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{{Other uses|S.T.A.R.S. (disambiguation)}}
 
 
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{{Other uses|S.T.A.R.S. (disambiguation)}}
[[File:S.T.A.R.S. logo.png|thumb|337x337px]] The {{Nihongo|'''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 elite special forces division under the jurisdiction of the [[Raccoon Police Department]]. It employed ex-military personnel and academic experts for appropriate positions within the police department.<ref name="archives">Sumner, Shotten, Owen (eds). ''Archives''. p.258</ref> 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.<ref name="Hamamura013">Hamamura (ed.), ''KAITAISHINSHO'', p.013</ref><ref group="notes">Excerpt from ''biohazard 0 KAITAISHINSHO'':<br />"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。"</ref>
 
  +
[[File:S.T.A.R.S. logo.png|thumb|337x337px]]
 
The {{Nihongo|'''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 elite special forces division under the jurisdiction of the [[Raccoon Police Department]], though privately funded and able to operate independently.<ref name="Archives304">''biohazard archives'' (2nd ed,), p.304.</ref> It employed ex-military personnel and academic experts for appropriate positions within the police department.<ref name="archives">Sumner, Shotten, Owen (eds). ''Archives''. p.258.</ref> 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,<ref name="Hamamura013">Hamamura (ed.), ''KAITAISHINSHO'', p.013</ref><ref group="excerpt">Excerpt from ''biohazard 0 KAITAISHINSHO'':<br />"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。"</ref> as well as dealing with other emergencies.<ref name="Archives304"/><ref group="excerpt">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。
  +
</ref>
   
 
==History==
 
==History==
  +
=== Founding (1996) ===
A unit of hand-picked specialists<ref>''Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles'' (2007), file: "[[S.T.A.R.S. Notes]]"</ref> working with the [[Raccoon Police Department]], S.T.A.R.S. was founded in [[1996]] in order to combat the increasing rate of terrorism and other violent crimes in [[Raccoon City]]. The special tactics team was formed as part of Mayor [[Michael Warren]]'s redevelopment campaign, "[[Bright Raccoon 21]]", funded generously and heavily by the private sector, most notably the [[Umbrella Corporation]].<ref name="archives"/><ref name="Hamamura013"/><ref>Takeo (ed.), ''Inside of BIO-HAZARD'', p.8</ref> In late 1997, the R.P.D promoted a seminar for new members that included a written exam <ref>''Resident Evil 2'' (2019)</ref> of which [[Kevin Ryman]] had reportedly flunked twice due to his behavior.<ref name="perfect4">''Perfect Capture Guide'', p.004.</ref> By July [[1998]], with the addition of rookie graduate [[Rebecca Chambers]]<ref name="Prof">{{Cite video game|title=Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles|developer=Capcom|publisher=Capcom|file=[[Rebecca Chambers Profile]]}}</ref>, S.T.A.R.S was comprised of twelve members split into two teams; an "[[S.T.A.R.S. Alpha Team|Alpha]]" team led by [[Albert Wesker]], and a "[[S.T.A.R.S. Bravo team|Bravo]]" team led by [[Enrico Marini]].
 
  +
As Raccoon City expanded its size in the 1990s, there emerged an increasing need for better policing to maintain law and order. Among the violent crimes plaguing the city was that of domestic terrorism.<ref name="Hamamura013" /><ref>''Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles'' (2007), file: "[[S.T.A.R.S. Notes]]"</ref> 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,<ref name="Archives304" /> 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.<ref name="archives" /><ref name="Hamamura013" /><ref>Takeo (ed.), ''Inside of BIO-HAZARD'', p.8</ref> 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 "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.<ref>''Resident Evil 2'' (2019)</ref><ref name="perfect4">''Perfect Capture Guide'', p.004.</ref> 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 recognised.
Two years after its formation, S.T.A.R.S. was deployed to investigate a series of brutal cannibalistic homicides, which had taken place in the [[Arklay Mountains]] on the outskirts of the city.{{Verify}} Bravo team was sent in on July 23, 1998 to investigate these incidents.<ref>{{Cite game|title=Resident Evil Zero|developer=Capcom|publisher=Capcom|scene=[[Resident Evil Zero opening|Opening cutscene]]}}</ref>
 
   
  +
=== Mansion Incident (1998) ===
However, contact with Bravo team was lost and on the following day, Alpha team was dispatched to follow-up on Bravo team's mission and investigate their disappearance.<ref>{{Cite game|title=Resident Evil|developer=Capcom|publisher=Capcom|scene=[[Resident Evil opening (remake)|opening cutscene]]}}</ref> Their probe of the area led to an [[Spencer Mansion|isolated mansion]] (The base of Umbrella's [[Arklay Laboratory]]), where various mutated creatures run amok and the mansion's very research staff transformed into Zombies as a result of a viral [[Mansion Incident|outbreak]].{{Verify}} Moreover, the members of Alpha team also found the remains of some of their Bravo team compatriots, while finding others on the brink of death (with the exception of Rebecca Chambers, who managed to escape with the Alpha team).<ref group="notes">Speyer is found dead, Aiken is found poisoned, Marini is shot after making contact with Alpha, Sullivan is found eaten alive and Chambers is found nursing Aiken</ref>
 
  +
In May 1998, the [[Arklay Laboratory]] fell into chaos with the release of an experimental t-Virus strain. With the staff no longer able to keep up with their duties, experimental bio-weapons made their escape, killing several people and mutating more. Over the next two months, the RPD failed to solve the killings: no motive could be found, no suspects identified or suspicious people reported receiving treatment for suspicious injuries. Unable to make headway, Police Chief Brian Irons formally assigned the case to S.T.A.R.S.
   
