J. Griffiths

## Appearances

*Project Wingman*

*"To be truthful, I don’t agree with your way of life, but you’ve come to Cascadia to aid us, and for that, I can’t complain. We’ll pay you what you’re due as long as you give us your best."*
― Griffiths on his mercenaries
Captain **J. Griffiths,** callsign **Stardust,** was a Cascadian Independence Force and Air Force pilot. He was the Independence Force HQ liaison assigned to be the handler of the mercenaries during the Cascadian Conflict. He was among the Cascadian National Guard elements who advocated for open war against the Pacific Federation for independence, and is viewed accordingly by some.

He was the contact Sicario first met following their unauthorized entry into the country. He fought in many operations during the duration of the war. He also led a three-plane squadron, hence his callsign. He also cut a deal with Sicario's last remaining members in the wake of the Cascadian Calamity Event.

He was shot down by Crimson 1 along with every active air unit except for Monarch in the Presidian Disaster following its liberation and his final fate is unknown.

## History

### Pre-Cascadian Conflict

Little is known of J. Griffiths' early history. He had contact with the future members of Sicario's Hitman Team at one point before AC 422 and knew Evelyn London during her service with the Cascadian Air Force up to her dishonorable discharge.

### Cascadian Conflict

#### An unwanted stint

*"Hello, Sicario, I’m Captain Griffiths, otherwise known as Stardust. From now on, I’ll be your point of contact with the Cascadian Independence Force."*
― Griffiths' introduction
When the Federation began expanding and conquering more territory in the years leading to AC 432, Griffiths was in support of independence to stop the Federation from perpetuating its wars by using Cascadia's resources for them. When war broke out, he was assigned by Independence Force HQ as the liaison to the mercenaries they hired to bolster their forces, much to his chagrin. On February 2, he issues a challenge codeword to Sicario's leader, Arnold Frenken, for proper entry into the CIF, to which he answered with the right countersign. They then landed at a temporary airfield for a briefing on the ongoing civil war as well as a recapture of Rowsdower Air Force Base for use by mercenaries. Upon seeing Sicario's stellar performance in the operation, he quipped about it before reminding them all to make their hiring worthwhile.

Griffiths later sent out Hitman Team to the Salvemini Vineyards to rescue the Wild Boar Regiment from a Federation siege, and as the war situation worsened for the CIF due to incoming Federation reinforcements, changed his mind on mercenaries, especially with how he sent them to assist the evacuation of Presidia when it fell to the Federation. He participated in the battle himself like at Rowsdower and, during that time, advised Morgan Elizabeth to retreat while they had air superiority. The General and Wild Boar leader stated they were busy sabotaging roads and waterways linked to the capital, however.

#### A changed perspective

*"You know I don't like admitting this, but mercenary pilots in this world are among some of the best. They get more air time, more time on target, than any of us national pilots outside of the Periphery. In truth, you get the glamor we all thought fighter pilots were supposed to have when signing up for the Academy. That, and you're making five times what I make in a year."*
― Griffiths to Monarch
Griffiths and IF command formed a plan to stall the Federation advance and presided the briefing for Operation Flash Hazard, the beginning of a series of raids on Federation-controlled resource facilities in-country. He commended Hitman for not only dealing the most damage in the attacks, but also attracting the Federation Peacekeepers' attention through Crimson Team, and hoped they do not waste the time bought by the raids.

In preparation for Operation Blackout, Griffiths personally selected Monarch, Hitman's leader, for a raid on Wensleydale Range, which contains the Chaohord Defense Region. He reasoned, to his disdain, that pilots like him are far more effective and experienced and therefore more suited than most others.

Griffiths took part in the Bering Strait furball with his entire squadron, and told Sicario and others that he's heading up already while they had their briefing. He complained to them later about being late, and watching them rack up kills casually, asked Frenken if the war was a glory game to him. He thanked them, especially Hitman Team and Monarch, for winning the furball by defeating Crimson Team. He also participated in the CIF Offensive Campaign and briefed Hitman Team on Phase 3 of the offensive, which is retaking Grimwood Forest, before returning to the frontlines.

#### Striking the Deal

*"For all Cascadia knows, you can just take this and run away with it, never to return. But we put our trust in you to come back with the cavalry. If not, well, I guess you'll just be the lowlife mercenary who turned away when history needed him most."*
― Griffiths to Frenken on the Deal
Griffiths survived the Cascadian Calamity Event and radioed Sicario's survivors upon returning to Rowsdower about their contract. However, after suffering so many losses, they were reluctant and even outright hostile in Dominic Zaitsev's case, the AWACS threatening to tag him as a hostile to Hitman Team, whose identities were leaked prior after returning from Prospero. Griffiths pleaded for them to listen to him firsthand and "stick around for five minutes". Upon landing with Hitman, he addressed their concerns about wanting to leave, bringing up the first time they did and addressing Eve by her old rank.

