Character Intro - Michael "Mike" Tanner

[Ansgar25]

Unteroffizier Michael "Mike" Tanner was born (4. 22. 1975) and raised in the vicinity of Göttingen. After finishing school (High School equivalent) he was drafted as a conscript to the Bundeswehr, as a Jäger in one of the Panzergrenadier-Btls. He tried to make it as an officer in the reserves, but failed. But he signed in as "Zeitsoldat" (= Instead of being a normal conscript, he chose to stay in the army for 4 years, becoming a sergeant after 1 year), because he hoped to try it again, later.

His grandparents stem from Silesia, that is the reason, why he learned his first phrases in Polish, when he was a kid. Later on he learned English in school. During his experiences in the war, he realized, he had a good feeling for languages. He beefed up his English skills, and learned a lot from Polish and Soviet POWs, civilians, and deserters.

When the War broke out, his unit was among the first units, participating in the war. He was a squad leader in the (German) infantry. In late 1998 he was separated from his unit and picked up by Americans of the 5th ID. From that time onwards, he stayed with this unit. During the last days, he had been assigned to a small recce patrol, that was overrun by the Soviets. He lost contact with his comrades and was stranded behind enemy lines. Since two days, he is living off the land and trying, to join allied forces again.

Mike is equipped with a mixture of German and U.S. items. He is outfitted with American PASGT (vest and helmet) armor and armed with a G3 rifle (Actually a G3/SG1, without the original sniper scope, but still with the integrated cheek rest and build-in collapsible bipod.). He wears a homemade chest-rigg for 6 G3 mags, with pouches for additional 4 mags on his belt. His pack is a privately purchased Bergen-style rucksack, spray painted for camo purposes. His ACK (German fighting knife with wire cutting ability, like the M9 bayonet or the AK-series of bayonets) is fixed to his belt. If there wasn't a war going on, his CO would order him, to visit a haircutter.
He is of athletic stature. With his very dark blonde (almost brown) hair and his facial stubble, he seems to be older, than he actually is. As a person, that knows, how to use a knife and who is able, to sneak on enemies, he has often been part of small raiding forces. In the US Army he was not acting as sergeant. From time to time he was used as the squads pointman.

Being part of an American unit at the moment, he is sometimes a little unsure, if he really understands everything. Therefore he tends to be a little shy, when he meets new people and is mistaken as being taciturn.