OMF:2097 Backstory

In the year 2096, the world is controlled by mega-corporations; the largest of these is World Aeronautics and Robotics (WAR). Their biggest product, the human-assisted robot (HAR) is 30 meters tall and controlled by a direct connection to the pilot's brain. The latest marketing strategy for these robots is to have them fight each other in a tournament for a high-paying job in the company.

Although WAR produces a wide variety of HARs, the ones featured in the story include Jaguar, Shadow, Electra, Katana, and Mantis.

Characters

• See the TMP Tournament Bracket!
   
• Trent Hawkins: Male, 25 years old (23 present years)
  Quotes: "I'll conservatively estimate your chances as zero."  "The wise don't come looking for trouble... fool."  "Can't they ever send me a challenge?"
  Appearance: Obviously muscular, with short blond hair; bony, angular face; bright blue eyes; a feral grin.
  Personality/Background: Trent is genetically engineered to be the ultimate HAR pilot. After his escape, he devoted everything to fulfilling his potential. He is motivated only by his desire to be revenged on WAR for what they did to him, so he's never the life of the party, especially when casually tearing through opponents.
  Fighting Style: Trent's only flaw is complete belief in his own superiority. He's not afraid to go on the offensive, since his "perfect mind" allows him to anticipate your every move. But slip past his guard once and he'll begin to make mistakes...
  Attributes: Equal
  Preferred Robot: Jaguar
  First Appearance: 2/13/96
   
• Jonus Augardi: Male, 35 years old (30 present years)
  Quotes: "You're good, but not good enough."  "Prepare to learn from the master!"  "For you, failure is the only option."
  Appearance: In a word, stylish. An anime-style spiked, red-dyed haircut frames an otherwise plain, oval, expressionless face. Brown eyes hint at mixed ancestry.
  Personality/Background: Jonus was one of the best fighters in the old Arena, and has established a comfortable career in marketing with WAR. He enters the Mantis Project to try and make a mark on a new sport. As a modest celebrity, he's self-centered and swift of tongue.
  Fighting Style: Although Jonus always aims to be a crowd-pleaser, he isn't above using a throw or uppercut when he has to. He is constantly on the offensive with combos, and thinks blocking and evading is a waste of time. Only his superhuman speed saves him from defeat, making the masses love him even more.
  Attributes (best to worst): Agility, Power, Focus, Endurance
  Preferred Robot: Katana
  First Appearance: 2/17/96
   
• Aidoann Traillieu: Female, 65 years old (50 present years)
  Quotes: "May the best woman win!"  "Wisdom and cunning always beats youth and vigor."  "Tell you what, I'll win quickly and let you off easy."
  Appearance: Hair was once platinum blond, is now white and close-cut; smiling, round, aging face; small green earrings to go with the green eyes.
  Personality/Background: As a former colonization worker, Aidoann has plenty of experience with HARs and WAR in general; she's entering the tournament to give Operation A.R.T. a chance to get in on the top floor (see Marcus Faraday).
  Fighting Style: A very defensive pilot, Aidoann prefers to let the fight come to her, giving her a better chance to counterattack with a flashy special move or projectile. She works well in a free-for-all, but when there's nowhere to hide, she falls apart.
  Attributes (best to worst): Focus, Endurance, Agility, Power
  Preferred Robot: Electra
  First Appearance: 2/12/96
   
• Marcus Faraday: Male, 41 years old (34 present years)
  Quotes: "I am the salvation of WAR. You cannot stop me!"  "I think you're mistaken. This isn't the practice room."  "I hope you know how to lose gracefully!"
  Appearance: A young-looking Italian, with black hair in a ponytail and all the charm of a typical salesman.
  Personality/Background: Independently wealthy, Faraday holds a job at WAR only to make inroads for Operation A.R.T., a plan to reform WAR from the inside and turn the focus away from HAR production. His strong will and belief in his cause has driven many to his side.
  Fighting Style: Faraday learned to fight from Milano Steele, giving him an intense dislike for special moves and projectiles. He doesn't take risks, but his reliance on traditional fighting means he is virtually unable to adapt to his opponent and must hope the same few combos work every time.
  Preferred Robot: Chronos
  Attributes (best to worst): Endurance, Agility, Power, Focus
  First Appearance: 2/15/96
   
• Eliza Laim: Female, 39 years old (33 present years)
  Quotes: "I shall enjoy watching you die."  "I've come too far to be stopped now!"  "I will crush your toy robot with one hand!"
  Appearance: Stunningly beautiful, of Asian stock; long, black hair; almond eyes; a dazzling, almost too brilliant smile.
  Personality/Background: As Eliza Laim, she co-anchors the influential LBC News; as the Talon, she rules the infamous Iron Fist. Her history is fabricated, her medical records falsified, her every word a lie.
  Fighting Style: Not a HAR pilot by trade, she adapts traditional martial arts technique to cybernetic combat. She often leaves herself wide open and foregoes defense and strategy in favor of a single killing blow.
  Attributes (best to worst): Power, Agility, Endurance, Focus
  Preferred Robot: Flail
  First Appearance: 2/8/96 as Laim, 2/14/96 as the Talon
   
• Shirro Lang: Male, 72 years old (55 present years)
  Appearance: Completely bald, the wrinkles on his face and twinkle in his eye betray his smile for everyone. Pale-skinned, with a round face and heavy, muscular frame.
  Personality/Background: Shirro is the Head of Public Relations for all of WAR. Though Shirro knows much about what happens deep within WAR, he never takes things too seriously and just hopes things will work themselves out. Those who have seen him in martial arts tournaments agree that he is both incredibly strong and tactful, always smiling and shaking your hand after he beats you.
  Fighting Style: Lang loves to use his formidable strength in the most efficient way possible, always going for a heavy hit or throw move. Unfortunately, he isn't fast enough to dodge attacks and must rely on his ability to make a devastating counterattack.
  Attributes (best to worst): Power, Endurance, Focus, Agility
  Preferred Robots: Electra, Thorn
  First Appearance: 2/5/96
   
• Dr. Ibrahim Hothe: Male, 47 years old (39 present years)
  Appearance: Probably of Indian descent, his most striking feature is his long black beard. A long, stern face with the typical black eyes accompanies a wiry body, growing a little heavy but still strong.
  Personality/Background: A retired triathlete, Dr. Hothe believes in a sharp mind and body. Probably the best designer of HAR's, he has under his belt the design of the Jaguar, Mantis, and Omega 'bots. Ibrahim is considered a mentor by many of the pilots, as he is always seen in the docking bays making sure "his babies" are being taken care of. He cares little for the inner politics of WAR, but simply loves the machines.
  Fighting Style: Hothe's knowledge of the internal workings of the HARs makes him a favorite to win. He often will take a few hits and then return fire with incredible accuracy.
  Attributes (best to worst): Endurance, Focus, Power, Agility
  Preferred Robot: Jaguar
  First Appearance: 2/5/96
   
• Raven Menaza: Male, 25 years old (23 present years)
  Personality/Background: Menaza is brutal both in and out of any competition, and has killed more than twenty people "in self defense". He greets everyone with the same cold stare, even Major Kreissack, with whom he is rumored to be plotting to develop a crack fighting force of HAR pilots.
  Fighting Style: He's extremely aggressive, will stay on top of you all the time, and will move in for a throw whenever he can. He favors those special moves, mixing them up to combo you. Once you start landing blows his defense will crumble, leaving him open for some quick combos.
  Attributes (best to worst): Power, Endurance, Focus, Agility
  Preferred Robot: Shadow
  First Appearance: 2/18/96