When the Flash occurred in 2071, most of civilisation was immediately decimated. Great clouds rolled over the hills, raining darkness from above as a brutal nuclear winter developed. The harsh weather conditions and scarce resources in the wasteland were only a fraction of the problems many survivors faced in the early years, forcing most survivors to move underground for shelter—and even then, bunker life was no better; inhabitants were cramped into suffocatingly tight places, where starvation and disease were the norm amidst horrific conditions.

In Ohio, a group comprised of engineers and businessmen of the pre-Flash Lake Erie Shipping Corporation reemerged from their shelter, believing that civilisation could be rebuilt upon the Great Lakes—one of the few remaining sanctuaries mostly untouched by the pervasive nuclear armageddon. Luckily for the survivors, the Lake Erie Shipping Corporation—a once-powerful shipping conglomerate in North America—operated numerous barges and ships that transported goods throughout the Great Lakes. Armed with the knowledge of pre-flash depots, they were able to locate a few surviving barges intended for Detroit, though they had been looted and each was heavily damaged. With determination and surviving knowledge, they were able to repair but one, and in the days that followed, others from their bunker emerged from underground and flocked to the port. With time, the abandoned barge was rebuilt into a formidable settlement that would set sail to live on the water, isolated from the lawless wastes of the mainland. The floating city grew and would become a rare but effective safe haven, floating on the lake free of outside pressure.

This barge was not alone, however, as many other settlers living aboard other watercraft had also converted their vessels into floating colonies. These other settlements sailed across the Great Lakes for years, living in peaceful isolation from the rest of the world, only ever making contact with other small drifting settlements. Life on the barge was not simple, however, although free of raids and marauding, starvation and disease were still common threats. In early 2092, these settlements' leaders met aboard the largest floating colony: a behemoth of a vessel, wherein the delegates convened. Complete unity was impossible as their views, ideologies, and methods all differed, but they reached a common consensus: each colony needed the others. In this meeting, they established the core principles of their newfound alliance—the Coalition.

The founding principles of the newly united Coalition would allow extreme agency to each of its member colonies: independent government structure and law would be permitted, with little central authority beyond a body known as the Conclave, which ensured unity within martial sectors. The key to this was the establishment of a defence pact—any attack on one member was an attack on all. United, the settlements of the Coalition were able to trade efficiently again and with a greater degree of trust, solving many internal issues that once plagued each city.

Through cooperation, the Coalition was born.

Despite increased unity, the Coalition's loosely-knit partnerships proved little worth as opportunistic pirate and mutant gangs picked upon individual settlements. Vulnerable scrap towns became favourite targets due to their lack of manpower, inefficient organisation and abhorrent instability. Hundreds of denizens were slaughtered by ruthless marauders, with entire towns often left as smouldering warnings to any witnesses. Although the scrap towns had well-trained fighters willing to protect their home, it would prove to be fruitless as settlements continued to be harassed and wholly besieged. Skirmishes atop the waves of Lake Erie became commonplace as bandit groups continued to assail the floating settlements. As the Coalition expanded onto land, raider attacks only increased in frequency.

At the turn of the century, the impoverished cities met together in an attempt to find a permanent solution for their shared hardships. Disagreements among the differing vessels and towns were many, undermining the very principle of the Coalition's establishment: cooperation. Many settlements proved unwilling to dedicate their men to one another, whether by inability or unwillingness; once again, cities found themselves at each other's throats, rather than facing the true enemy. However, each town ultimately found itself forced to put aside their petty squabbles in the name of survival. The pirates and raiders had taken too much and too many people. There would be no more of it.

The following years became a brutal push up a steep slope. Ideological disputes gradually waned, with unified hardship overriding all debates. As the finest fighters amongst every militia were sent to extinguish the fires surrounding them, the colonies grew safer as the years passed. Dozens of marauding warbands were put down through any means necessary, as both sides resorted to underhanded and brutal methods. As the Coalition grew, more wastelanders flocked to their settlements, and the Coalition's various militias began to grow. Thanks to the actions of the many brave fighters, the once existential raider threat became a distant memory. Although some remnants survived, they dared not provoke the militiamen a second time. With the demise of many raider groups, colonies gradually became increasingly prosperous, allowing them to grow significantly from an influx of trade and refugees.

