Kurtis "Hammer" Grange is was an African-American CIA agent investigating the suspected compromise of PISCES in the U.K. when his team was attacked. Thanks to Hammer's efforts, he discovered that there was indeed an alien infestation of Shan that had taken over PISCES leadership. He met Jim-Bean during this mission and the two saved each others' lives. They were both inducted into Majestic-12 soon after.

Because of Hammer's exposure to the Shan, Majestic-12 insists that Jim-Bean and Hammer work together as a form of loose quarantine and to keep them under observation.