Template:StoryArc Ubelmann the Unknown

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Ubelmann the Unknown (25-29)

Souvenir

Letter from Requiem

To the one this world calls 'hero' :

It was fortune alone that began this, a twist of fate that allowed you to be the one to intervene. But that is the nature of fortune, to test those who would be greater than those around them. When you disrupted the strike against the document warehouse, I thought perhaps that fortune was coming into alignment. I did not yet take steps to force fortune's hand, however.

Your further tenacity was overwhelming to me, as you rescued all of the kidnapped historians. It is also, I would guess, at this point that you first head the name of Wolfgang Ubelmann from the men you rescued.

Now having seen a measure of your quality I decided it would be time to employ your ability. A tip was sent to you anonymously on my order, and enabled you to prevent the theft of more documents to be used in Ubelmann's plans.

You needed no help from me to learn of the kidnap of James Bartlett, known to you no doubt by the more colorful name 'Thunderhead.' However, I sent aid to you in the form of his location. From him too, you no doubt heard the name Wolfgang Ubelmann.

Once again, I gave you aid to stop Ubelmann from securing the devices and data he sought. You performed admirably, a true credit to your kind.

Time was growing short, and fortune turned against both of us in ways you did not know. It was a sacrifice, but I revealed Ubelmann's location to you at great cost. Fate is often cruel, however, and Ubelmann escaped. But the clues I left for you were enough to reveal his true nature.

Now that you understood Ubelmann's true point of origin, I am sure his motives were clear to you. A time traveler, he sought to glean knowledge and technology from our present to return to the past and change his future. Using my information, you were able to disrupt his plans by capturing the equipment he depended on.

And so the final stage was set. Upon it you played your part, capturing Ubelmann and ending his threat.

But you may wonder what were my reasons for betraying a man I knew so long ago, for helping you to stop a victory by the Axis powers whom I once served. It is no great surprise. Take but a moment and consider the course of history from my point of view. If the Axis had won, if their rule had extended across the Earth in a thousand year Reich, then consider what place I would have held within it. Perhaps a mere princeling of some minor state, perhaps forced to the periphery by those with more voice in the halls of influence. My 5th Column, my power, would never have existed. Ubelmann's presence was good for morale, but his victory would have destroyed us, destroyed all of us utterly.

I cannot say that you have gained my respect, but I will acknowledge that you fought well. Drink deeply of your success. Bask in the adulation of your peers. Savor this victory. Know that you have saved your world and this moment from the shadow of history. But you have only saved it for now. Do not think that you have saved this world for your future. Know that you have saved this world for my coming Dominion.

- Requiem

Stop the 5th Column raid

Briefing

I got a tip this morning about a 5th Column raid on a government office. I haven't been able to find out any details, even the function of this particular office. I have the feeling something big is going down. I need you to stop that 5th Column raid.

Mission Acceptance

Try to find out what the 5th Column's after, won't you?

Unnecessary Solicitation

I want to know what's behind that 5th Column raid, Character.

Mission Objective(s)

There is no directory in this lobby, no license, no photographs. No detail reveals anything about the business done here.

• Defeat all soldiers in office
  • 4 archivists to save, Investigate raid

You have defeated the 5th Column.

Enemies

5th Column

Notable NPCs

• 4 Archivists (Non-Escort Hostages)

5th Column Patrols

Before Combat

5th Column Soldier 1: Leave no drawer unsearched. We need everything.

Combat Start

5th Column Soldier 1: You will not compromise my mission.

5th Column Soldier 2: I'll take you down!

Archivists dialogue

Upon Rescue

Archivist (x3): I'd thank you more, but that might compromise my security clearance.

Archivist: I may be able to tell you something.

Old documents

The 5th Column were examining these files when you interrupted their raid. The yellowed pages appear to describe an alternate plan for the invasion of Europe during World War II.