As the decade progressed, news of the Coalition's successes and virtues spread like wildfire. Dozens of neighbouring settlements expressed interest in integrating to ensure their safety. Differences were cast aside, and the Coalition grew significantly as many more colonies joined. By 2118, the Coalition had grown to dozens of settlements throughout the Great Lakes. Trading improved progressively as defence pacts were more firmly established to defend each settlement from future attacks by hostile forces, and further unity allowed for easy organisation of supply.

Meanwhile, militias would work together to claim Pelee Island as their territory, largely untouched by other groups. Giant freighters and barges would settle on this island, claiming it as the Coalition's own. The leaders would later meet again on the island, the new home of the Conclave, to further address the rising rate of inhabitants and settlements joining the Coalition. At this meeting, each settlement would elect their respective representatives to discuss issues within their towns, and those of the wider Coalition.

By the time the 2120s had rolled around, the Coalition continued to thrive as its settlements grew in numbers. As trade improved significantly, most settlements became very wealthy, allowing their citizens to live comfortable lives. Companies and corporations gradually came into existence, dominating their individual industries of choice.

Local militias under the control of the individual towns would set their eyes on unexplored land; Old-world cities, harbors, ports, and islands became the targets of a 'new frontier' upon land. Scouts and diplomats would be sent across the Great Lakes, scouring the waters for new settlements to incorporate, and new supply routes would become established and later dominated by trade under the Coalition's banner. During this age, an untold number of settlements—theorised to be in the hundreds—would join the Coalition, whether by coercion, colonisation, or simply a desire for the various benefits member-towns would attain.

During the Golden Age, the Coalition established steady supply chains across areas of the Great Lakes and beyond. Settlements would contract naval merchants for delivering cargo between colonies, allowing for exotic spices, advanced weapons, and modern technology to become more prevalent and available to the common man; land caravans would connect settlements on different lakes, carrying the risk of journeys across the lake-region wasteland in hopes of great fortune. Due to the lack of refined metals in the post-war world, quarries were constructed to obtain metals such as steel and copper. With a great demand for minerals, many mining towns became inundated with wealth.

Emboldened, many of these towns would send their militia forces into pre-war Coast Guard bases in search of old weapons and technology. While these search parties often failed to find the arsenals they had hoped for, there was one thing they did find: boats. Varying in sizes and states of disrepair, the scrap towns marveled at the old ships of the pre-war Coast Guard. With many Coalitioners being of maritime background, great interest came in these vessels. Many settlements would put large sums of money into repairing even the smallest motorboat, and the wealthier militias found themselves buying old Coast Guard crafts off of local marinas and ports. 

With the standard of living rising across the board, many towns evolved to have official governments; from dictatorships to democracies, many Coalition towns would evolve to develop their own unique systems of rule. Wealthy and powerful cities often had democratic governments with checks and balances, whilst smaller settlements might have a town council to decide all of their affairs. 

The strength of town militias would increase exponentially, where formerly militias were comprised of mercenaries or draftees, volunteers would now step up to serve their birthplaces. Surviving veterans of earlier times would instruct these new recruits, with each militia developing its own unique fighting styles and doctrines. Funding for these armies increased heavily, with many domestic corporations pitching in to fund or supply their local forces. The Golden Age would turn the protectors of the Coalition's towns from men into soldiers. Textile corporations would produce military-grade clothing for their town's militias, and weapons factories would supply their militias with patterned small arms and artillery. Among less industrialised towns, inter-city trade would allow for even the smallest army to be well-equipped. At this point, the Coalition stood its highest, being one of if not the strongest presence in the Great Lakes.

The Coalition's reign over the Great Lakes had become indisputable by the time the 2150s rolled around. It became a beacon for those who value justice, everyman's rights, and civilisation. A safe place where any could achieve greatness—or so they said.

In the early 2150s, the Coalition grew more ambitious—resources were in demand, and many grew greedy, going to questionable lengths seeking glory and wealth. The roots of corruption set themselves within many scrap towns as governmental figures turned away from the Coalition's noble origins toward their own desires. Those in any position of authority began to accept bribes to turn a blind eye, paving the way for clandestine groups operating in broad daylight—in some cases, town militias were even used to attack and threaten other settlements, mercilessly extorting them for resources.

As the 2150s came to a close, many of these corrupt settlements began to endure a terrible economic crisis—extortionate duties and unchecked crime deterred merchants, resources were withheld as they dwindled, and those in power only further ignored the problem, choosing to remain atop their marble pillars in the beginnings of a crisis. Those few opposing the blatant corruption and extortionate ways of other settlements were shunned and ostracised, and those who were wholly consumed became isolated as a universal reduction in trade set in. As panic set in, officials began to employ their militias to pillage for essential supplies in any way they could.

