- "Adams saw the truth. We planned a Vekta ruled by the military, as part of the Helghast empire. Strong, pure..."
- ―General Stratson to Jan Templar[src]
Former General Dwight Stratson was an ISA officer of Southern Vekta and a tertiary antagonist in Killzone: Liberation. During the Second Extrasolar War he proposed the controversial idea of using nuclear weapons to repel the Helghast invasion force from the south. In reality, however, he is secretly a traitor in league with the Helghast.
Biography[]
Dwight Stratson was a native Vektan who joined the ISA military at a young age and rose steadily to the rank of General. But privately, Stratson was dissatisfied with the ISA, seeing it to be "soft and weak." His dissatisfaction with the ISA led him to be convinced by Lieutenant General Stuart Adams to secretly support the Helghan Empire to conquer Vekta, under the belief that Vekta would be made stronger under the Helghast.
Stratson was in contact with Adams and Helghast General Armin Metrac, who gave them information on the Helghast invasion plan. Stratson's task was to lure most of the ISA forces out of Vekta's cities, which the Helghast could easily take control of and gain better positions.[1] Adams was to disable the SD weapons platform in order to allow the Helghast fleet to bypass Vekta's defenses and invade the planet.
In 2357, the Helghast invaded, and Stratson and Adams fulfilled their missions perfectly. Stratson was in command of areas in the south of Vekta, and so was not involved in the heavy fighting at Vekta City. When the initial invasion force at Vekta City was defeated and Adams was killed and his treachery revealed, Stratson stayed low, fearing that he would be discovered.[1]
He regained contact with Metrac, who told him that he would be leading the Helghast who were still in Southern Vekta. Stratson began devising plans and preparations for this. He had decorated the team of soldiers that had stopped Adams, led by Jan Templar, and offered one of the members, Sergeant Rico Velasquez, a squad of his own soldiers, known as the Hellhounds.
Rayhoven[]
When Metrac invaded, Stratson provided ISA plans to the General, allowing him to push through the south with brutal efficiency. Over the next few weeks, Stratson began assassinating top ISA officials in the south so that he could become in charge of the remaining troops there. He also oversaw the creation of the Red Dust nuclear weapons, and proposed on deploying them against the Helghast. This caused an uproar among the ISA Council due to the potentially devastating loss of life and the political consequences of using nuclear weapons. To foster support for his plan, Stratson called for a meeting with Defense Minister Heff Milcher and Dr. Evelyn Batton, a weapons researcher who helped created Red Dust, at Rayhoven Base.
The base came under attack as they met, and the three were cut off. Stratson was trapped inside a small building with the automatic door broken. He was rescued by Jan Templar who gets him to a drop-ship carrying the other two VIPs. Just before leaving, Stratson tells Templar to destroy the elevator that leads to the main weapons cache to deny the Helghast from possessing them. However, Stratson secretly informed the Helghast where the nukes were stored. As Stratson and the VIPs were heading back to Vekta City, they were shot down by the Helghast, and crashed in the Reag swamp lands. They sent out a distress signal, but are eventually captured.
Framing Rico Velasquez[]
Stratson was taken by Colonel Cobar. During his captivity, Stratson found Rico Velasquez also captured and came up with the plan to frame Velasquez as a traitor in his place. He successfully tricked Velasquez into believing that Stratson is pretending to be collaborating with the Helghast, and convincing Velasquez to work for him as a double-agent, posing as a willing collaborator to gather information from their enemy. When Templar came to rescue the hostages and eventually defeating Cobar, Stratson killed Cobar before he could reveal his treachery to Templar. Thereafter, upon learning the location of Metrac's base, Stratson ordered a bombing run over it and denying Templar's request to rescue Rico. Stratson later learned that Templar disobeyed his orders and managed to kill Metrac.
