Characters
Santiago Arnavisca
Born in Málaga, Spain. Although the family's holdings were greatly reduced under Franco's rule, the Arnaviscas still control large tracts of farmland around Córdoba and the Guadalquivir river valley. The second youngest son in a family of eight, his eldest brother is a deputy in the Andalucian Parliament. Attended University of Seville, 1983-88. Joined the Guardia Civil upon graduation. Served as a brigade commander 1994-96 in the Western European Union (WEU) administration of Mostar in Bosnia where he was instrumental in rebuilding the local police force. In 1997 recruited by the Guardia Civil's counter-terrorism unit, the Unidad Especial de Intervención (UEI) as part of their focus on the growing threat of terrorist action within the European Union by former citizens of Yugoslavia.
Arnavisca has competed in shooting competitions since he was a child and is an expert marksman. He speaks English, German and Italian fluently, as well as his native Spanish, and can make himself understood in most other European languages. Despite his aristocratic bearing, he is more comfortable acting as a lieutenant and advisor than a team lead. Extremely tenacious in combat, he has a reputation for maintaining an air of calm detachment no matter how tense the situation
Lars Beckenbauer
Born on a farm near Chemnitz on the Czechoslovakian border in what was, at the time, the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). Drafted into the East Germany Army, 1970. Specialized in bomb disposal and demolitions. Assigned to East German Border Patrol, 1971-76. Arrested by the GDR State Security Service (Stasi) in 1976 under suspicion of involvement in several high-profile defections. Released for lack of evidence and discharged from army in 1977. Movements and activities from 1977-84 are unknown. The current German government will neither confirm nor deny rumors that he was a member of the 'Libellen', an underground group held responsible for several bombings of East German governmental offices in and around Berlin in the summer of 1981. Resurfaced in 1985 when he was granted asylum by West Germany after a risky crossing of the Baltic Sea in a small sailboat. Opened Pyrotechno GmbH, a security consulting firm, in 1989. Since then has built his reputation as Germany's leading expert on explosives and demolitions. Married, 1995. Two children.
Beckenbauer had an encyclopedic knowledge of all types of explosive devices. Years of working with bombs have made him extremely meticulous. He never overlooks any detail of an operation and leaves nothing to chance. In his relations with the rest of the team, he is liable to be somewhat cold and distant, but only because he is so completely focused on his job that he considers personal interactions between team members to be a dangerous distraction.
Daniel Bogart
Born in Keokuk, Iowa, USA. Father is a local deputy sheriff, mother a homemaker. Two brothers. Attended University of Iowa on a track & field scholarship, 1972-76. Graduated with honors with a degree in law enforcement. Worked for three years as a patrolman in Keokuk police department. Hired in 1980 by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Member of FBI Hostage Rescue Team 1987-97. Married since 1979. Wife and two teen-age children live in Maine, USA.
Bogart is an excellent team lead. He has exceptional tactical skills and situational awareness from his years with HRT. Extremely cool under fire, he is also a crack shot, having won several marksmanship awards during his tenure at the FBI. His low-key demeanor and laconic sense of humor have made him a well-liked member of the Rainbow Six team.
Andrew Burke
Born in Manchester, England. Whereabouts of father unknown. Mother is a secretary at a plastics processing plant in Leeds. Three siblings, two brothers and a sister. Joined Royal Marines in 1986. Two tours of duty with British Special Air Service (SAS) , 1989-91 and 1996-1999. Awarded Military Cross, 1998. Has taken part in SAS actions in twenty-two countries on four continents. Further details of his service record are sealed.Unmarried.
Burke is a seasoned veteran of numerous covert operations. While not reckless, he has a strong can-do attitude and unlimited confidence in his abilities. As a leader he is decisive and demanding. He has a quick sense of humor and is likely to keep his team relaxed by telling jokes before the start of a mission. While he has some contact with his immediate family, he considers the service to be his home.
Domingo "Ding" Chavez
Born in Los Angeles, California. Joined U.S. Army, 1983. Served with the 7th Infantry Division, 1984-87. Rose to rank of Staff Sergeant before being recruited by the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 1987 for narcotics interdiction operations in South America. Discharged 1988 and became a full-time CIA employee the same year, working under John Clark. Service records for the years 1989-99 are sealed. Earned B.S. Political Science, George Mason University, 1995. M.A. International Relations from the same institution 1999. Married.
Chavez is an excellent light infantry soldier with an exceptional grasp of small unit tactics and close quarters battle. Although small in stature he is powerfully built and agile, a formidable opponent with a wide range of weapons and in hand-to-hand combat.
