Nicknames
|
Griffon (Treasure Keeper) |
| Basic Information | |
|---|---|
Gender
|
Male |
Age
|
46 (as of 2015) |
Birthday
|
1969 (Exact date unknown) |
Birthplace
|
United States |
Nationality
|
American |
Home
|
United States |
Eye Color
|
Blue |
Hair Color
|
Black |
| Personal Status | |
Status
|
Deceased |
Date of Death
|
2015 |
Killed by
|
Luke O'Neil and Marc Godart |
Death
|
Killed in action due to treason |
| Organization(s) | |
Affiliation(s)
|
|
Career
|
Major V.S.S.E. Operations Agent, codenamed Griffon |
| Misc. Information | |
Appears in
|
|
Weapon(s)
|
H&K Mk 23 handgun (basic weapon) and "NDI" submachine gun (Time Crisis II) |
Voice actor(s)
|
Scott McCulloch (Time Crisis II) |
Robert Baxter (ロバート・バクスター, Robāto Bakusutā) is the only character of the Time Crisis franchise to serve as both a protagonist (as the second playable character of Time Crisis II during the Neodyne Industries crisis (1998)) and the main antagonist in (Time Crisis 5 and its True Mastermind Expansion (2015), serving as a villain with a hidden agenda).
Appearance
Robert has short black hair, blue eyes and a slight goatee and sideburns.
In Time Crisis II, he wears a blue leather jacket with a white short sleeve undershirt, gray denim pants and blue and white striped sneakers with black linings.
In Time Crisis 5 and its True Mastermind Edition, he grows older and gains short facial hair and wears purple sunglasses.
He wears a gray and black snake-designed long sleeved button shirt with the sleeves are folded into cuffs and a white shoulder gun holsters on each side, white pants with a brown belt around his waist and black shoes. He also wears a matching gray watch on his left wrist. This is the outfit that he wears as a thoughtful negotiator later as a traitor towards the players and his old partner, Keith Martin.
Story
Robert is of Native American descent.
He served in the United States Navy SEAL Team 7 during his pre-V.S.S.E. years. Upon his recruitment to the V.S.S.E. from the Navy SEALs, Robert is given the name of Griffon: Treasure Keeper to avoid surprise attacks and possible prosecution (which Keith was handled much longer). Among all teams in the V.S.S.E., Keith and Robert serves as the agency's senior team. As a civilian, Robert is a school bus driver. He does not appear as a playable character in Crisis Mission.
Time Crisis II
On October 31, 1998, Neodyne Industries announced Starline Network, a global network consisting of 64 space satellites with the intention of uniting the world. An external audit by Christy Ryan revealed that it was actually a front to launch a military satellite into space, tailored to inflict damage. Christy attempted to inform V.S.S.E. about her audit, but was kidnapped by Jakov Kinisky when her real identity was revealed.
Robert and his then-partner, Keith was dispatched to rescue Christy, shut down Neodyne, and prevent the launch of the military satellite.
Time Crisis 5
Robert returns in Time Crisis 5 as an NPC. He serves as an officer for next-generation V.S.S.E. agents Luke O'Neil and Marc Godart. Robert, alongside O'Neil and Godart, are tasked with recovering a silver briefcase obtained by Wild Dog. The briefcase belonged to a V.S.S.E. interal auditor, who was investigating a possible traitor within the agency before abruptly being murdered. The rumored traitor was said to have been selling V.S.S.E. intel to enemy organizations. Robert also mentions that his old partner Keith Martin is suspected to be the traitor, though he strongly hopes this isn't the case.
After Wild Dog's mechanical hand then launches into the sky, flying off with the briefcase in tow, Robert tries to shoot the prosthetic hand but fails, the bullet striking the briefcase instead. After Wild Dog blows himself up for a fourth time, Luke, Marc, Catherine, and him make a trip to the jungle, in which the briefcase was spotted in Wild Dog's factory. Luke and Marc questioned Robert as to why he would shoot the briefcase en route to the jungle, in which Robert replied that "he wasn't shooting that thing for target practice".
After defeating the enemies inside the factory, Robert finds Keith inside and demands the briefcase be given to him. When Keith refuses, Robert fights him, questioning Keith about his betrayal and his teaming up with Wild Dog (even saying that he and Keith are fighting in Wild Dog's factory). After being exposed by Keith as the actual traitor (and the one who killed Christy) after the former is defeated, Robert attempted to kill Luke and Marc by throwing knives at them, but is foiled by Keith who fired his handgun at those knives. Having failed to kill the V.S.S.E. agents, Robert throws a Model 7290 flashbang grenade and escapes.