In the early half of 2152, some settlements, at the demand of their leaders, mobilised their militia to Huron to claim more resources as the economy continued to sprint downhill. They would forcefully drive out any Huroni settlements that resisted and mercilessly slaughter their innocent inhabitants. Many colonies, namely those operated by mutants, retaliated. As onslaughts of Coalition militias were mobilised, the conflict only grew and eventually evolved into an all-out war: The Huron War. It would last for over a decade, as countless men's lives were thrown to waste for a futile cause. With a fragile economic plan that relied upon looting, many resource-strained cities were unable to cope with a protracted conflict, and the war would only result in further recession.

In 2157, the crisis came to a head as several settlements collapsed, experiencing steep economic declines due to financial and civil neglect as a result of the conflict. Desertion rates amongst militias grew, and governmental figures were frequently purged, with many businesses shutting down due to the economic crisis, which would eventually come to be known as the "Panic of '57".

The Panic went on for multiple years, and irreversibly maimed each and every Coalition settlement in some way. Some collapsed in on themselves as they fell victim to protests and riots, and others barely scraped by as the situation only worsened. The destruction of various scrap towns left thousands vulnerable and seeking asylum, with some cities utterly inundated with refugees. The bandit sieges that the Coalition had worked so hard to quash returned as a prevalent threat to safety. Still, many less-affected settlements elected to press on with the war of conquest, and the Huron war slugged on, even until late 2162. 

By 2160, very few of the Coalition's towns had survived the ravages and hardship of the Panic untouched. Among the resilient few was Bargetown: a floating steel behemoth forged of scrap and the lingering echoes of great ambition. However, resource shortages and economic annihilation had left a lasting scar upon her, and corruption had sunk its insidious roots deep within the town's heart. Bargetown, formerly one of the Coalition's greater settlements, suffered heavily; a steep decline in trade crippled her. This economic paralysis, combined with governmental dishonesty, further exacerbated her woes. Across the wider Coalition, communities grew increasingly isolated; the Conclave saw its power wane, as leaders driven by necessity began to prioritise their own dwindling settlements. The Coalition grew to become all but a loosely connected series of settlements—a mere shadow of its former glory. Despite the integration of former Huroni territories, full recovery remained an elusive dream, then as now.

Hope is not yet lost for Bargetown, however; as the largest economic hub on the Sunrise Isles, the densely floating city attracts wasters near and far, leading many to seek it out with hopeful prospects of a new life. Under the watchful eyes of the local militia and government, it is also often considered the safest settlement within the Sunrise Isles—however, the members of both the militia and government are known just as well for their shadier practices and dishonesty. As a result of Bargetown's place as a hub of all things trade, whether legitimate or not, many flock to this fragile beacon of hope for a chance at a better life.

Bargetown's arrival in the Sunrise Isles dates back to 2146, however, her existence far predates that. Her decades-long voyage across Lake Erie began when survivors in a Cleveland port happened upon salvageable parts and constructed one of the very first settlements built upon a barge. After navigating Lake Erie for decades, Bargetown anchored itself upon the isles, seeking the opportunity to plug itself into the existing trade network. Despite being under the iron-fisted rule of the Winthrop Dynasty, Bargetown did not just survive, but thrived. However, the Panic of '57 ultimately felled the dream of a floating paradise by the Barge's founder, Samuel Winthrop. Years later, in 2162, the ruling family was ousted in a political revolution, and democratic elections were established; however, despite the introduction of the Mayoral system, corruption's sinister influence ran deep. The Barge experienced continuous instability, with rapid successions of leadership and some mayors even failing to complete their terms.

During the 2160s, the Gold Leaf Army of Bargetown feuded extensively with other powers on the isles, namely the mutant-dominated Southpoint State and the Québécois pirate band known as the Voyageurs. Their hostilities with Southpoint dated back to Bargetown's arrival on the isles, where the floating colony intervened in the conflicts between the local human factions and the mutant-led slave empire of Darkport, consisting of allied and subjugated mutant settlements around the isles. With earlier fledgling expeditions prior to the conflict having clashed violently with the slavers, the Coalition would decisively side with the human factions—mostly tribal and waster warbands of Sunrise—during the height of the conflict, in what would be known as the Darkport Wars of 2142—2149.