  +
Receiving orders from Umbrella, Wesker himself 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.
It was revealed that the experiments in the mansion were conducted by the international Umbrella Corporation and that the S.T.A.R.S. team's leader, Albert Wesker, was a double agent working for Umbrella, who had orchestrated the deaths of his subordinates in order to collect test battle data for Umbrella's [[rival company]].
 
   
  +
On 23 July, Bravo Team was sent out into a section of the Arklay Mountains to the northwest of the city, where it was theorised the killers may have been based. Suffering from an engine failure, they landed near the Spencer Mansion located above the laboratory.<ref>{{Cite game|title=Resident Evil Zero|developer=Capcom|publisher=Capcom|scene=[[Resident Evil Zero opening|Opening cutscene]]}}</ref> The majority of Bravo Team made their way into the mansion and began investigating, with Cpt. Marini finding a subway tunnel that took him to the nearby [[NEST]] facility and soon uncovering evidence Umbrella was planning their demise from within S.T.A.R.S. Chambers meanwhile was separated from the group and uncovered illegal human research performed by Umbrella in the 1970s and '80s. S.T.A.R.S. officer [[Edward Dewey]] and RPD pilot [[Kevin Dooley]] meanwhile were killed soon after the helicopter landed.
The team managed to thwart Wesker's plot by killing the [[Tyrant (T-002 Model)|T-002]] [[Tyrant]] prototype.{{Verify}} Only Alpha team members Jill Valentine; Chris Redfield; Barry Burton; Brad Vickers (Alpha team's helicopter pilot, who initially left the team stranded in the first place, but later regained his composure and airlifted the survivors), and Bravo team survivor Rebecca Chambers survived the mansion incident officially.<ref group="notes">According to canon, both Chambers and Burton escape. Evident by unused intro images from the [[Resident Evil 3: Nemesis|third game]] showing Jill, Chris, Barry, Rebecca and Brad landing on the RPD Roof. As well as Barry's status being determined in [[Resident Evil Revelations 2|Revelations 2]] and Rebecca in [[BIOHAZARD THE STAGE|The Stage]] and the [[BIOHAZARD CG 3|third CGI Movie]].</ref> Albert Wesker survived his injury from the Tyrant and escaped the mansion on his own before its detonation.<ref>''Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles'' (2007), level: "[[Rebirth 2]]"</ref>
 
   
  +
With the loss of Dooley and the helicopter, the five remaining S.T.A.R.S. officers were left trapped within the Spencer Mansion and the buildings surrounding it. Cpt. 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. Chambers and Richard Aiken meanwhile found one another and investigated the building to look for Marini, but were not successful.
The [[S.T.A.R.S. office]] had to go through a major clean out as over half of the officers were murdered (by-products of Umbrella). Their desks were cleaned out and, as such, nearly every member had their own desk to work at, save Brad.
 
   
  +
Without any word from Bravo Team for many hours, Alpha Team was prepared for a mission to investigate the loss of contact.<ref>{{Cite game|title=Resident Evil|developer=Capcom|publisher=Capcom|scene=[[Resident Evil opening (remake)|opening cutscene]]}}</ref> Ahead of the mission, Cpt. Wesker confronted subordinate [[Barry Burton]]. Having formerly worked at the Arklay Laboratory, Wesker threatened Burton with the murder of his family, and forced him to agree to assist in the destruction of incriminating evidence in exchange for their survival. Burton was unaware, however, that there was no murder plan on his family and they were not held hostage by Umbrella personnel as he believed.
After their return to civilization, S.T.A.R.S. requested a full-scale investigation of Umbrella's activities.{{Verify}} However, many found their outlandish story too unbelievable to be possible<ref group="notes">Marvin Branagh tells the player in ''Resident Evil 2'' (1998) that "No one believed them." referring to S.T.A.R.S.</ref> and the Chief of Police, [[Brian Irons]] (who was secretly on Umbrella's payroll){{Verify}} disbanded the team officially, replacing the unit with the R.P.D's newly established [[Raccoon SWAT|S.W.A.T.]] unit to serve as the city's armed response unit.<ref name="archives"/> Chris, Jill, and Barry banded together and participated in anti-Umbrella operations around the globe.<ref>''Resident Evil 3: Nemesis'' (1999), file: "[[Jill's Diary]]"</ref>
 
