Armored Core V

The world experienced a period of rapid population growth, which put a strain on global food and energy supplies. As populations increased, so did the gap between the wealthy and the poor, and so did the unrest within the population at large. Eventually, violence began to erupt and the governments quickly lost control of their populations as their cities were consumed by terrorism and anarchy. People began turning to corporations, complete with private armies, to keep them safe from the chaos.

In the midst of the meltdown, the world's six most powerful corporate conglomerates decided to do away with national governments and install their own brand of rule and law. They launched a full scale war on the nations of the world, which came to be known as the National Dismantlement War.

Using advanced Armored Core technology, the corporations decimated the forces of the nations and declared victory in less than a month. With the old nations of the world effectively toppled, the corporations set out to work on a new system of government.

The corporations dubbed their new order as the "Pax Economica" ("Economic [or Corporate] Peace", Latin), a system where loyalty and service to the corporations guaranteed food and survival. Under the Pax, however, people were forced into corporate-run colonies and essentially became slaves serving wealthy corporate masters.

Ten years later, Anatolia’s Mercenary – a Raven of unrivalled skill – rose, and helped the various corporations with suppressing rebellions from various groups, most notably the Maggrib Liberation Front, one of the only non-company forces to field NEXTs, cooperating with Joshua O’Brien – a mercenary for Aspina – in several battles. Eventually, the Mercenary was hired by Global Armaments to destroy GAE, GA’s Europe subsidiary, who were planning a breakaway from GA with the help of Rayleonard subsidiary Akvavit. Under GA’s direct orders, Anatolia’s Mercenary destroyed GAE’s prototype Mobile Fortresses (forerunner to modern Arms Forts), while they were still in dock at the Hejde Arsenal. After this attack, Akvavit lashed out at GA, calling it rightful retribution. This action echoed instantly throughout the other companies. A full-scale war broke out, with many attacks; Eqbal on GA’s Zextex Global Airport, GA on Leone Meccanica’s Megalis power plant, and many others, GA on Rayleonard’s new 05 models. Later on in the war, the Mercenary was hired again by GA and Rosenthal (who were allied) in a series of attacks against the Bernard and Felix Foundation. These culminated in a high-speed strike against the warship Queen’s Lance, BFF’s seaborne headquarters. This caused the complete collapse of BFF. After this, Rayleonard launched a series of extremely brutal attacks on the other companies, including use of the Sol Dios weapons, the finished form of the prototype weapons destroyed during the purge of GAE. During this time, the Mercenary was hired to mop up the remnants of BFF, making their annihilation complete. Following this, he was hired to retaliate against Rayleonard, including a strike against the huge Ehrenburg anti-satellite batteries and an attack on the rank three pilot, Anjou. The war culminated at a huge battle at the abandoned Old Peace City, with three pilots – Rank Four Leonhardt (Rosenthal), Rank Thirty Mido Auriel (Omer), and Anatolia’s Raven – facing off against Rayleonard’s four-pilot elite NEXT squadron, consisting of Rank Twenty-one P.Dam (Akvavit), Rank Twelve Zanni (Rayleonard), and Rank Fifteen Unseel (Rogue, ex-BFF), led by Rayleonard’s legendary Rank One – Berlioz. Come the end of this battle between the world’s greatest Lynx, Anatolia’s Raven was the sole survivor. After this battle, Anatolia’s Raven was immediately sent to destroy Exavil, Rayleonard’s enormous headquarters in Canada. After a one-sided battle, Exavil was destroyed, along with the rest of the Rayleonard corporation. This was the end of the Lynx War, and after a year and millions of deaths, it was finally over. However, Anatolia’s Raven was still seen as a threat by the power-hungry Omer corporation, and after the fall of Rayleonard, Omer had acquired the legendary 00-ARETHA. They held Joshua O’Brien’s colony hostage, and forced him to pilot the ARETHA, sending him on an attack against Anatolia. Anatolia was razed to the ground by the ARETHA, and the Raven was forced into battle again. After an intense battle between the ARETHA and the Raven, the ARETHA was defeated, and Joshua O’Brien killed. Following this, Fiona Jarnetfeld (the Raven’s operator) and the Raven himself left Anatolia, leaving the ruins behind them.

Before the National Dismantlement War, the corporations all had intentions of exploiting the last frontier: outer space. In order to hinder each other's progress, they constructed multitudes of powerful weaponized satellites called Assault Cells. These unmanned autonomous weapons orbited the Earth and served as an impassable barrier to space, destroying anything attempting to leave. Unable to reach space due to their own foolishness, the corporations prevented humanity a means to escape and migrate elsewhere.

Realizing the dangerous potential of the Kojima Particles, the very technology that gave birth to the company, and what the consequences of its widespread uses were, the Rayleonard corporation conceived a plan; defeat the other corporations, and use a number of massive land-based anti-satellite cannons to destroy the Assault Cells and clear the way to outer space.

It is widely speculated that Berlioz and his squadron of elite Originals were attempting to carry out the Closed Plan when they were defeated at the Battle at the Abandoned City.

Rayleonard was destroyed, but the plan survived in the form of ORCA led by Maximillian Thermidor. Thermidor believed passionately in the Closed Plan and its goals, stating that they must "wash away the sins of the corporations" and undo their mistake of blocking the way to space. He understood that diverting the energy of the Arteria facilities meant the Cradles would lose power and fall to the ground; he and the other members of ORCA were willing to have that blood on their hands if such a sacrifice would ensure the survival of mankind as a whole.

Ten years after the National Dismantlement War, ORCA finally moves into action. Striking at several of the Arteria facilities with a high rate of success, they spark a conflict between the League and themselves. The eventual outcome is up to what route the player chooses.