1634: The Bavarian Crisis

The Thirty Years War rages on in 17th-century Europe, but a new power, the United States of Europe (USE), has emerged. Forged by an alliance between Sweden's King Gustavus Adolphus and 20th-century West Virginians, led by Mike Stearns, the USE wields disruptive "up-time" technology and revolutionary ideals. A critical iron shortage forces an American-led expedition into the war-torn upper Palatinate to restart vital mines. However, this mission quickly escalates into a fierce confrontation with the Duke of Bavaria's forces, plunging the region into renewed conflict. The true crisis ignites when a young Austrian princess, intended for a political marriage, gains access to 20th-century history. Her subsequent, radical decision based on this forbidden knowledge transforms the Bavarian conflict into a continent-wide crisis, threatening to shatter the fragile USE and plunge Europe into an even greater maelstrom. Mike Stearns finds himself walking a precarious tightrope, striving to manage the volatile forces he has unleashed.