Disclaimer: Trademark items I used for this story are respectfully owned by, well, its owners. I don't own any of the games, names, characters and everything else except the idea. Characters that bear resemblance to any person, dead or alive are purely coincidental.

Not all what it seems

Under the soft caress of moonlight that bathed the beautiful Belgian capital city of Brussels another kind of light kept the darkness of night at bay indefinitely.

The blaze of fires in different places provided the stunning backdrop of a city that wont sleep tonight. All around the echoing thunder of explosions stir the citizens into a frenzy.

In the streets, explosions amidst the crowds choke the citizens with smoke yet they still manage to add their voices to the deafening sounds. Rockets, volley after volley lance into the sky, stabbing the night with brilliant flashes of light, erupting in a blossoming sparkle of color and radiance.

Police cars added their wailing sirens to the already riotous din as they patrolled the streets in case of any threat that might arise.

A Chinese column marched from the nearby International Airport, a force of Battle masters and inferno cannons, and from the skies took a flight of armed MiGs, flying in a tight V formation heading for the same place its ground counterpart was, the heart of the capital.

Someone bared witness to all of this, a Middle Easterner standing with people of equal status as he gazed out from the EEC Headquarters. Overhead the MiGs flew as the ground force rolled in front of him, synchronized as part of an elaborate presentation and celebration.

This was in commemoration for the success of the Eurasian Unity Meeting that now guaranteed European mainland security under the People's Liberation Army and a new trading partner with an economic giant that is China.

In a show of goodwill the Chinese delegation arranged for a fireworks show and a military parade in the European Union capital, and in response the grateful populace took to the streets, showing their support by waving Chinese and EU member flags in the midst of their cheering.

Even non-EU country representatives are present here, African, Middle East, Asian countries, those seeking protection after the US has left them.

In its thousand-year history the Belgian city had for the first time a dragon dance held in its streets.

But not everyone has smiling faces.

Many believe, even people on government positions-correction, especially those in the various governments- that the seemingly benevolent Chinese is taking advantage of them.

A little bit of history. Remembering the ravages of wars that have plagued the rich history of the European continent and the cost of human lives in every other war in the equally rich history of the world, a German president has proposed something that was unimaginable-and somewhat sort of ironic given that a German was the one proposing. (No offense to the Germans, mind you)

President Gerhardt Von Maistof presented a radical measure to the international community; A large-scale downsizing of standing armed forces' and destruction of arsenals in lieu of a pacifist existence between the nations. With decades of hurt and mistrust between countries obviously many are reluctant if not flatly rejecting it. Britain was the first one to accept (surprise, surprise) and with US backing the Berlin Peace Accords was signed ushering a new era of humanity. Slowly the thing snowballed and much of the signatories had US bases in their regions or at least near US protected territory-to the US' delight.

This entailed the reduction of the armed forces and converting them into smaller paramilitary forces. This was the reason why Germany was ill equipped to deal with an invasion of GLA proportions.

With the sheltering wings of the US military back in their continent the Red Dragon rose to the occasion. Are they just taking advantage of them? The Europeans are thinking…

Being used or not the Europeans are expecting the coming trial of captured GLA in the World Court for war crimes against them. They see the PLAFE (People's Liberation Army Forces in Europe) as holding terrorists for them, making them pay for what they did before handing them over to the higher powers. What they didn't know is that this is only what they were taught to see, for the dangerous renegades have slipped through the cracks and have now gone missing.

General Ta Hun Kwai has successfully kept information from leaking out about a mysterious extraction operation in a prison complex near Landsburg that held some of the more powerful cell leaders.

To cover this up the PLAFE command has released a statement through the Chinese ambassador in the UN that says that they are currently in trial for crimes against the Chinese people first, and are under interrogation for information vital to defeating the GLA remnants.

Many found the Chinese arrogant, exceeding their luck with their all but undeclared superpower status. Eventually they accepted it, looking less forward to a trial in absencia for the terrorists.

Buying a little time for themselves General Kwai quickly committed resources available under him to track down the escaping renegades without making it look obvious, having kept the same information secret even to his superiors (even to the Chinese ambassador). If "Dragon" General Leang found out there will be hell to pay.

It is now a race against time to find the terrorists before they resurrect the scourge of the GLA.

But time is running out faster than Kwai has thought. One by one GLA cells are springing back to life, reorganizing, a fire reduced to a smolder by a flood of Chinese forces.

But a smolder only waits for someone to fan it back to existence, a fuel to bring it back to life.

The world is unaware that behind the threats, hit and run tactics, and insurgency from the remnants of the once feared terrorist net lies a growing darkness, fed by the complacency instilled to them by the protection of the Red Dragon.

Complacency never existed in the vocabulary of the United States. Security is tighter than ever on the mainland under martial law. All of the defense agencies are concentrating on keeping terrorists out of the continental US. For this they have been criticized by the international community.

So much in fact that it has brought the once renowned power to its knees. The favor of world opinion shifted so much to the actions of the new Asian power that left it in a vacuum that is slowly killing it.

Dissatisfaction to the decisions of the current president will surely be the end of him, or maybe not. Mix reactions plague the politics of the US. Some agree to the incumbent president of leaving the international scene to tend to the US itself, not fighting a war it doesn't have to. A good percentage believes America must retain its aged old tradition of fighting as a good guy, supporting the General who pledges to take a more appropriate stance to the issue if he is made president. The coming elections will decide if the US will pose a threat to his plans.

The Middle Easterner was deep in thought, contemplating all of this for a long time until someone brought him back to reality. A hand rested on his shoulder and he turned to face a fellow delegate. A smile between them existed, and the Middle East and Chinese ambassadors exchanged a sign of friendship.

Author's note: sorry, but a Plot Development Chapter is really needed for this story.

I don't like to name counties or religion as much as possible.

I don't promise an action-packed chapter after this. Maybe another PDC.

I like what you guys think. Please review!

(after book is complete the Author's note will be removed.)