 The Paragon Wiki Archive documents the state of City of Heroes/Villains as it existed on December 1, 2012.
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Template:StoryArc Ubelmann the Unknown
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Merit Rewards: This activity awards 17 Reward Merits. |
Contents
Ubelmann the Unknown
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 heard 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 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 powers I served had won, if their rule had extended across the Earth, 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. Perhaps dead before my time, for the Center had great plans for the new world order, and I suppose they did not include a rival such as myself.
I could not act against Ubelmann directly; to do so would be to reveal myself to the Center. And so, like so many others, I turned to you for my salvation.
For I do not intend to toil beneath another forever. The seeds of my victory have been carefully sowed, and will one day bear a full harvest.
I cannot say that you will 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 the world for your future. Know that you have saved this world for my coming Dominion.
- Requiem
Stop the Council raid
Briefing
I got a tip this morning about a Council 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 Council raid.
Mission Acceptance
Try to find out what the Council's after, won't you?
Unnecessary Solicitation
I want to know what's behind that Council 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 Council.
Enemies
Notable NPCs
- 4 Archivists (Non-Escort Hostages)
Notes
- The archivists in this mission can appear as 5th Column Mekmen. (needs confirmation)
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Old documents |
| The Council agents 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. |
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The archivist's story |
| One of the archivists you rescued told you:
'I have no idea why the Council 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 Council's roots date back to Mussolini's government, but what possible use could World War II documents be to them today?
Rescue the historians from the Council
Briefing
Apparently the Council 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 Council!
Mission Acceptance
Something tells me the Council's interest is more than academic.
Unnecessary Solicitation
You've got to get those historians to safety.
Mission Objective(s)
The Council isn'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 Council.
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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
Notable NPCs
- 5 Historians (Hostages)
Debriefing
It looks like that last mission gave us more questions that answers. Who is this Ubelmann, anyway? And what does he have to do with the Council's interest in World War II?
Stop the Council from getting the files
Briefing
I just received an anonymous tip that the Council 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 Council is eager to rummage through it now. Can you stop the Council from getting those files?
Mission Acceptance
The Council has been really focused on the past recently, and we still don't have a clue why.
Unnecessary Solicitation
Whatever the Council 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 Council agents
- Find clue to Council's plan
You stopped the Council raid and found a possible clue to their next target.
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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
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 Council 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 Council
Briefing
After that Council 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 Council! Fortunately, my anonymous tipster is still on the ball. I have a good lead on where we can find Thunderhead.
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 Council 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 Council
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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 Council 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
Notable NPCs
- Jim 'Thunderhead' Bartlett (Escort Hostage / NPC Ally)
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Ambush! We're under attack! After freeing Thunderhead you will be attacked by four waves of Council Soldiers! |
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 Council Raid
Briefing
I got another anonymous tip about the Council. This time it seems like a normal Council 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 Council raid?
Mission Acceptance
This anonymous tipster sure seems to know a lot about the Council's recent forays into history, as well as this mysterious Ubelmann character.
Unnecessary Solicitation
I think the Council'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 Council's cunning infiltrators. It's up to you to protect the company's inventions.
- Defeat all Council in lab
You stopped the Council raid and found a note on one of the defeated soldiers.
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Signed orders |
| You found these orders on one of the Council 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 Council base these stolen items are to be delivered to. The papers are signed by one Lt. Wolfgang Ubelmann. |
Enemies
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 Council? Why weren't those orders you found encoded? And who is Wolfgang Ubelmann?
Investigate the base
Briefing
Those signed orders you found on the Council 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 Council base
- Locate Ubelmann, Learn about Ubelmann
You discovered Ubelmann's location and found a clue to his real origins.
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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. |
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Anonymous e-mail |
| You found the following message on a computer in a Council base:
Character: |
Enemies
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 the future, our present. I'm sure you know that the Council's roots lie with Mussolini's government. If the war had turned out differently, who knows how much power they could wield today?
It explains everything. Everything, that is, except why that Council informant is trying to 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 Council 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
As far as I know, Paolo Tirelli formed the Council during the final days of World War II, when Mussolini's government was crumbling around him. If he was truly involved in Ubelmann's journey to our time, however, he had a lot of power even before he made himself known as the Center. And this plot of his has been generations in the making!
Unnecessary Solicitation
If you can get your hands on those parts, the Council 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 Council from building a time machine and found a clue to Ubelmann's location.
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Council orders |
| These orders direct the Council 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
Debriefing
You prevented the Council 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. The Center has had more than half a century to plot out exactly how his younger self can wrest control of the world from his masters. I don't even want to think about what will happen if Ubelmann succeeds.
Stop Wolfgang Ubelmann
Briefing
The orders you found in that Council base told us exactly where to find Wolfgang Ubelmann. Now you just have to catch him. According to those orders, the Council 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 Salutation
You've got to stop Wolfgang Ubelmann before he can escape back to wherever or whenever he came from.
Mission Objective(s)
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
Notable NPCs
- Portal Corp Researcher x4 (Non-Escort Hostage)
- Lt. Wolfgang Ubelmann (Council Penumbra Cor Leonis Archon)
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.
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 regime that was subsumed by the Council. 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.