   
  +
On the night of 24 July, Alpha Team departed to the same area of the mountains Bravo Team was assigned to. When the derelict Bravo Team helicopter was spotted from above, pilot [[Brad Vickers]] landed, and the other Alpha Team members departed to investigate the area, leaving behind their specialist equipment and weapons. The body of Dooley was quickly discovered, brutally savaged. Soon after, a pack of wild Cerberuses attacked the officers, killing [[Joseph Frost]]. Vickers panicked and took off on the helicopter, preventing the others from escaping or arming themselves with more than their sidearms. At Wesker's command, they ran in the direction of the Spencer Mansion for safety.
==Organization==
 
  +
===Teams===
 
  +
While inside, Alpha Team split-up as per their training. As they arrived, Bravo Team member Kenneth J. Sullivan was pursued by a Zombified employee and his threat torn into, killing him. Elsewhere, Aiken was attacked by a large, poisonous snake called [[Yawn]], and Chambers fled to a store room, possibly in search of an antivenom, where she would be found by Alpha Team member [[Chris Redfield]]. While Aiken's fate is unknown, Speyer is known to have awoken as a Zombie and attacked one of his colleagues. During these events, Redfield, Burton and Jill Valentine continued exploring the complex as part of their investigation, with Burton destroying any evidence he could fine. During the exploration, Marini himself was found, and killed by Wesker before he could reveal what he knew of a conspirator to the others. To keep himself safe, Wesker may have tried to implicate Burton instead.
[[File:STARS GROUP PIC.png|thumb|An old photograph with S.T.A.R.S. operators on it. Note that this was taken before Rebecca Chambers' joining. it is also worth noting that there are twelve members shown in the photo here, one of whom is unidentified. It is unclear who this character is.|276x276px]]
 
  +
  +
In the early hours of the 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 to destroy implicating evidence in a plan that would kill S.T.A.R.S. in the process, and finally that Wesker himself was an Umbrella employee formerly assigned to the lab. Confronted at a lab, he confirmed his wrongdoing, and revealed he was in fact planning to betray Umbrella as well by handing over evacuated samples to a third party.
  +
  +
As he was confronted, Wesker was successful in awakening and releasing the [[T-002]], a recently completed supersoldier created by a strain of t-Virus. The Tyrant quickly turned on him, impaling him with his claw, before turning to face the others. The other S.T.A.R.S. members made their way out of the lab, with Chambers finding and setting off a bomb in the facility, which Umbrella had intended Wesker to use. Wesker himself would wake up in the lab, rejuvenated by a recent viral infection that had mutated him. Unable to recover any important samples, he was forced to escape from the facility empty handed.<ref>''Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles'' (2007), level: "[[Rebirth 2]]"</ref> Meanwhile, his subordinates killed the T-002 on a helipad as Vickers picked them up.
   
  +
=== Disbanding ===
S.T.A.R.S. was comprised of two different teams: Alpha and Bravo, totaling twelve members. Each team was organized based on the tactical squad formation, with five field operatives and a helicopter pilot. The teams would remain on-duty for 24-hour shifts before switching to the other team, allowing S.T.A.R.S. to remain active in the event of an emergency.<ref>{{Cite book|title=True Story Behind Biohazard|publisher=Capcom|page=53}}</ref>
 
  +
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 SWAT|Raccoon S.W.A.T.]] to take over S.T.A.R.S.' missions.<ref name="archives" /> The official reason for this was that S.T.A.R.S. had lost simply too many officers to be able to function.<ref name="Archives304"/> 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.<ref>''Resident Evil 3: Nemesis'' (1999), file: "[[Jill's Diary]]"</ref> What happened to Chambers is uncertain, though it is believed she continued with her university education, as she would earn a doctorate in virology some years later.
   
  +
==Organisation==
===Unit positions===
 
The operatives were assigned to one of the following positions:
 
   
  +
=== Formation ===
*Mission Leader (field commander of the team)
 
*Pointman (field scouting and reconnaissance timelines)
 
*Backup Man (provides assistance to the Pointman)
 
*Omni Man (in charge of vehicle and weapon maintenance)
 
*Rear Security (in charge of establishing contact between the headquarters and the helicopter, as well as treating injured teammates).
 
 
{| border="1" align="center" style="text-align:center;"
 
{| border="1" align="center" style="text-align:center;"
 
|-
 
|-
Line 44: Line 50:
 
|}
 
|}
   
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S.T.A.R.S. units were built around a 5-man cell structure on foot,<ref name="Archives304"/> with the standard formation consisting of three rows of two columns in case the pilot 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.
There is a member of both teams assigned to one of those positions, with an additional Rear Security operative in both teams in charge of piloting the helicopter.
 
   
===Membership===
+
===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 for 24-hour shifts before switching to the other team, allowing S.T.A.R.S. to remain active in the event of an emergency.<ref>{{Cite book|title=True Story Behind Biohazard|publisher=Capcom|page=53}}</ref> While neither team was superior to the other, Alpha Team Captain Albert Wesker held superiority over Bravo Team Captain Enrico Marini.
The requirements for becoming a member of S.T.A.R.S. are not made too clear though military backgrounds were present in at least three members.<ref>''Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles'' (2007), file: "[[Chris Redfield Profile]]"</ref><ref>''Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles'' (2007), file: "[[Barry Burton Profile]]"</ref><ref name="Jill">''Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles'' (2007), file: "[[Jill Valentine Profile]]"</ref> However, other members of S.T.A.R.S have little to no combat experience; Rebecca Chambers was accepted as a medic at age eighteen due to her outstanding chemistry progress and had no formal law-enforcement training beforehand. [[Kevin Ryman]] attempted to join the unit, but was turned away despite impressive marksmanship skills due to personality issues.
 