This conflict would last until Darkport was defeated and razed in 2148. However, following the—allegedly staged—Attic Betrayal in December, sporadic fighting once again festered amongst the Coalition and remaining mutant settlements in the following year. This period saw the extensive, merciless destruction of mutant settlements and the halving of the entire mutant population on the isles by emboldened Coalition militias and their relentless allies. The weary survivors flocked towards the last surviving major mutant settlement—Highridge—located at the southernmost tip of the isles, which would later constitute the capital of the Southpoint State: a confederacy of mutant settlements whose disdain for the Coalition was universal. All the while, Bargetown's struggles with the Voyageurs intensified; the group already had a longstanding reputation for piracy and drug-peddling, and with their encroachment into the Sunrise Isles, had become an increasingly larger thorn in the Barge's side. Since their landing in 2161, the Voyageurs immediately put a strain on Bargetown's economy and militia, flooding the town with narcotics and frequently ambushing Gold Leaf Army patrols. 

Southpoint State and the Voyageurs became the Coalition's main rivals for influence over the isles, with Sunrise City descending into a warzone for many destructive skirmishes. This brutal, prolonged fighting hampered any hopes for the Barge's return to its former glory, slowly wearing down all parties with no end in sight. Adding to the fray were Bargetown's diplomatic struggles, with the town increasingly becoming less able to balance its fragile relationships with its immediate neighbours: the enigmatic Alumni and imposing United States Reclamation Force. As the Barge fought on, there was no hint toward the greater challenges that she would soon face—and by the time she realised, it would be far too late.

THE GREAT STORM

2163—2165

In 2163, the winds sweeping across Lake Erie, whispers of change stirred in alert ears—something was coming, and it would upend everything in the Great Lakes. It began on November 1st, with the tale of then-Mayor Zed, who abruptly ordered the floating city of Bargetown to abandon the isles and sail westward toward Bulwark, accompanied by her sister town, Denton. Not everyone trusted the mayor—himself a native of Bulwark—who had risen to power under suspicious circumstances. His sudden ascent had been aided by the clandestine Bulwark Elite Guard, following the mysterious disappearance of his predecessor, Mayor Thomas Hall, who vanished without a trace. 

During the westward voyage, the citizens intercepted a troubling radio transmission. It warned that Bargetown was destined to be dismantled and scrapped, and that their so-called mayor was complicit in this plan. Outraged and betrayed, the people of Bargetown erupted in revolt and executed Zed, hanging his corpse from the crane. In retaliation, Bulwark deployed a VTOL aircraft to the isles to force the town into submission, but the operation failed as Bargetown stood steadfast. However, the consequences were nonetheless dire: Denton was sunk in the chaos, sending a wave of terror through Bargetown and strengthening the town's resolve in the growing resistance against the BEG. It was soon discovered that this turmoil was part of a larger scheme known as Plan 200: an initiative designed to federalise the Coalition and consolidate its settlements into a singular, centralised state. In response, multiple settlements across the Midwest seceded from the Coalition, declaring the formation of the Midwest Union and pledging allegiance to the newly established government in Lakeview. 

From that point forward, the Coalition was fractured in half. The enactment of Plan 200 by 'the Cohort', a pro-federalisation group separate from the Conclave, has resulted in the loss of contact between the east and west parts of the Great Lakes areas controlled by the Coalition. The Midwestern juggernaut wasted no time, launching an offensive with its hastily organised army against the remaining strongholds of Hancock and Thunder Bay—collectively known as the Western Coalition. It quickly became evident that the MWU sought not just territorial control, but the full unification of the Great Lakes under its banner. The war in the West was swift and brutal, ending in flames as Hancock fell to siege and the surrounding forests were reduced to cinders. By the end of August 2164, as the Gold Leaf Army successfully dispatched the remnants of the BEG—which had been illegally deployed by Bulwark's mayor without the consent of the MWU—before a well-organised and disciplined landing force descended upon the Southwestern tip of the isle and revealed itself to be the 25th Naval Infantry of the New Model Army—the Midwest's newly reformed and professionalised land force. They brought forth an ultimatum that demanded Bargetown surrender or face a just conquest.

With their bayonet tips stained with the blood of the invader, a resounding rejection of the ultimatum was given by then-Mayor Kelsie Windsor. With the memory of Denton and Hancock in mind, the Gold Leaf Army soon marched into battle against the New Model Army as war erupted once more across the remnants of the Coalition in the East—a clash of once neighbours and allies, in what some would dub The Great Lakes' Brother's War or The Coalition Civil War.

