Post by Darkjak87 on Aug 21, 2008 1:46:34 GMT -5
Eras
Baron's Corruption
Fall of Haven
World Without End
Name
James Zrion (Z-eye-ron)
Sex
Male
Age
Baron's Corruption: 30
Fall of Haven: 36
World Without End: 38+
Appearance
Zrion is quite muscular and stands at the height 6'1, and projects a feeling of confidence and perhaps a little intimidation. His hair is stark white near his face, but further back it gradually gives way to a natural crimson red color. His right eye is dark blue, while his left eye is gray and colorless, with a scar running across it from top-left to bottom-right. He keeps himself shaven. He also has the unique tattoos that all Special Operations KG receive. However, he does not have any tattoos on his face, as Special Operations KG are high-value targets for the Underground, so their identities are kept secret at all costs. His skin is pale, due to the large amounts of time he spends in his armor. He has many scars from his long career in the KG, including several on his face, and usually has a fair number of bruises, as well.
When on duty, Zrion wears Special Operations Armor. When out of uniform, Zrion wears more casual clothing, but usually with a jacket of some kind, in order to conceal his Special Operations unit tattoos, and to conceal his sidearm in a shoulder holster underneath.
In addition, he wears his military dog tags around his neck at all times, although usually tucked underneath his clothing. They are imprinted with his name, service number, and blood type.
Armor
Special Operations Armor differs from regular armor in that Special Operations armor is black, except for the sash, which is grey. The left shoulder of the armor bears the insignia of the Krimzon Guard. The right shoulder of the armor varies depending on the squad that the soldier belongs to. For example, Zrion's squad is known as "Angel Team", and the right shoulder of his armor bears it's insignia.
In addition to these design differences, the armor also appears to be much thinner, streamlined, and compact than typical KG armor. The reason for this is because unlike the standard armor, Special Operations Armor is custom-fitted to the soldier it is issued to. It conforms to the body and allows for greater flexibility and ease of movement as a result.
Special Operations Armor is also designed with stealth in mind. The various armor pieces fit together very tightly, which prevents it from making excessive noise when the wearer moves. This, along with rubber soles on the boots, allows the operative to move quickly and quietly.
The armor also differs from typical KG armor in its material. Instead of titanium, like standard red armor, Special Operations armor is made of boron carbide, an extremely strong, yet lightweight, ceramic material. This results in greater protection while reducing weight by 35%. This allows the soldier to carry much more equipment but still have a lighter burden. This is vital to soldiers that often have to operate over long periods of time without any immediate support.
The disadvantage of using ceramic as armor is that it is much less durable than metal. Whereas titanium or steel can sustain a lot of damage and still be effective, ceramic plates fracture if hit multiple times. This absorbs and disperses damage, but the fractured plate would be less effective against subsequent attacks. Ceramic plates also cannot be effectively repaired; for the armor to be fully restored, the fractured plates must be replaced by an armorer. This makes it very costly and somewhat time consuming to maintain. The large cracks that emerge once the suit has been damaged have resulted in it being nicknamed "Glass Armor" by those who wear it.
Overall, these factors result in a rather expensive suit of armor that is somewhat delicate under fire, but is nonetheless very protective and extremely lightweight, making it well suited for the division.
Personality
Zrion can be a very intimidating individual to lay eyes on, especially when wearing full combat gear. However, once you actually speak to him, you'll find that he can actually be a fairly friendly, if not very open, person with an extremely dry, and somewhat morbid, sense of humor. However, his appearance is far from deceiving - he is a very dangerous individual when he wants to be. He is quite confident on the field of battle, and is not one to easily give up on anything.
He is usually a fairly easygoing person, but he holds an extreme hatred for those who would take advantage of the weak, and is absolutely ruthless when dealing with criminals that violate his strong, if warped, sense of justice. At times, he has even shot people that were unarmed or attempting to surrender to him, behavior that is only tolerated because of the KG's often brutal methods for policing the city. Because of this, it can be easy to see Zrion as a ruthless individual. While this is true to some extent, Zrion is not evil so much as he is morally ambiguous - he tends to do the right thing with the wrong methods.
As a veteran of the Metal Head War, Zrion has suffered significant psychological trauma. This usually takes form in the typical symptoms of PTSD - nightmares, jumpiness, emotional distance, and occasional bouts of depression. However, one facet of the war is that Metal Heads neither surrender nor take prisoners. As a result, Zrion has subconsciously developed an 'all-or-nothing' approach to warfare, which applies both to Metal Heads and other humans. In practice, this means that while he is willing to take human prisoners, he has few moral qualms about executing people who he believes deserve it, even if they had given themselves up willingly. This practice is borderline psychotic, but Zrion sees it as merely another of his duties.
Occupation
During the rule of Baron Praxis, Zrion is the Deputy Commander of the Special Operations Division, and the direct leader of the Fourth Echelon.
However, shortly after the apparent defeat of the Metal Head leader, and the death of Baron Praxis, the Krimzon Guard was reformed into the Freedom Guard. With the war over and due to his personal distaste with the changing times, Commander Dekker finally chose to retire at the age of 65. As a result, Zrion was given full command of the division shortly before the second war between the Metal Heads, KG Deathbots, and Freedom Guard broke out.
Abilities/Skills
Zrion, due to his Special Operations training and extensive combat experience, is an extremely competent soldier. He is an excellent marksman, and is also adept in hand-to-hand combat. Zrion is also capable of using his eco abilities to great effect, although he rarely does so, preferring more conventional weapons instead, due to 'knowing how they work'. His armor is also very effective at protecting him, allowing him to pursue an aggressive combat style at lesser risk to himself than would otherwise be possible.
As a leader, Zrion has garnered much experience due to the Metal Head War, both as a regular soldier and a Special Operations Commando. Overall, he has proven himself to be a competent 'by-the-book' commander, getting results with proven, if unimaginative, tactics. While personally Zrion can be a daring warrior, in a leadership role he is significantly more cautious, as he is unwilling to risk lives that are not his own.
