StrormReavers. Currently Viper is organizing local events and contacting those bastions that might be of like interest in what was once Indiana.
Viper 397½ Pts
160 Lt Vehicle Mv 21” Df 4 Mn – equipped with targeting system
40 Tread-o-matic R --- AV 5 AE –
20 Bunker Buster Rocket R 12” AV 5 AE – one shot
57½ Haymaker Grenades R 6” AV 3 AE 2x
120 Twin Barreled Barbequer R 30” AV 4 AE – with thermal scopeViper's Off Quad stats 200 Pts
75 Special Mv 6” Df 4 Mn 4
25 Butt of the Barbequer R --- AV 4 AE –
20 Bunker Buster Rocket R 12” AV 5 AE – one shot
80 Barbequer R 30” AV 4 AE – with thermal scope and slow rechargeDog 50 Pts
40 Trooper Mv 12” Df 2 Mn 2
10 Pizza Pounce, Lick R --- AV 3 AE – piercing attack, stun damageStun Damage (-15 pts): weapon does not kill it only takes away the reserve marker and the next activation of the model who was successfully attacked.
Fluff put together for ShockForce America
We have the Dayton Motor Freaks (Mutants); they are set up in North Dayton controlling the critical junctions of I-75 and I-70. Charging tolls to any Corp shipment that wants to pass this valuable interchange. The DMF have several old automobile plants - which gives them an ample supply of vehicles to 'prowl' around in, and a few blue collar residential suburbs from which to draw (including Huber Heights, the home of Overseer Viper). Of course they rule supreme over the entire area! They have sold out in some ways to a Corp! (Why do you think Viper left the Freaks for StormReavers) by letting G&P products travel freely (for an under the table fee), while they slow and hassle shipments of other Corps - which of course does not make them a favorite of some Corps...
The Miami Thunderhawks (Vengequan) are a tribe set up in what was South Western Ohio, based in the town of Oxford. The tribe mixes physical fitness and intellectualism a kind of brains and brawn all rapped up in one. They control the southern transportation routes from what was Ohio to Indiana. They are most concerned with corporate dumping - particularly from G&P, as wish to preserve the land and restore it's beauty (which is compounded when a bunch of mutants from Dayton are off-roading through your peaceful valley).
The Gambill & Proctor Mega Corp (Shock Force) otherwise known as: Soaps "R" Us, with major production facilities in Cincinnati. This Corp fights the never-ending battle of 'cleaning' up the roads so that their products can continue to "gain" acceptance. They are on the "crest" of military technology, and with the "dawn" of a new golden "era" in consumer spending G&P can watch the "tide" of corporate growth from their "ivory" tower. G&P is "always" "head & shoulders" above the competition with "bold" approaches to the "biz"; a "zest", "cheer" and "joy" seldom seen in corporate America. G&P "luvs" to "scope" out the competition, no corporate "secret" is safe, G&P is 'slick', always leaving a 'clean' exit as to "safeguard" their moves on the other Mega Corps. G&P often avoids fights by putting a "bounty" on someone's head and letting the many factions kill for the crumbs, this always gives the G&P execs a "sunny delight".