The archivist's story

One of the archivists you rescued told you:

'I have no idea why the 5th Column would have attacked us. All we do is store old secret documents! Mostly we just sit on piles of moldering paper and occasionally send a document to someone on a Freedom of Information request. Most of the files we have here date back to World War II. What would anyone want with that old stuff?'

Debriefing

That's odd. I know the 5th Column has old roots, but what possible use could World War II documents be to them today?

Rescue the historians from the 5th Column

Briefing

Apparently the 5th Column isn't satisfied with stealing World War II documents. Now they're actually stealing World War II historians! Several experts in the era have been reported missing. I need you to rescue those historians from the 5th Column!

Mission Acceptance

Something tells me the 5th Column's interest is more than academic.

Unnecessary Solicitation

You've got to get those historians to safety.

Mission Objective(s)

The 5th Column aren't looking into the past out of simple curiosity. There must be something they hope to gain.

• Save kidnapped WWII historians
  • 5 historians to rescue

You rescued the historians from the 5th Column.

The historian's story

One of the historians you rescued told you:

'After they kidnapped us, a peculiar man arrived to interrogate us. The rest of them all acted like he was in charge. His name was Ubelmann, and he wanted to know everything I knew about the history of the Second World War. He knew a lot, but he had the oddest gaps in his knowledge. For example, when we started talking about the North Africa campaign, he knew who Rommel was, but he didn't know how he died. As I said, very strange.'

Enemies

5th Column

Notable NPCs

• 5 Historians (Hostages)

5th Column Sentries

Before Combat

5th Column Soldier 1: Ubelmann just got back to HQ. We'll be leaving once the prisoners are secured.

5th Column Soldier 2: I don't feel too good about this. That Ubelmann creeps me out.

Combat Start

5th Column Soldier 1: Hero attack! Counter-attack pattern Lambda!

Rescued Historians

Upon Rescue

Historian: I feel like I've just been through D-Day!

Historian: That was more exciting than studying the battle of Stalingrad!

Historian: I feel like I just spent a month on Iwo Jima!

Historian: By Jove! You really gave them a sound thrashing!

Historian: You've saved me as sure as Patton saved Bastogne. I've some info that may be important to you.

Debriefing

Whatever the reason, the 5th Column's sudden interest in history only seems to be growing. Something tells me that this 'Ubelmann' character is the key, but I wonder what it's all about?

Stop the 5th Column from getting the files

Briefing

I just received an anonymous tip that the 5th Column is still investigating World War II history. Seems there's a warehouse in this city that has a bunch of old FBI files on civil and military leaders and heroes from the 1940's. The government hasn't touched the place in decades, but it sounds like the 5th Column is eager to rummage through it now. Can you stop the 5th Column from getting those files?

Mission Acceptance

The 5th Column has been really focused on the past recently, and we still don't have a clue why.

Unnecessary Solicitation

Whatever the 5th Column wants with those records, it can't be good. Stop them.

Mission Objective(s)

Dusty file cabinets stand against the wall, their contents ripped out and scattered on the floor.

• Defeat all 5th Column soldiers
  • Find clue to the 5th Column's plan

You stopped the 5th Column raid and found a possible clue to their next target.

Hero files

This box is filled with old files on American heroes from World War II. Most of the extensive files are intact, but one is missing. A quick search reveals that they took the file on Thunderhead, a hero who fought in Europe and North Africa.

Enemies

5th Column

5th Column Patrols

Before Combat

5th Column Soldier 1: Break up into search teams and find the designated files.

5th Column Soldier 2: Roger that.

Combat Start

5th Column Soldier 1: Hero attack!

5th Column Soldier 2: You're history!

Debriefing

So the FBI had full files on all the heroes from the war years? That's not too surprising, really. But why would the 5th Column take the file on Thunderhead? From what I understand, Thunderhead's days as a hero are ancient history. Still, I better check on him. Last I recall he was still alive.

