Colonel Shawn Rapport is commanding officer of the First Company. A member of the
Seventy-Fifth Ranger Regiment, Rapport is trained in dealing with the unforeseen
friction of real-time combat. He specializes in infiltration, reconnaissance, and
airborne and air assault operations.
Rapport grew up in a military family and was raised in a patriotic environment; both parents were members of the U.S. Army. An outstanding high school athlete, he was a first-team All American quarterback leading his team to two consecutive state championships, which earned him a full ride to play for the University of Washington. He turned the scholarships down to join the Army Rangers. Rapport would later earn a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy and a Master of Arts in international relations from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.
Early in his military career, Rapport became a war hero and was awarded with multiple medals of heroism. During U.S. support for a botched United Nations Stabilization Forces (UNSFOR) peacekeeping operation, then-Captain Rapport rescued the Indonesian prime minister's daughter from an ongoing shootout between ethnic factions. The incident was captured on live television by Station #1 News. Rapport was hailed as a hero by both the worldwide media and the American people. His only public comment on the event was, "Rangers lead the way."
Originally selected as a CONTRA lieutenant colonel, Rapport was later promoted to colonel when fellow officer Troy McBride, codename Battlestar, was forced to leave for misconduct. Rapport chose the codename Justice in honor of his father's memory. At the first phase of CONTRA training in Great Britain, he met and fell in love with Kate Hurst, codenamed Red.
Background
Rapport grew up in a military family and was raised in a patriotic environment; both parents were members of the U.S. Army. An outstanding high school athlete, he was a first-team All American quarterback leading his team to two consecutive state championships, which earned him a full ride to play for the University of Washington. He turned the scholarships down to join the Army Rangers. Rapport would later earn a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy and a Master of Arts in international relations from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.
Early in his military career, Rapport became a war hero and was awarded with multiple medals of heroism. During U.S. support for a botched United Nations Stabilization Forces (UNSFOR) peacekeeping operation, then-Captain Rapport rescued the Indonesian prime minister's daughter from an ongoing shootout between ethnic factions. The incident was captured on live television by Station #1 News. Rapport was hailed as a hero by both the worldwide media and the American people. His only public comment on the event was, "Rangers lead the way."
Originally selected as a CONTRA lieutenant colonel, Rapport was later promoted to colonel when fellow officer Troy McBride, codename Battlestar, was forced to leave for misconduct. Rapport chose the codename Justice in honor of his father's memory. At the first phase of CONTRA training in Great Britain, he met and fell in love with Kate Hurst, codenamed Red.
Lieutenant Colonel Jean Sinclair is First Company's second in command. As a member
of the National Gendarmerie Intervention Group, or GIGN, Sinclair specializes in
hostage rescue and tactical urban operations. The GIGN is a small, highly selective,
elite French counterterrorism unit and part of the Grouping of Security and Intervention
of the National Gendarmerie.
Sinclair entered into military service at the age of nineteen, planning to spend only a few years of adventure traveling Europe and northern Africa as a soldier. His dream was to return to Paris and open a restaurant. Sinclair's uncle, Gideon, owned a butcher shop across from the Stade de France (National Stadium) in a suburb of Saint-Denis where, as a teenager, Sinclair often visited to pick up prosciutto for his mother and learn about running a business.
The night before he departed for the military, Sinclair met with his uncle and gave him the business plans he'd developed for his restaurant. He told his uncle he would return and build the greatest eatery Paris had ever seen on the Seine River. Sinclair planned to name it Gideon's, in honor of his uncle, who helped Sinclair understand entrepreneurship.
On day one of boot camp, Sinclair was asked to write about what mattered most in his life. He was given a full page, but simply wrote, "I love France, women, and wine. With my restaurant, I will have all three." However, Sinclair never left the military. He became part of the GIGN after extraordinary performance as an infantryman. The bonds he formed within GIGN were stronger then he imagined. The GIGN became his new family.
Sinclair did battle for the GIGN in Bosnia, Algeria, and the Ivory Coast. He grew mission focused, dedicated to serving the needs of France and his brothers in arms; he simply couldn't walk away from his fellow soldiers. Sinclair became adept with a variety of infantry weapons systems, intelligence gathering, and hand-to-hand combat techniques.
