- For other characters, see Nikolai.
- "It is said that it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. I... feel differently. Regret can consume a man so deeply, that it will blacken his heart and swallow his soul. For so long we have been fighting many battles, many wars. I lost.. Only one. We have seen impossible things, cheated death countless times. I can no longer deny the possibility of an unseen power; a guiding hand helping us to fulfill our destiny. My path is chosen, our fate is sealed. But the innocent, the children, those untainted by darkness and chaos... They can find a better tomorrow."
- — Nikolai Belinski
Sergeant Nikolai Belinski (Russian: Николай Белинский), also referred to as Primis Nikolai, was a Russian soldier who fought in the Red Army, and is a playable main character in Zombies, serving as the main protagonist of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 in the Aether Story.
Primis Nikolai was first introduced in Origins on Call of Duty: Black Ops II, as a younger counterpart of his Ultimis self, and reappears in Call of Duty: Black Ops III in The Giant, Der Eisendrache, Zetsubou No Shima, Gorod Krovi (which also includes a version of Ultimis Nikolai), and Revelations.
Primis Nikolai returns in Black Ops 4 and is playable in Blood of the Dead and Alpha Omega (the latter of which also features Ultimis Nikolai as an alternate playable character), and appears in a non-playable capacity in Classified and Tag der Toten. Additionally, Primis Nikolai can be unlocked as a playable character in the Blackout game mode.
Overview[]
- "Forgotten and abandoned on the front lines of Europe, Red Army Sergeant Nikolai Belinski has learned to survive and endure even in the darkest of times. His loyalty to the Motherland has seen him battle his own demons, overcoming personal trials that few have ever truly understood."
- — Nikolai's biography for Call of Duty: Black Ops III.[2]
Exile from Russia[]
On August 3rd, 1917, Sergeant Nikolai Belinski of the Imperial Russian Army was sent into exile. On December 10th, 1917, still exiled in Europe, Nikolai received new orders from the Imperial Russian Army to investigate the enemy "War Machine." Still loyal to the motherland, he willingly obliged.
On February 23rd, 1918, Nikolai wrote of the ongoing civil war in his homeland. He did not expect peace to last long, but he is enjoying his time in France, while still spying on Group 935.
Freeing Samantha[]
On June 4th, 1918, Element 115 completely awakened the undead knights from The Great War and quickly consumed the camp. Nikolai, along with American spy "Tank" Dempsey and Japanese spy Takeo Masaki unite with German scientist Edward Richtofen on the battlefield and help free a girl named Samantha from her imprisonment in Agartha. The four uniting marks the return of Primis from the original Great War, as the group were different 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[]
Nikolai, along with Dempsey and Takeo, upon learning of Richtofen's multi-dimensional travels, attempt to stop him for fearing that he will disrupt the established continuity of the dimensions. After several dimension jumps and failed attempts, they arrive at the Original Timeline which has been slightly altered due to Richtofen's past actions of travelling through universes and killing his other selves, at the Der Riese facility on October 13th, 1945, just moments after Ultimis Richtofen trapped Maxis and Samantha in the teleporter with Fluffy. Nikolai, Dempsey and Takeo confront Ultimis Richtofen, telling him that there is a chain of events that must be carried out, and prompt him to awaken the original 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 Ultimis Richtofen in the head, killing him instantly. This triggered a fracturization across the original timeline. While the group expresses disappointment in Richtofen for tampering with history, he defends his action, believing that what he does will be to secure a better future. While the others fend off the zombies, Richtofen pretended to use the Summoning Key to acquire the original Richtofen's soul. Eventually, the four activate a beacon in the facility, allowing Maxis from another dimension to locate them in space-time, telling them he will find them sooner or later.
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 Ultimis Dempsey launches to the Moon. After making radio contact with Dr. Groph, Ultimis Richtofen's second-in-command, Richtofen masquerades as his Ultimis, older 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 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 Moon Pyramid Device 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 Nikolai 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. Then, Dempsey himself sadly put his older self down. Richtofen then captured Ultimis Dempsey's soul in the Key.
