Townes

General "Pinpoint" Townes is a 4-Star US Army General around the time of the GLA Conflict.
==Background==
An early champion of laser technology in the USA Armed Forces, "Pinpoint" Townes has developed comprehensive offensive and defensive strategies for the 21st century around laser-based weapons. However, Townes found academic life too slow and returned to a battlefield command in 2010. Relying on inexpensive, powerful laser technology throughout his forces and his unique knowledge of its strengths and weaknesses, General Townes has consistently received superior marks during war games and live-fire actions. This four-star general continues to push the technology envelope in harnessing energy and improving power efficiency, and the Army is counting heavily on him.Generals: Zero Hour manual
Based at Fort Union, Redwood Shores, California, USA, Townes' Class Number is 00010204-01KE0.
==Arsenal==
=== Overview ===
General Townes focuses on directed energy weapons. His base defense relies on a system of laser turrets that are effective against ground and air targets alike, while his specialized tank deals more damage against vehicles than the USA's standard crusader. Power is transmitted wirelessly from his power plants directly to these vehicles, thus making his base power supply an obvious target for opponents. He also forgoes the tomahawk cruise missile, and thus must utilize the microwave tank to neutralize base defenses. He enjoys a cost discount when building the laser avenger. Despite the vulnerability to attacks on his energy supply, Townes is well-matched against opponents who rely on vehicles and aircraft, potentially even infantry and artillery when he still has access to pathfinders and aircraft of his own. 
With these units in hand, a player is able to assemble what could possibly be the best assault group in the game both strong in offense and defense, so long as the player is knowledgeable with proper awareness in the battlefield and is skilled with contingency planning given the fragility of Townes' resources. 
===Units===
* Laser Tank replaces Crusader Tank
** Costs 1 unit of power each, but deals increased damage (60->80).
* Avenger costs less ($2000->$1500)
===Buildings===
* Laser Defense Turret replaces Patriot Missile System
** Requires more power (3->5), but deals more damage (25->35 for air, 30->40 for ground)
* Cold Fusion Reactor generates more power (5->8) and costs less ($800->$700).
===Limitations===
* No access to Paladin Tanks, Tomahawk Launcher, or the baseline Crusader Tank.
==General's Challenge==
==Quotes==
*I can't lose to you! You're a... bumbling buffoon!
*I calculated every variable and yet you are winning. How is this possible?!
*Lasers make superior weapons.
*You're not in my class, general. Try an easier opponent.
*General, Colonel Burton is a bumbling fool.
*Black Lotus is not invisible to my lasers, general.
*I hope Jarmen Kell isn't using a laser scope on his rifle, it wouldn't work against me.
*Would you like me to beam you up, general? *chuckles* (Star Trek reference)
*Interesting choice of tactics. It didn't helped my last opponent either.
*Easy come, easy go.
**Laugh* Maybe you're not cut out for this. Try painting.
*Don't look directly at the laser, you could burn out... at the back of your head. *chuckles*
*Looks like a big space battle, doesn't it?
*Checkmate.
*Your planes are not safe from my lasers. Especially without your air field.
*There you go, general. I've drawn the line in the sand. Now I DARE you to cross it! Come and get me, general!
*How do you like my new toys, general?
*It's a whole new age of warfare, general. And it's coming to your doorstep.
*Charging lasers. Please wait, general.
*Get away from my barracks!
*Get away from my reactors, general.
*I see you approaching my base,General. I wouldn't advise coming any closer.
*If you build a Particle Cannon and I destroy it with a particle beam, is that irony? (When the player builds a Particle Cannon)
*Particle Cannon. I wonder what would happen if we cross the beams. (When the player builds a second Particle Cannon, Ghostbusters reference)
*Sell that SCUD Storm, general, or I'll destroy it for you. (When the player builds a SCUD Storm)
*I will shoot those SCUD missiles down, General. Then you will pay. (When the player builds a second SCUD Storm)
*That Nuke Silo wont stop me, General. (When the player builds a Nuclear Missile)
*My lasers will bring that nuke down, General. The fallout will be on your hands. (When the player builds a second Nuclear Missile)
*Enemies in our base! All forces return and deploy lasers!
