Silent night, Peaceful night
Soldiers wait for first light
Howitzers loaded with explosive shells
While soldiers think of Christmas bells
Dream of returning home
Dream of returning home
Silence breaks, engines roar
Tanks return to the war
Screams and blasts an infernal sound
Nod advances o'er killing ground
Soldiers fight for their home
Soldiers fight for their home
Silence returns, 'cross the field
Wrecks aflame, bodies revealed
Soldiers lower their weapons of war
Medics rush to where they're called for
Return to dreaming of home
Return to dreaming of home
Well, I've my own entry to toss into the ring. I might come back later and polish this up a bit, but it should do for now.
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Tibmas
It's beginning to look a lot like Tibmas
Ev'rywhere you go;
Take a look in the five-and-ten, glistening once again
With Laser guns and fighter jets aglow.
It's beginning to look a lot like Tibmas,
Nod in ev'ry zone,
But the prettiest sight to see is the Noddie that will be
In your firing cone.
A pair of orbital drops and a cruiser that flies
Is the wish of Navy and Ground;
Tanks that can walk and might get the dosh
Are the hope of Talons and friends;
And Kane and Co can hardly wait for war to start again.
It's beginning to look a lot like Tibmas
Ev'rywhere you go;
There's a Spike by the Grand Hotel, one in the park as well,
The sturdy kind that doesn't mind the blows.
It's beginning to look a lot like Tibmas;
Soon the shells will start,
And the thing that will make them sound is the 'oord'nates that you shout.
Right within your heart.
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A Tiberium carol for dueling choirs, to the tune of O Holy Night
A Tiberium carol for dueling choirs, to the tune of O Holy Night
(NOD)
O Holy Rock!
The green light softly shining
It is the light that prove all our worth.
Kane saw the world in sin and error pining
Till it appear'd and spread through the Earth
A thrill of hope, the Brotherhood rejoices
The Messiah brings a new and glorious morn!
All is for each, Free to make our choices
O Rock Divine, on which our hopes are borne.
O Rock Divine, O Rock, O Rock Divine
(GDI)
Fed on the blight of Earth's increasing greening;
With swelling corps the Globe we do defend.
So now in spite of its mocking increasing,
It provides our needs to save our land.
The Mammoth tank delivers us from danger,
In all our trials, it is sure to defend.
Our bane and need, to our factories deliver!
Gather the rock! Before it eats the land!
Gather the rock! Before, before it eats the land!
"Mister Lawrence, why is GDI the greatest nation in the world?"
"We're not." The cyborg armed politician stated flatly, a sudden flurry of camera flashed erupting from the press seating as his fellow guests faces snapped towards him in shock and gasps, boos and muttering began to rumble through the audience.
Taking a deep breath and waiting for the ushers to calm the crowd as signs flashed for quiet Samantha looked to the stubbled politician, his gaze hard and direct as he allowed the noise of the crowd to wash over him without concern. "Are you saying then, that Nod is the greatest nation in the world?" Samantha asked once quiet had been obtained.
"Nod? Good God no." Ernest snorted in wry amusement. His words going some way to helping mollify the crowd.
"Then why-" She began only to be cut off as he snapped.
"Fine. The nation-state went the way of the dodo some way through the mid twenty-twenties to twenty-thirties with the collapse of most major democracies, ruling governments, the unabated spread of tiberium causing an unprecedented ecological disaster and widespread unrest, protests and riots from the civilian population. The result of which being that GDI as a global task force with a standing military of peacekeepers and an economy not reliant on a fiat currency traded on the markets, but a Tiberium standard backed Credit as a stable form of currency and thus bankrolling a major military stepped in to restore order throughout various G8 and UN signatory nations as it could. GDI was founded as a military and peacekeeping unit and thus occupied various nations around the world in order to restore order. GDI is not a nation, it is a military task force that subsumed the role of government as multiple countries and the governments collapsed. In the years and decades that followed under martial law, the remnants of any governmental bodies signed over powers and privileges to GDI's executive branch in order to allow it to levy taxes throughout its territory and govern. With, prior to the time of the third Tiberium war, with the division of the planets landmass into the Zone system any remaining nations effectively being dissolved."
