A lifetime of war, then a brief peace

Series history
The transition into E-Day[2][3]
  1. 79 years

    The Pendulum Wars

    Generations live through the human conflict.

  2. War's end

    A loss remains

    Carlos dies in combat before peace arrives.

  3. Six weeks

    The armistice

    Marcus and Dom return to Kalona and contemplate life after war.

  4. E-Day

    A new enemy erupts

    The Locust invasion ends that fragile peace.

Bravo arrives with different histories

What the earlier war means to the squad[3][4]
CharacterStarting point
Marcus and DomVeterans grieving Carlos Santiago.
MagsFormer Gear now working at Kalona's refinery.
LucasCadet and communications officer who never reached the front.

Human-war experience does not provide a complete answer to the Locust. The story begins with soldiers who know how to fight but must discover what the new enemy is capable of.[3][5]

Peace is still visible in the shops

The developer walkthrough points out victory celebrations, veteran centers, recruiting signs and peacetime discounts in Kalona. These details belong to a city trying to leave war behind, even as the attack destroys it.[4]

The personal cost is clearest in Carlos Santiago's entry. For the new war, continue with Emergence Day; for the place being lost, explore Kalona.

Sources & further reading

  1. Gears of War: E-Day official game pageXbox
  2. Gears of War: Ultimate Edition story primerXbox Wire · August 25, 2015
  3. Rebuilding BrotherhoodXbox Wire · June 7, 2026
  4. Gameplay reveal deep dive — Official Xbox PodcastXbox Wire · June 9, 2026
  5. Reinventing a Mad WorldXbox Wire · June 9, 2024