Name: Masuyo Haruka
Nickname: 2nd Lt. Haruka, Lt. Haruka, Haruka, Bird-brain (Only acceptable from close friends.)
Age: 24
Gender: Male
Birthplace: Black City, Unova
Family: Takao Haruka (Father; Deceased), Hana Haruka (Mother)
Trainer Orientation: Lawful Good
Trainer Class: RECON Marine
Starter Pokémon: Hoothoot
Nock [Male Noctowl]: Nock is a relatively small Pokémon, slightly shorter than the usual size of a Noctowl, however it easily makes up for it by being one of the smartest Pokémon many have ever seen. Nock had been taught Morse Code, as well as signals Masuyo developed specifically for his two Pokémon to use to communicate discreetly. When Masuyo was younger, he had captured a Hoothoot originally to just be a companion and friend, during his lonelier years. While growing up, he liked to try and teach it patterns, and soon Nock was capable of even solving math equations using multipliers and addition. Since then, the little hoothoot evolved during Masuyo's training in the military, and has since often taken place as spotter during training, or even on deployments. Nock could read the measurements on equipment, so long as they displayed numbers, and Masuyo had taught it a system of hoots to count the numbers out to him. Some like to joke that Nock is smarter than Masuyo himself. It's usually a general rule that wherever Masuyo is, Nock is somewhere nearby or within sight. Masuyo typically leaves him out of his Poké Ball whenever allowed.
Fletch [Male Natu]: While not quite as clever as his peer, Fletch was caught during a training exercise. Since then, Masuyo had taught it morse code, and the same signals taught to Nock. Fletch typically acts as surveillance, trained to pick out enemies and signal their numbers. If Fletch is stationed behind Masuyo he can prevent enemies from flanking him by calling out discrete warnings using sequences of chirps. While Fletch is usually in his Poké Ball during on duty hours, it likes to climb to the highest point it can when freely roaming, and simply observe things that go by. While it could be interpreted as lazy, Masuyo understands it just likes watching things. One of the common quirks of a Natu.
Masuyo stands at 5'9'' (175 cm), and weighs in about 145 lbs (66 kg). He has white skin, tanned by long hours in the sun, and a defined well rounded muscle structure all throughout his body from his many training exercises and workouts. His eyes are a dark grey color, sharp and all encompassing. His hair takes on a dark black, with a standard military-esk cut. One of many tell-tail signs of military personnel. His expression often rests on a serious or neutral state, which only ever changes if he is in a relaxed and friendly environment among those he considers as friends.
When he isn't in uniform he tends to wear simple t-shirts (or button up shirts), jeans (or jean shorts), and boots. He often wears sunglasses on bright days to keep the glare out of his eyes. After all, his eyes are what keeps him employed. When not wearing them they can usually be seen hanging from a pocket somewhere on his person, or resting at the top of his head.
Artwork by A-1 Pictures.
Masuyo is very much a straightforward person, who never beats around the bush about anything. Often much too serious, people can find it difficult to really get to know him well. However, a lot of this is due to the fact that he simply isn't much of a social person. This is simply one of the only ways he finds appropriate to act when addressing and being addressed by people, especially due to his military experience. However if someone were to get him to open up and relax, they'd fine a surprisingly laid back character who is appreciative of a good laugh. While for a good period of his later life it seemed like he sunk into a brooding bitter state, he slowly has come out of it in recent months, lighting up a bit, and acting much less gloomy. Through military training, and experience, he's a rather smart individual, and always makes sure to know everything he can about what he is getting into before jumping into it.
It is incredibly evident that he values duty and responsibility, having had learning and self-improvement as his main focus in life since he was a kid. Although he has a strong flaw of really never knowing what people think or expect of him. He simply tries to do his best at the task at hand, even if he might be unknowingly ignoring the wishes of another. Anyone who might stick with him through this, and get him to loosen up might find themselves a loyal friend in him, as Nock would agree if he could speak. Masuyo doesn't quite realize how much he needs other people, just as much as he needs to improve himself. Maybe the hours of solitude with a spotter, or often just Nock acting as spotter, contribute to this problem...
Masuyo was born in Black City, Unova, and grew up in the small secluded city of the region. While he was young, under the guidance of his parents, he grew up trying to better himself academically as much as he could. His focus in school drove him on, paying attention in classes, and seldom bothering to interact with the other students. The result of this was that he found himself a bit of a social outcast which he suited just fine. Developing an introverted yet spirited personality, he often found ways to entertain himself while out of school. Often venturing out on the many routes nearby the city, climbing trees and adventuring... whenever his homework was done of course.