"That's-"
"The concept of the nation state is a failed idea. Oh there's probably some bits of paper somewhere where the idea of France and Germany or America still exists, but those are nothing more than geographical features and historical trivia nowadays, absent of course some political radicals advocating for the return of nation states and borders."
"But bluntly speaking, they're extremists and radicals. Mass migration, the zone systems, the intermingling and some would say breakdown of distinct cultures, not to mention the difficulty in reclaiming such land itself means practically any idea of returning to the old status quo is dead in the water. And why would we even want to? Are the people so eager to return to the days of self-interested bickering nations? Spain embargoing the british isles over the status of the Gibraltar rock."
"That's what GDI is not. Let's be honest for a second about what GDI Is. It arose as a military unit, stepped into the role of an emergency caretaker government under the aegis of a military dictatorship engaged in worldwide police actions and martial law. A militaristic Junta, which has, over time, afforded certain powers and privileges to a representative democratically elected parliament, intended to act on behalf of the civilian populace. But a nation? What exactly then would GDI's nationality be? Over two dozen major, commonly spoken languages within the government. "
"As for Nod, our largest competitor? They're a collection of broadly aligned warlords unified under a single theocratic leader, Kane. And multiple warlords great and small co-operating only at need and often rivalling one another. Said warlords being chosen by an eclectic collection of systems. Their number including would be monarchistic dynasties, military dictatorships, anarchist communes and attempts at socialist democracies with elected officer systems. All corralled by a theocratic monarchistic secret police which attempts to enforce ideological purity among its own through assassination, kidnapping, torture and terror bombing. If GDI isn't a nation then Nod doesn't stand a chance. They're a hodge podge of militia's with delusions of grandeur organised into a cult."
"GDI is not the greatest nation in the world because there are no nations. The political calculus has shifted. The early years of the twenty-first century and successive tiberium wars has made abundantly clear that a House divided cannot stand. Here we are, sat in the midst of the greatest environmental catastrophe in human history, and every time we make just a little progress in cleaning up the planet another shitstorm of epic proportion unfolds and undoes decades of work. Ground fought for and bled for to clear of Tiberium. A bitter fucking tragedy of setback after setback."
"Billions of people displaced or dead due to tiberium related illnesses. GDI's made mistakes, walling off the outside world, the red and Yellow zones as it looked to keep the blue zones secure. A monumental failure directly leading to multiple major conflicts and Millions more dead. GDI has the most expensive most well equipped military, spread out across the planet. And somewhere above us an alien race could be bearing down on us at any moment even as the planet is wracked by storms and radiation. Another invasion like the last will end us. Beings so far beyond our comprehension that even now almost a decade later we barely understand a fraction of what they accomplished."
"GDI is not the greatest nation in the world. Far greater powers than us exist, far greater than humanity. And if we continue to cling to the old ways, the old ways of doing things and same old bitter hatreds we will go exactly the same way. At best a page in a history book, at least until a crystal eats that too..."
"That's... certainly an opinion." Samantha offered, trying for damage control to downplay the mans fatalist ranting speech.
"But we could be." Ernest offered voice soft. "We built satellites, the stablizer network, twinkling in the night sky above us like diamonds and infinitely more valuable. Proof positive of mankinds ability to combat tiberium and that we still have a chance to beat this thing. And, we're not the greatest nation in the world now, but even more so we certainly weren't prior to the third tiberium war. Sure, initiative first and the FMP complain about a drop in living standards but during and since reconstruction we haven't rebuilt a wealthy economy, but a healthier one. One that works not just for the blue zones but for all our citizens. Not everything is some idyllic paradise but we've stood up for moral reasons, for values, for humanity itself. We've welcomed millions of refugees, now integrated citizens and ended homelessness. Initiative first said it couldn't be done but we proved them wrong. We've not only reduced unemployment but all but wiped out extreme poverty. No person, and no child especially goes to bed hungry in our cities. Our Co-operatives are paying a living wage and reinvesting into local communities. In ways that benefit society rather than offshoring numbers into a hidden bank, or living in the lap of luxury while outside the windows ruined cities are slowly eaten by Tiberium. Everyone benefits from the economy flourishing and minor setbacks aside we are reclaiming miles of land and rebuilding."