Powers
Zrion is a powerful ecoist and possesses the ability to use both red and yellow eco. However, while able to match a sage in strength, he has not received formal training. As such, his use of eco, while formidable, is fairly limited in scope.
However, Zrion does have one unique power. When using firearms, Zrion is capable of channeling eco into a weapon through his hands. This greatly increases the effectiveness of his shots by infusing each bullet with a small amount of eco as it leaves the barrel. For instance, lacing his shots with red eco would allow them to punch through armor and cover with ease, while yellow eco would burn and explode. Combining the two is even more devastating, as this produces orange eco, enabling shots to tear into targets before detonating, producing an armor-piercing-incendiary effect. Adding this to the already considerable firepower of his assault rifle means that Zrion is capable of making short work of almost any enemy.
Weapons
Zrion's primary weapon is an AK-47 Assault Rifle, usually holstered in a black nylon scabbard on his back. This particular weapon is very personal to Zrion, because it was was formerly the issue-weapon of his deceased father. After salvaging the rifle from his father's body, he managed to hold onto it throughout his Special Operations training, which he went through shortly after the deaths of his parents. Once he completed training, Zrion used his Special Operations dagger to carve the words "No Regrets" into the stock, on the left side.
These were his Father's last words to him, and he carved these words on it to remind himself why he joined the KG, and that he would never regret that decision, no matter who he lost or what it cost him. Before he enters combat, Zrion will always take a moment to look at the engraving, as it always makes him more sure of himself.
In addition to his rifle, Zrion carries the standard Special Operations sidearm, a Ruger SR1911 pistol, chambered in .45 ACP. When in uniform, Zrion wears the pistol on his right side in a thigh holster. When out of uniform, he wears it concealed in a shoulder rig.
His final weapon is a Special Operations Dagger, with a black seven inch steel blade. The dagger is carried by Zrion on his left hip, in a black scabbard. The weapon is mostly used for silent sentry elimination and as an emergency melee weapon during close quarters fighting. Considering that Metal Heads prefer to engage at close range, it typically sees a fair amount of use among the members of the division.
Relationships
Zrion's primary relationships are with those that are part of his somewhat unorthodox family. The oldest member is Zephan the Ottsel. After Zrion took Zephan into his home from Haven's streets, he nursed him back to health and the two became friends. Currently, Zephan often finds himself in the role of Zrion's personal physician, healing Zrion's injuries after battle with his proficiency in Green Eco. Occasionally, Zephan accompanies Zrion on missions where his talents may be needed, such as high-risk operations where injuries are likely to occur.
Later came Monica, a young girl that Zrion rescued during a Metal Head raid on Haven City. She was homeless and orphaned, and Zrion took her in and treated her like his own, despite Zephan's reluctance. Weeks later, Monica's father, Marcus, entered the picture. Previously, he had been assumed dead, but was revealed to have been alive and searching for Monica for the past three years. Monica continued living with Zrion, due to Zrion's more stable financial situation, but Marcus maintains a large role in Monica's life, generally serving as the parent while Zrion is more of a caretaker. By extension, Zrion and Marcus have a somewhat uneasy, if functional, friendship, as they both wish to do what's best for Monica.
Rounding out the group is Ace, a black Labrador Retriever originally found by Zrion, and healed by Monica. Ace proved to be a friendly and brave animal, and often accompanies Zrion on solo missions, as she's also quite useful in the field, performing such tasks as tracking Metal Heads and keeping watch while Zrion sleeps.
Early Life
Zrion grew up in a military family, as he and his father came from a long line of soldiers and leaders. His father was a General in command of a KG armored division, and his mother was a NCO in the KG 45th infantry regiment, which both distinguished itself and was nearly destroyed during the Battle of Dead Town.
Instilled with a strong sense of duty by the teachings of his parents, Zrion enlisted in the KG at the age of 17, fully willing to lay his life on the line to oppose the Metal Head threat. After completing basic training, Zrion was assigned to an infantry division as part of the Krimzon Guard Expeditionary Force, a large army made up of all KG forces operating in the Wasteland outside the city.
Wasteland Campaign
After eight years of combat experience fighting in the Wasteland against Metal Head forces, Zrion was called into action as the KG geared up for Operation Red Storm, a full-scale assault on the Metal Head Nest. The KG deployed nearly 80,000 soldiers in the largest combat operation in Haven history. The battle lasted a day, and ended in defeat for the KG with the loss of two thirds of their invasion force.
Among the casualties was Zrion's father. The only keepsake that Zrion was able to carry out of the bloodbath was his father's rifle, a weapon which he carries as his own to this day. A week later, the Metal Heads counterattacked the city and managed to destroy a portion of the Northeastern sector, creating Dead Town. Zrion was present in the city at the time, having been granted leave to see to his father's burial, but quickly joined in the defense once the Metal Head attack began.
The only KG unit in the city at the time was the 45th Infantry Regiment, the unit that his mother served in. Without sufficient forces on hand to expel the Metal Heads, the Baron instead ordered the regiment to hold them off for as long as possible while a new barrier was built to save the rest of the city.
The regiment fought valiantly, buying time for many civilians to escape, but suffered heavy casualties. When the final retreat was ordered, the unit was down to 15% manpower, the rest dead, wounded, or missing. Zrion himself was not present during the retreat, as several hours prior he had suffered a severe wound at the hand of a Metal Head Cloaker, the injury that cost him his eye. He was evacuated from the fight and sedated for surgery. When he awoke, it was to the news that the battle was over, his mother had been killed, that the rest of the city had been secured at the cost of anyone still outside the new barrier, and that the doctors had been unable to repair his eye. In the span of a single week, it seemed as if Zrion had lost everything to the Metal Heads.