He told Frenken that they needed their help now more than ever (even with their severely depleted strength) and then showed them briefcases containing the Deal, which he claimed would be enough for Frenken to rebuild Sicario from the ashes, along with the conditional orders required to legitimately earn it. He also said Frenken could run away with the Deal and leave Cascadia to its fate. Eve, however, was apathetic; she didn't trust Griffiths' offer of their country protecting them, and she felt her fate was inevitable. Her fellow wingman, Peter Kennedy, told her to rethink her decision and consider the alternative. They were then stunned by their part of the Deal, and Griffiths stated they can get their lives back by erasing the last 20 years of their lives and giving them the choice to start anew or continue being mercenaries. They eventually accepted it and, after some brainstorming, decided to relocate to Highway 34; Rowsdower, by then, was about to be consumed by the nearby geothermal hotspots.

#### Ending the war

*"The time is nearly upon us. Presidia is on the horizon, and the Federation is cornered like a rat in Cascadia. This is their final beast, and they are desperately trying to keep it fed."*
―

Griffiths issued an order for Hitman Team to return to Prospero. Riding on one of the supply trucks, he watched Hitman engage Crimson Team for the final time and shoot them all down, the Captain lamenting Crimson 1, the last one shot down, wasting his talents for a lost cause. Dominic confirmed no more contacts in the area and cleared him and his convoy to move into Prospero and recover lost equipment by cargo jets and helicopters, also finding other forces to supplant Hitman's task. He also supervised Operation Welder, the last major naval engagement of the war, and after operation completion, stated the blockade would be maintained for at least a month to starve the Federation defenders at Presidia. However, circumstances beyond his control would force them to begin the recapture 11 days later, and Griffiths would fly in the final battle. Once the ceasefire was issued, he along with Independence Force HQ ordered all units to stand down; Cascadia was now back in their hands. However, a revenge-driven Crimson 1, in his PW-Mk.I, interrupted and broke the ceasefire at the last moment by bombing Presidia with cordium warheads and shooting down all air units in the area except for Monarch.

The CIF Captain tried to radio Crimson 1 to cease his attacks, knowing his lack of knowledge of the ceasefire, but was shot down along with the rest. Whether he survived the detonations or was vaporized is unknown.

## Personality and relationships

Griffiths was fundamentally in conflict with the mercenary way of life, especially their constant pursuit of glory, and only agreed to be a liaison out of pragmatism. However, as the war continued, he gradually began to change his mind on mercenaries, even confessing that they fly better and earn bigger than regulars like him. Given his advocacy for open war, he was thoroughly patriotic and sought complete independence and victory against the Federation.

## Etymology

"Griffiths" comes from the Old Welsh for "fierce lord."

## References

1. ↑ Sector D2 Limited. (2020). *Project Wingman* [Video game]. San Francisco, CA: Humble Games. Credits: Voice Actor
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Sector D2. (2020). *Project Wingman* [Video game]. San Francisco, CA: Humble Games. Mission 03: "Homestead."
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Sector D2 Limited. (2020). *Project Wingman* [Video game]. San Francisco, CA: Humble Games. Files Archive → Pilot Entries: Stardust | J. Griffiths
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Sector D2. (2020). *Project Wingman* [Video game]. San Francisco, CA: Humble Games. Mission 02: "Frontiers."
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Sector D2. (2020). *Project Wingman* [Video game]. San Francisco, CA: Humble Games. Mission 11: "Cold War."
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Sector D2. (2020). *Project Wingman* [Video game]. San Francisco, CA: Humble Games. Mission 16: "Wayback."
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Sector D2. (2020). *Project Wingman* [Video game]. San Francisco, CA: Humble Games. Mission 20: "Presidia."
8. ↑ Sector D2. (2020). *Project Wingman* [Video game]. San Francisco, CA: Humble Games. Mission 04: "Uphill, Every Way."
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Sector D2. (2020). *Project Wingman* [Video game]. San Francisco, CA: Humble Games. Mission 05: "Sirens of Defeat."
10. ↑ Sector D2. (2020). *Project Wingman* [Video game]. San Francisco, CA: Humble Games. Mission 06: "Machine of the Mantle."
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Sector D2. (2020). *Project Wingman* [Video game]. San Francisco, CA: Humble Games. Mission 09: "Stepping Stone."
12. ↑ Sector D2. (2020). *Project Wingman* [Video game]. San Francisco, CA: Humble Games. Mission 14: "Open Season."
13. ↑ Sector D2. (2020). *Project Wingman* [Video game]. San Francisco, CA: Humble Games. Mission 18: "Return."
14. ↑ Sector D2. (2020). *Project Wingman* [Video game]. San Francisco, CA: Humble Games. Mission 19: "Red Sea."
15. ↑ Sector D2 Limited. (2020). *Project Wingman* [Video game]. San Francisco, CA: Humble Games. Files Archive → World Entries: Cascadian Conflict Ceasefire