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Name: Paxton Ames (prefers Ames)
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 217 lbs
Species: Skunk
Physical Description: A male skunk with a slight athletic build. He has white hair tied back in a ponytail with a few blue streaks to the right side of his face.
Biographical Data
Paxton Ames is a trained Air Force pilot and experienced combat flier. Enlisting after college he joined the Air Force and rose to the rank of Major. Serving his country with distinction he was decorated twice during the war.
After the government collapsed he found himself in the unenviable position of battling his fellow soldiers. While disagreeing with General Parker's reasons he saw no benefit to abandoning his position and instead chose to wait for an opportunity to instigate change from within. The skunk began to discretely ask questions of his fellow soldiers and filled his unit with airmen who still believed in the principles they signed up for.
Since then he has watched the landscape for any opportunity to make a difference. One day he received word of a rogue Army faction fighting to rebuild and he is intrigued.
Personal Statement
"Just call me Ames. Only my mother calls me Paxton. When I was a kid I had no idea where I was headed in life. I needed a job and I wanted some experience I couldn't get anywhere else so I joined the Air Force. There was some good natured ribbing from the birds and the bats who sort of considered flying their private domain but even they can't fly at Mach 5 without help. I never set out to be a pilot but once I tried it I couldn't get enough. Aviation was my purpose in life. I took every chance I got to take her up into the skies. There was something intangible about being up there with nothing but my bird. It wouldn't last, it never does.
The war broke out between us and them, and of course we were pressed into service. I flew 13 combat missions before it ended, and came back in one piece every time. Maybe some consider it an unlucky number, but for me it was my good luck charm. When I was preparing for the fourteenth we'd heard the war had ended, and not in the way we'd wanted. The government was gone but so was theirs, along with most of the world in an apocalypse you typically only see in the movies. I couldn't believe it. My whole family was wiped off the map in just a few hours. The place where I grew up was a smoking crater. I found it ironic that I, the only one who went off the fight, was the only member of my family still alive.
I fell apart after that. I was this close to going out when the Air Force, the Navy, and the Army joined forces to bring the country back together. We were the only ones with the manpower and equipment to do it. Together, the three branches began to return life to normal. It didn't last. Several incidents close together made General Parker paranoid and Admiral Bradley distrustful. Before you knew it, they were fighting each other. I never thought I'd see the day we were killing our brothers because they didn't agree with us. The planes were grounded by this point other than essential missions to keep up the illusion we had full use of them. Conserving like this we probably could last for years, but it was a fine act of misdirection to make the others believe we had it running full time.
I was on the ground most of the time at this point serving General Parker as one of his field commanders. Though I disliked how we did things I had little choice but to bide my time as the Air Force fought it out with the Army and the Navy just sat back and watched them tear each other apart. Finally the Air Force took out the last Army base, and as far as we knew that was it. I was left with making the best out of a bad situation.
When I heard Avery Wells was alive and starting to gather forces again I couldn't believe it. Nothing spreads faster through soldiers than rumors, so when I found out it was true I started surreptitiously following Colonel Underwood's people to find out what I could. I kept a few loyal units of men with me, people who still believed in the old ways of protecting the people and defending freedom, and positioned us so that when the opportunity came, we could fight for the right side. All we needed was an opportunity."
Character belongs to
LaurenRivers
Art by
Jakkal
Name: Paxton Ames (prefers Ames)
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 217 lbs
Species: Skunk
Physical Description: A male skunk with a slight athletic build. He has white hair tied back in a ponytail with a few blue streaks to the right side of his face.
Biographical Data
Paxton Ames is a trained Air Force pilot and experienced combat flier. Enlisting after college he joined the Air Force and rose to the rank of Major. Serving his country with distinction he was decorated twice during the war.
After the government collapsed he found himself in the unenviable position of battling his fellow soldiers. While disagreeing with General Parker's reasons he saw no benefit to abandoning his position and instead chose to wait for an opportunity to instigate change from within. The skunk began to discretely ask questions of his fellow soldiers and filled his unit with airmen who still believed in the principles they signed up for.
Since then he has watched the landscape for any opportunity to make a difference. One day he received word of a rogue Army faction fighting to rebuild and he is intrigued.