For Exceptional Service during these two campaigns, Zrion was offered the chance to undergo Special Operations training and join the division, despite an injury that would normally warrant an honorable discharge. Zrion accepted the offer, deciding it was his best chance to help secure the future of Haven City. In light of this, the KG offered to replace his nonfunctional eye with a cybernetic, but Zrion declined, calling his new scar "a foolish bit of sentimentality" that he wanted to keep.
Zrion underwent two years of additional training in order to become a member of the division, completing it at the age of 25. His training specialization was as a field commander, while his mission specialty is Infiltration, high risk operations taking place behind enemy lines that range from gathering intelligence to sabotage. He was assigned to the Fourth Special Operations Echelon, a general purpose combat unit composed of soldiers from the division who are particularly adept at fighting.
The final four years of the Wasteland War were difficult for the KG. Many Special Operations commandos had died during the assault on the Metal Head Nest, and the KGEF as a whole had very nearly been wiped out. The fight was bitter, determined, but the KG were never able to recover their previous strength, and were steadily driven back across the Wasteland.
Special Operations, what remained of it, worked around the clock, striking hard at the Metal Heads at every turn in an attempt to turn the tide of the war. Many successful attacks were carried out by the division, and Zrion himself proved himself in battle countless times. However, it would ultimately prove to be futile, their efforts only delaying the inevitable and eroding their strength further.
Four years after the failed assault on the Nest, the Metal Heads were able to move against The Citadel, a massive fortress built by the KG in the Wasteland that served as the training ground, barrack, and headquarters of the KGEF. The Citadel was heavily fortified and well defended, but the Metal Heads were relentless, and the KGEF was, by then, a shadow of its former self.
The KG fought viciously, using all the weapons at their disposal and every trick in the book to slaughter huge numbers of Metal Heads. The Citadel held off the siege for weeks, but despite the spirited defense, it was finally overrun by wave after wave of Metal Heads, and the base was razed to the ground.
The KGEF had been all but destroyed. Almost all of their tanks, infantry, and hellcats had been lost, and close to the entire Special Operations Division perished in the battle. Out of the 150 Special Operations Soldiers remaining in the KG at the time, only 60 survived - and it has not been expanded since, the number remaining to pay homage to their brethren that had fallen.
With the KGEF in shambles and The Citadel destroyed, the military situation had deteriorated to the point where it couldn't be saved, and the City Officials knew that it would be impossible to replace the massive losses the KGEF had taken during the battle. As a result, the KGEF was officially disbanded, and its few remaining troops were reassigned to the city proper - the only human stronghold left.
After the KGEF had been disbanded, Zrion was one of the few Special Operations soldiers that had survived the prolonged Wasteland Campaign. Currently, he is constantly on standby for the KG, ready to be called into action at a moment's notice for missions of nearly any variety, usually against Metal Heads outside the city.
Under The Baron
In the aftermath of the Wasteland Campaign, the Krimzon Guard was left in a very difficult position. The Metal Heads were closing in on the city, and after their catastrophic losses, the Krimzon Guard no longer had the strength to fight them on equal terms. As a result, with the exception of the city's ever-important mining operations, no Krimzon Guard soldiers were allowed to operate outside the city walls. None, except for Special Operations.
After suffering such extensive casualties during the Battle of the Citadel, the division's chain of command had been very hard hit, as many of its most talented officers had fallen during the battle. New officers were needed to replace those that had fallen, and the division was only willing to recruit from within its own ranks. As a result, Deputy Commander Dekker was promoted to the head of Special Operations. James Zrion, one of the division's most distinguished individuals, took his place as the second-in-command of the division, although he also retained his role as the commander of the Fourth Echelon.
During this time, Special Operations had a very clear mission statement - keep the Metal Heads as far away as possible. As a result, the soldiers frequently operated outside city walls, attacking isolated Metal Head camps and hatcheries to hinder their efforts. Although it wasn't enough to stop the Metal Heads alone, it is generally accepted that their efforts prevented the Metal Heads from establishing an effective siege line around the city, ensuring that Haven had at least a little breathing room.
It was during this time that Zrion found a child named Monica Lorenzo, a young, orphaned girl without a place to live. After rescuing her from a Metal Head raid, Zrion decided to take her in, treating her like his own. His closest friend, Zephan, was resistant at first, but after Monica discovered her green eco abilities in time to save Zephan's life, he finally accepted her and began to tutor her in the art of healing, serving as a gruff, if effective, teacher.
A few weeks after this, the three of them were shocked when Monica's father, Marcus Lorenzo, happened upon them when they were out one night. Marcus had been thought long dead, and discovering that he was alive made for a slightly uncomfortable situation, since Zrion had grown rather attached to Monica by then. However, it was decided that, since Marcus' living situation was less than ideal, and Zephan was still tutoring Monica in the ways of green eco, it would be best if she remained living with Zrion. Zrion himself is now recognized as Monica's godfather, although privately he views her as his daughter in everything except blood. Marcus, for his part, has taken an active role in Monica's life, spending much of his time visiting her and, since Zrion is often away for long periods of time on missions, taking care of her when he is absent.
Battle For The City
After the death of Baron Praxis during the Metal Head invasion of the city, and the successful defeat of Metal Kor by the rebel known as Jak, the Krimzon Guard went through a period of turmoil as a new, more liberal-minded government came to power. Haven's military was reformed into the "Freedom Guard", and legalistic restrictions were relaxed, with the citizens now allowed complete freedom of speech and legal rights.
Many in the Krimzon Guard, who had served under the former Baron for many years, had much difficulty adapting to these changes. If that weren't enough, many of the most notorious members of the Guard were tried for war crimes as a result of their part in suppressing the Underground movement. Particularly of note, however, was the Special Operations Division. Although they were primarily aimed at the Metal Head threat, the division had, at times, clashed with the Underground, resulting in scores of casualties for the movement. Their brutality during the war lead to many calling for blood.
Commander Dekker, now getting on in years, finally retired shortly after the Baron's death. Zrion was selected to take his place, assuming command of the entire division. However, he believed that it was a hollow title, as most within the division fully expected to be tried and executed en masse for their part in suppressing the Underground movement during the Baron's reign.
