Chapter 1: The Ocean War

The Fourth Corporate War ignites with the spectacular collapse of IHAG (Internationale Handelsmarine Aktiengesellschaft). As the megacorp declares bankruptcy in late 2021, a vicious shadow war erupts over its lucrative remains. OTEC (Ocean Technology & Energy Corp) and CINO (Corporation Internationale Navale Océanique) aggressively move to acquire IHAG's assets, abandoning boardroom negotiations for armed conflict and brutal corporate espionage.

What begins as stock market manipulation quickly escalates into a global proxy war. Militech and Arasaka are pulled into the fray as security consultants, setting the stage for a worldwide catastrophe. From deep-sea arcologies to orbital stations and corporate data fortresses, players are thrust into the violent front lines of high-stakes corporate acquisitions.