As ODTA made improvements to their city and reclaimed its Southern District, the Colonial States and West Coast Conglomerate were advancing their war game of chess.
Both regions wanted to control the Midwest, T.C.S through diplomacy and the W.C.C through force. However, they had their eyes set on another target, the border states separating the Midwest, South, East and West. Back during the days of the United States, these states played huge roles in determining an election, now they would determine the balance of power.
As the two powers moved in on their territory, the Joint Illinois Midwest Coalition or J.I.M.C, seized Kentucky and Tennessee. Both would add to their territory and they knew it was a blatant middle finger to Texas who couldn't make a move yet due to lethal levels surrounding their air hubs not destroyed in the initial nuclear fallout.
A few weeks went by then disaster struck, Philadelphia was struck by a squadron of B-1 Bombers, they attacked at night and nearly leveled the city. For the next few days, T.C.S send wave after wave of bombers to refuel in the Midwest then devastate W.C.C controlled territories. The Brass of T.C.S had strategized that if they wiped enough cities off the W.C.C's map, they'd have no choice but to either surrender of backdown.
For the first week, they were right, the W.C.C was in retreat, holding their ground in a select few states, two of which were Nevada and Montana. At the dawn of the second week, the W.C.C launched a volley of Nuclear ICBMs at the East Coast. T.C.S did their best to defend their territories but it wasn't enough. They suffered catastrophic defeat at the hand of the W.C.C, allowing them to encircle the Midwest. Tennessee and Kentucky were immediately reduced to nuclear ash the following day.
The news finally reached Texan Empire President Buckle, he knew come January, it would be time to take over the Midwest entirely.