Usea

Usea is one of the main continents in the constructed world of Strangereal. It is located between the continents of Osea and Verusa.

Late 20th century
In 1953, Usean researchers developed the ITTC communications system, which allowed several parties to easily relay information to each other. The ITTC communication net-work was established in 1953 and allowed for all parties to adequately communicate and establish a stable government. As the decades passed, Usea expanded across the entire continent and many small states had been formed.

Across the Ocean, the world was on the verge of war on the Osean Continent. During The Belkan War’s early beginnings in 1987, the war’s climax in 1995 and its end, most states Usea had stayed out of it hoping to preserve its neutral stance in World Affairs. This move turned out to be the best for them, due to their latest Astronomical Discovery which threatened to destroy their entire Continent and possibly the world.

Ulysses 1994XF04 (1994)
In 1994, astronomers of the International Union of Astronomists discovered a massive asteroid which was headed straight to Earth. An special team of astronomists, physicists and geologists was created to research the asteroid, which was later designated "Ulysses 1994XF04". A year later, the universities of Shellsbridge & Comona managed to calculate Ulysses's exact trajectory, achieving unexpected results: they measured the asteroid's planetfall to occur in July 3, 1999 at 15:30 PM UST (Usea Standard Time.) From this time onward, the government of the FCU would keep all information on Ulysses hidden from the public. In cooperation with the Aerospace Society, they began researching for possible solutions to the problem posed by the asteroid, and realized that they could not make it through without the help of their allies.

In April 20, 1996, the FCU revealed the existence of Ulysses to the world. While attending an emergency conference at the USEA Treaty Organization (UTO), Secretary of State Stetson explained how the asteroid could be eliminated with a National Missile Defense system. However, many attendees expressed their worries on how the NMD could be used as a tool of war. Many plans were considered in this scenario, such as striking the satellite with interceptor missiles. At the end, however, the NMD was considered the most plausible.

Over the next months, the FCU began the development of the new "Spaceguard" weapon, codenamed "Project STN" in the country of San Salvacion. STN, or Stonehenge, was a facility built in a desert area which housed several massive railguns or interceptor cannons, which used a combination of electricity and gunpowder to fire 120mm rounds. People from many countries, such as Erusea and the Belkan Federation assisted in the development of STN. In 1998, during the development of Stonehenge, a revolutionary group known as the Usean Rebel Forces rose in arms to overthrow a government, sparking a general coup d'état. However, the rebels were crushed thanks to the response of the forces of Unified Command.

Ulysses' planetfall and aftermath (1999)
In July 3, 1999, Ulysses 1994XF04 passed the Earth's Roche limit. In doing so, however, it shattered into hundreds of small fragments. 500,000 people are estimated to have been killed during the first two weeks to the asteroid bombardment in Usea, and around a million were displaced from their homes.

After internal discussions, each government began taking in a certain number of refugees. In 2000, Erusea announced that it could no longer accept any more refugees, thus sparking the Usean Refugee Dispute. The Minister of Foreign Affairs announced that the other countries expected them to receive more than the 200,000 displaced people they had within their borders, with the total number bordering the 600s. Upon visiting a number of refugee camps, the General Assembly Commissioner of the United Nations discovered that many of them were in a deplorable humanitarian situation. Many nations thus began boycotting Erusea, worsening the already sensitive political stage at the moment. For this situation, Usea's heads of state planned to form an international organization.

In August 22, 2003, the Erusian government unexpectedly deployed troops in Stonehenge, seizing the facility for themselves. The FCU set a deadline for the Erusians to abandon STN before September 14, after which a full blown military assault would be authorized.

