Alaska

Alaska was the northernmost state of the United States of America, and one of the most important theaters of the Sino-American War. Its iconic animal was the moose.Pioneer Scout Badge Exam answers; Mammalogist
==Background==
Alaska was acquired by the US in 1867, purchased from the Russian Empire as part of the Alaska Purchase. Considered by most to be a major expansion of US territory enabling greater trade in Asia, it was also ridiculed as "Seward's Folly" for acquiring seemingly useless land. The late 19th century gold rushes and discovery of oil reserves turned it into a powerful asset. By the middle of the 21st century, as the Resource Wars began, Alaska gained on a new importance as the site of the last easily accessible reserves of oil. The United States invested heavily in the exploitation of these reserves, creating all-terrain mining rigs to drill for oil,The Lone Wanderer: "What exactly IS a Chimera?"Thomas Morgan: "Put simply, it's a co-opted mining rig that's been changed into an armored vehicle -- bigger and tougher than any tank we have in our arsenal. The Chinese fitted the vehicle with multiple weapons, reinforced the armor and outfitted them for long range."(Thomas Morgan's dialogue) and fortifying the state to protect its interests. The Anchorage Front Line was established in 2059, as part of these efforts. The US also began pressuring Canada to permit the deployment of US troops to guard the pipeline delivering precious oil back home.Fallout Bible 0: "2059 			The Anchorage Front Line is established, as the United States increases its military presence in Alaska to protect its oil interests. The Anchorage Front Line causes tensions in the United States and Canada, as the United States attempts to pressure Canada into allowing American military units to guard the Alaskan pipeline. "
These preparations proved to be warranted. As the Resource Wars started and a global energy crisis engulfed humanity, China's reliance on fossil fuels led to talks with the United States about exports of oil. Unwilling to share its reserves with a communist superpower, the US broke off talks in the spring of 2066.Fallout Bible 0: "2066 	Spring 		As the oil resources dry up across the globe, China's fossil fuel dependency causes an energy crisis in the nation. China, bordering on collapse, becomes more aggressive in its trade talks with the United States. Unwilling to export oil to China, talks between the United States and China break down." In response, China launched an invasion of Alaska in winter that same year, starting the Sino-American War that would last for the next 11 years.Fallout Bible 0: "2066 	Winter 		In the winter of 2066, China invades Alaska. The Anchorage Front Line becomes a true battleground. "Fallout intro: "In the 21st century, war was still waged over the resources that could be acquired. Only this time, the spoils of war were also its weapons. Petroleum and uranium. For these resources, China would invade Alaska, the US would annex Canada, and the European Commonwealth would dissolve into quarreling, bickering nation-states, bent on controlling the last remaining resources on Earth."Fallout history marketing picture US forces were pushed back initially, though not all due to Chinese forces: USS Ebon Atoll, a cutting edge Navy missile cruiser, was sunk off the coast of Alaska with all hands lost by USS Interference, a friendly submarine that mistook it for an enemy vessel during radio silence. The sinking of the cruiser with a nuclear torpedo ranked as one of the most tragic disasters since World War II.Fallout 3 message box transcriptions; Museum of Technology, U.S.S. Ebon Atoll's flag
The US responded to the onslaught by accelerating the development of power armor. The first models were deployed in 2067, countering Chinese infantry and tanks and stabilizing the frontline.Fallout Bible 0: "2067 			The first suit of Power Armor is deployed in Alaska. While lacking the full mobility of future versions, this Power Armor is incredibly effective against Chinese tanks and infantry. Its ability to carry heavy ordinance becomes key in various localized conflicts, and it has the power to destroy entire towns without endangering the wearer. China rushes to create its own versions, but they are many years behind the United States. " At its greatest extent, the People's Liberation Army reached the Yukon River nearly three hundred miles inland,Dick Richardson: "{174}{prs19}{I am the elected representative of the people. The United States does still exist. God bless us, every one. We've just had to adapt in order to survive after the war.}"The Chosen One: "{175}{}{I don't understand. What do you mean?}"Dick Richardson: "{176}{prs20a}{You really don't know, do you? Let me tell you about mankind's salvation. A little history first...}"Dick Richardson: "{177}{prs20b}{A little history….}"Dick Richardson: "{197}{prs24}{There was a great war long before we were born. Our gallant soldiers fought from the Yukon to the Yangtze.}"The Chosen One: "{198}{}{Yeah, I knew about that part. Go on.}"Dick Richardson: "{216}{prs32}{We were winning, too. And then those damn Reds launched everything they had. We barely got our birds up.}"The Chosen One: "{217}{}{Doesn't seem as though it helped us much.}"Dick Richardson: "{218}{prs33}{Well, no it didn't. But at least it knocked the damn Red menace back into the stone age.