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Prime universe
(Capcom's primary storyline)
For other uses, see S.T.A.R.S. (disambiguation).
S.T.A.R.S

The Special Tactics and Rescue Service (S.T.A.R.S.) (特殊戦術及び救助部隊 tokushu-senjutsu oyobi kyūjo butai?) was an American elite special forces division under the jurisdiction of the Raccoon Police Department, though privately funded and able to operate independently.[1] It employed ex-military personnel and academic experts for appropriate positions within the police department.[2] The overall idea was to form a team combining tactically-sound soldiers with scientists, allowing the team to operate in both anti-terrorism and increasingly-potent urban crime scenarios,[3][excerpt 1] as well as dealing with other emergencies.[1][excerpt 2]

History[]

Founding (1996)[]

As Raccoon City expanded its size in the 1990s, and in the wake of a number of domestic terrorism attacks in the 80s and early 90s, there emerged an increasing need for better policing to maintain law and order. Indeed, amongst the violent crimes plaguing the city was now the looming threat of domestic terrorism.[3][4] The Raccoon Police Department itself lacked the appropriate funding or personnel to counter this phenomenon, and the local government looked elsewhere. In 1996, Mayor Michael Warren announced the creation of an elite law enforcement team as part of his "Bright Raccoon 21" urban redevelopment campaign,[1] which was based on funding from the private sector rather than local taxes. As the largest employer in the county, Umbrella USA provided considerable funds for this venture.[2][3][5] Due to their influence, Umbrella was successful in choosing former Army officer Dr. Albert Wesker as Captain, ahead of the more popular Enrico Marini. This was, in secret, a means of keeping S.T.A.R.S. under the control of someone they could trust. Other private funding came from such avenues as the Kendo Gun Shop, which developed the "Samurai Edge" side-arm that became standard-issue.

Unlike the police department, S.T.A.R.S. recruited from outside the established police force, instead relying on military veterans and specialists in a variety of fields from computer hacking to chemical disposal. Nonetheless, entrants from RPD were welcome, provided they pass a written exam.[6][7] The latest recruit to S.T.A.R.S. was Rebecca Chambers, a genius who graduated with a BSc at the age of 18; while not trained for combat, her role as a medic was recognized.

Mansion Incident (1998)[]

In May 1998, the Arklay Laboratory, an Umbrella Corporation bio-weaponry research facility located within Raccoon City's Arklay Mountain region, fell into chaos with the release of an experimental t-Virus strain.

Whilst there were numerous medical, administrative and private security staff on site, the situation eventually became untenable as more personnel continued to be infected. Without continual maintaining of on-site preventative measures, the experimental bio-weapons secretly housed within the lab escaped containment, massacring the staff and mutilating others throughout the Arklay region. Over the next two months, the RPD failed to find the perpetrators of the gruesome incidents, as no motives or suspects could be identified. Unable to make headway while under increasing pressure from the media, Police Chief Brian Irons formally assigned the case to S.T.A.R.S.

Receiving orders from Umbrella, fully aware of what was occurring, Wesker began planning for the investigation mission dubbed "X-Day". These orders were to make his way into the laboratory, destroy the complex to contain the outbreak, and escape with biological samples. To silence any witnesses, it was imperative S.T.A.R.S. be destroyed during the mission.

On 23 July, Bravo Team was sent out into a section of the Arklay Mountains northwest of Raccoon City, where it was theorized the killers were based. Suffering from an engine failure, Bravo Team was forced to land near the Spencer Mansion located on top of the laboratory.[8] S.T.A.R.S. officer Edward Dewey and RPD pilot Kevin Dooley were killed soon after the helicopter landed. The majority of Bravo Team retreated to the nearby mansion, but the loss of Dooley and the helicopter meant the five remaining S.T.A.R.S. officers were trapped in the mansion and the surrounding buildings. While investigating, Cpt. Enrico Marini discovered a subway tunnel that took him to the nearby NEST facility, and uncovered evidence that Umbrella was planning their demise from within S.T.A.R.S. Chambers, meanwhile, was separated from the group and came across illegal human research performed by Umbrella in the 1970s and '80s. Marini was injured by escaped Hunters while investigating a series of caverns on his own. Forest Speyer was attacked and infected by mutant crows while on the east balcony. Rebecca Chambers and Richard Aiken found one another, and investigated the building to look for Marini, but were not successful.