The Second Usean Continental War (2003 - 2005)
Erusea declared war on the ISAF and invaded San Salvacion. ISAF Forces there were caught off guard and were forced back out of the city. This was the beginning of the large continental retreat. Soon after the fall of San Salvacion, the ISAF was continued to be pushed back by Erusian Air, Ground and Naval Forces. Soon the ISAF lost control of Stonehenge and Erusea deployed it as a large Anti-Aircraft Weapon. The ISAF Air Force couldn’t operate effectively because of Stonehenge’s barrages and their Ground Force was left without Air Support and continued to be pushed back. Los Canas, ISAF’s General Headquarters, was eventually taken over. The ISAF had relocated its GHQ on the neighboring country of North Point and the ISAF Forces were pushed until they were out of Stonehenge’s range, on the edge of Usea’s Eastern Coast.

ISAF GHQ was attempting to find a way to recall their forces to North Point, in order to redeploy them at a better time, but they were currently at a stalemate. Eventually, Erusea made its move to end the War by sending a Bomber Contingent from a former ISAF Air Base, known as Rigley Air Base, to bomb the ISAF HQ at North Point. The contingent was intercepted by the 118th TFW and all bombers were shot down. The following operations which destroyed Erusea’s frontline bomber base and radar stations put the ISAF on a counter offensive. Erusea attempted to send reinforcements to the Eastern Coastline, but the airborne transport group was destroyed. The Erusian Military High Command saw the ISAF’s string of success and deployed their “Invincible” Aegir Fleet to Comberth Harbor, on the East Coast. An Invasion of North Point was planned. However, the ISAF had launched an Air Strike on a near by petrol station which temporarily immobilized the fleet, then attacked the Fleet in Comberth Harbor, destroying it.

Later, the ISAF managed to recall most of its forces and prepared for an amphibious assault, which was to be the first step in reclaiming the mainland. The destruction of a Vital Power Plant within Stonehenge’s Range and the launch of a Vital ISAF Satellite, which resulted in the Largest Air Battle in Modern History; opened an opportunity which the ISAF took. The amphibious Assault was a success and the ISAF began to push back the Erusian Forces, coupled with limited Allied Air Operations. Defectors from Erusea, many which were the creators of Stonehenge held in Erusea, contacted the ISAF and had managed to escape in two Civilian Airliners. They had agreed to work with the ISAF in destroying Stonehenge for amnesty.

Days later, Stonehenge was attacked in Operation: "Stone Crusher”. Despite losses from Stonehenge, supporting Erusian forces, and the Yellow Squadron, Stonehenge was destroyed and the ISAF’s counter-offensive had turned into an all out offensive. The Erusian forces were now in a panic attempting to re-group and activate their newest Super Weapon “Megalith”. Before preparing the push into the Erusian homeland, the ISAF worked together with local resistance forces in San Salvacion's capital city, San Salvacion. After a battle at midnight the city was liberated and the Erusians were pushed back into their own nation.

The ensuing ISAF Offensive had pushed the Erusians onto their last defensive line at The Whiskey Corridor. This battle was the largest of the War and involved the Erusian main force and the ISAF’s Main Force in the Desert. The battle was won by the ISAF and a week later, Farbanti, the Erusian Capital was under siege.

The Erusian capital Farbanti soon fell, despite the arrival of the Yellow Squadron and the war was declared to be over, however many radicals and young Erusian Officers had taken control of Megalith and were going to use it against the ISAF all across the Continent. Megalith was a large Hardened ICBM Launch Facility originally planned to shoot down passing Ulysses Asteroid Fragments. The ISAF launched a large Air Strike composed of their best pilots from their best Unit, the 118th TFW ‘Mobius’, named after the ISAF Ace of Aces.

Megalith was protected by the last of Erusea’s famed Yellow Squadron; the following battle ended with Megalith’s destruction and the War’s official end. Now the ISAF, along with Erusian governmental members began to set-up a provisional government.

The song to the end of the mission " invincible fleet," and was also sung by the residents of San Salvacion after their city had been liberated.

Post-Continental War (early 2006)
After the destruction of Megalith, the ISAF and a new, Provisional Erusian Government began to stabilize the country and calm any negative parties against the occupying ISAF Forces. However, groups of Erusian soldiers and officers still resented the ISAF and denied the orders of disarmament.