   
  +
=== Specialisations ===
{| border="1" align="center" style="text-align:center;"
 
  +
Due to the specialist requirements of S.T.A.R.S., the organisation was expected to handle a wide variety of missions and investigations, ranging from disposal of chemical weapons to bomb disposal to obtaining digital evidence.
  +
  +
== Recruitment, selection and training ==
 
[[File:STARS GROUP PIC.png|thumb|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.|276x276px]]
  +
Prospective S.T.A.R.S. members were typically recruited through the use of talent scouts, due to the need for specialists.<ref name="Archives304"/> 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 ===
  +
{| class="article-table"
  +
!Name
  +
!Position
  +
!Qualifications, role
  +
!Team
  +
!Status
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|[[Richard Aiken|Aiken, Richard]]
! Name !! Position !! Role !! Team !! Status
 
  +
|Backup man<ref>[[Richard Aiken Profile]]</ref>
  +
|Communications expert<ref name="DS" />
  +
|Bravo
  +
|Deceased
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|[[Barry Burton|Burton, Barry]]
|[[Richard Aiken|Aiken, Richard]] || Backup man<ref>[[Richard Aiken Profile]]</ref> || Communications expert<ref name="DS"/>|| Bravo ||Deceased
 
  +
|Backup man<ref name="DS" />
  +
|Weapons supervisor{{Verify}}
  +
|Alpha
  +
|Alive
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|[[Rebecca Chambers|Chambers, Rebecca]]
|[[Barry Burton|Burton, Barry]] || Backup man<ref name="DS"/> || Weapons supervisor{{Verify}}|| Alpha || Alive
 
  +
|Rear-security<ref name="DS" />
 
|Chemicals expert (Medic)<ref>''Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles (2007)'', file: "[[Rebecca Chambers Profile]]"</ref>
  +
|Bravo
  +
|Alive
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|[[Edward Dewey|Dewey, Edward]]
|[[Rebecca Chambers|Chambers, Rebecca]] || Rear-security<ref name="DS"/> ||Chemicals expert (Medic)<ref>''Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles (2007)'', file: "[[Rebecca Chambers Profile]]"</ref> || Bravo || Alive
 
  +
|Rear-security
 
|Pilot<ref>''Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles'' (2007), file: "[[Edward Dewey Profile]]"</ref>
  +
|Bravo
  +
|Deceased
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|[[Joseph Frost|Frost, Joseph]]
|[[Edward Dewey|Dewey, Edward]] || Rear-security || Pilot<ref>''Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles'' (2007), file: "[[Edward Dewey Profile]]"</ref> || Bravo || Deceased
 
  +
|Omni man<ref name="DS" />
  +
|Vehicle and equipment maintenance technician;<ref name="DS">[[Resident Evil: Deadly Silence]] manual; pages 6-7.</ref> qualified to handle dangerous goods.<ref group="excerpt">''Excerpt from ''Inside of BIO-HAZARD'', p.10'':<br />"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。"</ref>
  +
|Alpha
  +
|Deceased
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|[[Enrico Marini|Marini, Enrico]]
|[[Joseph Frost|Frost, Joseph]] || Omni man<ref name="DS"/> || Maintenance supervisor<ref name="DS">[[Resident Evil: Deadly Silence]] manual; pages 6-7</ref> || Alpha || Deceased
 
  +
|Leader
  +
|Bravo leader<ref name="DS" />
  +
|Bravo
  +
|Deceased
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|[[Forest Speyer|Speyer, Forest]]
|[[Enrico Marini|Marini, Enrico]] || Team Captain<ref name="DS"/> || Bravo leader<ref name="DS"/> || Bravo ||Deceased
 
  +
|Omni man<ref name="DS" />
 
|Maintenance,<ref name="DS" /><br />Sharpshooter<ref>''Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles'' (2007), file: "[[Forest Speyer Profile]]"</ref>
  +
|Bravo
  +
|Deceased
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|[[Kenneth J. Sullivan|Sullivan, Kenneth J.]]
|[[Forest Speyer|Speyer, Forest]] || Omni man<ref name="DS"/> || Maintenance,<ref name="DS"/><br />Sharpshooter<ref>''Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles'' (2007), file: "[[Forest Speyer Profile]]"</ref> || Bravo || Deceased
 
  +
|Pointman<ref name="DS" />
  +
|Chemist<ref name="DS" />
  +
|Bravo
  +
|Deceased
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|[[Chris Redfield|Redfield, Chris]]
|[[Kenneth J. Sullivan|Sullivan, Kenneth J.]] || Pointman<ref name="DS"/> || Chemist<ref name="DS"/>|| Bravo || Deceased
 
