Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by HeySeuss
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HeySeuss DJ Hot Carl

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Instructions
  • Post your character sheet here using the template provided below.
  • Please do not post anything else here, all questions and comments should go to the OOC thread.


Character Sheet


Name:
Position:
Age:
Sex:
Physical Description:
Real brief. Like three sentences.


Brief Bio:
Character's state of origin, education, professional experience. Few sentences, no novels needed unless you want to write one. Notably, please include how this president picked your character for the cabinet, unless of course you are a member of Congress/the Senate.


Issues/Agenda:
Your character's agenda, what is most important. This should include economic beliefs and basics of working style. Religion, the environment, etc. Anything that stands out and drives this character in politics.
Hidden 6 yrs ago 6 yrs ago Post by HeySeuss
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HeySeuss DJ Hot Carl

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Name: Michael Gerard
Position: White House Chief of Staff
Age: 43
Sex: Male
Physical Description:
The first thing one notices, especially in a clean cut crew like a Republican administration, is that Mike Gerard, AJ Shepard's Chief of Staff, wears a beard, and it's a shade lighter and slightly redder than his hair. He has a flair for navy suits with soft shoulders, fitted slim, over the typical gray and black of the WH, and they're paired with a burgundy, usually, foulard tie. His smartwatch is worn, idiosyncratically, on the underside of his wrist. He swears he buys off the rack, and he might, the motherfucker.


Brief Bio:
Born in Woburn, Mass, Gerard came from a family of striving (lace-curtain) types that pushed their kid forward. His parents paid for the Malden Catholic tuition; mom, a social worker, and dad, an electrician, made the necessary arrangements for Mike and his two sisters, Liz and Pat, to attend without really complaining about it. But Dad loved that Mike played hockey for Malden.

Fast forward to Dartmouth College, hockey, history, qualitative social sciences, which is to say a confluence of geography, psychology, math and all sorts of complicated shit. College was busy; ROTC helped pay the tuition his parents couldn't. Instead of a study abroad, which he could ill afford, he interned for credit in Ted Kennedy's office.

Fast forward to Afghanistan, Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) 556 operating in the Northwestern part of Afghanistan. Multiple deployments through 2007 when a grenade blast does damage to his vision and leaves him with recurring neurological damage that causes migraines. He also lost a piece of his right leg, which required a prosthesis. Purple Heart, Distinguished Service Cross. He left the service on a medical discharge at the rank of Captain. He joined Teddy Kennedy's staff, then over to John Kerry's staff when Teddy passes. As a Kerry staffer, he made the transition from staff at the Senate to staff at the State Department until 2016, when he ran for Congress in Massachusetts.

Fast Forward to the House, 5th Massachusetts when the Senate seat comes open and someone needs to take it in a special election. The guy the GOP put in there, trying to get another shot at a seat, was steamrolled, in a campaign that got the messaging right, even in a midterm where a Democratic president was not doing so well.

Fast Forward to three days after AJ becomes the president-elect. Mike gets a call and takes the meeting out of respect; they'd always had an amiable relationship in the Senate and a good vibe in collaboration across the aisle. Mike comes out of that meeting looking like a ghost grabbed his balls. Then, to the wonderment of the press, he gives a terse statement along with AJ to the effect that he has accepted the post of White House Chief of Staff, and duty to country comes first. The press freaks, but they have no idea, not yet.


Issues/Agenda:
Lots of Republican operatives are wondering what the fuck the Democratic golden boy of the senate is suddenly doing as AJ Shepard's chief of staff. He's not the only cabinet member in there that doesn't pass the litmus test. The thing is, Mike Gerard is a Massachusetts liberal. On criminal justice reform, he's soft. On education, he wants to spend too much. The NRA has a special place in hell that is reserved for veterans that speak against them.

On the environment, for example, he is a big fan of energy technology, which benefits his state, which does tech and renewable energy, especially piloting offshore wind in partnership with industry big boys -- and he was instrumental in moving legislation through to that effect in the Senate with surprising support on both sides. He had to concede things to the oil boys to get it, and so he did it. The 2020 Renewable Resources Act (RRA) balanced a lot of different concerns and he still brought the bacon through to Massachusetts; it took one and a half years of back and forth to get the support for it, and it was a coup, really stepping into Teddy's old shoes.