Personal Statement
"Just call me Ames. Only my mother calls me Paxton. When I was a kid I had no idea where I was headed in life. I needed a job and I wanted some experience I couldn't get anywhere else so I joined the Air Force. There was some good natured ribbing from the birds and the bats who sort of considered flying their private domain but even they can't fly at Mach 5 without help. I never set out to be a pilot but once I tried it I couldn't get enough. Aviation was my purpose in life. I took every chance I got to take her up into the skies. There was something intangible about being up there with nothing but my bird. It wouldn't last, it never does.
The war broke out between us and them, and of course we were pressed into service. I flew 13 combat missions before it ended, and came back in one piece every time. Maybe some consider it an unlucky number, but for me it was my good luck charm. When I was preparing for the fourteenth we'd heard the war had ended, and not in the way we'd wanted. The government was gone but so was theirs, along with most of the world in an apocalypse you typically only see in the movies. I couldn't believe it. My whole family was wiped off the map in just a few hours. The place where I grew up was a smoking crater. I found it ironic that I, the only one who went off the fight, was the only member of my family still alive.
I fell apart after that. I was this close to going out when the Air Force, the Navy, and the Army joined forces to bring the country back together. We were the only ones with the manpower and equipment to do it. Together, the three branches began to return life to normal. It didn't last. Several incidents close together made General Parker paranoid and Admiral Bradley distrustful. Before you knew it, they were fighting each other. I never thought I'd see the day we were killing our brothers because they didn't agree with us. The planes were grounded by this point other than essential missions to keep up the illusion we had full use of them. Conserving like this we probably could last for years, but it was a fine act of misdirection to make the others believe we had it running full time.
I was on the ground most of the time at this point serving General Parker as one of his field commanders. Though I disliked how we did things I had little choice but to bide my time as the Air Force fought it out with the Army and the Navy just sat back and watched them tear each other apart. Finally the Air Force took out the last Army base, and as far as we knew that was it. I was left with making the best out of a bad situation.
When I heard Avery Wells was alive and starting to gather forces again I couldn't believe it. Nothing spreads faster through soldiers than rumors, so when I found out it was true I started surreptitiously following Colonel Underwood's people to find out what I could. I kept a few loyal units of men with me, people who still believed in the old ways of protecting the people and defending freedom, and positioned us so that when the opportunity came, we could fight for the right side. All we needed was an opportunity."
Character belongs to
LaurenRiversArt by
Jakkal
Category Artwork (Digital) / General Furry Art
Species Skunk
Size 1280 x 1097px
File Size 167.1 kB
Listed in Folders
Poor guy. As with so many of the others in this setting, his bio really brings home what an utter hell it would be to survive an apocalypse like that. It's really no wonder he kind of lost it after that, and it's a testament to his strength of character that he's still around. And to the strength of his convictions that he's still working to try to do the right thing. Even if it sounds like he might have to go against his own somewhat. Well, more than has already happened with the conflict between all of the different branches.
His mentioning that the planes were mostly grounded is a nice touch. I'd imagine it would be increasingly difficult to find fuel for them, and perhaps more importantly to effect maintenance, or repairs, enough to keep them flying. While I'd imagine any base would have the supplies for that, it's not like they'll last forever. Pretty obvious, I guess, but it's another nice touch of realism that, I think, makes this setting so compelling.
I like the blue streaks in his hair. It's kind of nice to see that he's able to hold on to at least a little touch of individuality that way.
His mentioning that the planes were mostly grounded is a nice touch. I'd imagine it would be increasingly difficult to find fuel for them, and perhaps more importantly to effect maintenance, or repairs, enough to keep them flying. While I'd imagine any base would have the supplies for that, it's not like they'll last forever. Pretty obvious, I guess, but it's another nice touch of realism that, I think, makes this setting so compelling.
I like the blue streaks in his hair. It's kind of nice to see that he's able to hold on to at least a little touch of individuality that way.
He was a late addition to the story. The original version had not factored him in at all, but as I was plotting the second half of the book (the first but not the only project I started with the story half planned), I decided much like later books, the Air Force needed a guy to root for. Even though they're our antagonists, I wanted someone to represent them on the other side, so his arc developed, and helped fill in some spaces on the flashback chapters. It also kind of helped to have another military character around for later planned story points. He helped solve a few problems I didn't even know I had, but this way I didn't have to worry about them. Personality wise, I kind of initially planned him to be sarcastic and a bit of a joker, but I know he'll have a different relationship with the girls than Avery and Kennedy.
