Unleashing Sojourn's 'Shockwaves': Dive into the Epic Tale of Overwatch 2

Highlights

The short story "Shockwaves" in Overwatch 2 revolves around the protagonist, Sojourn, who valiantly protects her hometown, Toronto, against the relentless assault of the invading Null Sector forces. The narrative highlights Sojourn's exceptional combat expertise and strategic acumen, honed through her illustrious tenure as a Canadian Army soldier and Overwatch agent.

The content fragment depicts the horrific violence inflicted by the Null Sector invasion. It vividly illustrates bodies crashing into buildings and innocent civilians ruthlessly executed in large numbers.

Despite desiring the support of her Overwatch comrades, Sojourn courageously continues her mission to save as many people as possible and secure their safe evacuation. She unwaveringly pledges to see the war until its conclusion and protect her beloved hometown.

The Overwatch franchise is known for its unique and captivating lore, which is conveyed through various mediums such as comic books, videos, and short stories. Unlike Overwatch 2 and its predecessor, which primarily relied on these alternative forms of media for their lore, the recently launched story missions now offer a more focused narrative experience. The latest addition to this lore-filled universe is the Overwatch 2 short story titled "Shockwaves" by Brandon Easton.

In "Shockwaves," readers are immersed in a thrilling battle alongside Sojourn as she bravely fights against the invading Null Sector forces in her hometown of Toronto. The story seems to follow the events of her Calling animated short, where the retired captain is visited by Tremblay, a former colleague who now works for the government intelligence agency CSIS. Tremblay questions Sojourn about her involvement in a vigilante raid carried out by their agency. However, their conversation is abruptly interrupted as Null Sector ships appear in the sky. Displaying her renowned skills as an elite Overwatch operative, Sojourn quickly dons her suit and leaps into action without hesitation. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Tremblay sets aside the idea of arresting her and instead joins Sojourn in defending their beloved city.

Sojourn Holds the Fort in Overwatch 2’s Shockwaves

Shockwaves not only highlights Sojourn's remarkable abilities but also showcases her tactical knowledge and combat proficiency acquired during her time as a soldier in the Canadian Army and as an Overwatch agent. In the initial paragraphs, she demonstrates her resilience, swiftly recovering from the impact of an explosion due to her cybernetic enhancements. Unfortunately, her communication unit may have been damaged in the blast, resulting in the loss of contact with her former colleague, Tremblay. It is possible that Tremblay was also injured by the explosion. Regardless, Sojourn doesn't have the luxury to worry as she immediately encounters a Null Sector gunner appearing amidst a bustling intersection. Fortunately, the timely arrival of the Canadian army, emergency forces, and police allows her to receive assistance when confronting this new threat.

As the exceptional leader she exemplifies, Sojourn swiftly instructs the light infantry troops to provide covering fire. Simultaneously, she directs the troops with energy weapons and heavy artillery to target the robot's cannons, while she herself diverts its attention. With her decisive actions, she delivers the final blow by aiming for and shooting the bot's central assembly, causing it to explode. Following the successful elimination of the threat, Sojourn shifts her focus towards aiding the evacuation efforts in the city.

Overwatch 2’s Shockwaves Short Story Gives Insight on Null Sector Troops and Their Ruthlessness

In Overwatch 2, the short story format allows for more gruesome portrayals of the violence that accompanies the Null Sector invasion. Instead of visually depicting the gore, the story depicts the brutal scene of Sojourn's allies being tossed into the sky like confetti and crashing onto buildings, causing their numbers to dwindle from over 100 troops to only 20. Furthermore, the story describes the horrific actions of the Nulltroopers as they corral innocent civilians into canyons and execute them en masse.

As Sojourn observes the situation, she notices that the Null Sector's ships are deploying new types of troops that she has never seen before. One particularly intimidating example is a heavily armored tank with a horn-like protrusion resembling that of a rhinoceros. These upgraded models unleash such violence and bloodshed that Sojourn regrets her enhanced cybernetic eyesight, as it only intensifies the tragedy. Amidst the chaos, she manages to save two children who were frozen in terror after witnessing a cafe explode before their eyes. It is later revealed that the children's parents were inside the bombed building, victims of the ruthless actions of the Null Sector troops.

During those traumatic moments, Sojourn longed for the presence of her Overwatch comrades, particularly Winston, to offer assistance. Nevertheless, she acknowledged the dissolving of the organization for a valid purpose. Undeterred, she persevered and successfully rescued every human and omnic she could, ensuring their safe evacuation aboard the ferries in Toronto. Sojourn found solace when she heard the horns of the departing boats, yet she was aware that her mission was far from complete. Easton aptly concludes the tale by stating that Sojourn remains determined to fight to the end of this war, even if she stands alone in the defense of her hometown.

Overwatch 2 is currently available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.