REUTERS – GENEVA, SWTZ – In what has to be the most shocking revelation yet in the post-MEDUSA wars clean up, all war crimes and terror charges have been dropped against notorious mercenary Sebastian Bludd. Bludd, a former officer in the Australian Special Air Service, who only recently had re-emerged on the Tribunal’s radar after years of remaining apparently in hiding, had been circumstantially connected to the accused terrorist organization known as Cobra for decades. Thereafter he was alleged to be affiliated with MEDUSA, an apparent offshoot of Cobra, and the group responsible for 90% of the world’s major conflicts since approximately 2007. Bludd was captured without incident while on an African safari earlier this year.

During the MEDUSA wars, (MAJ.) Bludd was alleged to have served as the Commandant of a MEDUSA Prisoner Detainment Compound on the now defunct Cobra Island.
That, according to sources within the U.S. State Department, is the foundation for the dismissal of all charges presently.

And it all boils down to a technicality. The only evidence which the War Crimes Tribunal has on Bludd, arising out of the MEDUSA conflict (which is the extent of their jurisdiction) places Bludd exclusively on Cobra Island throughout the conflict, with no proof of direct MEDUSA affiliation. Therein lies his immunity. For it seems that at the end of the prior Cobra conflict, the treaty which formally terminated hostilities between Allied Forces and Cobra contained a clause in the fine print which formally acknowledged the international autonomy of Cobra Island as a nation-state. This was true even while the organization’s Commander was prosecuted, and its armed forces disbanded.

The Tribunal has apparently determined there was insufficient evidence linking Bludd or the Cobra Island compound to MEDUSA. Though the presence of prisioners on the island is not contested, each was charged with espionage arising out of attempted infiltration or invasion of a sovereign state, and each was held, albeit loosely so, in line with international laws regarding the same. The key evidence which most presumed would be held against Bludd was the disappearance (and subsequent gruesome death) of an EXCAL operative (known as a “Paladin”) code named Hound Dog. However, the presence of such a high ranking agent without legal authority is a touchy matter, and one in which the current EXCAL administration* refutes. Counsel for the accused has asserted throughout the proceedings that the presence of a Paladin on the island is further proof of the unlawful invasion, but denies any direct knowledge of the agent’s whereabouts: “Any harm caused to a U.S. or EXCAL spy on Cobra Island, whether deserved or not, was not inflicted by the hand of Sebastian Bludd or any member of his administration. This would not be the first such report of harm coming to someone who strayed from the main facility into the wilderness, but such reckless behavior is not responsibility of our client.”

In the end, it seems that minus evidence directly linking Bludd to MEDUSA, there were insufficient grounds to prosecute. Ultimately it does not address whether or not there is blood on Bludd’s hands.

*In a press release dated today, EXCAL states that it no longer employs Paladins or other military personnel, and is devoted to scientific endeavors exclusively.
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Man, it’s getting trickier and trickier to do updates to characters and keep it consistent with my prior story… lol. I wanted this to be something of an ultimate version of the character. I like the removable chest armor and helmet so that he can look like he’s training recruits without the full on combat look.

I gave him a submachine gun as it seems impractical to only carry the rocket launcher. Also, I improvised that weapon as I could not find his 25A weapon. I may or may not account for how this version looks younger than the prior one shown here . Perhaps it’s as simple as Rogaine…or maybe his disappearance explains it? hmmm?

I used the cast head (not sure of source) which I was using for my Clutch custom previously, for those interested.

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You've done it again, Dennis. You've made me give a crap about a character I'd all but written off with this badass update.

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Maybe paint the thigh pads. The brown makes it look like the pads are in the pants like a football player. If that is the case, nevermind. Otherwise I dig the new look.

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Thanks fellas.

pluv, the thought crossed my mind, but I think I like the ambiguity of how it looks now. Is it a football thigh pad, is it simply panels sewn into the pants? External armor? Can go either way like this.

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A fine reimagining of my all-time favorite character.

I think the football-pad look for the. Thighs synchs up nicely with the removable shoulder pads.

I like it, but agree with pluv. I can see your point though also, but the very first thing I thought when I looked at it was paint the pads.

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I'd have been more inclined to do so if they looked like they were strapped on, but I don't think they are.

plus, they were unpainted on the Bludd figure these came from:

Major Bludd v.8

This is the type of modern tactical gear that it looks like to me, which makes me feel better about my choice:
www.underarmour.com/tactical...thighpads.jpg

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My initial thought (before reading the comments) was 'looks unfinished' due to the pads blending into the legs ...

you did such a good job on weathering that armor, I think it might be cool to do the same to those pads







//also: DAMMIT

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also: maybe weather up the helmet, too?

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I initially planned to ding up the helmet, but I kind of liked the contrast. like maybe he takes pride in the helmet enough to keep it repainted, but doesn't give a damn about the rest.

My first plan was to use plain legs and add removable armor to them. That might be the compromise I need, because I really wanted a version that looked like he was wearing the Bludd equivalent of training fatigues under the armor.

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if i recall the blood from the extreme conditions pack did not have the pads molded on the leg.

The story makes me wonder if anyone is planning for the major to have a little "accident."

I like the idea of those being padded panels stitched into his pants, rather than rigid armor.

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Crud. I'd pretty much given up on having Bludd in my universe ever since I dropped regular Joe customs and went back to Adventure Team-only stuff. But now I guess I need to bring Bludd into the fold.

Sweet-ass write-up as always, and a solid custom version of my favorite "LASER BLAST" poet

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I love this look. With the football thigh pads, the training and the body armor, I was almost expecting the under armor logo on his tight black shirt.

Do you have an Excal Bible somewhere on the internets that someone could read all in once place? I'd love to take a spoon to that brain of yours and really "read" it all in one go and get a better understanding.

Oh, and I was away on a trip, so as soon as I get settled, you got a cool little package coming your way.

Fellas - thanks for the comments. Actually thanks for reading the blah blah too. Makes the time I spend on that part worth it.

Chief, I think I like your Bludd better still anyway.

SPM - looking forward to the mail. As for the EXCAL Anthology, I think you're stepping in it. By that, I mean it's all here in critiques. Search EXCAL and go in chronological order.

I think I started a blog some time ago, and never got past the first post. It was picked up mid-stream, and I just never had the time to go back and recreate all this in proper sequence. I will let you know if it happens though.

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