- "Field Report: Final entry. Well, this is it. The end game. I know what I have to do. Richtofen's barely holding it together, but I gotta believe he can go the extra mile. None of us really know how this is gonna play out, but we all know it's the only way forward. I can only hope that our souls may find a better future."
- — "Tank" Dempsey
Corporal "Tank" Dempsey, also referred to as Primis Dempsey, was an American Marine who fought in the United States Marine Corps, and is a playable main character in the Zombies game mode, as well as a major character in the Aether Story.
Primis Dempsey was formally introduced in Origins on Call of Duty: Black Ops II as a younger version of his Ultimis counterpart, hailing from Dimension 63. He reappears in Call of Duty: Black Ops III as a main playable character in The Giant, Der Eisendrache (which also features Ultimis Dempsey in a non-playable role), Zetsubou No Shima, Gorod Krovi, and Revelations.
Primis Dempsey returns as a playable character in the Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 maps Blood of the Dead and Alpha Omega (the latter of which also features Ultimis Dempsey as an alternate playable character). He appears in a non-playable role in Classified and Tag der Toten. In addition, Primis Dempsey is an unlockable character in the Blackout gamemode.
Primis Dempsey is a playable character in Call of Duty: Mobile, and was added during Season 2 and latter returns in Season 9 Zombies Are Back as part of the Zombies rewards. He was also initially a major character in the comics.
Overview[]
- "Corporal Tank Dempsey: American Hero. Originally assigned to intercept Dr. Edward Richtofen in Northern France, Dempsey now fights alongside Nikolai, Takeo and Richtofen as they attempt to put an end to the enemy war machine once and for all. Though he's seen more than his fair share of bloodshed, nothing could have prepared him for the events of Der Eisendrache…"
- — Dempsey's biography for Call of Duty: Black Ops III
Getting sent to Europe[]
On November 19th, 1917, Corporal "Tank" Dempsey of the United States Marine Corps was sent to spy on the German Group 935 due to reports of "prototype armored weaponry...strange lights in the sky...a mysterious plague...and even giant metal men," in Northern France. Specifically, he was assigned to grab a member of the organization as a H.V.T., and was given a transport in the form of a Mark IV Tank.
On April 14th, 1918, Dempsey reported, despite ongoing battles, he has fared well in Northern France. In a personal letter, he reveals that both the Japanese and Russian Armies have also sent spies to investigate the activities of Group 935.
Freeing Samantha[]
On June 4th, 1918, Element 115 completely awakened the undead knights from The Great War and quickly consumed the camp. Dempsey, along with Russian spy Nikolai Belinski and Japanese spy Takeo Masaki unite with German scientist Edward Richtofen on the battlefield and help free a girl named Samantha Maxis from her imprisonment in Agartha. The four uniting marked the return of Primis from the original Great War, as the group were reincarnated versions of them. Samantha, who had been freed and sent to the House, then sent Primis to their next destination.
Convincing Ultimis Richtofen: Deceptio Fracture[]
Dempsey, along with Nikolai and Takeo, was sent to the original timeline on June 4th, 1943. Upon learning of Richtofen's multi-dimensional travels, the trio attempted to stop him for fearing that he will disrupt the established continuity of the dimensions. After several dimension jumps and failed attempts, they arrived the Der Riese facility in the original timeline, two years later on October 13th, 1945, just moments after Ultimis Richtofen trapped Maxis and Samantha in the teleporter with Fluffy. Dempsey, Nikolai and Takeo confronted Ultimis Richtofen, telling him that there is a chain of events that must be carried out, and prompt him to awaken the Ultimis versions of themselves.
As the zombie horde approach them from outside, Richtofen ignored the three's warning and turns on the teleporter, only to find Primis Richtofen inside. Primis Richtofen then shot his Ultimis self in the head, killing him instantly. This triggered a fracturization across the original timeline. While the group expressed disappointment in Richtofen for tampering with history, he defended his action, believing that what he did would be to secure a better future. While the others fended off the zombies, Richtofen pretended to use the Summoning Key to acquire Ultimis Richtofen's soul, which Dempsey noticed. Eventually, the four activated a beacon in the facility, allowing Maxis from another dimension to locate them.