"It's not just the civilian economy but the military too. We've always had a powerful military." Ernest explained holding up his arm. "But scientific advances mean we're better able to look after our veterans and their families, some gave all, all gave some, and we're giving back to them. Giving them what they've earned, so they can finish their tour of duty and have a comfortable retirement if and when they choose. Socially- politically. We're not just gunning down militia troops like animals, we're not just trying to destroy our enemies, but end the fighting, open a dialogue. Fight wars for moral reasons and not just for territory or doctrinal disagreements. And besides that, fight wars morally according to a system of rules and conventions to avoid brave men and women suffering exposure to chemical and terror weapons. To ensure the fair treatment of prisoners, that former combatants who lay down their arms can be offered amnesty and a place in GDI if and when they work towards rehabilitation. There's been a quiet revolution in tiberium science in recent years, much of it stemming from knowledge obtained from Qatarist and former nod defectors, without whom our blue zones would almost certainly be in a worse state with our green zones potentially not even existing, and far more red zones throughout the globe with all the dangers and inherent issues that implies. Many of the things we have achieved, is testament to the things we can accomplish when we work together. From the destruction of Cabal to co-operation against the Alien invaders we are stronger together than we are apart."
"And all of this, we're able to do because we're informed, educated. Not only formally through schooling and university teaching, but by communicating and co-operating with our peers. Obtaining actionable intelligence through those who can work with us, who do place the survival of the planet, and the whole human species ahead of any cultural or religious divides. Hell, we can perhaps even be economic, cultural, geo-political rivals. Even militarily if and when some warlords would rather choose isolationism rather than tying themselves into the GDI economy. But all of that? All of that comes after. Tiberium takes no sides and will kill us all. We can scream and kick and fight and debate these issues all we want after if we have to, or even just avoid each other, the pain from our wars won't vanish overnight but right now we have work to do." Ernest said seriously.
"The- Zones. The people there. We'll save them if we can. Frankly we need their help. But we'll fight them if we must. Either way, by the end of it. No more nations. Maybe even no more GDI, save perhaps a name on a piece of paper... Only humanity, working together. Because that's what it takes to beat this thing. Every last one of us, doing our part and working together."
"We're not the greatest nation in the world. But, we're trying. We fail, we fuck it up sometimes and we fall short of our standards, but we can and will carry on trying to do better, and that counts for a lot. It's not controversial to say that Nod has caused problems too, fuck knows it has, but they're trying to do better too, and that has to count for something. Maybe even working together we can fix some of the problems we've both caused. Maybe then we'll be able to call ourselves 'the greatest nation in the world'."
The harvesting crew worked steadily, taking precious resources from towering green edifices.
Metal passed over land; breaking smaller, more consumable chunks off of the greater whole.
"We must gather all we can."
All day this job would take, a task of critical importance to feed the masses and great industry both.
The land was scoured of all useable resources, then left alone to regrow.
"Precious cargo."
Hoppers and tanks were filled with precious cargo. Much of it would be refined further into useable product, but some still could be used raw.
The harvesters returned to the depot to deposit their haul.
"We must have more!"
Routine maintenance began. They had to be careful never to let a speck of Tiberium into the compartments. A risk all must contend with in this world, but particularly important for these men and women. The crystal gave life, but took it all too readily as well.
Sonics and decontaminating mist sprayed every person to enter or exit a compartment. No person would contaminate the sealed space, wittingly or otherwise.
The crew left for the day, for family and entertainment, better to return fresh tomorrow.
----
The GDI foreman looked up from his clipboard, towards the ex-NOD refugees working in his greenhouses.
"Good work today people! We've had a good harvest in Greenhouse 12, we'll move on to the next building tomorrow. I think these plants can go a few more cycles before re-planting. Get some rest, and I'll see you later."
People smiled and nodded as they passed by their superior, ready o relax after a hard day's work.
One looked back, viewing the waning sunlight through the vast expanses of windows, and was just in time to see the grow-lights turn on to give the plants a few extra hours of light. They would turn on for longer and longer stretches of time as winter approached, maintaining a consistent and optimal "daylight" cycle for the crops.