  +
|Pointman<ref name="DS" />
  +
|Sharpshooter,<br />Co-pilot<ref name="DS" />
  +
|Alpha
  +
|Alive
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|[[Jill Valentine|Valentine, Jill]]
|[[Chris Redfield|Redfield, Chris]] || Pointman<ref name="DS"/> || Sharpshooter,<br />Co-pilot<ref name="DS"/>|| Alpha || Alive
 
  +
|Rear-security<ref name="DS" />
  +
|B&E specialist<ref name="DS" />
  +
|Alpha
  +
|Alive
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|[[Brad Vickers|Vickers, Brad]]
|[[Jill Valentine|Valentine, Jill]] || Rear-security<ref name="Jill"/> || B&E specialist<ref name="DS"/>|| Alpha || Alive
 
  +
|Rear-security<ref name="DS" />
  +
|Pilot <ref name="DS" /><br />Computer expert<ref name="DS" />
  +
|Alpha
  +
|Deceased
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|[[Albert Wesker|Wesker, Albert]]
|[[Brad Vickers|Vickers, Brad]] || Rear-security<ref name="DS"/> || Pilot <ref name="DS"/><br />Computer expert<ref name="DS"/> || Alpha ||Deceased
 
  +
|Leader
|-
 
  +
|Former US Army officer and biotechnology specialist.<ref group="excerpt">''Excerpt from ''Inside of BIO-HAZARD'', p.10'':<br />"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。"</ref>
|[[Albert Wesker|Wesker, Albert]] || Team Captain<ref>Jill: "Captain Wesker, where's Chris?</ref> || Division leader<ref name="DS"/> || Alpha ||Deceased
 
  +
|Alpha
  +
|Deceased
 
|}
 
|}
   
 
==Uniform distinctions==
==Materiel==
 
  +
In the two years of its existence, S.T.A.R.S. never established a uniform, though plans for one were underway in mid-1998.
===Armament===
 
The standard sidearm of the unit is a customized variant of the [[Beretta 92F/FS|Beretta 92F]] known as the '''92F S.T.A.R.S. Special''' ('''Custom''') or '''[[Samurai Edge|Mod. Samurai Edge]]'''.<ref group="notes">The S.T.A.R.S. M92F / Samurai Edge was not featured in the [[Resident Evil (1996 game)|first game]], it marked it's first appearance in the [[Resident Evil 3: Nemesis|third game]], following it's reappearance in the [[Resident Evil (2002 game)|remake of the first game]] and later games.</ref> It was designed by [[Joe Kendo]], brother of the [[Kendo Gun Shop]]'s owner, [[Robert Kendo]] (a close friend of Barry Burton). A standard-issue model was distributed among the members of S.T.A.R.S., including further specialized versions for Chris, Jill, and Wesker. Barry's model was modified to fire the .40 S&W round. With knives sporting the team's emblem on the blade, it is assumed that each had a different knife although they were not seen or heard of until Darkside Chronicles. The S.T.A.R.S. photo also showed members with various automatic weapons including several [[Heckler & Koch MP5]] submachine guns and one bullpup assault rifle that resembles the '''Steyr AUG''', held by Enrico. These weapons were not used during actual gameplay, possibly due to the fact that search-and-rescue operations rarely require the use of automatic weapons, if any weaponry whatsoever. Also, the inclusion of [[assault rifle]]s and [[sub-machine gun]]s would have lowered the intensity and ominously dark atmosphere of the game dramatically. An Ingram M-11 can also be seen in the photo, held by Joseph though this weapon did not make its appearance until ''Resident Evil 2'' or the game's PC port.
 
   
 
Each member of the unit wore an undershirt (Except for Forest, who wore only his blue Flak vest) with the S.T.A.R.S. emblem over the left sleeve, (Save for Richard, who oddly has the standard RPD emblem on his sleeve. His undershirt also reads RPD on the front) and an M69 Flak vest suited for each operative's personal skills and specialty, exceptions are Rebecca and Jill; Rebecca had a normal body armor and Jill had shoulder armor. For example, Chris' vest was equipped with a sheath for his combat knife, while Rebecca's vest prominently displayed a red cross on the back, the international symbol of a medical assistance officer. Some operators had leg holsters, Barry had a leather Magnum holster for his Silver Serpent. Most members had SWAT fingerless gloves with watches over the gloves (Edward and Brad were only seen wearing watches, this may be due to the fact that they're pilots). All members had a pair of Jungle boots to complete their basic uniform. Each member is allowed to choose their color for his/her uniform. Some members wore LC1 suspenders along with LC2 belts while some only had LC2 belts with nothing on them. Members had their own pouches attached to their belts or web gear depending on the equipment they were bringing. A much more official and practical prototype S.T.A.R.S. uniform was also designed consisting of olive drab fatigues and a black tactical vest with the S.T.A.R.S. logo emblazoned across the back, but this outfit was never formally adopted due to the (Raccoon City) teams' demise. Instead, Chris wore the only known prototype on his mission to rescue his sister Claire, during the Rockfort Island incident.
===Equipment===
 
'''Less lethal equipment:'''
 
   
 
==Equipment==
S.T.A.R.S. also brought less lethal equipment with them during their mission in the Arklay region. Most notably Chris, Jill, and Rebecca. Jill had a Taser during the Mansion incident, this piece of equipment is also known as a [[Stun Gun]]. Both Chris and Rebecca had [[Flash Grenade (RE1)|Flash Grenades]] in their arsenal during their time in the Arklay region.
 
