The Alaskan Pipeline Sabotage was a pivotal event in the history of the United States, mentioned in Fallout 3 and the Fallout Bible.
Background[]
Shortly after the outbreak of the Resource Wars in the late 21st century, with nations across the globe going to war over the planet's dwindling resources, the United States took proactive measures and began a military buildup in the state of Alaska to protect its continued access to crude oil via the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. This led to mounting tension as the citizens of America's northern neighbor Canada became displeased with the presence of American forces on their soil guarding the pipeline, in turn causing the U.S. to put pressure on the Canadian government to continue allowing their armed forces through to Alaska.[Non-game 1]
After diplomatic talks with the U.S. fell apart, China sent its forces to invade Alaska, capturing the city of Anchorage and taking control of the pipeline, which marked the start of the Sino-American War. Subsequently, U.S. leadership dropped all pretense of being diplomatic and strong-armed Canadian leadership into letting full battalions enter their territory to fight against the invaders.[Non-game 2]
As the conflict dragged on for several years, Canadians were forced to watch as their territory was drained of its resources, including whole swaths of forest chopped down for timber. Meanwhile, public opinion in the U.S. turned against their northern neighbor, with many regarding it as "Little America" and no longer a nation all its own.[Non-game 3][Non-game 4][Non-game 5]
Event[]
By 2072, tensions had reached an all-time high. American military forces continued to pass over the national borders unopposed, with the once-beautiful Canadian wilderness destroyed by exploitative harvesting and the protests and cries of Canadian natives gone unheard. This culminated in an unknown group, considered either "terrorists" on one side or "freedom fighters" on the other, attempting to sabotage the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in the hopes of severing the lifeline that brought the presence of American forces in the first place.
To date, there has been no officially confirmed details given about the scope of the attack nor the name or numbers of the saboteurs.
Aftermath[]
As reported in American media outlets including the Washington, D.C.-based Capitol Post, the sabotage attempt failed through the intervention of U.S. military forces. Subsequently, high-ranking officials capitalized on the brazenness of the attack to make a formal declaration of the military annexation of Canada, though some point out that this process had already begun back in 2067 when America was allowed to set foot in the sovereign nation.[1][Non-game 6]
Appearances[]
The Alaskan Pipeline Sabotage is mentioned in Fallout 3 and Fallout Bible 0.
References[]
Non-game
- ↑ 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."
- ↑ Fallout Bible 0: "Winter, 2066 As a sign of increasing tension between the two countries, Canada proves reluctant to allow American troops on Canadian soil or allow American planes to fly over Canadian airspace. The United States and Canadian tensions rise, but Canada eventually backs down, and US troops pass through Canada. This sets the stage for the Canadian annexation in 2076."
- ↑ Fallout Bible 0: "2069 Canada begins to feel the pressure from the United States military as the US draws upon Canadian resources for the war effort. Vast stretches of timberland are destroyed, and other resources in Canada are stretched to the breaking point. Many Americans refer to Canada as Little America, and Canadian protests are unheard."
- ↑ Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p. 43:
"Operation: Anchorage Factions
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) - ↑ Boston Bugle Volume 12, no. 748; Back Page Article 2
- ↑ 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."