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Command and Conquer: Generals - Zero Hour is currently the only expansion pack to have been released for the computer game Command & Conquer: Generals. It was released one year after the main game.

Zero Hour added several new abilities to each side, and a new mode of play called Generals' Challenge. In Generals' Challenge, the player takes on the identity of one of nine generals (three representing each faction) and takes on some of the other generals in what effectively amounts to wargames. Each general has his/her own unique units/modifications to their country's arsenal. The Generals are:

• General Alexis Alexander - a 4-Star American general that specializes in superweapons. She can build superweapons more quickly, and has a better Cold Fusion Reactor that give much extra power if upgraded; however all of her vehicles cost more to produce. Also, the EMP Patriot Missile System defense mechanism makes most tanks, aircraft or other vehicles useless, disabling most aircraft in a single hit and stopping tanks in their tracks for up to 30 seconds. It should be noted that in online play, many players will refuse to play anyone using this General. This is largely due to the Aurora Alpha bomber, which can take out a group of tanks or many buildings in one or two hits (the plane is also invulnerable before releasing its ordinance.) Her greatest weakness is that she takes longer than any other general to come to full power, meaning that she will almost always be defeated by rush tactics.
• General Malcom "Ace" Granger - a 4-Star American general who specializes in aircraft. He creates King Raptors, more advanced and powerful versions of the standard Raptor interceptors. The King Raptors have more missiles to fire and have a laser defense system. If the defense of the enemies is firing a missile, the laser will destroy it before its approcing the unit. He also build a Combat Chinook, able to carry units and allows these units to fire while airborne. His planes are the most powerful in the game, costing roughly 25% less than any other general, however he is not able to build any tanks, so he must rely on planes and light units, as well as his cunning. Unusually for a USA general, his early game is his strongest suit as his aeroplanes can be used to cripple or destroy an enemy base before the opponent can set up anti-air units sufficient to stop him.
• General "Pinpoint" Townes - a 4-Star American general who specializes in laser weaponry. His power plants provide significantly more power than those of other generals, meaning that he can create a much larger base with relatively little expenditure on infrastructure. However, if he runs out of power all of his defences and laser tanks will stop functioning until he creates enough power to bring them all online again. This general as often seen as the best general at defending.
• General Ta Hun Kwai - a Class AAA Chinese general specializing in tanks. Although unable to build artillery and forced to pay more for infantry and aircraft, his vehicle units are created as veterans, making his early game difficult to defeat. His tactics are very straightforward, mostly involving brute force tank rushes, but these are devastating if not countered properly. General Kwai's ability to gain early map control is offset over the long run by inflexibility and higher costs for estabilishing a late-game economy. An interesting but unrelated point is that his name - Ta Hun Kwai - could mean 'he is very fast' in chinese if pronounced with the correct tones.
• General Qing Shi Tao - a Class AAA Chinese general specializing in nuclear weaponry. He gains various nuclear upgrades to his forces (e.g. he starts with nuclear-tipped shells for tanks and can buy nuclear missiles for his aircraft ), and does not lose any of China's stock units. His tanks explode on death, potentially damaging his own forces unless he employs careful micromanagement. General Tao has a strong late game with slightly cheaper nuclear weapons, superior power plants and a potentially devastating air force. Similar to General Ta Hun Kwai, General Qing's name, when pronounced in Chinese with proper tones, means "Green Stone."
• General "Anvil" Shin Fai - a Class AAA Chinese general specializing in infantry. He is unable to build most tanks, except the flamethrowing Dragon Tank. Surprisingly, he is an excellent defensive player due to his exceptional infantry and very good bunkers. However, his offensive options are more limited as infantry and artillery are not noted for their staying power or speed. General Fai does possess potentially battle-winning Assault Helixes and many opponents have nighmares of being caught by his Super Lotus with an undefended base.
• Dr. Thrax - a GLA general specializing in toxins. He does not have access to any of the camoflage except the GLA's 'hero unit', the sniper Jarmen Kell. His toxin networks are very powerful against light vehicles and infantry, while his toxin-tipped missiles are the most potent anti-tank weapons in the game. Dr Thrax habitually has the highest win percentages in online matches, leading many players to deem him over-powered.
• Prince Kassad - a GLA general specializing in stealth. All of his buildings can be covered in 'camo netting'- making them invisible to most enemy forces except special stealth-detecting units. Prince Kassad does not have access to tanks or the SCUD launcher, making it difficult for him to attack or defend fixed positions. He can, however, construct cloaked tunnel networks, allowing his forces to strike quickly and retreat before the enemy can respond.
• General Rodall "Demo" Juhziz - a GLA general specializing in explosives. He does not have access to toxin upgrades or stealth units, with the exception of Jarmen Kell. His other vehicles are also slightly more expensive, making it difficult for him to win stand-up battles in the early game. General Juhziz can compensate for this weakness with fast-moving, bike-mounted terrorists and a more powerful SCUD launcher. Demo terrorists are also more powerful and less prone to blow eachother up when used in close proximity, giving General Juhziz a powerful edge in the early game.

• Boss General Tigress Leang - a Chinese Dragon class AAAA General that uses the best technologies of all the other generals to defeat her enemies. She uses the Particle Cannon, Scud Storm and Nuclear Missile. On the end of some general campaigns you can fight with her. There are mods on sites that will give you the ability to play her in skirmish.

Template:Spoiler In the story proper, the GLA has been defeated, while the Americans and Chinese attempt to search for and destroy the remnants of the GLA. The Americans hunt down, and successfully capture Dr. Thrax, apparently fragmenting the GLA. Subsequently, the GLA regroup, and manage to successfully infiltrate the United States and steal some of their weapons of mass destruction, as well as steal Chinese resources to force the Americans to defend their own borders. As the USA retreats back to isolationism the Chinese recover and eliminate the GLA for good, rooting out GLA influence in Europe, making themselves the world's only remaining superpower.

See also

• Command & Conquer: Generals
• Rise of the Reds
• Three Dozer Build

• Command & Conquer series
• Windows games
• Apple Macintosh games
• Electronic Arts games