Killing Ultimis Dempsey: Deceptio Fracture[]
After acquiring a Giant Robot from the Der Riese facility, the four pursue the scattered remains of Group 935 to Griffin Castle, codenamed "Eagle's Nest", on November 5th, 1945. The Germans had captured Ultimis Dempsey's cryo chamber from being experimented on by Ultimis Richtofen and planned to bring him to Griffin Station, with Primis close behind until a German soldier fires a Panzerschreck at the Giant Robot, disabling it before it could retrieve Ultimis Dempsey. After arriving at Griffin Castle, the young four watch as a rocket containing the Ultimis Dempsey launches to the Moon. After making radio contact with Dr. Groph, Ultimis Richtofen's second-in-command, Richtofen masquerades as his Ultimis self in order to fool Groph. However, Groph becomes suspicious of Richtofen's change of personality and announces him as an imposter. Using the Death Ray, the young four managed to bring the rocket containing the Ultimis Dempsey back to the castle, much to Groph's anger, who activated a failsafe so they couldn't touch the chamber.
Using the Vril Device obtained from the crash site, the young four awakened a ghost Keeper and help it return it to its physical form before it returns the favor and brings the M.P.D. from the Moon to the castle. However, the Keeper becomes corrupted, forcing the four to battle it, eventually defeating it. After defeating it, Groph expresses his extreme anger, vowing to destroy them and the castle itself. In order to tie up these loose ends, the four use the Summoning Key to launch several missiles towards the Moon, destroying it, ultimately destroying Griffin Station and killing any Group 935 scientist at the station, including Groph. After walking towards Ultimis Dempsey's cryo chamber, Richtofen activated the Summoning Key, forcing the others to levitate in the air.
Here, Richtofen's plan is revealed to the Dempsey and the rest of the group. Richtofen planned to kill the Ultimis versions of themselves to be put in the Summoning Key like he supposedly did with his own at the Der Riese facility. When Dempsey himself sadly put his older self down, Richtofen briefly comforted him after it was done, showing that he had laid his previous dislike of Dempsey off to the side. Richtofen then captured the Ultimis Dempsey's soul in the Key.
Killing Ultimis Takeo: Proditione Fracture[]
Dempsey and the other three then travel to a different fractured timeline, to an island, arriving on a Japanese vessel heading for a Division 9 Facility on October 18th, 1945, before being caught and the Summoning key being taken away from him. A brief fight ensues with the Japanese soldiers with Richtofen burning one alive before he notices the Key rolling toward the ocean, luckily Takeo had managed to barely catch the Key by his fingertips much to Richtofen's relief. The four then are forced to swim to a nearby island after the ship blows up. Later, Dempsey was present when Ultimis Takeo was cured from being a Thrasher to collect his soul.
Stopping at Alcatraz[]
After Ultimis Takeo honorably sacrificed himself for a better future, Richtofen then preserved his soul. Initially Dempsey suggested going after Ultimis Nikolai, but Richtofen said a "chain of events" must be set in motion. Realizing that he wants to save his three comrades from their eventual fate, Richtofen then takes them to Alcatraz on July 4th, 1941, where he meets his younger self and acquires the Victis blood samples.
Killing Ultimis Nikolai: Agonia Fracture[]
Primis then jumps to another fractured timeline, in a war-torn Stalingrad on November 6th, 1945, to kill the Ultimis Nikolai Belinski and place his soul in the Summoning Key. Eventually the four are teleported out of the sky and parachute in front of Ultimis Nikolai's mech while he is distracted with vodka and listening to "The Ace of Spades" on his radio.
Upon seeing them the Ultimis Nikolai attempts to kill them until a dragon throws him into a building. Later, Dempsey and the others make a temporary truce with the Ultimis Nikolai in order to kill the dragon. Afterward, Dempsey and the other three demand Ultimis Nikolai to surrender to which he refuses and betrays them. After the Primis Nikolai kills his Ultimis self, Richtofen opens a portal in the sky with Maxis' help and lights a beacon from the Summoning Key which releases the Ultimis Nikolai, Takeo and Dempsey. After this, he says they will see Maxis soon.
Later, the mysterious voice contacts Dempsey, Nikolai and Takeo informing them that Richtofen can't hear him. He congratulates the crew on their progress of fixing the fracturing universe. However, he informs them that Richtofen had been searching for years for the correct versions of them to close off the dimensions, suggesting that the Ultimis timeline versions of the characters were the ones who determined the universe's disorder and fates of the incarnations of the alternate versions of the characters in other universes, who have all been erased due to the originals being killed off. He also tells them to not trust Richtofen and that's he's been in "The House" for "ages". Finally, the voice introduces himself as Doctor Monty, claiming it's so nice to see the characters.
