The Duke City Diablos
Founded by local Albuquerque
businessman Larry "Six-shot" Montoya, the Duke City Diablos became the
second squadron of the AADF. Their primary task is protecting the large
trading aerodrome, the Albuquerque Sunport. They encounter all the worst
types, pirate bands, smugglers, local Unionist groups, even a few aggressive
militias from other countries. This high level of activity has often put
them in the public eye, and they are by far the most famous Arixo squadron.
They are reviled by the shipping companies they often protect, though,
since they are the primary toll-collection task force.
The Diablos boast a total of
18 planes, and are well enough funded to keep their aircraft in top shape.
Since they have frequent contact with traders, they also carry several
more experimental weapons. The AADF usually frowns upon such modifications,
but the Diablos are seen as a test bed for potentially useful systems.
This has just added to their mystique, with adversaries never quite knowing
what they are going to be hit with.
The Diablos paint their planes
in an adobe color, with red-brown on the leading edges of the wings and
other highlights, and turquoise for the flaps.
"Six-Shot" Montoya was recently
shot down by a pack of pirates from the Spooks gang. He did not survive.
The Diablos now seek revenge for the death of their beloved leader, and
consider the Spooks their primary nemesis, a vendetta the local presses
are all too happy to encourage.
Famous Pilots of the Duke City Diablos
Walter "Slug" Reboom
The current captain of the Diablos, taking
over after the death of "Six-Shot" Montoya, Walter "Slug" Reboom
is a native of Albuquerque. He spent several years working as a road surveyor
in his home state, but when air travel superseded interstate road
transport entirely during the collapse of the U.S., "Slug" decided to go
where the money now was and took up flying himself. He found he was a natural,
and instead of joining a transport company as he had planned, signed up
with the newly formed Diablos, hoping to see more action against the increasing
pirate threats. It didn't take long for him to become Montoya's wing man,
and a hero to everyone in the Albuquerque region. With Montoya's death
at the hands of the pirate group known only as The Spooks, Reboom became
captain, and swore to eradicate Arixo of the menace posed by The Spooks.
"Slug" is a tall man, with weather-beaten
skin, a cowboy hat seemingly perched permanently on his head, and a revolver
on his hip; he looks like and maintains the classic cowboy image. Always
quick with a joke, but known for being level-headed in combat, the recent
loss of his mentor "Six-Shot" Montoya has dampened his spirits noticeably.
He worked for Victor "The Fox" Vanik (now of the Roadrunners) before leaving
the road surveying business; Reboom has some Unionist beliefs, but the
protection of his hometown is more important to him than reunification.
No one knows where the nickname "Slug" came
from; he called himself that when he joined the Diablos, and has shown
no interest in telling anyone about it.
Skills: NT SS
DE SH C
QD
4 5 6
6 5
4
Plane: William and Colt Peacemaker 370, The
Old 66
Reboom has been flying this Peacemaker successfully for some time
now, and
has named it after the Route 66 highway that briefly connected Arixo
to the rest of the old U.S. He's earned the right to display nose art,
and The Old 66's shows a scantily clad beauty next to a road receding
into the distance and a sign saying Route 66, the beauty's thumb out and
leg extended, hoping to hitch a ride.
Norman "Crazy Horse" Yazzi
Norman "Crazy Horse" Yazzi is Reboom's wing
man, and always a wild card in any engagement. The son of a Navajo mother
and an Anglo father, Yazzi had a lot of trouble being accepted by either
society. A natural tendency to revel in destruction didn't help either.
Becoming a pilot seemed an ideal way to focus his aggressive tendencies.
He managed to become a member of a Navajo Nation squadron for a year, but
when it was discovered he had been purchasing alcohol from smugglers, he
was sentenced to execution (the Nation being very strict about their prohibition
rules). Yazzi managed to escape in his Coyote, and fled to Arixo.
Desperate for pilots, especially ones with their own planes, he was allowed
into the AADF despite his past, and joined up with the Diablos.
