Prologue is the introductory mission in Grand Theft Auto V. Set in Ludendorff, North Yankton, in 2004, it is nine years before the events of the game take place and four years before the events of Grand Theft Auto IV.
Description
In 2004, nine years before the main events of Grand Theft Auto V take place & four years before the main events of GTA IV take place, Michael Townley, Trevor and Brad rob a bank in Ludendorff. After leaving the hostages in the closet near the staff door, Trevor wires an explosive to vault doors, which are set to explode once Michael has made the call on his cell phone. Once the vault doors explode, Michael and Trevor enter the vault and purloin the cash. As the team make their escape, Michael is held at gunpoint by a security guard who removed his mask covering his face and is later shot in the head by Trevor.
Once the group exits the bank, police swarm the scene but are killed in a massive gunfight. As the men reach their getaway vehicle, the driver dies after getting shot through the skull by the pursuing officers, but Michael grabs the wheel and manages to lose their pursuers. The group later encounter a police roadblock and while they manage to escape, they are clipped by an oncoming train, causing them to and brutally crash the getaway SUV into a tree. While they manage to survive, Trevor insists that the team should walk an alternative route to their getaway chopper, but Michael demands that they stick to their original tactics.
As the men reach their destination, they were shocked to realize that the chopper was missing. Suddenly, sniper hiding around a corner shoots Brad and Michael, killing Brad and immobilizing Michael. Trevor, in a massive fit of rage and distraught over his teams death, is forced to fend off the approaching police himself, and runs away from some armed pursuing locals.
A funeral for Michael is then shown at a snowy cemetery, while Michael watches on from a distance and flicks away his cigarette. Sometime between 2004 and 2013, Michael and his family, and Trevor happen to both move to San Andreas.
Mission Objectives
- Go to the guard.
- Aim at the hostages to make them move
- Use the phone to trigger the explosive charge
- Collect the cash and take out the guard
- Escape the cops and go to the car
- Drive to the helicopter pickup point
- Hold off the cops
Trivia
- This mission references the 2012 movie "Man on a Ledge" in which police chase a four by four.
- During the car chase scene, turn right where the railroad tracks intersect with the road. Make your way down to the embankment, and under the railroad bridge. There will be an alien frozen inside the ice in the river. This is an easter egg left in the game by Rockstar Games.
Signs featured in the banks interior:
- Security notice: All visitors must report to security
- Warning: Protected by electronic security system
- Security notice: No unauthorized personnel beyond this point
- Caution: Protected by armed guards
- Attention: it is forbidden to smoke in these premises