  +
Due to the specialist and privately funded nature of S.T.A.R.S., equipment used by the organisation was diverse. This included special equipment used at S.T.A.R.S. HQ, located on the second floor of the Raccoon Police Station.<ref name="Archives304"/>
   
 
===Weapons===
'''Personal equipment:'''
 
  +
The standard issue sidearm for S.T.A.R.S. was a modified Beretta 92F.<ref name="Archives304"/> 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".<ref name="Archives304"/> 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 customisation 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 an Ingram M-11 on missions, while Speyer may have brought the grenade launcher he was found with with him.
Kenneth and Joseph each had camcorders mounted on their shoulders to record combat data on DV Tapes. Tactically, these devices are used by scouts to record and transmit reconnaissance data and strategic information to the team's command unit, although both of the S.T.A.R.S. field officers were also involved in the situation at the time, and Wesker most certainly would not have wished the information be made known to those outside of his sphere of influence. Rebecca Chambers had her personal S.T.A.R.S. chemical mixing set during the Ecliptic Express Incident.
 
   
  +
===Other equipment===
Walkie-talkies were also available to S.T.A.R.S., though for some reason Chris and Jill did not bring any on their Arklay mountains mission (The two has their radio in the mansion event of Umbrella Chronicles, though). Both Wesker and Richard used tactical headsets connected to these said Walkie-Talkies during the Mansion Incident.
 
  +
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 free one's hands if needed.
   
 
===Transportation===
 
===Transportation===
  +
After its formation, S.T.A.R.S. was provided with an [[Eurocopter AS350B|Aérospatiale Eurocopter AS350B]]. By 1998, however, they had exchanged it for two [[Bell UH-1|UH-1/204B model]] helicopters. One of these was trashed in the Arklay Mountains, and it is uncertain if it was recovered.
There were two [[Bell UH-1|UH-1/204B model]] helicopters assigned to the S.T.A.R.S. unit, with one allocated to each team. Brad Vickers was assigned as Alpha Team's pilot, with Edward Dewey assigned as Bravo Team's pilot. One of the RPD's pilots, Kevin Dooley, had been called in at least once to contribute support to both Alpha and Bravo as the situation required. The S.T.A.R.S. photo (with the background depicting the [[Eurocopter AS350B|Aérospatiale Eurocopter AS350B]] police helicopter destroyed during the failed rescue attempt of [[Elliot Edward]]) also suggests that RPD patrol helicopters may be used for S.T.A.R.S. operations when necessary.
 
 
==Uniform distinctions==
 
Each member of the unit wore an undershirt (Except for Forest, who wore only his blue Flak vest) with the S.T.A.R.S. emblem over the left sleeve, (Save for Richard, who oddly has the standard RPD emblem on his sleeve. His undershirt also reads RPD on the front) and an M69 Flak vest suited for each operative's personal skills and specialty, exceptions are Rebecca and Jill; Rebecca had a normal body armor and Jill had shoulder armor. For example, Chris' vest was equipped with a sheath for his combat knife, while Rebecca's vest prominently displayed a red cross on the back, the international symbol of a medical assistance officer. Some operatives had leg holsters, Barry had a leather Magnum holster for his Silver Serpent. Most members had SWAT fingerless gloves with watches over the gloves (Edward and Brad were only seen wearing watches, this may be due to the fact that they're pilots). All members had a pair of Jungle boots to complete their basic uniform. Each member is allowed to choose their color for his/her uniform. Some members wore LC1 suspenders along with LC2 belts while some only had LC2 belts with nothing on them. Members had their own pouches attached to their belts or web gear depending on the equipment they were bringing. A much more official and practical prototype S.T.A.R.S. uniform was also designed consisting of olive drab fatigues and a black tactical vest with the S.T.A.R.S. logo emblazoned across the back, but this outfit was never formally adopted due to the (Raccoon City) teams' demise. Instead, Chris wore the only known prototype on his mission to rescue his sister Claire, during the Rockfort Island incident.
 
   
 
==Further notes==
 
==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).
 
