The US community had it all despite only being a community for a few hundred years. Their research and development facilities were all top of the class. Their best and brightest strategists were mostly already fairly knowledgeable about new technologies used in warfare. Their ranks swelled by the day, and not just by people coming onto Planet 4. For many aspiring strategists, the US community had become the best starting place to train and to make a living. Dubbed the “Capital of Innovation” for half of its existence.

Few other communities had the privilege of having so many benefits. Mongolia, China, India, Greece, Rome, Britain just to name a few had held the title for a while. However, none of them could take full advantage of such a blessing as many of the people in these communities had superiority complexes against strategists from other nations.

The United States of America was not like that. In fact, the US community welcomed everyone with open arms. They were not worried about any potential spies. For their secrets and research were very well hidden. Thus, anyone who wished to get access to top-secret information would have to spend more than 200 years to gain the trust of the supreme faction, Unity Above All. No other faction came close to rivaling them.

One of the other big advantages, aside from having the biggest economic boom in the history of planet 4, would be that many strategists flock to them for aerial and naval training. Some of the best and most effective courses were being taught in this community, and they all cost top-dollar. All in all, the US community was a behemoth in its current state.

A huge reason that the faction Unity Above All was so powerful was due to the fact that just about every major strategist in US history congregated in this one group. Everyone from Robert E. Lee to Ulysses S. Grant. From George S. Patton to Creighton Abrams. From William D. Leahy to Chester W. Nimitz. From John Paul Jones to Henry H. Arnold. With so many monstrous presences under one banner, it was difficult for any other faction to emerge as any semblance of competition.

That’s not all. The US community had been working on many negotiations with other communities. These ranged from the export of blueprints, training arrangements, intelligence reports, and everything in between. Currently, quite a few Native American communities have joined as well, but the US is planning on much, much more.

Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, George S. Patton, William D. Leahy, and Henry H. Arnold were the five best strategists in the US community. Many people worked or trained under them as future leaders. These 5 did not wish to stay atop their throne forever. For they knew that it was a futile endeavor, and honestly, a really bad investment for the future. To constantly better the best and brightest of the following generation would always be the top priority. Currently, these 5 men were gathered to consider and decide upon the next steps of their beloved and free nation.

“Arnold, how goes the R&D department? I hear you and your scientists are on the cusp of yet another aviation masterpiece,” Robert E. Lee asked out of courtesy.

“Not quite, Lee, getting there, but these airplanes are not easy to invent. If you’d like, I could show you around my facilities some time,” Arnold responded with a customary smile.

“Oh, as fascinating as that would be, I’m afraid your toys are a bit too advanced for my liking.”

“Shame, what about you, Ulysses S. Grant?”

“I am quite busy with other work at the moment. Negotiations are a tough challenge for me. However, if I get the time I will take you up on your offer soon, Arnold”

“Ooh, does that invitation extend to me, Arnold? I’ve wanted to see your process for some a time now,” William D. Leahy requested.

“Not a problem. I was hoping you’d ask. If you’d like, I could get you started into building warships suited to your needs. Of course, you’d have to get your own set of researchers, testers, and all that.”

“Sounds good to me.”

“Alright, that should be enough catching up. Let’s get started on what we came here to discuss,” George S. Patton said to his peers. “First off, it’s good to hear that things are going relatively to plan from your brief exchange. Second, Grant, how are the negotiations with our neighbors?”

“Not too bad, but not terribly great either. As far as I can tell, the natives of both of them are willing and eager to merge with us, but their ruling faction is less inclined to do that.”

“Do they not realize that they are severely outmatched in this world?”

“I feel as if they do, but are holding back for unknown reasons.”

“Keep prying at them to join our side. This matter is not a super high priority so it has little consequences as to when they do fold into our community. Of course, the sooner the better.”

“Of course, Canada and Mexico will be ours. Though they cannot compare to us, their talent pool isn’t too bad, not to mention the R&D facilities already in place are comparable.”

“Right, moving along then. How is that Russian protege doing? I believe his name is Maksim Mikhailovich Belov. Have we figured out whether he is a spy or not?”

