In Modern Warfare we will play as
Sergeant Gary "Roach" Sanderson, a member of an elite, multinational
commando unit known as Task Force. The player character in
Call of Duty 4, Sergeant "Soap" MacTavish, returns as a captain in the Special Air Service (You can't play as "Soap" any more..). "Soap" is now the head of the Task Force and Sanderson's superior officer. A third member of the Task Force is Ghost, a mysterious character who conceals his face with a skull-imprinted balaclava.
Modern Warfare 2 is set immediately after the conclusion of Call of Duty 4. The radical Russian Ultra nationalist organization has returned to
prominence under the leadership of Vladimir Makarov, a former associate
of Imran Zakhaev with his own ambitions.
Makarov has publicized
Zakhaev's death as an act of martyrdom to garner support for his cause,
enabling him to build a strong power base in Russia over the years.
Fearful of Makarov's growing influence, the global community
established Task Force 141 to counter the threat posed by the resurgent Ultra nationalists.