Species: Human
Homeworld: Earth
Codename: WN5

The Lannie

Class: Lambda-class Shuttle

About the Ship: Lannie a modified Lambda-class Shuttle. It's movement is either instantaneous teleporting to any location, or a gradual flight. The Weapons are linked to Rob's Field through the Crystal and can fire with the same power as his own Plasma bolts (though they are slightly boosted by the crystals properties, so that they can sustain fire from all 10 positions at the light anti-vehicle level as easily as Rob can the Anti-personnel). It however has no Ion Cannons nor any Shields. It uses a low level No-Place warp for Shielding (supplied by Lurker), this will syphon away any hits up to their saturation point and only anything above this will make it to the ship (the full broadside of an ISD2 would melt the hullplates and cause damage, though the next Broadside would have the same effect). They are a constant level warp, so will not wear down, the only way to beat them is to constantly overflow their absorbtion level. There are fully automated medical facilities onboard and (thanks to Lurker again) an everfull fridge. The ships computer is a "Jeeves" AI unit from Otherworld, capable of human level decision making and supercomputer calculations. It is fully able to hold conversations with others without them realising it is an AI and has a Personality matching it's name. It also has a secondary unit based in Robs house. When not in use 'Lannie' resides in Lurkers Dimensional Warp, safe from tampering.

History: Born in the the early 1800's on Earth 112 he was chosen as that Earth's Defender by Merlin at the age of 18. Transported to Otherworld to become a member of the Captain Britain Corps he learned how to use his powers, and was found to be the only member of the Corps who could not fly. Instead it was found his body could utilise his Bio-Electric field to move him out of phase with his current Dimension and allow him to pass through Energy fields. Merlin magically bonded a strand of his DNA with a resonating Crystal which refocused this power to enable Rob to teleport and fly (though constant slow teleporting would be more accurate). During his first tours of duty for the Corps, Rob managed to save his planet many times but quickly became suspiscious of the motivations of Merlin and his Daughter Roma (Also having an affair with Otherworlds Major Domo (Omniversal Majestrix) and Military Head of the Corps Opal Luna Satyrnyne, a leggy blonde with power.).

However it wasn't until he died he realised there was more to the commitment to the Corps than he had been told. Merlin resurrected him, telling him he had a destiny and such trivial matters as Death were not a consideration! Disturbed at the fact that he was a virtual eternal slave to the Corps, Rob could not however turn his back on his commitment and Duty to protect Earth 112. Then in 1990 The Fury arrived on his Earth. The planet was devastated and Rob was near killed, forced to watch as everything he had known was burnt to the ground. As the Fury took the killing blow against Rob, It vanished and Merlin appeared, collecting the broken body of the Corps member and returned them both to Otherworld.

Telling Rob that the Fury had been temporarily stopped, Merlin resurrected his body to it's peak and told him to wait and train to take on the Fury again when it reappeared. Furious at the callous disregard Merlin had shown his world (in effect using it as a test ground for dealing with the newly rampaging Fury) Rob quit the Corps after 170 years of faithful service.

He took a portal to Earth 1 and after realising he had no skills outside of fighting joined the British Army (Resolutely vowing to never become an officer after the memories of his last title). There he spent 9 years becoming a Sniper and Recce soldier. In 1999, as he was resting in the Sargeants mess, Merlin moved him back to Otherworld; the Fury was rampaging across the Dimensions killing Corps members and was now threatening Otherworld itself. Forced to fight hard with the Captain Britain Corps again he was badly damaged once more, almost near death along with a multitude of others fighting a desperate rearguard action. This was to be Rob's meeting with the being known as Lurker. He saw the Corps last attack on the Fury and also a strange black figure, floating across the ground towards him "you can see me?" It asked. "Yes" he barely managed a whisper, knowing he was dying. The figure moved over to and then across Rob and both were gone.

For 2 years they formed a partnership, freelancing across the dimensions. Fighting whatever battles presented themselves, and though Rob maintained he was a mercenary going where the money called - they always seemed to end up on the poorest, oppressed side. Then they arrived In ASVS. There Rob acquired a Lambda Shuttle and tore out it's Engine Compartment (adding a rec area) and Lurker placed the Crystal in the rear of the ship sealing it in a Warp of No-Place (safe from any possible harm, yet still visible to others.), this moves the ship and allows Robs offensive abilities to extend to the ships weapons. Using this Rob started Freelancing again, Contracting out as a Recce Specialist and occasionally as a Sniper (keeping the skills in hand). Again though he appears to be working on the side of those with the best intentions (even working for barter rather than money at times). Lurker finds being in this particular dimension a strain so can only appear for limited amounts of time.

Recent events have shown that Merlin and the Corps are still watching Rob, and may not let him rest in death until he has performed a mysterious task for them in some unspecified future. This is very irksome for Rob as he thought himself finally free.