“Not quite. I genuinely believe he defected from the Russian community, but my feelings should not be taken into account.” Leahy answered.

“Well, my time with him has been nothing short of an eye-opener. His philosophy, his view of the world, his demeanor, his method of warfare, it’s all so...foreign to me. In a good way. I have never met someone as forward-thinking as him in this world,” Arnold added.

“Agreed. The aerial training with Arnold, the naval training with Leahy, and finally, the land training with me, it is not an exaggeration to say that he could be the one to take over one of our posts one day. It is no wonder that the Russians regarded him as one of the most talented in his generation.” Lee commented.

“Well, I see that you three are giving him positive reviews, but he has to get approval from Grant and myself before he can be officially instituted as one of our high-ranking positions,” Patton reminded everyone.

“Yes, yes. Once you’ve sat down and had a nice long chat with him, you’ll come to see that the boy is exceptional in every way. Hmm?”

“Perhaps. What other topics are there left to discuss.”

“I’ve got one. I need a bit more funding to finish some of my projects. I don’t suppose I could get a loan?” Arnold, the aerial mastermind of the US community, asked.

“How much do you need?”

“If you help me set up everything I need to begin my naval research, then I could lend a bit to you. Up to 300 million coins.”

“That is a deal, Leahy. I appreciate it.”

“Mm, anything else? Otherwise, we will need to discuss the mock tournament.”

“Nope.”

“I’m good.”

“Actually yeah, can you tell me more about this subject about this mock tournament?”

“Did you not take a look at the brief summary we sent to you a few weeks ago?”

“No, I was too busy tinkering in my 100 or so labs.”

“Alright then, basically, Sun Tzu came to our community a while back and we had a few friendly simulations. Afterward, they invited our community to join them in the mock tournament.” Patton said after sighing.

“...And we are going to go to this tournament then?”

“Yes, yes we are. I figure it would be such a waste to not go. After all, none of us were present in the last Death Match Tournament. So this will serve as practice for us if nothing else.”

“What will be our strategy going in?” Lee asked.

“I suggest we limit some of our top brass from joining in on the fun and let some of our new talents have a go.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Well, as much as I would love to participate in these chaotic tournaments, I feel as if I would be better off observing from outside the simulations.”

“Interesting. I suppose this would be a great chance to test out our little protege. See how far he has come since joining our community.”

“You four may join in if you wish, but I won’t and that is my final decision,” Patton added on.

“I won’t go either, but do send me a few copies of the recording when you guys come back. I have a lot of work to do and I don’t think I will be able to make it to this tournament anyway. However, I will send my right-hand man Hoyt Sanford Vandenberg to take my place.”

“Fair enough.”

“Anyone else?”

“I think I will stave my interest in joining this tournament. However, I will advocate for at least 2 of my 3 right-hand men to join in on all the fun. I too will make lively chatter to other important community officials outside of the simulation.” William Leahy added.

“We can work that out.”

“I would actually like to join in this tournament. It seems like it will be quite a worthwhile experience.” Lee directed at Patton.

“So would I. It just seems like a perfect way to show me off,” Grant said.

“Very well, but as I am the one who will decide who gets to go, you two will be in the 3-man teams part of the tournament.”

“Will you make our rising star, Maksim Belov, to take the mantle of the solo part of the tournament, Patton?”

“Yes, that is exactly what will be done. This will show us just how much potential he has. Who knows, I don’t really think that he has enough peers in his generation to challenge him. This can be a great indicator of where he stands with the other geniuses of the other communities.”

“Well, if he manages to do well, it will be phenomenal marketing for our strategies, blueprints, and other services if nothing else.”

“I don’t doubt your words, plus, he is the most well-rounded of all of our new generation. Putting him in this position will show us how each of our land, naval, and aerial strategies stack up with others.”

“Right, that is all. Remember to relay the contents of this meeting to your men. We will meet at another time to discuss the finalized list of the people who will be participating in the tournament.” Patton said to his peers. He was met with nods of agreement.

Out of all the communities preparing for the mock tournament, the US community was the busiest.