However, everyone craves some social interaction. The kids at school were slowly showing up with their very own Pokémon, and he wanted a Pokémon friend of his own. On one of his many ventures in the White Forest, he found a small hoothoot hunkered in a hollow tree. Sitting on the branch in front of the tree, Masuyo began talking to the hoothoot, just to see what the Pokémon would do. Quietly, the hoothoot hooted back, though neither of them could really understand each other. After a while, Masuyo founded himself venting, and talking to the small owl Pokémon, as it hooted in response. Realizing how silly the situation was, Masuyo left and returned home, though he often came back and met the Hoothoot. At first he did this out of curiosity, wondering if the Pokémon would still be there, then soon he did it out of simple tradition. One day, the Hoothoot followed him as he climbed down the tree, hopping from branch to branch. It had followed Masuyo a ways along before so he thought nothing of it, but this time it began following him much further than it had before. Masuyo didn't know what it wanted exactly, and he tried to shoo it away as they began reaching city limits. Finally thinking that he had shooed the Pokémon, he turned and continued walking home. However after he crossed a street, he heard a car's tires squeal behind him. When Masuyo turned around, he found the small Hoothoot had been struck by a car. Luckily the car had been braking for a sign before the Hoothoot passed in it's way, so Hoothoot wasn't badly hurt. Still, Masuyo at the time was panicked, and he scooped the Pokémon up in his arms and rushed it home. A Pokémon center trip later, Hoothoot had been diagnosed with nothing worse than a nice bruising. After talking with his parents and getting a Poké Ball from the nurse at the center, Masuyo obtained his first Pokémon. Once Hoothoot had been officially caught by Masuyo he gave it the nickname Nock, since it got knocked by a car before Masuyo took it in.
Getting his first Pokémon brightened Masuyo's life up quite a bit since he now had a companion to talk and play around with. Instead of training the Pokémon to battle Masyuo would slowly teach it how to talk back and forth, and began learning the speech patterns Nock used for different things. Often times while studying Masuyo would sit there and talk with Nock. Masuyo slowly started realizing he could figure out Nock's responses by both using the responses he had been slowly teaching him, and his own natural responses. Despite things going well between Nock and Masuyo, Masuyo was finding out fast that he really didn't know what to do after school or what direction he wanted to go in life. He had always just focused on doing well in school itself, rather than where exactly it was taking him. Graduation was coming up fast, and he really didn't have anything that stuck out at him that he was particularly good at. Instead Masuyo just found himself to be a rather well-rounded student. He simply had one direction to look and that was towards one of his biggest role models in life, his father. His father had joined the US Military while Masuyo was young, and had often been absent from portions of Masuyo's life, but he had always looked up to him with utmost respect and awe.
Once Masuyo was nearing graduation he made the decision to join the military himself, and join his father in the ranks. He would be aiming for a job in the interior (rather than in the field), though he wasn't quite sure what just yet. Soon he was enlisted, and began working through the training. During training, he displayed an exceptional talent in long-range marksmanship, and began to quickly develop in physic and knowledge as he applied his focus towards learning and hard work into this new form of training. Nock participated in some of the drills whenever allowed, as Masuyo saw Nock as a partner for life. Masuyo began to teach Nock new call-outs and signals fit for the military. Much to Masuyo's suprise one day, Nock evolved into a Noctowl, further enhancing it's ability to work with Masuyo as he continued his training. Despite the talents uncovered in his training, he continued to gear himself towards an engineering position within the marine ranks, and soon was beginning specialized training in order to reach that goal.
However this was when his life slowly began turning south. A criminal organization known as Plasma had became militarized, and began wrecking havoc in Masuyo's own home country. During this immediate national threat, the military called forth multiple personnel in order to wage war against this organization on his own home-soil. Masuyo's father had been among the people selected to lead a group of soldiers into the occupied cities. Soon a recently formed military from somewhere south of Japan, known as the Republic of Seafoam began sending aid. Once the dust settled, Masuyo found out he'd never have another family dinner with his father again. His father had taken his permanent leave.
