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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Davies" data-source="post: 8136772" data-attributes="member: 30538">Black Shuck<img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/My-First-Gallery/i-55mfdfx/0/31b8ef8e/S/RCO002_1583422186-S.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />Unlike most of his comrades in the United Superheroes of America, Ralph Preston was already serving in the military when he developed his powers. The exact circumstances under which his unit of the National Guard encountered a space-warping phenomenon, shortly after Cerebron's attack, remain highly classified, but the results were that Sergeant Preston developed the ability to alter his phase state to either become intangible or to transmit himself short distances. A certain amount of specialized training, overseen by the Department of Defense, revealed that he also had the heightened reflexes that often accompany teleportative abilities.He was a natural choice for the team that took form shortly after, and served as its second-in-command, under the alias Black Shuck (after the hound of ill omen from folklore.) Privately, Preston wasn't all that thrilled that what he'd thought was a temporary commitment, intended only to last for the duration of a national emergency, was turning into a lifetime career, but he adjusted once he realized that he'd become a celebrity. Unfortunately, that didn't last too long, and once the team was disbanded, he ended up assigned to assist Army Ranger operations around the world. By 2009, he was considering deserting when his unit, operating in Vietnam in support of the government, stumbled onto an improvised explosive device.Preston saved their lives at the cost of taking serious injuries, and received a medical discharge from the army. Which was nice, but he was left without real prospects after he completed his recovery in a Veterans Administration hospital. Thus, he was (to his mind) forced to accept the offer to become one of the charter members of Heroic Enterprises. Freed from military discipline, he became a much more volatile operative, while also actively courting the press, deliberately engaging in 'bad boy' antics that were very far from the spotless image that Thomas Dore had in mind. Ultimately, he wound up fired from the team in 2014.Ironically, given that he'd wanted to get out of this life a short time before, the Black Shuck has continued his somewhat notorious activities, and is contracted by the city government of Boston as their local superhero. To the mild horror of all who are familiar with him, they are even considering recruiting a group of teenaged supers to learn from him, in imitation of Philadelphia's Minor League. It's possible that the responsibility of that task will cause him to be less of a showboating jerkass. Possible, but not terribly likely.Black Shuck -- PL 10Abilities:STR 2 | STA 2 | AGL 4 | DEX 3 | FGT 4 | INT 1 | AWE 2 | PRE 2Powers:Enhanced Reflexes: Enhanced Advantages 6 (Defensive Roll 2, Evasion 2, Improved Initiative 2); Enhanced Defenses 8 (Dodge 4, Parry 4) - 14 pointsPhase-State Teleportation:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Phasing: Damage 8, Accurate 3; Continuous Insubstantial 3 - 1 point </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Teleporting: Accurate Teleport 9 (2 miles), Turnabout - 28 points</li> </ul>Advantages:Close Attack 2, Daze (Intimidation), Defensive Roll 2, Equipment 5, Evasion 2, Improved Initiative 2, Move-by Action, Ranged Attack 5, Startle, Teamwork.Equipment:Utility Belt: Array (12 points)<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Bolos: Ranged Cumulative Affliction 4 (Resisted by Dodge, Overcome by Damage; Hindered and Vulnerable, Defenseless and Immobilized), Extra Condition, Limited Degree - 12 points</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Boomerangs: Strength-based Ranged Damage 1, Accurate 2 - 1 point</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Explosives: Ranged Burst Area Damage 4 - 1 point</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Meta-Taser: Ranged Cumulative Affliction 4 (Resisted by Fortitude; Dazed, Stunned, Incapacitated) - 1 point</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Tear-Gas Pellets: Range Cloud Area Affliction 4 (Resisted by Fortitude; Dazed and Visually Impaired, Stunned and Visually Disabled), Extra Condition, Limited Degree - 1 point</li> </ul>Skills:Acrobatics 4 (+8), Athletics 8 (+10), Close Combat: Unarmed 4 (+8), Expertise: Military 6 (+7), Insight 5 (+7), Intimidation 8 (+10), Investigation 5 (+6), Perception 7 (+9), Stealth 5 (+9).Offense:Initiative +8Unarmed +10 (Close Damage 2)Phase Touch +12 (Close Damage 8)Bolos +8 (Ranged Affliction, Resisted by Dodge)Boomerangs +12 (Ranged Damage 3)Taser +8 (Ranged Fortitude 4)Tear-Gas Pellet -- (Ranged Cloud Area Fortitude 4)Defense:Dodge 13/9, Parry 11/7, Fortitude 6, Toughness 7/2, Will 8Totals:Abilities 40 + Powers 43 + Advantages 15 + Skills 26 + Defense 18 = 142 pointsComplications:Thrills--Motivation. Old Injuries. Temper.</blockquote>

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