It is the year 2030. The events of the first rebellion by prince Anri have passed. Since then, the Holy Falchion has been modified to the Kingdom of Altea's standard: the Assault Rifle. The mighty weapons of the United Archanean Empire have been modified similarly.

A League of Nations links all the countries in Archanea.

Trouble lurks again in the continent of Archanea. Centuries of peace have been disturbed by Dolhr. The Kingdom of Altea has dispatched all but Prince Marth's personal army to deal with an insurrection, including King Cornelius. The Democratic Republic of Gra supports Altea as an ally. The rebellion thought to be lead by Theocracy of Khadien and the Holy Empire of Dolhr. Classified power and trade agreements link Khadien, Dolhr, and Gra, though the Chairman Jiol has been convinced that betraying Altea would be a better choice. Khadien and Dolhr are openly supported by the United Macedonia, and the Republic of Grust.

The war was declared on the United Archanean Empire, the monarchy that controls the League of Nations. However, it became entangled with personal affairs, and Princess Nyna was forced to flee to the Republic of Orleans. Around the same time, Chairman Jiol openly betrayed King Cornelius and crushed his military force. The remnants of the army have fled to various places around the globe.

United Archanea is losing.

Their last hope, Prince Marth, hides in the Island Kingdom of Talys, a small city-state that maintains itself through offshore mining. Prince Marth, the last man capable of wielding the Falchion, is a skilled tactician who engineered his own escape, but not without the sacrifice of Princess Elice, his sister.

[Fort Smith, Talys: 21:47]

"Sir, respectfully, how do you expect to stage an entire field training exercise while we're in hiding? Have you not considered that a massive movement of troops would surely be detectable by UAV? You know that the King of Talys had to cover for our rears the last time a HMMWV was left unattended in Camp Reclaimer." The old warrior had held this objection until the end of the commander's brief.

"Colonel Jagen, I believe troop readiness trumps your concern at this point. If it makes you feel any better, we can skip the convoy and train Captain Cain and Major Abel's troops dismounted in night ops. We are the Altean Army after all. We fight in the night, not the day," Prince Marth argued. "We're known for being prepared."

"Ready for what? Fighting what night war? We simply don't have the window to strike at Dolhr! You might have beaten them once, but remember: you only beat them back. We aren't preparing to go to war!"

"Well, that might change," Captain Cain interrupted.

"And why's that?"

"Check your phone, sir. Talys is on fire."

"What?"

"Dolhr has made its way out here? Impossible. I ran the calculations on their naval capabilities. There's no way, unless..." Major Abel began to think.

"Terrorists, sir," Captain Draug remarked. "And we can't even deploy half our assets."

"Who said we were going out?" Colonel Jagen snapped.

"Isn't that Prince Marth's decision?"

The room was silent. It was broken up by a radio ping.

"Altea X-ray, this is Talys X-Ray Two. Requesting immediate combat support, over!"

"Caeda! Abel, isolate that frequency!" Prince Marth jumped to his feet and grabbed his headset.

"Done, sir. Additionally, it's a friendly IFF. I believe it's Princess Caeda-"

"Sir, please wait. Consider-" Jagen started.

"Talys X-Ray two, this is Altea X-Ray loud and clear. We'll send immediate relief. Rally to Point Bravo at Foxtrot Sierra, over!"

"Sir! Please. Listen to me! We will reveal our location! Keep your feelings for the Princess out of this, and understand: If word of this gets out, Altea is finished!"

"No, if we allow Talys to fall to terrorists, Altea is finished." Marth paused and sat back down.

"We don't have a contingency for a new hideout, but I do have one to link up with Prince Hardin of Orlean. If we don't make a stand here, we don't even give ourselves a chance. Besides, what of that intel that Dolhr has withdrawn its troops from its furthest outposts?"

"... I see. And you're sure of this?"

"Yes."

"Very well," Jagen said. "We'll stay and draw up a plan, while Cain and Abel secure an LZ for X2. Captain Draug, begin preparing your heavy Armor for battle. There's enough flat land on this island to use it. Tell Lieutenant Gordon to roll his mortar teams into position. Any objections?"

"None." Marth stood and saluted the room. "Light stalks the Shadow, Altea."

"We will prevail!" the officers responded.

"Sir! The city! It's on fire! What are we going to do? Sir? Sir!"

There was an awkward shuffling in the room.

"Is someone going to get the door for Lieutenant Gordon?"