In an effort to help himself and his mother overcome his father's death they moved to Seafoam. After his father's death, Masuyo had a new goal. He wanted to root out the evil in the world, and help put an end to it before it ever even became a threat. This time enlisting into Seafoam's Marine Corps ranks, he took grasp of the talents he had ignored, and found himself with a position in the Rep. of Seafoam Marine Force RECON. Masuyo began special training for this as well, further refining his marksmanship as well as his ability with handguns, and hand-to-hand combat. Academically, Masuyo began learning anything and everything related to reconnaissance, mari-time history, and the different wildlife and plant life of different regions. Of course he kept Nock learning as well, teaching it specific call-outs, and even training him to perform the tasks a spotter would perform. During one explicit training drill, Masuyo had been laying in wait at a designated position for nearly half the day, simply waiting for his target to make an appearance. During this time a Natu had perched nearby and began staring down at them. Despite this bothering Masuyo, he had to leave the bird alone, or risk exposing his position. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the Natu chirped loudly when someone began approaching Masuyo, allowing him to get the jump on the person approaching. Seeing the value and uses of the Natu, he quickly added it to his ranks and nicknamed him Fletch. Masuyo began teaching Fletch the same way he had trained Nock previously, although it wouldn't be able to grasp near as much information as Nock had been able too.
Today, Masuyo continues his duty as a RECON Marine officer, having long finished training, and holding some deployments under his belt. No longer bothered by the death of his father, though still keeping him close to his heart, and his mother now living in Sandestin City. He awaits at the beck and call of Force RECON. With the mysterious appearance of Darkness, Masuyo wonders if his abilities are going to be put to the test.
Regular Abilities______________________________________
└-Skills, professions, knowledge and talents.
Escape Artist: Masuyo has trained in how, and when to make escapes in times of being under enemy capture, or surveillance. Often times RECON members would be going in small groups under enemy territory, and while being trained to break rope ties (and various other restraints), and general drills on how to escape occupied territories, he hasn't yet needed to do so for real.│
Learned: Masuyo has done well academically throughout his life, in school, and then began specialized training in geography and cultures around the world, herbalism, and general military training, and engineering.
├─Classification: Talent
├─Category: Skill
└─Power Level: Journeyman│
MOUT: Masuyo had been nearly geared specifically for Reconnaissance in Urban, or even Naval areas, meaning he has been trained for multiple situations in urban areas, first and most important, never shoot at anything or anyone unidentified, secondly, never involve civilians if you can help it, and thirdly, you have to be able to hide from all angles and sides if you don't want to get spotted. Among this are the usual knowledge and training of how to scale vertical walls, secure and reinforce rooms or buildings, and of course, which locations make for the best sniper's nest. Masuyo being one of few types of soldiers who can accurately fire into crowds, this is one of his most trained in terrain, though he has only a little actual experience in doing so.
├─Classification: Talent
├─Category: Knowledge
└─Power Level: Master│
Reconsiannce: Every part of Masuyo's military training has geared him towards this single purpose of venturing into unknown, or hostile territory, surveying the areas/personnel/civilians/anything else he is ordered to gather information on, and reporting it safety and securely to those who are in the need-to-know. This ranges from urban, suburban, rural, and even at sea under naval conditions, as well as during non-alert situations, or when the enemy is engaged in combat.
├─Classification: Talent
├─Category: Knowledge
└─Power Level: Journeyman│
Martial Abilities______________________________________
├─Classification: Talent
├─Category: Skill
└─Power Level: Master
└-Weapon specializations and fighting styles.
Hand-to-Hand Combat: Masuyo gone through vigourous hours of being pummeled until he began grasping hold of the concept of hand-to-hand fighting. Nearly the polar opposite of where his natural talents lie, he still managed to improve and can now fight the average soldier, and give them a good run for their money. This training includes disarming small weapons, like handguns or knives, as well as various forms of choke holds, and (what Masuyo is better at) how to escape them.│
Small Arms: Carrying around a sniper rifle often occupies the weight Masuyo likes to keep on him when out on deployment, meaning his only other weapons tend to be along the lines of a knife, and a handgun. Masuyo's training involves the use of multiple different small and concealable arms, as often times during recon, he would be trying to move discreatly about occupied territory, and a small arm is all they could have on them. Due to this, Masuyo rigourously trained in their use, knowing very well that anytime a fight gets brought mid-to-close quarters this would be his lifeline.
├─Classification: Physical
├─Category: Fighting Skill
└─Power Level: Journeyman│
Sniper Rifle: Masuyo's calling card. Masuyo specialized in long-rang marksmanship, and has been close and personal with sniper rifles for nearly as long as he has been in the military altogether. Masuyo is capable of accurately shooting as far as the rifle would allow, adjusting to wind, and the rifle's accuracy, so long as he has used it in practice at least once. Masuyo is well versed in all sorts of attachments and modifications used on sniper rifles as well, capable of using them to his benefit. Masuyo often goes equipped with the sniper rifle he has grown most comfortable with, and the most practiced with.