Treachery Exposed[]
With Metrac dead, Stratson was left in command of the Helghast forces remaining on Vekta and secretly led them in terrorizing southern Vekta, determining to kill the last few ISA generals and allowing him in control of the south before moving on to take the other major cities. Using the sewer systems, Stratson led the Helghast in attacking Sedah City from beneath. He also encountered and captured Velasquez, and revealing the truth of his treachery. Stratson traveled to the Royal Vektan Palace where he killed General Murphy, leaving him in full command of the forces in the south.
Stratson is eventually confronted by Templar, who learned of his treachery from Rico. The treasonous general sent his men to kill Templar before personally battling him himself in an EXO-Skeleton suit, but only to be defeated. Before being arrested, Stratson rant to Templar by claiming that he was doing for the good of Vekta and that the ISA needed him to recover the Red Dust nuclear weapons from the Helghast. But Templar ignored his words and Stratson was taken away. It is unknown what becomes of him but it is clear he is either imprisoned for life or most likely executed for treason.
Characteristics[]
Stratson is an extremely capable leader and soldier, and commands the respect and admiration of nearly all the ISA on Vekta. He is an understanding man who his men have learned to trust. However, he still does not allow failure in his ranks.
In reality, Stratson saw the ISA being "soft and weak" and incapable of winning against the Helghast. He and along with Stuart Adams planned to have Vekta placed under military rule, as part of the Helghan Empire, claiming that it is for the good of Vekta to be strong and pure.
When he is confronted by Templar, he shows a darker, angrier side, and appears to gladly betray the ISA and kill anyone who stands in his way. He shows a lot of cunning and deceit in his acts that are revealed after his treachery, such as assassinating all the other generals of Southern Vekta.
Description[]
General Stratson is a tall man with short black hair and appears to be in his 50s. He wears a green beret, gray trousers, and very long dark boots. He wears a light blue sweater vest with a white shirt and tie beneath it. He also wears a gray jacket with some yellow edges. He always carries an M3 Revolver and when fighting Templar he uses a new exoskeleton combat suit.
Gallery[]
Conversations[]
Killzone: Liberation[]
V.4 - Resurrection[]
General Stratson: "We've fought a long war - too long - but soon it will be over. Military strength will restore order to Vekta. I must pay General Murphy a visit. Stay alert - the assassin could show up at any time."
ISA: "Yes, sir. We know how to deal with traitors."
General Stratson: "I depend on it..."
- Templar's confrontation
General Stratson: "Captain Templar... Here to receive your orders?"
Templar: "No, sir. I came here to arrest you. For treason."
General Stratson: "You've forgotten the chain of command, Captain. Kill this traitor..."
- The end of Stratson
General Stratson: "You fools! I acted for the good of Vekta. The ISA can't win! It's soft and weak -"
(Stratson is cut off)
Templar: "I heard it all before, General. From your friend Adams."
General Stratson: "Adams saw the truth. We planned a Vekta ruled by the military, as part of the Helghast empire. Strong, pure..."
Templar: "Take him away. Prepare him for interrogation."
(Stratson is picked up and escorted away by two ISA soldiers)
General Stratson: "The Rayhoven nukes are already in Helghan! You need me! Vekta needs me!"
(Rico and Evelyn arrive at the scene)
Rico: "Man, all this blood, sweat and shit, and we end up fighting our own. Again."
Templar: "He may have had the uniform. But he wasn't one of us, Rico."
Rico: "Damn right. Brothers in arms, the only brothers I've got."
Evelyn: "What now, Jan? You think the Helghast will attack again?"
Rico: "They'll never give up - but neither will we. We just have to remember what we're fighting for."
Evelyn: "I think Vekta's ready to start over."
Templar: "And if that means taking this war to Helghan - I say let's do it..."
Quotes[]
- "Good to see you, Captain. Now let's get to the dropship!" - General Stratson to Jan Templar
- "Dammit, I'm taking fire! Keep me covered, soldier!" - After taking damage
- "Listen up, Captain. Our main weapons cache is in an underground bunker north of here. The demo squad wasn't able to take out the access elevator before the Helghast attacked. So you're gonna have to take care of it. We can't let those weapons fall into enemy hands!" - After being escorted to the drop-ship