Blackjack's People #015
Troubleshooters
By Blackjack [Blackjack's Shadowrun Page: www.BlackjackSR.com] [BlackjackSRx@gmail.com] [@BlackjackSRx]

Posted: 1996-09-16

Fixit

Archetype: Elf Street Samurai

While, technically they are street sammys, street mages, an so on, the members of the Troubleshooters shadowrunning team all have skills in just about ever category imaginable. Fixit, a elf in his early 40s with a long face, green eyes, and a body which, contrary to most elves, shows a bit of age, has specialized skills in electronics, biotech, firearms, athletics, demolitions, computers and even conjuring, though he is not magically active. He, and the rest of his group, deplores wetwork and will only kill when it is necessary for their own survival.

Unlike most running groups, the Troubleshooters don’t go on conventional runs and only take jobs where the goal is minutely focused. In addition, they will only work as backup and never as the primary group. They are hired separately, perform separate research on their duties, and rarely come face to face with their coconspirators for more than a few moments. Usually, the primary group is only aware that they have backup and are given a special transmitter which they can press to call the Troubleshooters in, at which time they will complete their predetermined job, whether or not that’s what the runners called them in for. (For example, the primary group may have the job of stealing a formula from inside a corporate compound. If this primary group gets pinned down by gunfire while entering the compound and calls in the Troubleshooters, the Troubleshooters will go straight for the formula, regardless of the primary group’s situation.) If the Troubleshooters manage to complete the mission before the primary group the primary will, mysteriously, receive a pretty good amount of money from the Troubleshooters. It’s kind of their way of thanking the other team for keeping everybody off their backs.

Watching Fixit and his group work is truly an experience. He is very thorough with details, slipping through a compound in a graceful flurry of small explosions, rewireings, athletic maneuvers, and taser shots. Sometimes he doesn’t even have to break his stride.

Laserboy

Archetype: Human Street Samurai

In addition to his specialization in hand held lasers, Laserboy also has skills in biotech, athletics, demolition, computers, and gunnery. He owns a customized MP laser which is smaller in size than the normal model and which has an mechanism for controlling the output of the laser, allowing him to stage down the damage. A boy genius, Laserboy is only 18, but doesn’t look a day over 15. He’s extremely athletic, and extraordinarily strong for somebody of his light build. He’s also a mute (but not deaf) and communicates via sign language. Laserboy can do extraordinary things with his weapon, including focusing the beam to a pinpoint and knocking out single chips in electronic devices. Laserboy also hasn’t learned to control his hormonal impulses yet and will proposition any attractive female in the area via lewd hand motions and an unnerving boyish grin.

Normal Jean

Archetype: Human Street Samurai

Normal Jean specializes in undercover activity but also has skills in many other diverse categories. She has four cyberlimbs, each of which contains weapons of some kind, including a shotgun in each arm, and a SMG in each leg.  She’s 30, going on 19, and has an disarmingly innocent smile. Normally she dresses like a corporate woman, even on runs, and never uses any weapon which isn’t already built into her. Despite her vast array of weaponry, she has never killed anybody, preferring to disorient people by firing her weapons before manually knocking them unconscious.

Normal Jean II

Archetype: Human Street Mage

Normal Jean’s identical twin sister, Normal Jean II is an accomplished mage who contains no cyberware whatsoever. She also carries no weapons, relying on her magical skills alone. She is probably the best at electronics out of the entire group which may explain her preference for electrical manipulation spells.

Mack

Archetype: Ork Rigger

In addition to being the Troubleshooter’s rigger, Mack also specializes in biotech and electronic warfare. His fast moving off-road jeeps and bikes are equipped with the finest of communications and jamming gear, as well as an autodestruct system.

Digital Sorcerer

Archetype: Human Decker Adept

Digital Sorcerer is a sorcery adept (illusion) as well as the Troubleshooter’s decker. He uses spells primarily in order to cloak himself and his actions so he can move into a position from which he can deck. He always wears a black jumpsuit of some kind, usually along with a black leather jacket. He rarely talks about either decking or magic, preferring to banter on for hours about endangered animals.