Charles Drake came from old money. His family owned the largest mining and smelting company in South Australia. One that Charles had besides being quite rich was a strong sense of the heroic. Against his fathers wishes Charles joined the RAAF (or Royal Australian Air Force), and became a fighter pilot. As a pilot, Charles saw several ways he could improve on his planes performance, but due to regulations he was unable to make it better.

When the Skellarans first made an all out attack on Earth, Charles along with the rest of his fighting squadron the Piping Shrikes took to the air in the defense of Australia. Alas modern fighter planes proved ineffectual to the spacecraft of the Skellerians. One by one Piping Shrikes were obliterated in the sky or shot down. Charles was one of the last to plummet to the parched Outback of Australia. Charles tied to punch out of his jet fighter, but his plane had taken on too much damage and the canopy wouldn’t open. The crash was quite horrific.

Lesser men probably would’ve died in such a crash. Charles Drake wasn’t that kind of man. He survived. However, he did receive multiple injures that did end his flying career, and his days in the military. As for the Skellaran invasion it was eventually defeated due to the efforts of several of the Earths mightiest super-hero groups, such as the Sentinels, Southern Knights, Dawnstars, and Sanction. Even a few super-villain groups aided in driving off the Skellaran invaders. These included Empire, Seven Soldiers, The Riders of the Storm, and even Gauntlet.

As for Charles he lay in an automated bed in his mansion in Adelaide, paralyzed from the neck down. However, Charles wouldn’t let such an injury keep him down. Charles paid for a powerful AI to be built into his mansion. Using the super computer, Charles set it about the task of designing an exoskeleton to allow Charles to move again. It took the AI about six weeks to come up with the first prototype. The first exoskeleton was more like a suit of armor, and was very heavy, but it did allow Charles to move again. Late models were lighter and smaller. Free to move around again Charles set about to perfecting his Piping Shrike battlesuit. His desire to be a hero had never diminished. Since the intervention of Earths super-heroes to stop the Skellaran invasion, Charles became determined that he was going to become on of them.

Over the years Charles has made constant improvements in his armor. He has also started fighting crime as the Piping Shrike, naturally. To the general public they think that the Piping Shrike is the bodyguard and close friend of Charles Blake, not knowing that they are actually the same person.

Since Charles was a little child and heard the exploits of his ancestors he has wanted to be a hero. Not just for the glory or the adoration of the public, but rather as a way to help those in danger or need. Charles as Piping Shrike has become quite famous for his heroic actions.

Another facet of Charles personality is his need for perfection. He constantly strives to improve himself, his armor, and the teamwork with his fellow members of Australia Squadron. At times his desire for perfection has annoyed his more free spirited team members, such as the Tasmanian Tiger.

"Australia Squadron Attack!"

Charles wears a suit of highly advanced armor. The armor enhances the wearers strength, speed, reflexes, and stamina. Naturally the armor protects the wearer from most physical or energy attacks. Servomotors in the legs allows the wearer to run at great speeds. Built into the back of the armor under the wings is the suits power pack that powers all the systems from the sensors to the weapons array. The armor is sealed and protects the wearer from the effects of extreme environment. This also includes its own oxygen supply.

Piping Shrike has energy generators built into the vambraces of the armor. He’s able to fire a variety of energy beams from the gauntlets from a powerful focused beamed to a more broad beam for striking multiple foes.

The suit also has an extensive sensor built into it, from a heat sensor which allows him see heat patterns along with a powerful radar. The faceplate of the suit is polarized and protects the wearer from bright flashes, and also the helmet is padded protecting the wearer from loud sounds as well.

Jets are built into the boots of the armor, which allow the wearer to fly. Piping Shrike also has a pair of wings on the back of the suit. These wings grant the wearer further aerodynamics and thus able to fly even faster.

As Piping Shrike, Charles wears a suit of articulated armor that covers his body from head to foot. The primary color of the armor is white with black vambraces, greaves, and pauldrons. Attached to the back of the armor is a set of light weight metallic wings also in black. When not in use the wings fold in close to the body. The helmet of the armor consists of a white helm with a black faceplate. Because the armor is completely sealed Piping Shrike has no facial characteristics. The armor is also a marvel in microsization, in that when not use Charles can fold it down so that the entire suit of armor fits in a briefcase.

When not in his Piping Shrike armor, Charles is a rangy Australian man a little six feet in height. He has untamable blonde hair and a charming smile. Few know about the small electronic device attached to his back that allows him to move. Being wealthly Charles wears the finest clothing. He usually is seen wearing a pinestriped suit and his ever present briefcase.