However, their saving grace came in the new war for the city. Surviving Metal Heads invaded the city and gained a new foothold, while Krimzon Guard Deathbots rebelled against their former masters. Since the Metal Heads had taken the city's farming district, and the Deathbots the Industrial Sector, the city was cut in half and largely deprived of food and weapons production. As a result, the situation quickly became desperate. Since the city needed every soldier it could get, they chose to grant amnesty to virtually every soldier that had served in the Krimzon Guard. They still had to adhere to the laws and regulations of the new government, but they were given a second chance.
Though many were disgruntled with the changes, they were willing to accept them in order to fight for Haven during its darkest hour. Special Operations, under the new leadership of James Zrion, turned its attention inward, fighting a desperate war against the Metal Heads and Deathbots within the city walls.
Torn, a high-ranking member of the Underground during the Baron's reign, was now the overall commander of the Freedom Guard. Naturally, he had very bitter memories of Special Operations attacking his organization, and as a result, Zrion and Torn often found themselves at odds with one another, to say nothing of the continuing rivalry between the regular army and Special Operations. Although technically Torn was Zrion's superior, Torn found that he had great difficulty bullying Zrion into submission. Zrion considered Torn to be little more than a terrorist playing at proper warfare, while Torn saw Zrion as a glorified political enforcer who was long overdue for a public hanging.
As a result of this rivalry, Special Operations was often handed the most suicidal of missions, a situation not helped by Torn's frequent refusal to provide air cover or fire support. As a result, casualties during this period were heavy for the soldiers, but they endured nonetheless, and distinguished themselves time and time again. They spent most of this period of time as a rapid reaction force, responding quickly to any Metal Head or deathbot offensives into the few areas that remained under Freedom Guard control. In less dire periods of the war, they would often carry out raids of their own. Sweeping through isolated sectors of Haven City's sewer system to deny control to the enemy was a frequent assignment.
However, they rarely received public recognition for these actions. Many people still had bitter memories of their involvement with suppressing the Underground, and Torn often shifted credit for any victories to the regular soldiers, no matter how heavily involved the Special Operations commandos were. It was fortunate for them that they were nonetheless granted a significant amount of leeway, so long as they got results. In the end, the division would prove themselves to be an indispensable, but often forgotten aspect of Haven City's forces during the new war.
Later Years
In the end, the Freedom Guard was victorious. Both the Metal Heads and the Deathbots were driven from the city, and a long period of reconstruction followed. Many sectors of the city had been all but destroyed, and many of the surviving citizens were living in poverty or near-starvation due to the difficult times.
However, a new era of prosperity was at hand. After finally achieving victory, for the first time in centuries the Guard was demobilized and the city's wartime economy began to shift back to a civilian economy. New markets, such as the textile and entertainment industries, sprang up almost overnight, and food began to become more commonplace. Marshal law was lifted and, for the first time ever, Haven City was finally at peace.
For Zrion, this was a mixed blessing. Although peace was ultimately what he had been fighting for his entire life, now that he had it, he was left with nothing to do. Special Operations had survived the demobilization of the Guard, but with the Metal Heads collapsing across the globe and the Deathbots completely eradicated, there was, quite simply, nothing left for them to do.
As a result, Zrion found himself getting paid for a job that he felt no longer existed, cleaning weapons that he never had to use, and an aging, battered body that was no longer needed. Despite the support of his friends and family, Zrion fell into a state of depression for a time, as he believed that, for all intents and purposes, the world no longer needed him. After sacrificing his mind, body, and spirit to the war, he had gotten nothing in return.
However, after the dust had settled and the city was rebuilt, Zrion found himself needed once again. Although the Metal Heads and Deathbots had been defeated, a strong military was still important. Like Zrion himself, most of his elite soldiers had served since the Wasteland War, and now were nearing the end of their prime. It was time to recruit the next generation of soldiers for Special Operations. Zrion, along with the best soldiers under his command, were selected to train them.
Zrion spent his twilight years in relative comfort, training and building up the unit that he had given his life to. Under his watchful eye and shared experience, the division prospered. From an all-time low of only 36 soldiers by the end of the war, it had grown to encompass over 200 of Haven's finest soldiers, with more being added every year. Zrion had finally found peace. Not as a concept, or a state of being, but for him personally. As a result, he decided that maybe it was time to move on.
For Zrion, one of the most prominent marks in his past was the scar that lay across his eye. In blinding an eye, a Metal Head had simultaneously opened it. For Zrion, it was this scar that symbolized the start of his 'new' life, his years in Special Operations, and the mark that the long war had left on his body and soul. After a lot of thought on his part, Zrion finally decided that it was time to get a replacement.
Cybernetic technology had become very sophisticated in recent years, the result of a dire need to get wounded soldiers back into action by replacing limbs lost during the war. By the time it was over, almost 20% of Haven's soldiers had some form of artificial replacement. Military cybernetics resembled the organic parts they replaced more than ever before, and in many aspects were superior in functionality.
Given Zrion's status, there was no difficulty in getting the authorization for a cybernetic eye. The operation went off without a hitch, and for the first time in 20 years, when Zrion opened his eyes, he saw through both of them. Upon looking in the mirror, he studied the new addition to his face. His old, useless eye had been removed, although the scar around the socket remained, and in its place, a new one had been installed. Surprisingly, it was quite similar to his organic eye - it had a black pupil, blue iris, and white sclera. The only major difference was that the iris was intermixed with black circuitry underneath the surface, resulting in an appearance not unlike that of a circuit board.
After fully recovering from the surgery, Zrion continued much as he had before - training the next generation of soldiers and looking after his adoptive family. His skills were rarely needed in the field anymore, but then, neither were those of any soldier. Eventually, Zrion retired from active duty entirely at the age of 68, living out his remaining years as a special consultant to the Guard, and as an adoptive Grandfather to Monica's children.