A windswept mountain—the rocky home to America's creeping hands on the isle—houses the Black Mountain Complex, and the Lakeside Division that inhabit it. Deep within their bunker, they would come face to face with the twisted abominations brought forth by Highridge: The Biomass, infestations with red fungal-like growths that mutate the flesh. From the Summer of 2164, Southpoint declared war on humanity and escalated its campaign against the Gold Leaf Army. Terror splintered through the streets of the Barge—an infectious contagion ravaging morale in its wake. Though encounters with the Biomass at first were few, Bargetown would soon close itself off from the world in isolation, shielding itself from infection. The Biomass, along with Southpoint’s earlier assault in May, would drive the rusted ark away from the bridge and instead force it to anchor at the nearby Windernola Island. This decision would harm Bargetown’s commerce and drastically reduce the number of visitors, but it was deemed a necessary sacrifice.

In a rare display of unity, delegates from both the Coalition and the Northeastern Union coordinated a comprehensive blockade around the isles to contain the spread of the Biomass. The fledgling navies of various Coalition settlements bore the brunt of the operation, bolstered by limited support from the Northeastern Black Navy, which also assumed responsibility for monitoring potential air traffic. Within the isles, paranoia spread rapidly. Anyone showing symptoms was either executed on sight or subjected to inhumane quarantines. Such grim scenes became a daily routine, especially in the squalid slums of Bargetown, where the waster and mutant populace endured the bulk of the crackdown. The blockade, whilst initially effective, had devastating consequences for Bargetown's already fragile economy. Already strained, Bargetown's supply chains collapsed under the pressure, triggering severe food shortages and forcing them to implement mass rationing. The town ultimately buckled, leading to a declaration of bankruptcy, which forced them to seek hefty loans from the Interstate Banking Guild. As the new year dawned, electricity increasingly became a costly commodity, and the town slipped deeper into crisis, only further disrupting Lake Erie's failing economy. However, the blockade's grip gradually loosened due to growing complacency, allowing for higher traffic to and from the isles; the Coalition was more interested in turning its attention towards the war effort, spurring her into sweeping reform.

By spring, despite the efforts of both the USRF and the Coalition, Biomass-infested containers had reached the shores of the mainland. Southpoint State's leader—Brigadier Eden Couturier—claimed responsibility for the breach. Declaring it a calculated attack rather than a tragic misstep, he proclaimed the spread of the Biomass to be 'unstoppable'. Unbeknownst to the Coalition, nests began to surface with increasing frequency across Lake Erie, delving its foul, twisted tendrils deep beneath Southpoint territory, and beyond. Ultimately, the blockade failed to contain the Biomass. The Coalition would soon come to recognise the extent of the threat brought down upon them by Southpoint's War on Mankind.

By August 2nd, 2164, the once proud and prosperous Western Coalition was utterly crushed; their settlements, once vibrant and successful alliances, were now mere pillars of ash and decay, overwhelmed by the vast armies of Lakeview. The East now fought alone, defying the Midwest in an uncivil war of grand proportions. In the stead of wayfaring trading ships, bloated bodies would now clog the St. Clair as muddied trenches were drawn across the river. The furrows of Summerview's bountiful fields ran no longer with water but were polluted by the endless stream of the blood of once-united brothers. Similar scenes soon stained the snow of Bakerville, which met her end under the blue menace's boots. In the thumb of Michigan, however, Port Cass would repulse the secessionists and stand strong in their united defence, valiantly fighting tooth and nail as an inspiration to the rest of Her Coalition's militias. Amidst the chaos stood Bargetown, which, under the stewardship of Mayor Kelsie Windsor, would nobly reject surrender and engage the Midwest on the isles.

However, political instability still rocked the troubled ark that was Bargetown's fledgling democracy, and the mayorship itself fell victim to corruption. Its participation in back-to-back wars—ranging from Huron to deadly squabbles with the local factions of the isles, and eventually its involvement in a new deadly civil war with the secessionist Midwest—had greatly derailed its economic power. After the legalisation of political parties once more, these frustrations came to a head in the mayoral election of January 2165. Mayor Windsor disappeared from the public eye in late 2164, being usurped by Governor Deacon Byrne—Bargetown's governor since the ousting of the Winthrop Dynasty. In her wake, Bargetown's declaration of bankruptcy and extreme rationing led to a period where even the Northeast Dollar was declared worthless, being briefly replaced by food stamps and a return to the ancient art of barter. Rising tensions over both a lack of sustainable electricity and supplies boiled over in the great food riot of January 8th, known by most as Bloody Wednesday. The ensuing anarchy led the Gold Leaf Army to stage a mutiny, which was the final straw. The government cunningly called up servicemen under false pretences and sent them away to outposts, before it declared martial law and asserted itself as the main authority, using the help of the newly-formed parties and Bargetown's penal soldiers. Those who refused to follow the new order and supported Governor Deacon Byrne were violently executed, though Byrne himself was spared—he merely resigned.

