Command & Conquer Generals: Maelstrom/United States of America

Introduction
The United States of America (or USA) are a sovereign state and one of the world superpowers. In Maelstrom, the country comes out from its isolation and reappears as a world superpower again. Now allied with Canada, Mexico, Panama, Australia and New Zealand, and half of Europe.

Generals & Zero Hour Timeline (First War against the GLA)
The United States of America was one of the 2 world superpowers along with China at the beginning of the war against the GLA. It was aided by China in this conflict and had great influence over world politics. At first, the USA was reluctant to get involved in any battles against the GLA, denying claims that the organization was likely to 'run into' their forces stationed in the Middle East. However, around 2020 the US joined the war to try and drive the ever-spreading GLA out of Asia, as it became clear that the organization indeed threatened American global interests.

The American's first taste of combat with the GLA came with a GLA force overran the American airbase in Adana, Turkey, followed by a series of humiliating defeats at the hands of a brilliant GLA general culminating in the defeat of Chinese and American forces stationed at Baikonur in the First Battle of Baikonur. The Americans quickly struck back against the GLA in the Middle East, striking against GLA strongholds in Iraq, Yemen and also in Kazakhstan. The first wave of operations against the GLA culminated in Operation Last Call, an attack by combined US and Chinese forces against the GLA 'capital' located at Akmola, Kazakhstan. US officials believed that this would be the end of the GLA, and American troops celebrated with the locals in Akmola following the victory.

In reality, the GLA defeat at Akmola was not the end of the organization, as it had spread too far throughout the region, and quickly resumed military operations in the Middle East. Baikonur Cosmodrome, still under GLA control, was used to launch a biochemical missile against a US naval base in northern Europe.

The US launched a new campaign to re-take the facility and crush the GLA's new leadership. Dr. Thrax was identified as the new GLA mastermind. The US worked systematically, gathering intelligence on the nefarious Thrax through covert operations deep into enemy territory, while simultaneously conducting other operations where necessary (such as protecting UN civilian aid from GLA attack). During Operation Black Gold, the US entered Iran in order to capture the oil fields that were funding Dr. Thrax's campaign of terror. Following the success of this operation, the US followed Thrax's forces to a city with a number of missile launch pads, from which Thrax planned to launch rockets that would spread his latest toxin, Anthrax Gamma, across the globe. The US stood firm in the face of this diabolical threat, and successfully defeated and killed Dr Thrax, and captured all of his subordinates. Having saved the world from the threat of mass contamination, US Commanders bathed in the glory and respect that came in from far and wide.

For a while it appeared that the USA had finally defeated the GLA. The GLA was indeed fragmented after the loss of Dr. Thrax, but soon regrouped under a new leadership. In revenge, the revitalized GLA used a captured particle cannon to destroy the aircraft carrier, USS Reagan, stationed at Crete. This was a great blow to American prestige but worse was to come. The GLA immediately struck the west coast of the United States, stealing various chemical and biological weapons. America had never been invaded by a terrorist organization in this way before and many believed the US was "impregnable". US officials were shocked and pulled much of the US forces overseas back to the states in what they called a "tactical re-evaluation of military deployment," which essentially meant retreat.

While well-meaning, the sudden withdrawal of US troops caused much of Europe to fall to the GLA. The US CENTCOM Europe Base in Stuttgart, Germany, was overrun by the GLA, who looted its high-tech military hardware for their own means. Global opinion considered this a defeat. After China won the war, the USA decided to isolate themselves from the world and were forced to order their forces to pull out from overseas to strengthen homeland security and rebuild their influence. Rumor's said that the Congress was furious over China's victory, and concerns of a US-China War remained on the UN Security Council, that the US officially left, letting China dominating the five permanent members. Afterwards, the former Anglo-Saxon superpower went into "hibernation" (isolationism) and cut every activity outside its home territory except for mere trade (American-based social media still runs, but any accounts and content related to the USA is hidden from foreign users), never to be heard on the world stage anymore.

Maelstrom Timeline (Second War against the GLA)
After ten years of relative peace, the GLA resurfaced in 2023 and detonated a dirty bomb in American city that was under General Ironsides charge, leaving him seriously injured and leading to his cybernetic surgery. The USA took the chance to reappear on the international stage after years of slumber. This has shocked both China and the GLA. And during the decade of war to stop the GLA they had annexed the damaged Canada, Mexico, and Panama, and reconnected with Europe. With current events having China making a peace treaty with the USA so that they may eradicate the GLA for good. But time will tell how long this powder keg alliance will last...

Military Doctrine and Technology
The USA use advanced but oftentimes experimental technology with precise targeting and well trained infantry. They also command a powerful air force, which includes the F-22 Raptor and the Aurora strike bomber. The USA's staple superweapon, the Particle Cannon, allows for more precise and continuous destruction than other factions' crude, area-blast weapons. With a vast amount of intelligence-gathering resources available, US commanders are scarcely seen making any blundering errors when engaging the enemy, regularly picking the correct weak spots as indicated by their satellite scans. Most of the USA's units are of high quality, despite being more expensive than their Chinese counterparts; even their basic infantry unit, the Ranger, is able to defeat his Chinese and GLA counterparts. While their high technology greatly augments the USA's fighting capabilities, it comes at very high costs. This, combined with their slow economy, forces the USA to field a smaller and more specialized army. USA's units are also too sensitive thus less versatile than other factions (the Avenger does not act like the Gatling Tank and the Quad Cannon).

In Maelstrom, the USA has started to venture into futuristic technologies with the development of lasers and energy weapons, unfoldable vehicles, railgun technology and mass-produced satellites or space ships (although conventional weapons are still used). These advancements added with the Cybernetic General's mass-produced robots and drones and Future Warfare Generals powered-armor and hover tanks, have made USA Armed Forces truly an Army of the Future.

USA's military buildings have sleek and futuristic design: most of them are designed from a minimalist perspective, thus they do not have complex shapes and decorations tend to be simple. The buildings themselves are almost entirely made by metal alloys, even their scaffolding are also metal rods. All of the equipment inside is almost automated by robots with only a few people working as engineers. USA's military units also seem to be clean and robotic like with the heavy use of blue and grey shades as well as polished surfaces on armor plates, although due to mass use of robotics some of the units may seem to be falling near the Uncanny Valley or downright alien-like.

Notable members

 * Granger: Air Force General
 * Townes: Laser General
 * Alexander: Super Weapons General
 * Girard: Future Warfare General
 * Ironsides: Cybernetics (aka Cyber) General
 * Colonel Burton: USA's main terrain agent (hero unit)
 * Lieutenant Eva: Comms Officer (announcer)