Baron's Corruption
Fall of Haven
World Without End
Name
James Zrion (Z-eye-ron)
Sex
Male
Age
Baron's Corruption: 30
Fall of Haven: 36
World Without End: 38+
Appearance
Zrion is quite muscular and stands at the height 6'1, and projects a feeling of confidence and perhaps a little intimidation. His hair is stark white near his face, but further back it gradually gives way to a natural crimson red color. His right eye is dark blue, while his left eye is gray and colorless, with a scar running across it from top-left to bottom-right. He keeps himself shaven. He also has the unique tattoos that all Special Operations KG receive. However, he does not have any tattoos on his face, as Special Operations KG are high-value targets for the Underground, so their identities are kept secret at all costs. His skin is pale, due to the large amounts of time he spends in his armor. He has many scars from his long career in the KG, including several on his face, and usually has a fair number of bruises, as well.
When on duty, Zrion wears Special Operations Armor. When out of uniform, Zrion wears more casual clothing, but usually with a jacket of some kind, in order to conceal his Special Operations unit tattoos, and to conceal his sidearm in a shoulder holster underneath.
In addition, he wears his military dog tags around his neck at all times, although usually tucked underneath his clothing. They are imprinted with his name, service number, and blood type.
Armor
Special Operations Armor differs from regular armor in that Special Operations armor is black, except for the sash, which is grey. The left shoulder of the armor bears the insignia of the Krimzon Guard. The right shoulder of the armor varies depending on the squad that the soldier belongs to. For example, Zrion's squad is known as "Angel Team", and the right shoulder of his armor bears it's insignia.
In addition to these design differences, the armor also appears to be much thinner, streamlined, and compact than typical KG armor. The reason for this is because unlike the standard armor, Special Operations Armor is custom-fitted to the soldier it is issued to. It conforms to the body and allows for greater flexibility and ease of movement as a result.
Special Operations Armor is also designed with stealth in mind. The various armor pieces fit together very tightly, which prevents it from making excessive noise when the wearer moves. This, along with rubber soles on the boots, allows the operative to move quickly and quietly.
The armor also differs from typical KG armor in its material. Instead of titanium, like standard red armor, Special Operations armor is made of boron carbide, an extremely strong, yet lightweight, ceramic material. This results in greater protection while reducing weight by 35%. This allows the soldier to carry much more equipment but still have a lighter burden. This is vital to soldiers that often have to operate over long periods of time without any immediate support.
The disadvantage of using ceramic as armor is that it is much less durable than metal. Whereas titanium or steel can sustain a lot of damage and still be effective, ceramic plates fracture if hit multiple times. This absorbs and disperses damage, but the fractured plate would be less effective against subsequent attacks. Ceramic plates also cannot be effectively repaired; for the armor to be fully restored, the fractured plates must be replaced by an armorer. This makes it very costly and somewhat time consuming to maintain. The large cracks that emerge once the suit has been damaged have resulted in it being nicknamed "Glass Armor" by those who wear it.
Overall, these factors result in a rather expensive suit of armor that is somewhat delicate under fire, but is nonetheless very protective and extremely lightweight, making it well suited for the division.
Personality
Zrion can be a very intimidating individual to lay eyes on, especially when wearing full combat gear. However, once you actually speak to him, you'll find that he can actually be a fairly friendly, if not very open, person with an extremely dry, and somewhat morbid, sense of humor. However, his appearance is far from deceiving - he is a very dangerous individual when he wants to be. He is quite confident on the field of battle, and is not one to easily give up on anything.
He is usually a fairly easygoing person, but he holds an extreme hatred for those who would take advantage of the weak, and is absolutely ruthless when dealing with criminals that violate his strong, if warped, sense of justice. At times, he has even shot people that were unarmed or attempting to surrender to him, behavior that is only tolerated because of the KG's often brutal methods for policing the city. Because of this, it can be easy to see Zrion as a ruthless individual. While this is true to some extent, Zrion is not evil so much as he is morally ambiguous - he tends to do the right thing with the wrong methods.
As a veteran of the Metal Head War, Zrion has suffered significant psychological trauma. This usually takes form in the typical symptoms of PTSD - nightmares, jumpiness, emotional distance, and occasional bouts of depression. However, one facet of the war is that Metal Heads neither surrender nor take prisoners. As a result, Zrion has subconsciously developed an 'all-or-nothing' approach to warfare, which applies both to Metal Heads and other humans. In practice, this means that while he is willing to take human prisoners, he has few moral qualms about executing people who he believes deserve it, even if they had given themselves up willingly. This practice is borderline psychotic, but Zrion sees it as merely another of his duties.
Occupation
During the rule of Baron Praxis, Zrion is the Deputy Commander of the Special Operations Division, and the direct leader of the Fourth Echelon.
However, shortly after the apparent defeat of the Metal Head leader, and the death of Baron Praxis, the Krimzon Guard was reformed into the Freedom Guard. With the war over and due to his personal distaste with the changing times, Commander Dekker finally chose to retire at the age of 65. As a result, Zrion was given full command of the division shortly before the second war between the Metal Heads, KG Deathbots, and Freedom Guard broke out.
Abilities/Skills
Zrion, due to his Special Operations training and extensive combat experience, is an extremely competent soldier. He is an excellent marksman, and is also adept in hand-to-hand combat. Zrion is also capable of using his eco abilities to great effect, although he rarely does so, preferring more conventional weapons instead, due to 'knowing how they work'. His armor is also very effective at protecting him, allowing him to pursue an aggressive combat style at lesser risk to himself than would otherwise be possible.
As a leader, Zrion has garnered much experience due to the Metal Head War, both as a regular soldier and a Special Operations Commando. Overall, he has proven himself to be a competent 'by-the-book' commander, getting results with proven, if unimaginative, tactics. While personally Zrion can be a daring warrior, in a leadership role he is significantly more cautious, as he is unwilling to risk lives that are not his own.
