|| 32, Presumed | Drastonia | Asexual (With a hint of Heterosexuality) ||
Largely presumed to be male, his tanned, 6'2 "wedged" frame is gracefully slim and toned, its overall shape comparable to something in between a runner and a soldier, built from his many years of training and combat. He normally weighs in at 177 pounds, but even this is approximate, since the equipment he is often outfitted with bumps this number to a decent 240 pounds.
Like most 'Mechpilots, Relic’s armor is self-contained and capable of withstanding most elements and hazardous conditions, however he has geared his suit to complement his roles as an Infiltrator and Pilot Hunter. Designed by the Agency as a new-gen possibility, the armor is for the most part quite expansive in its coverage, adding extra protective plating to areas normally left exposed and extra armor to critical spots of the body. Beneath that he wears a [radiation-shielded] sealed, composite thermal undersuit, able to keep him warm even in the severe cold of a ship or 'Mech whose life-support has been disabled. Electromagnetic devices are located throughout the suit, allowing him to maneuver even if the gravity pump is deactivated. It is resistant to most small-arms fire during times of shipboard attrition, however prolonged duration is not advised. His suit sports redundant oxygen filtration systems and limited air supply, and his customized tactical helmet completely encases his head and face. A fixed tricloptical sensor array is built into the helmet for intel acquisition, crucial should Relic be left in the dark. A comm system is build into the face-mask, including a broadcast speaker. Relic normally speaks through this radio rather than show his face, the slight reediness and electrical distortion made as a by-product of speaking through a speaker helping to conceal his voice. The "backpack" and belt contain a series of magnetic clips to carry unused weapons, grenades, 'munitions, et cetera.
It has been rumored, but never confirmed, that Relic may have nano-machine enhancements. This suspicion comes from his strength, speed, and reflexes displayed during battle, however it is hard to guess whether these abilities come from his armor or from biological enhancements.
He is most comfortable in using a modular XLR-09B Advanced Tactical Rifle, though he also packs a WR160L "Hammer" pistol as a side-arm. Despite its weight, he is keen to its stopping power. Even when he's operating his 'Mech, Relic carries these two weapons on his person and is known to operate them while outside of its cockpit, his aim often set on the cockpit of another 'Mech. For combat situations that require something a little more "hands on," Relic has a ZKSu2 "Heat-Shorter" Knuckler retractable blade system equipped and built into his right gauntlet, dubbed as the "Cookie Cutter" as Relic is fairly known to use it to pry open a mech's cockpit during one of his so-called hostile takeovers.
Relic is a coldly practical man, and his mech reflects this for the most part, as the Gemini's Shadow exemplifies the idea of bringing the maximum amount of weaponry to bear on a frame that is still sufficiently agile and quick. Consequently, it is a light-weight mech, half the size of a standard mech, yet still capable of reaching high speeds and agility while still sporting a respectable payload. Depending on the mission, the Gemini's Shadow is either painted with a camouflage scheme for terrestial-based operations or a matte black paint scheme for orbital-based combat.
The modified mech was originally designed by the CyberTech Corporation as one of many K-24I Fury mechs to fill in the niche of low gravity insertion and air superiority strike fighter, and is exceptional in its agility and speed. While in its primary "Strike Mode," the Gemini's Shadow sports dual semi-directional energy-based gatling turrets as its primary weapon, with a number of "Sidewinder SRM" micro-rocket launcher pods located across its chassis. The "arms" and "legs" of the mech serve as its primary form of maintaining directional control, acting as a secondary pair of "wings" in addition to the pair of rear mounted wings when in operation, with the "arms" doubling as bladed weapons for when things need that extra "umph." The frame's hard geometry and small size assists in lowering the mech's overall detection signature, and this is not including the mech's reflective shielding that denies the vast majority of hijackers.
Two unique aspects aside from its smaller size separates Relic's personal mech from the others: the first is its secondary "Stealth Mode", in which the mech is capable of further reducing its size and detection signature, where it takes on the form of a small fighter craft. Its top-mounted weapons are relocated to the mech's undercarriage, locked to serve as forward-mounted turrets. Its limbs are folded and locked into place, where the armblades would be temporarily disabled to provide power to its other systems. The mech's rear-opening cockpit transforms as well, creating a motorcycle-esque control system to represent its compact frame. Ironically, this is also the same mode that's used when the mech is stored within the Nightengale's hangar bay.
However, that is not the most unique aspect of Relic's personal mech: The Gemini's Shadow is equipped with an artificial intelligence (obviously known as GEMINI) that serves as the mech's pilot when Relic is not operating the frame. However, the mech will automatically default to its "Stealth Mode" when GEMINI engages the controls, unless Relic decides otherwise. This aspect is further escalated to a new level of synergy when Relic is observed operating the mech remotely whenever he deems it necessary to do so.
There's only one word that can accurately describe Relic: Hyperlethal. He may be a skilled and formidable pilot [and a soldier on a lesser note] first and foremost, but it's his reputation as the only one to date to successfully pull off what most would consider as either an incredibly ballsy or incredibly stupid move: Ejecting himself from his own mech, and personally hijack and dispatch the pilot of a target mech, whether to kill them while they're still operating or forcing an emergency ejection into the void of space.
The intimidation factor of merely knowing that he'll be on the battlefield ramps up the fear factor of enemy pilots, and is quite an effect on even those who worship no gods. While the vast majority of mech pilots are easy pickings for Relic to do this to, there are a select number that make it almost impossible for him to perform, which he simply reverts to Plan B, whatever that may be.