Rescue Jim 'Thunderhead' Bartlett from the 5th Column

Jim 'Thunderhead' Bartlett

Briefing

After that 5th Column raid on the old FBI files I did some checking. Turns out that the World War II era hero Thunderhead is still alive in retirement. Jim 'Thunderhead' Bartlett goes by his civilian name these days, it looks like someone's out to upset his retirement. His granddaughter just reported that he's been kidnapped by the 5th Column! Fortunately, my anonymous tipster is still on the ball. I have a good lead on where we can find him.

As far as I'm concerned, Thunderhead's still a valuable resource to this community. If anything happens, we may have to consider this one a failure.

Mission Acceptance

I wonder if this was all about Thunderhead? But that doesn't make any sense. Why would the modern 5th Column care about what he did back in the war? Or maybe there's something here that we're just not seeing yet.

Unnecessary Solicitation

'Thunderhead' Bartlett saved a lot of lives back in the war. Let's not let him down.

Mission Objective(s)

You've heard stories of Thunderhead's exploits during the war. Who hasn't? You hope you're in time to save him.

• Rescue Jim 'Thunderhead' Bartlett
  • Take Thunderhead to door

You have rescued Jim 'Thunderhead' Bartlett from the grasp of the 5th Column

Thunderhead's story

When you rescued Jim 'Thunderhead' Bartlett, he told you:

'Good to see you, kid. I thought I was done for. The ol' lightning ain't what it used to be, I guess. Those Nazi goons brought in a fellow to interrogate me. When I saw him, my jaw nearly hit the floor. He was the spitting image of Wolfgang Ubelmann, a German intelligence officer I crossed paths with back in the war. He introduced himself as Ubelmann, and acted like he knew me. Heck, he even remembered stuff only Ubelmann should have known. But he hadn't aged a day. He took off as soon as he heard you were coming.'

Enemies

5th Column

Notable NPCs

• Jim 'Thunderhead' Bartlett (Escort Hostage / NPC Ally)

Ambush! We're under attack!
After freeing Thunderhead you will be attacked by four waves of 5th Column Soldiers!

Jim 'Thunderhead' Bartlett

Before Combat

5th Column Soldier: Easy there, gramps. Don't bust a gasket.

Jim 'Thunderhead' Bartlett: Kids, you need a lesson in manners.

Combat Start

5th Column Soldier: Who intrudes?

Jim 'Thunderhead' Bartlett: Now you're in trouble. Unless my eyes are fooling me, that's Character!

Upon Rescue

Jim 'Thunderhead' Bartlett: I need your help getting out.

At Mission Exit

Jim 'Thunderhead' Bartlett: Hold up a second there, kid. I got something you may want to know.

Debriefing (mission successful)

The Bartlett family wanted to extend their thanks to you for rescuing Jim, who's doing fine by the way. From what he told you I'm starting to think this 'Wolfgang Ubelmann' character may be the key to all of this. But it doesn't seem like we have all the pieces together yet.

Debriefing (mission failed)

Well, Thunderhead had to make an unscheduled stop over at the hospital, but the important thing is, he's home. He had some interesting things to say. Apparently, he was interrogated by a man named Ubelmann, a man he claimed he had known over sixty years ago. The weird thing is, the man hadn't aged a day! I'm starting to think that this 'Wolfgang Ubelmann' character may be the key to all of this. But it doesn't seem like we have all the pieces together yet.

Stop the 5th Column raid

Briefing

I got another anonymous tip about the 5th Column. This time it seems like a normal 5th Column operation. No browsing document archives or kidnapping historians and old heroes; this time they're raiding a Lockhart Aerotech lab working on prototype defense systems. Are you ready to stop that 5th Column raid?

Mission Acceptance

This anonymous tipster sure seems to know a lot about the 5th Column's recent forays into history, as well as this mysterious Ubelmann character.

