Part Sixteen: Striking it Rich
1856 AD - As the story resumes, it is the end of my turn. A few notable events occur during the other civilizations' turns:
Persia removed their intruding Pikeman and Immortal from my territory to help fight Egypt.

I was hoping they'd stay there and be a nice, convenient way to start a war someday.
America has joined with the Aztecs against Carthage. Everyone's ganging up on the little guy over there.
1858 AD - Pollution continues to strike at a far higher rate than we can get rid of it. We currently have 21 tons of pollution - yuck. Eh, well, no one ever said industrialism was pretty, did they?
The first Greek Ironclad is completed in Pharsalos, Borneo. It's a good thing, because five Russian frigates are starting to bombard Dacca, Java. The Ironclad heads south to deal with them.
In Southeast Asia, Greek Cavalry have moved onto a mountain in preparation to - ahem - providing technological aid to the people living in the neighboring lands to the north.
Unfortunately, their leader seeks to continue payments of five gold per turn for two more turns, so the kind people to our north will have to suffer through technological challenges a few years more.
Slightly to the west, a Medieval Infantry also has completed a scouting mission near the Persian border town of Bengal. Not surprisingly, Infantry guard it. Hey, you never know, it could've still be Pikemen...
Greek troops in Australia are launching counteroffensives to drive back invading Russian troops. This turn, attacking Infantry defeated one musketman, two pikemen, and two medieval infantry, all without losses. Far more importantly, our expeditionary force completed its mission of destroying Russia's sole remaining source of Rubber, and thus beginning the Red Army's technological decay.
Persia has convinced Portugal to join it in its defence against Egypt. However, when I remember that I reduced Portugal to one city on a Japanese island and one city in Alaska, I realize the news is far less important than it originally sounded like!
The Zulu offer me a mutual protection pact. I'm not sure how this would really benefit either one of us, and decline for now.
1860 AD - Russia's navy continues to be a pain. Three Frigates and a Galleon are heading north towards Amsterdam. They've also sent ships, including an ironclad, south from St. Petersburg. Navies can't be built in a day, and mine is taking years to build. I could call down nine or ten galleys from the Bay of Bengal, but I'd really rather have a traditional win...
A Russian pikeman defeats both a Guerilla and an Elite Swordsman in defence. Finally a Longbowman finishes him off. An Infantry defeats the neaby redlined Elite Cossack. By Paris and Chartres, musketmen fall to attacking Infantry, and at Chartres a Pikeman falls to a Greek Medieval Infantry. Only one pikeman and one musketman remain as intruders in Greek territory.
Pyrrhus is going to take on an Infantry. Yes, it'll be costly, charging with maces against machine guns, but Russia is quite limited in replacing machine guns.
Pyrrhus wins with three hitpoints left. W00t! Gotta love Pyrrhic victories.
Further offensives eliminate the Pikeman and Medieval Infantry on the Infantry tile, and a Spearman in a forest. I'm eager for Orleans to finish that Intelligence Agency and discover how many troops Russia has left - it can't be a lot.
Still no sign of who has the upper hand in the Persia-Egypt war. I am guessing they are skirmishing in neutral territory, probably Roman as it is not railroaded.
1861 AD (end of 1860 turn) - I resume the game for the first time in a week, when I played just two turns. It's been 2 weeks since I really played. I forgot about no corruption, and started wondering why I wasn't thinking about Communism with this large of an empire.
The Aztecs and Carthaginians make peace. That's considerable progress for Carthage, but by no means salvation.
The Maya join Persia against Egypt. As they are in North America, Persia has again signed a useless ally. For all intents and purposes, it's still 1v1.
In response, the Egyptians sign the Iroquois as an ally against the Maya. The Iroquois, in Scandinavia, have no hope of hurting the Maya, so still the war is entirely 1v1. Nevertheless, with more war, conflict is bound to explode sometime.
The Maya proceed to respond to the Egyptian-Iroquois alliance, signing America as an ally against Egpyt. Still no one will be able to fight each other.
1862 AD - The Russian counterattack proved weak. One unguarded longbowman was all that Greece lost; two cossack attacked were repelled.
The time has come to give the Dutch people some technology. We start a war.
My four-Cavalry invasion force destroys 3 Spearmen and a Longbowman in Haarlem. I begin sending in the Medieval Infantry from near Sagres to provide extra support. With these kind of troops, who would know we're in the Industrial Age?
In Australia, a Medieval Infantry from Besancon defeats the last Pikeman invading the northeastern peninsula. Hey, keeping medieval troops around can pay off.
As I finish off the last of the Russian troops in Greece (finally!), a great event occurs. A great leader, Hector, leads my Guerilla corps to victory over some Russian Musketmen. The only problem now is getting Hector up to the mainland - right now I'm one turn from Electronics and hurrying Hoover Dam would be ideal. However, with only one military ship near Australia, transporting Hector will be quite risky. Nevertheless, Paris can finish a Galleon in one turn, so it will be attempted. If Russia's navy threatens the ship, we can always go ashore.
At Dacca, Russia has dropped a Pikeman, two Medieval Infantry, and a Cossack by the city. As I try to upgrade, I realize I have no barracks. Oops. Guess I'll have to rely on my two Hoplites, Medieval Infantry, walls, and hill. On the plus side, the walls and hills do make Dacca an ideal defensive position. If we can hurt the Cossack early, we stand a chance. The shield switch from Coal Plant will allow an Infantry to be ready next turn.
The Ironclad by Dacca defeats the empty Russian galleon. I then end the turn and hope for the best...
1863 AD - The first major event of the Persian-Egyptian war has transpired. Telegraphs arrived announcing the alliance of the Celts with the Persians. As they control the Suez, their alliance is crucial. In Greece, the leadership quietly awaits news of the anticipated Egyptian response.
Before that news can arrive, news comes that the Inca have also joined Persia against Egypt. This news is far less troubling.
Then more bad news arrives. The Celts have brought the Romans into their war against Egypt. The situation in Africa bodes poorly for Egpyt.
And then...more bad news for Egpyt. England has joined the Celts. There's one less potential ally against Persia. Diplomatic alliances are going fast.
The Celts then request an audience with me. I agree, and fully expect them to request an alliance against Egpyt. Instead...
Everyone's been offering this deal to me. I decline.
The Russians then make their move on Dacca. They commence with a naval battle. Two frigates bombard my Ironclad, and a third attacks. The Ironclad prevails. On the other side of the island, Russian ships bombard my defences. One hoplite is 2-hitpointed.
The battle then turns to land. A Medieval Infantry leads the way. I expect a victory, but instead comes defeat. At this point I'm thinking the defences are pretty well toast. The Medieval Infantry is my best defender. The Cossack then attacks. Just as surprisingly as the previous battle, my Medieval Infantry forces the Cossack to retreat. A successful Hoplite stand against the final Medeival Infantry preserves the island as Greek.
1864 - The pollution situation continues to be horrendous. Take a look at this screenshot of Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. Remember, no nuclear explosions have taken place.
At Dacca, my Medieval Infantry finishes off the last Cossacks. My new Regular Infantry will defend the city from the remaining Russians.
(continued below...)