For Captain Scarlett (and anyone else unfamiliar with network games) Argitoth wrote an excellent set of instructions on creating a desktop shortcut to the game
here
To get started, design your pretender and connect using the shortcut. Choose your nation, and your pretender details will be automatically uploaded.
Disconnect, then reconnect periodically to see if everyone has submitted their pretender yet. When they have, your turnfile will be automatically downloaded, and you'll be able to choose the game and play your turn offline.
Then reconnect to upload you turn, etc.