Navigate to that same folder with the "non-working lnk" you mention. You should see 3 folders named: DirectX8_32bit, DirectX9_32bit, DirectX9_64bit. The Maelstrom.exe is inside each one of those folders, one runs DX8, the other two run DX9, but either 32 bit or 64 bit. Right-click the .lnk to set the Properties. In the Target, put the full path on your computer the Maelstrom.exe you want to run from any of those 3 folders.
The Start in for that .lnk is the path to the ERAS 2 files, wherever you put them on your computer. Click OK, then double-click/launch the .lnk shortcut.