Chapter 1

December 7th, 2042New York City, Manhattan

The United States of America. A shining beacon in the darkness of an uncertain world where tyranny and oppression have an iron grasp. The strongest and brightest bastion of freedom and democracy that still stands.

Despite current tensions with it's over seas rivals across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the United States stands strong and ready for a day they best hope never comes.

While fear of the communists and fascists still exists, the people of the United States have learned to live with the threat being a possibility. The world was in a fragile peace, and all it would take is a ball rolling to shatter it all. However that didn't stop the people of the United States from living their lives as normally.

With this fragile peace, the United States has developed into a technological and infrastructural power house in rivalry with Nazi Germany. Standing as the dominant world power, the US has dedicating it's efforts both politically and militarily to keep the Axis and Communists in check and preventing another world war.

Overall, the American population was happy. Happy that there was no war to worry about, and happy everything occurred as normal for them.

Alex Mason, age twenty eight, height of six feat and three inches, white skin, black hair, and blue eye irises. Born in 2014 in Frankfort Kentucky, he had a troublesome teenagehood, getting into several confrontations with law enforcement and barely passing high school with all 'C's and 'D's. At age nineteen, he enlisted into the Marine Corps to become disciplined and serve his country as his grandfather did before him. He joined in the USMC Officer School, and now currently holds the rank of Second Lieutenant.

The Marine was on a subway train headed for Time Square where his hotel he booked for his military leave was.

Meanwhile as the train progressed through the tunnel, he continued watching news and global updates on his smart phone. On the small screen, a lady was speaking while addressing to images displayed on a larger screen behind her.

"...reports of increased activity of Italian fleets along the southwest coast of Africa, US defense officials have responded with setting Atlantic fleets on standby and at max readiness."

"God damn Italians." Mason said to himself as the subway train swayed from side to side down the railings. The Italians had been a recent hot topic this year, following reports of military mobilization and fleets dispatched around Africa. If anyone guessed, they would assume that Italy was planning an invasion of the African continent.

The female automated voice announced the stop of the train as Mason felt it ease up before coming to a dead stop. Looking up, the automated doors opened as he and several other passengers disembarked before new passengers boarded onto the train.

He navigated through the crowds in the station and arrived at the escalator to take him to the second level from the surface. However a notification on his phone distracted him as he pulled up his device and looked at it.

"Goddamnit." He cursed himself as he forgot to update his mother on his whereabouts. Despite being an adult with military training, his mother was still protective of him like when he was a little boy. He began typing a response.

Sending the text, he discarded his phone into his pocket and made it up the escalator and into the lower level under the surface filled with advertisement posters and shops built into the walls. Some were on the same level as convenient stores found at gas stations while others were selling entire prepared meals in containers and boxes. One even was selling cheap toys that would entertain children for about a month at most. What was most notable were the posters containing advertisements for the United States Armed Forces, and propaganda against communism and fascism.

Due to increased tensions with the Nazis and Communists, the United States Department of Defense had issued an increase in their recruitment campaign to encourage more people to enlist and be ready to fight the inevitable fight should it come.

Reaching the other side of the sub level, he arrived at the final flight of escalators that would take him up to the surface in the middle of Time Square. His destination.

Reaching the surface, he arrived at 42nd Street of Times Square. Around him were dozens of digital billboards built along the sides of buildings as they displayed advertisements for American, British, Australian, and other pro Allies nations' company brands. Some, including the Times Square Jumbotron were either dedicated for football or daily news channels.

Around the streets, people were going on about their day as if nothing was wrong, believing this to just be another normal day for Manhattan.

However things were about to take a turn as suddenly a massive traffic jam erupted on 45th Street as cars began suddenly stopping or rear ending one another.

"Hey! What the fuck are you doing asshole?"

"Fuck you! The asshole in front of me just stopped!"

"Get moving! I got places to be!"

"The fuck is going on? Why has everyone stopped?"

Angry drivers began shouting at each other over the sound of furious car horn honking as the traffic came to a standstill.

Meanwhile up ahead the cars all came to a stop as a mysterious structure materialized in the middle of the road, blocking traffic from passing through. Quickly, this gained the attention of passing pedestrians who noticed the odd structure appear.

The structure finished materializing as it resembled Classical Greek architecture with pillars reaching up to a angled roof made of what was assumed as marble, while adorned with several blue crystals along the sides and atop the roof.

"What the hell is this?"

"Some sort of movie set?"

"Since when was this thing here?"

"Should we call the police?"

"Some one call the cops!"

A few minutes passed by with confusion before the first sirens of police vehicles were heard, responding to several calls of an blocking traffic in 45th Street.

The black and white police cruisers pulled up as the crowd dispersed while officers disembarked and looked out with confusion. "What the —, who the hell put this here?" One officer asked as he disembarked from his car along with his buddies.

"Someone contact the commissioner! Call in additional units immediately and find out whoever put this thing here!"

The officers established a perimeter around the structure as they enforced civilians to remain a distance and allow them to handle the situation. However things would take a turn for the unexpected as a massive winged creature emerged and flew out above the structure.

"Contact!" An officer shouted as he alerted his fellow officers to a as all the civilians looked on in confusion and uncertainty.

"Is that —, is that a dragon?"

"We got noise! Something's coming through!"

The officers all backed away from the structure's opening as several figures emerged from it, resembling ancient Roman soldiers with steel armor, red tunics and capes, and sandals for foot wear. Several were seen wielding short swords with large shields, spears, bows, while some were riding horse back. Among them were what looked like several creatures straight out of a fantasy novel wielding a mix of weaponry.