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The following is based on the Imperial campaign of Red Alert 3 and might contradict canon. |
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| “ | It is a new age Commander. Men and countries must make their own destinies. We will now do what should have been done long ago. We will annihilate the Soviet army and turn Moscow into rubble. You must find and destroy their Time Machine for if they change history again, they could end our lives before we are even born. - Crown Prince Tatsu speaks to the Imperial Commander prior to the operation |
” |
Crumble Kremlin Crumble is the eighth and penultimate Imperial mission of Red Alert 3.[1]
Background
The attack on Yokohama was an unpleasant experience for the Empire; the mainland had been attacked and Japan's population now lived in fear of another invasion attempt by the combined Allied-Soviet alliance. As a result, homeland security was stepped up on the order of the Prince; all Imperial forces were placed on high alert, and the Empire's aircraft squadrons were prepared to launch at the first sight of trouble. The Imperial naval fleet was also instructed to carry out more frequent patrols of Japanese waters to detect any further incursions. The evacuation of all major coastal population centers also began within hours of the end of this Yokohama incident.
Turning his attention to the Russian Front, Crown Prince Tatsu was determined to crush the Soviet Union and the Soviet Time Machine once and for all, to stop the threat they both posed to the divine destiny of the Empire of the Rising Sun. Soon after the failed attack on Yokohama, he and the Imperial Shogunate began organizing the Empire's forces on the Russian Front for a full scale assault on Moscow itself. The Imperial Commander and Kenji Tenzai were chosen to lead the attack on Moscow.
Their objective was to raze the Kremlin to the ground, capture or destroy the Soviet military infrastructure and hardware within Moscow, and to assassinate the Soviet Premier, Anatoly Cherdenko, along with the Union's most senior military leader, General Nikolai Krukov.
| “ | How you made this far with so little? I do not know. But it all ends... NOW! - Cherdenko's first transmission to the Imperial Commander. |
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At this point, the war on the Russian Front was fully in favor of the Empire of the Rising Sun. Most of the land east of the Volga River was already under Imperial occupation, including the city of Stalingrad (see To Conquer Shattered Spirits). The Shogun Executioner was also on the rampage, only a few kilometers downstream from Moscow. Immediately it was ordered by the Shogunate to make it's way up-stream in order to rendezvous with the Imperial Commander and General Tenzai's forces. The Imperial strike force itself carefully made its way through the lightly guarded Russian countryside, to infiltrate the city undetected.
Force composition
The full might of the Imperial military along with the Shogun Executioner was unleashed upon the city. The Soviets, however had employed their full arsenal against the Japanese in their last stand. The Premier's guards was also called into battle with the Kremlin's garrison.
Events
Awaiting the Shogun Executioner
| “ | "The Shogun Executioner is on a rampage in Soviet territory. It will rendezvous with your forces shortly. Maintain position until it arrives." - Suki Tactical AI |
” |
Imperial forces quickly (and literally) cut down Soviet forces (who were surprised by the Sudden Transport's cloaking technology) manning the first checkpoints in order to clear room for the Imperial MCVs and Nanocores to deploy. These bases would serve as staging points for Imperial reinforcements for the attack on Moscow. Even after the base had been completed, the Shogun Executioner (due to its painfully slow speed) had not yet arrived within the battle-space. Imperial forces were then instructed to hold the line until the Shogun Executioner had arrived.
By that time, the Premier was aware of the arrival of Imperial forces. On his command, he ordered the two last field commanders to besiege the Imperial bases with the military garrison of Moscow. The one commanding mainly the Soviet infantry decided to launch quick attacks to distract the Imperial forces while General Krukov dispatched reinforcements. Leading these assaults were some of the Union's most elite Apocalypse Tanks and V4 Rocket Launchers. Elements of the Moskva River naval strike group were also inbound to support the attack on the Imperial bases from the Moskva River (which ran through Moscow and next to the Kremlin). Braving of fierce resistance, Imperial forces held fast with numerous casualties while waiting for the Shogun Executioner.
