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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Davies" data-source="post: 8137525" data-attributes="member: 30538">Zero<img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/My-First-Gallery/i-FBqqBN4/0/53eeb65a/S/Guard_man_2.PNG-S.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />One of the last hires that Heroic Enterprises made before it was forced to shutter its operations in California, Mike Ransom was also one of the first to be let go soon after the team relocated to Detroit. There wasn't any discipline problems, as with other members of the team; Ransom was an exemplary employee in most respects. Unfortunately, not only did he not have seniority, his particular form of superheroics presented special challenges for an organization trying to regain its footing in an increasingly challenging market. Basically, the powered armor that allows him to act as a superhero, rather than an individual with powers who's easily dispatched by anyone with a pistol, requires expert maintenance that would keep Doctor Sapien, for example, out of action for long periods of time.In late 2011, Ransom was a recently graduated Navy SEAL assigned to a still-classified operation conducted in the Yellow Sea. (It is believed that they were attempting to recover biological samples from a kaiju which had recently been eliminated by secret weapons of the Empire of Korea, in order to gain intelligence on those weapons.) The team was captured by Korean forces and accused of conducting operations inside the Empire's territorial waters, and thus held as spies. A show trial was held, with a predictable conclusion, and the operators were sent to a prison complex in a remote part of the peninsula.There, all of them were subjected to a number of scientific tests, with Ransom receiving the most interest from the scientists. He soon realized, from his observations of the tests they conducted on him, that they had discovered he had a superpower, something he himself had never known due to its nature: he could generate a field in which mutant superpowers generally did not not function. Ransom immediately realized that this was an incredibly useful talent, but not one which could help him with the immediate problem of escaping from captivity. And his circumstances were not such that he had the opportunity to experiment with the power in order to learn to use it to his advantage.After a few months of this, the prison was visited by the ruler of Korea, and Ransom's abilities demonstrated for him. After some discussion that Ransom's rudimentary Korean could not possibly let him follow, the Emperor actually spoke to him. "Know, young man, that you have played a role in giving the world into my hands ... and so I shall thank you by giving you and your associates the gift of your lives." (In his recollections of the episode, Ransom fires back a pithy response to this. In reality, he was too terrified to say anything.) The very next day, the SEALs were told that they were being returned to the United States as part of a prisoner exchange.Back in the United States, it was quickly determined that none of the team had committed no treasonous acts, but Ransom's situation concerned the brass. He considered telling them what he'd found out, but feared the consequences if he did, as his cooperation with the tests had not been completely involuntary. He chose to accept a medical discharge from the Navy, as he'd come to the conclusion that he could not meaningfully oppose the evil that he'd encountered within the service.Ransom spent the next two years engaged in private study of his powers, learning to perceive the field that he could generate, and from there to extend it further, and to channel it as a more focused and powerful 'beam' of visible energy. Unfortunately, it was clear that his power did not come with any physical enhancements, so while he would be able to shut down any supervillains that he faced, he'd be as vulnerable as any other human being against normal criminals. This didn't seem like the beginning of a heroic career, and so he was stymied.Then he happened to watch a TV interview with the American Angel, who spoke about how he believed that there were many more potential heroes in America than anyone knew, just uncertain how to use their gifts, and how Heroic Enterprises sought to train and equip people to do so. Mike showed up at the office the next day, eager to begin that training. He was a bit annoyed to learn that this had largely been hype, but after a week, management came up with a solution to the challenge that his situation presented.They contacted Marc Bolton, the president of Cadmus Enterprises, and contracted with him to design a bare-bones suit of powered armor for Ransom. It didn't need a particularly strong exoskeleton or built-in weapons, as it was simply intended to keep him alive so that his innate powers could do their job. The challenge appealed to Bolton, and he agreed to provide technical support for the suit at a reasonable rate. So Mike could finally make his debut as Zero, the power nullifying hero ... just two weeks before the business with the bridge, which was not his fault.Relocating to Detroit wasn't a problem for him. Unfortunately, it was a bit more of a problem for the company, as the change of circumstances allowed Bolton to renegotiate the terms of his contract for technical support, greatly increasing what he was paid due to the expense of travelling half-way across the country for the purpose of maintenance. And without Bolton's assistance, they faced other problems, as described above. Ransom isn't happy that he lost his job, but he can't really blame Heroic Enterprises' management for making the call that they did.He has responded to the situation by going into business for himself. Operating out of Washington D.C., he's managed to find enough clients willing to pay to have someone who can negate superpowers on retainer, and thus enough to employ one 'Cog' Cosgrave as his full-time maintenance staff. However, Mike is aware that he may not have vetted his client list as well as Heroic Enterprises used to, and is concerned that he might have put himself in the employ of some very morally questionable parties. So far, he hasn't been asked to do anything against his ethics, but he's not sure how long that will last, or what he'll do if the situation changes.Zero -- PL 11Abilities:STR 2 | STA 3 | AGL 1 | DEX 2 | FGT 4 | INT 2 | AWE 2 | PRE 2Powers:Battlesuit: Removable (-9 points)<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Armored Shell: Immunity 10 (life support); Impervious Protection 8 - 26 points</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Jet Pack: Flight 7 (250 MPH) - 14 points</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Power Knuckles: Strength-based Damage 4, Inaccurate - 2 points</li> </ul>Power Nullification: Array (61 points) <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Null Beam: Nullify Mutant Powers 12, Broad, Simultaneous, Sustained, Precise - 61 points</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Null Field: Burst Area 2 Nullify Mutant Powers 10, Broad, Concentration, Simultaneous, Subtle - 1 point</li> </ul>Power Stunts:EMP Emulation: Burst Area 2 Nullify Technological Powers 10, Broad, Concentration, SimultaneousNullify Mystics: Nullify Mystical Powers 12, Broad, Simultaneous, SustainedAdvantages:Defensive Attack, Improved Initiative, Interpose, Move-by Action, Power Attack, Ranged Attack 3, Redirect, TeamworkSkills:Athletics 5 (+7), Close Combat: Unarmed 4 (+8), Expertise: Military 4 (+6), Insight 4 (+6), Intimidation 4 (+6), Perception 4 (+6), Ranged Combat: Null Beam 5 (+7), Technology 3 (+5), Vehicles 3 (+5).Offense:Initiative +5Unarmed +8 (Close Damage 2)Power Knuckles +6 (Close Damage 6)Null Beam +10 (Ranged Will 12)Defense:Dodge 9, Parry 9, Fortitude 5, Toughness 11/3, Will 6Totals:Abilities 36 + Powers 96 + Advantages 10 + Skills 18 + Defenses 19 = 179 pointsComplications:Responsibility--Motivation. Dependency (maintenance, Powered Armor powers become Unreliable without it.) Fear (Empire of Korea.) Patriotic.</blockquote>

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