The new interim government reformed Bargetown's legal system, finalising the shift of the Gold Leaf Army into a 'martial branch' subservient to the government. Martial law ended, and once the extremist, Titus Akron, won the January 2165 election, the positions of governor and mayor were merged into one. This was the first time such a position had existed since the separation of powers between the mayor and the ceremonial title of governor from when the Winthrop dynasty was overthrown.

Come February, mysterious and evasive patrols of soldiers sporting unmarked Coalition equipment appeared on the isles. They never came to identify themselves, all the while having their questions about the isles and its local powers answered. Once they arrived in Bargetown, however, they revealed themselves to be the Hamilton Provincial Guard, and they came forth bearing news of significance: the long-standing Coalition had consolidated its alliance into a Commonwealth, headed by the Hamiltonian Conclave. This consolidation served as a direct rebuttal to the federalist model adopted by the Midwest, aiming to eliminate the inter-city disputes that historically hindered alliances, whilst still maintaining individual settlements' sovereignty. Unlike the Midwestern model, which sought to subordinate the city-states under a single overarching government, this newly established Commonwealth—forged of settlements and former colonies of the Great Lakes Coalition—embraced diversity, autonomy, and collaboration. It unified these territories and peoples by grouping settlements and colonies into a confederation of provinces, with Hamilton designated as their capital.

The reformed Coalition made the call for a renewed call to arms. Despite the blockade, a great movement of volunteers from across the land was brought to the isles as irregular partisan groups under the historic United Expeditionary Force came to fight the Brothers' War. Among these groups was even a force of Huroni fighters who took the name of the Blood Bears, after the elite guerrilla force from the Huron Wars—former enemies of the Coalition, who, now under fear of Midwestern subjugation, were brought to the front to fight in the name of freedom. The arrival of partisans on the isles had proven somewhat effective, reinforcing manpower against other hostile factions competing for control in the same region and hampering their operations.

However, this renewed optimism that came from the formation of the Commonwealth would be challenged when, on May 2165, the L.E.S. Watoga—a small civilian liner that arrived on the isles to assist Bargetown in mid-2164—was sighted engaging a Midwestern battleship at the edge of the blockade. The battle culminated in a nuclear blast felt across the Sunrise Isles and the destruction of the century-old vessel. The explosion, theorised to be a combination of the Watoga's poorly maintained nuclear reactor and an accidental ammunition dump from relentless attacks, created a devastating flash and an expanding radioactive area called the 'Watoga Zone'. While said to be temporary, the effects of its contamination were felt and seen throughout the lake, spreading through wind and water. Bargetown's increasingly isolated position—only furthered by the NMA's charismatic 'hearts and minds' campaign, poisoning of the lake, and turbulent electoral cycle—was the last straw for Hamilton.

Whether intentional or coincidental, on the 27th of May, Bargetown's electoral cycle was abruptly nullified by the arrival of a helicopter bearing Hamilton's rondel, carrying Brigadier-General Mathis de Coverley—the stalwart leader of Port Cass' defence—and representatives from the wider Coalition. The seasoned commander disembarked and personally informed Governor Titus Akron that Hamilton intended to 'install a regency in Bargetown and other frontline Coalition cities for the war effort'. This declaration effectively pitted Bargetown under direct Hamiltonian Oversight.

Even amidst this spiraling conflict across the isles, there may still be hope that the warring factions on the isles might realise their mutual, common threat: the Biomass and the wretched enemy that unleashed it, Southpoint State. This existential threat rolls through the land and across the waters with one mission in mind: to destroy humanity as it is known. The fate of the Great Lakes and beyond now hangs in the balance between prosperity and annihilation. Perhaps, for but a fleeting moment, these sparring factions might yet cast aside their bitter differences for a greater tomorrow, against the infestation that threatens to extinguish mankind;

Through cooperation.

