Movement One

Dawn break, December 13th 1937, Nanking.

Days of bloody confrontations beyond any human languages' describing capacities, finally the defense around capital of Republic of China collapsed, Chinese National Revolutionary Army is in status of chaos and is evacuating with disorder. Many of them are stranded in this metropolis constructed on Yangtze River's bank, as invading Imperial Japanese Army is swarming into city walls from almost every direction.

Makoto Ito is among those "many". He volunteered himself to fight for Republic of China ever since Manchurian Incident. He was once a building engineer in Japan, "building better worlds through building better houses", before fascism rose in power. After all efforts he had done to rescue his fatherland from being taken over by fascism failed, he discarded his Japanese nationality and defected to China, joined Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army as a translator and special agent of infiltration and sabotage, from his perspective, this would be the only way to seek redemption for his fatherland which had already been consumed by pure evil. But soon Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army was suffering severe losses under fierce offensive of occupying Imperial Japanese Kwantung Army and was forced to evacuate to USSR territory. Refusing to leave the battlefield, Makoto managed to run inside Great Wall, survived a difficult journey to outskirt of Nanking, to join Chinese National Revolutionary Army led by Kuomintang. There are a few people from international society, American, British, Canadian, Czechish, French, Germany, Soviet, Spanish…and of course Japanese, who are in strong opposition against fascism and are supporting China's rightful self-defense against invading Empire of Japan, they formed a special, company-sized unit inside Chinese National Revolutionary Army, fight alongside Chinese soldiers. All of them but Makoto perished during last night's bloodshed along with thousands of brave Chinese, it was mere luck that he survived another day, and his luck seems have run out.

Makoto is wandering alone in this unfamiliar city, with his Type 24 Rifle, Mauser M1932 Select-Fire Automatic Pistol and a few grenades. If he has to fight in forests, he'd rather be active in a forest of woods instead in a forest of reinforced concrete. What should he do now? The unit had been lost, allied units are dispersed or being dispersed. Maybe searching some survivors and evacuate to northern bank of Yangtze River is the best choice, before the city is complete overrun by those mindless, flesh-devouring zombies brain-washed by fascism.

Suddenly something attracted Makoto's attention, something almost makes him bursts into tears.

A Flag of Blue Sky, White Sun, and a Wholly Red Earth, is flying above skyline, even enemies are running loose everywhere, it is still declaring its own existence with pride.

Makoto runs toward to the flag's position, although linear distance is not very long, but the maze of city streets really takes him awhile.

Makoto arrives at frontal gate of a three-story building, where the flag is raised atop of this structure. There has already been a dozen of Chinese National Revolutionary Army soldiers, they ask Makoto's name, rank and unit designations.

Makoto gives them answers, then he is greeted by a muscular Chinese sergeant: "Welcome. Sorry to hear you lost your company, and glad to know there are still a few Japanese have senses of justice. We're Teaching Corps, and we set up this flag to summon anyone who still has the will to defend the capital." As he speaks, Makoto notices the sergeant's waist is entangled by a white strip with a large reddened section on it, however he seems sustain no injuries.

Knowing Makoto's doubt, sergeant unties the strip, it turns out to be a Nisshouki (Flag of Japan or Sun-Mark Flag), but the red Hinomaru (Circle of the Sun) is overlapped by a big tilted cross of black ink.

"We flanked and eliminated a contingent of Japs last night on Purple Mountain, seized some weapons and other materials, including this flag. We'll make it for some good uses later." Muscular sergeant explains, the looks his watch: "It's time, let's move out."

Makoto: "To where?"

"This building is a temporary rally point. We raise our flag here, Japs will see it too, soon they will launch a ground assault, or even worse, bombard by artilleries. So we set our base of operation elsewhere." The sergeant lowers the Flag of Blue Sky, White Sun, and a Wholly Red Earth.

Mixed into a dozen of solders, Makoto is lead into narrow alleys. He concentrates on ears, picking up any slightest disturbances from surrounding, gunshots, but not only Japanese Type 38 Rifles, there are also Chinese Type 24 Rifles' firing.

"So many brave Chinese soldiers are fighting in the city!" Makoto is moved: "This is a grand nation that will never succumb to oppression!"

"Quickly! Quietly! Weapons hot!" Sergeant urges.

Makoto raises his rifle and releases safety as others do.

On their way of tactical shift, there are incalculable weapons and ammunitions abandoned on ground. Sergeant orders them to accumulate as many as possible, especially grenades.

Several soldiers pick up grenades and amass them into metal buckets they found earlier.

They cross a residence block, ready to enter another one. Between the blocks there is a road several times wider than alleys, and is jammed by stuffs dropped by evacuating armies and civilians, like wooden crates, baggages, rickshaws, automobiles…

A few minutes later, troops reach the depth of the block on the opposite side of the road, buildings here sustained severer damages than those in previous block, many of them which used to be multi-story, now only one story left.

The sergeant, runs forward several steps, and calls in low volume: "Major! Major!"

Six Chinese in military uniform reveal themselves on a two-story building which is relatively intact than others. One of them, an officer who is strong as a bear, waves to arriving squad: "Get in quickly!"

"We found a dozen more of combatants, even one from International Company!" In the building designated as the makeshift base of operation, the sergeant points Makoto to the major.

"You're the only one? Where are the others?" Major asks. Makoto lowers head and slightly shakes.

"Sorry about that." Major looks away: "Anyone who knows how to manipulate explosives?"

Makoto heads up and raises hand: "I used to blow up Japanese military assets in northeast."

"Good, come with me." Major hints Makoto to follow him. "And you two, bring grenades you collected here!" He orders two other soldiers.