Arabian Campaign

**Arabian Campaign** was planned third campaign in Original War. It was cut from the game. Heike Steyer would have been the protagonist. Martin Klíma stated that it was dropped early during its development.

Vlaada Chvaatil designer of Original War mentioned some info about the Campaign. He stated that the campaign would serve as a link between American Campaign and Russian Campaign and would wrap up some links. It would reveal how Russians got EON (Tawar). Campaign would have 2 endings depending on whether Heike would remain loyal to Arabs or join Legion. He mentioned that there would be a mission including a large battle between Russians and Americans (Altar files suggest it would be 4th mission). Player would have to keep balance between them using diplomacy to destroy both. There would also be a mission showing Heike's escape from Russian captivity. Some missions known from American Campaign and Russian Campaign would have been seen from Arabian perspective.

Fans later used files from Altar Interactive to recreate Arabian Campaign. It can be downloaded from Steam Workshop.

## Story

Altar files show that basic structure of campaign was finished with first four missions also having finished map. Story was also undergoing some changes as first draft had very strong focus on Heike's and Omar's relationship "making it seem like a romantic novel"

**Altar files included this structure of the campaign:**

Recollection 1: Past present. Heike, an elite mercenary, in her late twenties, received an offer for risky but well paid operation. When she accepted, she was told that her task would be to raid a US expedition base in Central Siberia, seize an object known as EON and use it to travel two millions years to the past. There they would hunt down the remaining members of American expedition, destroy deposits of mineral known as siberite and return home.

Mission 1-4: Heike appeared in the past alone, much to her surprise. She evaded Russians (what the hell were they doing there?) and made contact with her forces (mission 1). She then took over a command of small group of mercenaries and raided American base and steal some technologies and material (mission 2 and 3). Here she met Robert Farmer, a de-facto chief of mercenary forces. In the last mission of the first sub-campaign she met sheik Abdul (the supreme commander) and his aide-de-camp, sheik Omar. Her task was to destroy both American and Russian forces in the area and by utilising hints from Omar and careful diplomacy she succeeded.

Recollection 2: Past. Heike unofficially met with Omar. He stood apart from the rest of both sheiks and mercenaries by being more thoughtful and caring. There was also a first hint that return from past was not going to be as easy as it was supposed to be. On a more technical side, Heike was transferred to be directly responsible to sheik Abdul.

Mission 5-8: Heike was first in charge of support operation for sheik Abdul (mission 5). Then he joins Omar in attack of a Russian base (mission 6) and in the next mission she is asked to send away her best pyrotechnic expert and best soldiers. She used her weakened team in the last mission of second sub-campaign to defend a siberite mine, but the Russian attack was overwhelming and at last she had no chance but surrender.

Recollection 3: Past. Heike was captured and interrogated by Russians. Before they could put her to torture, she was liberated by her men (the very same she sent away in mission 7). One thing the Russians were particularly eager to learn about was the possibility of returning to the future. Another shadow of doubt was cast over this prospect.

Missions 9-11: In the first mission of third sub-campaign Heike was escaping from the Russian base where she was prisoner. Then she was in charge of another offensive on Russian and American positions, respectively. About this time, a suspicion about the unavailability of return turned into certainty. This in turn led to the formation of Legion, a split-away group of mercenary soldiers with no loyalty to their former Arabian masters.

Recollection 4: Past. Heike had to decide whether she would remain true to sheiks and their cause, or if she would turn her back on them and join Legion. Omar presented her with powerful argument for staying – siberite is too dangerous to be allowed to fall into human hands – but the sense of betrayal was still bitter. Ideally, there will be again 50-50 chance of the player's decision for either possibility.

Mission 12-15, Arabians: Heike was the most senior mercenary commander to remain with sheiks. Her position was precarious, but through her wits and will she managed to get through the worst (mission 12 and 13) and bring about change (mission 14). In the final mission, she and Omar managed to destroy the siberite deposits. The resulting explosion wiped out most of the living beings in vicinity.

Recollection 5: Present. The siberite is destroyed and mission is completed. Both Heike and Omar are dying from radiation poisoning, but they managed to find their fate and, more importantly, each other.

Mission 12-15, Legion: Heike became second-in-command to Robert Farmer. Her task was first to secure Legion position (mission 12) and then, using shrewd and cunning diplomacy she ensured that Legion got rid of all competition (mission 14). In the last mission she lead a rebellious faction within Legion and she fought against Robert Farmer. Defeating him, she turned the past effectively into her fiefdom.

