Journal of William "Billy" Redbot:
May 21, 2021
It's been six years (to the day) since I left the Ghosts. Obviously, I'm still keeping a journal, but entries are few and far between -- I've been getting a lot of flight time in the FB-22 Strike Raptor, which was approved in 2018.
Being a paramilitant is so much different than being a Ghost. The food is leagues better, but it's still odd to receive orders from someone that is driven by profit instead of a sense of duty. Colonel Deacon is honorable enough, I suppose. The pay is better. Still...I can't shake the creepy realization that our organization's motive can change if a new customer flashes enough money.
Yesterday we conducted a strike on an opposing paramilitary organization. I won't say which, but as soon as the BBC breaks the story it won't be hard to figure out. We had to hit the deck to avoid EMP radar targeting; I swear I clipped a few pinetops, but my Mig-35 doesn't have any scratches. I chalked up four more air combat kills and twelve ground targets. My wingman, Zen E, used the new cannons and bested my score.
I have to suit up in four hours to go out again. Our carrier is moving to offshore Cape Canaveral for a special escort mission. Rumor has it we'll be protecting the shuttle launch this afternoon...if that's true, then the crowd is in for an unscheduled airshow.
"Ghost Lead, this is HAWX Lead...I just hit a flock of fairies...they keep shouting 'HEY, LISTEN'!"
Since playing a few levels with Nick and submitting the review for Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X., I honestly hadn't had much playtime with the game. A mission here, an unsatisfying versus match there. The game is beautiful and lots of fun when played with friends...it just doesn't hold my limited attention very well when stacked up next to the rest of my small library of action games.
As you know, any game or situation that promotes tactical awareness and acute teamwork is right up my alley. Halo 3, Call of Duty 4, Far Cry 2...these games are fun to play and even include game mode variations that provide some semblance of team strategy, but for the most part online matches are hectic and disjointed. It's crazy fun for a while; but when you want the true satisfaction of the hunt, there's no better method than four-through-the-door with silencers.
H.A.W.X. is one of those games that puts four players into an arena of combat, and although you and your teammates won't be kicking down any doors or capping fools with a 9mm, the thrill of effectively removing terrorists from the Earth is still present. There is a glaring difference, however, between the semi-close quarters of your standard-fare shooter and the open expanse of sky in H.A.W.X. No campers here, Cadet. What's more is that the scenery over which players dogfight is lush and overall interesting. ("I dare you to hit the tip of the Washington Monument with a J-Strike!")