Powers
Zrion is a powerful ecoist and possesses the ability to use both red and yellow eco. However, while able to match a sage in strength, he has not received formal training. As such, his use of eco, while formidable, is fairly limited in scope.
However, Zrion does have one unique power. When using firearms, Zrion is capable of channeling eco into a weapon through his hands. This greatly increases the effectiveness of his shots by infusing each bullet with a small amount of eco as it leaves the barrel. For instance, lacing his shots with red eco would allow them to punch through armor and cover with ease, while yellow eco would burn and explode. Combining the two is even more devastating, as this produces orange eco, enabling shots to tear into targets before detonating, producing an armor-piercing-incendiary effect. Adding this to the already considerable firepower of his assault rifle means that Zrion is capable of making short work of almost any enemy.
Weapons
Zrion's primary weapon is an AK-47 Assault Rifle, usually holstered in a black nylon scabbard on his back. This particular weapon is very personal to Zrion, because it was was formerly the issue-weapon of his deceased father. After salvaging the rifle from his father's body, he managed to hold onto it throughout his Special Operations training, which he went through shortly after the deaths of his parents. Once he completed training, Zrion used his Special Operations dagger to carve the words "No Regrets" into the stock, on the left side.
These were his Father's last words to him, and he carved these words on it to remind himself why he joined the KG, and that he would never regret that decision, no matter who he lost or what it cost him. Before he enters combat, Zrion will always take a moment to look at the engraving, as it always makes him more sure of himself.
In addition to his rifle, Zrion carries the standard Special Operations sidearm, a Ruger SR1911 pistol, chambered in .45 ACP. When in uniform, Zrion wears the pistol on his right side in a thigh holster. When out of uniform, he wears it concealed in a shoulder rig.
His final weapon is a Special Operations Dagger, with a black seven inch steel blade. The dagger is carried by Zrion on his left hip, in a black scabbard. The weapon is mostly used for silent sentry elimination and as an emergency melee weapon during close quarters fighting. Considering that Metal Heads prefer to engage at close range, it typically sees a fair amount of use among the members of the division.
Relationships
Zrion's primary relationships are with those that are part of his somewhat unorthodox family. The oldest member is Zephan the Ottsel. After Zrion took Zephan into his home from Haven's streets, he nursed him back to health and the two became friends. Currently, Zephan often finds himself in the role of Zrion's personal physician, healing Zrion's injuries after battle with his proficiency in Green Eco. Occasionally, Zephan accompanies Zrion on missions where his talents may be needed, such as high-risk operations where injuries are likely to occur.
Later came Monica, a young girl that Zrion rescued during a Metal Head raid on Haven City. She was homeless and orphaned, and Zrion took her in and treated her like his own, despite Zephan's reluctance. Weeks later, Monica's father, Marcus, entered the picture. Previously, he had been assumed dead, but was revealed to have been alive and searching for Monica for the past three years. Monica continued living with Zrion, due to Zrion's more stable financial situation, but Marcus maintains a large role in Monica's life, generally serving as the parent while Zrion is more of a caretaker. By extension, Zrion and Marcus have a somewhat uneasy, if functional, friendship, as they both wish to do what's best for Monica.
Rounding out the group is Ace, a black Labrador Retriever originally found by Zrion, and healed by Monica. Ace proved to be a friendly and brave animal, and often accompanies Zrion on solo missions, as she's also quite useful in the field, performing such tasks as tracking Metal Heads and keeping watch while Zrion sleeps.
Early Life
Zrion grew up in a military family, as he and his father came from a long line of soldiers and leaders. His father was a General in command of a KG armored division, and his mother was a NCO in the KG 45th infantry regiment, which both distinguished itself and was nearly destroyed during the Battle of Dead Town.
Instilled with a strong sense of duty by the teachings of his parents, Zrion enlisted in the KG at the age of 17, fully willing to lay his life on the line to oppose the Metal Head threat. After completing basic training, Zrion was assigned to an infantry division as part of the Krimzon Guard Expeditionary Force, a large army made up of all KG forces operating in the Wasteland outside the city.
Wasteland Campaign
After eight years of combat experience fighting in the Wasteland against Metal Head forces, Zrion was called into action as the KG geared up for Operation Red Storm, a full-scale assault on the Metal Head Nest. The KG deployed nearly 80,000 soldiers in the largest combat operation in Haven history. The battle lasted a day, and ended in defeat for the KG with the loss of two thirds of their invasion force.
Among the casualties was Zrion's father. The only keepsake that Zrion was able to carry out of the bloodbath was his father's rifle, a weapon which he carries as his own to this day. A week later, the Metal Heads counterattacked the city and managed to destroy a portion of the Northeastern sector, creating Dead Town. Zrion was present in the city at the time, having been granted leave to see to his father's burial, but quickly joined in the defense once the Metal Head attack began.
The only KG unit in the city at the time was the 45th Infantry Regiment, the unit that his mother served in. Without sufficient forces on hand to expel the Metal Heads, the Baron instead ordered the regiment to hold them off for as long as possible while a new barrier was built to save the rest of the city.
The regiment fought valiantly, buying time for many civilians to escape, but suffered heavy casualties. When the final retreat was ordered, the unit was down to 15% manpower, the rest dead, wounded, or missing. Zrion himself was not present during the retreat, as several hours prior he had suffered a severe wound at the hand of a Metal Head Cloaker, the injury that cost him his eye. He was evacuated from the fight and sedated for surgery. When he awoke, it was to the news that the battle was over, his mother had been killed, that the rest of the city had been secured at the cost of anyone still outside the new barrier, and that the doctors had been unable to repair his eye. In the span of a single week, it seemed as if Zrion had lost everything to the Metal Heads.