Return to the house and the final battle[]
Soon after the events of Gorod Krovi, Nikolai along with the rest of the Primis crew finally arrive at the house. There Richtofen reunites with Maxis, the two then destroy the MTD to ensure the house would remain safe. Letting his guard down Richtofen leaves the Summoning Key on a table unaware of who was trapped within. The voice inside calls out to Maxis and influences him due to his lack of soul making him easy to control. Maxis opens the Summoning Key releasing the Shadowman inside, exploring his new surroundings, he opens a portal to Agartha and unleashes an Apothicon invasion. Doctor Monty enlists the help of the Primis crew to defeat the Shadowman and save his perfect world from destruction.
With the help of Maxis and S.O.P.H.I.A, Primis manages to kill the Shadowman and banish the Apothicons to places unknown. As the world returns to normal Monty becomes concerned as Primis remains in front of him. Noticing the empty blood vials he becomes angered claiming that they are putting his realm at risk. Initially he decides to simply wipe them from existence but decides to instead send them somewhere else. The 4 then end up in the year 1299, in northern France just as the Great war comes to an end causing the cycle to continue.
Breaking the cycle[]
In a new iteration of the cycle, Primis enters the pocket dimension of Alcatraz to pick up the blood vials. Ending up far from their intended target, the group enters the underground lab and find another Richtofen. He gives the vials to the group and instructs Richtofen to re-read the Kronorium. Richtofen scans through pages exclaiming that pages have changed and that his blood is needed. He becomes enraged and throws the Kronorium before hearing a horde of zombies. The group then makes their escape but before entering the portal Brutus destroys it trapping the group within the twisted version of Alctraz.
Beside a mysterious machine known as the Dark Mechanism, The Primis crew battle against Brutus, Whom is being resurrected time and time again. Richtofen realized what the Kronorium meant and that the machine was intended to draw his blood, and stepped inside, sacrificing himself to free the others.
With Brutus finally unable to resurrect, the rest of Primis is joined by a post-Revelations Richtofen, who informed them that the future had changed, and that Nikolai had to keep his soul to defeat Doctor Monty. The future Richtofen explained that the cycle was broken, and that he wished he could say he was sorry to his younger self. Taking the Soul key the future Richtofen handed Nikolai the Kronorium telling him he would need to read it to defeat Monty. The remainder of the Primis members and the Dimension 63 Richtofen left the old Richtofen alone and scared, as the machine continuing to drain his blood.
Recruiting Ultimis[]
In order to prepare for the coming battle; Primis makes a stop at Groom Lake to gain some allies. Within Hanger 4 the Ultimis crew were being held seemingly after the events of Moon, With Richtofen also retaining his body. As Ultimis Nikolai expresses glee at being able to drink uninterrupted, Primis Nikolai emerged from a portal asking his alternate self if drowning his sorrows in vodka is the best choice. The Primis crew rallies their alternate selves and recruit them to fight in the coming battle. As the they each face their alternate selves Ultimis Dempsey asks Primis Nikolai "What kind of war?" to which he replies "A war unlike any other that you have seen. A Great war."
Retrieving the Elemental Shard[]
After recruiting Ultimis at the Pentagon, Primis (alongside Ultimis) teleported to the Broken Arrow facility known as "Camp Edward" in order to retrieve the Elemental Shard - an especially powerful piece of Element 115. However, they were refused access to the A.P.D, which contained the shard, by the intelligence program Rushmore, who was assigned to protect the facility from intruders. However, after performing various tasks to gain Rushmore's trust, Primis was finally granted access to the A.P.D. However, the crew would soon realize that the undead was not the only threat within the facility, as they were now tasked with defeating the electrical entity known as the Avogadro. After defeating the Avogadro and sending it to the Hanford site in Washington, Rushmore allowed the crew to take the Elemental Shard. Not long after gaining the Elemental Shard, Samantha Maxis and the child version of Richtofen were teleported from the House within Agartha to Camp Edward by her father, Ludvig, who was killed by Dr. Monty in the process. Grieving the loss of her father, Samantha unleashed a pulse of energy, destroying Camp Edward in the process.
Resolving the Paradox[]
Not long after their mission to Camp Edward, Primis, Ultimis, and the children found themselves within a forest. There, they decided to start a campfire and take a rest before they went to go fight the Great War. The crew celebrated with alcohol and food, with Primis Nikolai constantly begging the question of where the crew wished to go after the war ended. Primis Dempsey responded to Nikolai's question by stating that he wished to be a drill instructor. Not long after, Dempsey, along with his comrades, were killed by a secret poison that was laced by Nikolai in the alcohol that they had been drinking.
