Chapter 2
5:23 AM, February 16th. Year of 23 in the S.C era.
A truck is loaded up with soldiers. The soldiers belong to 33rd infantry division, Charlie company. In one truck is 3rd squad of 1st platoon. Among the soldiers is one PFC. Zetsumei Raito, sitting in silence as the truck slowly departs from the training facility.
--
24 years ago, the world was divided into 5 great masses of land. The nation of Godai ruled the land to the North. Anjiea Commonwealth was the keeper of the West, next to the nation Aozora in the South. A far domain on the Eastern edge of the world is under control by the people of the Haisou nation. In the center of all the nations was the largest landmass, a unifying republic by the name of The Gurumi Union.
In year 67 of the G.A era, The Gurumi Union launched a project that would skyrocket productivity of each nation by increasing mechanical production, and every single nation dedicated their resources into the project. However, a year into the project, the government officials embezzled the resources for a strong military for a large-scale invasion of the 5 landmasses.
However, as the founders of the project began to take the resources into a different matter, the other nations grew more suspicious as they heard less and less about the project, and rumors of a massive build-up of military force began to spread. Eventually, the nations began to cut back on funding of the project that was beginning to disappear.
As less and less resources were flowing into the Union, generals began arguing over the little resources they were receiving, trying to fund their own part of the army. The Union edged closer and closer to civil war, and matters turned worse when the project ceased to exist, and the surrounding nations protested furiously over having funded such a disaster. With the Union cut off from the other 4 nations, the government became more and more unstable.
One day a general, Akogi Demotte was murdered by an opposing general. The Union broke out in a civil war, destroying much of it's own resources in a bloody 3 day massacre. The remnants of Akogi's military were the victors, but failed to establish an effective government to re-stabilize the Union. They were disbanded and the Gurumi Union ceased to exist.
--
Somewhere in the Godai nation in present day, a truck rolls along a dusty road. The truck is loaded with soldiers, swaying back and forth as the truck bounces about, carrying them to their possible fate.
Zetsumei looked up and surveyed his surroundings. Everyone looked beaten, defeated and dejected. They all stared at their feet, swaying with the motion of the truck, remaining completely speechless. He lowered his head and stared back down at his feet. He closed his eyes as the truck continues it's way down the dusty road.
--
After the collapse of the Gurumi Union, the G.A (or Golden Age) era ended. A year after the collapse the four nations decided to divide the landmass equally among themselves. As each nation divided the land fairly, they discovered the riches that the Gurumi Union contained, they began to industrialize and the economy of the 4 nations boomed.
With the new riches in possession of the 4 nations, they decided to search for evidence of the project that disappeared the year before. The four nations banded together and formed the Nyuu Doumei Republic. They searched for traces of the project, but were met with very little success.
One day, the Godai scientists managed to come across the remnants of the Industrial Project, buried deep within the heart of the former Gurumi Union. Overwhelmed by this discovery, the Godai nation shared the discovery with the rest of the nations. They all quickly devoted their resources to completing the project.
However, one nation was very hesitant to donate, and it was the Haisou nation that was not attracted by the idea of restoring the project for industrialization. Haisou believed the project would bring about corruption to the nations and one day, attempted to sabotage it.
When reports of a bomb going off in Godai territory circulated, the nations were in frenzy. The remnants of the Industrial Project were completely vaporized, and all the research had been destroyed. The Haisou nation claimed responsibility for the bombing, warning the other nations that the project would have brought about greed and the collapse of the nation as it did to the Gurumi Union.
The Godai nation abandoned the project completely, but was still in high suspicion of the Haisou nation for attacking Godai territory. Expecting there to be a massive war erupting between the two nations, the Anijea Commonwealth and Aozora began to militarize to defend themselves in the case of a large-scale attack. The age of S.C, or Social Collapse, had begun as the Nyuu doumei Republic came to an end..
Godai and Haisou both saw this military build-up as a security threat and warned the nations that if any attacks were made, they would retaliate. With the entire world in paranoia, Aozora secretly began working on the Industrial Project once more, trying to re-create the project from scratch.
By this time, Anijea and Aozora made friendly connections, as they believed that the Godai and Haisou nations were ready to go at war with one another. Haisou and Godai saw this alliance as a plan to dominate over the both of the two nations, but made no moves to form an alliance of their own, running the fear that the Anijea-Aozora alliance would see it as a hostile move.
Aozora revealed the existence of the project to the Anijea officials, who strongly protested the project and quickly ended the treaty between the two nations. The information was quickly passed to the other nations, who were outraged by the Aozora nation carrying out the project in secret. Haisou sent a strike force against Aozora, causing small skirmishes along the coast of the Aozora.
With Haisou and Aozora inching closer to war, the Godai and Anijea nations agreed to a treaty, and became allies in the possibility of a war breaking out. Haisou did not see this as a hostile movement, but the Aozora nation believed the two nations were allying to invade the Aozora nation, and warned the Godai-Anijea alliance that a counter-attack would be necessary if the nations attacked.
