[8][6] The story is focused on the conflict between three nations in Central and Eastern Europe — Polania, Rusviet and Saxony (based respectively on Poland, the Soviet Union/Russian Empire, and Imperial Germany) that occurs sometime in the 1920s, in the aftermath of World War I.

They are joined by Anna's uncle Lech, the leader of the Resistance, but they are too late to save Piotr, who is mortally wounded from Zubov stealing his arm.

Lech reveals that he plans for an armed uprising, provoking a Rusviet purge of the city, to unite Polania and push out the occupation.

Meeting Heinrich, Anna helps him evacuate civilians in an airship, while she, Lech, and the Resistance stay behind to cover his escape.

Capturing them both, Colonel Zubov reveals that he manipulated the Resistance into attacking Kolno and breaking the truce, as he is part of a faction called Fenris which seeks to restart the war.

He executes Lech, but the Polanian Army led by Commander Michał Sikorski rescues Anna and forces Zubov to flee.

Meanwhile, Janek, on the verge of death, was saved by Rusviet scientists working under Colonel Zubov, using salvaged Tesla technology to turn him into a cyborg.

Back in the present, Janek insists on maintaining his cover to gather information about Fenris, even when Anna tells him about Piotr and Lech's deaths.

Upon linking back up with Colonel Zubov, Janek helps capture Heinrich, who reveals that they need a transponder to enter Tesla's factory, but it will not protect them from the "Icarus Protocol".

While successful, the offensive suffered major setbacks due to unexpectedly strong Polanian resistance; the immense Saxonian casualties shocked Wilhelm, who became increasingly disillusioned with the war and hateful towards Rusviet.

This culminated in him disobeying orders and using chlorine gas against the Rusviets, which Gunter criticized since it would invite similar retaliation and further escalation.

Shortly after Colonel Zubov's attack on the Factory, a revolution erupts in Rusviet; rebels seek to depose Tsar Nicholas while loyalists try to suppress the revolt.

The Tsar decides to return to the capital to restore order to the country; on the way, he comes to realize that his supposed-Loyalist forces are just as cruel and ruthless towards Rusviet civilians as the Revolutionaries.

Vowing to reform Rusviet, Tsar Nicholas enters a broadcast tower in St. Petersburg to make an address to the nation while Olga holds off Fenris forces.

Admiral Mason then decides to send William to Arabia, whose massive oil reserves would benefit Usonian industry.

However, Admiral Mason arrives with forces aligned with Sita's uncle, who has decided to betray Saxony and sign a treaty with Usonia instead.

Furious with his father's callous betrayal, William goes rogue with his men to rescue Sita and Gunter, allowing them to escape to the Factory.

[10] Likewise, in the same month, Seth Macy of IGN called the game "awesome", praising in particular "detail given to the mechanics of the brick building's collapse".

[27] Rick Lane in a review for PC Gamer concluded that "a worthy spiritual successor to one of the best RTS games ever made".