For Exceptional Service during these two campaigns, Zrion was offered the chance to undergo Special Operations training and join the division, despite an injury that would normally warrant an honorable discharge. Zrion accepted the offer, deciding it was his best chance to help secure the future of Haven City. In light of this, the KG offered to replace his nonfunctional eye with a cybernetic, but Zrion declined, calling his new scar "a foolish bit of sentimentality" that he wanted to keep.
Zrion underwent two years of additional training in order to become a member of the division, completing it at the age of 25. His training specialization was as a field commander, while his mission specialty is Infiltration, high risk operations taking place behind enemy lines that range from gathering intelligence to sabotage. He was assigned to the Fourth Special Operations Echelon, a general purpose combat unit composed of soldiers from the division who are particularly adept at fighting.
The final four years of the Wasteland War were difficult for the KG. Many Special Operations commandos had died during the assault on the Metal Head Nest, and the KGEF as a whole had very nearly been wiped out. The fight was bitter, determined, but the KG were never able to recover their previous strength, and were steadily driven back across the Wasteland.
Special Operations, what remained of it, worked around the clock, striking hard at the Metal Heads at every turn in an attempt to turn the tide of the war. Many successful attacks were carried out by the division, and Zrion himself proved himself in battle countless times. However, it would ultimately prove to be futile, their efforts only delaying the inevitable and eroding their strength further.
Four years after the failed assault on the Nest, the Metal Heads were able to move against The Citadel, a massive fortress built by the KG in the Wasteland that served as the training ground, barrack, and headquarters of the KGEF. The Citadel was heavily fortified and well defended, but the Metal Heads were relentless, and the KGEF was, by then, a shadow of its former self.
The KG fought viciously, using all the weapons at their disposal and every trick in the book to slaughter huge numbers of Metal Heads. The Citadel held off the siege for weeks, but despite the spirited defense, it was finally overrun by wave after wave of Metal Heads, and the base was razed to the ground.
The KGEF had been all but destroyed. Almost all of their tanks, infantry, and hellcats had been lost, and close to the entire Special Operations Division perished in the battle. Out of the 150 Special Operations Soldiers remaining in the KG at the time, only 60 survived - and it has not been expanded since, the number remaining to pay homage to their brethren that had fallen.
With the KGEF in shambles and The Citadel destroyed, the military situation had deteriorated to the point where it couldn't be saved, and the City Officials knew that it would be impossible to replace the massive losses the KGEF had taken during the battle. As a result, the KGEF was officially disbanded, and its few remaining troops were reassigned to the city proper - the only human stronghold left.
After the KGEF had been disbanded, Zrion was one of the few Special Operations soldiers that had survived the prolonged Wasteland Campaign. Currently, he is constantly on standby for the KG, ready to be called into action at a moment's notice for missions of nearly any variety, usually against Metal Heads outside the city.
Under The Baron
In the aftermath of the Wasteland Campaign, the Krimzon Guard was left in a very difficult position. The Metal Heads were closing in on the city, and after their catastrophic losses, the Krimzon Guard no longer had the strength to fight them on equal terms. As a result, with the exception of the city's ever-important mining operations, no Krimzon Guard soldiers were allowed to operate outside the city walls. None, except for Special Operations.
After suffering such extensive casualties during the Battle of the Citadel, the division's chain of command had been very hard hit, as many of its most talented officers had fallen during the battle. New officers were needed to replace those that had fallen, and the division was only willing to recruit from within its own ranks. As a result, Deputy Commander Dekker was promoted to the head of Special Operations. James Zrion, one of the division's most distinguished individuals, took his place as the second-in-command of the division, although he also retained his role as the commander of the Fourth Echelon.
During this time, Special Operations had a very clear mission statement - keep the Metal Heads as far away as possible. As a result, the soldiers frequently operated outside city walls, attacking isolated Metal Head camps and hatcheries to hinder their efforts. Although it wasn't enough to stop the Metal Heads alone, it is generally accepted that their efforts prevented the Metal Heads from establishing an effective siege line around the city, ensuring that Haven had at least a little breathing room.
It was during this time that Zrion found a child named Monica Lorenzo, a young, orphaned girl without a place to live. After rescuing her from a Metal Head raid, Zrion decided to take her in, treating her like his own. His closest friend, Zephan, was resistant at first, but after Monica discovered her green eco abilities in time to save Zephan's life, he finally accepted her and began to tutor her in the art of healing, serving as a gruff, if effective, teacher.
A few weeks after this, the three of them were shocked when Monica's father, Marcus Lorenzo, happened upon them when they were out one night. Marcus had been thought long dead, and discovering that he was alive made for a slightly uncomfortable situation, since Zrion had grown rather attached to Monica by then. However, it was decided that, since Marcus' living situation was less than ideal, and Zephan was still tutoring Monica in the ways of green eco, it would be best if she remained living with Zrion. Zrion himself is now recognized as Monica's godfather, although privately he views her as his daughter in everything except blood. Marcus, for his part, has taken an active role in Monica's life, spending much of his time visiting her and, since Zrion is often away for long periods of time on missions, taking care of her when he is absent.
Battle For The City
After the death of Baron Praxis during the Metal Head invasion of the city, and the successful defeat of Metal Kor by the rebel known as Jak, the Krimzon Guard went through a period of turmoil as a new, more liberal-minded government came to power. Haven's military was reformed into the "Freedom Guard", and legalistic restrictions were relaxed, with the citizens now allowed complete freedom of speech and legal rights.
Many in the Krimzon Guard, who had served under the former Baron for many years, had much difficulty adapting to these changes. If that weren't enough, many of the most notorious members of the Guard were tried for war crimes as a result of their part in suppressing the Underground movement. Particularly of note, however, was the Special Operations Division. Although they were primarily aimed at the Metal Head threat, the division had, at times, clashed with the Underground, resulting in scores of casualties for the movement. Their brutality during the war lead to many calling for blood.
Commander Dekker, now getting on in years, finally retired shortly after the Baron's death. Zrion was selected to take his place, assuming command of the entire division. However, he believed that it was a hollow title, as most within the division fully expected to be tried and executed en masse for their part in suppressing the Underground movement during the Baron's reign.