*You're hunting my men on purpose. Aren't you, general?
*You've tripped our outer perimeter warning lasers, general. We know you're there now.
*Your base is starting to look like a housing track, general. Maybe I should play some connect-the-dots with a Particle Cannon to thin your numbers a bit? (If player's base is too large)
*That's quite a lot of planes, general. You're putting on an airshow? *laugh*
*Dozers, build more reactors. Lasers take a lot of power.
*Lasers charged. Tracking targets now!
*Reap the reward from the Oil Derrick while you can! We'll be there to take it soon. (When the player captures the Oil Derrick)
*That Artillery Platform is no match for my airborne lasers (When the player captures the Artilery Platform)
*Did you know that the Oil Refinery will let you build vehicles faster and more efficiently? Oooohhh, I probably shouldn't have told you that. (When the player captures the Oil Refinery)
*Ah, the Command Center. The queen of this chess board. This match is all, but over now.
*Out of power? How could you let your base ran out of power?
*Running out of power is a fatal mistake, general.
*Precision attack commencing.
*I have you in my sights now, General.
*I'm about to attack. I thought you could use the warning.
*Maybe you should re-evaluate your strategies. They obviously don't work.
*My lasers cut through your defenses like a hot knife through butter.
*Originally all my weapons also had laser targeting, but my enemies got confused."laughs"
*Can you match 50 million mega joules of lasing power, General?
*Don't get distracted by the pretty lights, General!
*Your weapons can't match my pinpoint accuracy. Why not just surrender?
*My lasers have destroyed so many of your buildings, how do you keep fighting?"laughs"
*General, these loses are unacceptable! I'll repay you for destroying my buildings.
*General, if you bring down anymore of my planes, I'll use all my super weapons to destroy you!
*General, those resources are for me! Stay away from them!
*Yes, come straight through my front door, General... If you dare.
*These resources will not help you, General.
*No! Stay away! I need those reactors to power my lasers!
*You're out of resources, General! You'll never recover before we overrun you!
*That excessive amount of base defenses will only slow down my laser, General.(If player builds too many base defenses)
*You're gonna need a lot of tanks to get to me, General. Good Luck! (if player builds a War Factory or an Arms Dealer)
*Quite a few infantry you've trained, General! I can't wait to see this crazy plan.(if player builds many infantry)
*This must be like a nightmare for you, General.
*My planning and preparation is leading me to a clear victory!
*Have you decided how are you going to accept this defeat, General?
==Behind the scenes==
*Ironically, despite being dubbed the Laser General, Townes has access to only one real laser unit at his disposal; the Laser Crusader. Many unused audio files and cameo textures however, suggest that there were many more laser-based units planned to have been implemented.
**Such units include the Laser Ranger, Laser Missile Defender, standard Humvee with an upgradable Laser Gun instead of a TOW launcher, the Laser Paladin, the Laser Stealth Fighter, the Laser Comanche, and even the hero unit Colonel Burton was supposed to have been armed with a laser rifle. Time constraints in Zero Hour's development cycle meant that much of this content could not have been implemented into the final game, although they have been restored in some fan-made mods. 
**The Laser Cannon was Townes' custom variant of the Particle Cannon. While significantly weaker than the standard Particle Cannon, it had longer firing duration and is available much earlier in the game (after the air field instead of the Strategy Center). The actual building and its superpower ability is actually complete and can be placed in-game with the World Builder; it's not known why it was never implemented into the final game.
*The name Townes probably comes from, or at least has a remarkable coincidence with, the real-life Charles Hard Townes, Nobel prize winner and inventor of the MASER, which was the predecessor of the laser.
*When he wins or loses his challenge against an opponent, Townes doesn't wear his glasses in both of them and only in the mugshot at the start of his challenge if the player chooses another General to play.
==Gallery==
GenZH Townes Victory Mugshot.png|Victorious
GenZH Townes Defeat Mugshot.png|Defeated
ZH Townes German Version.jpg|German version portrait
ZH Townes Defeat German Version.jpg|Defeated (German version)
==See also==
* General Malcolm Granger, Air force
* General Alexis Alexander, Super weapons
==References==
Category:Zero Hour characters
Category:American characters
ru:Тоунс