Direct & Destroy (also known by the retronym Direct & Destroy: Ethereal Dawn) is a 1995 real-time strategy video game developed by Westwood Studios and published by Virgin Interactive. Set in an alternate history, the game tells the story of a world war between two globalized factions: the United Nations Army and a cult-like militant organization called the Global Occult Association. The groups compete for control of the World Gates, which enable travel to other worlds, and Ether Dust, a mysterious substance that enables use of magic.
Westwood conceived Direct & Destroy during the final stages of the development of Dune II, and it expands on ideas explored in that title. Inspired by the events of the era, particularly resource conflicts in the third world, the team gave the game a modern warfare setting mixed with fantastical elements heavily influenced by the works of Tolkien. The game contains live-action full motion video cutscenes, which star Westwood employees. The Nintendo 64 port was developed by Looking Glass Studios.
Direct & Destroy was a commercial and critical success, selling over three million copies and winning numerous awards. It has been cited as the title that defined and popularized the real-time strategy genre.
Gameplay
Direct & Destroy involves players operating as one of two playable factions on a map - the United Nations Army (UNA), and the Global Occult Association (GOA) - developing bases, gathering resources and using them to produce troops, and then defeating their opponents by eliminating their army and either destroying or capturing their base. Base production and unit training is funded by gathering Ether Dust, the game's sole resource, through the use of harvesting units, and processing them into credits through a processing structure. Each faction has its own unique types of units and spells, own superweapon, and its own combat strategy: The UNA relies on cheap and comparatively weak Peacekeeping units and a selection of expensive and powerful UNA Quick Response units in the endgame; while the GOA relies on a combination of their diverse unit roster, superior spells effects, and powerful upgrades to power up their forces over the course of the game.
Producing units requires establishing a base through a special unit called a Mobile Portal Anchor (MPA) - MPAs can only be deployed in open flat land, and structures must be placed within close proximity with each other. Bases can be protected with various defensive structures such as sandbags, gun or spell turrets and concrete walls, and units are produced in production structures (i.e. Barracks for infantry, Factory for vehicles, Helipad for aircraft), with tech buildings helping to unlock more advanced units, spells and upgrades; construction options function on a tech tree, in that certain buildings must be constructed to unlock new options. Silos can be built to store more resources, as the processing structures can only hold a finite amount, repair facilities can be built to repair damaged vehicles, and power plants are required to keep the base operational - low power slows down production, stops defensive weapons working, and causes buildings to slowly take damage over time until sufficient power is restored (either by constructing additional power plants, or selling off extra buildings to reduce total power requirements). In total, the game contains around sixty units and structures.
Direct & Destroy features two single-player campaigns, one for each faction, in which the player must undertake a series of missions across a campaign map for their chosen faction. The objective of most campaign missions is usually to destroy units, or destroy / take control of enemy buildings, with each mission beginning with a briefing conducted using a mix of computer animations and live-action full motion video (FMV). At times during the campaign, the player can choose which mission to undertake, which offer different scenarios to overcome.
Units
Rifleman
The basic infantry unit for both sides, riflemen are cheap, and have a relatively long range, making them effective general purpose infantry from early game to late, although they are increasingly relegated to defensive, or entrenched roles as the game progresses.
Grenadier
The Grenadier and the Arcanist fill the same roles for the UNA and the GOA respectively. Both are the "advanced" infantry of their faction. The Grenadier is generally considered to be the superior unit early game, but loses out to the Arcanist late game as upgrades expand its spell list.
Rocket Squad
The basic anti-vehicle infantry unit for both sides. They're slow, and easy to kill, but they're good early anti-air and deal large amounts of damage to vehicles.
Engineer
Engineers are used to capture enemy buildings or repair friendly ones. Since they carry no weapons, they are extremely vulnerable on the battlefield and must be directed very carefully. Engineers are very slow, so loading them into an APC is an ideal way to move them about the battlefield.
