THQ's Homefront 2/Harold Wong

## Harold Wong

**Document Status: Yellow [Work in progress]**

## Background

**Harold Wong** was a computer repair technician before the invasion. A 27 year old Asian he is intelligent but his strong resentment of any authority has always prevented him from getting a more lucrative job or advancing anywhere he has worked, and he has always quit or been fired from every position. Obsessed with anime, socially awkward, bipolar and a loner he has found some acceptance in the Resistance due to his skills but as he becomes more unstable he is causing more and more concern.

Even before the Koreans attacked, as American society began to fragment and the Government passed laws increasing police powers and curtailing the rights of citizens, Wong began to fantasize about becoming a libertarian terrorist. In his mind, he would be a lone warrior of freedom challenging fascist tendencies of his Government. He had downloaded guides to bomb-making and even gathered some of the materials when the Invasion occurred (although it's doubtful whether he would have actually carried out any attacks). He lacks empathy and so is initially able to plant bombs and even kill directly without consequence, however as time goes on the results of his actions are starting to penetrate his psyche.

He's gaunt, fingers stained with bomb making chemicals and nicotine.

If Michael (Harold) thought civil liberties had already been eroded, then the Invasion has totally sent him over the edge. Michael quickly joined the Resistance and found his home in the Direct Action branch where his skills with electronics and his stash of terrorist guides have proved very useful. He is obsessed with causing damage to the KPA and believes that fear is his greatest weapon against them - he wants every KPA soldier to be afraid to go on patrol for fear of running into an IED or ambush. He's also quite prepared to use the same methods against collaborators to ensure civilians aren't tempted to join the KPA cause. By killing at a distance rather than face to face he is able to plan and commit mass acts of violence without having to directly confront the consequences, but the demons are growing stronger in his subconscious. He has become bi-polar, alternating between febrile excitement and morose introspection and his erratic behavior is increasingly concerning to the rest of the Resistance. He is most afraid of being captured and tortured - the ultimate in powerlessness.

He resents Lisa's attempts to gain dominance of the agenda and impose her authority. He is overly friendly towards Parrish or else withdrawn from all contact depending on mood. He doesn't connect with Dr Burnett as he doesn't comprehend the desire to help others at his own expense. He withdraws more and more into himself as his campaign of terror continues.

*THQ: I hate to be “politically correct”, but we should have some sort of reasonable balance here—I’d like to see a positive Asian American figure in our cast, and if Wong’s the only prominent one, that’s not so good. I don’t want to change his character, I like this direction a lot. So, could there be another Asian American as well—e.g., the commander of the Rangers? Are we still doing the Korean American who helps them into Fairmount? If so—that’s a positive depiction, and we could leave Wong as a Chinese American. I also was doing some research on Asian American war heroes. There was a guy named “Young-oak” Kim (first name was Korean, this was an American phonetic version) who was a highly decorated US Army vet of WW2 and the Korean War. We could have a unit of Asian American patriots (Koreans, Japanese, etc.) in Philadelphia who call themselves the Young Oaks and secretly aid the Resistance—that could be where the guy who helps at Fairmount comes from, or people who help in the Samaritan missions. Thoughts?*

## Story Presence

Story Arc: *a few sentences on the evolution of the character*

### Independence Hall

* Wong is part of Lisa's plan to rescue Walker although he resents her attempts to order him about and is not normally so directly involved in action, preferring to operate from the shadows
* He sees himself as an elusive menace tormenting the KPA at every turn - too smart and skilled to ever be caught
* He likes being needed
* He's in a manic phase

### Wetlands

* Wong's close up view of the carnage in Independence Hall has shaken his sense of invulnerability and he is confronted with the consequences of his bomb making
* He moves into a depressive phase
* He refuses to go to the Wetlands preferring to remain in the city

### Comms Dish

* Wong's mental state continues to deteriorate, it's not certain how long he can continue to operate
* Wong's part in this mission is to create a series of distractions and diversions to draw the KPA away from City Hall and keep them reacting to new threats during the mission
* Wong carries out his duties but he now realises the emotional impact of the deaths he has caused, he is traumatised but also more emotionally mature and begins to relate to others