"Orestes" is a supporting character in ArmA 3's The East Wind campaign.
Background[]
Orestes was formerly an officer of the Altis Armed Forces (AAF). He went by the radio callsign of Spartan-Actual.[2][3]
For the most part however, Orestes has always been sympathetic towards the so-called "Freedom and Independence Army" (FIA) guerilla organisation[4], a growing band of anti-Akhanteros fighters who opposed the government's hardline policies. He would eventually defect to the organisation and provided valuable intel to the rebels on the AAF's movements.[1][5][6]
The East Wind (2035)[]
By mid 2035, Orestes had been assigned to overseeing patrols along the western coast of Altis, enforcing the checkpoints along the main roads between the old capital of Kavala and the abandoned mountain village of Oreokastro.[4]
However, the government's declaration of martial law in light of the insurgency and its continued violations of human rights only reinforced Orestes' pro-FIA sentiments.[5] On July 9th[7], joint AAF/CSAT forces carried out a large-scale counterinsurgency operation in Kavala to root out the FIA caches and cells hidden in the city. The bloody nature of the operation led to the deaths of many fighters and civilians caught up in the fighting.[8]
Repulsed by the government's inhumane acts of cruelty against the city's populace, the operation itself proved to be the breaking point. This finally motivated his decision to defect to the FIA once and for all. Some of his subordinates felt the same way, and equally began to consider defection as a viable alternative to military service.[5] In defiance of the AAF's orders, Orestes secretly turned a blind eye to guerilla fighters and illegal weapons that were being smuggled through his checkpoints.[4][9]
| « | Kerry: So the AAF really are as corrupt as they say. Stavrou: Corrupt? Sure. But, with Orestes, the situation is different. Kerry: Different... how? American soldier Corporal Ben Kerry remarking on his first encounter with "Orestes"
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Orestes had also gotten into contact with the FIA's leader, Kostas Stavrou, over the course of two weeks after the Kavala operation. He discussed his options with the guerilla leader. In exchange for his information and amnesty, Orestes would need assist the FIA in dealing a blow against CSAT directly.[5]
| « | A sympathetic AAF officer has approached us looking for a way out. He's been uncomfortable for many months, but the recent CSAT offensive - the bloody attack on Kavala, the ongoing crackdown - has proven to be the last straw. Now he and a few trusted comrades are ready to defect. As part of the deal - and before our enemy learns what's going on - we'll use his position of authority to strike a blow against the very CSAT forces that decimated Kavala. We've arranged to link up with this officer - codename Orestes - along with some of his men at an abandoned farm to the north. We'll then use his security clearance to set the trap. Stavrou briefing the guerillas on Orestes' wish to defect to the FIA
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However, Orestes knew that CSAT officials were already suspicious of his possible ties to the guerillas.[10][11] It would only be a matter of time before his cover was blown and he'd "disappear" just like all the others before him.[5]
On July 22nd[7], he and two of his close subordinates boarded a vehicle and made their way towards an abandoned farm on the outskirts of Oreokastro. As expected, CSAT were not oblivious to his guerilla ties as the other AAF commanders were. Whilst he departed to meet with the FIA contact[6], a CSAT patrol tailed his vehicle all the way to the meeting point.[10][11]
| « | Kerry: Orestes? Corporal Kerry, I'm with the FIA. Orestes: Yes - Stavrou told me to expect an American - but listen carefully, Corporal, I think we've been followed. As we turned onto this road, we spotted a CSAT vehicle a little way behind us. They must not discover us! Kerry: It's okay, we can fall back to the forest - we'll be gone before they get here. Orestes: Listen to me, we only have one shot at this. You must intercept them. They cannot find out we work together - not yet! Orestes arrives at the meeting point
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Upon arrival, Orestes hastily greeted the contact - an American soldier named Ben Kerry whom Stavrou had already told him about. He warned the Corporal about the tailing patrol. Kerry advised that they could simply fall back into the forest to lose them, but Orestes remained adamant that his cover had to be maintained. The patrol had to be silenced first before they could report back his defection.[10]
Kerry's guerillas readied themselves for an ambush. When the patrol arrived, Kerry's fighters quickly killed all of the soldiers. When they returned to talk with him, Orestes explained that as he had agreed with Stavrou, he wanted to help Kerry inflict retribution against CSAT for their role in the Kavala operation.[11]
| « | CSAT are well trained - they get suspicious very, very quickly. We can only pull off one strike. Orestes
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But Orestes made it clear to the American that they only had one opportunity to fool the CSAT officials. He offered Kerry two options; either he could call in a squad of CSAT soldiers to be brought in (and destroy one of their helicopters for good measure), or they could ambush the engineers at the Oreokastro vehicle depot and destroy all of damaged tanks present there.[11] Kerry quickly made his decision and dispatched the rest of Omega to get ready for the strike. Once Kerry was in position[12], Orestes proceeded to relay his support request to the CSAT garrison's commander, callsign Griffin.[2][3] When the guerillas had finished their mission, they returned to Orestes' location.
However, Orestes and his men were not alone. British special forces operative Lieutenant James and his team had arrived and were there to "escort" Orestes to safety. Orestes was less than pleased to see the British operative, and brushed away James' suggestions that he would "disappear" at the first chance if he was left unsupervised.[13]
| « | Stavrou: I am "glad" the Lieutenant came to see the true evil in our homeland. Orestes: We have a common enemy, Commander Stavrou. Let us not make it personal. Orestes responds flatly to criticism from Stavrou
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He also remained adamant that he nothing to do with James or his team, and that he had already explained his situation to Miller.[13] Orestes was thereafter brought back to the FIA's main camp and was immediately debriefed by Stavrou. He revealed that Nikos Panagopoulos, one of the FIA's key associates, was being held by CSAT at Camp Tempest on Stratis. They didn't have much time to rescue him as he would be relocated soon, so they would need to act quickly if they wished to save Nikos before it was too late.[14]
Personality and Appearance[]
Orestes is an Altian male with a light chin beard/moustache with a dark brown-coloured head of hair. He wears the standard attire of all AAF military officials, consisting of Digital-camouflaged officer fatigues, a field cap with a headset attached as well as an olive green bandoleer.
| « | James: Just wanted to ensure our new friend makes it safely to the camp, that's all. We wouldn't want him to get lost on the way. Isn't that right, "Orestes"? Orestes: Just shut up and let's go. I told Miller, I have no business with you Brits. James: Nah, course not, el capitano. Orestes rebukes criticism against his perceived lack of reliability
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A shrewd-eyed individual, Orestes could see that the tide of the insurgency was beginning to turn against the government. He always remained careful to keep his sympathies towards the FIA hidden to his superiors however, so that he wouldn't be exposed until the time was right for him to defect.[1][11]
Trivia[]
- "Orestes" is merely his codename, as his real name is never revealed in the entire episode.[5]
- In Greek mythology, Orestes was the son of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon, who famously avenges the murder of his father by slaying his own mother and her lover.
- The information below details unused, pre-release or removed content.
- Like many other characters from the pre-2012 iterations of ArmA 3's storyline[15], Orestes presumably had a different backstory as his original civilian (not military) unit can be placed in the editor. However, it is not actually used at any point in The East Wind.[16][17]
Gallery[]
References[]
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