General Joseph Lente is the secondary antagonist in Killzone. He is the commander of the Helghast Third Army, and answered only to the direct authority of the Helghast leader, Scolar Visari. Lente personally led the First Assault Division of the Third Army during the invasion of Vekta, and stormed several beachheads, as well as command the overall Helghast invasion forces.

Biography

Joseph Lente was a staunch supporter of Visari and his beliefs of Helghast nationalism and expansionism. He was a close friend of his Chief of Staff Gregor Hakha until the latter grew disgusted with Visari's ideology and defected to the ISA. Lente was angered by Hakha's betrayal in which he executed Hakha's brother for defending his "heroism".^[1]

Lente was responsible for devising the Helghan Empire's invasion of Vekta and would personally supervised the assault on the planet.^[2] In 2357, Lente led the Third Helghan Army in the invasion. The ISA traitor, General Stuart Adams, would deactivate the SD Network over Vekta, and the Helghast would successfully invade the planet with ease.

Second Extrasolar War

The invasion plan went off perfectly. Helghast forces pushed through Vekta while Lente led a squad of soldiers to board the SD Platform commanded by Adams and took it over after Adams and General Bradley Vaughton reactivated the defense network. Vaughton was then executed by one of Lente's men at the behest of Adams, and Lente supervised the Helghast invasion from the SD Platform, as it caused havoc on the ISA with its reactivated weapon now in Lente and Adam's hands, while waiting to use the defense network to ambush the UCA reinforcements from Earth.^[3]

While the ISA remained ignorant of Adams' betrayal, Lente and Adams learned that a squad of soldiers, led by Captain Jan Templar, had discovered Adams' treachery and attempted to stop their plans. Lente was disappointed with Adams' failed attempts to eliminate Templar's squad and decided to go planet side to take care of them himself.^[4]

Death

He traveled to a ISA missile base with a team of bodyguards to ambush the ISA squad. Templar and his squad, however, managed to fight back and defeat Lente and his bodyguards.

Left badly wounded, Lente discovered that Hakha was among Templar's squad, and he spitefully told him that he was a disgrace to the Helghast and informed him how his family were ashamed of him, and his role in his brother's execution. Upon hearing his brother's death, Hakha shot Lente dead.^[1] Templar's squad soon undone Lente's plans, disrupting the invasion and costing Visari the loss of one of his most prized commanders.

Characteristics

Lente is fiercely loyal to Visari and will stop at nothing to ensure that the Helghast conquest of Vekta is successful. He is described as the black heart that beats within the Helghast, and a sane, cold, intelligent and notoriously proud Helghast. He is tactically astute and shouldn't be underestimated, physically or mentally.

He appears to be ruthless enough for a Helghast and is a man of enormous experience. He is also a man of infectious patriotism and is hugely respected by all corners of the Helghast military. Unlike most Helghast who are aggressive and violent, Lente is a calm and sophisticated general,

While most Helghast hate humans with a strong passion, Lente holds a less intense disdain for them but still considers them inferior to the Helghast race. He does not like having to work with General Adams, even if he is on their side. When Adams failed to kill Templar, Lente decided to do it himself, stating that "it takes a Helghan to do a Helghan's job."

Lente had a genuine friendship with Hakha whom he once trusted him with his life, and even considered making him a General had he stayed loyal to the Empire. He was left angered by Hakha's betrayal to the Empire and he personally executed Hakha's brother for supporting his "heroism." During his last and final encounter with Hakha, Lente only expressed his contempt to Hakha by recalling how his family shunned him and his brother's execution.

Description

Like most Helghast, Lente is bald with pale skin and frail in appearance. He appears quite old and has somewhat oily skin. He is likely in his 50s. Lente wears a long dark- grey, cloak-like jacket like military uniform, which is also worn by the Helghast officers during the invasion. He has very thin, dark, striking eyebrows. Like most other Helghast leaders, Lente seems taller than most other soldiers. He is most likely an evolved Helghast as he doesn't wear a breathing mask like other Helghast. His voice is calm and a more upper class kind of accent. Although it could just be a shadow, his neck seems to be much darker and almost black. Although he never fights in battle anymore, Lente likely carries an officer's pistol, and when he fights Templar's team, he is using a StA-52 Assault Rifle.

Conversations

Escape

Misty Waters

Hunting the Traitor

Forging a Path

Hidden Past

Gallery

"Scolar Visari and I are merely concerned with one thing, and that is victory."

Portrait of Joseph Lente alongside Scolar Visari, Armin Metrac, Tendon Cobar and Mael Radec.

Portrait of Joseph Lente for Killzone 3.

Trivia

• In the Dutch language, his surname 'Lente' literally means spring.
• Lente is seen in a painting in Visari Palace in Killzone 2. He is seen with Visari, along with General Armin Metrac, Colonel Tendon Cobar, and Colonel Mael Radec, the other antagonists of the series. There is a similar painting in a museum in Killzone 3.
• Lente is about as durable as one of his own Bodyguards, requiring approximately 20 rounds of M82 Assault Rifle fire to bring down. He wields an StA-52 Assault Rifle in combat.
• In Killzone 3, one of the cutscenes in the senate room, if one where to look VERY carefully nearing the end with Stahl appearing, what may appear to be a model of either Lente or Hahka can be seen (it is unknown if this either a carefully hidden easter egg, or a case of misidentification). 

References