}"The Chosen One: "{219}{}{And us with it.}"(Qhprzrch.msg) but failed to secure the state in its entirety. The Alaskan campaign bogged down, with neither side able to conclusively defeat the other. Gen. Constantine Chase, commander of what would become known as the Alaskan/Anchorage Reclamation Operation and known for his fervent anti-communism, commissioned the creation of Liberty Prime in 2072, hoping for a shock-and-awe effect that would force the Chinese to surrender, much like the nuking of Hiroshima and Nagasaki did in 1945. The public announcement turned into embarrassment, as the contractors responsible for its manufacture simply couldn't deliver.Citadel terminal entries; Liberty Prime Operation, Project SummaryCitadel terminal entries; Liberty Prime Operation, Capital Post Article -- June 3, 2072
2072 also marked another change: An attempted sabotage of the Alaskan Pipeline provided a convenient excuse for the US to put the annexation of Canada into high gear, confronting an increasingly hostile Canadian public with military power.Fallout Bible 0: "2072 			The United States' increasing demand for Canadian resources causes protests and riots in several Canadian cities. An attempted sabotage attempt of the Alaskan pipeline is all the military needs as an excuse to begin its annexation of Canada... which in fact, had already begun in 2067. " The situation did not change in Alaska, even with the invasion of the Chinese mainland in 2074, with American troops bogged down on all fronts.Fallout Bible 0: "2074 			Contrary to their claims of seeking only to retake Alaska from the Reds, American Power Armor units, infantry, and mechanized divisions are deployed to China, but they become bogged down on the mainland, putting a further drain on American resources and supply lines." However, China was also beginning to feel the strain, with the combined pressure of inclement weather, years of trench warfare, and increasing sophistication of US military technologies taking its toll. The situation shifted decisively in June 2076, as the T-51 power armor entered service, deployed in China and Alaska. Outperforming its older sibling, it enabled power armor units to carve a swath through Chinese forces, straining PLA's resourses to the breaking point and causing supply lines from nations China annexed to break down.Fallout Bible 0: "2076 	June 		Power Armor prototype completed, resulting in the Power Armor players find in Fallout 1. This is the pinnacle of Power Armor technology before the Great War. Many of these units are sent to China, and they begin to carve a swath through the Chinese forces. The Chinese resources are strained to the breaking point, and the supply lines from the nations China has annexed begin to break down. "
Unable to use Liberty Prime,The Lone Wanderer: "Who built Liberty Prime? Or better yet... why?"Reginald Rothchild: "He was developed as a super weapon, back in the days before the war. The first joint operation between RobCo and General Atomics International. Apparently, he was meant to help liberate Alaska from the Chinese, but was never completed. They were forced to go in without him. They won, but suffered heavy losses. If we can get him up and running, well... I think you get the idea."(Rothchild's dialogue) Gen. Chase relied on these power armor units to push the PLA back. Over the next six months, the Anchorage Reclamation retook Alaska,Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p.43: "Chinese Army (Simulated)U.S. Army (Simulated)With conditions deteriorating between the United States and China, a military presence in Alaska was established to prevent a possible invasion across the Bering Strait. With increasingly scarce oil reserves, a last deep-sea deposit below the Pacific Ocean was claimed by China before allegedly being sabotaged by American special operatives. Strained relationships spiraled downward into conflict as China marched on Alaska, and the Sino-American War of 2066—2077 erupted. Under the command of General Jingwei, the Chinese Army usurped control of Alaska's oil pipeline and reserves. In response, the Americans began what came to be called "The Alaskan Reclamation Operation" (2067—2077).Under the leadership of General Constantine Chase, the U.S. Army battled fiercely to the front lines of the conflict before Chase began deploying specialized Power Armor units that began pushing the Chinese back. Future Power Armor suits were further refined as the conflict dragged on, and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline was reclaimed. With resources flowing through Canada, strained diplomatic tensions between Canada and the United States becoming problematic, and Canadian forces attacking the pipeline, the country was annexed.A combination of inclement weather, constant American bombardment and trench warfare, and U.S. Powered Armor unit attacks sweeping through mainline China, the Chinese supply lines weakened and finally broke down completely. By the beginning of 2077, the city of Anchorage was finally liberated, the Chinese eradicated, and the operation deemed a success. A commemorative memorial was erected in Washington, D.C., in honor of the soldiers who fought and perished for the greater American good. Violence between America and pockets of Canadian freedom fighters continued throughout 2077, until the Great War obliterated almost all infrastructure, commerce, and human life."