On foreign policy, he believes in engagement, which means that use of force has a place on his spectrum. In this regard, he is often accused of being a sellout or soft, depending on who is commenting. He has a complex criteria for use of military action, but he's been in favor of eliminating terrorists with drone strikes, though he has concerns about civilian casualties. He is, perhaps as a result of having dealt with local forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, wary of alliances with the wrong people. The Arab Spring had an impact on him too -- he felt the US position was watered down by established interests. The same interests will seek to establish position with the aliens. US thinking on policy will have to shift radically to questions they'd never considered before - interstellar tech transfers, colonization...and if the aliens decide to divide and conquer the nations of Earth.

Mike is looking at what needs to happen to protect Humanity, and thinks the way forward is through the UN. His job, as Chief of Staff, is no less than to keep this administration on task with the threat/opportunity of the aliens.

And so much of this is less important than it was, but some of it will be more important than ever, as this administration grapples with the aliens and all the consequences of first contact. His driving reason for joining this White House is to make sure that the opportunities from alien contact benefit the nation at large, and avoiding a haves/have nots scenario as much as possible. In this sense, he is informed by the Catholic values of social justice, and Teddy Kennedy rubbed off on him here. Aliens are a danger, but they're also an incredible potential for positive social change.


Notes:
Married, with two kids. His wife, Sarah, is notable for her USAID work and subsequent work on behalf of Medicins Sans Frontieres in a support and management role. She's also a feminist author and a frequent target of a certain type of televangelist. The tinfoil hat wearers also have a field day; he's Catholic, she's Jewish and all possible conspiracy angles get covered.
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by Byrd Man
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Byrd Man El Hombre Pájaro

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Character Sheet


Name: William "Bill" Birch

Position: National Security Advisor

Age: 60

Sex: Male

Physical Description:
Bill is 6'2 and thin. His salt and pepper is hair always combed in a left-handed part. He wears metal-rimmed glasses that are so thick they distort his hazel eyes.


Brief Bio:
Born in the early 60's, Bill was the youngest son of a conservative upper middle class New England family. He attended Yale and studied political science and international relations. He joined the State Department in the latter days of the Reagan Administration, serving as a junior staffer in the South and Central Asian Affairs at Foggy Bottom. There, he witnessed the diplomacy involved in the Soviet-Afghan War and was among those that thought US involvement should not end after the Soviet retreat. As an Assistant Secretary of State during the Bush Years, Bill helped the White House build its multi-national coalition for the Gulf War. After the '92 election, he took a job with a prominent Washington think-tank, the Committee on Global Affairs, and gained a reputation as an expert on US national security in foreign relations in the post-Cold War world of the late 90's.

In 2000, Bill served as a foreign policy advisor for John McCain's ill-fated presidential run. The backing of the wrong horse led to Bill being left out in the cold as George W. Bush won election in a contested race and filled appointments at State with other people. Bill took a job as a professor at Columbia University. That would be a short lived job, however. After 9/11, Bill was brought back into the cold and joined the Department of Defense as a special advisor to Secretary Rumsfeld on international relations as the US prepared to invade Afghanistan.

As the talk inside the administration shifted from Afghanistan to Iraq, Bill was asked by the White House to be among the figures leading the charge. He famously went on Face the Nation one Sunday and told the American people that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. His work in the region during the First Gulf War mixed credibility among the diplomatic community helped the Bush White House gain support for the eventual invasion. That interview on national TV would end up being used against him when it was discovered that Iraq did not have any chemical or nuclear weapons. He quickly became one of the faces of American folly in Iraq, one journalist entitled their book on the run-up to war "Without a Doubt", taken from a quote Bill gave in the nationally televised interview. Bill resigned his position just before Bush was sworn-in to a second term.

Going back to the think tank-world, Bill was a senior fellow for The Institute on American Affairs. With his reputation still marred, he served sub rosa as foreign affairs advisors to Republican presidential candidates McCain and Mitt Romney in their unsuccessful runs against Barack Obama. When a third Bush ran for president in '16, Bill was not asked to contribute to his campaign.

Seemingly out of the blue in 2020, Bill was offered the position of National Security Advisor by the president-elect. The move drew a lot of chatter from Washington insiders and people who still remembered how Bill's last job in government had gone. While puzzled at the offer, he still accepted. Shortly there after he was let in one of the biggest secrets of all times: Man was not alone in the universe.


Issues/Agenda:
Work style, Bill believes that issues should be approached from all sides and discussed. After the fiasco that was 2003, he has taken the position that he will question major policy decision many times to see if it holds up and will stand his ground if he does not believe in an idea.

