Ulric Steinmeier (NPC)
NAME: Ulric Steinmeier
ALIASES: Samson 1
BIRTHDATE: June 21, 1970
FACTION: Templars
KNOWN ASSOCIATES: “Saint” George Lethe (Templar Brigadier), Felicity Bane (Templar operative), Frank Calhoun (Templar operative), Arturo Castiglione (Council handler), Samson Team (Templar special forces unit)
KNOWN ANIMOSITIES: Steinmeier’s been a Templar operative for over 10 years. The global Filth eruption hit in 2012, so previous to five years ago Steinmeier’s work was almost exclusively seizing assets, neutralizing enemy operations and recovering kidnapping victims – all in opposition to the Templars’ rivals on the Council. Most notably, Steinmeier was instrumental in scaring investors away from an Illuminati-backed corporate campus project just outside London.
EARLY LIFE: Steinmeier first pings the radar back in 1999, when he was with GSG 9. He was instrumental in the hostage situation in Aachen, and from there went on to show exceptional shrewdness, grit and leadership skills in GSG 9’s CTU for the next 8 years. The Templars keep an eye on elite police units for recruits exactly like this one, and in 2006 they made the offer. Steinmeier accepted.
CURRENT REMIT: In the wake of Kaidan’s eruption, Steinmeier was tasked with assembling an elite team of operatives to retake the neighborhood from the Filth and uncover the truth behind its infestation through surveillance, direct action and liaising with other operatives in the field (such as the KAs listed above).
This detail was touted as a tremendous honor, but I think Steinmeier and everyone else knew it was almost certainly a death sentence. Nonetheless, he took it, and he and his so-called Samson Team performed admirably (with remarkably few casualties and Filth possessions) until they were withdrawn in the last days of 2016, not long before Kaidan was cordoned off again. What can I say? He’s a worker.
ACTIVITIES IN THE SECRET WAR: The official assignment is providing support and security for the flashier bee operatives in theaters around the world. The real assignment is surveillance and “destabilization” of minor societies friendly to Templar rivals. Lately, Steinmeier and Samson Team have been executing “sapper” operations against Romanian organized crime clans believed friendly to the Illuminati.
MAGIC ABILITIES: None, though his FN SCAR and Remington 870 are adorned with rosaries and trinkets with various minor blessings and wards. These may be more sentimental than anything else.
EXTRACURRICULARS: Steinmeier is approachable, though not exactly warm or good-humored. He enjoys industrial metal, rugby and cooking, and in the field would frequently prepare meals for Samson Team.
MICE: There’s the obvious family angle. Steinmeier is divorced with two kids, who are now ages 19 and 14. They and his ex are not especially aware of what Steinmeier really does for a living, so there’s two ways to go there: threatening to inform them of his work (the “safe” option) or just threatening them outright (the dangerous option). Given his expertise, I’d triple-check that all your ducks are in a row before you go this route.
But there’s a better way. During his time in Kaidan, Steinmeier was almost completely cut off from the outside world – so all his socialization came from Samson and from the bee operatives he encountered there. I have reason to believe during this time that he became romantically entangled with a Dragon operative, and still sees her now when he can get away. Given the Dragon’s radioactive reputation, getting solid evidence of this liaison to the Templars could see Steinmeier in front of a tribunal before the week is out.