What makes this into one of a pilot's worst nightmares? The fact that his small size (in relation to a target mech) and first-hand experience makes him nearly invisible to detection, and his suit seems to be specifically built for this... ability of his. There's also a story among surviving pilots that his last mark tried to remove him from the mech, only to find Relic blasting a hole into the plating and pulling himself through the mech's innards to dispatch the pilot from inside his own cockpit.
Now, if the story's true, that's up for the pilots who are listening to decide.
The other feats that he is possibly known for, such as nonchalantly dodging a heatseeking missile, or turning up behind someone one moment and instantly disappearing with no evidence of his existence, are due to a mixture of his skill and experience from years of military service and the very suit that he is often seen wearing.
Unfortunately, the "Spectre" will always be seen as equipment in the eyes of his superiors. This is due to his view on completing a certain task with as much efficiency as possible, and this does tend to create a few problems with those who work alongside him. Relic's personal views and actions, to their core, dehumanize him.
While this seems as a tactically positive reaction to his shrouded history and training, others (for the most part) fail to attach a human face to what lingers behind his helmet, and Relic's reserved nature does nothing to remedy this. Relic is known for being absent during Mess Call, preferring to eat in private, and whenever he is seen by others, whether it's on the flight deck or within the corridors, his face is always hidden behind the helmet that serves as his public identity. While the others can't hold a humanizing persona or features to Relic, he no longer does the same for them, as it's often proven time and time again that certain affections can, and will, interrupt a mission at hand.
Despite being considered more as a machine than a living person, beneath the suit, Relic is still flesh and blood. He's certainly not expendable, and can most certainly die if things make a turn for the worst.
As for the Gemini's Shadow, (as with any Fury-class) the drawbacks of operating such a craft is almost self-explanatory. The mech's light-weight and smaller frame, while making it increasingly agile and harder to detect, pays in the price of strength and durability. Direct hits to certain areas, such as its midsection hold a strong possibility of crippling the mech.
The cockpit in itself is an entirely different story. While it may not be entirely possible to pry open the cockpit and remove the pilot, it is possible (and sometimes a tactical option) to remove the entire cockpit from the mech, which will most often force the pilot to perform an emergency ejection.
Another weakness in the mech's design is its lighter payload select of weaponry as well as its smaller fuel supply. Both of these aspects force the mech into a role of strike craft rather than being a mech designed for assaulting the enemy, and thus often require the pilot to make multiple trips to and from the battlefield for refueling and reloading ammunition. To help remedy this, but not entirely removing this drawback, each Fury mech that Drastonia had ordered had been retrofitted with modular weapon and energy systems for easier replacement, though by no means it's still capable of taking on an Inukaitu mech head on - Relic would have to do that himself, a feat that not even he had successfully pulled off.
Upon seeing Relic--hearing the crackled, synthesized voice over his external speakers and witnessing his methodical and heartless actions--one truly does wonder whether or not this figure before them is wholly man or machine. He personally never says anything to either confirm or deny this. His last biological records even in the Drastonian databases have been long lost, or were never existent to begin with. Many, even among the pirates and mercenaries, reckon he is a cyborg at least, if not a full android. But one fact is indisputable, he is cold. He is ruthless, uncompassionate, and terrifyingly poignant when he wishes to be. He will kill and move on without second thought. His words are few and highly pitched from his suit, but nevertheless as sharp and as cold as a scalpel lying in the tray of a chill operating room. He looks at people in terms of the threat they pose; those deemed as one are treated immediately and permanently, those not are ignored only for the moment—but never wholly disregarded.
Years of serving and working for various armed organizations, both official and unofficial, have taught Relic the cruel lesson of balance. Whether to don layers of armor and be impregnable, carrying individual weapons of mass destruction, or to go the path of the light, swift, and surgically deadly. Both hold credible advantages and disadvantages, yet also carry weaknesses that are only too glaring and lethal. Rather than follow in the footsteps of so many other soldiers who have chosen one path or the other, and paid for it with their lives, Relic has come to his own personal destination.
By combining the strengths of both “one man juggernauts” and “nimble assassins” he created what he believed to be an extremely versatile method of battle: to deliver as much crushing force in as little time as necessary. His armor, weapons, and fighting style all reflect this philosophy. Far from the most armored, or most armed, or fastest, soldier-of-(personal) fortune, he is not the slowest, most exposed, or under-gunned either.
He will not toy around with his opponents. He is blunt and direct when not actively holding stealth. Efficiency is his only style; he does not care for splatter and fanciful methods of killing when a simple single shot is all that will suffice. He will deal with opponents the simplest and quickest way possible only because he does not intend to waste time, resources, and effort any more than he has to.
However do not mistake him as a sociopath. He derives no pleasure from killing, nor does he relish the action of inflicting pain. He will just as coolly walk past you as he would shoot you in the face. He does not care whether people live or die, he merely deals with "obstacles" as he sees fit. If dealing with said obtrusions requires slaying, then that is what must be done. These obstacles may be anything as serious as a guard shooting at him to something as trivial as merely asserting his standing in a bar; in both instances there will be shots fired and bodies strewn across the floor.
He is as cold and uncaring as the vacuum of space. Neither his own life or death matter to him. When on assignment, only the objectives hold priority. Currently only Drastonia holds his loyalty, and to what extent even that holds those not in the organization can only guess. That is not to say he cannot be crossed, even if he never displays any anger or emotion. Those who have drawn his ire will only see how harsh the cold heart of the void can be.