Letters[]
Dempsey's first letter.
- "November 19, 1917
It seems beyond doubt that Fritz is up to no good. Air reconnaissance suggests prototype armored weaponry is being tested in Northern France. Scuttlebutt reads like the ramblings of a mad man; strange lights in the sky... a mysterious plague... even giant metal men.
I'll be at the site within the week to learn the truth with my own eyes..." - — Tank Dempsey
Dempsey's second letter.
- "April 14, 1918
After far too long waiting on the sidelines, we finally got our first taste of combat. Our actions at Belleau Wood seem to have brought their Spring Offensive to a grinding halt. We even heard talk that Fritz has nicknamed us the 'Devil Dogs', following the allround ass kicking they took... and that's fine by me.
We intercepted communications suggesting that we're not the only nation to learn of the enemy's plans. Scuttlebutt is that the Russians & Japanese are looking to grab a slice of the action. Things are going to get interesting." - — Tank Dempsey
Personality[]
- Primis Dempsey: "Don't you go shootin' off wildly now, Tank."
- Ultimis Dempsey: "Now does that sound like somethin' I would do? *laugh*"
- — Conversation between Primis and Ultimis Dempsey in Blackout
Compared to his Ultimis self, Primis Dempsey is much more focused on the mission. When playing on solo, he updates his situation with field reports. While his attitude still remains vulgar, he now shows less aggressiveness and profanity, and is more inclined to use other weapons as well. As he never encountered Richtofen before and was just briefed about him, but as the journey continues, he grows suspicious about his intention. However, the relation becomes less tense after the event of Der Eisendrache. He remains neutral with Nikolai and Takeo, and tries to calm them down when they are upset.
Call of Duty: Mobile[]
Tank Dempsey appears in Call of Duty: Mobile and was added as part of the Season 2 update in the Zombies rewards. Later, in the Season 7 Radioactive Agent, Dempsey returns in the Comics.
He first appears alongside Ghost in one of the cities that Makarov targeted for his use of Nova gas. Ghost notes that it looked like the end of the world. As they search for clues, Tank notes that there was no tactical reason to target the city, but Ghost pulls him into cover as they are ambushed. Ghost kills the ambusher, a clown, and Tank picks up his weapon, noting that it was probably supplied from somewhere. The duo then finds an abandoned Gulag that was used as a hideout for Krueger and Mace. As Tank engages Krueger, Ghost engages Mace. Ghost throws a grenade, disarming Mace, which lead them fighting in the Showers hand to hand. As they were fighting, Tank arrives after failing to take down Krueger and fires at Mace, causing him to retreat. The two then descend down a staircase and encounter Reznov, who is in his early hundreds.
After taking a moment, Reznov tells Ghost and Tank what he did during his time in the Soviet Armed Forces. He tells them that he was on a covert mission to a secret facility belonging to the Germans. He and his team rush forward an assault on the base. Despite the overwhelming gunfire, Reznov manages to survive the slaughter and enters the facility, encountering the gas Nova 6. After executing all of the scientists in the facility, he retrieved the gas for the Russians, and they hid them in bunkers. Reznov then reveals that he is one of the few people who knows where the bunkers are. After Ghost extracts the information from Reznov, he calls Mara to locate Makarov and stop him.
Disappointed with the recent mission failure, Ghost contemplates of how they gathered next to no intel about their enemies. Mace in disguise attacks a building with his team of mercenaries then goes to Alcatraz to meet with an underground criminal magnate named Hidora Kai. Mace and Hidora start to plan out their next moves, disabling all electronic devices in the world, including military radio towers, communication centers, Mara and Soap's convoy and even the plane Ghost and Tank were flying in, using the EMP launched earlier. Ghost and Tank manage to survive and meet the other operators at The Club.
Ghost admits that the group has no way to fight Hidora and Mace, along with no way to locate them. Russell Adler appears and says that they do have ways to combat the new threat. After Ghost asks who he is, Price introduces Adler, and officially states the group is now a part of the United Anti-Terrorism Coalition, ending the introduction with "Ladies and gentlemen, we're going dark."
