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The Cast of Characters Part 2: Meet Hawk and Flint
In Part 1 of our series, we met a brooding and powerful pair of combatants, Tex and Brutus. We learned about their personalities—gruff and mysterious, respectively—their shoot-first philosophy, their undying loyalty, and their strengths and weaknesses. Now it's time to meet the second, more subtle half of Brute Force: Hawk and Flint.
Hawk, stealth and reconnaissance expert.
Hawk
Hawk is very much an "army brat." Her heritage is one of complete dedication to the armed services, and a childhood spent moving from one military base to the next is testament to that. The military is all she knows, and other than her family, all she loves. The process, the chain of command, the structure as a whole is something she believes in without doubt. Hawk's enlistment was never in question, but the division she chose is not without familial controversy. Instead of joining a conventional division, where she would serve amidst a mass of other like-minded soldiers, Hawk found her calling in the more isolated department of "Operations." This allows her to work as a solo operative, but still feel like an important member of the overall military family.
Hawk, in many ways, represents what Tex is not. She is a quick, careful scout that believes in preparation, not blind aggression. While the fear and adrenaline of combat are not foreign to Hawk, she is not as battle-tested as other members of the group. In fact, it's this lack of experience, as well as the difference in perspective, that have created the tension between Hawk and Tex.
In battle, Hawk uses her scouting abilities and hi-tech ninja-like stealth to help gather intelligence (such as enemy movement and positioning) and position herself for lethal surprise attacks. Hawk can use a special "stealth mode" to effectively disappear, leaving no footprints, causing no aural disturbance, and essentially becoming invisible to enemies, unless directly in their line of sight. It is with this ability that Hawk can use her trusty blade to slit an enemy's throat into a gruesome smile, from ear to bloody ear. 
Flint, cyborg sniper.
Flint
Three decades have passed since the eruption of the vicious Machine Wars. Born from this conflict was an army of cyborgs; they were bred and trained to treat the violent rush of battle with cold, calculated efficiency. Remorse and human confusion were to be part of war's archaic past, as the bloodless cyborgs helped to usher in an era of clinical combat precision. Flint belongs to the last and most impressive class of these cyborg prototypes. She represents the pinnacle of the once-thriving bio-technology industry and is a testament to the know-how of InnoMation Industries (the company that produced her). She is still ticking along as well as ever.
The Protectorate's Special Weapons division has purchased Flint and added her to their active duty roster. Although genetically engineered soldiers have become the norm (and are much cheaper), Flint has proven time and again that her skills remain unparalleled. However, it's this very success that has caused some of Flint's less-than-desirable characteristics, including her ever-expanding ego and her overall disdain for those who don't meet her near-impossible expectations.
Flint fills the role of sniper for team Brute Force. Her cold demeanor and cybernetically augmented steady hand are the perfect tools for a professional sharpshooter. Flint is able to lock onto targets much quicker than other members of the team, and she misses her shots much less often, as well.
In combination, Hawk and Flint provide the much-needed subtle and surprise tactics that Tex and Brutus lack, just as Brutus and Tex provide the needed oomph and power that Hawk and Flint require. In short, they can be effective individually, if need be, but together, they are a Brute Force to be reckoned with. |
