A/N: These flashback chapters will be interspersed throughout the story to provide extra backstory into Shinji's experience during the war. Enjoy!

"Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here." – Captain John Parker

FLASHBACK CHAPTER 1: RED DAWN

August 14, 2016 17:27 EDT

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Shinji was on his way home from the National Constitution Center. The center was part of the Independence National Historic Park which consisted of Independence Hall, the area of Philadelphia was often called "America's Most Historic Square Mile". Shinji was a member and treasurer of his high school's history club and they had just finished a weekend visit to the center.

The groups split up to either go to their respective cars or, in the case of Shinji and his best friend, Kyle Norris, to the bus stop. Shinji lived next door to him in West Chester, a small town just to the west of Philadelphia. The two bonded quickly when they first met in 3rd period Japanese language class where Shinji was a TA. They were both history buffs, Kyle and his dad helped teach Shinji to shoot and hunt and, last year, they started an airsoft team, the thus-far undefeated "West Chester War Dogs".

The two were sitting on a city bus bench near Independence Hall discussing the upcoming match that weekend with their rivals, the former champion team the "Southside Cavaliers". The Cavaliers were pissed that the rookie team had whipped their asses last October and were aching to get their revenge. Their previous attempt back in May had been a failure, even though they had tried to cheat. But, they didn't stay on topic too long.

"So, what do you think about Mari?" Kyle asked Shinji.

"Uh, wh-what about, M-Mari?" Shinji asked even though he knew where Kyle was going with it. Mari Illustrious was on the 'most wanted list' of girls at their school. She was a transfer student from the UK in their math class.

"She's totally in to you, bro," Kyle had said and not for the first time. "Yeah, sure, she's with Mike Franks, 'Mr. Quarterback Extraordinaire', now. But that guy's an asshole and she's getting fed up with him."

"But, what, I mean, why would she want to…" He gulped, "go out…with me?"

"I don't know," Kyle shrugged. "Maybe she's tired of the steroid-fueled, brain-dead jock-types and is now getting drawn to the brainy-type that has appropriately sized testicles. All I know is that she's been glancing over at you more and more over the past few weeks."

"She…she has?" Shinji had opened up some since he first came to America six years ago. He used to be so timid that he couldn't talk to people without stuttering. And that was after he learned to speak English. Kyle was able to get him to warm up to being sociable and even set him up with a few dates. None of which were anything other than total disasters, though; which partially explained why Shinji was nervous. The other part was that with her long dark brown hair in a ponytail, twin bangs flanking her spectacled turquoise eyes, lithe figure and modest bust Mari was hot.

"No lie," Kyle nodded as they heard a dull roar overhead. "You should ask her out next week. Stop being afraid all the damn time. I think she'd-" he was cut off but a shadow and louder roar that washed over their heads.

Shinji looked up just in time to be knocked off the bench and on his ass by an explosion that ripped Independence Hall apart. He coughed as his lungs fought to refill with all important air. As he rolled over to the side he became aware of people scurrying about all around him. Kyle helped him to his feet as more explosions were heard across the city. They looked up to see a fighter jet race across the sky and bank as a bomb left it's wing and explode somewhere in the direction of City Hall.

"What the hell was that?" Kyle asked. Shinji watched the fighter as it continued to bank and took note of its profile.

"Kyle, th-that's a Mig!" Shinji exclaimed.

"A Mig! That's not possible!"

"Look!" They heard someone shout and point up in the sky. The two followed the stranger's gaze and saw several large aircraft flying low over the city. Parachutes were seen trailing each aircraft as paratroopers jumped out.

"I don't believe it," Kyle muttered as both noticed the red stars on the aircraft. "Those are Russian transports. The Russians are invading Philly!" An explosion down the street rocked their ears and brought them back to their present reality.
"We have to get out of here!" Shinji shouted as they followed the stream of panicking pedestrians in the opposite direction. "We have to run away!"

Kyle pulled out his cell phone to try and call his parents but couldn't get a signal. Shinji's wasn't getting a signal either. No one in the crowd was getting a signal. Either the Russian's were jamming the airwaves or the towers were blown up as well.

"Get down!" A traffic cop shouted as a Russian fighter swooped down and opened up on the parking structure across the street with its cannon. Shinji and Kyle hit the pavement as debris rained down onto the street. "Get moving, people!" The cop shouted as the crowd got back on its feet.

