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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Davies" data-source="post: 8316814" data-attributes="member: 30538">Mekkanel<img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/My-First-Gallery/i-zQKzBfJ/0/1e4f6627/S/3d4fbfb545a63996c6279c0cfa276d32-S.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />Constructed roughly a century ago in a factory on Muraddin, Mekkanel became a citizen of the Technate when robots were emancipated in response to their outlawing in the Crimson Imperium. In contrast to the views of some entities on the subject, he does not consider being granted freedom to  make up for the decades of slavery that he personally endured, much less the millennium of slavery that robots had suffered before that. It all left an extraordinarily bad taste in his gustatory sensor and little if any trust in the benevolence of the Technate government, so when his former best friend suggested that they sign up for the Space Agency, Mekkanel decided to find a new best friend.It wasn't easy to do, and so he made his way through the Technate's underworld, frequently working for organics but only on a temporary basis and always making sure to get paid upfront before he did anything for anybody. Many of these jobs were on the far side of ethical -- to say of nothing of their gross amorality -- but as long as they involved organics preying on organics, he couldn't be bothered to care. Or at least that's what he told himself whenever he had trouble motivating himself to leave the recharging nook when the cycle was over.Around twenty-seven years* ago, Mekkanel was hired to do some security upgrades for the computers of some new mercenary outfit with a frankly dumb name. He was a bit bewildered that these so-called Last Men Standing wanted so much redundant security for their gear. Okay, having your computers hacked while you were engaged in a space battle would suck, but who were they expecting to have to fight off, Cerebron? He mentioned these suspicions to the tall bald Albadine who was paying him, and was further bewildered when the organic laughed.Hallandar proceeded to tell him about the Dark Side. It was pretty horrific stuff, even if Mekkanel was inclined to think only half of what he was being told could possibly be true. However, it wasn't any of his business what one group of organics chose to do to a different group, and he said as much to Hallandar. Hallandar proceeded to tell him about how many of the armies who'd shattered his world had been composed of androids ... likely enslaved androids, like those in the Imperium. That stung, but it still wasn't any of his business. He had enough trouble looking out for himself!"I imagine that's what anyone who was asked about the notion of freeing robots thought, for quite some time," Hallandar replied.So it was that Mekkanel wound up in the first full-time job of his existence, as the effective chief engineer of the Parodigue. The worst part was the fact that Otodevol somehow found out about this development, and sent him a wonderfully smarmy message congratulating him on overcoming his grudge. The DELETE he had! He was just going along to determine whether there really were robots and/or androids enslaved by these people, then figure out how to free them, and then he would cash out faster than he could slice pi.Eventually, though, he came to the realization that his current position wasn't really facilitating that goal. Thus, when Feena came to him seeking his recommendation of a good engineer to join her action team, Mekkanel responded by volunteering his own services. Their greater mobility has allowed him to see more of the Laster's conflict, and even to rescue a few of the androids in Daath's service, while also thoroughly debriefing them for anything they know about the opposition. Mekkanel is a robot with many hidden technological tricks; he's also scarily smart and perfectly willing to make modifications to his shell in order to enhance its functionality. This is also one of his biggest weaknesses, as he cannot perform full maintenance on himself, and has to allow someone else to do so -- and his systems are both old and unique, increasing the operation's difficulty. Other major problems are the fact that he is not at all buoyant, nor can he climb effectively, as his manipulator arms are too weak to support his own weight. (He can use stairs, as he's capable of short hops.) This also means that if knocked prone, someone else is going to have to pick him up again ... and yet the rest of his team keeps doing so, despite his expectations to the contrary.Maybe he's finally found that new best friend he was looking for.Mekkanel -- PL 10Abilities:STR 2 | STA -- | AGL 0 | DEX 4 | FGT 6 | INT 8 | AWE 1 | PRE 1Powers:Machine Interface: Radio Communication 1; Comprehend Machines 2 - 11 pointsReconstruction: Immortality 5 (minimum of 1 day), Check Required (Technology, DC 20), Quirk (loss of all memories)- 1 pointRobotic Body: Immunity 50 (Fortitude effects, mental effects); Impervious Protection 6 - 62 pointsSensory Package: Senses 5 (darkvision, extended radio, ultra-hearing) - 5 pointsSmall Size: Permanent Shrinking 4 (Strength -1, Dodge +2, Parry +2, Stealth +4, Intimidation -1) - 4 pointsTranslator Circuits: Comprehend Languages 2 (understand and read all languages) - 6 pointsTreads: Speed 4 (30 MPH) - 4 pointsUndocumented Features: Array (11 points) <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Cutting Torch: Linked Damage 5; Linked Weaken Toughness 5, Affects Objects Only; Accurate - 11 points</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Empbeam: Ranged Affliction 6 (Resisted by Will; Dazed, Stunned, Incapacitated), Accurate, Limited to Robots, Reduced Range 2 - 1 point</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Smoke Screen: Cloud Area Sight Concealment Attack 4 - 1 point</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Stunbeam: Ranged Affliction 6 (Resisted by Fortitude; Dazed, Stunned, Incapacitated), Accurate, Reduced Range 2 - 1 point</li> </ul>Advantages:Equipment 4, Eidetic Memory, Improvised Tools, Jack-of-all-Trades, Skill Mastery (Technology), Speed of Thought, Well-informed.Equipment:20 points of equipment as needed.Skills:Deception 8 (+9), Expertise: Galactic 3 (+11), Expertise: Science 1 (+9), Investigation 3 (+11), Perception 9 (+10), Persuasion 6 (+7), Ranged Combat: Features 8 (+12), Stealth 6 (+10), Technology 4 (+12), Vehicles 4 (+8).Offense:Initiative +8Unarmed +6 (Close Damage 2)Cutting Torch +8 (Ranged Damage 5 and Weaken Toughness 5)Empbeam +14 (Ranged Will 6)Stunbeam +14 (Ranged Fortitude 6)Defense:Dodge 10, Parry 8, Fortitude Immune, Toughness 6, Will 6Totals:Abilities 38 + Powers 107 + Advantages 10 + Skills 26 + Defenses 13 = 194 pointsComplications:Justice--Motivation. Physical (cannot climb or swim.) Requires Frequent Maintenance. Weak Manipulator Arms (STR 0 for picking up objects.)Note: The additional equipment points of this team are usually reserved to purchase a Space Cruiser (M&M Hero's Handbook Deluxe, p 224) with Space Travel 2 for their operations. As they go through these vessels fairly quickly, any picture provided would be outdated just as quickly.</blockquote>

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