However, their saving grace came in the new war for the city. Surviving Metal Heads invaded the city and gained a new foothold, while Krimzon Guard Deathbots rebelled against their former masters. Since the Metal Heads had taken the city's farming district, and the Deathbots the Industrial Sector, the city was cut in half and largely deprived of food and weapons production. As a result, the situation quickly became desperate. Since the city needed every soldier it could get, they chose to grant amnesty to virtually every soldier that had served in the Krimzon Guard. They still had to adhere to the laws and regulations of the new government, but they were given a second chance.
Though many were disgruntled with the changes, they were willing to accept them in order to fight for Haven during its darkest hour. Special Operations, under the new leadership of James Zrion, turned its attention inward, fighting a desperate war against the Metal Heads and Deathbots within the city walls.
Torn, a high-ranking member of the Underground during the Baron's reign, was now the overall commander of the Freedom Guard. Naturally, he had very bitter memories of Special Operations attacking his organization, and as a result, Zrion and Torn often found themselves at odds with one another, to say nothing of the continuing rivalry between the regular army and Special Operations. Although technically Torn was Zrion's superior, Torn found that he had great difficulty bullying Zrion into submission. Zrion considered Torn to be little more than a terrorist playing at proper warfare, while Torn saw Zrion as a glorified political enforcer who was long overdue for a public hanging.
As a result of this rivalry, Special Operations was often handed the most suicidal of missions, a situation not helped by Torn's frequent refusal to provide air cover or fire support. As a result, casualties during this period were heavy for the soldiers, but they endured nonetheless, and distinguished themselves time and time again. They spent most of this period of time as a rapid reaction force, responding quickly to any Metal Head or deathbot offensives into the few areas that remained under Freedom Guard control. In less dire periods of the war, they would often carry out raids of their own. Sweeping through isolated sectors of Haven City's sewer system to deny control to the enemy was a frequent assignment.
However, they rarely received public recognition for these actions. Many people still had bitter memories of their involvement with suppressing the Underground, and Torn often shifted credit for any victories to the regular soldiers, no matter how heavily involved the Special Operations commandos were. It was fortunate for them that they were nonetheless granted a significant amount of leeway, so long as they got results. In the end, the division would prove themselves to be an indispensable, but often forgotten aspect of Haven City's forces during the new war.
Later Years
In the end, the Freedom Guard was victorious. Both the Metal Heads and the Deathbots were driven from the city, and a long period of reconstruction followed. Many sectors of the city had been all but destroyed, and many of the surviving citizens were living in poverty or near-starvation due to the difficult times.
However, a new era of prosperity was at hand. After finally achieving victory, for the first time in centuries the Guard was demobilized and the city's wartime economy began to shift back to a civilian economy. New markets, such as the textile and entertainment industries, sprang up almost overnight, and food began to become more commonplace. Marshal law was lifted and, for the first time ever, Haven City was finally at peace.
For Zrion, this was a mixed blessing. Although peace was ultimately what he had been fighting for his entire life, now that he had it, he was left with nothing to do. Special Operations had survived the demobilization of the Guard, but with the Metal Heads collapsing across the globe and the Deathbots completely eradicated, there was, quite simply, nothing left for them to do.
As a result, Zrion found himself getting paid for a job that he felt no longer existed, cleaning weapons that he never had to use, and an aging, battered body that was no longer needed. Despite the support of his friends and family, Zrion fell into a state of depression for a time, as he believed that, for all intents and purposes, the world no longer needed him. After sacrificing his mind, body, and spirit to the war, he had gotten nothing in return.
However, after the dust had settled and the city was rebuilt, Zrion found himself needed once again. Although the Metal Heads and Deathbots had been defeated, a strong military was still important. Like Zrion himself, most of his elite soldiers had served since the Wasteland War, and now were nearing the end of their prime. It was time to recruit the next generation of soldiers for Special Operations. Zrion, along with the best soldiers under his command, were selected to train them.
Zrion spent his twilight years in relative comfort, training and building up the unit that he had given his life to. Under his watchful eye and shared experience, the division prospered. From an all-time low of only 36 soldiers by the end of the war, it had grown to encompass over 200 of Haven's finest soldiers, with more being added every year. Zrion had finally found peace. Not as a concept, or a state of being, but for him personally. As a result, he decided that maybe it was time to move on.
For Zrion, one of the most prominent marks in his past was the scar that lay across his eye. In blinding an eye, a Metal Head had simultaneously opened it. For Zrion, it was this scar that symbolized the start of his 'new' life, his years in Special Operations, and the mark that the long war had left on his body and soul. After a lot of thought on his part, Zrion finally decided that it was time to get a replacement.
Cybernetic technology had become very sophisticated in recent years, the result of a dire need to get wounded soldiers back into action by replacing limbs lost during the war. By the time it was over, almost 20% of Haven's soldiers had some form of artificial replacement. Military cybernetics resembled the organic parts they replaced more than ever before, and in many aspects were superior in functionality.
Given Zrion's status, there was no difficulty in getting the authorization for a cybernetic eye. The operation went off without a hitch, and for the first time in 20 years, when Zrion opened his eyes, he saw through both of them. Upon looking in the mirror, he studied the new addition to his face. His old, useless eye had been removed, although the scar around the socket remained, and in its place, a new one had been installed. Surprisingly, it was quite similar to his organic eye - it had a black pupil, blue iris, and white sclera. The only major difference was that the iris was intermixed with black circuitry underneath the surface, resulting in an appearance not unlike that of a circuit board.
After fully recovering from the surgery, Zrion continued much as he had before - training the next generation of soldiers and looking after his adoptive family. His skills were rarely needed in the field anymore, but then, neither were those of any soldier. Eventually, Zrion retired from active duty entirely at the age of 68, living out his remaining years as a special consultant to the Guard, and as an adoptive Grandfather to Monica's children.