After many hours without contact from Bravo Team, Alpha Team was mobilized to investigate their disappearance.[9] Ahead of the mission, Cpt. Wesker confronted subordinate Barry Burton, threatening Burton's family to force him to agree to assist in the destruction of evidence at the mansion in exchange for their safety. Burton was unaware that in reality there was no plan to murder his family, and they were not held hostage by Umbrella personnel as Wesker had led him the believe.

On the night of 24 July, Alpha Team arrived at the last known location of Bravo Team. When the derelict Bravo Team helicopter was spotted from above, pilot Brad Vickers landed, and the Alpha Team members disembarked to investigate the area, leaving behind their specialist equipment and weapons. The brutally savaged body of Dooley was quickly discovered, and soon after, a pack of Cerberuses attacked, killing Joseph Frost. Vickers panicked and took off on the helicopter, preventing the others from escaping or rearming themselves with more than their sidearms. At Wesker's command, they ran in the direction of the Spencer Mansion for safety.

After entering the mansion, Alpha Team split-up. As they arrived, Bravo Team member Kenneth J. Sullivan was pursued by a Zombified employee that killed him by tearing into his throat. Elsewhere, Aiken was attacked by the humongous poisonous snake, Yawn. Chambers fled to a store room in search of an antivenom, where she would later be found by Alpha Team member Chris Redfield. Speyer reanimated as a Zombie, and attacked one of his colleagues after being discovered. During these events, Redfield, Burton and Jill Valentine continued exploring the complex as part of their investigation, with Burton secretly destroying any evidence he came across. During the exploration, Marini was found and murdered by Wesker before he could reveal what he knew about the conspirator to the others. To keep himself safe, Wesker implicated Burton as the S.T.A.R.S. traitor.

In the early hours of July 25th, the surviving S.T.A.R.S. members made their way into the underground laboratory, by which point they had accumulated evidence that the deaths of locals and S.T.A.R.S. members were the result of an outbreak; that Umbrella not only knew the risks but failed to contain it and covered it up; that they planned to destroy the lab along with any implicating evidence and any remaining S.T.A.R.S. members in the process; and finally that Wesker was an Umbrella employee formerly assigned to the lab. After a confrontation, Wesker confirmed his wrongdoing, and revealed he was also planning to betray Umbrella by handing over recovered biological samples to a third party.

Wesker then successfully awakened and released the T-002, a recently completed super-soldier created by a strain of t-Virus. However, the Tyrant quickly turned on him, impaling Wesker with his claw, before turning to face the others. After seemingly defeating the Tyrant, the S.T.A.R.S. members made their way out of the lab. Chambers found and activated the bomb that Umbrella had intended Wesker use to destroy the facility. Meanwhile, Wesker recovered from his injuries and awoke, rejuvenated by a viral infection that had mutated him. Unable to recover any significant samples, he was forced to escape from the facility empty handed.[10] Meanwhile, the surviving S.T.A.R.S. members defeated the T-002 on a helipad outside the facility, being picked up by Vickers moments before the facility was destroyed by an explosion.

Disbanding[]

Vickers returned to the Raccoon Police Station with survivors Burton, Chambers, Redfield and Valentine. Following a hospital visit, they began an investigation of Umbrella from their S.T.A.R.S. office. In the following month, however, Umbrella was able to bribe Chief Irons into disbanding the group, reassigning the Umbrella investigation to the RPD itself so it could be suppressed, and forming the Raccoon S.W.A.T. to take over S.T.A.R.S.'s missions.[2] The official reason for this was that S.T.A.R.S. had lost simply too many officers to be able to function.[1] However its seems that the disbanding of S.T.A.R.S had not been officially announced to the public, as during the Raccoon City Destruction Incident at least two people, one being an umbrella employee, suggested calling in the unit despite the fact that the unit had essentially been disbanded by September. Suspecting Irons' corruption, Redfield was able to report him to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who began their own investigation into RPD corruption. By September, only Valentine and Vickers were left in the city to continue an off-the-record investigation of Umbrella, looking for the location of NEST and the G-Virus they had become aware of. Redfield himself had travelled to Europe to investigate Umbrella there, taking the guise of a vacation. Burton went on leave to move his family to Canada.[11] Chambers on the other hand, continued with her university education to achieve a doctorate in the field of virology, intent on helping her more combat-experienced friends in a support capacity as the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance was formed over time.[12]

Organisation[]

Formation[]

Backup Man Pointman
Leader Omni-Man
Rear Security Rear Security

S.T.A.R.S. units were built around a 5-man cell structure on foot,[1] with the standard formation consisting of three rows of two columns in case the pilot needed to assemble with the rest of the group (the pilot could join the unit as a second Rear Security member if needed). At the front stood the Pointman on the right, responsible for field-scouting and reconnaissance, with the Backup Man - or BUM - on the left, providing any assistance if needed. In the middle-row stood the Leader, with the police rank of Captain, who would provide orders for the team; on the Leader's right stood the Omni-Man, responsible for vehicle and weapon maintenance. In the rear stood Rear Security, who's role was to maintain contact with the helicopter or S.T.A.R.S. HQ.