Background
Sinclair entered into military service at the age of nineteen, planning to spend only a few years of adventure traveling Europe and northern Africa as a soldier. His dream was to return to Paris and open a restaurant. Sinclair's uncle, Gideon, owned a butcher shop across from the Stade de France (National Stadium) in a suburb of Saint-Denis where, as a teenager, Sinclair often visited to pick up prosciutto for his mother and learn about running a business.
The night before he departed for the military, Sinclair met with his uncle and gave him the business plans he'd developed for his restaurant. He told his uncle he would return and build the greatest eatery Paris had ever seen on the Seine River. Sinclair planned to name it Gideon's, in honor of his uncle, who helped Sinclair understand entrepreneurship.
On day one of boot camp, Sinclair was asked to write about what mattered most in his life. He was given a full page, but simply wrote, "I love France, women, and wine. With my restaurant, I will have all three." However, Sinclair never left the military. He became part of the GIGN after extraordinary performance as an infantryman. The bonds he formed within GIGN were stronger then he imagined. The GIGN became his new family.
Sinclair did battle for the GIGN in Bosnia, Algeria, and the Ivory Coast. He grew mission focused, dedicated to serving the needs of France and his brothers in arms; he simply couldn't walk away from his fellow soldiers. Sinclair became adept with a variety of infantry weapons systems, intelligence gathering, and hand-to-hand combat techniques.
Major Victoria Cabozena is third in command of the First Company. Cabozena is a
member of Italy's Agenzia Informazioni e Sicurezza Esterna (AISE), or the External
Information and Security Agency. AISE is responsible for intelligence and security
matters for Italian defense. Cabozena is a highly trained intelligence analyst with
specialties in political and current intelligence. She is also well versed in history,
religion, and traditional cryptanalysis.
Cabozena lived her entire childhood within walking distance of the Vatican. Her favorite pastime was long walks in the old city. Paintings and sculptures of the Sistine Chapel sparked creative ideas and inspiration. At a very early age, Cabozena became nationally recognized as an extraordinary and rare talent in the literary circles of Italy. With adult-like insight and wisdom, she was at the top of her class. In an interview with Corriere della Sera's on child prodigies, she was asked to describe her talents. She responded by saying, "God provides inspiration to any man or woman. I am only as talented as He decides. My family tells me I'm blessed with the light in my eye as a sign."
Though humble, her gifted mind and physical beauty brought resentment from fellow classmates. Cabozena often felt like an outcast by the social cruelty displayed on the playground. Happiness came from the closeness of her family. Raised in a devout Catholic household, the church played a major role in her upbringing. Her younger brother Antonio is in the priesthood and her parents work high within the Vatican administration. For the past ten years, they have been liaisons on issues associated with the Holy Land Accords, the treaty bringing peace to the Middle East.
Cabozena attended the University of Rome la Sapienza where she double majored in literature and political science. She became an expert researcher and writer. Her studies provided her with a greater understanding of world affairs and the plight of humankind. The spreading unrest throughout the planet saddened her. She felt the world should be a peaceful utopia, as her parents always taught her it could be.
Cabozena applied to work as an intern for the United Nations the summer after her sophomore year in college. She was sent to the small West African nation of Liberia as a humanitarian assistant. Clashes between rival factions broke out to the surprise of her peacekeeping contingent. Cabozena witnessed the murder of several villagers, a life-changing event. She became determined to make a difference in the world and looked toward government service as a career. She would later join the Italian military in the field of intelligence.
Background
Cabozena lived her entire childhood within walking distance of the Vatican. Her favorite pastime was long walks in the old city. Paintings and sculptures of the Sistine Chapel sparked creative ideas and inspiration. At a very early age, Cabozena became nationally recognized as an extraordinary and rare talent in the literary circles of Italy. With adult-like insight and wisdom, she was at the top of her class. In an interview with Corriere della Sera's on child prodigies, she was asked to describe her talents. She responded by saying, "God provides inspiration to any man or woman. I am only as talented as He decides. My family tells me I'm blessed with the light in my eye as a sign."