*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 (1998 game)|Resident Evil 2]]'' (starring Chris Redfield's sister [[Claire Redfield|Claire]] and [[Raccoon Police Department]] (R.P.D.) rookie officer [[Leon S. Kennedy]]), all of the S.T.A.R.S. operatives from the original game (excluding Rebecca), can be seen in a photograph located in the S.T.A.R.S. office on the second floor of the RPD next to Wesker's desk, which can be searched for [[film D]]. They were pictured along with one previously unseen member. It is generally accepted that he is simply an early version of Kevin Dooley. As Dooley was confirmed as not being a S.T.A.R.S. member, but an RPD pilot used at least once for S.T.A.R.S., he may in fact be the extra man in the picture. The same picture can also be found in ''[[Resident Evil 3: Nemesis]]'' but then a special key is needed to gain access to the room.
+
*In ''[[Resident Evil 2 (1998 game)|Resident Evil 2]]'' (starring Chris Redfield's sister [[Claire Redfield|Claire]] and [[Raccoon Police Department]] (R.P.D.) rookie officer [[Leon S. Kennedy]]), all of the S.T.A.R.S. operators from the original game (excluding Rebecca), can be seen in a photograph located in the S.T.A.R.S. office on the second floor of the RPD next to Wesker's desk, which can be searched for [[film D]]. They were pictured along with one previously unseen member. It is generally accepted that he is simply an early version of Kevin Dooley. As Dooley was confirmed as not being a S.T.A.R.S. member, but an RPD pilot used at least once for S.T.A.R.S., he may in fact be the extra man in the picture.
  +
**The same picture can also be found in ''[[Resident Evil 3: Nemesis]]'' but then a special key is needed to gain access to the room.
  +
**The said same picture can be also found in ''[[Resident Evil 2]]'' remake at the [[Dark-room]].
 
*After the credits of ''[[Resident Evil 4]]'', it mentions S.T.A.R.S. when naming the copyrights.
 
*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.
 
*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.
Line 107: Line 172:
 
*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.
 
*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.
 
*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==
 
==Gallery==
Line 129: Line 195:
   
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==
  +
;excerpts
;notes
 
   
<references group="notes"/>
+
<references group="excerpt" />
   
  +
;references
 
;references
 
;references
   
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{{Resident Evil lore}}
 
{{Resident Evil lore}}
 
{{Resident Evil 0 lore}}
 
{{Resident Evil 0 lore}}
 
{{Resident Evil 3: Nemesis lore}}
 
{{Resident Evil 3 remake lore}}
   
 
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[[ja:S.T.A.R.S.]]
 
[[ja:S.T.A.R.S.]]
 
[[pt-br:Serviço de Resgate e Táticas Especiais]]
 
[[pt-br:Serviço de Resgate e Táticas Especiais]]
 
[[Category:Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles lore]]
 
[[Category:Raccoon Police Department]]
 
[[Category:Raccoon Police Department]]
 
[[Category:Law enforcement]]
 
[[Category:Law enforcement]]
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[[Category:Resident Evil lore]]
 
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Revision as of 07:45, 10 February 2020

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 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, there emerged an increasing need for better policing to maintain law and order. Among the violent crimes plaguing the city was that 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 "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 recognised.

Mansion Incident (1998)

In May 1998, the Arklay Laboratory fell into chaos with the release of an experimental t-Virus strain. With the staff no longer able to keep up with their duties, experimental bio-weapons made their escape, killing several people and mutating more. Over the next two months, the RPD failed to solve the killings: no motive could be found, no suspects identified or suspicious people reported receiving treatment for suspicious injuries. Unable to make headway, Police Chief Brian Irons formally assigned the case to S.T.A.R.S.

Receiving orders from Umbrella, Wesker himself 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 to the northwest of the city, where it was theorised the killers may have been based. Suffering from an engine failure, they landed near the Spencer Mansion located above the laboratory.[8] The majority of Bravo Team made their way into the mansion and began investigating, with Cpt. Marini finding a subway tunnel that took him to the nearby NEST facility and soon uncovering evidence Umbrella was planning their demise from within S.T.A.R.S. Chambers meanwhile was separated from the group and uncovered illegal human research performed by Umbrella in the 1970s and '80s. S.T.A.R.S. officer Edward Dewey and RPD pilot Kevin Dooley meanwhile were killed soon after the helicopter landed.

With the loss of Dooley and the helicopter, the five remaining S.T.A.R.S. officers were left trapped within the Spencer Mansion and the buildings surrounding it. Cpt. 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. Chambers and Richard Aiken meanwhile found one another and investigated the building to look for Marini, but were not successful.

Without any word from Bravo Team for many hours, Alpha Team was prepared for a mission to investigate the loss of contact.[9] Ahead of the mission, Cpt. Wesker confronted subordinate Barry Burton. Having formerly worked at the Arklay Laboratory, Wesker threatened Burton with the murder of his family, and forced him to agree to assist in the destruction of incriminating evidence in exchange for their survival. Burton was unaware, however, that there was no murder plan on his family and they were not held hostage by Umbrella personnel as he believed.

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

While inside, Alpha Team split-up as per their training. As they arrived, Bravo Team member Kenneth J. Sullivan was pursued by a Zombified employee and his threat torn into, killing him. Elsewhere, Aiken was attacked by a large, poisonous snake called Yawn, and Chambers fled to a store room, possibly in search of an antivenom, where she would be found by Alpha Team member Chris Redfield. While Aiken's fate is unknown, Speyer is known to have awoken as a Zombie and attacked one of his colleagues. During these events, Redfield, Burton and Jill Valentine continued exploring the complex as part of their investigation, with Burton destroying any evidence he could fine. During the exploration, Marini himself was found, and killed by Wesker before he could reveal what he knew of a conspirator to the others. To keep himself safe, Wesker may have tried to implicate Burton instead.