On the topic of foreign affairs, Bill is very much of the belief that American hegemony over the world is key to global security. He sees the US as the world police and believes that the US should be the only contact for the new alien people who have come to Earth. He is strongly for keeping the rest of the world, friend and foe alike, in the dark about what is going on. He also subscribes to the concept of Realpolitik in regards to dealing with less than ideal people and situations. To Bill, pragmatism is always the number one rule when it comes to furthering the nation's goals.

Politically, he is a conservative in fiscal policy and advocates free trade and lower taxes/less social programs. As a secular New Englander, Bill does not agree with the evangelical right and their ultra-conservative outlooks on abortion/religion/gay marriage/whateverelsetheyhate
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by Mao Mao
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Mao Mao Sheriff of Pure Hearts (They/Them)

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Name
Benton Haynes

Position
Press Secretary

Age
Thirty-four

Sex
Male

Physical Description
Benton is a 6'3 and thin individual with his light blue eyes and brown hair. He often dresses professionally with his dark navy
blue suit and his light purple tie. And he began to grow a beard where he plans on keeping it thick to keep more professional
with the press.

Brief Bio
Benton Haynes grew up in Seattle with his parents who were originally from Portland. His parents kept him homeschooled for most
his childhood until the beginning of high school. Transferring to a public school environment was a surprise for Benton as
he didn't socialize with the other kids as much as he should have. And he was often picked on because of it. He found comfortin
writing during his first two years of high school. Often writing short poems or lengthy stories during lunch time to keep
himself busy. Eventually, he made friends, but kept on writing. Benton's twelfth grade English teacher took notice of his
writing and encouraged him to seek a degree in the field. With that in mind, he graduated high school and got accepted to the
University of Washington to earn his degree in journalism.

Once he obtained his degree, he was hired as a journalist for the Washington Post. Benton worked with the Post for a few years
before he quit to pursue work in the political field. He began by maintaining Wyatt King's campaign for U.S. Senate in
Washington, helping him secure the spot for Patty Murray until 2010. After the election, Benton moved to Washington D.C. to work
as a senior adviser for Joe Biden's campaign; however, he identified as an independent. When Biden won the 2016 elections, he
was assigned the position of deputy press secretary for a year until the resignation of the former press secretary. Shortly
after taking over the spot, he went on to sever for three years. The sudden death of President Biden and the victory of
Republican Andrew Shepard thought it spelled the removal of Benton Haynes.

To the surprise of the media and Haynes, Shepard was one of the few holdovers that survived the change. Regardless, he was
working on addressing the press about the election until he was called into a sudden meeting. After the meeting, his deputy
press secretary substituted for Benton on that day. He released a short statement saying he had a sore throat; however, the
truth was that he fell ill after learning that aliens were real and tried to contact with the American government.

Issues/Agenda
Being a press secretary caused Benton to double check the facts since one misinformed statement will be a field day for the
media. And he understood the reporters and journalists since he was one of them in the early 2000s. He also acknowledged the
return of yellow journalism during the '16 election and the midterms of '18. Thus, he knew how to keep the media in control
while giving them whatever they desired. He believes that the media will do more bad than good if they find out that aliens
contacted the government. Thus, he supports the policy of keeping the press and citizens quiet about the presence of aliens.
However, in the terms of foreign affairs, he believes that there should be a UN Security Council meeting about the possible threat.
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by Jester
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Jester

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Name: Gen. Joseph "Joe" T. Edwards
Position: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Age: 63
Sex: Male
Physical Description:
Joe is 6'0" and stout. His stern expression and large build make him an imposing figure. He is most often seen in uniform. When he hit his mid-twenties, he conceded the battle against his hairline and has been bald ever since.


Brief Bio:
Joe grew up dirt poor in southern Mississippi. With his father in jail, and his mother far from affectionate, he learned to work for everything he wanted in life. While most of the people in his small town lived in contentment, Joe always strove for something greater. He excelled in most areas of his life; he was valedictorian, lettered in multiple sports, and even had a leading part in his high school's production of MacBeth. Between his success in school and his involvement at St. James's Catholic Church, Joe checked all the boxes needed to get admittance into West Point.

He would go on to graduate and would rise quickly through the ranks while receiving glowing remarks from both his superiors and subordinates. He would serve in numerous conflicts from Afghanistan to Iraq. During his years of service, his faith was a prominent guide in his decision making. While not shying away from conflict, he would always strive for the least violent option available.

