Stage 00 - Prologue

August 13, 2031 - 23:45 Hrs.

Wack Wack Outpost Tunnel System

Manila, Philippines

The sound of explosions and gunfire echoes throughout the capital.

The flames of war has once again engulfed the Republic. The death and destruction surpassing that of the Battle of Manila at the closing stages of World War II.

His Excellency tried everything that he could to avert this dreadful event from happening, but in the end, his actions were just mere delays for the inevitable.

Nobody ever imagined that the People's Republic of China would invade our country. We were naïve to think that the fragile peace between our two countries would hold, though none of it matters now.

The country is already at war.

Most of my friends and comrades have already died in the fight to defend our homeland. The members of the National Youth Federation's Uniformed Volunteer Forces have been drawn into this bitter fighting - with no end in sight.

The carnage has devastated most of the major cities, and Metro Manila has been reduced into ash and rubble - Death was everywhere.

Bodies littered the battle scarred city as the brutal fighting for control of the Capital Region raged day and night - bombs and artillery shells fell from the sky like rain.

The bulk of the Philippine Military in the capital has been annihilated, and the remaining forces left are survivors from different branches of the military remaining in the capital, as well as a few of us from the Uniformed Volunteer Forces.

We're to participate in a last-ditch counter-offensive at dawn to try and capture a People's Liberation Army forward operating base at the ruins of the former Manila City Hall.

All of us are aware that this is a suicide mission. The Chinese Military has complete air superiority over the capital's airspace, and their artillery has been constantly shelling our position.

This may be the last entry in my journal.

My name is Shinnosuke Suzuki. UVF Personnel Identification Number VFM-0226-2028.

Lieutenant. Commanding Officer of Black Koala 2-1, Nox Company of the 3rd Nacht Battalion, UVF Shadow Brigade, UVF Special Operations, element of the 1st Scout Ranger Regiment.