Hostilities between Haisou and Aozora intensified, and Haisou began throwing bigger and bigger forces at the Aozora nation to destroy the project, or to cause the Aozora nation to surrender. However, the Industrial Project was making progress and was already starting to impact Aozora's economy, causing the Aozorian military to have a resource advantage over Haisou forces.
Things turned from bad to worse when a Anijean platoon was mistaken for Aozorian troops and Haisou strike forces opened fire on them, killing the entire platoon. Anijean officials grew hostile with Haisou and told them to withdraw their troops from Aozora immediately.
Haisou suspected Anijea of supporting Aozora in the project and launched a front against both nations. Anijea quickly put up a defense and fended off Haisou forces. Aozora diplomats arrived in Anijea in offers of a truce to join in a mass invasion of Haisou. The offer was rejected and the diplomats were executed on national television. Outraged, the Aozorian military invaded Anijea.
Haisou called off the military campaign against Anijea, for they were unofficial allies in the campaign against Aozora. Godai supplied resources to Anijea, but never entered combat with Aozora, and remained completely neutral.
12 years had passed since the collapse of the Gurumi Union, and the skirmishes from Aozora and Anijea faded into quiet conflicts, with each nation living in distrust of one another. After years of war, all four nations sent representatives to negotiate peace settlements. The four nations were relieved to finally bring an end to the conflict.
However, during the peace talks, disaster struck. Haisou extremists assassinated the Godain representative. They saw Godai's passiveness during the fights during the Aozora-Anijea-Haisou conflicts, which was later dubbed the Mechanical War, as intent to bring Haisou and Anijea to a weakened state.
Godai declared war on Haisou, battling along the borders. The battle lasted for months, carrying on into the year of 14 S.C. Anijea sent support to Godai, and Aozora saw this as an opportunity to move in on Anijean territory. They began preparing their military for an invasion on Anijea.
Godai and Haisou agreed to a cease-fire after several months of combat. However, in 15 S.C, Aozorian troops marched into Anijean territory and seized several cities. Anijeans retaliated, slowly retaking the land they had lost. The war waged for years, with Anijeans making slow progress.
After 5 years of fighting, Anijean troops pushed into the Aozorian part of the mainland. Many of Aozora's resources were moved from the Aozora Island onto the mainland. Aozora was preparing for a counter-attack. against Anijea.
--
Private Setsu Aragau nudged Zetsumei gently. Zetsumei had dosed off during the ride, and he slowly lifted his head and turned to face Aragau.
"Yeah, Setsu?" he uttered sleepily.
"Waffuru, I'm not very sure about this. Do you really think we're ready for combat?"
Zetsumei only shrugged and turned away. He couldn't think about joining the fight. At least, not yet. It was too much for him to think about.
"I hope you're ready for combat, wetnose." Kira said.
Zetsumei hung his head and slipped back to sleep. The truck continued it's way down the road, surrounded by the other trucks. The view was obscured by dust as the trucks rattled down the road, continuing on it's seemingly never-ending road.
--
In 21 S.C, Aozorian soldiers marched into Anijean territory. For years after, the two sides would take and lose land. Just as Anijea was invaded, hostilities between Haisou and Godai intensified as Haisou troops were spotted off the edge of the Haisou-Godai border. The entire mainland had become a battlefield.
Godai warned Haisou that if the troops attacked, they would launch an invasion into Haisou as retaliation. In 22 S.C, a shot was heard near the Godai-Haisou border, and a firefight broke out. The two immediately declared war, and Haisou began pushing Godain troops back.
Godai would lose half of its territory on the mainland, holding out the best they can. Anijea was unable to send aid due to the conflict with Aozora. By 23 S.C, the world was thrown into conflict and war.
The current situation stands with Godai allied with Anijea, and at war with Haisou and uneasy relations with Aozora. Anijea is allied with Godai and is fighting light skirmishes against Haisou and in war with Aozora. Aozora and Haisou are neutral, and are both combating the Godai-Anijea Alliance.
We now join Zetsumei Raito of 33rd infantry division, Charlie company, 1st platoon, 3rd squad. He sits asleep as the vehicle grinds to a halt. Kutabare gives him a light tap on the head.
"Wake up." He grumbled.
Zetsumei moaned confusedly.
"We're here, now get your rear in gear."
One by one, they hop out of the truck. A mass of soldiers moves towards their outpost, rifles slung over their shoulders. 33rd infantry division would be stationed at this outpost for the next few weeks. Zetsumei pulled out a notebook he brought from home, and flipped through the pages. It was empty, but would be filled over the next few weeks.
Light thuds could be heard in the distance.
"Hear that, soldiers?" an officer called above the crowd. "That's the sound of war in the distance!"
Charlie Company would be in the midst of those thuds within a matter of weeks.