He was nominated for the position of Army Chief of Staff, a position for which he served briefly before being subsequently nominated for the position of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. After finishing out his first term, he was recommended for a second by newly elected President Andrew J. Shepard. The senate would quickly confirm the nomination.


Issues/Agenda:
Joe believes in a calculated approach to conflict. With respect to Teddy Roosevelt, Joe has always viewed the "big stick" as the final option. His decisions often put him at odds with a conservative administration, but he has never paid much mind to the grumblings of politicians.

In the same vein, Joe's faith has instilled in him the idea that all life is precious and worthy of preservation. Human rights violations and gross suffering have been a prominent issues in several theaters of war, and at anytime he's ever advised intercession in foreign affairs. If America can help alleviate the suffering of innocents, it should.

Joe has always been a proponent of smarter spending rather than more spending.


Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by CaptainBritton
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CaptainBritton Man of War

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Name: Abraham Randolph Farran
Position: Secretary of Defense
Age: 66
Sex: Male
Physical Description:

Abraham Farran is an individual with a more elongated stature and leaner build, standing at about 5’11”. He often wears suits of black with dark colored ties, a precedent set mainly by previous SecDefs, with a SecDef sterling silver lapel pin on his right lapel and a US flag pin on his left lapel. His hair is a wiry light grey, most likely previously blonde, and his eyes are dark blue.


Brief Bio:
He was born Nov. 16, 1954 in Alcoa, TN, going on to achieve the equivalent to a secondary education before making the decision to attend VMI in Virginia. Halfway into his degree, he was nominated to West Point, eventually graduating with honors in the class of 1978, being awarded a degree in Military History and in National Security Studies, additionally having achieved the qualifications to receive the Air Assault Badge and the Airborne Badge, qualifying him to be in either of the airborne divisions of the US Army.

He was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division in late 1978. As an infantry officer, he participated in maneuvers with allies in both Europe and Africa throughout the 80s, achieving a promotion to Captain within the decade. As part of the 101st Airborne element deployed in Kuwait in 1991, he led his company in the operation to cut off the supply lines and stop the retreat of Iraqi troops from Kuwait, forcing their capture, earning him the rank of Major. Later within the 90s, he helped orchestrate humanitarian missions in the Balkans, Africa, and the Caribbean, as well as being part of the NATO forces in Kosovo ensuring security during the elections. For his efforts, and the retirement of an upper echelon commander, he made Lieutenant Colonel.

After the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001, his regimental commander was promoted, giving him command of the entire regiment and the rank of Colonel. His unit in the 101st was deployed in the ISAF invasion of Afghanistan, with the division being one of the first non-SF units deployed. Later in 2003, his regiment was part of the spearhead force into Iraq. After the fall of Baghdad and the sense of somewhat stability, the 101st was rotated back in and Abraham made Brigadier General, transferring to the staff at Fort Bragg, NC, where he would eventually make Major General and then Lieutenant General, assuming multiple positions within the XVIII Airborne Corps, eventually coming to command it.

He retired from the US Army in 2012, a year later taking an advisory position in General Dynamics, making connections with multiple companies in the military industrial complex. In 2021, he was offered a position in AJ Shepard’s administration as Secretary of Defense due to his knowledge concerning combat situations, national security, and the workings of the military industrial complex.




Issues/Agenda:
Abraham often did not make his political views clear, especially when serving. But as his name has reached headlines as the newest nomination for Secretary of Defense, more and more has been revealed. He’s a conservative and a Republican at heart, generally a moderate on most issues save national security, where he suggests a level of caution. He generally has been opposed to the drawdown of troops abroad under previous administrations which led to increased volatility in the Middle East region and vulnerability elsewhere, namely the removal of peacekeepers in Iraq, the decrease of advisors in Syria, the complete withdrawal of armored assets from Germany, and the stagnation of Pacific bases.

He is religious, albeit not fanatically, and is a member of the American Episcopal Church, the American sect of the Church of England (Anglican Church). He attends church every sunday, generally at the Washington National Cathedral, the seat of the Diocese of Washington, where he is active in the community and makes monthly donations.

Abraham is a diligent worker in his field. His overall interest in national security studies and management which have been with him since his days at VMI and West Point drive him to work harder and smarter to improve and simplify the management and allocation of assets within the US Armed Forces.
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Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by Gunther
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Gunther Captain, Infantry (Retired)

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Hidden 6 yrs ago 6 yrs ago Post by Darth Shadow
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Darth Shadow Watching you from afar...

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