Brad Vickers didn't come to Raccoon City with a rucksack full of medals or a history of special ops. Born in the quiet town of Delucia, Brad was a "tech prodigy" who was more comfortable with flight manuals and circuit boards than ballistics. He joined the R.P.D. because of the S.T.A.R.S. funding boom. To Brad, the unit represented the pinnacle of law enforcement technology. He saw a chance to fly the most advanced helicopters in the country and work with cutting-edge chemical protection gear. He didn't join to be a hero; he joined to be the best Technical Specialist in the state.

While the team teased him, Brad’s utility was undeniable. He was the only member trained in all three &of these critical support pillars:*

• Aviation: Primary pilot for Alpha Team.
• Information Technology: Digital forensics and evidence recovery.
• Chemical/Biological Protection: Specialist in handling hazardous substances (HAZMAT).

Brad's tenure in Alpha Team was a trial by fire—mostly from his own teammates.

Joseph Frost was Brad’s primary antagonist. As the team's "hothead" and maintenance specialist, Joseph had zero patience for Brad’s pre-flight jitters. Joseph was the one who coined the nickname "Chickenheart," often hiding Brad’s flight goggles or "accidentally" discharging a flashbang near him just to watch him jump. To Joseph, Brad was a liability; to Brad, Joseph was a reckless bully.

Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine treated Brad with a sort of weary, older-sibling patience.

• Chris: Being a former Air Force pilot, Chris respected Brad’s skill in the cockpit but was often frustrated by his lack of "combat grit."
• Jill: Jill was the only one who defended him from Joseph’s more cruel pranks. She recognized that Brad’s Rear Security position was vital—he was the one who ensured their exit strategy was always viable.

The only place Brad felt truly "at home" was the hangar or the tech lab. This is where he formed his deepest bonds with Kevin Dooley and Edward Dewey.

• How They Met: They met during the inter-departmental certification for the R.P.D.'s new encrypted communication net. While the "muscle" was out at the range, the "nerds" were stuck in a basement figuring out why the signal kept dropping.
• Kevin Dooley: Kevin was the mentor Brad never had. While Brad was high-strung, Kevin was the "cool stunt pilot." Kevin taught Brad that a helicopter wasn't just a machine—it was a partner.
• Edward Dewey: Dewey was Brad's closest friend. They bonded over being the "non-warriors" of S.T.A.R.S. They spent long nights betting on how long it would take for Captain Wesker to get annoyed by their humor. Dewey’s optimism helped ground Brad’s constant anxiety.

The Roof: July 24, 1996 (17:00 Hours)

The sun was beating down on the R.P.D. roof, turning the metal skin of the Eurocopter AS 350B-2 into a searing griddle. Most of the precinct was in a state of suppressed panic over the missing Bravo Team, but for Brad, the only way to manage the fear was through meticulous, repetitive action. He was perched atop the roof of the bird, a screwdriver in his pocket and a checklist clipped to his vest. His keen eyes scanned every rivet and seal. He wasn't just looking for mechanical failure; he was looking for an excuse to stay busy.

The warm glow of the sun illuminated the dust motes in the air, but Brad didn't notice the beauty. He was thinking about Kevin out there in the dark, and Dewey last joke before takeoff. He checked the rotor pitch for the fourth time, his movements precise and purposeful.