Killing Ultimis Takeo: Proditione Fracture[]
Nikolai 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, Nikolai was present when Ultimis Takeo Masaki was cured from being a Thrasher to collect his soul.
Stopping at Alcatraz Island[]
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 jump to another fractured timeline, in a war-torn Stalingrad on November 6th, 1945, to kill 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 Ultimis Nikolai attempts to kill them until a dragon throws him into a building. Later, Dempsey and the others make a temporary truce with 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. This led to Primis Nikolai having a brief conversation with his Ultimis version, stating he that he should stop trying bury his emotion with an alcohol fueled rage. Primis Nikolai then gets shot by his Ultimis self, where it lands on armor. Primis Nikolai retaliates with a devastating blow to the head with shotgun on Ultimis Nikolai. Richtofen opens a portal in the sky with Maxis' help and lights a beacon from the Summoning Key which releases 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 original 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 Soul 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 Soul 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 cycle 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 Alcatraz.
Beside a mysterious machine known as the Dark Mechanism, The cycle Primis crew battle against Brutus, Whom is being resurrected time and time again. Cycle 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 cycle Primis is joined by the post-Revelations cycle-breaking Primis 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 original Dimension 63 Richtofen exit, leaving the new Richtofen alone and scared, the machine continuing to drain his blood.
Recruiting Ultimis: Breaking the Cycle[]
In order to prepare for the coming battle; Primis makes a stop at Groom Lake (Original Timeline) 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."
Journey to Camp Edward[]
Alongside Primis & Ultimis, Nikolai led his comrades to the Camp Edward facility in Nevada to gain access to the Elemental Shard. With the assistance of Rushmore, Primis & Ultimis defeat the former director of the facility, Cornelius Pernell, who has since become the "Avogadro" and gain access to the Elemental Shard. Soon after, the group is reunited with Samantha and Eddie, who have been teleported from the House to Camp Edward.
The End[]
Soon after their journey to Camp Edward, Nikolai leads the group to an unknown forest, where they start a campfire and begin celebrating their upcoming victory within the Great War. However, Nikolai had previously poisoned the alcohol the rest of the group was drinking, killing all of them besides Ultimis Richtofen, who had become Undead Richtofen. Nikolai then contacts Victis, who was sent by Richtofen to Siberia to build the Agarthan Device and assists them through "trans-dimensional" contact. After Victis completes the Agarthan Device, they send it to Nikolai, who then uses it to destroy the Summoning Key. Immediately after, the Multiverse (including Victis) is banished to the Dark Aether. Overhearing Richtofen apologizing to Victis, Nikolai responds with "Me too, Richtofen.", as he shoots Richtofen with a Welling, killing him. He then hands the Welling to Samantha, implying that he wishes for her to be the one to finish the job. In his last moments, Nikolai reminisces of his journey thus far, and of his friends. Nikolai closes his eyes, and accepts his fate as Samantha shoots him.
Letters[]
Nikolai's first letter.
"December 10th - 1917
- It appears my current exile from the motherland may prove fortuitous. I have received orders to undertake a vital mission in Northern France.
Reports from the area suggest the Kaiser's War Machine may be gearing up to unleash something unlike anything we have seen before..." - — Nikolai Belinski
Nikolai Belinski's second letters.
"February 23rd - 1918
- Despite the abdication, my country remains gripped by Civil War. Reds and Whites battle for power as I am forced to watch helplessly from afar. Despite the March treaty, many among us do not expect lasting peace… Our memories will not allow us to forget the tens of thousands of souls lost at Tannenberg… This war remains a threat to all our futures…
The people of France share my hatred and contempt for the Hun. They have been very kind to me on my journeys; offering me food, shelter and other more worldly comforts. It is a great relief that even amongst the madness of war, I may still find moments of joy in the arms of a good woman…" - — Nikolai Belinski
Personality[]
- Primis Nikolai: "Nikolai Belinski, put down that bottle right now!"
