Hey, thanks for the submission. With the big caveat that I haven’t actually played the game, just read it, here’s my review.
Theme
I think the game hits the theme very well. It is interesting it takes a somewhat similar approach to The Hanging Room, with one "real world" map and one "operative" map. I think the mechanics connect the networks and city map well.
Maps
Maps are central to the mechanics, so I think the game works well there.
Tone and style
The tone fits the subject matter well. The layout, tokens, and map are all excellent - it is up there with Recallers in terms of being ready to play with a nice layout. I thought it was well-written and clear.
Elegant
The design seems straightforward. I would be curious to play. I’m not sure how the USSR will fare! Like with Lifetree, as this is a board game, I felt I would need to play to really understand the strategy and elegance.
Easy to understand
I like that the mechanics are easy to understand, but I don't immediately identify the best strategy. That makes me want to play!
Thanks for submitting and allowing me to review your game. I thought this was a strong submission.