As the ISAF dealt with occupying Erusea, border disputes between Erusian States began to occur and small conflicts had broken out there as well. Delarus, a small Usean Country, was a midst these small conflicts between the two parties and the ISAF deployed forces there to stop the fighting.



After a year of working with one another the ISAF and Erusian Government had made no progress with the individuals of the Erusian Military. The opposing officers and soldiers had then managed to get their hands on an old Weapons and Munitions Factory and proclaimed that the new Erusian Government was false and that themselves, “Free Erusia” would do anything to stop them and remove any occupying ISAF Forces.

The Second Erusian Conflict (2006)
ISAF GHQ, now back at Los Canas, assessed the ”Free Erusea” situation and decided to fight force with force. After the Usean War, one pilot was known throughout the continent for his actions. He had been in every major Battle, destroyed both Stonehenge and Megalith, became the Ace of Aces of the Usean Continent, destroyed Erusea’s Top Ace Squadron and Destroyed the Invincible Aegir Fleet. After the war, his combat effectiveness was evaluated and this pilot alone is as effective as an entire ISAF Squadron. This pilot is only known as Mobius One.

ISAF GHQ decided to send Mobius One and an E-767 known as AWACS Sky Eye, who was in direct support of every mission Mobius One had been on. As “Free Erusea” had began to attack ISAF Forces and spread from Erusian Borders, the two were sent up to each ‘Hot-Spot’, engaged and destroyed the Free Erusian Forces. This Operation was known as "Operation: Katina".

During the conflict, the Free Erusian Force was destroyed, new Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle technology was found and an unknown force of Eight X-02 Wyverns, were shot down. The new Erusian Government was established, and the ISAF pulled out of Erusea. Operation Katina lasted for only a month or so, and ended in 2006; the same year it began.

The Usean Government was now stabilized and economic growth began. The Neo-United Nations saw the stability in which Usea had presented and set-up their Headquarters there. An extended period of Peace spanning decades had begun and the Usean Government continued to operate normally. However, everything would change as a new world era would begin.

A New Era (2007 - 2032)
The world enters a new era of history; the world’s technologies advance and civilization becomes even more reliant on computers and other technologies. Companies which produce, distribute and develop technology gain a strong stance in the world market. Soon, two major corporations would rise above the rest and spread across the globe, becoming economic rivals. These companies are General Resource LTD and Neucom Inc.

Neucom Inc was formerly known as the Erusian Air and Space Administration (EASA), originally from the Usean Continent. After the Second Usean Continental War and the Second Erusian Conflict, the EASA expanded its research and purchased the Riass Space Center in the Comona Islands, turning it into a Neucom Space Research Facility and Airbase. They began developing space and communications technologies, eventually becoming the leading technology experts on the Usean continent and spreading their business worldwide. They also began to take a step into civil and military aviation, introducing new ‘radical’ designs which would re-write aviation design.

General Resource LTD was formerly known as Gründer Industries, based in North Osea/South Belka. Gründer had a long history of being involved in war and conflict. Sometime after their involvement in the Circum-Pacific War in 2010, the entire company was rebranded and restructured. The upper management was replaced and streamlined, save for a few key individuals. This change caused the company to grow very quickly indeed. They concentrated on military technologies, such as operating systems, aircraft, naval craft, assault vehicles and weaponry. General Resource focused on more practical aviation designs and technologies, rather than the untested, radical designs of their Neucom counterparts for there own military while designs that radical and exceeded neucom technolgy designs where given to there sponsors osea yuktobania and other allied alliance nations These more modified exiting designs which the designs where allowed to use in there security force and sellers that where not part allied alliance. by their sponsors in Osea, Yuktobania and the other Allied nations. These were intended to be mass-produced and modified by Osean and Yuktobanian companies to ensure economic stability. The contracts under which these technologies were developed specified that they could not be employed in General Resource's own security force until such modifications had been made and they where forrbidon to use the technolgy and designs that surpassed neucoms that where made for allied alliance nations military's. Osea and Yuktobania earned tremendous profits during this time as stakeholders and them paying very high taxes to them. In a relatively short period of time General Resource had spread into the global market and begun to rival Neucom Inc on every front.

