Skyjacker

Everyone fancies escaping from a boring job to live in the tropics, but only a thrill-seeker like Mike Rannells could find being a test pilot dull. And only he actually dared live the dream.
Assigned by Nolan Aircraft to pilot Dr. Artemus Knab’s experimental solar-powered plane, Ran­nells took both the jet and its creator up for a test flight, then simply kept on flying. Rannells finally landed at a forgotten Cold War-era covert operations airfield he’d learned of, located in an area cloaked by the Bermuda Triangle’s strange fluctuating energies. From there, Rannells initiated an auction for the plane and Dr. Knab between Nolan, The Foundry, and Ghostworks, then separately and deceptively agreed to sell to all—swindling a combined eight-figure sum out of their bidding war.
Bankroll in hand, Rannells bought Dr. Knab’s servic­es, then trained and outfitted a hand-picked crew of aerial pirates. Now, Caribbean flights carrying valu­able cargo or ransom-worthy passengers are prey for the Skyjacker’s buccaneering. Though willing to freeboot for hire if his price is met, the Skyjacker’s prime motivation remains the excitement of air piracy rather than its profits.

Physical Description

Apparel & Accessories

The Skyjacker absconded with cutting-edge solar-powered technological devices. Foremost is The Winged Corsair aircraft, capable of Mach 2.6 speeds and equipped with state-of-the-art electronics, stealth en­hancements, mid-air boarding equipment, and lethal solar-ray emitters. Its crew’s flight suits allow indepen­dent airborne operations and provide protection against high altitudes and physical harm, as well as exoskeleton-powered lifting ability. Armed with Solar Guns, the Sky­jacker and his henchmen can melt through barriers (like airplane fuselages), temporarily blind targets, or burn with heat rays.

Specialized Equipment

Rannells is a skilled athlete and marksman, as well as a top-notch (and utterly fearless) test pilot. He is an able, charismatic and respected leader in addition to a daring and resourceful pirate (as evidenced by his procuring the hidden aerodrome on remote Tortuga).

Mental characteristics

Intellectual Characteristics

The Skyjacker seems perpetually wired: energetic, out­going, restless, forceful, direct, and reckless. He isn’t ma­licious, and never employs excessive force. However, he is so driven by his need for excitement that the immoral­ity of his larceny and duplicity—along with the potential risks to others—never register.

Social

Contacts & Relations

The Skyjacker’s Sky Pirates and Dr. Knab are well-treated and loyal to him. He is connected to several Carribean governments who officially ignore his freebooting.
The double-crossed Foundry (Talos included) and Ghostworks seek revenge against the Sky­jacker for falsely promising them The Winged Corsair.

THE SKY PIRATES

The Skyjacker’s handpicked, high-flying gang of airborne marauders are known as the Sky Pirates. Each crew member is good at what they do, and they’ve trained together to execute their unique brand of plundering with clockwork ef­ficiency. Fine-tuned as their teamwork is, a group is nevertheless made of individuals:

MICHELLE “MISHA” DABROWSKI

Misha serves as pilot and First Officer of The Winged Corsair. Throughout a long professional rivalry, the Skyjacker si­lently respected her flying skills and cavalier attitude about regulations, prompting him to recruit her once he turned to crime. Like the Skyjacker, Misha is a rule-breaker and risk-taker, but a far more calculated sort. Part of her calculation is, when the Skyjacker’s thrill-seeking lands him in jail (or worse), she’s his natural successor, and she patiently awaits this eventuality.

KIMBERLY “PROF” GRACE

“Prof” Grace was the Skyjacker’s first recruit; he persuaded her to use her position at Nolan Aircraft to sabotage the initial search for The Winged Corsair. While not a daredevil by nature, the Skyjacker’s promises of adventure swayed her after military and civilian jobs alike tediously kept her in front of a computer monitor. She’s since come out of her shell with a piratical glee. Aboard the Corsair, Prof handles the communication, navigation, and radar systems, working closely with the Skyjacker (who serves as weapons officer and gunner in addition to Captain).

ANTHONY “THE KID” MICHAEL

Looking to make his criminal reputation, “The Kid” joined the crew in impressive fashion: with a good deal of skill and even greater measure of luck, he managed to make contact with the reclusive Skyjacker and offered his services as “lookout” for potential targets. Impressed by the young man’s ability and moxie, the Skyjacker gave him a chance, and was soon rewarded with his richest plunders yet. In addition to his outside legwork, the Kid serves as the Corsair’s co-pilot.

LUCAS “DOC” ALEXANDER

When Doc’s last tour of duty as a combat medic in Iraq and Afghanistan ended, he’d lost his old beliefs and values, knowing only that he hated human suffering—enough to wade into danger to help the wounded and injured. “Prof” Grace knew of his reputation, and with no better opportunities for an unemployed veteran, Doc accepted her invita­tion to join the Sky Pirates. Doc mostly keeps to himself, but is quietly adamant that unnecessary violence be avoided at all times; enough so that needless bloodshed would change his allegiances.

DR. ARTEMUS KNAB

Dr. Knab’s genius is exceeded only by his greed, and it is his avarice that guides him. He sold out Nolan Aircraft simply because the Skyjacker offered more money. Unbeknownst to the Skyjacker, however, Knab is secretly in contact with both Ghostworks and the Foundry. While neither has met his price yet, the bidding continues. One may someday match the value Knab places on himself, his inventions, his sense of self-preservation, and the friendly regard he holds for the Skyjacker.