Alain DuBarry
Born in Chantilly, France. Father is a manuscript curator at a local museum, mother is a journalist. Four sisters and two brothers. Second oldest sister is a prominent professor of mathematics at the University of Paris. Attended the Ecole Supérieure d'Ingénieurs en Electrotechnique et Electronique (ESIEE) in Paris, 1984-89. Graduated with a degree in electronics engineering and computer science. Joined the Gendarmerie Nationale in 1990 as an officer in their computer crime division. Instrumental in thwarting a 1994 attempt by a group of Algerian nationals to bring down the French Minitel computer network using a virus spread by telephone switching software. In 1996 he was recuited by the Groupe d'intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale (GIGN), France's elite counter-terrorist unit, as a specialist in telephony and electronic surveillance. Unmarried.
DuBarry is an expert on computers and computer nets as well as more conventional forms of surveillance. Although his role in CT actions is usually intelligence gathering and communications, as a veteran of GIGN's extensive combat training he is fully qualified to participate in armed operations. Introverted and thoughtful, and an excellent tactician, he often makes connections that other team members miss. Off-duty he is an avid amateur scuba diver and is an officer in the Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS).
Genedy Filatov
Born in Pskov, Pskovaya Oblast, Russian Federation. No information on family available. Served in army of former Soviet Union, 1981-85, including tour of duty in Afghanistan. Recruited by "Alfa" counter-terrorist group in 1987. Operated in all major territories of the former Soviet Union and eastern Europe. Resigned from "Alfa" in 1991 in response to that organization's ambiguous response to the failed Soviet coup. Director of operations for private security firm, 1991-96. Returned to "Alfa" during its 1997 restructuring under the Russian Federal Security Service. Married, no children.
Filatov is a solid counter-terrorism operator. Although his training and background are unorthodox by western standards, he has a wealth of real-world experience from his years in the security forces of the former Soviet Union, and numerous contacts across eastern Europe and Asia. His steady nerves and methodical approach to any threat make him a particularly valuable asset in combat situations. Team commanders should not be misled by his world-weary manner; he is not a pessimist but a realist, and he prides himself on being the voice of reason and conservatism in any debate.
Karl Haider
Born in Graz, Austria. Father is a petroleum distributor, mother a homemaker. Two siblings, a brother and a sister, both still in school. Joined the regular Austrian army in 1992. Transferred to Gendarmerieeinsatzkommando Cobra (GEK Cobra) in 1996. Trained with both Germany's GSG-9 and Israel's Sayeret Mat'Kal. Participated in GEK Cobra raid on Deissenmayr GmbH headquarters in Vienna in 1998 and was credited with single-handedly saving the lives of seven hostages. Married 1999, no children.
In combat situations Karl is unstoppable. He is extremely aggressive and will not hesitate to use whatever methods are necessary to complete his mission. He is fanatical about protecting the lives of hostages and innocent bystanders, even to the point of jeopardizing his own life. Off the job he is soft-spoken and private, but has an iron determination.
Timothy Hanley
Born in Margaret River, Australia. Father is a winery foreman, mother is a homemaker. Two siblings, a brother and a sister. Attended Australian Defense Force Academy in Canberra, 1983-87. Upon graduation was recruited into newly formed 1st squadron of the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) and remained with this unit when it was reorganized into the Australian Tactical Assault Group (TAG) shortly thereafter. His entire career has been with TAG with the exception of one tour of duty with the Australian Intelligence Corp (AustInt), 1993-96. Has lead counter-terrorist teams on three continents and has cross-trained with both the U.S. "Delta Force" and British Special Air Service. Unmarried. Hanley is a career CT officer. He is a veteran of dozens of assaults and approaches even the most dangerous missions with the easy-going good humor that has become his hallmark.
Off duty he is an experienced backpacker and mountaineer and has taken part in amateur expeditions to many of the world's major peaks. He is in superb physical condition and has demonstrated an ability to endure even the most extreme physical hardship.
Annika Lofquist
Born in Göteborg, Sweden. Father was a retired admiral in the Swedish Navy, now deceased. Mother is a professor of Romance languages at Göteborg University and is active in Miljöpartiet de Gröna, the Swedish Green Party. Three brothers. The entire family are avid sailors. Attended Stockholm University 1984-87, graduated with a B.Sc. in Physics. After a stint as an engineer with the Swedish semiconductor giant Microelektronik AB (1988-92), Lofquist joined the Stockholm police force as an expert on electronic surveillance. In 1994 she was recruited into Ordningspolisens Nationella Insatsstyrka (PÖNI), the national rescue unit of the Stockholm Police Department. From 1997 to 1999 she lead PÖNI intelligence and surveillance teams in over a dozen different counter-terrorist actions, including the high-profile 1998 Red Cell occupation of the trading floor of the Stockholm futures exchange. Unmarried.
Lofquist is an electronics genius. Her name is on 14 different patents held by Microelektronik, her old employer, and she continues to consult with their engineers while serving as a member of the Rainbow Six team. Most of her innovations have been in the area of electronic eavesdropping. She is extremely confident and courageous, although at times her lack of military training can lead her to overestimate her ability to handle a situation. Off duty she keeps to herself, living alone on a sailboat in Saltsjobaden outside Stockholm.