Teams[]

At its height, S.T.A.R.S. was comprised of two teams, designated "Alpha" and "Bravo". Each team was organized based on the tactical squad formation, with five operators on the field and a helicopter pilot. The teams would remain on-duty in 24-hour shifts before switching to the other team, allowing S.T.A.R.S. to remain active in the event of an emergency.[13] While neither team was superior to the other, Alpha Team Captain Albert Wesker held superiority over Bravo Team Captain Enrico Marini.

Specializations[]

Due to the specialist requirements of S.T.A.R.S., the unit was expected to handle a wide variety of more extreme missions and investigations, all of which fell outside of the RPD main force's usual capabilities. These ranged from scenarios involving investigating large scale organized theft, cyber crime, trafficking of illegal/stolen weapons and contraband, to sting operations on criminal organizations, high risk hostage situations, and halting terrorist activity. As such, S.T.A.R.S. members were usually both highly trained in tactical combat and talented in a skill and/or subject that would prove helpful for investigations and missions, ranging from disposal and recognition of chemical weapons, bomb disposal, computer expertise, criminal science, ballistics and firearms analysis, and unorthodox forensics.

Recruitment, selection and training[]

STARS GROUP PIC

An old photograph of S.T.A.R.S. operators. Note that this was taken before Rebecca Chambers' joining. Of the twelve members pictured, only one of them is unidentified. It is unclear who this character is.

Prospective S.T.A.R.S. members were typically recruited through the use of talent scouts, due to the need for specialists.[1] These specialist skills ranged from sharpshooting, to computer hacking, to chemical disposal and field medicine. For those not scouted, applications could be filed requiring tests to assess a candidate's skills. It is known that Raccoon Police Department officer Kevin Ryman took and failed this test on two occasions.

Known members[]

Alpha[]

Name Position Qualifications, role Team Status
Burton, Barry Backup man[14] Weapons Specialist[citation needed] Alpha Alive
Frost, Joseph Omni man[14] Vehicle and equipment maintenance technician;[14] qualified to handle dangerous goods.[excerpt 3] Alpha Deceased
Redfield, Chris Pointman[14] Sharpshooter,
Co-pilot[14]
Alpha Alive
Valentine, Jill Rear-security[14] B&E Specialist[14] Alpha Alive
Vickers, Brad Rear-security[14] Pilot [14]
Computer Specialist[14]
Hazardous Substances Handler/Chemical protection
Alpha Deceased
Wesker, Albert Team Leader Biotechnology Specialist

Alpha Lead[excerpt 4]

Alpha Deceased

Bravo[]

Name Position Qualifications, role Team Status
Aiken, Richard Backup man[15] Communications Expert[14] Bravo Deceased
Chambers, Rebecca Rear-security[14] Chemical Expert

Team Medic[16]

Bravo Alive
Dewey, Edward Rear-security Maintenance Specialist

Pilot[17]

Bravo Deceased
Marini, Enrico Team Leader Bravo Lead[14] Bravo Deceased
Speyer, Forest Omni man[14] Maintenance Specialist[14]
Sharpshooter[18]
Bravo Deceased
Sullivan, Kenneth J. Pointman[14] Chemist[14] Bravo Deceased

Uniform distinctions[]

In the two years of its existence, S.T.A.R.S. never established an official uniform, instead going through a series of prototype designs which were customized by team members. Clothing worn as part of their uniforms included:

  • A white undershirt with the S.T.A.R.S. emblem over the left sleeve
  • A similar undershirt with the RPD emblem on the front and sleeve
  • M69 Flak vests in various colors
  • L2B flight jacket
  • N3-B extreme cold parka
  • M-65 jacket
  • MA-1 bomber jacket
  • Body armor
  • Shoulder pads
  • Combat Knife sheaths
  • Leg holsters
  • Fingerless gloves
  • Watches
  • Jungle boots
  • LC1 suspenders
  • LC2 belts

