The Breaking Point is the second scenario of the Asian Campaign in Empire Earth: The Art of Conquest.
Briefing[]
With the colonization of other worlds now an actuality, a worldwide race has begun to explore, colonize, and exploit the mineral riches of other planets.
With an exploding population, UFAR realizes it cannot sustain itself with its dwindling natural resources. The Federation has committed huge amounts of resources to its space program, including terraforming and Faster-Than-Light (FTL) technology that can ferry resource-laden cargo ships from Mars to Earth.
This economic burden has placed enormous strain on the quality of living conditions in Southeast Asia. Several opposing factions have arisen out of the disapproval of the government. Even some religious groups have dissented, believing that Man's place is on Earth and only on Earth.
Acts of sabotage and terrorism hamper the space effort, and the weakened UFAR military is having trouble protecting its key research and production facilities. Faced with the possibility of total collapse in the Southeast Province, UFAR is running out of options to stabilize its economy and diffuse the political climate.
Objectives[]
° Secure resources in the amount of 60 troops from Taiwan.
° Secure resources in the amount of 5000 Gold and 5000 Iron from Russia.
° Secure resources in the form of a new Technology from Japan.
° At least one university must survive.
° Create diplomats and send them to the foreign cities to negotiate.
° Send Shock Troopers to the Russian fortress in exchange for iron and gold. 1000 iron and 1000 gold will be added to your resources for every 10 troops you send. Shock Troopers can be obtained from Taiwan.
° Send cargo trucks to the Japanese settlements to trade iron for research assistance. 1000 iron will automatically be deducted from your iron stockpile.
° Send cargo trucks to Taiwan granaries to deliver food in exchange for troops. 2000 food will automatically be deducted from your food stockpile.
° Build the Faster-Than-Light research center.
° Reduce the army to 10 or less than each type of unit. Military units can be replaced afterwards.
° Click on the Research Center to begin the Faster-Than-Light technology.
° Muster as many forces as possible, as quickly as possible, to defend the Research Center against the impending attack.
° The Research Center must survive, Make sure to repair any damage to it, or the research will be suspended.
History[]
By the mid 21st Century, nearly all of Southeast Asia had become embroiled in conflict. The political, economic, and military dictates of UFAR became aggressively expansionist. The Federation began a campaign to undermine neighboring governments in order to absorb them through economic, political, and military means.
UFAR's tactics worked too well. Throughout Southeast Asia, thousands perished in political demonstrations, food riots, and police actions. Many groups, from crime triads to religious sects to local warlords, tried to take advantage of the disorder and press their own agendas. This only aggravated an already volatile situation. Civil wars spread and threatened to consume the entire region.
The Federation found they were not the only ones trying to take advantage of the situation. Many nations also sought a 'consolidation' of Asian peoples, but in essence were merely practicing a new form of Colonialism.
Russia, Japan, and Taiwan saw opportunities in the region and managed to establish several city-states. Meanwhile, UFAR's newly indoctrinated province, consisting of nearly half a dozen countries, was becoming completely destabilized. The Federation's resources were stretched to the breaking point in an attempt to bring order to the province.
Unable to afford an armed conflict over disputed territories, UFAR signed treaties with its new neighbors.
And for a brief time, there was a sustained peace between nations.
Hints[]
° Food is your main negotiable commodity. Harvest the rice from the fields and bring it to market for trade with your neighbors.
° When exchanging food for troops, remember that troops do not fall under your ownership until they reach one of your cities.
° Escort convoys or patrol trade routes to protect resource shipments from rebel attacks.
Storyline[]
United Federation of Asian Republics, Southeast Province. The Political landscape has become a minefield as public demand for democratization swells. Rebel activity is reaching unforeseen proportions. Crippling attacks on the industrial infrastructure are pushing the province to the brink of economic collapse.
Officer: Report.
Soldier: Sir, there's been heaving fighting with the Rebels in the North. While our troops were engaging them, a small Rebel group infiltrated and sabotaged the ore refinery. It's been completely destroyed.
Officer: Damn! Without that refinery, we have no internal supply of raw materials... I'll have to speak with our diplomats immediately. If they can't cement some trade agreements quickly, our military complex will grind to a halt. ...And we'll be at the mercy of the Rebels.