Adler and the rest of the team start to plan out their assault on Five Knights locations. When asked on how they would coordinate or even reach those locations, Adler presents the team with Swiss mechanical watches, which are unaffected by EMPs. Price also notes that Adler is not the only Cold War relic in operational state in the bunker, indicating an old helicopter.
Tank, paired with Ghost, strike a production facility in Hackney Yard as part of their assault on key Five Knights locations. Tank confronts Mace, who knocks Tank down and snatches his weapon, and opens fire at him. Ghost comes too late to save him. The enraged Ghost starts beating up Mace, ultimately subduing and arresting him.
Tank's death is shown to have posthumous effects on the other operators of the UAC. As Ghost expresses grief for not being able to save Tank and the fact that they don't have enough time and intel, Adler comforts him by saying that they do have intel and mentions that there is a place in Siberia from where Makarov possibly got the Nova Gas from. He then says that it's coming all around the same way like it did during his days, and narrates his story. Some time during the Cold War, Adler led a small team into a Soviet facility in Siberia along with his friend Stansfield. They had found out crucial information about something that the Five Knights could also have gotten their hands on, and eventually carried out. However, when tried to exfil, they were surrounded by a large group of enemies, and Stansfield stayed behind to cover their escape, only to be shot dead, which Adler could do nothing but watch in horror. Back in present day, Adler finishes his story by saying that both Stansfield and Tank knew what they were doing, and so should Ghost. When Ghost questions if the research facility is of any more importance, Adler says that there might be something left in there, although it will be a long shot. Ghost agrees and says that he will take it, to which Adler responds that they will have to wait, and Ghost must not rush for revenge. Ghost in response says that this is not about revenge, and they must get the intel before the Five Knights do. Adler replies that they cannot risk to lose any more men as the Five Knights already hit other bases hard, and tells Ghost that he must be patient. Ghost takes it for an excuse to do nothing and walks away, much to Adler's dismay.
The guilt-ridden Ghost comes to visit the still comatose Mara and expresses grief for not being able to save them. He then promises that he will end this for all and places Tank's dog tag on her palms and leaves.
Some time later, in a scene of a cemetery where Tank is being cremated, 3 men are shown to be overlooking his grave. The men are revealed to be Edward Richtofen, Nikolai Belinski, and Takeo Masaki.
Appearances[]
Appears in cutscene.
Both Primis & Ultimis versions playable.
Appears in intro and outro, also heard in-game
Gallery[]
Call of Duty: Black Ops II[]
Call of Duty: Black Ops III[]
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4[]
Call of Duty: Mobile[]
Video[]
Trivia[]
- Primis Dempsey shares many traits with his Ultimis self, including their favorite Perk-a-Cola (Juggernog) and least favorite (Quick Revive).
- Unlike their Ultimis selves, Primis Dempsey and Primis Richtofen are less hostile toward each other, though Dempsey remained skeptical of Richtofen due to his unclear motives.
- Primis Dempsey and Primis Nikolai seem to be on good terms when they first met, although their relationship becomes strained in The Giant. Regardless, they share mutual respect for one another.
- Primis Dempsey's relationship with Primis Takeo is more resembling of a friendship compared to their Ultimis counterparts, where Ultimis Dempsey treats Ultimis Takeo with respect, though the feeling was not mutual.
- Unlike his Ultimis self, Primis Dempsey rarely breaks the fourth wall.
- In Der Eisendrache, Primis Dempsey mentions he was once kicked by a horse.
- Primis Dempsey had a cat.
- In Blood of the Dead, Primis Dempsey states that his family is of Irish descent.
- In a wisp found in Revelations, Dr. Monty refers to Dempsey as "Thomas" and "Ringo", jokingly citing them as his first names. This is a reference to Thomas the Tank Engine from the long-running children's TV show Thomas & Friends, and the show's first narrator, Ringo Starr.
- According to Monty, Dempsey holds the universe record of most one armed pushups; even in the universe where everyone only has one arm.
- It is also revealed that Dempsey once made a bet that he could eat fifty hard boiled eggs in fifteen minutes for fifteen dollars. He regretted it almost immediately after winning and feared for his life.
- Monty reveals that once Dempsey had gotten his testicles painfully stuck in bedsprings and lived to tell the tale.
- Further more, Dempsey is able to throw a grenade farther than a professional baseball player.
- Despite being in the Marines, he's often referred to as a soldier.
- His favorite weapons are the BAR, M16, and any type of heavy weaponry ranging from heavy machine guns to Wonder Weapons.
References[]
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