Before the Hallowed Tomb

Before the Hallowed Tomb is the second mission in the Imperial campaign of. It depicted the Empire's defense of their late Emperor's tomb against the Soviet aggressors.

Background
After the Empire's loss in the last war, the Soviet Union took advantage of the Allied occupation of Japan by forcibly acclaiming Sakhalin Island for themselves. This however was thwarted by an Imperial commander who assisted Kenji Tenzai with captured Soviet arsenal.

However the Empire could not rest as Prince Tatsu reported that Soviet Commander Moskvin would attempt to build a naval base at Emperor Yoshiro's tomb, a clear insult to the Empire. Tatsu sent the Imperial Commander to repel Moskvin before he added insult to injury.

Hijacking the Pacifier FAVs
Since the Allied occupational forces did not help the Empire in repelling the Soviets out of Sakhalin Island, Tatsu felt that the Empire should not ask them for more help and began to act independently. Using an infantry squad led by Archer Maidens, they attacked a small Allied outpost that housed unmanned Pacifier FAVs.

Killing the small Allied force there before the distress signal was sent out, they stole the Pacifier FAVs and other Allied assets, prompting Giles to contact the Imperial Commander if he knew where the Pacifier FAVs were.

The Imperials positioned the artillery pieces at key positions on the water passage between the islands to ambush the Soviet naval force. As they waited for the Soviets to arrive, Tatsu granted the Commander the use of the new Steel Ronins that were guarding the Emperor's tomb, apparently inert.

Ambush!
With the Pacifiers in position, Moskvin's navy arrived on cue. As they headed down to the water passage, the Pacifiers opened fire, targeting the Dreadnoughts first before taking out the escorts. A few Stingrays managed to get ashore and attacked the tomb but were cut down (literally) by the Steel Ronins. Unfazed by the Imperial ambush, the surviving force retreated away from the islands and regrouped to establish a base to root out the Imperials. By this time an MCV had already been sent so the Imperial commander could stage a counterattack.

Eliminate the insult
As each Soviet raid on the tomb was repulsed, the Empire built its own navy at the same time. As the Soviets constructed a base on the water it would be a naval battle, something that the Empire excels at. Sure enough, as the Yari subs clashed with the Akula submarines, the Naganita cruisers and Stingrays traded fire and the Shogun Battleships besiege the Soviets at long-range, it was indeed the Empire who emerged victorious and sent Moskvin packing.

Aftermath
With Moskvin retreating the Empire of the Rising Sun showed they were capable of repelling any attack without Allied help. Tatsu then decided to punish the Soviet warlords by targeting Vladivostok.

Trivia

 * There is an American base on Oki Islands in real life which was founded after the defeat of the Japanese Empire in the Second World War. The Allied base in Uprising was also founded after the defeat of the Empire of the Rising Sun.