Unnecessary Solicitation

I think the 5th Column's been gearing up for something big. This raid could have some connection to the mysterious Ubelmann.

Mission Objective(s)

Lockhart's security system was no match for the brute force of the 5th Column. It's up to you to protect the company's inventions.

• Defeat all 5th Column in lab

You stopped the 5th Column raid and found a note on one of the defeated soldiers.

Signed orders

You found these orders on one of the 5th Column soldiers you defeated at the Lockhart Aerotech lab. The orders list several items to steal, including some high tech equipment that was produced for Portal Corporation. They also give the location of the 5th Column base these stolen items are to be delivered to. The papers are signed by one Lt. Wolfgang Ubelmann.

Enemies

5th Column

5th Column Sentries

Before Combat

5th Column Soldier 1: Ubelmann said we were to secure this facility and return to base.

5th Column Soldier 2: Easy for him. He already returned to base.

Combat Start

5th Column Soldier 1: Just our luck, hero scum! Attack pattern Omicron!

5th Column Patrol

Before Combat

5th Column Soldier 1: Ubelmann has a very specific list of parts.

5th Column Soldier 2: Let's find them quick and move on.

Debriefing

So, the anonymous tipster is still trying to help us find Ubelmann, or stop him at least. But something doesn't add up. How does this informant know so much about the 5th Column? Why weren't those orders you found encoded? And who is Wolfgang Ubelmann?

Investigate the base

Briefing

Those signed orders you found on the 5th Column place this Lt. Ubelmann at one of their underground bases. The place will be well defended, but you may be able to find some answers there, if you can fight your way through to them. Will you investigate the base?

Mission Acceptance

Make no mistake, this is going to be dangerous.

Unnecessary Solicitation

I have the feeling we're close. We just need to know more about this Ubelmann!

Mission Objective(s)

You're a lot more interested in Ubelmann than his underlings, but you know you'll have to fight through them to get to him.

• Investigate 5th Column base
  • Locate Ubelmann, Learn about Ubelmann

You discovered Ubelmann's location and found a clue to his real origins.

Zeitspielraumexperimente

This book, written in German in the last days of World War II, appears to be about early time travel experiments. One section has been highlighted heavily, and notes are scribbled along the margin in English. The notes are about the abysmal failure rates of the program, and about the test subjects used in the experiments. The identity of the last test subject jumps off the page at you: an intelligence officer named Wolfgang Ubelmann.

Anonymous e-mail

You found the following message on a computer in a 5th Column base:

Character:
It is good that you found the orders I had planted. I have been pleased with your ability to follow the anonymous tips I've left for you so far. Unfortunately, Lt. Wolfgang Ubelmann left this base shortly before you arrived. While I am sorry to see so many of my comrades captured, it was a risk worth taking.
Lt. Wolfgang Ubelmann must be stopped. Now that he has gathered much of the information he sought, he will soon attempt to complete the purpose he was sent here for. Even now his is likely attempting to jury rig a device to return him to his original point of origin. This cannot be allowed.
I have provided you with coordinates for your next target. Stop Ubelmann.

Enemies

5th Column

Debriefing

All the interest in the Second World War, the way he acted like he knew 'Thunderhead' Bartlett, the tech thefts, and the mention of his name in that book. I hate to think it, I hate to say it, but it would explain so much. Wolfgang Ubelmann may be a time traveler from the 1940's. A man from the past sent to observe the future. With the information he now has, he could change his future, our present. It would explain everything. Everything, that is, except why that 5th Column informant is trying help us stop him.

Stop the construction of the device

Briefing

Whoever Ubelmann is or whenever he's from, our inside informant has given us a good shot at catching him. Apparently the 5th Column has been stockpiling parts for a time machine to send Ubelmann back to the past. I still don't know if I believe that Wolfgang Ubelmann is a time traveler from the Second World War, but we should stop the construction of that device. We can't take the chance that it might work.