Elite Peacekeeper
The Elite Peacekeeper uses a Raptor 50cal. assault rifle with suppressor that is able to take out infantry units from afar. In addition, he carries C4 explosives which level structures instantly when placed. The Elven Ranger has the same statline but is armed with a Ether Bow in game. The UNA does not have a limit to the number of Elite Peacekeepers they can produce, while the GOA is limited to a single Elven Ranger at a time.
Harvester
Harvesters gather raw Ether Dust and transport it back to refineries. They're slow and unarmed, but heavily armored, allowing a harvester to stay intact until reinforcements can arrive as long as they're prompt about it, and like most vehicles they can crush infantry.
Armored Car
These all-terrain attack vehicles are fast and effective against infantry. Used in hit and run tactics on infantry and other lightly armored targets, the Armored Car shines. Against armor, it dies.
Recon Quad
Mounting twin rocket launchers, the quads have great flexibility, serving multiple roles in the UNAs ranks. Learn to use these units in groups, hunting down lone units or harvesters. When in guard mode, they will shoot at enemy aircraft, making them ideal at destroying incoming aerial assaults. Their speed makes them an ideal scouting unit as well.
Light Tank
This highly-mobile tread vehicle delivers maximum destruction with minimum weight, maintenance and weaponry. Faster than any other tank on the battlefield, these units can reach a target quickly. Used in conjunction with aerial assaults, these units are very effective. They are, however, weaker and more fragile than GOA Medium Armor Units.
Elite Peacekeeping Battle Tank
Armed with triple 125mm cannons and machine guns against lightly armored targets, this giant is a force to be reckoned with. These weapons help compensate for its lack of speed, and enable it to take on just about any target on land. When this unit takes a lot of damage, it can slowly regenerate its health back up to 50%.
Elite Peacekeeping MLRS
The UNAs artillery fires 227mm rockets and is effective against just about everything, including aerial threats. With no short-range fighting ability, this unit needs close-quarter backup.
Chinook Transport
Provides field transportation for up to 5 infantry units, rapidly deploying them into or out of battle. This unit is basically an aerial version of the APC without the weapon.
Patrol Helicopter
The Patrol Helicopter is fast, mobile, and carries a large quantity of ammunition. It is used primarily against infantry and structures. Use them to soften up bases before an Ether bomb is dropped, or gun through a horde of infantry coming towards your base.
Elite Peacekeeping Jet
These units are highly maneuverable, ground-hugging craft that level enemy units with napalm as part of the Airstrike support power. Since the jets bombs in a line, it is a good idea to pick a target that is part of a group.
Rifleman
The basic infantry unit for both sides, riflemen are cheap, and have a relatively long range, making them effective general purpose infantry from early game to late, although they are increasingly relegated to defensive, or entrenched roles as the game progresses.
Upgrades:
-Missile Shield: Increases health.
Arcanist
The Grenadier and the Arcanist fill the same roles for the UNA and the GOA respectively. Both are the "advanced" infantry of their faction. The Grenadier is generally considered to be the superior unit early game, but loses out to the Arcanist late game as upgrades expand its spell list.
Upgrades:
-Rapid Firebolt: Increases attack rate by 15 percent.
-Missile Shield: Increases health by 20 percent
-Stormcaller: Adds a new area of effect attack to the Arcanist, that is devastating against enemy infantry in the open.
Rocket Squad
The basic anti-vehicle infantry unit for both sides. They're slow, and easy to kill, but they're good early anti-air and deal large amounts of damage to vehicles.
Engineer
Engineers are used to capture enemy buildings or repair friendly ones. Since they carry no weapons, they are extremely vulnerable on the battlefield and must be directed very carefully. Engineers are very slow, so loading them into an APC is an ideal way to move them about the battlefield.
Dwarven Ethergunner
The Dwarven Ethergunnerr is an advanced infantry unit immune to the effects of Ether Dust. The Dust-thrower they carry produces a short-lived toxic cloud of unstable Ether Dust that will kill any infantry caught within its effects.
Upgrades:
-Missile Shield: Increases health.
Elven Ranger
The Elite Peacekeeper uses a Raptor 50cal. assault rifle with suppressor that is able to take out infantry units from afar. In addition, he carries C4 explosives which level structures instantly when placed. The Elven Ranger has the same statline but is armed with a Ether Bow in game. The UNA does not have a limit to the number of Elite Peacekeepers they can produce, while the GOA is limited to a single Elven Ranger at a time.