It's one of the few factors limiting the air force and the navy. They need a lot of resources to keep their ships sailing and their planes flying. The army, by virtue of being small, has much less at least early on in the story they need to maintain. I'd imagine in a conservation status you'd only fly essential missions and only the planes you needed, for the most part, to make your supply and thus military power last as long as possible, even if you had replacement supplies. It becomes a recurring point, and one of the plus sides to being 6 years after the war, instead of 200 like fallout.
As for the blue streaks, I thought he needed a bit of color, and it may factor into something later, though it is not really story relevant. ;)
It's one of the few factors limiting the air force and the navy. They need a lot of resources to keep their ships sailing and their planes flying. The army, by virtue of being small, has much less at least early on in the story they need to maintain. I'd imagine in a conservation status you'd only fly essential missions and only the planes you needed, for the most part, to make your supply and thus military power last as long as possible, even if you had replacement supplies. It becomes a recurring point, and one of the plus sides to being 6 years after the war, instead of 200 like fallout.
As for the blue streaks, I thought he needed a bit of color, and it may factor into something later, though it is not really story relevant. ;)
Couple small thoughts: firstly, that isn't Major rank insignia. Major rank insignia is a gold oak leaf. It's not entirely possible to tell what rank insignia he's wearing here, but it's definitely not that of a Major.
Additionally, while metal rank is permissible in ABUs, it's...well, kind of douchey and very hard to take seriously as soon as you see that. Subdued rank patches are far more culturally appropriate, multiplied over again if he's trying to be sneaky.
Third, if he's a pilot, then wearing his wings is mandatory in uniform. I realize "apocalypse" and whatnot but given that he actually has a nametape and service patch on, I would assume he'd have the rest as well.
Fourthly, ABUs have cargo pockets on the pant legs.
Nifty idea and all, please don't get me wrong here: I offer these thoughts intended as constructive ideas, not to try and tear this down.
Additionally, while metal rank is permissible in ABUs, it's...well, kind of douchey and very hard to take seriously as soon as you see that. Subdued rank patches are far more culturally appropriate, multiplied over again if he's trying to be sneaky.
Third, if he's a pilot, then wearing his wings is mandatory in uniform. I realize "apocalypse" and whatnot but given that he actually has a nametape and service patch on, I would assume he'd have the rest as well.
Fourthly, ABUs have cargo pockets on the pant legs.
Nifty idea and all, please don't get me wrong here: I offer these thoughts intended as constructive ideas, not to try and tear this down.
I'll admit my military knowledge isn't super sharp, I've kind of been relying on a few friends and what I do know to keep me semi close and the fact it's post apocalyptic to help fudge the difference, but I wouldn't be surprised. I just told the artist 'air force field uniform' so they may not have paid attention to the rank insignia.
Though in field uniforms he'd have patches, not metal ranks, and are the wings metal?
Thanks for the feedback, I definitely appreciate it.
Though in field uniforms he'd have patches, not metal ranks, and are the wings metal?
Thanks for the feedback, I definitely appreciate it.
Heh, no worries! So, in ABUs, according to the present iteration of AFI 36-2903, which is the uniform wear regulation, one can wear either metal rank insignia or patches. Realistically, if he was actually in the field in some sense or another then he'd probably be wearing ACUs or OCPs or something, but that's a whole other thing. For ABUs, yes, subdued patches would make more sense to wear than metal rank insignia.
The wings that would be worn on ABUs are patches.
This image here:
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTMyOFg3NDc=/z/cRcAAOSwDk5UKhyF/$_1.JPG
shows what the wings look like on a uniform. This:
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0.....g?v=1423543872
is an ABU Major rank patch.
Of course, like I said, this is all strictly gee-whiz stuff anyway. "It's the apocalypse" is a pretty good excuse to fudge the uniform some. :P
The wings that would be worn on ABUs are patches.
This image here:
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTMyOFg3NDc=/z/cRcAAOSwDk5UKhyF/$_1.JPG
shows what the wings look like on a uniform. This:
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0.....g?v=1423543872
is an ABU Major rank patch.
Of course, like I said, this is all strictly gee-whiz stuff anyway. "It's the apocalypse" is a pretty good excuse to fudge the uniform some. :P
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