Command & Conquer: Generals - Zero Hour/USA Mission 5

Overview
The four missile silos must be captured (not destroyed) before they release their toxin-filled missiles toward civilian targets. This is a timed mission, but you shouldn’t feel too rushed to complete your objectives. The 30-minute countdown to missile launch does not start until you actually attack the north-central GLA base. Two of the missiles are in the far north of the map and the other two are located in the northeast corner.

A contingent of GLA forces, along with their base, will join you in this mission. It will be necessary to keep your base well-defended with armored vehicles to withstand the sneak attacks perpetrated by the GLA through Tunnel Networks. Your Scud Storm and Particle Cannon must be well-defended while they are being built or they will be destroyed.

The GLA attacks are spaced far enough apart that you will be able to protect your base with reasonably good defenses. The pace is not as hectic as in the previous mission.

This is truly a free-form mission, as there are so many ways to destroy the GLA. Your ground forces can be aided by a vast array of specialized weaponry, including the Spectre Gunship, A10 Missile Strike, Fuel Air Bomb, Leaflet Drop, Scud Storm, Particle Cannon, and Anthrax Bomb. (available at the GLA Command Center)

Establishing your Base
The GLA base is pretty much pre-built for you. The only buildings that need to be added are the Palace and the Scud Storm.


 * Start by building at the USA base a Cold Fusion Reactor and Barracks. Immediately send two Rangers to the east while researching the Capture command.  Have the Rangers capture the two oil derricks by the GLA base.
 * Start building a supply center. Go ahead and keep the other bulldozer active and build a second Cold Fusion Reactor.
 * In a nonstop sequence of building, construct a War Factory and a Patriot in the northeast corner, positioning your Humvees near it. Immediately start building three Crusader tanks to protect yourself from a number of small assaults.
 * It is announced that the GLA base is joining your cause to defeat the Toxin General. With this base, you will be granted a large chunk of extra credits.  Build a GLA worker and immediately start building a Palace.  Upon completion, immediately start building the Scud Storm.
 * Important: Your Scud Storm will be attacked by a Tunnel Network that pops up on your base.  You must have your GLA armor situated around this building to immediately fight off this attack or the Scud Storm will be destroyed during its construction or immediately thereafter.
 * Immediately build the Strategy Center as soon as theWar Factory is finished and then go directly into building the Particle Cannon.
 * Continue to build additional defensive units and spread them around the perimeter of your base. Most of the GLA attack will come from the northeast, but they will approach from all directions.
 * When you reach Level 3 General status, create a few Pathfinders to help protect both the USA and GLA base.

Destroying the Scud Storm and Northeastern Missile Site
Destroy the Scud Storm with your own GLA-built Scud Storm and the Particle Cannon combined before it has a chance to launch.

From this point on, it is a freestyle mop-up campaign to destroy the GLA defenses on the way to the missile sites. The northeast base is not well-defended and can be attacked by a variety of ground units. A quicker solution is using the Scud Storm to knock out the structure in front of the missile site and then capturing it with an Ambush team.

Destroying the Northern Base and Missile Site
Now there is only the northern base to worry about.

The 30-minute countdown will start only if you attack the actual northern base itself by any of your special weapons. The garrisoned buildings and military structures south of the actual base can be totally destroyed by Fuel Air Bombs, A10 Missile Strikes, Scud Storm, Particle Cannon, Spectre Gunship, et cetera without starting the timer.

Once the timer begins its countdown, move forward with the offensive units of your choice. The Pathfinder is great at keeping GLA infantry suppressed -- and the Avenger will minimize the damage caused by Scud Launchers.

At the border of the northern base, a line of Stinger sites and Tunnel Networks may slow down your progress. Use a Scud Storm to knock out these defenses.

Move forward carefully until you are in a position to capture the last two missile sites.

Mission accomplished!

Expedited Mission
Destroy the Scud Storm as outlined above. As soon as the Scud Storm recharges, destroy the building below the missile site in the northeastern corner. Send Ambush troops in to capture that launch site.

Repeat the same process at the missile site in the northern base. Destroy the Arms Dealer there with a Scud Storm or other method and send in another team of Ambush troops to capture the missile sites.