S.I.C.C.A.E.L.

Classification: Terrestrial technology

Creator: Daniel Harding

User/Possessors: 88, Nomad (Jack Monroe)

First Appearance: Nomad I#3 (January, 1991)

Powers/Abilities/Functions: The S.I.C.C.A.E.L. (Systems In Close Cybernetic Autonomous Electric Gun) is operated by a cybernetic link between itself and its user. It can select multiple targets and fire on remote command, and can even be controlled from a distance. Each of the S.I.C.C.A.E.L.'s bullets is armor-piercing. The S.I.C.C.A.E.L. can be reprogrammed to serve only one person (such as Nomad), and will not respond to anyone else's commands while in this state; it also allowed Nomad to control others who wielded the gun, controlling them through their cybernetic link.

History: (Nomad I#3 (fb) - BTS) - Daniel Harding designed the software for S.I.C.C.A.E.L. for Cyberoptics to be used by the government.

(Nomad I#4 (fb) - BTS) - In order to complete the gun's hardware, the American government attempted to make a deal with Russia by providing them with drugs through Umberto Safilios. They planned to finally sell the gun to Cuba when it was completed.

(Nomad I#2 (fb) - BTS) - Orinn Boothe helped smuggle the drugs for Safilios through Lexington, concealing them within horses. Boothe was the majority shareholder in Cyberoptics, and stood to make money off the S.I.C.C.A.E.L.

(Nomad I#1 - BTS) - Elia Arriguez, Daniel Harding's girlfriend, was fatally injured by Umberto Safilios, as she was considered a security risk. She was found by Nomad, who began to investigate the scheme.

(Nomad I#4) - Nomad caught up with the S.I.C.C.A.E.L. in Juneau, Alaska, where the Russians and Americans were going to install the software into the hardware. Nomad inserted a disc into the S.I.C.C.A.E.L. so that it would only respond to his cybernetic interface, effectively making the gun useless. Nomad was captured by Captain America and learned how the gun had come to be from the Russians' Major-General Sokolowski and Umberto Safilios. Captain America then set him free and they attacked Sokolowski and Safilios' men. Sokolowski attempted to use the S.I.C.C.A.E.L. on Nomad, but had not realized that Nomad had reprogrammed it. Nomad took the gun from him and turned it on Sokolowski, Safilios, and the others, slaughtering them all. Nomad was horrified at what he done with the gun, and smashed it in half in a fit of rage.

(Nomad II#13 - BTS) - Senator Bartholomew Ingird introduced a bill to have the S.I.C.C.A.E.L. gun rebuilt to serve his own interests.

(Nomad II#15 - BTS) - Senator Hugh Greider supported Ingrid's bill, on the condition that Nomad would be their first target.

(Nomad II#17) - The newly rebuilt S.I.C.C.A.E.L. was presented to Senator Ingrid by the manufacturers.

(Nomad II#18) - Ingrid presented the S.I.C.C.A.E.L. to Zaran to use to assassinate Nomad.

(Nomad II#22 - BTS) - Zaran mentioned to Nomad that he had been offered the S.I.C.C.A.E.L. to kill him, but that he decided against it because he preferred his own methods.

(Nomad II#24) - The S.I.C.C.A.E.L. was placed into the arms of 88, a white supremacist. He attempted to use the gun against Nomad when he invaded 88's white supremacist camp, but Nomad was able to evade his gunfire, and then inserted his programming disc back into the S.I.C.C.A.E.L.

(Nomad II#25) - Nomad used his control over the S.I.C.C.A.E.L. to control 88, forcing him to use the gun to kill all of his fellow supremacists. Nomad then shot him in the head and took the S.I.C.C.A.E.L. back. Nomad stripped the S.I.C.C.A.E.L. down so that it could be concealed in his coat. He brought it with him to Washington, where he confronted Bartholomew Ingrid in Congress, demanding he admit to having operated the supremacist camp. Ingrid revealed that he had plastique hidden inside of his briefcase, and threatened to set it off if Nomad tried anything. Nomad shot him down with the S.I.C.C.A.E.L., and the plastique detonated. The S.I.C.C.A.E.L. was apparently destroyed by the blast.

Comments: Created by Fabian Nicieza, James Fry III and Mark McKenna.

Nomad I#3 features a page of the S.I.C.C.A.E.L.'s blueprints, explaining its functions.

Although Nomad claimed to have stripped down the S.I.C.C.A.E.L. in Nomad II#25, it still looks ridiculously big to be concealing under a trenchcoat. It seems to appear from mid-air! I guess Monroe started using Pym particles to conceal weapons long before he became Scourge...

The S.I.C.C.A.E.L. was a fascinating look at how the notion of a "super-soldier" had changed. Back in 1941, America desired a man of peak physical and mental condition; 50 years later, the man didn't matter-- the goal was to create a killing machine, and anyone could operate it. If Nuke was the next step after Captain America, then the S.I.C.C.A.E.L. was the next step after Nuke.

by Prime Eternal

CLARIFICATIONS:
The S.I.C.C.A.E.L. should not be confused with:

• Sickle, Eva Lyserkovitch, Soviet warrior kept in suspended animation, @ Spider-Man 2099 Annual #1
• Sickle, of the Mandarin's Avatars, @ Force Works #7
• Sickle, partner of Hammer, enemy of Maverick, @ Maverick II#1

Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™  and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com

Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!

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