├─Classification: Talent
├─Category: Skill
└─Power Level: Expert│
├─Classification: Talent
├─Category: Skill
└─Power Level: Master
Weapons_________________________________________________
└-Weapon and munitions.
BerettaM9A3: A semi-automatic 9mm handgun, equipped with 17 round magazines (18 total if one is chambered). Masuyo has changed the safty decocker to simply act as a decocker. The gun also has a threaded barrel, and a 3 slot rail for attachments. Masuyo uses extended iron sights to use with a suppressor on his.
Kurambit: Masuyo likes the kurambit, honestly at first because of it's cool design, however now he has learned very well that it is a good knife for many different reasons. This knife is designed in a curved fashion, and with a ring at the end of the grip. The ring allows for retention of the weapon, making sure you can keep it in control, and not lose it when you are fighting. the curved blade allows you to control and cut the attacker in ways difficult with a straight blade.
M40A6: A bolt-action sniper rifle, which is one of the upgrades on the M40 rifle. It features an easily re-sizable stock, and comes with multiple attachment slots. Masuyo has had a lot of practice with this particular rifle, and as such can use them even beyond their normal expectations, applying the full potential of his long-range marksmanship abilities.
Armor___________________________________________________
└-Armor, shielding, and wearables.
Standard Marine RECON Uniform: The standard uniform of the Rep. of Seafoam RECON Marines, made simple to use with a variety of different situations, and equipments. It uses valcro to attatch insignas and ranks, and comes complete with an undershirt, jacket, trousers, and boots. Often times the uniform can be interchanged depending on the situation and requirement of the task at hand.
Masuyo was getting tired of walking. He had been walking for a good amount of hours now, climbing in and out of the thick wooded environment. Somewhere within a good 700-1000 meters was an enemy encampment. The members of his unit would be approaching the encampment based on what information he gave them, and they were still stationed a good mile back. He and Nock trekked up the last few feet of the hill, until they were right at the location they had specified earlier. Checking his watch, they were well on time to be in position.
Soon he was setting up position, finding a spot that allowed some view into the distant encampment, letting Fletch out of his Poké Ball, he quickly climbed up high into a tree. Masuyo would set Nock up with it's modified Zoom Lens, allowing it to see just as far, if not further than Masuyo's scope. Laying flat, he would set the bi-pod up so that he was positioned between a bunch of foliage, and peeking just over a shrub.
He soon began surveying the encampment. "Nock, take a look around the west outer perimeter, tell me if there are any personnel outside of the encampment." Masuyo requested as he himself though the scope wandered along the encampment. There were obviously guard towers, and one of the lookouts stared out into the woods Masuyo was hiding in. While the natural fear of them spotting him was always setting Masuyo on edge, his training told him better. It would take an inhuman vision to see him like he could see them. Calmly he counted, the number of towers, and pulled out his radio.
"Haruka on position, do you read?". Soon he received a response from his unit, and he began describing the encampment, "The encampment has a fortified walls surrounding it, and a road leading back north further into enemy territory. Two towers on either side of the road, one lookout each. In the walls there is a tower on each cardinal point, one lookout each. In the wall there are five buildings, two of them look like bunkers, one most likely a rest/shower room, and the largest, a two story building most likely where the higher ranking do their business.".
After the report, Masuyo was surprised to be told that a combative unit was already sent along the path to engage. He would wait for the unit to get within 500 meters of the encampment, then begin open fire prioritizing the safety and support of the unit. "Nock, keep a lookout for a friendly unit coming in southwest of the encampment. Tell me when they come into view. Luckily with the hill and woods, he had a good chance of spotting his unit before the lookouts.
Sure enough, "Hoo, Hoooooo, Hoo Hoo" various ranges and lengths of hoots from Nock confirmed friendly unit of good size about 450 meters from Masuyo's location moving on towards the encampment. "Nock, survey the area around the unit, make sure there aren't any enemies in contact of them." Masuyo directed, and Nock gave the all-clear. The unit was of good size, but they surely weren't large enough to overtake the encampment should they be alerted.