Recollection 6: Present. Heike is recognized as the undisputed leader of mankind in the period. She has everything she could ever wish for, but sometimes emptiness opens up in her eyes. She wanders to Omar's grave and silently tells him about her life…

### Recollections

Story was originally to be told through recollections (or memories) in contrast to John Macmillan's diary and Red Army Computer.

#### Recollection 1

From the day I was born my father hated me. A girl wasn’t his preferred choice! He tortured me all my childhood and when my mother tried to stop him he turned on her. As the years went by he started to leave me alone, he sensed the day was coming when I would fight back. But mother never did so she became the target for all his rage. The last time he hit her he split her skull. She died in my arms. A week later I followed my father down an alley and shot him, one bullet for every year of mothers life.

But knowing he was dead didn’t stop the pain and the anger. I couldn’t hold it all inside and so I turned on others the way he turned on her, seeing someone else hurting numbed my own hurt for a while. That was how I became a mercenary, taking away the lives of others for a living. I didn’t care if they were trained soldiers in Bosnia or 14 year old boys in the jungle. In my sights they were all the same, they all had his face.

Really I wanted to lose, I was praying to be the one who was killed. However many bullets I fired the pain always came back. But the only person good enough to kill me was myself. That would have been the next step, but then the Arabians got a message to me. They wanted me to attack the American base in Siberia and take command of the EON, the money would be good but I had no interest. Then they told me the rest of the mission would take place 2 million years before I was born. I didn’t have to be asked again, a world where my father had never existed was the only place I wanted to be.

#### Recollection 2

Before we left the future there was no mention of Russians but here they are - in greater numbers and better equipped than the Americans. I knew it was a risk to rely on the Arabian intelligence, your employer always lies!, but I had no way to verify the facts as I normally would. I trust nothing and no-one, that’s how I’ve survived this long as a mercenary, I only rely on those men who have proved themselves first. Omar is the exception. The moment I met him I knew I could trust him. It was just a feeling, and feelings are something else I have learnt not to trust, but this time they’ve been proved right. The Arabians also said returning to the future would not be a problem. That was another thing I couldn’t test before I got here. For the sake of my soldiers I hope that’s one piece of intelligence they did get right.

#### Recollection 3

I’m lucky to be alive. The Russians would have lost no sleep over killing me, that is for sure. Not that my death would have been quick, they would have dragged it out as long as they could as they could, until the torture would have finally become too much. But whatever they’d have done to me I could not have told them what they wanted to know - how to get back to the future. I’m beginning to wonder if anyone really has the answer to that question.

Being captive has taught me two things, the first is how I can rely on my men, I will never doubt any one of them again, I am only here now because of their bravery. The second thing it taught me was how much I’ve changed. When I arrived here the thing I valued least in the world was my own life but when it was about to be taken from me I realised how much it mattered to me again to think, to feel, just to be. I only hope that now I value life again I can hold onto it.

#### Recollection 4

When you’re a soldier you don’t get time to think. If someone points a gun at your head you’ve got to act before they pull the trigger. Thinking kills! Back in the future it was all black and white, I knew what I had to do and I did it, but choosing between the Arabians and the Legion has split me down the middle. The thought of betrayal makes me sick to my stomach but there’s no way round it, a future that involves Siberite spells the end for humankind, our race cannot be trusted with this power. The decision is now made, and I must put my feelings for the Arabians to one side and focus only on the mission. We must succeed, if we fail in this we fail the entire world.

#### Recollection 5

After the explosion the world was cloaked in darkness for one month, and then the rains fell. It is now six months into the future we have created and neither Omar or I shall see much more of it. There was no shelter from the radiation that fell from the skies following the Siberite’s destruction, and it has taken it’s toll. It seems strange that now I value my life so much I am dying by my own hand! But I am happy it ends this way, what matters isn’t when we die but how we live. With Omar I rediscovered the virtue that makes the human race worth fighting for, I even found the love that I had buried deep inside myself. We shall die together and who knows, we may live together again, somewhere in the future.

It may just be the sickness, but now I see the ghosts of all those who died before walking amongst us, guardians now of the future. And when darkness fills my eyes then I hear the laughter, the innocent sound of the children who will be born into a future free from the dangers of Siberite. Let us pray they can handle the rest of it.