Upgrades:
-Missile Shield: Increases health.
Harvester
Harvesters gather raw Ether Dust and transport it back to refineries. They're slow and unarmed, but heavily armored, allowing a harvester to stay intact until reinforcements can arrive as long as they're prompt about it, and like most vehicles they can crush infantry.
APC
The APC transports and protects up to five infantry units heading to and from battle locations. Its heavy armour, fast speed, and long sight range make it an ideal scouting unit. It is also useful for crushing infantry.
Medium Tank
From its single barrel, the Medium Tank fires armour-piercing shells. It is faster, heavier and more destructive than Nod's Light Tank. It is effective against both vehicles and structures, but can be taken down by groups of infantry or aerial units.
Ether Tank
Particularly useful against infantry and structures, the ether tank can mow through swarms of infantry with little or no damage to itself, summoning from a list of elemental effects to damage enemies be they land or air. To top off its destructive capabilities, the ether tank is fast, able to avoid some of the slower firing weapons and get close to its target quickly.
Iron Golem
Heavily armored and slow, but devastating in combat, the iron golem is great at absorbing enemy fire to keep your other units healthy. Upon death he explodes in a cloud of ether dust that damages nearby infantry.
Chinook Transport
Provides field transportation for up to 5 infantry units, rapidly deploying them into or out of battle. This unit is basically an aerial version of the APC without the weapon.
Hover Gunship
This magically enhanced VTOL craft carries five salvoes of rockets that are exceptionally useful for taking out enemy armour. When an Hover Gunship runs out of rockets, it must return to a Helipad for reloading.
Fire Dragon
The Fire Dragon is the strongest unit in the game by stats alone. Has a colossal pool of HP and a devastating, mid range attack. However, its size means it can be attacked by anti-air and anti-ground weapons and it does not scale as well as the other units.
Plot
Setting
Direct & Destroy is set in an alternate history, and begins with the opening of the first World Gate in Berlin in 1995. The appearance of the World Gate brings with it the emergence of ancient and fantastical concepts and creatures, like Werewolves, Vampires and most importantly, Ether Dust, a glowing substance that enables use of magic either through technological means or by direct consumption by a human or an animal. An ancient, cultic society called the Global Occult Association, which claims to have foreseen the potential of this new substance and the new world that opened up to humanity, invests in the development of technology to harvest, refine and use Ether Dust, way ahead of the scientific community's own research, and use the resources it gathers to accumulate a rapidly growing army of followers worldwide.
By the beginning of the game, Gates and Dust have appeared everywhere around the globe with the GOA having control of nearly half the supply by the way of illegal mining operations in the new worldy spheres discovered, much to the dismay of the natives, and conducting terrorist campaigns in wealthy countries, while establishing footholds in some of the poorer nations. The United Nations Army, initially formed by the United Nations as a multinational peacekeeping force in the aftermath of an alternate version of World War II, has since been repurposed as a global magic and Ether Dust control organization, and makes its new goal the control of Dust harvesting, utilization, and import to Earth to stop the unsafe and unstable ways to utilize it propagated by the GOA. The conflict between the two sides eventually culminates in a worlds-spanning war between the UNA and GOA, with both campaigna taking place in Europe, Africa and the worldly sphere of Yggdrasil.
While all of the other Direct & Destroy games made by Westwood Studios featured campaigns with mutually exclusive storylines, resulting in absolute victory for their respective factions, it is never made explicitly clear that this is the case for the first Direct & Destroy. As a result, there has been speculation that both campaigns might be canon, with the UNA ending taking place after the GOA ending.
GOA Campaign
The GOA campaign begins with the player character assisting the rogue Red Army forces in their conquest of Russia and Europe. The Illuminate hopes that this will lead to the breakup of the UN and with it the UNA, the only force that could hinder their plans for control over Ether Dust. Their initial plan fails and the GOA engages UNA bases and harvesting operations in Yggdrasil with the help of militant elements of the native Elves and Dwarfs to compensate. When the UNA attacks their headquarters in Africa, the player has to delay the UNA until their most important assets can be transferred through the World Gate. The campaign ends with the GOA in control of harvesting in Yggdrasil, but the UNA in control of the major World Gates to Earth, a victory the Illuminate calls "satisfactory".
