The two years from 1996 to 1998 passed in the blink of an eye.
Under the grand packaging of Mayor Michael Warren’s “Bright 21st Century Raccoon City” plan, the entire city was immersed in a near-dreamlike, false prosperity and tranquility.
High-rises sprang up in the new urban district, the medical system was fully upgraded, public facilities were completely renewed, and the streets were clean and orderly; the citizens’ faces beamed with longing for the future, and almost no one realized that the lifeblood of this city had long been firmly held in the palm of the Umbrella Corporation.
Massive capital injections, policy favoritism, and tacit land agreements brought about the pervasive infiltration of the Umbrella Corporation into Raccoon City; from city hall to the police station, from hospitals to research institutions, the shadow of this enterprise was everywhere.
It was precisely against this backdrop that the S.T.A.R.S.
unit, fully funded by the Umbrella Corporation, equipped with the best gear, and staffed by the top personnel, rose to fame in just two short years, instantly becoming the sharpest and most dazzling blade of the Raccoon City police force.
Whether it was counter-terrorism, handling major cases, disaster rescue, or search and rescue missions in the Arklay Mountains, this unit could always complete its objectives with the highest efficiency and minimal casualties, becoming the source of security for the entire city.
consisted of Alpha Team and Bravo Team, both fully structured with clear divisions of labor and seamless coordination; the members trusted each other through countless training sessions and missions, becoming as close as family.
Gunfire echoed across the training grounds under the sun, and the sound of helicopter rotors often pierced the sky over Raccoon City; between responding to calls, rescue operations, patrols, and training, the members stood firm in their duties amidst sweat and laughter, firmly believing they were using their own hands to protect the light and future of this city.
They were kind, brave, loyal, and fearless, full of hope for the future and holding nothing back from one another.
Only one person, while standing in this light, had a heart that forever sank into the cold shadows.
Albert Wesker.
He arrived at S.T.A.R.S.
as a retired military special forces instructor; with judgment that was calm to the point of being cold, impeccable command standards, and a composed, reserved style of conduct, he quickly won everyone over and became the undisputed captain of Alpha Team.
In the eyes of his team members, he was a leader worthy of entrusting their lives to; in the eyes of the police brass, he was the most reliable talent recommended by the Umbrella Corporation; in the eyes of the citizens, he was a hero guarding the city.
But no one knew that he was the most core and secretive spy planted by the Umbrella Corporation within the Raccoon City police force.
He quietly collected all intelligence on the Arklay Research Facility, the NEST laboratory, and the T-Virus project, firmly controlling the operational direction and patrol routes of S.T.A.R.S., waiting silently for that destined catastrophe to descend.
He waited for the virus to leak, for the research facility to fall, and for that perfect opportunity that would allow him to completely break free from the control of the Umbrella Corporation and achieve self-evolution.
The brighter the light, the deeper the darkness in his heart.
It was also in June 1998 that a fresh force, destined to completely change the course of the entire event, officially joined S.T.A.R.S..
The graduation ceremony at the Raccoon City Medical School had just concluded, and the auditorium was still filled with the aura of youth and hope when the eighteen-year-old genius intern, Rebecca Chambers, received an invitation that made everyone envious—one that even she herself could not believe.
A handwritten special recruitment letter from S.T.A.R.S..