
Shire
(Svetlana Grozny)
Context
Shire is a member of one of those many super-elite, heavily-armed, capable-of-dealing-with-superhuman military squads in the early Image Universe. She appeared in the 1996 Limited Series Black Ops.
Here are Nicolas’ vintage notes. We’d like to upgrade them at some point, but these guys are rather low-priority.
Background
- Real Name: Svetlana Grozny.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Black Ops, formerly IO.
- Base Of Operations: Department PSI.
- Height: 5’10” Weight: 135 lbs.
- Eyes: Blue Hair: Blonde
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Powers and Abilities
Her training in the KGB and IO make her an excellent combatant.
She’s also fluent in many languages and dialects.
She’s a master of disguise.
History
Until her defection to the US, Svetlana was a KGB agent. As a price for her freedom, National Security Czar Miles Craven forced the young woman to apply her talents as a linguist and deep cover operative in the service of IO. Shire skills made her a good candidate for the code-word secret Black Ops team put together by Lynch.
Amid the confusion resulting from Lynch’s “resignation”, they received an order to bring their mission one step higher. They were to kill the executives of an American corporation, somehow linked with plans for a coup in ex-USSR.
Shire had already infiltrated the organization by impersonating one of its higher executive assistant, when the order came in. But their field leader died in the operation.
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Breaking bad
The hitmen of the said corporation retaliated at Black Ops’ HQ. Waiting for IO’s back up that never show up, they had to pull back in a hurry. But while doing so they received an encrypted message. The anonymous message told them to contact former Black Razors’ leader Colonel Crane, as he was likely to help them against Mr Big: former USSR General Markov.
And so did he join them, to take the chance of repaying Markov for his wife’s death.
They infiltrated Markov’s research complex, in Estonia. As they were tracked all along by IO, they meet a squad of Black Razors that tried to stop them before they could raise an international incident.
Back in the USSR
This team was led by Crane’s former recruit Fleming. These were forced to pull back, first because they fell for an EMP grenade that disabled their gear. Then because they were ordered so to avoid the issue involved in a US military operation on foreign ground.
Black Ops first met some resistance from the HEATERS (Cricket, Cannon Fodder, Pinpoint), a special Black Razors’ squad. These had been detailed by IO’s Deputy Director Catherine Kwan (surely directly responding to Craven) as reinforcement in Markov’s defense.
Then, after Craven’s death, as the interim director was close to uncover Kwan’s involvement, she ordered her HEATERS to turn against Markov. This greatly helped Black Ops in their task of stopping Markov’s scheme to seize control of Russia to bring back the former USSR’s might.
Markov thought that his latest Molot mecha was operational. So he tried one to dispatch both Black Ops and the HEATERS. But he was betrayed by one of his scientist, who destroyed the prototype, with the mad General inside.
PSI
Afterward, Crane contacted Giovanni, at Department PSI. He sought their sponsorship and protection. Black Ops were send on the trail of some nanotechnology, one related to the Gen-Factor. They ran into Ivana Baiul and her DV8, as she was sponsoring the research to use it to boost her Gen-Actives.
They couldn’t prevent her to get away with the goods, but they managed to trace them to their hideout. They infiltrated the complex, and won the showdown with DV8. Black Ops escaped shortly before PSI ordered the sterilization of the area.
Description
Shire is a striking blonde.
Personality
She’s dedicated to carry on the mission’s objective.
The death of her leader and friend put her in a difficult position as she had to ensure the interim, before Crane joined them. She never really used rank privileges with them, and suddenly, she had to give them sharp orders.
Quotes
“Until we hear otherwise, we have no choice but to carry on with our mission.”
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Shire
Dex: 07 | Str: 03 | Bod: 04 | Motivation : Responsibility of Power |
Int: 06 | Wil: 06 | Min: 06 | Occupation : Infiltrator |
Inf: 07 | Aur: 05 | Spi: 07 | Resources {or Wealth} : 07 |
Init: 021 | HP: 050 |
Skills:
Acrobatics (Climbing, Athletics)*: 07, Artist (Actor): 08, Detective*: 06, Military Sciences (Field Command): 07, Scientist: 04, Thief (Stealth, Security Systems, Locks & Safes)*: 07, Weaponry (Firearms): 08
Advantages:
Intensive Training, Language (Russian), Omni-Languages.
Equipment:
- Night-Vision Goggles [BODY 04, Ultra Vision: 05].
- Communication Gear [BODY 04, Radio Communication: 08].
- BULLET-PROOF VEST [BODY 04, Invulnerability: 05, Skin armor: 02, Limitation : Invulnerability and Skin armor only vs bullets and slashing and piercing weapons ; Real Armour].
- Submachinegun + Silencer [BODY 04, Projectile weapons: 05, Ammo: 06, Telescopic vision: 02, Thief (Stealth – to muffle the shots only): 03, R#02, Advantage : Autofire].
- Combat Knife [BODY 05, Enhance (EV): 01 (Cap is 06), Descriptor: Piercing, Slashing].
- EMP Grenade [BODY 02, Neutralize (Gadgets): 15 Area effect, Grenade Drawback].
Source of Character: Image (Wildstorm Universe), Black Ops miniseries.