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"The people who go down in history as its heroes are never stable." |
Colonel Sergei Vladimir (Russian: Сергей Владимир) was a high ranking executive of the Umbrella Corporation, highly recognized as the company's Captain of the Guard, and Oswell E. Spencer's most loyal officer.
Biography
"When my country was ruined, I had no place left to call home. Spencer gave me a home and a purpose!" |
In the Gorbachev era, Sergei Vladimir served at the rank of Colonel in the Soviet Army. In the early 1990s the Soviet Union collapsed and the Army began a two year process of disarming. During this time Sergei was retired from duty. At this point in time the Umbrella Corporation began recruiting within the new Russian Federation into their paramilitary forces. Sergei became aware of this and joined them, seeing the private military of Lord Oswell E. Spencer as comparable with the old dictatorship which he grieved the loss of. His rank and experience earned him the role as Colonel of the UBCS.[1]
Sergei was also involved in Tyrant research, and his experience in military affairs had made him instrumental in the founding of Umbrella’s private militia, the Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service.
During his time at Umbrella, Sergei grew a heated rivalry with another close employee of Spencer, Albert Wesker. Wesker seemed to have ulterior motives and grew suspicious of Spencer's intentions as well. Sergei believed that Wesker could not be trusted and would inevitably betray the company and its leader. Both men were always at each other's throats, and as Wesker's superior, Sergei was often displeased to find Wesker not obeying orders to the letter and would never hesitate to punish him for failure or remind him who was in charge. Wesker did not seem to be daunted by Sergei's threats, but the two men held a mutual respect for one another regardless and kept a close eye on one another.
Tyrant involvement
"The Tyrants are my brothers, and my brothers and I will issue in a new era for all mankind!" |
As one of the rare individuals whose genetic make-up was capable of producing a Tyrant, Sergei became the genetic model for the majority of Umbrella's later Tyrant program, beyond the T-001 and T-002 projects initiated by the team led by Albert Wesker and William Birkin. Sergei also ordered the re-engineering of two T-103 Tyrants in order to produce his personal bodyguards, known as "Ivan". The 10 clones of Sergei would later form the basis of the T-103 model, which shaped every Umbrella manufactured Tyrant model thereafter. The mass production of T-103's which was spearheaded on Sheena Island was based on the initial Sergei clones, whilst T-103's implanted with the NE-α Type became Nemesis-T Type.
Vladimir was also very involved in science works, and the Tyrant project. Although not as scientifically skilled as other noted scientists such as Alexia and Alexander Ashford, he was incredibly intelligent, and his masterpiece Tyrant was undoubtedly T-A.L.O.S., which he lead the creation of. He continually aided the production of his Ivans, mostly by contributing DNA and testing psychological variables he could create from the original T-103 line. Sergei saw the Tyrants as his "brothers" who would assist him in bringing about a new age under Umbrella's banner.
U.M.F.-013 and the Red Queen
"It's good that we can be honest with each other. That's the sign of a healthy relationship. It's a shame that this friendship has to end." |
Sergei confronts Wesker
At the Umbrella Executive Training Center, Sergei ordered one of his Ivans to "punish" Wesker for his failure to bring the facility up and running. Wesker barely escaped with his life, with only the destruction of the facility giving him a chance to escape, causing Sergei to say "I guess he didn't like his lesson". Afterwards, Sergei and his bodyguard went to the Arklay Mountains. Rebecca Chambers quietly watched him exit the mansion, alongside the Ivan carrying the T-A.L.O.S. prototype. They were attacked by a group of Cerberus, but the Ivan easily dispatched them.
As the head of the U.B.C.S, Sergei permit Nicholai to kill the other monitors to eradicate any evidence against Umbrella.[2]
Sergei was then sent to Raccoon City to retrieve the U.M.F.-013 computer core, which he had loaded all of Umbrella's data onto. The helicopter also transported an Umbrella executive on board, who thought Sergei was reckless for stealing the core from the company, despite the fact that it was at Spencer's orders. Sergei, being "unstable" for this move in the employee's eyes, took the remark as a joke and pointed out how none of history's heroes are stable in their actions. Sergei also acknowledged how the core's data would allow Umbrella to rise from the ashes of defeat. Ada Wong managed to hitch a ride on the computer core as it was towed away below the copter, going unnoticed by Sergei. The missile launched by the government destroyed Raccoon City the next moment, passing merely feet away from the helicopter as Sergei watched.
Sergei saw himself going down in history as a hero because of the last task Oswell E. Spencer had left him with. After Raccoon City's destruction, the government got suspicious of Umbrella and its position in the world was dwindling, making it a sinking ship and no longer a sanctuary for his plans. Spencer had no choice but to further distance himself from the public eye, which he had never stayed close to in the first place. However, before going into hiding, Spencer needed someone to take charge of what was left of his corporation. He chose Sergei, his most faithful and loyal subordinate, confident he would be able to uphold the seemingly doomed company. Sergei was named the chief executive officer of Umbrella some time between 1998 and 2003. It is likely the two still maintained contact behind the scenes. As his first decree as Umbrella's leader, Sergei moved all company data and assets to the Caucasus facility disguised as an oil refinery.
The Twilight of Umbrella
Sergei's Transformation
Wesker himself infiltrated the base at the same time a biohazard wiped out some 98% of the research staff. Wesker managed to take a train to the main shaft where he met Sergei a second time. This time, Sergei sent both of his Ivans to kill him. An attack team lead by Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine entered the base, with the intention of destroying Umbrella for good. None of that would have been possible if it was not for Wesker's actions.
Sergei stood in the way of Wesker's attempt to steal the U.M.F.-013's data and, after releasing the T-A.L.O.S. to fight Chris and Jill, he mutated into a huge creature (indication that he infected himself moments before Wesker caught him). The tentacles binding his arms fused into one large tentacle. At the end of this appendage is a dangerous claw that can be used for movement or attacking.
During the fight, Sergei seemed to enjoy the blows of pain Wesker issued to his weak point, evidencing a loss of sanity. Despite Sergei's immense strength, agility and organic weaponry, Wesker destroyed him, putting an end to his delusions that Umbrella and the Tyrants, his "brothers", would usher in a new era for mankind. The company's final leader defeated, Wesker stole all of the data, compressed into one disc, and shut down the Red Queen. The base was decommissioned and all data was erased in the process, ending Sergei's plans and sealing Umbrella's fate.
Further Notes
- Moments before Chris and Jill's second battle with T-A.L.O.S. he gave a speech regarding how it was mutating out of control, however he was fighting Wesker at the same time and never comments on T.A.L.O.S during the battle. This is possibly an error.
- Biohazard The Umbrella Chronicles SIDE B, however, includes the above speech, and in fact, Sergei actually transforms after giving the above speech.
- During Wesker's short reunion with Sergei, he is seen wielding what seems to be a Red9 or a Mauser Model C-96. However, neither weapon was featured as usable in The Umbrella Chronicles.
Gallery
Sources
- ↑ Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles (2007), file: "Sergei Vladimir Profile".
- ↑ Letter from Sergei to Nicholai
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