After the V.S.S.E. agents and Keith find him in the underground base, he sends them to a long plunge down, saying that "he is parting ways and that he is not the only person they have to face". Hence, the V.S.S.E. agents and Keith have to battle Wild Fang before finding Robert inside an aircraft cargo hold. After saying that "he can pick up where he had last left off", Robert summons a robot mech and himself brings out a railgun to try to kill the V.S.S.E. agents and Keith. It is also where he reveals to Keith about his plan on resetting the world with the drug that negates pain and fear, and turns people into zombies. Since the V.S.S.E. knew about its effects and the calamities should it be used, Robert, against V.S.S.E. regulations, had Keith protect the pharmacy that housed the drug, but winded to be a failure after Robert attacked and stole from the pharmacy, erasing the mission to prevent V.S.S.E. from knowing anything about the drug's theft.
With the aircraft taking off, the V.S.S.E. agents and Keith had to defeat elite soldiers inside another cargo compartment before arriving at the rear of the aircraft and combat Robert on a towering robot mech as the traitor readied the missile to strike New York with the evil intention of reducing the city to complete chaos with the drug. After the robot is destroyed, Robert prepares to launch his missile at New York, but Catherine attempted to launch herself at Robert in her V.S.S.E. chopper. In addition to destroying the remains of Robert's machine, Catherine also knocked his missile out of commission forcing Robert to attack his former allies in a last ditch effort. Robert is then shot out of the main carrier by the agents, most presumably dying, with his scheme to undermine the heart of his former organisation brought down by his deceived comrades.
Quotes
Time Crisis II
| “ | [Keith: I knew it! These maniacs have got the military satellite! And they're moving it by train.] We better get goin'... There's no time to lose! | „ |
| ~ Robert Baxter, after his partner learning about NDI's move about the satellite. |
Time Crisis 5 Stages 1 to 3
| “ | H.A.C.S.! Shoot the red tank behind him! | „ |
| ~ Robert Baxter, when H.A.C.S. appeared for the first time |
| “ | Three months ago, a V.S.S.E. agent was murdered. Her briefcase was never found. That agent was an internal auditor. Her case was full of classified intel. | „ |
| ~ Robert Baxter, replying to Catherine Ricci about the contents of the briefcase that the V.S.S.E. wants it back |
| “ | We may have underestimated this guy. | „ |
| ~ Robert Baxter, when Wild Dog used his detonator to trigger a jetpack instead of blowing himself as he had done in Time Crisis II |
| “ | Data proving there's a traitor within V.S.S.E. [Cathy: But why would Wild Dog......?]. Information from V.S.S.E. is worth serious coin. Or maybe even Wild Dog doesn't know who the traitor is. | „ |
| ~ Robert Baxter, replying to Catherine Ricci on why Wild Dog is interested about the briefcase |
| “ | That internal auditor was watching Keith. You probably already know this, but Keith used to be my partner. I've heard rumors that he sells intel, I don't want to believe them, but...... [Cathy: Surely not......] Once we get that case back, we'll know for sure. | „ |
| ~ Robert Baxter, suspicious that Keith was selling traitorous intel to Wild Dog |
Time Crisis 5 Stages 4 to 6 (True Mastermind Edition)
| “ | I expected more from you. | „ |
| ~ Robert Baxter, if players fail the sniping event |
| “ | Nicely done. | „ |
| ~ Robert Baxter, if players succeed the sniping event |
| “ | I can't say why... but I get the feeling Keith if up ahead... | „ |
| ~ Robert Baxter, feeling suspicious of Keith Martin's presence in the factory |
| “ | Watching you guys reminds me of my days. Me and Keith gave our all to complete the task at hand. | „ |
| ~ Robert Baxter, telling the V.S.S.E. agents about how committed they are in retrieving the briefcase is similar to the time he was in stopping Neodyne Industries |
| “ | You won't last standing there! | „ |
| ~ Robert Baxter, when fighting a more responsive H.A.C.S. in the factory (first quote) |
| “ | Blow the fuel tank above to spook them! | „ |
| ~ Robert Baxter, when fighting a more responsive H.A.C.S. in the factory (second quote) |
| “ | Looks like he's waiting for us... [Cathy: Huh?] It's gotta be Keith back there! I just know it! [Cathy: Maybe he's trying to tell us something...] We can't go easy on him. He can say what he wants after we take him down. | „ |
| ~ Robert Baxter, feeling suspicious of the case being in possession by Keith Martin |
| “ | Why did you betray us?! [Keith: It wasn't me!] Who else is there?! [Keith: I took the case to find out!] | „ |