Yazzi has typical Navajo features, except
for piercing blue eyes and paler skin than most other Navajo. He wears
his hair in two long braids, and always dresses in black. He got his nickname
from the perpetual crazy look in his eyes, as well as his unpredictable
flying style, sometimes barely maneuvering at all in the middle of a dogfight,
waiting for the enemy to fly into his sights, other times straining his
plane's abilities for the best shot. He almost invariably uses high-explosive
and armor-piercing rockets, though. He spends most of his free time in
the Eagle's Nest saloon, and generally stays away from the other Diablos
(or more accurately, they stay away from him).
Skills: NT SS
DE SH C
QD
4 4 5
4 4
6
Plane: Ravenscroft Coyote, Kokopeli's Delight
The same plane Yazzi escaped in, this Coyote has seen a lot
of damage due to his erratic flying. His nose-art is of the ancient Native
American Kokopeli dancer glyph, but this one carryies a shotgun instead
of a flute, and wears a big grin.
Maria "Ojos" Padilla
Originally a young school teacher in the small
northern Arixo town of Roy, Maria "Ojos" Padilla's life was torn apart
when a dogfight between two pirate groups took place over the town. A rocket
missed its target, and spiraled down to earth, hitting the schoolhouse
she and her students were in. She was the only one to survive. Padilla
found she simply couldn't teach anymore, and decided to avenge her students
the only way she felt she could, by becoming a fighter pilot. She got her
brother, already a member of the AADF in Santa Fe, to teach her. While
not terribly skilled, her exceptional eyesight (somehow provided by the
thick glasses she has to wear) made up for it. Though she would have much
preferred to stay near her hometown, Maria had to accept a position with
The Duke City Diablos in order to fly an AADF plane. She has since become
a valued member of the squadron.
The bombing of the schoolhouse (as well
as the recent disappearance of her brother during a shipment of ore to
the Empire State) have taken an early toll on Maria. She constantly has
a dour, depressed expression and slumped shoulders, and rarely speaks.
She has to wear a pair of very thick glasses, which she has fashioned into
goggles; no one's ever seen her without them on. She's an excellent sharpshooter,
easily able to sink many rounds in one armor slot; getting the plane into
position is a bit of a challenge for her, though.
Her nickname, "Ojos," means eyes in Spanish,
and of course refers to her targeting skills. Only the other Diablos call
her this, and she dislikes the moniker.
Skills: NT SS
DE SH C
QD
3 6 6
3 3
4
Plane: Arixo Airworks AA-2A Rattlesnake, Righteous
Indignation
"Ojos" Padilla first flew a Raven, but switched to an Arixo-made
AA-2A Rattlesnake, as she likes the close grouping this plane's
guns provide, which enhances her targeting abilities. She gave her plane
the name Righteous Indignation, and it refers to why she became
a pilot in the first place. Her planes do not have nose art.
Christopher "Billy the" Kidd
Fascinated by the pulp stories of outlaws
and cowboys of the West, Christopher "Billy the" Kidd, decided to
run away from his home of New York City and pursue a real Western career.
Stowing away on an Arixo cargo zepp headed home, Kidd found himself in
mortal peril earlier than he expected when a Texas militia group decided
to raid the zepp. Seeing a perfect opportunity to start a name for himself,
Kidd commandeered one of the docked escort planes before the pilot could
get to it. He performed outstandingly well (especially since he'd never
flown before) somehow managing to take down two of the six attackers, with
more than a little help from the zepp's gunners. After being talked back
onboard, he was arrested by the crew, but after seeing his flying skills,
the pilot of the commandeered plane recommended that Kidd join up with
the AADF upon reaching Arixo. And so he did, joining the Duke City Diablos
after demonstrating his natural abilities. He is now Maria "Ojos" Padilla's
wingman.
Now all of 17 years old, Kidd is the youngest
member of the AADF. He fancies himself the reincarnation of the infamous
Billy the Kid, hence his nickname, conveniently forgetting that the original
was an outlaw and a murderer. Kidd at least tries to look the part, but
he usually just comes off as an extra from a bad Hollywood Western. Full
of bravado, enthusiasm, and restless energy, he usually wishes the Diablos
would see more action than they already do (much to the others' annoyance).