Officer: Build diplomats and open a dialog with our neighbors. The Province will need to negotiate for gold and iron. Military and technological aid are also critical for stabilizing the region.
Officer: Food is our one abundant resource. Harvest rice from the fields and bring it to market to trade with our neighbors.
The farming commences.
A diplomat is deployed.
Diplomat: We are ready to open negotiations with our neighbors. Send us on our way to the capitals...and wish us luck!
A diplomat arrives at the Taiwan capital.
Taiwanese Diplomat: I received your communiqué, thank you for coming. We are experiencing a serious food shortage right now, so my government has authorized me to broker a trade agreement. In exchange for food, we will send you troops. Simply dispatch a cargo truck to one of our granaries and the food will be delivered. Upon delivery, troops will be released from our compound and given marching orders to one of your cities. I think this will prove to be a mutually beneficial relationship.
A food shipment gets delivered.
Taiwanese Diplomat: Your food shipment was received. Troops have been dispatched and will be at your command once they arrive at one of your cities.
If a food trade is attempted at an insufficient amount.
We don't have enough food to trade yet!
A diplomat arrives at the Japan capital.
Japanese Diplomat: Greetings, Ambassador. While your offer is most kind, I'm afraid our food supply is more than adequate. However, we are in need of iron, the only source of which lies in the Russian territories. We are currently at a diplomatic impasse with the Russians, who refuse to trade with us. But since your nation is in a position to obtain iron from them, I think we can come to an arrangement. Send cargo trucks to us, and iron will be delivered from your supply. In exchange we will provide you with technical assistance that will aid you in research for your space program. We look forward to a prosperous partnership.
A squadron of troops arrive.
Diplomat: Troops have arrived at one of your cities and are awaiting your command.
A diplomat arrives at the Russia capital.
Russian Diplomat: Welcome comrade! I was most pleased to hear of your offer. My country is interested in exchanging resources. We are not in need of food, however, we would be happy to trade raw materials in return for trained military personnel. For every ten troops you send to our fortress we will provide you with iron and gold. This is generous, no? It is great pleasure to be doing business with you!
Officer: We have received the required amount of troops from Taiwan.
Taiwanese Diplomat: We do not have any troops to spare at this time. Perhaps we will have some men available later.
Russian Diplomat: Many thanks for the additional troops, comrade! We have delivered to you gold and iron in return.
Japanese Diplomat: A shipment of iron has been received. Four more shipments, and we will send our scientific data.
Officer: We have received the required amount of iron from Russia.
Japanese Diplomat: Another shipment of iron has been received. Three more shipments, and we will send our scientific data.
Japanese Diplomat: Another shipment of iron has been received. Two more shipments, and we will send our scientific data.
Japanese Diplomat: Another shipment of iron has been received. One final shipment, and we will send our scientific data.
Japanese Diplomat: The las shipment of iron has been received. Please accept this scientific data with our compliments!
Officer: Build the Research Center to develop faster-than-light technology.
Citizens are seen rioting.
Officer: The situation is getting out of hand. Public demonstrations demanding more democracy are resulting in riots. If we don't dismantle part of our military complex and make way for democratic elections, we face anarchy and political overthrow. The first step is to disband some military units to demonstrate to our people that we are not a fascist military state.
Reduce the military to 10 or less of each type of unit. Military units can be replaced afterwards.
Officer: Our supply lines are threatened! One of our cargo trucks has been destroyed!
Officer: The military cutbacks, in tandem with the establishment of local elections, has diffused the most recent political crisis.
Click on the Research Center to develop faster-than-light technology.
Research will be completed shortly. The Research Center must survive until then.
There are reports that rebel forces are massing forces to attack the Faster-Than-Light Research Center. Muster as many military units as possible, as quickly as possible, to defend it.
Officer: Scientists have finished researching faster-than-light travel.
The province has endured some stormy times. But economic equilibrium is returning to the region. Public opinion has been placated for the most part, so the threat of overthrow is comfortably remote. Having achieved Faster-Than-Light travel, UFAR is nearly ready to embark on its expansion into space. The march of progress continues to meet resistance, however, and UFAR must be diligent in protecting its interests. The days ahead could be glorious...or prove disastrous.