### Camera recordings

Developers later decided to replace recollections by Amateur camera recordings.

#### Intro 0

Takes place in 2010 in Heike's flat

Dark austere room, possibly in an attic or in a basement. Purely functional furniture, no decoration. Heike busies herself with something that gives and idea of her being a mercenary (cleans a weapon, works our...). Suddenly a computer beeps (it can be built into a wall or hidden somewhere). With few deft movements Heike gets close to it.
Technical details are yet to be worked out according to our possibilities (e.g. if it is to be controlled by mouse, keyboard, touch screen or maybe by voice). In any case, some futuristic looking operating system will open her mailbox and we will see the headers of recent messages that would again point to the fact that Heike is a mercenary (e.g. invoices for weapons, payments from strange people, maybe some interesting newsgroup). This should stay on screen for a short while so that we get a chance to see it clearly. The last mail is highlighted and it is something like Re: Unusual contract. The number of preceding mails with the same subject shows clearly that the negotiations are well underway. Heike opens the message.
The action then takes place on screen. It will be probably a mixture of text, picture and sound messages. Heike would browse them all in the same time – the voice message should be most important, with headers of text messages giving the idea of some larger documentation somewhere.
The shots of the screens should be from time to time be interspersed by shots of Heike sitting by her computer and working on it. From time to time she looks surprised, finally she reclines against her seat and thinks. At last, she writes something quickly... shot of the screen showing something like "I agree with the conditions, will arrive at the given time. You can transfer the down payment. Heike Steiner". Shot of Heike, her finger hesitates over the button Send. Finally, she presses it and tension is relieved. Heike swears under her breath.

#### Intro 1

Takes place two millions years ago in Arabian military camp

Arabian camp by night. Heike sits by the fire lost in thoughts, fingering a big knife. Omar comes her and silently sits beside her.
"I found it today, after fight," says Heike without looking up. "What do you think, whom it belonged to?"
Omar is silent. He throws some wood into fire.
"I wonder what was he thinking about when he was dying. Did he think he does it for his country? For his relatives?"
She looks at Omar and looks him into eye.
"And what am I going to think about when I have my intestines in my hands?"
Omar remains silent.
"I always knew that it's not right what I'm doing. But it never bothered me. So what the hell is going on with me?" She looks intensely at Omar. He replies slowly:
"When you are one of the billions, it's easier to deceive yourself it doesn't matter what you're doing. But these few dozens of men here are the whole mankind now."
Moment of silence. Then Heike tears her eyes away.
"Everything, all my world, is so far now. Millions of years. In face of this abyss I have a feeling that nothing is really worth of anything. And I fear it won't go away when I get back. I shouldn't have taken this job."
She is silent for a while. The raises her eyes and asks: "Why are you here, Omar?"
"I'm not sure myself. Part obligation, part curiosity... and maybe a little bit of hope."
"Hope?"
"Hope that I'll find my fate here." Omar smiles. "It's difficult to mean something among billions of people."
"And when you get back, Omar?"
Omar lowers his eyes. The atmosphere suddenly grows cold. Omar gets up (contrary to Heike he knows very well there is no way back).
"I came here to tell you Abdul Sharif wants to speak with you. He's chosen you to report directly to him."
"Tell him I'll be there in a minute. I have to think about something..."
"About you dying?"
Heike smiles and shakes her head. "No, I'm thinking how to fortify access to our southern base."

#### Intro 2

Takes place in past in Russian camp. Heike is captured there.

Russian camp in darkness. A couple of buildings, fires and figures are little more than a shadow in distance. Suddenly a light from open doors appears and we can hear shouts. Heike falls on ground, we can see she was tortured. Two figures come to her and drags her away into the night.

Look through noctovisor -- computer enhanced picture with greenish tint with tv-lines and corresponding animation.
Camera follows the figures of two Russians dragging Heike to the prison (looks like bunker). Russins put Heike into prison. One remains on guard, the other goes away. Noctovisor is switched off.

Heike sits on the floor of her prison. She looks resigned.

Suddenly a noise comes from outside. Heike raises her head and grows alert.

Explosion. The doors are blown open. A silhouette of a soldier appears in the doorway: "Here we are, sergeant. Waiting for your orders."
Heike's startled face turns into smile. "Captain, Hans, 'captain' for two days already." She gets up and takes proffered weapon.

