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Joined: May 04, 2003 Posts: 59 Location: Sailing, sailing, over the ocean blue...
Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 9:46 pm Post subject: Canadian Shield introduction
Ok, so here goes. I debated for about 5 picoseconds whether I should post this here or in the Character Creation section, but this isn't about how I went about creating these characters; it's about the characters themselves.
Canadian Shield is a superhero organization loosely affiliated with the Canadian Forces; the head of the organization is Colonel Marc Despard, an infantry officer who is now working in a special projects section of DND.
Matrix - real name Erin Lawhead. She's a computer geek who makes a living as a contract software writer/designer. She's 24, has a PhD in AI systems and writes the sort of software that large corporations and shady government agencies need to have written. We're not talking Excel here.
As Matrix the superheroine, her main power/ability is that she can transform herself into electronic pulses, entering computer systems through any sort of open connection port (a parallel port on the back of a laptop, cat 5 ethernet connector in the wall, RJ11 jack - you name it, she can access it). Once in this form, she is living software, and can roam computer systems and networks at will, affecting their contents and operation, and using them as transport to move quickly from one place to another. She's also (when in flesh form) quite skilled at infiltration. She's a devotee of tai chi and kick-boxing and is a decent gymnast, so while she wouldn't be able to take on a whole gang of thugs by herself, she is well able to defend herself and can often avoid combat.
In her non-superheroine life, Erin is rather shy and retiring. Until she developed her powers, she was a quintessential computer geek, and she still acts the part partly as protective camouflage. She usually wears her hair in a ponytail or a bun, and her favourite attire - even when meeting clients - is jeans and a t-shirt. Since she developed her powers as Matrix, she has been learning that she can affect her own body in the computer world and have that effect translate to the physical - for instance, she used to wear glasses, being moderately myopic. She still wears glasses as part of her geek image, but they are now zero prescription lenses.
At the moment she has no significant relationships going, though she has a definite crush on her team-mate Nova.
Last edited by MapleLeafSailor on Fri Apr 30, 2004 10:27 pm; edited 1 time in total
Joined: May 04, 2003 Posts: 59 Location: Sailing, sailing, over the ocean blue...
Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 10:04 pm Post subject: CS: Nova
Nova - alien; real name unpronounceable and at this moment unknown, since she's suffered from amnesia since she arrived on Earth. She is of a race of humanoids who live in the photospheres of stars, including our sun. Since her arrival here she's used the name "Lee Alexander".
Nova, being of a race accustomed to the intensity of stars as a congenial environment, is of course immensly strong by our standards - she can easily bench-press an M1 Abrahms, for instance. Her race also has the ability to manipulate energy to a certain extent - for instance, creating a fusion jet to use for flight, or blasts of energy, etc. Their 'visual' range covers a large part of the EM spectrum, far beyond what we would call "light". X-rays, microwaves, radio wavelengths - they're all sources of light to her.
Her people have a high metals content in their bodies; hence hair, finger and toenails, and eyes are silvery in appearance. She further enhances this otherwordly appearance when appearing as Nova by clothing herself in flames - again, using her fine control of energy fields to control them.
As Lee Alexander, she is a Major in the Canadian Forces Air Command. How and why will be revealed in the future (as soon as I come up with something). She is a pilot, type certified on the CF-18, the CH-124 Sea King and (hoping I guess right here) the EH-101 Cormorant/Merlin.
She is currently on detached duty from squadron service, working with Col. Despard. Although she feels a strong sense of loyalty to Canada and takes her military duties and obligations seriously, she is doing as much as she can to keep Canadian Shield at arms' distance from military control.
I haven't yet decided just what her relationship with Marc Despard will be - I'm tempted to have them be lovers, but that causes some difficulties. She feels affectionately towards Matrix, viewing her as something of a younger sister, to be looked out for, but not to protect her over-zealously. This may have to do with how they met (also still under development).
Last edited by MapleLeafSailor on Fri Apr 30, 2004 10:14 pm; edited 1 time in total
Joined: May 04, 2003 Posts: 59 Location: Sailing, sailing, over the ocean blue...
Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 10:13 pm Post subject: Colonel Marc Despard
Col. Despard - Col. Marc Despard is an infantry officer currently working for DND's Directorate of Special Projects. This is, essentially, a 'black ops' section, and a lot of what goes on here is hush-hush.
Col. Despard is part of a project team that formed shortly after the events of September 11th, 2001, and Canadian Shield was formed from that. Initially it was to be run under direct military control - all members would, essentially, be comissioned officers, and a large base and support staff was to be put in place. Nova was going to be the first member and the team leader; since she already had a comission and the rank of Major, it seemed like a workable idea. However, Matrix was brought into the fold in a rather unorthodox manner (exact details to be worked out ), and - to put it in simplest terms - was not willing to be drafted for the duration.
Marc was also involved in the initial discovery and aid to Nova, and has since developed feelings for her - as I said before, I havent' decided just how strong those feelings are, nor whether these two have acted / are acting on them.
I haven't yet decided whether Marc is also a super-powered being or a normal. I want to have a final team size of five or six, and a balanced team would make things easier from some story perspectives - on the other hand, like real life, I could just come up with characters and see what happens...