| ~ Robert Baxter, demanding the reason for Keith's betrayal. |
| “ | You think we'd believe anyone allied with Wild Dog? [Keith: I didn't team up with him!] This whole factory is his! | „ |
| ~ Robert Baxter, to Keith Martin, on how he (Keith) used Wild Dog as bait to keep the V.S.S.E. in check, thinking that he (Keith) worked together with Wild Dog against the V.S.S.E. |
| “ | You think we'll buy that?! | „ |
| ~ Robert Baxter, to Keith Martin, denying the fact that Wild Dog was only giving him (Keith) time to decipher the stolen briefcase |
| “ | Enough! I'm here to take you down, old comrade! | „ |
| ~ Robert Baxter, frustrated that Keith is not returning the briefcase to him |
| “ | If you had just died this would have all gone according to plan. | „ |
| ~ Robert Baxter, upon revealing his true colors as the V.S.S.E. traitor to Luke O'Neil, Marc Godart, and Keith Martin |
| “ | Here's where we part ways. [Keith: What?] I'm not the one you're facing here. [Keith: Robeeeeerrrrtt!] | „ |
| ~ Robert Baxter, trapping the V.S.S.E. agents into some cave |
| “ | So you made it. We can pick up where we last left off. But this time, I'll have to kill you. | „ |
| ~ Robert Baxter, now a traitor, as he gets ready to kill the V.S.S.E. agents |
| “ | I've got a little toy to share with you. [Keith: What.......] Now then, shall we begin?! | „ |
| ~ Robert Baxter, when the mech appeared and armed with the railgun |
| “ | Even V.S.S.E. can't beat this, right? [Keith: He definitely came prepared...] | „ |
| ~ Robert Baxter, when the final battle begins |
| “ | The V.S.S.E. knew about its effects (of the drug). That's why I sent you (Keith Martin) on that mission 3 years ago, to protect it. The mission was a failure though, hmph. [Keith: So it WAS you!] I'll answer your question for you. To reset the whole world! | „ |
| ~ Robert Baxter, answering Keith's question on what he plans to do with the drug which turns people into zombies |
| “ | It's a missile all nice and filled with that drug. What do you think'll happen if I drop this on New York? [Keith: You think I'd let you do that?] Do you think you can stop me? It's time to show you this thing's true form! [Keith: Gah, you monster!] | „ |
| ~ Robert Baxter, piloting the robot, before battling the V.S.S.E. agents as the robots transforms into its true form |
| “ | Hmph. You still weren't able to stop the missile. [Marc: Gah!] [Luke: Dang it!] The world will meet its end with a drug from the hands pretending to save it! | „ |
| ~ The now-treacherous Robert Baxter, intent on launching a missile containing a zombie drug |
| “ | I didn't expect you to come this far. But you'll learn the truth soon enough. There is more than just one right in the world! | „ |
| ~ Robert Baxter's final words |
Trivia
- In Time Crisis II, he and Keith, unlike most of the V.S.S.E. teams, worked together without supporters, making them the army of two.
- The purpose of Time Crisis 5's True Mastermind update kit is to throw arcade goers off--to have the players thought Keith betrayed the V.S.S.E. but revealed that Robert duped the players and been used them all along.
- Robert is killed by Keith and company, making him one of the two V.S.S.E. agents to be deceased (next to Christy Ryan), but his death is due to treason.
- Despite getting older, he is the second V.S.S.E. agent who gains facial hair. The first is Giorgio Bruno from Time Crisis 4.
- He is also the third villain to have facial hair, the first being Giorgio Zott and the second being Wild Dog.
- In Time Crisis II, Robert speaks in a rougher and deeper voice. But in Time Crisis 5 and its True Mastermind Edition, he speaks in a slight different accent but in a deeper pitch.
- His overall appearance in Time Crisis 5 and the True Mastermind edition is based on the real life actor, Robert Downey Jr. who is best known for portraying Tony Stark, known as Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic saga.
- Interestingly, Iron Man becomes an antagonist in the movie, Captain America: Civil War where he and his team are against Captain America and his own team. In the case of Robert, he finally shows his true colors as an antagonist after Keith exposes to the rookies that he is a traitor to the V.S.S.E. when he dupes on both of them.
- In the final battle against his deceived comrades and his old partner, Keith, after his plans are thwarted by Catherine Ricci, Robert becomes mad at them for thwarting his plans. This mirrors Tony's actions as Iron Man who is mad at both of them for not telling the whole truth about the assassination of his parents which it was seen from Helmut Zemo's betamax tape as Winter Soldier was responsible for assassinating them both.
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