Clinging desperately to its, once unequalled, global superiority, a debt ridden and beleaguered United States tries to maintain its international influence with aggressive military force. A decades long war in Russia, and proxy conflicts in Asia and the Middle East have irrevocably altered the face of America. The effects of the war economy can be seen everywhere, with many smaller cities revolving solely around feeding the war machine. Sitting on the shores of Lake Superior, the town of New Independence, Wisconsin, is such a place... After a workplace fire, Aiden Caldwell, finds himself freshly unemployed; his lungs full of acrid smoke, and a face coated in black iron oxide. Listlessly he wanders the streets of the industrial town in a daze. When he emerges from his stupor he finds himself in a seedy bar on the wrong side of town. He becomes instantly enchanted by the beautiful young woman working behind the bar; but unbeknownst to him, this mysterious barkeep is about to absolutely alter his life forever... if he can manage to stay alive!