BfA - North America

North America

by Jim Kontilis 

Towards the end of the first decade of the 21st century, the Unites States allowed isolationist elements in its government to influence foreign policy to the point where a withdrawal from all overseas engagements was implemented.

​Initially, America's citizens felt a great sigh of relief, weary from decades of wars that had appeared to deliver little thanks amongst the rest of the nations and more importantly engendered increased enmity from new and old antagonists. Sensing weakness from the only super power in existence, new alliances formed, old enemies planned, and the world circled around America like a pack of hyenas ready to bring down a wounded lion.

However, the lion wasn't ready to lay

down and die just yet.

Realizing that there were storm clouds on the horizon that would only sweep away their small armed forces, Canada initiated a strengthened military treaty with the Unites States, initially out of self-preservation. Later recognizing that when faced with the options offered by other 'partners', the Canadian Prime Minister realized there were really weren't any better options. Win or lose, the Canadians were hanging their hats on the Americans. Perhaps their decision was tempered by the list of nations that had underestimated a cornered and on the surface, defeated America.

The Northeastern US has been invaded by a coalition of UN and the Eurozone forces (UNEF). Stripped of many of their logistical support by the remnants of the US Atlantic fleet, the UNEF have struggled in the face of the US 'scorched earth' policy regarding the infrastructure support, e.g. power grids, water pumping stations.

This policy of giving up land grudgingly and leaving nothing for the invaders to exploit has resulted in less patriotic elements approaching the UNEF and offering their services in exchange for food, water, and warmth.

In the Midwest, Chicago and Detroit remain centers of Islamic insurgency, though mostly confined by cordons maintained by militia, with occasional forays into their territories by Regular or Special Forces when 'persons of interest' are suspected of being harbored by local forces. The concern that a small suitcase nuclear weapon, smuggled into these areas remains a real concern.  

Alaska is defended by the Alaskan Nation Guard, United States Marine Corps, and what Canadian forces were able to marshal themselves into Alaskan Area of Operations. Not surprisingly, Alaskans a fairly pragmatic bunch did not panic when the first signs of the People's Liberation Army - Winter Tigers Front (PLA-WTF) operations became evident.

Instead, a significant percentage of the Native Alaskans, including the Native American populations (e.g. Inuit), equipped with high powered rifles, adept at hunting and tracking meant that there was a significant resource pool available for assignation and interdiction duties. A responsibility they accepted with a passion.

The 1st Alaskan Hunters (Provisional) Regiment would go on to be a bane to the invading PLA-WTF.

The mainland US is protected from the depredations of the few remaining nuclear forces through the late efforts of their anti-ballistic missile shield and the remnants of their Aegis equipped naval forces. Although the US Navu is nowhere near as strong as it once was in its days of glory, what does remain is still better than the naval forces arrayed against it.

UAVs cloud the skies and international boundaries of the Unites States, providing an enhanced ability for interdiction along all of her lengthy borders.

In order to allow the remaining American Armed Forces to focus on the most dire threats, State Militias have been mobilized, with those states who encouraged citizens to remain armed, despite media hysteria over gun control in the first decade of the 21st century being the most effective.

Militias can often be found patrolling borders or defending high value infrastructure targets like pipelines, canals, and power stations.  

Militias have also become a significant force multiplier, despite their varying capabilities, along the Southern borders of the US. The Caliphate of Central America has turned what was once Mexico, into the equivalent of Afghanistan.