Powers: Using his Otherworld-enhanced Bio-Electric Field Rob has superior strength and speed (capable of lifting a car one-handed and a top speed of 45-50 mph). It also creates a barrier which stops physical objects from hitting him (though their impacts will still hurt and knock him around). His abnormal field has the side effect of allowing him to Phase transdimensionally though Energy barriers, though not through solid matter. Unlike other members of the Captain Britain Corps he has never been able to fly, and now that the Crystal Merlin created is set inside his Shuttle he can no longer teleport himself (only the shuttle as the Crystal is linked to him). He can also manifest plasma bolts of varying power and fire them at his enemies (the power of the bolts is fed from his intrinsic Bio-Electric Field and the most powerful would smash a medium sized Cruiser - shields and all -unfortunately it would leave him as weak as a baby and take a long time to recover, so he prefers to use anti-personnel levels which he can keep up indefinately.). His field also reacts randomly to Magical attacks and creates a low level interference with telepaths (telekinetics also have problems "Grabbing" him, though a strong enough attempt will be successful). He manifests the guns more to keep in character than anything else, though lately he has found he needs to use them rather than simply generating the bolts from his hands as he did in the Corps days (probably a psychological thing). The appearance of the guns is in constant flux, from Colt Peacemakers through Colt Pythons into Browning Gp35's and Hans DL-44. Occasionally they will even look like CZ-75's, and the look of the gun and the rapidity of it's changes will normally indicate how angry or aggressive Rob is at that time (if they change rapidly, then he's angry or feeling the need to make others bleed ; if they are one shape for a length of time then he's happy and probably out for fun rather than serious about killing you.). On special occasions they will merge into the shape of a Accuracy International L-96 (a throwback to his army days).

Appearance: Due to a Clint Eastwood Marathon his appearance when manifesting his powers is that of a stubbled man with a poncho, hat and Six-shooters smoking a thin cigar (though he himself is a non-smoker, sometimes a cigar is not just a cigar :-) ). All of these are a physical representation of what he dubs his "Machismo Powers". Their wear and tear is an indicator to how much his field is being taxed (though the cigars are a seperate entity that are there only for appearance). His normal appearance is of a normal twenty-something male, clean shaven and comfortably clothed.

Base of Operations: Robs House is on the outskirts of ASVS located on a slight rise and has a good view over the town/city. Though well appointed, it is in a seemingly constant state of decoration (due to the fact that Rob hates Decorating, yet feels he should do the job himself...though this may change in the future.). Its gardens are immaculate, due to the ministrations of the houses "Jeeves" units physical representation (a solid hologram which can be used to deal with the chores around the house and deal with visitors if Rob is away or busy.). Curiously it also refuses to decorate (something about "tradesmen crafts".), but makes a mean cup of tea. Rob feels that his home is his castle, and anyone visiting is under his protection for the duration of their stay, though if they try any violence against other guests or Rob himself they will have that revoked and a large hole in their head. He also reacts violently to the slightest damage to his property (more because he has to then redecorate, but also because he values his property and hates those who don't).

Allegiances: Though a freelancing contractor, he will mainly chose to work for those who need him, rather than those who can pay the most. Not averse to working for the Empire, he will only work in the recce capacity for them. He will however work in any capacity for most anyone else if he feels they are deserving of it. His Recce skills are exceptional and in high demand, providing excellent results (so the Empire is not too put out that this is all he'll do for them). He currently has a standing contract to provide assistance to the NR under CmdrWilkens and Lurker keeps him updated as to when he may be required to act.

About Lurker: Lurker is a Trans-dimensional being. A sentient Universe composed of Energy he uses an avatar body to explore other dimensions. This body is normally invisible to others (being a warp field containing a portal to his home dimension) and any matter that passes into or makes contact with it is moved to Lurkers home Dimension; time moves at a different pace there and he finds contact with other matter unpleasant therefore reduces the new matter to it's components and throws it back out ... in the case of beings this can take hours of Lurker time (about 10th of a second our time). The only thing he allows here is Lannie because of his Friendship with Rob.

Despite being invunerable he experiences a version of Pain from continued existence in this universe/dimension, as such he stays here for a maximum of 2 hours at a time and will take up to 16 hours to return. He is really here just to observe and rarely becomes involved in matters, just enough to help if necessary, and sometimes not even that much! He's just as likely to laugh at the prediacament Robs in as he is to warn/help him.

He acts as an info source for Rob (he is the equivalent to omniscient simply because his very nature allows him to see all that happens in a dimension he visits) of course not knowing what it is Rob needs in a particular case he has to be asked for specifics (Think a search engine on the Net). He keeps tags on the Current allies of Rob and informs him when he may be needed.

He is intrigued by the notion of Morals and scruples (what does a universe need good manners for? Who's he going to invite round for dinner?) and has recently shown a sense of decency (though it did give him a chance to torture Brownshirts :-) ). Also he has started reading Books, and after several mysterious disappearances has been known to inject the word OOK into sentences, and Rob has twice found Lannie filled with Bananas - investigations are ongoing.

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