Red Alert

After the Eurasia incident the Earth was covered in pollution. Reploids quickly began to work to clean up the Earth… However the process was slow and time consuming due to the relatively extensive nature of the damage. Furthermore the events of the Nightmare Phenomena didn't help improve the situation much at all.

Thankfully the Nightmare had passed (due to the efforts of X and Zero) and the cleanup continued. Unfortunately the clean up process also lead to a rise in maverick crime. The hunters were once again stretched thin dealing with the heightened maverick issues. To make matters worse X had begun to get doubts regarding fighting and instead decided to retire from the front lines. A fact which further weakened the Maverick Hunters.

About this time a group known as Red Alert had formed under the leadership of a former hunter named Red. As time went on the grew more famous. Then things changed… Not long after they discovered a new reploid with a powerful ability they started taking more violent approaches and began to draw the attention of the hunters.

As Red Alert began to become more violent, a new reploid by the name of Axl noticed that the change was unnatural and fled Red Alert to seek help from the Hunters. Red Alert unleashed a giant mechaniloid that chased after Axl on the central highway. However the hunters dispatched Zero to destroy the mechaniloid and stop it. This lead him to locating Axl and escorting him back to base.

Once they realised what had happened, Red Alert contacted the Hunters and challenged them to a contest. The goal was to see who could defeat more mavericks. And whomever defeated more mavericks would get to keep Axl. To make things interesting they released mavericks that they had held in custody.

Axl though was eager to help the Hunters, despite distrust from the hunters. Though he was ultimately allowed to go given how short staffed the hunters were.

The fighting continued and X grew increasingly uneasy. Unable to hold back any longer X returned to the front lines to join Axl and Zero's mission. With X's help the hunters were able to defeat most of the mavericks and many of Red Alert's key members (who had been deemed maverick themselves).

Axl eventually revealed that Red Alert had been taking data that he'd obtained from using his copy capabilities to power themselves up. But that he had no idea how they figured that out. Though before too long they hear of a mysterious Professor that had increased their power.

With the mavericks down and the challenge won Red Alert's base appeared on their radar, inviting the hunters in. Eager to end the conflict the hunters went to confront Red. After passing through the treacherous path to the Crimson Palace they confronted Red. Red and the hunters fought. Though even with Red's enhanced strength he was still no match. After the fight ended Red engaged the self-destruct capabilities for the building. The hunters managed to get clear of the area before that section of the base was destroyed.

Pushing onward they confront the Professor/Sigma and again manage to defeat him in combat. After Sigma's massive second form crumbled away, the powerful enemy leaped from his battle body ready to continue the fight even in his weakened state. After booting Axl through a wall he turned towards X and Zero to attack. But before he could, “Red” took a shot. Sigma turned and demanded “Red” fuse with him to combine their powers to kill X and Zero. Red moved towards Sigma to let Sigma begin the fusion process though suddenly he pulled out a pistol and fired it into Sigma's damaged body. The force of the blast sending Sigma plummeting out of the nearby window. Then “Red” shifted forms to reveal Axl in disguise.