Equipment[]

Due to the specialist and privately funded nature of S.T.A.R.S., equipment used by the organization was diverse. This included special equipment used at S.T.A.R.S. HQ, located on the second floor of the Raccoon Police Station.[1]

Weapons[]

The standard issue sidearm for S.T.A.R.S. was a modified Beretta 92FS.[1] Officially dubbed the "Beretta 92F S.T.A.R.S. Special", or "Beretta 92FS" for short, it went on to be known by the nickname "Samurai Edge".[1] Constructed by Joe Kendo, one of the Kendo Gun Shop partners, it was another example of Raccoon City's private sector funding S.T.A.R.S. Further customization tailored to the individual officer was also provided to Burton, Redfield, Valentine and Wesker. In Burton's case, it was modified to fire .40 S&W rounds. Combat knives were custom made for the team, who were expected to learn close-quarters combat with knives. These knives sported the S.T.A.R.S. emblem on the blade.

Aside from these standard-issue weapons, S.T.A.R.S. members were also provided with several Heckler & Koch MP5s, with Marini known to carry a Steyr AUG. Frost is known to have carried both an Ingram M-11 and a Remington 870 on missions, while Speyer may have brought the grenade launcher he was found with with him.

Other equipment[]

Other equipment provided for S.T.A.R.S. includes a shoulder-cam for recording mission progress on DV Tapes. Both Sullivan and Frost had such cameras which, in both cases, recorded their violent deaths. Chambers, the medic, was provided with a mixing set full of chemicals. Some team members were provided with Walkie-Talkies, though not all from Alpha Team appears to have been provided. Their equipment may have been left on Vickers' helicopter. Wesker and Aiken are known to have used tactical headsets, which would have connected to these walkie talkies to allow for hands free operation if required.

Transport[]

After its formation, S.T.A.R.S. was provided with an Aérospatiale Eurocopter AS350B. By 1998, however, they had exchanged it for two UH-1/204B model helicopters. One of these was crashed in the Arklay Mountains, and it is uncertain if it was recovered.

Further notes[]

  • Only eleven of the unit's twelve members appeared in the original game. Edward Dewey, Bravo Team's pilot, was only mentioned in the game's instruction manual, but not actually featured in the game. For a long time it was assumed that the disembodied hand found by Joseph in the game's introductory cutscene belonged to Edward (and indeed, Edward was originally shown with a missing right hand in the N64 version of 0) but a few retroactive changes were made in order to include the character for a small role in the prequel Resident Evil 0 (in the Resident Evil remake, the dead pilot is now identified as Kevin Dooley, the RPD Co-Pilot for Bravo Team).
  • In Resident Evil 2, a group photograph can be found in the S.T.A.R.S. office which consists of twelve officers, with Rebecca Chambers not among the group. The identity of this additional figure was never disclosed by the developers, being either Rebecca's predecessor or an accident by the art team. While it has been offered by fans that Kevin Dooley is the figure, the character did not exist for several more years.
  • After the credits of Resident Evil 4, it mentions S.T.A.R.S. when naming the copyrights.
  • Tokyo Marui, a popular airsoft manufacturer in Japan, created a replica of the S.T.A.R.S. "Samurai Edge" pistol based on its original design model, the Beretta 92F/FS.
  • King Arms, another popular airsoft manufacturer sells Resident Evil/Biohazard themed M4/M16 metal receivers, one of these receivers bears the S.T.A.R.S. emblem on it.
  • GSX, a Japanese watch manufacturer was responsible for making individual S.T.A.R.S. watches. A special collection of these watches were sold to commemorate Resident Evil's 5th birthday, like Tokyo Marui's selection of Samurai Edges, these were only available in limited numbers and are considered a rarity among fans. UBCS watches were also available.
  • Many of the equipment (Tac vests, Chris' flak vest, shirts etc.) present in the games were replicated or customized for real life use, they all have the Capcom seal to show that they're official game merchandise.
  • The mobile phone game BIOHAZARD i SURVIVOR introduced five new S.T.A.R.S. members who were never seen or mentioned again after said game was discontinued. It was the only video game to introduce non-canon S.T.A.R.S. members. See the main article about the game for more info.