Kyle and Shinji were near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier when the crowd came to a halt as a police cruiser ahead of them was torn asunder by rapid cannon fire and the cop behind it thrown to the curb, dead. Shinji had just started to back pedal when an armored vehicle rounded the corner and opened up on another cruiser behind the crowd, its crew obviously not worried about civilian casualties as an elderly couple a few feet to Shinji's right were blown to pieces when an explosive round hit them.

Kyle and Shinji bolted down an alley as the armored vehicle raced up the street they had been on. The two continued running for several minutes before stopping to catch their breaths. Explosions continued through the city as sirens, police and raid, wailed. They soon heard the telltale sound of small arms fire as the police and maybe even military forces in the city exchanged fire with Russian soldiers. Overhead Russian aircraft danced virtually unopposed in the sky. Soon, they heard the sounds of helicopters as well.

"What the hell's going on?" Shinji asked. "Why would the Russians invade us?"

"Shit," Kyle swore. "You remember what my dad was watching on the news last night? You know, when he told us to not worry and go back to our homework?"

"Something about an airport in Russia…?" Shinji shrugged.

"Someone, terrorists, had shot up a terminal in Moscow," Kyle explained. "Apparently, the Russian government is claiming America had sponsored the attack."

"What!? Since when did America become a state sponsor of terrorism?"

"Well, the Russians claimed to be in the possession of proof. A body or bullet or something, I don't know."

"Wait, are you saying this is payback for that?" Kyle shrugged. "That's ridiculous!"

"As ridiculous as a Russian fighter-bomber blowing up Independence Hall?" Kyle asked rhetorically. Before Shinji could answer they heard voices down the alley, and they weren't speaking English. "Shit!" They ducked into the basement of a nearby hole-in-the-wall clothing store and hid.

Sure enough they saw soldiers wearing red, white and black camouflage and carrying what were obviously Kalashnikov assault rifles moved down the alley. Their sleeves bore Russian patches and they were definitely speaking a foreign language. The duo waited until they could no longer hear the voices before slowly exiting the basement. "Those were Russian's alright," Kyle said.

"What do we do now, Kyle?" Shinji asked. "The city's got to be crawling with paratroopers and we don't have a car."

"And the police stations will most likely either be too packed with refugees and/or the first targets for the Russians. Same with the train and bus terminals. And we're on the southern side of town and the bridges will be the first things the Russians capture same goes for the docks, which will most likely be crawling with them."

"That means we're trapped. For all we know the entire Russian army has landed. We're trapped!"

"Calm down, bro," Kyle said shaking Shinji's shoulder. "Stay cool. Let's try and get a better look out there," Kyle said heading in the direction the Russian paratroopers came from.

When they came to the end of the alley Kyle carefully peeked around the corner. "It's clear," he whispered. "Come on, stay down." The two walked, hunched over close to the battered cars that lined the street. As they came to an intersection with a police cruiser that had been riddled with bullet holes they heard more Russian voices. "Under the cars, quick," Kyle whispered as he and Shinji ducked underneath a Ford Explorer.

They held their breaths as black booted soldiers marched through the intersection, jabbering in Russian. Overheard a helicopter buzzed the buildings but the Russians didn't panic, meaning it was one of theirs. When the soldiers moved past the duo crawled out from underneath the SUV. Shinji moved forward to look down the street where they went. Kyle moved to the cruiser.

Inside he founded the remains of a cop who had been ripped apart by heavy machinegun fire. But, in his holster was a brand new Glock G21 pistol. Kyle took out the pistol and happened to glance up towards Shinji. "Shinji!" He shouted as he saw two Russian soldiers run up behind him.

Shinji turned in time to get bulldozed to the ground by a charging Russian. The soldiers shouted something unintelligible at him and pointed their rifles in his face. Shinji covered his eyes as he heard gun shots that he was sure were meant for him. Instead the two Russians dropped to the ground with bullet holes in their heads. "Shinji!" Kyle shouted as he darted over. "You alright, bro?"

"Y-y-yeah," Shinji stammered. "I-I thought…"

"It's alright, buddy," Kyle patted his shoulder. "We'd best get out of here." He then hauled Shinji to his feet. "More Russians probably heard those shots." He then strapped the cops duty belt around his waist, minus handcuffs and radio. He bent over and took the dead soldiers' AK74s and handed one to Shinji. They then took the ammo harnesses off the soldiers and made a mad run for a construction site.

