As The Ghost and the ODTA diplomats entered the Central Life Building, they were greeted by the other diplomats. In the meeting room, they discussed the impending invasion of the Midwest and Illinois.
"This is crazy! You're tell me Texas owns the entire South?!" said the S.Field Diplomat
"Everything except Florida." stated one of the Floridians.
"Think about it, they had the most guns before the bombs fell, and an entire air force." replied the Ghost.
"The way I see it, it would be foolish to simply try to fight them without a united Illinois. Besides the Ghost saved my people when we first met, if anyone could figure out how we fight back, it's this city." stated Utica Village Chief Lou-wats
The other diplomats nod and come to the agreement that they would join forces, after all, Texas was their biggest threat. The Alliance of Illinois was founded, and the flag flew, holding the Ottawa crest in the dead center. The diplomats radioed home and informed their people of the Alliance and impending threat, however, S.Field didn't respond for several minutes, then a voice broke the static.
"THEY'VE ALREADY ATTACKED! TEXAN FORCES HAVE OVERRUN S.FIELD! I REPEAT WE ARE OVERRUN AND WE'RE RETREATING YOUR WAY!"
The Ghost and other listened in horror, as the news broke, Texas was already eight steps ahead of them, striking Illinois capital, S.Field, the former city of Springfield.
"Get to the Perkin Illinois! Everyone else, scramble your aircraft, we need to buy them time to retreat here." stated the Ghost before he and the other pilots raced to the Tarmac.
Vintage airplanes lifted into the sky was grouped up with many others as they headed south toward S.Field.
Meanwhile, the Texan Army and Airforce had overrun S.Field and were holding it as the S.Field Army tried to hold down their last remaining strongholds.
"Boss! If that air cover doesn't get here soon, we're finished."
"They'll be here! Just Hold Your Positions!"
Within the hour the Joint Air Fleet arrived and began engaging Texan Forces. The Texan Airforce consisted of mainly B-17 Bombers and a handful of T-6 Texan pursuit fighters. On the other hand, the Joint Illinois Scramble Airforce consisted of WWII Warbirds, refitted crop-dusters, and a few early year jets. As the air battle began, the S.Field army began retreating to cover their civilian convoy, all heading to ODTA.
"TILL THE LAST MAN WE FIGHT!" Yelled the Ghost as he and the J.I.S.A dove on the attacking bombers and fighters. The Texan's were caught off guard as they'd expected minimal resistance taking S.Field, they weren't expecting such a large air presence to ambush them.
Bombers and Fighters fell from the sky halting the Texan advance, the S.Field soldiers cheered as allied fighters knocked out bombers left and right, as most of the T-6 escorts had been shot down, and they hadn't brought any heavy artillery to assist in the ground effort. The Texan's had severely underestimated the Prairie State's willingness to work together.
As the sun crested the horizon, it revealed the Texan's had lost the battle, sure they'd driven the residents of S.Field from their home, but due to a lack of air superiority and heavy ground support they were unable to hold the city.
The J.I.S.A and J.I.A returned to ODTA victorious, unlike the Texan's who'd thought they'd won at Midnight.
As planes landed the leaders meet knowing this war was far from over.