He's actually somewhat in awe of them, and feels that he'll never be as
good as they are.
Skills: NT SS
DE SH C
QD
5 5 4
4 3
5
Plane: Hughes P21-J MKIII Devestator, Bonney's
Return
Assigned a Devestator by the AADF, Kidd finds the plane to be a
good match for his get-in-quick fighting style. He continues his delusion
of being the reborn Billy the Kid with the plane's name (the original outlaw's
actual name was William Bonney).
Joseph "Slim" and Mimi "Pearl" Bateman
The Batemans are an ex-smuggling husband
and wife team from Dixie. "Slim" used to fly a generic cargo plane, while
"Pearl" flew cover in her nimble Valiant. They lost the cargo plane
during an overly ambitious run into the Empire State, which left Joseph
rather shaken after a narrowly successful bail-out. Deciding to change
their ways and fly right, they made their way to Arixo to start over, and
signed up with the Diablos once they got there. "Slim" now flies a locally
produced Cougar, rapidly gunning down any plane lured into his gunfights
by "Pearl's" quick flying. Mimi is often accompanied by their pet chihuahua,
Croc, who warns her of any beepers attached to her plane (though not very
reliably, since he gets excited by any nearby explosion).
Both Joseph and Mimi are what one would politely
describe as "portly" (i.e. overweight). They can withstand more physical
punishment than most of their squadron-mates, but their reactions aren't
very good. Personality-wise, they are both, well, jolly (though "Pearl"
has a definite mean-streak), and are frequent pranksters.
Joseph "Slim" Bateman
Skills: NT SS
DE SH C
QD
4 3 4
5 5
3
Plane: Arixo Airworks AA-1B Cougar, The Great
Ponderous
"Slim" chose to fly an unused and dilapidated Cougar that was just
taking up runway space at the Sunport. He says it reminded him of
his old cargo plane, so he fixed it up himself, and now uses it to great
effect when paired with "Pearl" and her speedy Valiant.
Mimi "Pearl" Bateman
Skills: NT SS
DE SH C
QD
4 4 3
4 4
3
Plane: Bell Valiant Mark II, The Man-eater
This has been Mimi's plane for two years now, and she'd never think of
changing it, though the cockpit's always been a tight squeeze for her.
The
Man-eater's nose-art is both obscene and gruesome,
and a description is not fit for publishing.
Carlos "Ramirez" and Juan "Lopez" Trujillo
"Ramirez" and "Lopez" are twin brothers native
to Albuquerque. They spent some time working as mercenaries around the
Southwest in a pair of Defenders they somehow obtained. It was during
this time that they acquired their nicknames, used mostly during conflicts
to keep their real identities unknown. It didn't really work, but they
kept the names anyway. When they got wind of increasing pirate activity
near home, the Trujillos joined up with the Diablos to help protect their
family.
Carlos and Juan are identical in not just
looks, but in flying skills as well. In fact, they take turns being wing
man. They both have an uncanny ability to predict their opponent's moves,
some have said because they have some strange mental connection, being
twins and all.
The Trujillo boys are fairly handsome, and
consider themselves quite the ladies men (though there is little evidence
that any women think the same). They are both braggarts, and their most
recent aerial exploits are always known throughout the city, simply because
they quickly tell everyone about them.
Carlos "Ramirez" and Juan "Lopez" Trujillo
Skills (for both): NT
SS DE SH C
QD
4 5 5
3 4
4
Planes: Marquette PR-1 Defenders: Pato Loco
(Carlos), Pollo Loco (Juan)
No one knows how Carlos and Juan acquired their Defenders, since
their family is not rich. Some believe the two were once part of
a pirate gang, and simply absconded with the planes one day. Others think
the boys purchased them with stolen funds. Whatever the case, the boys
have stayed mum about it (they're probably the ones that started the rumors,
so there's likely some other explanation they don't want people to guess).
The only real way to tell the two apart is by the nose-art on their planes.
The Pato Loco, Carlos' plane, sports a crazed duck in a straight
jacket, firing a machine gun with its feet. Juan's Pollo Loco has
a similar image, but with a crazed rooster instead.