By the Summer of 2165, the war became a grueling stalemate for both sides. Thanks to the influx of supplies pouring in from trade agreements with the South Union, the Coalition itself managed to halt the New Model Army in several different theatres, even pushing back the capture of Summerview which would have opened the rest of Ohio to the Midwest Union. But despite the Coalition's early success at halting the Midwest, the New Model Army also found its own ground during the second half of summer by striking Slagport and Hope Bay, both of which lay at the middle and northern shores of the new-fledged Commonwealth. The Midwest Union's newfound success along these amphibious invasions threatened to carve deep into the heartland. What added to the Coalition's woes was the Biomass haunting its mainland province of Olmstead along the southeastern border, starting with its takeover of the city of Fairport, causing waves of refugees to head westward to even the frontlines. This humanitarian disaster created a logistical catastrophe that even the Conclave was ill-equipped to handle.

The mounting pressure of the stalemate and rising accusations of Hamilton's failure to accommodate problems had birthed a radical movement from the frontlines known as Revanchism. Spreading throughout the Coalition's ranks, including the Sunrise Isles, the Revanchists argued that Hamilton is not doing enough to counter the Midwest's success by holding back on complete autonomy to act quickly through the Commonwealth's growing bureaucracy. Revanchists were met with mixed responses, while still allowed to continue work with others since they continued the objective of the war by going on the offensive, others saw them as traitors breaking away from the chain of command and risking success from recklessness. Regardless, the Revanchists were immediately met with the same problems as the predecessors they scorned. The group experienced a stark decline and a cessation of operations on the isles before the end of 2165. Beyond the isles, however, the ideology has a large impact on the mindset of the troops and helps sow further distrust in Hamilton that would prove consequential later in the war.

As the leaves turned brown in late September, a rare and bloody victory in the Battle of Sandusk had helped the Provincial forces of the Coalition breathe for just a moment. This victory was hailed as the greatest victory against Midwestern forces since the Summerview Campaign. But by October, the tides of change had shifted for the war as a series of events foretold that the gruelling stalemate was about to break. The Midwest launched a campaign in the province of Georgia Bay, seeking to pierce the Coalition's heartland. On October 25th, Hope Bay surrendered after being overwhelmed by the Midwest's Sword Fleet. The first cracks of pressure began to form in the final days of the month; Spruce Shoal declared its independence, while half of the province of Huron carved itself into United Huron, or Yshkītaren Huron’i (a neutral buffer state of Huronis forming around the city of Nash). The Coalition's troops were too busy at other fronts to stop it. The city of Murmac, fearing annihilation, also surrendered to the Midwest, while the encroaching South Union would seize Orellana and Cleveland in the following months before the year-end. During this period, the Toledo Pocket rescue operation further complicated the situation in the theatre.  The pocket formed at the beginning of 2165, as remnants of Coalition forces were pushed back from Michigan lines (now known as the 'Glove') the year before. While the mission saw hundreds of ships extracting the trapped forces, the fall of Toledo inadvertently cleared the way for the Midwest Union's navy to reinforce itself in the rest of the Lakes.

Despite great efforts to build ties with their neighbours in Sunrise, the Coalition struggled to maintain key ties with its local allies. The New Model Army's 'Hearts and Minds' campaign proved fruitful in undermining anyone the Coalition considered an ally, including longstanding partnerships with the USRF, the Architects, Shiloh's Posse, and the Alumni. Pushed to a corner with fewer options as the war entered its most critical hour, many came to see the South Union as the last resort for their survival. The threshold was narrowing, and the door was being pushed open for the arrival of the Blue Guard, the South Union's vast military arm. On a fateful afternoon on December 7th, a rogue vessel approached Sunrise at a rapid pace. It was the RFS Sanford, a ship that went missing during the joint Coalition-USRF blockade a year ago. When it became clear who the vessel was carrying, it had one transmission signalling Bargetown's radios on repeat: 

"People of Bargetown. Our agreement with the Great Lakes Coalition stands. Do not interfere."

And they did not.

The people of Bargetown initially cheered as the Blue Guard landed on the Sunrise Isles. But as the Southerners established themselves on the isles, murmurs of doubt had arisen when the sentiment was not wholeheartedly returned. Doubts were already on the mind of every Naut that the South was their salvation from ruin when several cities seceded, and the same "saviours" were stationary onlookers as the Coalition remains besieged. 

But despite the mounting woes, the Conclave has decided to attempt one more gamble, a hope to buy time and exhaust the Midwestern Union, which already felt fatigued in a war they thought would be over in months, not years. Operation Heartbeats Red was launched in an all-or-nothing gambit for the survival of the fledgling Commonwealth; the fleet of Coalition ships called the Erie Flotilla was deployed against the Midwestern township of Bulwark, rumoured to hold General Katherine Devens, the commander of the New Model Army. The Flotilla—carrying the Pontiac Raiders, an elite force of volunteers from the Toledo pocket—successfully landed in Bulwark and kicked off a week-long campaign to capture the city and stall the attention of the Sword Fleet. 