Destruction to the Soviet Army
| “ | Ji ji. You think you can just show up on my doorstep unannounced? Well: come and get me, I'm ready for you! - Transmission made by Premier Cherdenko after the Shogun Executioner arrives |
” |
The Shogun Executioner finally showed up, bringing death and destruction in its wake. It was quickly send into the first perimeter defending the Kremlin, destroying everything within its range. The VIP Bunkers were captured, allowing the Imperial forces to take control of the Soviet field commanders, as well as their forces assigned. After the final perimeter was destroyed, a large force of Apocalypse Tanks, Rocket Angels, Wave-Force Artillery, V4 Rocket Launchers and other units were moved in front of the entrance to the Kremlin. The Commander fired a Psionic attack on the Kremlin to destroy the few remaining guards and then promptly ordered all units to attack simultaneously, resulted in a devastating explosion, completely destroying the Heart of the Kremlin.
| “ | "I can't wait to see this whole corrupt city in flames. Isn't this worth the collateral damage?" - Kenji Tenzai to the Imperial Commander |
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After the arrival of the Shogun Executioner, the Imperial forces went to the offensive, with their support. Soviet soldiers were crushed without mercy and even the first wave of Krukov's reinforcements were utterly erased by the Shogun Executioner. An Engineer captured the first VIP Bunker and the Soviet commander inside it surrended, forcing their men to obey the Empire's wishes.
After destroying the infantry front line base, the Imperial forces walked all the way to the War Factories and destroyed many Apocalypse Tanks. Another Engineer proceeded to capture the second VIP Bunker to capture the Soviet commander inside it and force his troops to attack the Soviet loyalists.
The Dreadnoughts and Akulas swarmed and fired their arsenal at the Shogun Executioner, but ended up being destroyed by the Omega Shockwave. The Soviets, then sent Kirovs after the Shogun Executioner, but they were intercepted by Tengus and were bought down in a hailfire of bullets. The Soviets sent another wave of Kirov Airships, but they were destroyed by more Rocket angels. The Soviets sent yet another fleet of Dreadnoughts and Akula subs, but the Shogun Executioner just simply cut those ships in half. Hope was lost after Krukov's death at the hands of the Imperial Commander.
Instead of risking a frontal assault on the Kremlin, the Psionic Decimator was activated and it destroyed the Kremlin. All that Psionic energy was unleashed to destroy everything, the Tesla Coils, the Walls, Soviet bases, buildings and finally the Kremlin.
The Time Machine
| “ | NO! This can't be happening... I'm the Premier! I control time! - Cherdenko's warning to the Imperial Commander |
” |
After the Kremlin had collapsed, a large gate opened in the ground underneath, revealing a huge tunnel leading deep into Soviet soil. A single Twinblade carrying the Premier, and his most precious possession, the Time Machine, came flying out. Luckily, an anti-air group could take it out before escaping from the now flaming Moscow.
Aftermath
| “ | Thanks to you commander, the Soviet Union is no more and their failed philosophy is where it rightfully belongs. In the dust bin of history. - Prince Tatsu congratulates the Imperial Commander |
” |
After the costly battle, the city of Moscow and the Soviet Union were no more. Some survivors, including Dr. Zelinsky, escaped west to join forces with the Allies in Amsterdam, where the FutureTech lab stands as the last remaining symbol of defiance against the will of the Empire of the Rising Sun...
Walkthrough
The first part is to hold off the Soviet forces with a well set-up base and gathering an army to accompany the Shogun Executioner. Capturing the nearby Oil Derricks will help the player out alot but its hard to get there due to bears and tesla coils.
Capturing the VIP Bunkers as part of the mission's bonus objectives will turn over the Soviet structures to the player's command, potentially allowing the player to combine Imperial forces with Soviet ones. In addition, doing this with the first VIP bunkers will make the game immediately progress to the next main objective (thus causing the Shogun Executioner to arrive. Using disguised Sudden transports to escort Engineers can help although there are War Bears that can detect the disguised vehicles.
After the first main objective, the Shogun Executioner arrives. In solo mode, the player controls the Shogun Executioner though when playing this mission in co-op mode, the co-commander/Player 2 will control the Shogun Executioner instead of Player 1.
Beware of the apocalypse tanks, the Akula subs, the Terror drones, the Dreadnoughts and the Kirovs. They will destroy the Executioner so easily if not watched out for. The Shogun Executioner should ideally be accompanied with aerial units, namely because it will likely be destroying bridges which will make it difficult for land units to navigate. As the mission progresses, Krukov's forces will appear, sending waves of Terror Drones, Akula Submarines, Dreadnoughts and Kirovs to attack the player's base. As such, the player should keep some forces within their base to deal with these threats.
After the Kremlin is destroyed, destroy the Soviet base defenses and shoot down the Twinblade carrying the Time machine to complete the mission.
Videos
References
- ↑ Electronic Arts Los Angeles, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3. Imperial mission 8: "Crumble Kremlin Crumble".