Peacemakers

When the police and military were ordered to evacuate San Lazaro, some disobeyed. Either they couldn't abandon the citizens, needed to figure out what was going on, or stayed for personal reasons. These courageous individuals banded together and set up a base in the downtown police station under the unofficial leadership of Buck McDonnell. Commanding this disparate but committed group, Buck tries to keep the peace and help people where he can. Some are working around the clock investigating the viral outbreak and the media blackout. Though Buck appreciates the contribution of them all, there are a few whose true motivations remain a mystery.

Bolt is a crack shot and quietly lethal member of the Peacemakers. Born in Volgograd, Russia, her mother died in childbirth and she was raised by her father.  A hunter and expert marksman, Alexei Ivanov trained his daughter well. When he too passed away in her fourteenth year, she went to live with her closest living relative – an aunt in San Lazaro. Determined to educate herself and protect her adopted homeland, she joined the Marines at eighteen. Bolt was later recruited to several elite covert groups and operated across the Middle East, eventually achieving 75 confirmed kills. Only two months ago, she joined the National Guard as a marksmanship instructor.

Bolt is tall and in excellent physical condition. Now twenty-eight, she is professionally confident but naturally a quiet person who can feel awkward in social situations. This is in part due to the slight accent that she retains from her childhood. Some of the Peacemakers consider her ruthless but Karina wrestles with the moral implications of every kill.

Bolt has acquired implants to assist with communication and vision. Her preferred weapon is the Russian Lukov SVX scout rifle.

Buck is a skilled and experienced member of the Peacemaker faction. Now 43, Buck was born and raised in San Lazaro, and he followed his dream of serving as a police officer protecting the city. He entered the department during a time of reform, and his strong moral compass drew him to the work of eliminating brutality, corruption, and racial injustice within the force. He developed into a strong leader with a reputation for de-escalating heated situations and building bridges with the communities he served.

Tall and broad, Buck has graying fair hair. As the crisis worsened, he reluctantly pulled his grandfather’s dusty shotgun out of the closet. He modified the weapon to use “shock shell" ammunition, which knocks CyMS out cold without doing lasting harm.

Buck knows San Lazaro exceptionally well: from every detail of geography and infrastructure to the nature and organization of the city’s criminal gangs. He has vowed to protect as many citizens as he can during the current difficulties, even if he must sacrifice his own chance to escape. There was no other choice for leader of the Peacemakers. Buck is the right man for the job.

Though small in stature, Pai is not to be underestimated. Originally from Thailand, she graduated from the University of Bangkok with a B.A. in computer science. Admitted to the U.S. via a Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, she graduated with a degree in law and then successfully applied to join the FBI. After a varied career as an agent, she was assigned to a cybercrime unit based in San Lazaro. She speaks both Thai and English fluently.

Now 31 and 5’2” in height, Pai maintains the strong level of fitness required for her work. She wears casual but smart clothing and is never without the traditional Buddha pendant given to her by her grandmother. Despite her scientific mind, Pai believes the pendant has brought her luck. As a cybercrime agent, she is equipped with a wrist-mounted computer that allows her to monitor official communications and infiltrate systems.

Pai is a polite, respectful person and not one to act hastily. She applies her logical mind to situations, collecting information before acting decisively. She is also selfless and always thinks of others before herself.

Nix seems like a loner, but is in fact one of the most valued members of the Peacemakers. He grew up in Southern Lazarus, the son of Mexican immigrants. Nix was a good student until high school, where he became a member of a local gang. However, he soon grasped the futility of gang life and got himself back on track. Doubling down on his studies, he was determined to leave his tough neighborhood behind. At 18, Nix joined the 75th Ranger Regiment. After eight years of outstanding service, he was honorably discharged and went on to join the National Security Agency as an independent contractor.

Now 29, Nix is average height, athletic and muscular. He also boasts many tattoos — a few from his gang days, most from the Army. Perhaps due to his background, Nix can sometimes be secretive and suspicious. He has always depended on himself, and is often more comfortable operating alone. Others interpret this as a lack of loyalty, but Nix simply lives by his own rules.

Implants focusing on stealth, noise reduction and communication allow him to move undetected. Nix always carries an imaginative and varied selection of knives.