#### Intro 3

Takes place in the Arabian base when Heike and other mercenaries find out, that they were framed.

Omar sits in a tent. He is writing something. Heike bursts in and clutches "lapels" of his burnus.
"You bastard. You knew it, you knew it and you lied to me all the time."
Omar si silent and looks at her.
"Say something. Why don't you say something?!"
"There's nothing to say, Heike. I'm sorry."
Heike lets him go and wheels away.
"You knew it all the time. You let me think about what I'll do when I get back and you know there is no way back.
She turns back to Omar.
"Fuck it, Omar! I thought... I thought you're the only person here I can trust."
"I'm sorry. You'd better go, they're waiting for you."
"How... wait... do you know about it?"
"About Farmer and his Legion? I'm neither deaf nor blind, Heike. It was always clear that once you'll learn truth and most of you would go away."
"They... think they managed to keep it secret."
"Only I know about it, Heike. And I have no right to try to stay you."
"Right? Bloody hell, Omar, you've wasted the lives of so many people."
"Can you hear yourself, Heike? You're speaking about wasted lives of people will to kill other people for money! Yes, my conscience troubles me. It's wrong I had to lie to so many people. But I' even more sorry for all the Americans and Russians you killed for us."
"What... what do you mean? You've hired us... I... bloody hell... Omar, explain yourself."
Omar puts his hands on her shoulders.
"Listen, Heike. What's going on here isn't right." He takes a piece of siberite somewhere. "This stuff doesn't come from this Earth and mankind cannot handle it. We know nothing about the laws of time and we don't know what can happen. But one thing is certain. If siberite makes time travel possible, it must be destroyed. It doesn't matter who will do it and when, but it's the only way how to end the war. Otherwise there will always be somebody who tries to get even further back and tries to change the past."
Heike pulls away and smirks. "And that's why you gave up everything and went here? I thought it was because of oil!"
"I didn't go here because of oil, Heike. I thought you know me well enough now. But yes, I hadn't any noble motives. Only here I realized what is my true task."
"Ah, you found your fate here. I've already heard it."
"I'll do everything in my power, Heike. I'd be glad to have you on my side. "
"Omar, those people whose willingness to kill other people you derided are just about to stop doing so. "
"I know. If you leave with Farmer, I will not hold it against you."

A dialogue appears

Now you have to make a decision. Heike can stay with Omar and other Arabians and help them to destroy siberite, regardless of their motivation. Or she can joing Legion, a group of mercenaries led by Robert Farmer, who refuse to fight for people who deceived them and who start to work for themselves.
This is a very important decision, both possibilites mean completely different continuation of the campaign.

#### Intro 4

Takes place when Omar destroys all deposits of siberite.

A too bright landscape, maybe a strange sound. Something like breastwork. Omar is exhausted and slowly lies dows against its wall. Heike kneels down beside him.
"Tell me truth, Omar. We were too close, weren't we?"
Omar turns his face covered by sweat to her.
"Nobody was far enough."
A moment of silence. Everybody looks in a different direction.
Finally Heike meets his eyes. "What do you think, how much time we've got? "
"Two days. Maybe three."
"You can fit a whole life into two days, Omar," silentyl replies Heike.

#### Intro 4b

Takes place when Heike becomes a high commander of Legion and war ends. A canvas tent guarded by two soldiers.

We look inside. Heike and some mercenary discuss some transport of material from here to there. Heike has slightly different dress, probably some sort of cloak, with remnants of uniform underneath. She is very authoritative. Finally she makes the decision, man thanks and she sends him away.
When she is alone, she becomes tires. She goes out by the back door, looks around her, over the base, mines, etc. Finally she says silently: "I think this is my fate, Omar."

## List of known missions

1. Something Went Wrong
2. First Task
3. The Right of the Strongest
4. Balance of Power
5. Arabian Nights
6. (cleaning the way for vehicles, explosives)
7. (destruction?, remote control, apeman brainwashing?)
8. Over Your Dead Body
9. (escape)
10. ()
11. ()
12. ()
13. ()
14. ()
15. Judgement Day

## Maps

Mission 1Mission 2Mission 3Mission 4Mission 5Mission 15
## Links

* Files sent by Altar to Stucuk including documents regarding the campaign.

Missions in Original War