Though humble, her gifted mind and physical beauty brought resentment from fellow classmates. Cabozena often felt like an outcast by the social cruelty displayed on the playground. Happiness came from the closeness of her family. Raised in a devout Catholic household, the church played a major role in her upbringing. Her younger brother Antonio is in the priesthood and her parents work high within the Vatican administration. For the past ten years, they have been liaisons on issues associated with the Holy Land Accords, the treaty bringing peace to the Middle East.
Cabozena attended the University of Rome la Sapienza where she double majored in literature and political science. She became an expert researcher and writer. Her studies provided her with a greater understanding of world affairs and the plight of humankind. The spreading unrest throughout the planet saddened her. She felt the world should be a peaceful utopia, as her parents always taught her it could be.
Cabozena applied to work as an intern for the United Nations the summer after her sophomore year in college. She was sent to the small West African nation of Liberia as a humanitarian assistant. Clashes between rival factions broke out to the surprise of her peacekeeping contingent. Cabozena witnessed the murder of several villagers, a life-changing event. She became determined to make a difference in the world and looked toward government service as a career. She would later join the Italian military in the field of intelligence.
Captain Daniel Dixon is the operations officer. Dixon is a member of the United
States Naval Special Warfare Development Group, referred to as DEVGRU. DEVGRU is tasked
with special missions, maritime stealth assault, and counterterrorism operations. Dixon
is well trained in surreptitious entry, night operations, and – his favorite – explosive
ordinance.
Dixon grew up in a poor Detroit inner-city neighborhood raised by his single mother who worked on one of the last functioning American assembly lines at General Motors. The troubled area of Detroit had daily violence. Drugs were rampant, but Dixon was intent on making something positive out of himself and make his hard-working mother proud. He considered it a mission every day to beat the odds as an underprivileged African American. Dixon attained the highest GPA in his high school, graduating cum laude, and was accepted to the University of Michigan where he studied engineering.
After graduation, Dixon joined the U.S. Navy. A naval officer – who would later become his mentor – recognized the tough grit Dixon had from his inner-city upbringing. Matched with his high intelligence, the officer knew Dixon would be a perfect fit for the United States Navy Sea, Air, and Land forces, or Navy SEALs. He challenged Dixon to apply for Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training at the Naval Special Warfare Center. Dixon accepted the challenge and completed all BUD/S and SEAL qualification training requirements.
Dixon enjoyed the life of a Navy SEAL. He traveled to far off places and took part in missions he could never tell his children about. His commander nominated him for selection to DEVGRU, where he also flourished. Dixon recounted the long journey life had taken him on in a letter to his mother. Part of the letter read, "I never thought I'd visit the country I'm in right now. The old neighborhood is like a dream. I'll never forget where I came from – or how you raised me."
Background
Dixon grew up in a poor Detroit inner-city neighborhood raised by his single mother who worked on one of the last functioning American assembly lines at General Motors. The troubled area of Detroit had daily violence. Drugs were rampant, but Dixon was intent on making something positive out of himself and make his hard-working mother proud. He considered it a mission every day to beat the odds as an underprivileged African American. Dixon attained the highest GPA in his high school, graduating cum laude, and was accepted to the University of Michigan where he studied engineering.
After graduation, Dixon joined the U.S. Navy. A naval officer – who would later become his mentor – recognized the tough grit Dixon had from his inner-city upbringing. Matched with his high intelligence, the officer knew Dixon would be a perfect fit for the United States Navy Sea, Air, and Land forces, or Navy SEALs. He challenged Dixon to apply for Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training at the Naval Special Warfare Center. Dixon accepted the challenge and completed all BUD/S and SEAL qualification training requirements.
Dixon enjoyed the life of a Navy SEAL. He traveled to far off places and took part in missions he could never tell his children about. His commander nominated him for selection to DEVGRU, where he also flourished. Dixon recounted the long journey life had taken him on in a letter to his mother. Part of the letter read, "I never thought I'd visit the country I'm in right now. The old neighborhood is like a dream. I'll never forget where I came from – or how you raised me."
Captain Curtis Springs is an officer and a member of the First Special Forces Operational
Detachment, or Delta Force. The primary missions of Delta Force are counterinsurgency,
covert action, and national intervention operations. Springs is expertly trained in
rescue, raids, operating behind enemy lines, and killing covert enemy forces.
