OVERVIEW

The Vanguard is one of several Autobot Special Mission Forces. These ad-hoc groups of selected Autobots, who carry out especially difficult or dangerous missions together, have an illustrious history dating back to the Great Cybertronian Wars, which produced such famed special forces as Ultra Magnus's Wreckers and the Minicon Traveling Thrill Show.

The Vanguard is a young force as these things go, dating back to the Autobot Expeditionary Force's time spent hidden on pre-Contact Earth. The team was originally founded by Ratchet to carry out a dangerous rescue mission, and consisted of several AEF members with similar vehicle modes. After the AEF left Earth in the 22nd century, the Vanguard's members went their separate ways, but they have been known to regroup for reunions and special jobs.

VANGUARD PERSONNEL PROFILES

RATCHET
Function: Leader

"You break it, I'll remake it."

As if being Autobot chief medical officer and Optimus Prime's personal physician wasn't job enough for any Autobot, Ratchet came into his own during the AEF's Earthbound phase as a tough, two-fisted leader of 'bots in his own right. He put together the original Vanguard to rescue Optimus Prime and Jazz (who would normally have been the natural choice to lead such a mission) from a Decepticon trap, and later re-formed the group to undertake a variety of hazardous missions. Known in earlier times as a hard-partying, backtalking bon viveur who sometimes let his responsibilities slide, he was tempered by the AEF's time on Earth into a capable, reliable soldier - but he still likes to party and talk back.

Ratchet's vehicle mode is, unsurprisingly, an ambulance.

STR 4 INT 8 SPD 4 END 5 RNK 7 COR 8 FRP 3 SKL 10

BROWN
Function: Courier

"What can Brown do for you?"

When you need someone to deliver The Package, no matter what it is, no matter where it's going, you turn to Brown. Sure, data couriers like Blurr and Outrun can deliver information faster, but they can't carry anything much bigger than an optical disc. Brown can transport larger cargo, up to and including Minicon-sized Transformers, within the safety of his armored vault. But don't think that getting packages from Point A to Point B is Brown's only function. A two-fisted 'bot of action, he'll never back down from a fight. In fact, he's been known to go slightly out of his way in order to get into a scrape or two along the route he must take, just to keep the job interesting. Fortunately, he has the requisite combat ability to get away with these diversions... most of the time.

Brown's vehicle mode is a UPS truck.

STR 7 INT 5 SPD 4 END 9 RNK 4 COR 8 FRP 5 SKL 7

POSTAL
Function: Warrior

"Neither rain nor snow nor heat nor gloom of night stays my fists from the swift completion of their appointed rounds!"

If Brown sometimes takes small detours in search of action, Postal's entire life could be described as a detour in search of action. He lives to deliver only one thing - damage - to only one "customer": the Decepticon forces. Forget never backing down from a fight; Postal proudly boasts that he's never failed to start one where it could be started. His lust for combat is exceeded only by his recklessness in combat. Once he gets started, Postal is the archetypal loose cannon on deck. He has to be watched constantly to be of any use in a team situation, but on the plus side, he is very, very good at his job.

Postal's vehicle mode is a U.S. Postal Service Grumman LLV.

STR 6 INT 5 SPD 5 END 8 RNK 4 COR 10 FRP 7 SKL 9

STEPSIDE
Function: Tactician

"Force applied without discretion is wasted."

A calm, cool, utterly professional trooper, Stepside is often at odds with Postal over the latter's recklessness and complete lack of subtlety. More a cop than a soldier at heart, Stepside believes in using the minimum amount of force necessary to achieve the objective - out of a love of efficiency as much as any humanitarian concern. As the team tactician, he's responsible for studying reconnaissance data and developing plans of attack, including objective priorities and entry plans, then making sure that each member of the team knows the part he has to play. When the actual operations go down, Stepside serves as the team sniper.

Stepside's vehicle mode is a SWAT van.

STR 7 INT 8 SPD 4 END 7 RNK 6 COR 7 FRP 6 SKL 9

STAKEOUT
Function: Surveillance/reconnaissance

"You never know who's watching."

Stakeout's job is to gather intelligence. To that end, he's equipped with a wide range of specialized sensors and information technologies. Immensely patient, he can stay parked in vehicle mode for days at a time, silently observing, collating, and retransmitting target information. When go time comes, he often remains in place, observing the operation and coordinating the rest of the team's movements. With his limited firepower and strength, it's generally best for him to stay out of the line of fire anyway, though if cornered he does have a few tricks up his sleeve.

Stakeout's vehicle mode is one of those "undercover" surveillance vans with the innocuous side graphics and the out-of-place forest of high-tech antennae on the roof.

STR 4 INT 9 SPD 3 END 10 RNK 5 COR 7 FRP 2 SKL 8

ECONOLINE
Function: Warrior

"Mutually assured destruction? Nice story! Tell it to Reader's Digest!"

If Postal is famous for his fury, Econoline is notable for the sheer glee he brings to battle. He likes to charge into combat with his favorite Earth music, heavy metal, blaring from his built-in sound system, and it's no coincidence that his weapon of choice is an energon axe. Econoline is a prototypical metalhead, constantly throwing the horns and making quips based on heavy metal lyrics as he smashes and bashes his foes. He's not as indiscriminate as Postal, though, and he seems to harbor his opponents no real ill will - he just likes to smash stuff, and the war with the Decepticons gives him a legitimate opportunity.

Econoline's vehicle mode is a mid-'70s Ford Econoline, your standard-issue Heavy Metal Van, complete with bubble skylight conversion and Boris Vallejo airbrush job.

STR 9 INT 5 SPD 4 END 8 RNK 4 COR 8 FRP 5 SKL 6

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