Gallery[]

Bibliography[]

Sources[]

excerpts
  1. Excerpt from biohazard 0 KAITAISHINSHO:
    "ラクーン市警 (Raccoon Police Department, 通称R.P.D.) の管轄下にある特殊部隊。 ラクーン市の発展とともに急増した都市型テロや新手の犯罪に対応する目的で、 1996年、 都市計画の一環として設立された。実力重視で民間からスカウトされた者が多くを占めているほか、 アンブレラをはじめ民間企業の資金提供を受けており、 RPD内でも特異な立場にある。アルファチーム6名, ブラヴォーチーム6名の2隊編成で、 今回、 市近郊で多発する猟奇事件の真相解明のため、 ブラヴォーチームの出動が決定された。"
  2. Excerpt from biohazard archives (2nd ed.): ラクーンシティがアンブレラの援助を受けて発足した 「明るいラクーン21計画」。 その一環として、 1996年にラクーン市警察内部にSTARS (=特殊戦術及び救助部隊)が創設された。 彼らは、 每年増加傾向にある都市型テロ、 多様化する組織犯罪、 数々の緊急事態などに即時対応できるエリート集団として、 軍や民間を問わずスカウトで集められたスペシャリストだけで構成されている。 人員の編成には5人で1チームとする陸軍式の5マンセルが採用されており、 その中にはパイロットや戦闘プロフェショナルの他、 銃器や医療の専門家なども含まれる。 活動資金はすべてアンブレラやその他の民間企業がまかなっているため、 彼らはラクーン市警察の管轄下にありながらも、 独立して活動できる特異な立場にあった。本部オフィスは、 ラクーン市警察署の2階にあり、 余裕のある資金援助のおかげで設備についてはかなり恵まれていた。 隊員の基本装備は、 サムライエッジと呼ばれているカスタムハンドガン。 この統のM92FSという型番にある”S”は「S.T.A.R.S.スペシャル」という意を持つ。 洋館事件当時のS.T.A.R.S.メンバーは、 全部で13人を数えていた。 このうち、 ブラヴォーチームのケビン・ドゥーリーだけはラクーン市警察の専属パイロットだが、急遽S.T.A.R.S.の任務に参加となり、 現揚へと赴いた。 先発のブラヴォーチームは、 ラクーンフォレストで任務遂行中に分散し、 深い森の中で迷走。 一部の隊員は、 洋館でアルファチームと合流を果たすが、 アンブレラの策略により、 最終的にはレベッカ・チェンバースのみが生還する結果たなった。 一方、 アルファチームはクリス・レッドフィールド、 ジル・バレンタイン、 バリー・バートン、 そして上空待機していたパイロットのブラッド・ヴィッカーズの4人が生還した。 こうして、 S.T.A.R.Sは.事件後に半分のわずか5人となり、 この時点でS.T.A.R.S.は.人員不足で組織としての機能を停止。 これを受けて、 ラクーン警察内にはS.T.A.R.S.に代わる選抜警官隊が結成されることになる。
  3. Excerpt from Inside of BIO-HAZARD, p.10:
    "整備技師、危険物取り扱いなどの資格を持つ。チームでは車輌整備を担当。"
  4. Excerpt from Inside of BIO-HAZARD, p.10:
    "S.T.A.R.S.隊長。生物工学のスペシャリストに元陸軍の技術将校である。"
references
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 biohazard archives (2nd ed,), p.304.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Sumner, Shotten, Owen (eds). Archives. p.258.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Hamamura (ed.), KAITAISHINSHO, p.013
  4. Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles (2007), file: "S.T.A.R.S. Notes"
  5. Takeo (ed.), Inside of BIO-HAZARD, p.8
  6. Resident Evil 2 (2019)
  7. Perfect Capture Guide, p.004.
  8. Capcom. Resident Evil Zero. (Capcom). Scene: Opening cutscene.
  9. Capcom. Resident Evil. (Capcom). Scene: opening cutscene.
  10. Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles (2007), level: "Rebirth 2"
  11. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999), file: "Jill's Diary"
  12. BIOHAZARD THE STAGE (2015).
  13. True Story Behind Biohazard. Capcom. p. 53. 
  14. 14.00 14.01 14.02 14.03 14.04 14.05 14.06 14.07 14.08 14.09 14.10 14.11 14.12 14.13 14.14 14.15 14.16 Resident Evil: Deadly Silence manual; pages 6-7.
  15. Richard Aiken Profile
  16. Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles (2007), file: "Rebecca Chambers Profile"
  17. Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles (2007), file: "Edward Dewey Profile"
  18. Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles (2007), file: "Forest Speyer Profile"
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