- Ultimis Nikolai: "Why? Would you like some of my vodka? Heh... too bad! You can't!"
- — Conversation between Ultimis and Primis Nikolai in Blackout
Due to his alcoholism not yet acquired, Primis Nikolai's personality was completely different from that of his Ultimis self. He was intelligent and got along with and tried to cooperate with his comrades; although did not hold himself in high esteem. He was willing to give his life for the greater good, humble and has a high survival instinct, while also maintaining an enjoyment in life. Unlike his Ultimis self, his opinions on the other three varied depending on how well they fought, he disliked Takeo and Dempsey if they fought poorly, and respected them if they fight well. However he hated Richtofen if he fought poorly and tolerated him if he fought well. When Samantha began to speak, he was the most concerned for her safety and wished to attempt to save her more than the other three. He was a proud revolutionist and supporter of Communism who did not wish for medals or glory. He also worried and feared the damage they can do when teleported into the future, but relents as he needed to make sure future events don't happen. However, as the journey continues, he starts to frustrate with seemingly endless battle against zombies and Richtofen's uncertain "plan" he is forced to follow. In Revelations, Nikolai blames Richtofen for the events that transpire, but nonetheless follows along in defeating the Shadowman once and for all.
In another cycle after the events of Zetsubou no Shima, in Blood of the Dead, Nikolai's frustration reaches the peak and he attempts to convince his teammates to help murder Richtofen, which both Dempsey and Takeo strongly opposes. This frustration subsides after being given the Kronorium by the Richtofen that fought in the Great War, where Nikolai puts aside his feelings towards Richtofen to ensure a better tomorrow. In Tag der Toten, Nikolai's personality drastically changes between the intro and gameplay to being cheerful and optimistic to both his friends and Victis, to being sorrowful and depressed in the end. Nikolai clearly shows regret and sorrow for having to kill his friends, but continues to do so, as he puts the lives of the children as well as the uncorrupted universe to come before the ones he loves.
Call of Duty: Mobile[]
Primis Nikolai appears in Call of Duty: Mobile and was added as part of the Season 9 Conquest, Being a final reward for completing The Finest Hour event. [3]
Later, in the Season 13 Wint3r War, Nikolai makes a brief appearance in the Comics, where he, Primis Richtofen and Primis Takeo precede over Primis Dempsey's funeral.
Appearances[]
Cutscene only.
Both Primis & Ultimis versions playable.
Appears in cutscenes, and can be 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[]
- Unlike his Ultimis self, Primis Nikolai appears to have traded his love for vodka for a love for bacon, according to some of his quotes in maps such as Gorod Krovi.
- Primis Nikolai and Dempsey seem to be on good terms until at one point in The Giant, however it seemed to be healed in Der Eisendrache.
- Primis Nikolai and Takeo are neutral but appeared to build their friendship in Gorod Krovi.
- Primis Nikolai disliked Richtofen since Origins for creating zombies.
- Like his Ultimis self, Nikolai prefers the PPSh-41. He also prefers certain Wonder Weapons such as the Void Bow and the Ice Staff.
- Nikolai was physically abused as a child.
- In the Origins Intro Cinematic trailer, Nikolai's last name was initially misspelled "Belinksi", but this has since been fixed.
- Primis Nikolai has a preference of shotguns, as he uses an Olympia in Origins, a KRM-262 in The Giant, Der Eisendrache, and Gorod Krovi, and a MOG 12 in Blood of the Dead.
- According to a quote whilst interacting with Dempsey in The Giant, Primis Nikolai and Dempsey have been allies fighting in three World Wars, rather than two.
- Upon activating a radio on The Giant, one can hear an alternate Nikolai claim that he has killed at least three Richtofens.
- In the Dead Ended music video, Ultimis Nikolai can be seen killing off Primis.
- When rescued during the main quest of Firebase Z, Samantha Maxis can be seen wearing a pair of goggles that heavily resemble Primis Nikolai's.
References[]
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