The Shinobi


Role: Assassin / Spy
Training Headquarters: Kuroshio Academy, Iga
Country of origin: Japan
Trained at: Imperial Dojo
Motto: "We tend the Emperor’s garden".

Equipment:

• Ceremonial sheath on the wrist
• Imperial ninjato blade
• Smoke bombs used as decoys
• Black hood concealing identity
• Quick-drying, breathable uniform



The Empire of the Rising Sun was apparently well aware of its enemies’ weaknesses before unleashing its hidden army upon the world. Furthermore, it appears that the Empire has already developed more advanced versions of certain forces commonly used by the Allies and the Soviets, such as their mobile construction vehicles. Exactly how the Empire managed to reverse-engineer top-secret military technology and uncover the few weak points of the world’s two greatest superpowers remains a mystery. However, anyone who suspects that the ranks of the Imperial Shinobi had a hand in this is probably on the right track. The Empire of the Rising Sun’s unorthodox intelligence network appears to consist of these masked Saboteurs and assassins, who have no official connection to Japan’s international or military affairs, yet seem to be appearing with increasing frequency on the battlefield. Although these ghostly figures are equipped with what might be considered ancient weapons, rendered obsolete by modern arms, they have proven themselves to be surprisingly deadly.


The Imperial Shinobi is a trained assassin and an expert infiltrator. Infantry must exercise the utmost caution when facing these combatants.

Counter-intelligence has uncovered only a few facts about the Shinobi, although their performance in combat is beginning to attract attention. The Shinobi are believed to have been rigorously trained from childhood to serve the Emperor’s closest military advisers, to whom they are bound as vassals. The Shinobi can silently assassinate enemy infantry with their swords or shurikens, and can even infiltrate the most heavily guarded buildings and take to the air without the enemy sensing their presence. Thus, they are the secret agents and assassins of the Japanese Imperial Army. Despite the notoriety of their profession, however, rumours suggest that the Shinobi are trustworthy and extremely loyal to their masters. These misunderstood warriors are so devoted, in fact, that they are absolutely willing and prepared to risk their lives in combat, should their sacrifice improve the chances of a mission’s success.


Initial reports on the Shinobi’s activities have embellished their appearance to some extent. In truth, they are clad in the traditional garb of ancient Japanese assassins, rather than in exotic armour such as this.

Shinobi are lightly armoured and rely on their mobility in battle. They are equipped solely to take on other lightly armoured or unarmoured Light Infantry, and are fast enough to dodge explosive shells and other heavy weapons. Apart from that, they are strangely capable of killing their targets instantly with their sabres or shurikens. Initially, their bladed weapons were assumed to be ceremonial in nature, like the red sheaths on their wrists (which appear to be a symbol of their status or something of that sort). However, when an entire elite platoon of Soviet Union Tesla Troopers was found dead, with shurikens bearing the Japanese Emperor’s mark lodged in the victims’ vital points (having been neatly slipped between the joints of their armour), the sheer skill and dangerous potential of the Imperial Shinobi became abundantly clear. To make matters even more tricky, on the few occasions these warriors have been surrounded by enemy forces, they have used a sort of smoke bomb device to deceive the enemy and then make their escape.

There seems to be no terrain that the Imperial Shinobi cannot traverse and no fortress they cannot storm. Reports of Shinobi infiltrations are increasing every week, causing panic amongst Soviet and Allied forces, who are unaccustomed to defending their forward bases against such an assault. The consequences of a Shinobi infiltration are varied and far-reaching, ranging from the disruption of Radar Upgrade and power supplies across the entire base to the outright theft of military resources. Unfortunately, no one apart from Japan’s senior military aides seems to know how many Shinobi are still on active duty today.


Reconnaissance on the battlefield has at least revealed the following facts about the Shinobi:

• Killed instantly– Following a lifetime of training and a generation of blade-making, the Shinobi’s swords and shurikens have proven to be more lethal than any modern anti-infantry weapon.

-Smoke grenade in an emergency– If a Shinobi comes under fire, they can throw one of their evasive smoke grenades to cover their tracks and make their escape. Vigilante forces may target the Shinobi again, although usually the Shinobi simply leaves. This move is rarely used, probably due to the strictness of the Shinobi code.

-Breaking and Entering- Shinobi can infiltrate almost any type of military structure on the battlefield, causing all manner of trouble for opposing forces. Shinobi never seem to emerge from the structures they have infiltrated, remaining inside to carry out appropriate sabotage.

-Speed and Agility - Rumours about Shinobi being so fast and light that they are even capable of running across the surface of water remain unconfirmed. However, there is no doubt that Shinobi are just as capable of moving effortlessly on water as they are on land.