(Fallout 3 Official Game Guide faction profiles) culminating in the return of Anchorage and the Front Line to American handsFallout Bible 0: "2077 	January 	10 	Alaska is reclaimed, and the Anchorage Front Line is again held by the Americans. " and the death of Gen. Jingwei, head of the Chinese forces in Alaska, on January 10, 2077.The Whitespring bunker terminal entries; Questionnaire terminal, General Constantine Chase: "Which general was responsible for the reclamation of Anchorage, Alaska in January 2077 from the Chinese Red Army?" Mop up operations continued for the next three weeks, with the all clear finally sounding on January 28.The Switchboard terminal entries; Central terminal, DEFCON Status - 2077
The long campaign became a symbol of the brutal Sino-American War, particularly the long struggle for Anchorage, in both AmericanBoston Bugle building terminal entries; Boston Bugle article terminal, Article 2 and Chinese publications and propaganda.People's Republic of America Radio: """""""""""" However, while the People's Republic of America used it as an example of the pointlessness of the war, Hubris Comics instead used Alaskan defiance as an inspiring example: The summer 2077 lineup included an issue focusing on Alaskan determination, called Tales from the Front: Alaska Unbowed.Hubris Comics terminal entries; Hubris Comics receptionist terminal and Hubris Comics Publishing terminal, Release Schedule
While the Army declared the Chinese threat removed, hostilities continued for months, with Chase remaining in charge of Alaskan operations, fighting against the remnants and dealing with persistent supply shortages.Anchorage quartermaster shipment Not all were caused by the enemy: Organization of the US deteriorated to the point that converted factories stockpiled ammo, instead of sending it to Alaska.Converted munitions factory terminal entries; supervisor's terminal, Supervisor's Notes 01-20-77 The Chinese presence remained a major problem for the military and was present in the public consciousness, amplifying tensionsCitadel terminal entries (Broken Steel); Callahan's terminal, Incident Report 08-16-77 and contributing to the deteriorating state of the nation, on par with the automation riots.Garrahan Mining Headquarters terminal entries; Security terminal, Log Entry 10-3-2077 
The final event of note in Alaska was the Great War: Alaskan Air Force patrols were the first to spot Chinese bombers off the Bering Strait, at 3:37 AM Romeo on October 23, 2077. Six hours later, the global thermonuclear war rendered the very idea of a US state moot.
Very little is known of the state of Alaska in the post-War centuries, and much of existing knowledge, even relating to the Sino-American War, was lost.Rivet City terminal entries; Capitol Preservation Society terminal, U.S. Declaration of War on China The areas of former Canada adjacent to it seem habitable, as Marge LeBarge was born on the shores of Lake LeBarge and is a perfectly normal human.The Chosen One: "{130}{}{Are you a Redding native?}"Marge LeBarge: "{144}{}{Heck no. I was born way up north. Right on the edge of a lake. Lake LeBarge, it was.}"(RCMARGE.MSG) 
==Alaskan companies==
* Alaska Shipping: Transportation and manufacturing of rolling stock.Boxcar render
==Appearances==
Alaska and its role in the Sino-American War is mentioned as a background event and (in the latter case, the contradictory Sierra Depot GNN transcript), and elaborated upon . The circumstances of the campaign were further expanded , through the Anchorage Memorial, Capitol Post articles, and other elements. It is also the stated goal of Liberty Prime, as it marches on the Jefferson Memorial. Alaska is "visited" through the Anchorage Reclamation simulation, giving a glimpse into the pre-War world, and mentioned in the context of the Sino-American War , , and (as well as its promotional material Fallout - A Special LIVE Report from Galaxy News). 
Alaska would have been a major location visited , before its cancellation.
==Gallery==
Operation Anchorage.png|The achievement/trophies for completing the quest Operation: Anchorage! in the Fallout 3 add-on Operation: Anchorage
==Behind the scenes==
In Fallout Extreme, Alaska would have been part of the second chapter of the game, as the Cause makes its way across the American Northwest. Locations visited would include the Brotherhood North American Forward Operations Base, Libertyville, Brotherhood re-education camps, Satellite Relay Station Tango-Echo, abandoned USAF nuclear silos, the Alaskan Pipeline (repurposed as the underground Brotherhood prisoner network), The Great Convocation of the Inuit, and Anchorage ruins. The environment would emphasize arctic conditions, combining frigid landscapes with pre-War military bases and secret military compounds, and permitting the native Inuit tribes to effectively resist the Brotherhood occupation. Gameplay would shift dramatically, making hit-and-hide tactics of the previous chapter difficult and forcing the player to master combat in open spaces or the art of stealth in the snowy expanse. The ultimate goal would be to cross the Bering Strait into Asia, and the final chapter of the game.
==References==
;Non-game
Category:States of the United States
pl:Alaska
ru:Аляска