However, General Resource did hit a small snag in their growth. In 2032, a faction of the General Resource Defense Force began attacking facilities which belonged to the United Air Defense. After a brief conflict, the General Resource faction was defeated and after an investigation, the leaders of this group were brought to justice; it was believed that the leaders were Belkan. Because of this short conflict, General Resource’s global business had fallen behind Neucom in certain fields. They caught up quickly however, developing programs such as the Data Swallow and PEEK-A-Boom. Their business once again rivaled that of Neucom Inc. Soon enough, they were given the opportunity to set up a branch on the Usean Continent.

Paper Tigers (2033 - 2040)
Seeing General Resource’s expansion into their own territory, Neucom Inc saw it fit to keep their home customers’ business. A Series of Business Campaigns against General Resource, putting down their service by rehashing past events in which they were a part of. General Resource was naturally not pleased with this, but simply ignored Neucom’s multiple smear Campaigns and carried on business on the Continent.

By 2037, the Usean Government had lost so much political and economic power, it was decided that their government was no longer as effective as it was decades ago. In a sense, it had became a shadow of its former self. The Usean Government decided to change the country’s name to the ‘United States of Euro-Asia’. With this, the ISAF had also fallen apart and many old Alliances had simply fallen apart due to the powers of International Corporations. Neucom Inc. and General Resource LTD’s rivalry then began to take turns for the worst as these simple smear campaigns began to evolve into indirect threats and small-scale cyber sabotage. This caught the attention of the Neo-United Nations, who then called in the leader of both companies to hold talks, in hope of a peace. All conflicts were to be avoided at all costs.

While a temporary treaty was set, it did not last long. During this time, Neucom Inc. had announced it would create Mega Float, a sea faring city, their R-Aircraft line had become widely acclaimed mostly world wide accept Osea and Yuktobania and allied alliance nations which had aerospace fighters and aerospace warships and combat mechs and research by both the companies research on Nano-Machines had taken the Continent by storm. However General Resource’s new combat technologies, retrofitted Aircraft and Operating systems which made accessing the Electrosphere even easier

This period ends with Mega Float’s official construction in 2039. At the end of this year, General Resource and Neucom’s rivalry and attempts to out do one another result in the ITTC being bought by GR and expanding its services to include Video feed, the Data Swallow and Peek-A-BOOM systems being developed and optimizing the Electrosphere’s overall capabilities and usefulness, making it the #1 source for any and all information, new space Technologies and Nano Technologies made in Neucom Facilities and an overall leap in modern day Technology. However, eventually, only one could be on top.

Phase Park Dispute and Tensions (2039)
This period would be some of the most controversial years in the USEA’s history; it is between this time that the infamous, "Phase Park Dispute" occurred.

General Resource sees and opportunity to pull ahead of Neucom Inc., economically and takes it. A dispute, then erupts at the Phase Park territory. Neucom Inc.’s hostilities towards General Resource escalate. Sabotage and multiple threats on each side begin to increase and eventually, Neucom Inc. then threatens GR with military action by possibly creating a Military Force, which they told the NUN was for their own protection and to show General Resource that they were not going to be intimidated. Seeing this, General Resource had put its Defense Force on standby and began to have them patrol GR Facilities across the Usean Continent.

The NUN saw that itself alone wasn’t enough to control the two factions, and they called in the Universal Peace Enforcement Organization (UPEO). The UPEO set-up sanction and areas in which the two corporations could operate and also reinforce No-Fly Zone near civilian Cities. However, both Neucom and General Resource continued to increase their amount of Military Forces and blamed one another of planning a pre-emptive strike. The UPEO continued to attempt to contain the GRDF and Neucom, but eventually an incident occurred.

