Bonus: ESO Team 2

[Underguard]

Premise: The Exploration and Special Operations Team (ESO) 2 is the parallel to ESO 1. While ESO 1, The GHOSTS, are exploring one section of the Thundercloud, ESO 2 is exploring the other. They are competent and as equipped as the GHOSTS team, in many cases would be considered your equals. ESO 1, the GHOSTS, are considered the Flagship Team for the Fleet. The bonus is to describe the second ESO team using the following parameters.

Task: The ESO 2 Team has between (6-8) members that need to be identified.
Their ship needs to be named.
They need a team name.

Regarding the ESO Team members, you have more latitude in their rank and position than you did for the Bonus: Naming the Crew

Guidelines
- You can assign their OCC, Race and Rank -- It Must be from CAF or CAF allies. No outliers. Nothing from Rifts Earth or other dimensions.
--1 Commander, 3 Enlisted, 3 Officer, 1 any.
-- The Highest rank is Commander (Nyx's counterpart)
- These are CAF Soldiers. Not Mercenaries. Not Traitors or Instigators. Go forward with that knowledge, do not build them with animosity and their should be a clear hierarchy.
- Do not outline the ship, just name it. Assume the ship does not have an onboard A.I. like A.C.I.N.A.
- I'm leaving this open for the remainder of the QUAD (until October 1)
- The winner has their Team canonized in my game as ESO 2 and receives 1000 XP bonus -- everyone else will receive between 500-1000 Bonus XP based on quality of entry.

GM Note: If you recall when I briefly introduced you too ESO 2, I kept their descriptions incredibly vague. It was for this reason I did that.

[Nug]

ESO Team 2 - Rangers
ESO Team 2 are a recently commissioned unit that has been slapped together from the salvaged remains of a CAF Black Ops group. That group was ravaged in a disastrous mission deep in the Transgalactic Empire. No one speaks about this mission, but they spent almost a year with the enemy constantly nipping at their heels before reaching friendly forces. The survivors were awarded medals on their return, yet the consequences manifest themselves on the team psychology.

They are loyal soldiers, but always have a plan to shoot their way out of a situation. Some say they are too quick to enact such plans.

Task List - work in progress
The ship needs to be named.
They need a team name.
--1 Commander, 3 Enlisted, 3 Officer, 1 any.

Ship Name: Pathfinder
Team Name: Rangers

Commander Shane "Wizard" Cranston

Commander Cranston is at an age where most have retired. With the formation of the Rangers, Cranston was encouraged by the Admiralty to retire, but he opted instead to maintain his involvement and lead the Rangers.

A stroke two months ago has left him with nerve damage in his left leg, forcing him to use a cane. He has medical cyber-implant on the left side of his skull to prevent a reoccurrence.

Despite his disability and age, he remains a popular officer with his staff. He is one of the CAF's most capable and unpredictable commanders, and the reason his unit survived many harrowing experiences behind enemy lines. The expression 'pulled off a Cranston' is an unofficially used by officers when describing an unexpected tactical moves that saves a unit from certain destruction. His callsign 'Wizard' also reflects his deserved reputation.

Always seen in an old CAF dress uniform, he often carries around an antique pipe, though his medical officer no longer allows him to smoke it.


Lieutenant-Commander Lon "Hammer" Ramos

Huge and powerfully built, Lon was orphaned young and ran with a brutal street gang earning money in illegal streetfights. He was saved from this life by a much younger Shane Cranston, who knocked Lon out cold during a bar-fight. Afterward, when Cranston suggested he enlist, Lon accepted. Today Lon sees in Cranston a father-figure and serves as his second in command.

Despite his brutal appearance, Lon is a shrewd judge of character and has an uncanny sense of whether a recruit will work out in the long run or not. He keeps close tabs on his crew and cares deeply about the welfare of people under his command. There are some things though that cause his inner-street thug to resurface. He has been reprimanded several times for excessive violence, but these warnings have not changed him. On one occasion he overheard a soldier make a disparaging remark about the mother he never knew. That soldier was in a coma for a month, and Lon Ramos placed on probation. People tend to be very polite when speaking within earshot of Lon.

Petty Officer Doctor Abu Kew

Doctor Kew is Dyteen, a rare race of hairy humanoids that resemble Earth chimpanzees. Doctor Kew is intensely curious of all things, and loves life most of all. He keeps in good spirits no matter the conditions, and is something of a salve for the hearts of the Rangers and their unofficial good luck charm.

His pleasant outlook hides a nimble mind, he holds several doctorates in various sciences, including medicine and astrophysics. Abu loves challenges and is quick to volunteer for a new away mission. Bringing a gusto into everything he does, his sheer zest for life and adventure makes him a popular member of the Rangers.

(More information on Dyteen can be found in Aliens Unlimited - Revised, page 72).


More to come...

[Nug]

ESO Team 2 - Rangers (continued)

For some reason the site would now allow Bazz's image to upload on the first post, so breaking the submission into two posts.


Ensign "Tempest" Bazz

Ensign Bazz is a competant leader, but her social skills fall somewhat short. A survivor of Commander Cranston's black-ops unit, the space wolfen has become obsessed with battle. Time has mellowed her somewhat, but she finds herself more comfortable when discharging rounds than making smalltalk with crewmates.

In battle Bazz is almost recklessly confident. She refuses to let other members of the Rangers to take unnecessary chances, but the same rules do not apply to her. Thus she often places himself on the front lines in a combat situation where her command skills are not as useful to the overall unit. Despite being respected, this tendency to put herself on the front has limited her promotion prospects.

Recruit Kally "Mouse" Crosswell

Kally is a short woman in her early twenties who only joined the CAF two years ago under Commander Cranston. While the commander has reservations about her lack of combat experience, she proved her worth as a pilot during their unit's ill-fated mission deep in the Transgalactic Empire. Their primary pilot was killed in action, and Kally showed no hesitation in stepping up. While most soldiers are more experienced, no one doubts her skill and bravery under fire.

Off duty, Kally is friendly and is seen as honest, fair and perhaps a little naive. She considers the Rangers as her only real family.