Walkthrough[]
This scenario will test your ability to micromanage and protect your units in different locations, while also testing your patience. Your enemies are more rebels, as they're still not convinced that UFAR has it's people in their best interest, having relocated so many resources and manpower into the space program. You start off with 4 different bases around the map, one at the top left corner of the map, one around the middle, slightly to the west, one on the bottom right corner of the map, and a small one to the south. You don't have a lot of units you can create, to make matters worse you can barely construct more buildings. You'll also notice there's not a lot of resources, other than Rice (Food). You'll have to be very careful on what you spend your resources, as it could bring the whole nation to economic collapse, and make you lose the game. Since rice is pretty much all you can gather for now, bank on it and start collecting it on mass. There's three rice fields on the map, two of them close to your bases, specifically at the south of your bottom right base, and north of your southern base. The third rice field is the riskiest, east of your northwestern base, past a forest and mountains. You cannot build Settlements, so your only option is to have your Citizens make a lengthy trip from these fields to your base. This is where they will be the most vulnerable, and you have to make sure to protect them with a few units, as rebels are eager to make ambushes and surprise attacks at all times.
The longer the game, the harder it will become, so start exploring the map as well in order to find where your allies are. Once you do, you'll need to send Diplomats to their Capitols to start negotiations with them. It is wise to send a few Sentinels or Tanks with them, as the rebels can easily kill the diplomats and make things more complicated. Japan is the closest nation to you, located southwest of your middle base. They don't need Food, but they will happily assist you with the space program technology race if you can provide them Iron. While it is near impossible to gather Iron yourself, the Japanese conveniently mention that they reached a diplomatic impasse with Novaya Russia regarding this very material, suggesting that they are the ones who can provide it. Indeed, when you send a Diplomat to Novaya Russia's Capitol (west of your middle base), they say that they don't need Food either, but will eagerly trade Iron in exchange for trained military personnel. You cannot give your own troops to Novaya Russia for this by the way, it has to be specialized troops that you'll have to obtain from somewhere else. This is where your last ally comes in, Taiwan. Taiwan is the furthest from you, at the top right corner of the map, keep an eye on your convoy to make sure the Diplomat survives the journey. Once you arrive, Taiwan will tell you that they are in desperate need of Food, and will give you soldiers in exchange. You'll need 2000 Food for this, several times, which is why you need to put all your Citizens working on the fields as soon as possible. In order to meet all economic requirements, you'll need: 5,000 Iron, 50 Shock Troopers, and 6,000 Food. Do notice that the troops Taiwan will give you won't be under your control until they reach your southeastern base. You'll have to protect them, as the rebels are also hostile to them.
To start trading with your allies, you'll have to build plenty of Trucks at your Tank Factory, If you find yourself in a position where you can no longer build more trucks, you'll suffer an economic collapse and lose the game, so always make sure to have at least one standing at all times. Also since you're researching space technology, at least one University must survive the constant attacks of rebels if you don't want to lose. Once you meet the required quotas, simply send your trucks towards their respective base. Protect them, as rebels will deliberately target these trucks with a varied group of units. Enemies that you will find will usually be Soldiers, Machine Guns, Tanks, Artillery, Helicopters, AT Helicopters, AT guns and sometimes even Howitzer cannons. Not only will they constantly harass your trucks, but also your bases, and even citizens as they make the long trip from the rice fields to your base.
Once you managed to successfully trade with all your allies, you'll unlock the option to build the Faster-Than-Light technology center. Build it either at your middle base or your southeastern base, in a location where you can protect it, as rebels will try their hardest to destroy it once it's complete. To make the situation even more complicated shortly after the center it's built, your own citizens will start rioting! Demands for democracy will force you to dismantle your army, else you're at the risk of the whole country falling into anarchy. Before attempting to kill your own military units, have them all rounded up near the FTL Center, and then make sure to reduce them to 10 of each class. Once you do, the people will calm down and go back to work. After the elections are complete, you can start building up your army again to protect the FTL Center more adequately as it continues it's research. As soon as the research is done and you fend off the last massive wave of rebels, you'll win the scenario.
Trivia[]
- In this scenario, Novaya Russia trades Iron and Gold for military personnel. This might be a reference to the fact that Grigor Stoyanovich is building up his army as he prepares to conquer Europe, since in this scenario it is 2035, the same year Novaya Russia started their invasion on the western powers.