A Neucom Emergency Unit strike group attacked GR facilities in Expo City. An aerial battle broke out over the city and aircraft were shot down over the city. This was a large violation of UPEO sanctions, but when the UPEO brought Neucom to the table, they denounced the UPEO’s leader for once being in GR, and called the UPEO a General Resource Puppet. The UPEO then forms the Special Armed Response Force in order to use force to stop force.

General Resource finally had enough of abiding by NUN and UPEO sanctions, since they were obviously not being followed by Neucom and mobilized its Defense Force. Neucom then began directing large scale transports with fighter escorts, over General Resource territories. The UPEO had constantly warned these flights about breaking No-Fly Zones, and acted.

Usean Corporate War
A Neucom Transport group consisting of four R-501s, two R-201s and two R-101s, were engaged by UPEO Fighters, and shot down over Expo City. Now, Neucom seeing that the UPEO had sided with General Resource forms the Neucom Emergency Unit (NEU), a small military ran by Neucom. The GRDF then becomes fully operational and a conflict is imminent. This would be one of the first armed conflicts of the new era.

The GRDF dispatches its military forces and defends its facilities along with UPEO support, against NEU attacks in multiple Cities and other areas. In some instances UPEO pilots are asked to join GR, but most turn down the opportunity, in order to uphold UPEO directives. Eventually, a cease fired is signed.

But, during that time General Resource intelligence is intercepting information of Neucom preparing to mount a large scale counterattack. With this information backing them, General Resource then launches a pre-emptive strike against Neucom Forces. However, the UPEO then defends Neucom Forces and engages GR forces in an attempt to contain fighting.

In the midst of this, an unknown group launches a large airship full of Chemical Weapons towards the city, Axel Bay. The UPEO react quickly and prevent the ship from exploding. As the GRDF and NEU continue to engage one another, UPEO representative Clarkson attempts to go to meet with Neucom Officials and hold talks. However, as he is in flight aboard a UPEO R-505U, a group of GR Fighters moves to intercept and destroy his transport. UPEO Supreme Commander, Gilbert Park finds that he is attempting to defect and orders UPEO fighter to help in shooting down the transport. There were reports of pilots a part of the UPEO being asked to join Neucom, but none have been made official.

The war then becomes even bloodier, with civilian casualties being a result of each faction bombing one another’s factories and offices, and fighting near and over cities. Neucom then begins to amass fighters over Mega Float, along with a large Fleet in preparation of a large scale attack against GR forces on the Usean Continent. The GRDF, then sends fighters to destroy the entire Aerial and Naval fleet and after an extended engagement, succeed. General Resource head leaders are outraged and order a large scale air strike against Neucom Forces and Buildings in Port Edwards, one of the largest cities in the USEA.

Before the UPEO can fully mobilize, the GRDF and NEU engage one another over Port Edwards, resulting in the city taking heavy damage from bombing, falling aircraft and any munitions from aircraft which missed one another. The UPEO finally sent fighters into the fray, as the battle was well underway and managed to destroy many GR and NEU combat aircraft, resulting in the battle ending.

As the UPEO attempts to stem any losses caused by the General Resource and Neucom engagements, another faction arises. Their large airship known as the UI-4053 is sighted flying over Mega Float, escorted by black fighters. They call themselves the Ouroboros and claim responsibility for a Coup’ which occurs in Neucom Inc, General Resource and the UPEO.

They are labeled as a terrorist group, but soon the UPEO finds that they are actually as large a Military force, by themselves. The Ouroboros are found to have had operatives in each faction the entire time, engineering the entire war in hopes of weakening each side, so they could destroy them with little resistance. Shockingly, one of these Operatives was none other than Gilbert Park, the UPEO Supreme Commander. Some pilots in the UPEO then moved to assassinate Gilbert Parks, but he had begun to use the remaining loyal UPEO forces as his own personal guard. Eventually, Parks is killed and the Ouroboros then begins operations on an open playing field. They had somehow, succeeded in hijacking the Electrosphere, all other information net-works and began attacking the remaining facilities of each side in many cities. At each engagement with the Ouroboros they were repelled. However, at their last engagement they had deployed their entire force against Mega Float.