Springs grew up in downtown New Orleans, where music playing a key role in his childhood. He learned to play several instruments as a youngster and joined his first band at the age of twelve. Springs was well known for playing at Mardi Gras parties in high school, and after getting his band Bayou signed to a digital recording contract, he thought his dream of a career as a musician would be realized. However, Bayou abruptly broke up after a fight during the recording process and they were released from their contract after failing to complete a full album.
Springs became frustrated and decided he could make it on his own in music. He traveled the country for ten months on tour, living out of a van and trying to gain attention. His oldest cousin visited him after a show in Austin and found Springs drunk backstage with a bottle of Jack Daniels in one hand and a cigarette in the other. His cousin advised him to take a new direction. As a former Army officer, he had little patience for laggards and felt Springs was wasting his life away.
Springs resisted the idea of quitting music. A shouting match ensued. His cousin left a business card behind, thinking his efforts would go by the wayside. The next morning, nearly out of money and feeling the need to take someone's advice, Springs called the number on the card. It would change his life.
The man who answered invited Springs to a training facility in southern California named The Ranch. There, Springs would prepare and train for entry into the U.S. Army through a special program. He quickly developed a passion for physically and mentally challenging himself in ways he never imagined. Springs went on to receive extensive training in urban warfare and counterinsurgency tactics.
He was selected to Delta Force after successfully completing field operations and leading an Army platoon to victory in a Special Forces war-fighting exercise sponsored by U.S. Special Operations Command. At a family gathering years later, Springs found his cousin and told him, "Never give up on anything, that's what you taught me. I was just going down the wrong road."
Background
Springs grew up in downtown New Orleans, where music playing a key role in his childhood. He learned to play several instruments as a youngster and joined his first band at the age of twelve. Springs was well known for playing at Mardi Gras parties in high school, and after getting his band Bayou signed to a digital recording contract, he thought his dream of a career as a musician would be realized. However, Bayou abruptly broke up after a fight during the recording process and they were released from their contract after failing to complete a full album.
Springs became frustrated and decided he could make it on his own in music. He traveled the country for ten months on tour, living out of a van and trying to gain attention. His oldest cousin visited him after a show in Austin and found Springs drunk backstage with a bottle of Jack Daniels in one hand and a cigarette in the other. His cousin advised him to take a new direction. As a former Army officer, he had little patience for laggards and felt Springs was wasting his life away.
Springs resisted the idea of quitting music. A shouting match ensued. His cousin left a business card behind, thinking his efforts would go by the wayside. The next morning, nearly out of money and feeling the need to take someone's advice, Springs called the number on the card. It would change his life.
The man who answered invited Springs to a training facility in southern California named The Ranch. There, Springs would prepare and train for entry into the U.S. Army through a special program. He quickly developed a passion for physically and mentally challenging himself in ways he never imagined. Springs went on to receive extensive training in urban warfare and counterinsurgency tactics.
He was selected to Delta Force after successfully completing field operations and leading an Army platoon to victory in a Special Forces war-fighting exercise sponsored by U.S. Special Operations Command. At a family gathering years later, Springs found his cousin and told him, "Never give up on anything, that's what you taught me. I was just going down the wrong road."
Captain Shah Akbar is an officer. Akbar came to CONTRA as a member of the Turkish Maroon
Berets, a Special Forces Unit within that country's Army Special Forces flank. He rose to
distinction serving undercover with anti-Jihadist Muslim forces called The New Brotherhood.
The group sought to extinguish hateful versions of Islam during the final years of the
Terror Wars. Akbar is an elite soldier trained to fight and sustain operations in any
type of terrain or climate. He is an expert in infiltration, survival, anti-interrogation,
desert warfare, and ambush.
Akbar's father is a renowned Muslim scholar and was a leading proponent of redefining Islam's relations with the West. He taught at Anakra University and often gave speeches at the famed Kocatepe Mosque. As a boy, Akbar sat quietly in the back of his father's classrooms and listened attentively. His father's teachings and perspective on the world had a great impact on his childhood. Akbar enjoyed scholarship but sought adventure and action. It eventually let him to pursue a professional career in the military where he became an elite Maroon Beret.
