| The Alpha Team |
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| Members of the Shynonian Intelligence Alpha Team |
| Keenan Meadows � team leader Since returning to the side of light, much has changed for Keenan. Instead of being merely Elaine�s consort, he became her husband and the Dark Castle became a place that was filled with danger. After several attempts were made on his life by different evil mages, Keenan began checking into living someplace else. It needed to be someplace where Elaine would be free to come and go as she pleased and where he could feel safe and secure from any who might want him dead. Eventually, Keenan was able to convince Elaine to move with him to Equisetia. They settled close to the nation�s capitol and Keenan stayed at home to watch their two young children, while his wife continued to lead the evil mages. While Equisetia was a safe place for Keenan to live with his wife and children, Keenan also found that he missed the thrill of spying on the evil mages. To his pleasure, Alister Blackstone approached him and asked him to join Shynian Intelligence and lead a team that would be based out of Equisetia. Much to Keenan�s surprise, Elaine readily agreed with the decision to join the agency. Bertram Silverwebb � Second in Command, investigations expert When he was young, Bertram wanted nothing more than to study music and live out a quiet life as a Bard. This, however, was not to be. When his father was killed and his older brother was kidnapped, Bertram felt he had a duty to his mother and younger siblings to return home and try to find his brother. To this end, Bertram joined the Equisetan Defense Wardens, where his incredible skills and quick wits propelled him upward in rank and made him a member of the Watch Wardens. He was soon assigned to watch and protect Beth Sebohn from a dangerous man bent on killing her. Bertram was eventually able to track down the criminal and bring him to justice, but not without attracting the attention of Shynian Intelligence. After he had finished his assignment as Beth�s bodyguard, Bertram fully expected to return to his previous duties of working with the President�s security detail. Much to his surprise, he was informed that Shynian Intelligence had requested that he be transferred to them. He was assigned to a team of agents that were to be based on Equisetia, but look after the interests of all the island realms in the point. On this team, he would act as second in command and would report directly to Alister Blackstone and President Franklin. Trenton Lark � undercover specialist, crime scene specialist Trenton is considered Shynian Intelligence�s top undercover agent. Using his ability to change his form, he can literally become whatever a situation calls for. While most shapeshifters can become nearly any creature imaginable � from an antelope to a zebra � they can only transform into a natural animal and not a mythical beast, like a dragon or unicorn. In addition to being able to become any natural living thing, they also change their physical form so that, rather than being a tall handsome man, they could be a short ugly man. However, they cannot change their age or sex. Also, they are completely incapable of changing the color of their hair and eyes. This means that they don�t usually take the form of an animal that does not come in the color of their hair. For example, if they have dark black hair, they may become a raven but wouldn�t be a sparrow. However, Trenton�s abilities surpass even this. He can be a dragon, a unicorn, a child or a woman. The only thing that he can�t change was the color of his hair and eyes. No matter what form Trenton takes, it had red hair and brown eyes. If he were to become a dragon, he would be a red dragon with brown eyes. If he became a raven, he would look like a flame-red raven. Trenton learned quite early that, just because he could take a form, didn�t mean he should take that form. If he was trying to go unnoticed, he should take a form where red coloring was normal. Because of this, his favorite animal form is that of a small red fox. When Berklian Intelligence discovers that Trenton has this ability, they try to kidnap him in order to learn its secret. Hoping to protect him in some way, Alister Blackstone (Director of Shynian Intelligence) put Trenton in a team of agents. Michael Summers � aerial surveillance Michael is not your typical Shynian agent. Rather than going undercover and gaining information or using magic, psychic or technological means to gain information, he specializes in aerial reconnaissance. He is one of the few Shynians that has wings and can fly. In the field, he uses his large, powerful wings to fly over an enemy and observe them from above. From this position, he can note troop movements and numbers in battles, listen in on conversations, locate people who�ve been kidnapped and all while he silently glides overhead. The problem is that Michael doesn�t like to ask for help. Instead, he feels the need to prove to himself and his superiors that he can look after himself. Even when he�s outnumbered or in danger, he�d prefer to handle a situation on his own. Michael�s need to prove himself stems from the fact that he is the only member of his family that possesses wings. As a child, he seemed small and frail, prompting his older relatives to try and protect him. Now that he�s on his own, he wants to show them that he doesn�t, and never did, need their protection. He tends to be stubborn and headstrong, leaping into situations without thinking them through clearly. Because of this, he was assigned to work with a team. Alister Blackstone hoped it would curb these tendencies and teach Michael that asking for help doesn�t mean you�re weak. Jewel Glenwyn � surveillance Unlike most people in Shynian Intelligence, Jewel didn�t grow up yearning for excitement or seeking to prove herself. Neither did she join out of a quest to serve her government or protect the weak from injustice. Jewel joined Shynian Intelligence because she was the only child of an agent, in a long line of agents. It wasn�t an easy thing for her to do and