June 2003 - The tone has been set. Future Earth is in total chaos due to the lack of governmental leadership, and these Heavy Artillery soldiers have taken on the responsibility for cleaning things up by any means they deem necessary. Four distinct rebels suit up for battle, adorned in camouflage, and armed with sufficient equipment to gain control and a sense of normalcy on their own terms. These are the battle warriors of the future.

BATTLE OPERATIVE: Merch
OPERATIVE PROFILE: Merch was one of the government's specially trained urban ground troops prior to the coup. Many ran to safety or sold out to the corporations in the wake of society's downfall. Merch stood his ground proudly using whatever force was necessary to defend the freedoms that many had forgotten. Merch knows that his mission for vindication will lead to one man, Skarr. Every time he thinks of their meeting, a sinister smile creeps across his face. The lone driving force in his life is this moment.
ARMOR CLASSIFICATION: Battalion 76
ARMOR FUNCTION PROFILE: Merch's armor is his original Government Issue suit that he wore in the service. Developed by the government more than a decade ago, it lacks the technology that many of the other troopers in the streets pose. Level 1A body protection armor is one benefit that Battalion 76 boasts. Demand for personal body armor during the conflict years has caused a market shortage in quality construction materials. Heavy enough to withstand the firing of tracer rockets from his leg, it's also lightweight enough for hand-to-hand combat.

BATTLE OPERATIVE: Skarr
OPERATIVE PROFILE: Skarr's only mission is looking out for number one. Period. Regarded as the individual truly responsible for the conflict, he marched his army of devout followers across the nation and personally kicking in the front door of the White House. A former government mercenary of the heist class, he swore to topple the government that disfigured him. Available for any deed if the price is right, Skarr will even entertain the offers of the lowly�if it allows him certain pleasures, that is.
ARMOR CLASSIFICATION: Iron Reign
ARMOR FUNCTION PROFILE: Having become more of a cult leader than a soldier, Skarr's armor has been specifically designed to protect him from almost any grade of attack. Skarr plans on dying a martyr, but not before the world compensates him for his pain. Constructed from third degree dense steel, Iron Reign is near impervious. It ensures Skarr's safety from assassins and warmongers alike.

BATTLE OPERATIVE: Stark
OPERATIVE PROFILE: Once a soldier of valor, Stark has transformed himself into the celebrity face of the conflict. In the battlefield, Stark's skills are paralleled, as are his network ratings and novel sales. Often thought of a sell-out, his prime motivation is pure. Defending the lives and interests of the innocent keeps him fighting. His exploits are often edited to tell a different story by the time it reaches prime time. Controversy is great for album sales. The rush of battle and fighting for the cause is why he got involved in the conflict. He simply thinks of his royalty check as a bonus.
ARMOR CLASSIFICATION: Earth Crusher
ARMOR PROFILE: Provided to Stark by his sponsors and the Network, Earth Crusher is the most advanced exo-armor suit on the market. The primary function of the E.C. armor is to protect the Network's investment from harm and to make him highly visible to the camera. The brightly colored suit does little to hide him from adversaries, but the armor boasts a Teflon R4 bonded titanium shell. This makes for a light exo suit that can withstand heavy field fire, while putting on a show for the cameras.

BATTLE OPERATIVE: Virus Sentinel
OPERATIVE PROFILE: Virus Sentinel is an android drone controlled by the Network, the most powerful media outlet in the world. Its prime directive is to record the on-going battle for the Network's real-time war coverage. To displace operating costs, the Sentinels are also outfitted as remote mercenaries. If it's in the interest of the highest bidder or the Network, they will even gun down each other. After all, it does make for better T.V.
ARMOR CLASSIFICATION: Epidemic Phoar
ARMOR FUNCTION PROFILE: Being an android, Virus Sentinel's armor is low grade and offers little protection from attack. What it lacks in protection, it more than makes up for in the firepower. Each forearm guard carries a high power automatic machine gun unique to these Sentinels. If carried by a human, these guns would shred the skin off their arm when fired. The true specialty of the armor stems from its designed use, monitoring and recording the conflict in the streets. Equipped with over forty cameras, the armor offers a 360-degree view of the Sentinel's surroundings and actions.

Read more about the Heavy Artillery action figures from Play Mind Toys.