1964 IBT -
Bloody airstrikes. In all about five Korean planes hit Hector's army, injuring but by no means defeating him. We should be OK with a Barracks and Army in Beijing, but these Bombers will be pretty annoying until we get Flak. In the meantime I think I'll focus my efforts in the East.
Speaking of China, Babylon declares war on them after an alliance with the Byzantines. The Zulu have not yet been defeated.
Mongolia makes peace with Persia. Perhaps they'd be a good candidate for conquest? If only I didn't have any deals with them...
This is the first time I've seen the Byzantine-Persian frontier up close (around Beijing), and I'm pleased that they are fighting, and the Byzantines aren't taking excessive casualties. Let them fight for a thousand years, and I'm not sure any of either side's core cities would fall.
America captured the Spanish city of Jaen, in southwestern Alaska and just shy of the Aluetians, this turn. St. Louis remains Korean, and Tlacopan Aztec. America is running out of other cities to conquer, so we figure
eventually America will attack them!
1965 AD - Tenochtitlan has recovered greatly from the war and is already producing 12 shields from a very happy citizenry. We begin work on our first New World factory.
Our first attack of this turn is on Hareid, the other city on Middelburg Island and currently the Viking capital. Mechanized Infantry begin the attack.
It's a close battle with Regular Mech Inf v. Riflemen, but we pull it out in the end. A similarly close victory ends the Guerilla resistance in the city. We chance taking the city now by sending in what is currently the only Cavalry in the Greek Empire.
It wins the city for us. Much, if not all, of the Viking navy is sunk in the harbor as well. Scandinavia is down to one city - Trondheim, their ancient capital, is their capital once again. With only 15 gold to offer for peace, we decide to conquer them now.
The problem advancing towards Trondheim, north of Copenhagen, and indeed all of Spain, is a lack of rails - in some places even roads. I consider gifting Temujin some iron so he'll build some rails for me, but since what I really want is to conquer him, I don't.
Instead we sink a Persian Ironclad off Temujin's African territory.
We also accept Korea's challenge to some Air Wars. The first is against some Persian Destroyers that had the audacity to bombard my Bombers in Verulamium last turn.
It's not going to be an easy Air War. Two of our planes are shot down, and none of their Destroyers are yet destroyed. I switch two Indian cities to Bombers to help with the effort.
The other Air War will be Beijing vs. Inch'on. It'll simply be a matter of whose bombers can bomb the others' bombers into oblivion first. Other damage will simply be auxiliary to the main goal of both sides - to win the first War of Two Air Forces.
Land war will continue, however. Mursilis is finally getting his birthday present.
After a substantial land, air, and sea bombardment, our tanks are ready to take Tarsus.
I should note that was the strongest unit remaining in Tarsus, and before it had taken any damage from the Tank. It appears the Hittites only have three units in Tarsus (well, two now).
Indeed they did. Even crossing a river couldn't stop our momentum. We even send Mursilis a little extra for his birthday.
Agememnon, meanwhile, has three Tanks and a Mechanized Infantry in his army, and is ready for his first mission - to take Nanking, regardless of Korean bombings.
He takes down the first defender and will take the rest of the city next turn. Just for extra insurance, another Tank is sent in to attack next turn.
The Koreans now have a choice. Which stack will they bomb? The one in Beijing or the one outside Nanking?
1965 IBT -
The Koreans made their choice. The number of Bombers they had in range increased from about 5 to about 9, and came from both Inch'on and Namp'o. We won't be able to assess the damage to our air force until next turn.
In the eastern Pacfiic, an Incan fleet attacks our submarine by mistake. We kill just one Frigate before sinking.
The Byzantines, meanwhile, take Nanking out from under my feet. It makes me reconsider the alliance, but it will last - for now.
Temujin, is sending many troops south to own the Zulu. The only way I can stop them without toasting my reputation is to conquer the Zulu myself - so it appears I will have no choice but to do so.
The Hittites see the potential of the Sipahi-bearing Ottomans if they win against the Inca and declare war to stop the Ottomans. They'll have to defeat our tanks, first, though. And their counterattack last turn was quite weak. Their attacks this turn are no more frightening.
In the next year, we will see how much our units were hurt by Korea in the Air Wars, and - hopefully - have a chance to retaliate for their damage.
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