Team Rocket's efforts to establish a new order in the Kanto and Johto Regions were in full swing.
However, that peace was soon shattered by the sound of distant gunfire.
In the Hoenn Region, a prosperous land across the sea from Kanto, the local Pokémon League branch felt an unprecedented sense of threat and unease at Team Rocket's rise.
They could not tolerate a regime established by a "terrorist organization" appearing on their doorstep.
After urgent deliberations, the Hoenn League reached a decision.
They would intervene with military force.
An elite fleet consisting of the Hoenn League's most advanced "Sea God"-class destroyers and several escort ships set out in force from Slateport City, Hoenn's largest port, under the banner of "maintaining regional peace and liberating the people oppressed by tyranny."
Their target was Vermilion City, the gateway to the Kanto Region.
However, barely had the fleet entered the waters off the Kanto Region when they encountered an unexpected "welcoming ceremony."
Several enormous warships appeared on the horizon, pitch-black from stem to stern, shaped like giant deep-sea sharks and exuding a menacing, oppressive presence.
These were Team Rocket's latest-model heavy cruisers, which Engineer Wang's Team had worked through the night to refit and upgrade after taking over the Pokémon League's shipyards and technology.
Their armor was thicker, their firepower heavier, and the enormous bright red "R" emblems on their bows looked particularly glaring in the sunlight.
Inside the main command room of Team Rocket's temporary headquarters in Vermilion City.
Ye Li sat before an enormous electronic sand table composed of dozens of screens.
He wore a crisp black commander uniform, his face expressionless and his gaze cold and focused.
"Reporting to the commander. The enemy fleet has entered our designated ambush zone."
The frontline commander's voice came through the communicator.
"Lin