In the early hours of the 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 to destroy implicating evidence in a plan that would kill S.T.A.R.S. in the process, and finally that Wesker himself was an Umbrella employee formerly assigned to the lab. Confronted at a lab, he confirmed his wrongdoing, and revealed he was in fact planning to betray Umbrella as well by handing over evacuated samples to a third party.

As he was confronted, Wesker was successful in awakening and releasing the T-002, a recently completed supersoldier created by a strain of t-Virus. The Tyrant quickly turned on him, impaling him with his claw, before turning to face the others. The other S.T.A.R.S. members made their way out of the lab, with Chambers finding and setting off a bomb in the facility, which Umbrella had intended Wesker to use. Wesker himself would wake up in the lab, rejuvenated by a recent viral infection that had mutated him. Unable to recover any important samples, he was forced to escape from the facility empty handed.[10] Meanwhile, his subordinates killed the T-002 on a helipad as Vickers picked them up.

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.' 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] 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] What happened to Chambers is uncertain, though it is believed she continued with her university education, as she would earn a doctorate in virology some years later.

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 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 for 24-hour shifts before switching to the other team, allowing S.T.A.R.S. to remain active in the event of an emergency.[12] While neither team was superior to the other, Alpha Team Captain Albert Wesker held superiority over Bravo Team Captain Enrico Marini.

Specialisations

Due to the specialist requirements of S.T.A.R.S., the organisation was expected to handle a wide variety of missions and investigations, ranging from disposal of chemical weapons to bomb disposal to obtaining digital evidence.

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

Name Position Qualifications, role Team Status
Aiken, Richard Backup man[13] Communications expert[14] Bravo Deceased
Burton, Barry Backup man[14] Weapons supervisor[citation needed] Alpha Alive
Chambers, Rebecca Rear-security[14] Chemicals expert (Medic)[15] Bravo Alive
Dewey, Edward Rear-security Pilot[16] Bravo Deceased
Frost, Joseph Omni man[14] Vehicle and equipment maintenance technician;[14] qualified to handle dangerous goods.[excerpt 3] Alpha Deceased
Marini, Enrico Leader Bravo leader[14] Bravo Deceased
Speyer, Forest Omni man[14] Maintenance,[14]
Sharpshooter[17]
Bravo Deceased
Sullivan, Kenneth J. Pointman[14] Chemist[14] Bravo 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 expert[14]
Alpha Deceased
Wesker, Albert Leader Former US Army officer and biotechnology specialist.[excerpt 4] Alpha Deceased

Uniform distinctions

In the two years of its existence, S.T.A.R.S. never established a uniform, though plans for one were underway in mid-1998.

Each member of the unit wore an undershirt (Except for Forest, who wore only his blue Flak vest) with the S.T.A.R.S. emblem over the left sleeve, (Save for Richard, who oddly has the standard RPD emblem on his sleeve. His undershirt also reads RPD on the front) and an M69 Flak vest suited for each operative's personal skills and specialty, exceptions are Rebecca and Jill; Rebecca had a normal body armor and Jill had shoulder armor. For example, Chris' vest was equipped with a sheath for his combat knife, while Rebecca's vest prominently displayed a red cross on the back, the international symbol of a medical assistance officer. Some operators had leg holsters, Barry had a leather Magnum holster for his Silver Serpent. Most members had SWAT fingerless gloves with watches over the gloves (Edward and Brad were only seen wearing watches, this may be due to the fact that they're pilots). All members had a pair of Jungle boots to complete their basic uniform. Each member is allowed to choose their color for his/her uniform. Some members wore LC1 suspenders along with LC2 belts while some only had LC2 belts with nothing on them. Members had their own pouches attached to their belts or web gear depending on the equipment they were bringing. A much more official and practical prototype S.T.A.R.S. uniform was also designed consisting of olive drab fatigues and a black tactical vest with the S.T.A.R.S. logo emblazoned across the back, but this outfit was never formally adopted due to the (Raccoon City) teams' demise. Instead, Chris wore the only known prototype on his mission to rescue his sister Claire, during the Rockfort Island incident.

Equipment

Due to the specialist and privately funded nature of S.T.A.R.S., equipment used by the organisation 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 92F.[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 customisation 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 an Ingram M-11 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 free one's hands if needed.

Transportation

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 trashed 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 (starring Chris Redfield's sister Claire and Raccoon Police Department (R.P.D.) rookie officer Leon S. Kennedy), all of the S.T.A.R.S. operators from the original game (excluding Rebecca), can be seen in a photograph located in the S.T.A.R.S. office on the second floor of the RPD next to Wesker's desk, which can be searched for film D. They were pictured along with one previously unseen member. It is generally accepted that he is simply an early version of Kevin Dooley. As Dooley was confirmed as not being a S.T.A.R.S. member, but an RPD pilot used at least once for S.T.A.R.S., he may in fact be the extra man in the picture.
  • 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
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. True Story Behind Biohazard. Capcom. p. 53. 
  13. Richard Aiken Profile
  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. Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles (2007), file: "Rebecca Chambers Profile"
  16. Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles (2007), file: "Edward Dewey Profile"
  17. Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles (2007), file: "Forest Speyer Profile"