UNA Campaign
With the UN ordering the UNA to assist in combating GOA uprisings in Europe, the player assists as a UNA commander. After defeating rogue elements of the Red Army and stopping the attempted coup in Russia, the UNA focuses on retaking the occupied parts of Central and Western Europe. However, the GOA's masters, the mysterious 'Illuminate', use the confusion to try and take control of the World Gates and harvesting operations in Yggdrasil, the primary exporter of Ether Dust to Earth. Initially successful, the GOA finds themselves on the defensive when the UNA attacks their Earthside assets in Africa, establishing control over all the major World Gates on Earth with the help of the Quick Response Forces.
Direct & Destroy: Red Alert
Direct & Destroy: Red Alert was intended to be a prequel to Direct and Destroy, and both the Allied and Soviet campaigns contain references to it. In particular, some of the Soviet mission briefings feature Stalin conversing with a group similar to the Illuminate, while one of the cutscenes in the Allied campaign directly foreshadows the creation of the UNA. Also in the Soviet final cutscene, Nadia says "this temporary chaos in Europe will only help to fuel the Association's cause". However, Direct and Destroy has the Global Occult Association start out as an underground organization initially operating out of the African continent, not as a major political force in control of the late Soviet empire. With the release of Direct and Destroy: Red Alert 2, a hotly debated topic which arose among fans was whether Direct and Destroy follows the conclusion of the Allied or Soviet storyline, with evidence existing for both sides of the debate. Former D&D designer Adam Isgreen confirmed that Ethereal Dawn in fact follows on the conclusion of Red Alert's Allies campaign, while Red Alert 2 and Karin's Revenge take place in a second parallel universe, created by a new attempt to alter history in "Ether Incursion", the working title of Westwood Studios' canceled version of Direct and Destroy 3. The exact relationship between the events of the two games remains unclear, and their connection was later disregarded by Electronic Arts, who preferred to treat the Ether Dust and Red Alert series as completely separate universes.
Thanks to Crystalanon on the discord, I forgot again your SVname, sorry. But here is something strangereal for your all enjoyment.
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Anyone who disagrees with me is Literally Hitler: A brief guide to modern political discourse (noncanon)
Anyone who disagrees with me is Literally Hitler: A brief guide to modern political discourse
Q: Okay, so what's this about?
A: I'm glad you asked! This is an attempt to help people confused about a phrase that's been thrown around a lot during this election cycle.
Q: Sure. Where do you want to start?
A: At the beginning.
Q: Fine, I'll bite. Just who was this Hitler character?
A: Adolph Hitler was the Reichskanzler (Chancellor of the Realm) of Germany prior to and during World War 2.
Q: And how is some guy who's been dead for a century relevant to the political landscape of GDI elections?
A: He's not.
Q: Really?
A: Yes, really.
Q: No relevance at all?
A: None whatsoever!
Q: Okay... but if he's not relevant, why are so many people calling each other Hitler?
A: Ah, that's the crux of it all. There's a difference between Adolph Hitler, the historical figure, and Hitler, the myth. The former is just some guy who's been dead for more than a hundred years, it doesn't matter to anyone alive today if he shot himself or if the Human Torch incinerated him before he could press the fireproof button to set of a bunch of explosives meant to destroy Berlin rather than see it conquered or if he put on a power armor with dual miniguns before being killed by Office of Secret Actions agent B. J. Blazkowicz or if he fled to South America with the remnants of the Thule Society to create a vampire army before being killed by the remaining survivors of the Order of the Dragon... Anyway, you get the spirit. The historical Hitler has been dead for a century. He is nothing but dust.
Q: What about the Hitler Myth?
A: As the very partial list above might have given you an idea of, Nazis make incredibly convenient villains for popular culture. The nazis has been fought by adventure archeologists, vampires, supersoldiers, regular soldiers, witches, angels, demons, and so forth. Nazis have been fought in Europe, in Africa, in Asia, in North America, in South America, in the vast tunnel network that runs under every continent, in space, in Atlantis, throughout time itself!
