Following is the lore that forms the foundation of the Armored Warfare lore experience and the introduction to the story of Joshua Seagrove and Kathryn Grey, the protagonists of the Black Company Special Operation. The story is separate into 50 entries, each unlocked by reaching another level of the Battle Path.
Issue 1 – Introduction: Broken World
In the late 2010s, Europe found itself at a crossroads. Its economy never truly recovered from the massive financial crisis, the impact of which was made considerably worse by European Union governments being completely detached from their voter base and the reality of daily life in most European cities. While the United States adapted to the situation and leaned more towards isolationism, Europe chose to keep its borders open, leading to the arrival of millions of refugees from the war-torn Middle East, despite warnings from all major militaries and police forces.
Unwilling to accept the reality of new security risks, the passivity and indecisiveness of European governments led to the worst series of terrorist attacks in history, culminating in the detonation of two "dirty" nuclear devices on the outskirts of Paris and Berlin. While the casualty rate was relatively light, the sight of massive atomic-like explosions and the subsequent news reports of victims dead or dying from radiation sparked a revolution of the kind Europe had never seen in its modern history. The United States managed to avoid such attacks, but the American economy also suffered with the southern states ravaged by what eventually grew into a full-scale war with militias and terrorist groups backed by drug cartels, now fully in charge of several South American countries and emboldened by the perceived weakness of the West.
In the wake of the attacks, the European Union became completely paralyzed as all traditional political parties collapse virtually overnight, burned away by the fires of people's rage. Populist leaders rose to power with promises to end corruption, solve the constant state of crisis and make Europe safe again.
Backed by unprecedented popular support, a massive hunt for the culprits began. By the time it ended two years later, thousands of formerly "untouchable" political figures, bankers or businessmen had been found guilty of contributing to the state of the world and executed or sentenced to life in prison. But for all their momentary support, the revolution leaders could only ride the popularity wave so far and the economic situation just kept getting worse. Many economic structures had been damaged beyond recovery, factories had been looted and closed down, the infrastructure suffering from years of neglect. While most European countries avoided complete collapse, practically every advanced country in the world saw its situation worsen with the biggest burden of funding cuts crushing the weakest members of society – the sick and the elderly.
The worsening healthcare and social service situation led to further riots that threatened to destroy the last vestiges of stability that Europe and North America clung to. And in their desperation, the leaders turned to corporations, hammering the last nail into the coffin of the old world.
