Real name: Wing Cmdr. David James Mercer
Occupation: British Intelligence Operative
Identity: Mission is known to a number of high ranking officers withing the
U.S. security services.
Legal status: Citizen of the United Kingdom – oficially a member of Her
Majesty's Diplomatic Services, with Diplomatic Immunity within the US,
European Union and Japan.
Other aliases: Dave, David
Place of birth: Bristol, England, Great Britain
Marital status: Single - possibly a divorcee
Known relatives: Only child, other relatives unknown.
Group affiliation: British Intelligence Services, in particular MI6
Base of operations: Currently offices within the British Consulate, New York
First appearance: March, 2002
History:
Mercer had a moderately happy and average childhood. His education was the best the British school system would provide without paying. His parents were average, middle classed parents, and it was at the age of nine that Mercer killed his first man. He has claimed all his life that the murder was accidental, and indeed this may be so. After a local man had made a habit of exposing himself to young women, Mercer and a schoolboy friend smuggled a shotgun from his friend's fathers gun-locker and went to the man's house with the intention of threatening him into giving up his perverted ways. Somehow, and it as never proven how, the gun went off, redistributing the gentleman's gonads over several square feet and leading to his death. All charges were dropped, accidental death was ruled, and Mercer was forced to go a number of year's psychotherapy. His life at my school continued, until he was expelled for a less than romantic liaison with the Headmaster's daughter.
Two weeks off his 18th birthday he signed up with the Royal Air Force. The training was hard and tedious, too tedious to detail at length. With a mixture of natural aptitude and a bit of back scratching he was able to make the grade and even make it to becoming an officer. After a number of years with the RAF he was sent to Kazakhstan to assist the local regime by bombing opium plantations. During a run-of-the-mill mission the ground shifted by about 50 foot and Mercer and his navigator smashed into the side of a mountain, Mercer able to bale out at the last second, but his comrade, Rogers, killed.
The opium plantations were owned by a mutant Preiskin who had taken offense to the RAF bombing the crap out of him and decided to bite back a bit. And Preiskin had some particularly disturbing abilities. Namely the ability to warp reality, bend and torture the landscape. Mercer broke my arm in six places, was lucky not to have broken by back as well. He suffered major bruising, damage to internal organs. He was captured by Preiskin and his family. Preiskin had the ability to warp reality, his youngest brother had flame based mutant powers. His middle brother had claws like razors. He was there six months, during which time his arm almost reset. During the course of six months he was burned to a crisp, slashed, lacerated, had his limbs warped somehow, then popped back into shape.
Eventually Mercer was released and not expected to survive, Preiskin's family were low on food but not ruthless enough to kill Mercer themselves. They let him go, thinking he would in the mountainous passes. He could barely walk, had lost three stone of body weight, most of his hair and the feeling in his left hand. He eventually stumbled across a Russian patrol, and with relations being on good terms at the time, was exchanged back to Britain for treatment. His history after this is unknown, but it is assumed he was recruited for British Intelligence, primarily for his knowledge on mutants, and has since been given a mission to research into possible uses of mutants in strategic national defence and military operations.
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 179 lbs
Eyes: Green Hair: Dark Brown
Unusual physical characteristics: None, normal as normal can be.
Strength level: Mercer has trained practically all his life to a high level
of physical fitness, and has not let his regime slip since his active service
ended. Think up to the training level of the British Commandos or American
Navy Seals. In fact, since his investiture as a field agent if anything he
has been encouraged to improve his physical fitness levels. He has stamina in
spades, and a high pain threshold.
Known superhuman powers: None
Other abilities: A number of years both training in and piloting the Tornado
two crew aircraft left David with a sound knowledge of flying, and his
piloting skills are beyond reproach. It is certain that he has had training
in data analysis, data retrieval, security systems, field operations,
computer and technical specifications, weapons ID, satellite image analysis,
decoding and probably more besides. Like the rest of the British military,
David has been trained to a high level using firearms and small arms. In
tandem with his physical fitness, David also has a sound working knowledge of
basic unarmed combat. While he is certainly no martial arts expert he knows
pressure points, the most likely attack methods, multiple ways to drop
opponents. He can fight well, his speedy reflexes and physical fitness
working for him.
Weapons and paraphernalia: Mercer carries a 9mm Glock 17, a 9mm self-loading
pistol with fairly impressive stopping power. He also carries a pocket Taser
rod, capable of giving the average human enough of a jolt of electricity to
incapacitate them, a Hyper-tense steel garrotte wire, and a five inch long,
two millimetre thick stainless steel blade, that can be concealed up the
sleeve.
David is also equipped with a Jaguar S-Type with a 4.2 litre supercharged V8
engine. Enhanced reinforced titanium body shell increases both body integrity
and serves to make the bodywork bulletproof. Electrical circuits throughout
the body shell mean the vehicle's exterior can be charged with a high voltage
of electricity. Area beneath rear seat holds one Heckler and Koch 9mm MP5K
with an extra 10 rounds of ammunition, contained with a security coded
reinforced titanium box.
Other notes: Awarded several medals for bravery and actions beyond the call
of duty during his somewhat shaded military career, Mercer certainly has
proved his bravery in many given situations. He remains calm under crisis and
won't back down unless he deems them to be a danger to himself or others.
David's own character means he is not always at ease with others he doesn't
know, and given any unexpected situation his natural reaction tends to be
fairly antagonistic. When he has decided to block himself off in this way
then he can get very abrasive indeed, insulting, intimidating, irritating,
all with a polite smile and a friendly tone. He's British after all - aiming
straight for the jugular but always with impeccable manners.
Given situations where quick thinking is required David tends to be in his element. With fast reactions and a speedy decision making process, he forms quick and simple solutions effectively and rapidly. Whether they are always the correct decisions is not always on question, he believes in acting first, analysing later at the debriefing. He comes from a background where there was little time for fancy words and very little time for regret. He has found no time to mourn his comrades in the past and will not go out of his way to avoid confrontation even if it means he treads on a few people, emotionally and physically, along the way. Not that he would resort to killing. At least, not unless absolutely pressed. He prefers the bonding of man and machinery in an aerial dogfight as a way to dispose of his enemies and simply shooting someone seems unsportsmanlike.
David believes in doing everything 'for Queen and Country' and actually means it with some sincerity. He admires the British spirit, he is proud of being British, he delights in the social delights the British culture has offered, from Shakespeare to punk rock.