Masuyo relaxed his body. He would have to take out the lookouts first, or the encampment would be alerted. The hard part was that you couldn't let anyone else see them drop. "Nock, I'm going to target the furthest lookout, in the northern tower of the encampment. Tell me if the western lookout, or the northern lookout turns around.". Masuyo then began surveying, making sure that the eastern lookout was facing away. Sure enough, he seemed to be staring out at the horizon, probably daydreaming. Masuyo returned his aim towards the Northern lookout. "Hoo". Nock hooted, letting Masuyo know that one of the lookouts were facing his target. Masuyo let out his breath, having been a moment away from firing. Taking his time again, he checked the eastern lookout, then quickly looked over the grounds again, no one was currently outside in the encampment itself. Lucky for Masuyo, else this would get tricky. "Hoo Hoo" Nock confirmed that they had turned back around. Once again Masuyo moved his view towards the Northern lookout. Taking in his breath once again to still himself, he aimed about two notches above the lookout's head. Paused. The lookout stopped moving. click! About half a second later the lookout dropped against the side of the tower, and crumpled to the ground. Masuyo pulled back the bolt-action, letting the spent shell pop out, before ramming the next bullet. "Target dropped, switching to eastern lookout." Masuyo reported to Nock. Going over the same process, soon the eastern lookout fell, but ended up slumped over the wall of the tower. Masuyo didn't like this, should the other lookouts turn around, they would see him. "Hoo Hoo Hoo" Nock alerted, sure enough the southern lookout noticed the body, or the absent northern lookout. He crouched down, and pulled out a radio. Quickly Masuyo lined up a shot at the side of the tower. He could guess where the guy was at, if he hadn't moved after crouching... Soon Masuyo fired another round, Nock confirming that it had penetrated the side of the tower. Masuyo was on borrowed time now though, as he quickly pulled the bolt action, and re-chambered the next round. Not taking the time to call his shots, instead just taking his aim and firing, hitting the eastern lookout as quick as he could without losing his accuracy.
Nock reported that the unit was now well within 300 meters from the encampment now, and no alarms were going off... so far so good. However Masuyo spotted someone coming out of the large building. The person quickly and swiftly walked towards the southern tower. Masuyo guessed that he must have cut the lookout off while trying to contact those in the building. "Nock, tell me if anyone else comes outside, or if the lookouts on the northern road leave their towers." Masuyo trailed the enemy as they went out of view behind the wall before the tower. Masuyo assumed that he would soon be climbing up the ladder, and prepared his shot for the small portion of the ladder that was visible. He waited for about 15 seconds before he saw a hand reach into view, and he fired. Sure enough the man pulled himself up on the rungs, just in time for Masuyo's round to meet them. The body dropped back down the ladder, and Masuyo cleared his chamber. "Dropped."
Masuyo quickly checked on the location of his unit, they were nearly on the front doorstep at this point, no alarms given so far, other than what might be going on internally inside the building... however at this point Masuyo figured the unit had the firepower to breach the encampment at this point. None of the enemy soldiers were organized in anticipation. "Nock, try to look through any windows of the building, tell me if any personnel are within view. Masuyo checked the distant northern towers by the road. They were still looking around, oblivious as to what was going on back on the encampment. They most likely just acted as lookouts for logistics and whatever other resources that were delivered.
"Hoo" Nock hooted. The shoulder of a soldier could be seen barely in view of leftmost window on the second story of the building. Masuyo took it to note, but nothing could be done there. He didn't know how many personnel were in the room, or what would happen should he fire into the building.
Suddenly Fletch above him began chirping. Quiet, unalarming chirps, ones that sounded commonplace in the woods had it not been in that exact sequence and in Fletch's voice. Masuyo quickly rolled to his back, and pulled out his Beretta. Listening, he could hear the footfalls of a couple people walking through the woods. He hadn't been radioed about any support or replacements coming onto his position. Masuyo quickly pushed himself up off of the ground, and walked behind the trunk of a tree. Nock quickly fluttered up into the trees, the footfalls stopping, and he heard their voices. They must have heard Nock, but no one is going to think twice about a bird Pokémon flying through the woods. Masuyo quickly unscrewed the thread-protector at the end of the barrel, pulling out a suppressor, and lightly screwing it on. Peeking around the trunk, he could make out a soldier walking away from him carrying a sniper rifle slung over his back, and another man with a tripod, and binoculars bouncing against his hip as he walked.
Masuyo quickly stepped out from behind the tree, taking careful aim at the back of the enemy spotter's head, and pulled the trigger. Since the quiet click didn't tip the enemy sniper off, the sound of his spotter behind him hitting dirt surely did. The soldier turned around and looked down at his fallen companion, but never was given the opportunity to look up and see who had killed him.