The year is 1983. The Cold War has escalated, with China and the Soviet Union signing a non-aggression pact and declaring themselves a communist alliance. Shortly afterwards disarmament talks and truces with the West are abandoned.

Protests are heard all over the world, with the West imposing embargoes and sanctions against the Soviet Union and China. This in turn leads to numerous Soviet-controlled states ejecting Western diplomats and observers. Intense negotiations take place but, as the Communist Alliance refuses to budge, negotiations break down on the 15th of February 1985.

Two weeks later the world is startled to learn that China, on the morning of the 1st of March, has begun invasions of Japan and South Korea. The Japanese surrender quickly, unwilling to incur losses like those of the Second World War.

South Korea fights alone, lacking official help from the West. When the United States finally threaten to support South Korea with military forces, China responds by launching nuclear missiles against North Chungcheong, Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. In the wake of these attacks, with over 300,000 dead, South Korea quickly surrenders.

In the USA the draft is reintroduced, the National Guard is activated, and defence readiness is brought to Defcon 1. Many European countries follow suit, and the military industry goes into high gear.

The Soviet Union exercises pressure on neighbouring countries, and many allow themselves to be placed under Soviet "protection" without offering armed resistance. Finland is one of the few neighbouring countries that actively resists.

In response to the Soviet annexations, a number of mostly NATO countries form a dedicated alliance on the 16th of November 1986, intended to put pressure on the USSR to cease its expansion. Sweden, Norway, Austria and Switzerland declare themselves neutral.

A tacit arms race follows, with tensions rising year after year, with little or no information leaking out about developments behind the Iron Curtain. The USA and Great Britain organise a combined defence in central Europe, with the USA contributing over 700.000 troops to the defence of Europe. Sweden, Norway and Finland mobilize parts of their armed forces.

After a number of Soviet violations of Finnish airspace, along with increased military activity along their borders, Finland decides to move to high alert. Sweden again becomes a sanctuary as thousand of Finns flee over the border at Haparanda.

On the 2nd of March 1991, Finnish air defences shoot down two Soviet aircraft violating Finnish airspace. The pilots survive, but are captured by the Finnish National Guard in the vicinity of Kelloselkä. Using this as a pretext to attack, the Soviets invade and rapidly establish near-total control over Finland. A week later 4000 Soviet paratroops deploy into Helsinki to shock Finland into surrender. The Finnish government escapes to Sweden by boat while fierce battles rage in Helsinki, the Finns defending themselves valiantly.

At the same time, Soviet armoured divisions charge over the Finnish border and operate largely unmolested deep inside Finland. Allied forces are sent by sea to help the Finnish defenders, but are delayed by relentless Soviet submarine attacks. Soviet threatens to declare war on the Allies unless they withdraw assistance from Finland.