Joined: May 04, 2003 Posts: 59 Location: Sailing, sailing, over the ocean blue...
Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 10:21 pm Post subject: Canadian Shield miscellany
As stated, Canadian Shield is a group of superheroes put together in response to the events of September 11, 2001. The Department of National Defense considers this part of its overall mandate of the country's defense and security. For various security reasons, the link between DND and Canadian Shield is being kept secret, but the information is or will soon be shared with the highest levels of the US government.
Canadian Shield is based out of Victoria, BC, on Vancouver Island. The main reason for this is that's where I live In story terms, however, it's a good location as while there is a naval base there (CFB Esquimalt), and the city itself is home to the provincial government, Victoria is seen as a 'quaint little town', due in large part to the presence of Vancouver just over on the mainland, and the obvious locale to base any west-coast superheroes. However, when the heroes in question (all 2 of them so far) can either fly or move near-instantaneously through data links, location isn't so key any more...
Joined: May 04, 2003 Posts: 59 Location: Sailing, sailing, over the ocean blue...
Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 10:25 pm Post subject: Intro over
Ok, so there you have it - that's what I've developed so far. I've been working on character images for Matrix so far, and her electronic form has been done for about a week, and I just finished (this evening) her physical costumed form.
I've already posted a couple of pics of Matrix in the computer world, or "dataspace" as I've labelled it; and a WIP render of her in her costume. I'm going to do up a character file of her as Erin in her work clothes, then I'll do some renders and post the results.
Joined: May 31, 2002 Posts: 817 Location: Ottawa Ontario Canada
Posted: Thu May 06, 2004 6:39 am Post subject:
I like the idea Kimosabe. Coming from Ottawa, and working right down the street from the main headquarters for the DND, and having a lady friend who works there, this story has my interest.
Now get moving on Issue number 1 bra'...Im anxious lol _________________ =============================
New World Media/Muskateer Graphics
~Live the dream, experience the nightmare
=============================
Joined: May 04, 2003 Posts: 59 Location: Sailing, sailing, over the ocean blue...
Posted: Tue May 25, 2004 12:32 pm Post subject: Re: Canadian Shield introduction
Hm. Good question, that. Not sure really what else I could call her, though. I'm trying to stay with snappy, one-word codenames for each member of CS. I don't think it should be a problem, as the move title uses the word more to refer to the virtual environment the machines created. However, "should" and "are" are so often two separate things... must think on this. _________________ "Take sides! Always take sides! You may be wrong - but the man who refuses to take sides must always be wrong! Heaven save us from poltroons who fear to make a choice." - Robert A. Heinlein, "Double Star"
Joined: Jun 10, 2002 Posts: 787 Location: Ontario, Canada
Posted: Wed May 26, 2004 8:54 am Post subject: Re: Canadian Shield introduction
No matter how successful the Matrix movie was, they can't copyright a word. Really, character names can't even be copyrighted, which is why both DC and Marvel have characters called "Captain Marvel." _________________ Jim Harnock - ODS
www.OrcaDesignStudios.com
Joined: May 31, 2002 Posts: 817 Location: Ottawa Ontario Canada
Posted: Wed May 26, 2004 1:41 pm Post subject: Re: Canadian Shield introduction
I remember that well...thanks...you just made me fell oldddddd =)
But its true about Copyright...You can copyright anything. Its defending it in court and WINNING that is the difficult part.
Muskateer Graphics was sued in 97 for copyrighting and using the name Muskateer, since a local Canadian Broadcaster was looking o make a canadian mini-series about them.
They lost, and I didnt even have to spend a dime.
New World Films sent us a cease and decist letter because of "New World", and again, we walked out the victor.
We just had to make sure our logo's remain as distant from there's as possible lol.
And look at the WWF suing the WWF =)...Although wrestlers can appear to be gian animals at times, they won, and we now have the WWE.
And Apple records fighting with Apple Computers eversince the late 70's, making the agreement that Apple Computers would never enter the music role.
Surprise --- iPod, iTunes, iTunes Store...And Apple culdnt care.
Apple taking the GUI idea and the mouse...Microsoft stealing the idea for themselves...
Its all about the courts.
So...anyone want to copyright my face? PLEASE? Only 20% commision =)
No, you can't copyright anything. Ideas and names can't be copyrighted. Only actual produced artwork, music, etc. can be copyrighted and is automatically so. However, if you register your copyright, you have a better chance of winning a copyright infringement case. Also, copyrights do not go away if you don't defend them.
Trademarks are for "names" (product names, business names, etc) and must be vigorously defended. You can't trademark a common name, though, and if you don't defend your trademark, you can lose it.
Joined: May 31, 2002 Posts: 817 Location: Ottawa Ontario Canada
Posted: Wed May 26, 2004 2:17 pm Post subject:
Sorry...My bd...I was refering to Trademark.
Ahh...its all cour crup anyhow lol. I dont have to worry...I just collect my cash and Im happy lol _________________ =============================
New World Media/Muskateer Graphics
~Live the dream, experience the nightmare
=============================
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), and - to put it in simplest terms - was not willing to be drafted for the duration.