nothing has seemed to go her way since she completed her training. On her first mission, she was badly injured. On her second, she was captured, but she refused to quit or take a safer position. As a way to compromise, Alister Blackstone assigned her to a special team, in the hopes that her teammates could protect her and teach her all she needs to know in order to become the agent she wants to become. Kiyomi Snowlily � undercover specialist, medic Like Trenton, Kiyomi is a master of disguise and an expert undercover agent. However, her skills are not born of magic, but through a natural talent she has developed with practice. Kiyomi is able to imitate almost anyone�s voice and is a very talented actress. When Keenan asked that another undercover agent be assigned to the team, Alister was somewhat hesitant. However, both Keenan and Bertram were able to make him see that, due to the nature of the cases the team works on, having more than one undercover agent may be advantageous, so he agreed. Kyome has a duel purpose on the team. She lightens Trenton�s workload and also watches his back when they go under together. One problem is that she seems to be cursed with ill luck. Even when a mission is completely successful, Kiyomi manages to get hurt in some way. Blaise Kelson Foxfire � enforcer, crime scene specialist Blaise�s father is a powerful Red Fox wizard named Foxfire and his mother is a Shynian. His name literally means �The stammering son of Foxfire.� He has an older half-brother, who is a full-blooded Fox, called simply Kelson Foxfire. These are not their true name, in either case. Because of his magic, knowing his true name would give you power over him. He, therefore, keeps it secret and only will tell those closest to him. Many of his physical attributes come from his father. He has the same red hair and soft brown eyes that all Red Foxes have, as well has sharp claws and teeth. He also has red fox ears and a long full brush; otherwise his appearance is human. Because of his halfling blood, he is rarely able to shift into fox form. Although he looks like his father, his personality was strongly influenced by his mother. Foxfire, as he is often called, is very intelligent and has a keen mind. He can generally feel when a situation is about to turn nasty and act to prevent injuries to other members of his team. When Blaise first joined Shynian Intelligence, he was sent to apprehend a psychopathic serial killer. It turned out that the man was also a wizard and, in an effort to elude pursuit as well as show Blaise why he killed, he cursed Blaise. According to the curse, he will have a terrible stutter until he �intentionally and unnecessarily takes a life with malice.� It was at this time that he was given the byname Blaise. |
| It's now the year 2003 by Terran Reckoning and a new chapter is about to start in the life of a young wizard and his family... |
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| Stories in The New Chapter: |
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| "Surprising Information" - The New Chapter Begins - Horatio decides that it's time he step down as Emperor of Loyalia. This leads to some interesting results when it's revealed how the rightful heirs to each thone are identified, especially the throne of the Shynia. "A Center of Controversy" - Keenan is surprised to learn that, even though he married and has children, he's not an adult - at least not as far as the Cygmans and Loyalians are concerned. "The Little Wise One" - Having been declared an adult by the Loyalians, all that remains is for the Cygmans to declare likewise - sometimes being multi-cultural can make life very difficult. �Putting it Together� � Keenan�s story � Keenan convinces Elaine to let them move to Equisetia � where he and the children will be safe. Away from the intrigue of the Dark Castle, Keenan tries to enjoy the feelings of safety he now has, but he�s also bored and feeling useless � now that he�s not spying for the good mages anymore. Shynonian Intelligence recruits him to lead a newly-formed team and, surprisingly, Elaine agrees that he should join SI. �Another Piece of the Puzzle� � Bertram�s story � After Beth and Bertram are married�the threat against Beth is finally dealt with and Bertram is reassigned at the end of the story to this team. �We All Fall Down� � Trenton�s story � Not your usual shapeshifter, Trenton has the ability to change his form in any way he chooses (except for hair and eye color) � he can be tall and strong or even become a woman. This has made him an ideal undercover agent for SI. However, when some old enemies find out about his gifts and make several attempts to abduct him, the agency decides that Trenton needs constant backup and assigns him to a team of agents. �It All Falls Apart� � Michael and Jewel�s story � Michael�s competence as an agent is called into question when he loses a suspect he was following (another failure after several previous incidents � because he won�t accept help). Michael finds the person and stops him before he can carry out his plans, but is injured in the process. They decide he needs to learn to accept help and assign him to the team. �Well, That�s Not Good� � When Shynonian Intelligence learns that Meltech is up to something, the alpha team is sent into the Dark Woods to investigate. Will they learn the plans and escape in time to get a warning out to the Good Mages or will they be captured by Meltech and suffer an unimaginable fate? �The Lucky One� � Trenton is having a rough time coming to terms with what happened on their first mission as a team. In order to lighten the strain on him and give him some backup in the field, Keenan and Bertram acquire a new member for the team. The problem is, she seems even more danger-prone than Trenton and Jewel are. �Something Unexpected� � Keenan and Bertram finally decide that they need someone on the team who�s capable of really protecting the weaker team-members and deliver an ultimatum to Director Blackstone. What happens when they get something they didn�t quite bargain for? |
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