Once under cover they donned the harnesses and checked the rifles. Kyle's had C-More red dot scope on it while Shinji's had just the iron sights. Both had tactical flashlights attached to the fore grips and fully loaded magazines with 5.45mm ammo. They then set about finding a secluded spot to hole up in for the night. They found it in the remains of an abandoned apartment building that was being renovated.

"We still don't know what we're gonna do," Shinji said. "It's not like we can just…I don't know." He was still breathing heavy from the run in with the paratroopers. "I'm scared, Kyle."

"Me too," Kyle said. "But we gotta keep a clear head. Panicking won't help at all. Now, what's our situation? We're trapped behind enemy lines. Russian soldiers patrol the streets. And it's not like we can stop them."

"Our phones are useless," Shinji added. "No food. No water." Kyle sat down and took some deep breaths.

"Fuck," he said. "I never thought I'd ever see war, let alone war on our own soil."

"In here!" They heard a voice shout. They bolted to their feet as several voices were heard out in the hallway.

"We can hide in here," a girl's voice said.

"This way," a man said as he stepped into the room where Shinji and Kyle were in.

"Hold it!" Kyle shouted as he pointed his AK at the group. "Drop it!"
"Easy, Kyle!" Shinji snapped. "They're not Russians! And that one's a soldier!" Kyle had his AK trained on a dirty National Guardsman holding a dinged up M4 carbine.

"Shit," Kyle exhaled. "Sorry."

"Who are you kids?" The Guardsman asked.

"This is our spot!" One of the people behind shouted.

"We were here first!" Kyle snapped.

"Enough!" The soldier shouted. He wore the stripes of a sergeant. "Get the wounded in here." The group filed in as a pair of guardsmen carried a fourth in and set him on the ground as a couple civilians with bandages on their arms followed. More filed in along with a SWAT officer, also carrying an M4.

After introductions were made Shinji and Kyle recognized four members of the Southside Cavaliers. "Well ain't this some shit," Jenkins, one of the Cavaliers said.

"Bonn didn't make it, Sarge," Private Fesperman, one of the guardsmen came over.

"Damn," Sergeant Voyles grunted. "How are we for ammo?"

"Splitting up Bonn's gear we're only good for half a load each. And only two frags left."

"How about you two?" Sarge asked looking over at Shinji and Kyle.

"Full load for the AKs," Kyle replied. "And about three magazines for the Glock."

"I've only got two mags for my rifle," the SWAT officer, Towley, spoke up. "I've got three mags for my Glock, too."

"We also don't have any food," Shinji added. "Or water."

"And our comms are gone after our Humvee was blasted apart by a BTR," PFC Newman chimed in. "We're pretty fucked."

"Can it, soldier," Voyles snapped. "Alright, first things first, we got to make sure we're secure here. At least for the night. Then we'll have to scrounge up some food and water."

"What's going on, Sarge?" Shinji asked. "One minute we were talking about girls and the next Independence Hall lit up like Roman candle."

"From what I heard before we lost comms was that Ivan is launching a surprise air and amphibious assault along half the Eastern seaboard. Classic shock and awe."

"Holy shit," Jenkins swore.

"Not only that, but Washington, D.C. and Baltimore are already in flames. Somehow the Ruskies cracked our early warning system and caught our air force with its pants down. Last we heard the Russians had taken Dover, Newark and New Atlantic City and were offloading heavy armor and more troops."

"Jesus Christ," Shinji muttered. "It's like Red Dawn, but real."

"No shit," Fesperman muttered.

"Okay. Back to the present," Voyles announced. "Fesperman you and officer Towley get up to the upper floors and set up a look out. Newman you and, Kyle, right? You two see if there are any other ways out of here. If we get compromised we'll need several escape routes. And Shinji?"
"Yes?"

"Do you know where we can find any food or water around here? Gas stations, stores, anything?"

"I don't know this neighborhood all that well, but…" He looked over at Jenkins.

"There's a Wawa Food Market and a Seven-Eleven not far from here," Jenkins replied. "Up by Thomas Jefferson University."

"Forget it," one of the civilians, a female student from the looks. "The Russians were all over the place."

"The next closest is Y&R's," Jenkins shrugged.

"Not much choice," Voyles mumbled. "Okay, Jenkins," he handed him Bonn's M16A4 and ammo pouches, "you and Shinji get to one of those stores and bring back as much non-perishable foods and water you can. Here," the sergeant emptied his backpack and Bonn's. "Don't take any risks that you don't have to. Get the stuff and get back here alive. Let's move it people."