Mission Acceptance

Of course, if Ubelmann really is trying to go back and change history, then stopping him could save generations. Which is a lot to think about.

Unnecessary Solicitation

If you can get your hands on those parts, the 5th Column won't be able to complete their time machine.

Mission Objective(s)

The idea of changing the past is one that has long tempted the world's greatest temporal physicists. Most of the sane ones have learned to let it go.

• Stop building of time machine
  • 5 parts to secure

You prevented the 5th Column from building a time machine and found a clue to Ubelmann's location.

5th Column orders

These orders direct the 5th Column soldiers to take the parts they've collected to a Portal Corporation lab. From the looks of things, Ubelmann is almost ready to attempt his trip back in time.

Enemies

5th Column

5th Column Soldiers

Before Combat

5th Column Soldier 1: It all seems unreal. I still don't know if I believe Ubelmann's story.

5th Column Soldier 2: I wonder what will happen to us if Ubelmann succeeds. Will we still exist?

Combat Start

5th Column Soldier 1: Enough talk. Heroes! Counter attack pattern Delta!

Debriefing

You prevented the 5th Column from constructing that crazy time machine, but there's one last thing to do. You've got to capture Ubelmann and put an end to this. If he does have a way back to the 1940s with enough information to change history, then he has to be stopped.

Stop Wolfgang Ubelmann

Briefing

The orders you found in that 5th Column base told us exactly where to find Wolfgang Ubelmann. Now you just have to catch him. According to those orders, the Column plans to modify the machinery in a Portal Corporation lab to make a one-way time gate and return Ubelmann to the past. We can't let that happen. This is the last chance we have to end this. If you can stop Wolfgang Ubelmann, then this is over.

Mission Acceptance

Take out Ubelmann, and we're home free.

Unnecessary Solicitation

You've got to stop Wolfgang Ubelmann before he can escape back to wherever or whenever he came from.

Mission Objective(s)

File:Map Tech 45 Portal.png

Map: Tech_45_Portal

As far as you're concerned, neither past nor present is safe as long as Ubelmann remains free.

• Defeat Ubelmann and his guards

You have defeated Wolfgang Ubelmann, the man from the past.

Enemies

5th Column

Notable NPCs

• Portal Corp Researcher x4 (Non-Escort Hostage)
• Lt. Wolfgang Ubelmann (5th Column Elite Boss)

Portal Corp Researchers dialogue

Upon Rescue

Portal Corp Researcher: They've done so much damage already! You've got to stop them!

Portal Corp Researcher: They're talking about some kind of time travel. But that's not possible!

Portal Corp Researcher: That Ubelmann's a madman! He'll endanger us all with his modifications!

Portal Corp Researcher: They've been hacking the portals, jury-rigging things beyond safety limits! It's crazy!

5th Column Patrol

Before Combat

5th Column Soldier 1: Men, you must be ready for anything.

5th Column Soldier 2: Character is doubtless on our trail.

Combat Start

5th Column Soldier 1: Character! You found us!

5th Column Soldier 2: You will not touch Ubelmann!

Lt. Wolfgang Ubelmann

Before Combat

There is not much time. This city's heroes will be upon us soon!

Combat Start

You will not stop me!

I will rewrite history! I will be the hero of a thousand year Reich!

Debriefing

Ubelmann is recuperating from the battle, but the prison doctors say his recovery will be short lived at best. It seems that he'd already suffered a massive radiation overdose during his trip through time. The doctors give him a year at the outside, and that's only because of the Ubermenschen enhancements the 5th Column gave him.

It's ironic. Even if Ubelmann had made it back to the past, he never would have lived to see the future.

This letter came. I haven't opened it, but it's addressed to you from Requiem. The Requiem. The villain from the 40's, the one who led the original 5th Column. I don't know if it's real. I really hope that it's not. But old evils like him seldom just disappear.

You did well, Character. Generations yet to come owe you their thanks.