It's the afternoon of May 21st, 1871, in Paris, France.

Albert Ains grips his rifle as his squad advances along a smoke-filled boulevard.

Albert is a soldier in the French army.

His blue tunic and red pants stand out starkly

against the blackened, pockmark street.

Glass and rubble crunch underfoot.

Albert knows it all makes him an easy target,

but if they're going to retake the French capital,

he has no choice but to press on.

Two months ago, radical insurgents rose in rebellion and seized Paris.

Earlier today, the French army began its long-awaited counterattack.

Albert was among the first to breach the city walls, and now he's determined to hunt the rebels

down.

Up ahead, a shape takes form through the haze, broken furniture piled across a street.

It's a makeshift barricade, with a solitary red flag flying limply from the top.

There's no sign of the enemy, and Albert assumes they've retreated, leaving the barricade

to slow the army's

progress. But then a gunshot cracks through the air. Everyone scatters for cover. Ducking down,

Albert scans the surrounding buildings, looking for the shooter. He spots movement in a second

floor window, runs toward the building. Bursting inside, he dashes upstairs, and within moments he

finds his man. Cornered, the sniper drops his rifle and throws up his hands. But Albert is in

no mood for mercy and raises his weapon. But before he can execute the man, the window shatters.

...