The remaining UPEO forces then moved to finally stop them at this pivotal battle. The Ouroboros had deployed their UI-4053 Sphynra airship, multiple XFA-36A fighters and a Battle Fleet, including an Aircraft Carrier to attack Mega Float. The city was under siege when the UPEO arrived. The UPEO Pilots managed to destroy the fighters and the Naval Forces, just outside of Mega Float shelling the city. However, the UI-4053 Sphryna then launched the X-49 Night Raven, which fired a Powerful Laser Cannon at Megafloat and destroyed the entire city in one shot.

The Sphynra and its escorts were then engaged and finally were shot down. As the UI-4053 went down, it had launched the X-49 and the UI-4054 Aurora which escaped into the Geo Front, a sub-terrain city located deep underneath the Ocean. A Single UPEO aircraft, piloted by an A.I. program named 'Nemo', which had been at the brunt of every major UPEO operation followed the aircraft in. A Battle broke out between it and the X-49. An attempt to bring down the Geo Front on top of the Night Raven was attempted, after seeing that it was too powerful to be destroyed any other way, but failed and resulted in the X-49 being damaged.

The X-49 was re-engaged over Port Edwards at night, along with the remaining Ouroboros. All forces there, including the X-49 were destroyed by Nemo. However, afterwards the UI-4054 Aurora, piloted by an AI copy of the GRDF’s Top Ace, Abyssal Dission; had engaged the UPEO Pilot. The battle resulted in a stalemate and a second battle against the Aurora was carried out. It was sighted near the remains of Mega Float. The final battle between the Aurora and the UPEO AI had started off in the material plain, but the Aurora using technology beyond that of modern technology, had downloaded itself and the UPEO AI into the Electrosphere itself. The battle resulted in the destruction of the Aurora and the Ouroboros had receded into the shadows once more. The war was officially over.

Into the Future
The Corporate War between Neucom and General Resource was finally over, and the Neo-United Nations began to debrief the Conglomerates about the Ouroboros actions. As each side then sorted out the facts of what had happened, the UPEO was informed of a situation developing in Port Edwards. Apparently, a Neucom Facility was beginning to manufacture and test XR-900 Geopelias, modeled after the X-49 Night Raven. They suddenly lifted off and were controlled by multiple AI programs, which came from an unknown source.

The AI which had destroyed the Aurora a month ago, Nemo, was sent to deal with the situation. When it arrived, the XR-900s were attacking multiple buildings in the city itself. The UPEO Pilot engaged the Geopelias, but had little effect. Eventually, the AI Nemo was hacked by one of the Geopelias, and its Flight Control system was taken over. However, Nemo, a program as well, had back-hacked the Geopelia and taken control. Nemo then used the hacked XR-900 to destroy the others and end the crisis.

While UPEO and Neucom Engineers checked their Operational Records and Data Files, there were no signs of this occurrence what so ever. It was then speculated that this was a pre-programmed attack by the Ouroboros, set during the conflict in 2040. However, no solid proof was found and the case was dismissed.

Trivia

 * Based on how USEA is made up of several different nations, it is more of an alliance than an actual country. Based on this as well as the design of the flag, the real-world counterpart of USEA may be the EU, or the US, due to most of It's weaponry consisting of Abram Tanks, and American Based Aircraft from ISAF, which also included an American looking News Paper which was known to be based off of USA Today.
 * Usea is the only continent in Strangereal to have persons with British-like accents.
 * Usea is the continent the series most frequently takes place in. It is the setting of Air Combat, Ace Combat 2/3D, 3, 04, 5 (in arcade mode), Zero (Pixy's Interview) and Northern Wings.
 * USEA is also the name of the occupied countries by the Sons of Troia in Ace Combat Infinity.
 * Usea seems to have a similarity to the North American continent, Well both have the lake in North America is called Hudson Bay, the archipelagos to the north of the continent and part of Alaska.