Caught by surprise in a colossal sandstorm during a reconnaissance operation in the Somali desert, Akbar was separated from his fellow Maroon Berets. Found near death by tribesman under the control of enemy warlords, he was held captive for weeks. Overcoming seemingly impossible odds, Akbar escaped from captivity and killed the ruthless warlord who imprisoned him. He stole a rusted Jeep and navigated across the desert through yet another sandstorm until he reached his base camp. Akbar's fellow Maroon Berets were in awe. The first words out of his mouth were, "I will fear no storm in life – ever."
Akbar is the only Muslim officer of CONTRA. Prior to his selection, Akbar commanded a security taskforce in the NATO peacekeeping brigade monitoring the phased implementation of the Holy Land Accords. His father is a leading member of the Nahdah movement in Turkey and serves on the European Union's Office of Middle Eastern Affairs. Akbar is proud of his Islamic heritage and the recent developments guiding the new peaceful renaissance in the Muslim world.
Background
Akbar's father is a renowned Muslim scholar and was a leading proponent of redefining Islam's relations with the West. He taught at Anakra University and often gave speeches at the famed Kocatepe Mosque. As a boy, Akbar sat quietly in the back of his father's classrooms and listened attentively. His father's teachings and perspective on the world had a great impact on his childhood. Akbar enjoyed scholarship but sought adventure and action. It eventually let him to pursue a professional career in the military where he became an elite Maroon Beret.
Caught by surprise in a colossal sandstorm during a reconnaissance operation in the Somali desert, Akbar was separated from his fellow Maroon Berets. Found near death by tribesman under the control of enemy warlords, he was held captive for weeks. Overcoming seemingly impossible odds, Akbar escaped from captivity and killed the ruthless warlord who imprisoned him. He stole a rusted Jeep and navigated across the desert through yet another sandstorm until he reached his base camp. Akbar's fellow Maroon Berets were in awe. The first words out of his mouth were, "I will fear no storm in life – ever."
Akbar is the only Muslim officer of CONTRA. Prior to his selection, Akbar commanded a security taskforce in the NATO peacekeeping brigade monitoring the phased implementation of the Holy Land Accords. His father is a leading member of the Nahdah movement in Turkey and serves on the European Union's Office of Middle Eastern Affairs. Akbar is proud of his Islamic heritage and the recent developments guiding the new peaceful renaissance in the Muslim world.
Captain Patrik Rezek is an officer. Rezek is an advanced weapons specialist
from the Czech Ministry of Defence, Programmes Management, Research and
Development Department. He is an expert in tactical arms, munitions,
and battlesuit technology.
Rezek grew up near the Karlštejn Castle, southwest of Prague. The gothic castle towering above his village enamored him with medieval culture. Rezek collected all the classical weapons he could get his hands on. His interests in weaponry lead him to study the art of warfare and the technology behind it. Rezek paid his way through school by turning his hobby of performing as a DJ into a semi-profession. He completed multiple degrees in engineering and science before being recruited by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS).
After a short stint at EADS, Rezek joined the premiere Czech military research laboratory. He enrolled as an active duty officer so he could test and use the advanced weapons he developed. A NATO special weapons program funded Rezek's lab and he soon became an active liaison within the alliance, selected as one of the program managers for NATO's newly integrated combat battlesuits. He moved to Brussels where he would work and train until he was selected to CONTRA. Recalling his path, Rezek said, "From castles and swords to lasers and battlesuits, my path is that of the world's weapons."
Background
Rezek grew up near the Karlštejn Castle, southwest of Prague. The gothic castle towering above his village enamored him with medieval culture. Rezek collected all the classical weapons he could get his hands on. His interests in weaponry lead him to study the art of warfare and the technology behind it. Rezek paid his way through school by turning his hobby of performing as a DJ into a semi-profession. He completed multiple degrees in engineering and science before being recruited by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS).
After a short stint at EADS, Rezek joined the premiere Czech military research laboratory. He enrolled as an active duty officer so he could test and use the advanced weapons he developed. A NATO special weapons program funded Rezek's lab and he soon became an active liaison within the alliance, selected as one of the program managers for NATO's newly integrated combat battlesuits. He moved to Brussels where he would work and train until he was selected to CONTRA. Recalling his path, Rezek said, "From castles and swords to lasers and battlesuits, my path is that of the world's weapons."