Meanwhile, the New Model Army had set its own sights on Bargetown and aimed to end the Sunrise Campaign once and for all. Previously, both the Opus Act and the Son of Man decision allowed mutants to advance in rank opportunities unrestricted and automatons to hold residency in Bargetown, with droids from the city of Roko—known as Steelmen—to assist the floating city's operations. Now, man, mutant, and machine of the Coalition stood in Bargetown in anticipation against the oncoming blue tide. The Midwest punctured through Monroe's Ferry, a port base controlled by the Gold Leaf Army, and laid siege to Windernola. Coalition forces on Windernola fought bitterly to hold back the Midwesterners, and both sides suffered heavy casualties in the process. The resulting battle was a bloodbath, and allied forces were forced to retreat through the gates of Bargetown, which the Midwest's forces had besieged. The residents of the floating city prepared for the worst; soldiers had to put up sandbags, machine gun nests, and other fortifications while their families were evacuated to parts unknown. But one day, the constant gunfire barraging the city suddenly ceased. It seemed the enemy has retreated completely, leaving behind a message for the survivors: "Surrender now, for the Great Lakes Coalition has fallen."

From the beginning of 2165, mounting issues among the Coalition's city-states necessitated a compromise towards a more unified front. But despite lowering economic barriers and forging a more unified front between old rivals through the United Expeditionary Force, issues mounted over time, and frustration grew under Hamilton's watch. Old allies turning a blind eye, the secession of cities, and limited victories in a stagnant war of attrition meant one thing to the surviving cities: the Commonwealth solution arrived too little, too late. 

By the closing months of 2165, the Great Lakes faced an existential threat from within. For a time, the line held at the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers, a narrow threshold where the fate of the Lakes hung in the balance. The secession of cities now loyal to Nash and the loss of Cleveland sowed doubt in the Conclave's effectiveness to protect the rest of the Coalition. Hamilton's actions had undermined or angered other powerful city-states, unwilling to completely surrender their influence to national centralisation, they viewed as out of touch, and began to intentionally drag their feet. Distrust still remained among other cities forced to cooperate with each other, and corruption began to choke logistics and create a competitive rivalry for resources for the harsh winters. In a final-ditch effort to reverse course and end the war for survival, the Coalition was determined to carve through Bulwark and take the city. But as it appeared for the Coalition's Pontiac Raiders to take the township in a final assault, there was radio silence, and Bulwark remained in Midwestern hands. What remained of the Raiders has fractured and scattered to the rest of the region, just like the Great Lakes Coalition itself.

The Fracture itself was crude and sudden, but inevitable when the Coalition's underlying issues had caught up with it. The Battle of Bulwark was lost, and the gate was kicked open for the invasion fleet to begin its surge into the heart of Erie. As soon as the news of Bulwark reached the rest of the Coalition, it was the last straw. Several influential cities, such as Summerview, Toronto, Kingston, and Port Cass, retreated from the rest of the Commonwealth and established their own domain with their neighbors. Barrie, in fear of the encroaching Huronis from the north, formed its own defensive pact separate from the Conclave's. Many individual cities and major forts on the western side of Lake Erie became their own independent city-states in the wake of balkanisation, an attempt at self-preservation outside of Hamilton's influence. All the while, Hamilton stubbornly retains a small "core" of loyalist cities, including Bargetown, clinging onto a rump Coalition. The Midwestern Union has used this momentum to forcibly fold the isolated towns of Lake Huron into its own territory, with Port Cass and Baie de Pore still defying assimilation.

In the months following the dissolution of the Commonwealth, Bargetown has found itself in a precarious isolation not seen since the dark days of the Panic of '57. The collapse has left it many more miles away from the nearest reliable loyalist settlement, all the while its position on the Isles is still under constant threat, despite the New Model Army receding its immediate presence from Windernola. But perhaps all is not lost, as fate left Bargetown to consider an opportunity to forge its own path and secure its future. With involvement in the defence of Pelee Island and partnership with Rampart Bay, blossoming friendship with United Huron's Nash Provincial Army, potential relations with the powerful South Union's Blue Guard, and other promising endeavours opening to the small town, perhaps Bargetown could forge its own prosperity through cooperation.