This plot is modeled after and follows 'The Fire Rises,' a modern-day mod for Hearts of Iron III.

In 2019, a catastrophe named COVID-19 emerged from Wuhan, China. As casualties mounted, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia and the de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, both died after contracting the virus. Princes declared themselves the rightful leaders of Saudi Arabia, sparking a civil war that triggered a massive oil shock. Three years later, on February 24, 2022, Russian President Putin declared war and a special military operation against Ukraine. However, an individual who spoke with Putin at the time was infected with COVID-19, leading to Putin's death two days later on the 26th. Consequently, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin took over as acting president according to the line of succession. Ukraine suffered repeated defeats and finally surrendered in December 2023. NATO effectively dissolved. The European Treaty Organization, led by Germany and France, was established to counter Russia. In 2024, Trump was elected in the United States, but Biden and Kamala Harris refused to accept the results. Biden and Harris declared a government in Denver and declared war, while Trump established a government in Washington. Amidst this, U.S. governors also declared independence, plunging the country into a civil war and leading to the complete termination of NATO. China attempted to invade Taiwan during the chaos, but Japan formed the Pacific Treaty Organization (PATO). Prime Minister Takaichi declared that Japan 'cannot turn a blind eye to China's expansionist war' and would intervene if China invaded Taiwan. On December 3 of that year, President Yoon Suk-yeol attempted to declare martial law in South Korea. The attempt failed, leaving the presidency vacant. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo became acting president, while Lee Jae-myung and Kim Moon-soo emerged as opposing candidates from their respective parties (the choice is up to the player). Due to this global turmoil, labor unions and radical parties grew rapidly. The story begins in 2025.