by CD Harris
WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERSPlayers: Amuk, Deroche, InsaneSkitso, and kareyn01.
Factions (player/starting location): Enclave of the Bear (Deroche/Iceland); Imperial Balkania (kareyn01/Western Australia; The Saharan Republic (InsaneSkitso/North Africa); and Die Mechaniker (Amuk/Western United States).
While the factions changed a little, the zeal of the survivors reached a fever pitch. Deroche, InsaneSkitso, and kareyn01 entered Game 2 with a single overriding goal: Open a packet. But not just any packet. Only eliminating Amuk would do. All other considerations were cast aside.
Die Mechaniker attempted to take a conservative approach and expanded slowly. But the other factions were determined and closed in on them early from three sides. The Saharan Republic was the first to draw Mechaniker blood but paid dearly as they were soon beaten back and, finding themselves short of ammo in Venezuela and devastated by a well-timed missile strike, severely weakened. But they retained control of all of Africa and the rest of South America, meaning they would soon regroup.
The Enclave of the Bear swiftly overran Europe while Imperial Balkania consolidated Australia and moved into eastern Asia. Soon, the Imperials crossed over into North America, pushing Mechaniker out of its Canadian holdings. Mehaniker pushed back but broke on the fortifications Kamchatka, leaving the Imperials well-situated to take advantage of future conscriptions of troops.
The powers squabbled over the Middle East for a time but largely left each others' major holdings be to concentrate on their collective pincer movement in North America. This would prove costly for two of them.
The Saharan Republic softened up Mechaniker's HQ. The Enclave then captured it. Mechaniker gathered its strength and liberated Doddsworth but were then effectively spent. The Saharan Republic swiftly defeated Mechaniker's last remaining forces, leaving itself vulnerable.
By now, the Imperials had been left free to take control of all of Asia and were able to do what they had not in the previous war: Massing two large armies, they crushed the Saharan Republic's eggshell defenses on two fronts, taking Doddsworth and North Africa with minimal casualties.
kareyn01 decreed the establishment of the new city of Toad Town in Western Europe. InsaneSkitso founded a new town in Central Africa, but its residents have not yet decided on a name.
Amuk, having been eliminated, opened the appropriate packet. Earth No. 00003046 now has Mercenaries and Comeback Powers! It remains to be seen what effect these will have on the ongoing war for control of this still-young Earth.