Antonio Maldini
Born in Milano, Italy. Father is the manager of a textile factory, mother is a homemaker. Five siblings. Attended Università degli Studi di Ferrara, 1984-88. Graduated with a degree in Chemistry. Joined L'Arma dei Caribinieri in 1989 and after completing training was assigned to the Comando Carabinieri Antidroga, the Caribinieri's anti-narcotics agency. Transferred in 1995 to the Gruppo Intervento Speciale (GIS), Italy's elite counter-terrorist team. Married since 1990. Three children.
Maldini's specialty is stealth. At GIS his ability to occupy positions undetected by the enemy resulted in the nickname "The Invisible Man". He is in excellent physical condition and is exceptionally quick on his feet. His demeanor is calm and somewhat aloof. Although a solid team member, he is too introspective to be a truly effective commander. Off-duty he is an amateur marathoner and has competed in races across Europe. Extremely intelligent and well-spoken.
Roger McAllen
Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Father is a senior officer with the Royal Bank of Canada. Mother is deceased. One sister, still a resident of Toronto. Joined the Canadian Army as a Field Engineer, 1981. Served one tour of duty, 1981-85. Receive advanced training in both combat diving and explosive ordnance disposal. Upon discharge joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and in 1988 became a member of the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT), the RCMP's elite counter-terrorism unit. When SERT was disbanded in 1993, he help coordinate the transition of counter-terrorist responsibilities to the Canadian Armed Forces' newly formed Joint Task Force Two (JTF-2). McAllen re-enlisted in 1994 and became a full member of JTF-2 the same year. He has participated in counter-terrorist actions on three continents, including the JTF-2 extended operations in 1996-97 against war criminals in Bosnia. Married in 1984, divorced in 1992. One child, a daughter, born 1986, lives with her mother in London, Ontario.
McAllen is a specialist in multiple areas. He is an excellent shot and is extremely aggressive in combat situations, making him a good choice as a member of an assault team, but he also has extensive experience with bomb disposal and demolitions. He is an amateur power-lifter and his strength and stamina make him a formidable opponent. Team leads should be warned that he performs better in a subordinate rather than a command position. He has a hearty, good-natured manner and spends his off-duty time socializing with a wide circle of friends, most of them current or ex-military men.
Gerrald Morris
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Father is a retired furniture salesman, mother is a homemaker. Two younger sisters, both still living in Birmingham. Valedictorian of his high school class, National Merit Scholar, 1982. Attended Rice University in Houston, Texas, 1983-87, graduating with a BS in Material Science and a BA in Russian Literature. Joined the American Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) in 1988 as an agent in their Explosives Division. Earned a MS in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of New Orleans during a leave of absence from BATF, 1992-1994. His thesis "Applications of Micro-stress Analysis in Accelerant Identification" is considered to be a landmark in the forensic analysis of bomb debris. Upon return to active duty in 1995 he was assigned to the BATF's International Response Team (IRT). Since 1998 he has been on extended assignment in South Korea with the Korean counter-terrorism task force, the National Police 868 Unit, training them in techniques of bomb detection, bomb disposal, and post-bombing investigation. His wife and two daughters currently live in Seoul, South Korea.
Morris is a team player who likes his operations to run strictly by the book. His primary specialty is forensics, but he is also an expert at the setting and disarming of all types of explosive devices. Although he knows a fair amount about conducting counter-terrorist assaults from his years working with the 868 Unit in such situations he is more comfortable with an indirect approach. Morris prefers to spend his off-duty hours with his family. In his spare time he collects antique blues recordings and memorabilia.
Alejandro Noronha
Born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. His late father ran an import business. His mother is a homemaker. One older brother, two younger sisters. Attended college at the Brazilian military academy, Colégio Militar do Rio de Janeiro (CMRJ), 1977-81. Served two terms of duty with the regular Brazilian army before being recuited into Counter-Terrorist Detachment (CTD) of the 1st Special Forces Battalion in 1987. Since 1995 he has commanded one of CTD's three squadrons. He has cross-trained with the U.S. "Delta Force", Chile's Unidad Anti-Terroristes (UAT), Agentina's Brigada Especial Operativa Halcon, and Columbia's Agrupacion De Fuerzas Especiales Urbanas (AFEU). In 1997 he was one of a group of senior Brazilian CTD operators who assisted the Peruvian armed forces in ending the occupation of the Japanese embassy by the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA). Married since 1985. His wife and two daughters live in Rio de Janeiro.
Noronha has spent the majority of his military career as a CT operator. He is well-known in the CT community, particularly in North and South America, and has a reputation as a stern taskmaster. Although he has conducted actions in a wide variety of terrains and circumstances, he is particularly proficient in jungle operations and long-range intelligence gathering. In combat situations he is extremely aggressive and he expects the same from any team that serves under him. He has no sense of humor and considers it unprofessional in others. His only passion in a life (aside from his work and his family) is classical music and opera.
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