For years, economic conditions within Russia have steadily worsened, leading to ever growing civil disorder. As the situation has deteriorated, certain hard-line Russian factions are blaming Western nations for causing the majority of the problems within their country.  Early in the spring of 2004, the Russian parliament is in total disarray after yet another devastatingly hard winter.  The shaky political system all but collapses when the hard-line factions win control of the Russian Duma and begin impeachment proceedings against the moderate Russian president Yuri Shmernov.  Refusing to go quietly, Shmernov quickly dissolves the entire Russian parliament and declares martial law "to preserve the Motherland".
 
The flames of unrest quickly overtake the Russian president when he, his wife Ivana, and two of his top aids are blown to bits in their own limousine by a very powerful car bomb on the outskirts of Moscow.  Almost immediately, the leaders of the hard-line faction now calling themselves the "Red Russians" attempt to seize power. 

The Russian military splits between the Red faction and the remnants of the elected government, known as the Blue Russians.  After suffering for years under the moderate policies of the Blues, most of the Russian Navy joins the Reds along with scattered Air Force units. All is not lost for the Blue Russians, however, as the bulk of Russian Army and much of the Air Force supports the legitimate government.  Armed clashes occur, with Murmansk falling to Reds and heavy fighting is reported around Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Lacking the resources to quickly regain control of the strategic Kola Peninsula and the numerous military bases located in that region, the Blue Russian government formally asks for NATO assistance.  Hoping to prevent the war from spreading to neighboring countries, and fearing the large stockpiles of weapons now under Red Russian control, NATO begins a build up of forces in the North Capes area.  The United States contribution is a carrier battle group, a Marine expeditionary force and various USAF and US Army assets.