Q: Okay, so people have killed a ton of nazis in fiction, what does that have to do with politicians calling each other names today?
A: Because pop culture nazis have so completely eclipsed the historical nazis that they have rendered the latter irrelevant. The only people who cares about boring stuff from a hundred years ago like the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei 25-point Programme are stuffy historians and the Archives and History Department (but I repeat myself ). Meanwhile, there are only two things you need to know about the pop culture nazis and how they work with political debates.
Q: What are the two things we need to know about pop culture nazis and how they work with political debates?
A: It's very simple:
The nazis were bad.
The nazis would have agreed with the people you disagree with.
Q: That's it?
A: That's it.
Q: That can't be very conductive to political debates.
A: That's not a question, but you're right. Then again, why would you want to have a debate with someone when they are Literally Hitler?
Q: What if I believe that people should sort out their disagreements with reasonable dialogue?
A: Then you are a tiny minority of the population. And also probably Literally Hitler.
Q: What if I don't want to be Literally Hitler?
A: Then you should stop holding political views that would align with Hitler.
Q: How do my political views align with Hitler?
A: I don't know, but let's find out. Give me an example.
Q: What if I support the Starbound Party?
A: Then you see yourself as Ubermenchen who wants to abandon your genetic inferiors to die on a Tiberium-infested Earth while you rule space as Literally Space Hitler.
Q: The Hawks?
A: You're actually called Militarists now. Also, you don't want weapons to see use against Nod, you want them used to suppress and murder your political opponents. You know, because you're Literally MARV Hitler.
Q: Socialists?
A: Like Starbound, but replace space with arcologies because you are Literally Arcology Hitler.
Q: Initiative First?
A: Like Starbound and Socialists, but replace space and arcologies with Blue Zones, you wretched Literally Blue Zone Hitler.
Q: Okay, I think get the picture. So all of this going around and calling people Hitler is just a way of telling people that you don't like their ideology?
A: No. You're getting closer, but that's far to optimistic.
Q: Optimistic? How come?
A: You're forgetting about the pop culture nazis.
Q: Huh?
A: Remember, pop culture nazis are an absolute evil. Something to be a receptacle for hatred and attacked with violence and whose just destruction should be celebrated by all properly thinking people.
Q: Oh no... I don't like this picture.
A: You shouldn't.
Q: So calling people Literally Hitler isn't saying that you disagree with their ideology, it's telling them that their ideology is evil?
A: Close, but still not far enough. Telling people that they are Literally Hitler is shorthand for "Your ideology is an absolute evil that must be rooted out to the point of utter destruction and the only interaction anyone should have with people who think like you is to condemn them without debate because even trying to reason with followers of such a terrible way of thinking only risks spreading ideological corruption to others."
Q: That's a horrible thing to say! Why do people do it?
A: Because trying to understand people who thinks differently from you is hard. Condemning them for thinking differently from you is easy.
Q: I don't like having my political views dismissed by people calling me Literally Hitler.
A: No one does.
Q: Is there any escape from people calling each other Literally Hitler?
A: You mean besides not engaging in politics?
Q: Yes, besides not engaging in politics?
A: Probably not. Getting people to do the right thing rather than the easy thing is a problem much older than Hitler. It's the oldest problem humanity knows.
Q: Is there no hope then?
A: I didn't say that. There's always hope, as long as enough of us agree to one simple thing.
Q: What is that?
A: To be kind and understanding with other people.
Q: That's it?
A: That's it.
Q: Sounds easy enough.
A: No. It's simple, not easy. If it was easy, then everyone would be doing it. It's easy to understand and be kind to people you agree with, doing the same to those who want things to be done differently from you is hard. But it's important.
Q: Even the assholes?
A: Especially the assholes.
Q: Why is that especially important? They're assholes.
A: Not to them. To them, you're the asshole, and unless you learn to understand them, that's all you'll ever be.
Q: That does sound reasonable. Where should I start?
A: Don't call people Literally Hitler. They're not. Not even the politicians.
But here is something strangereal for your all enjoyment.