Background on the GDI Steel Talons experimental warfare division

With the end of the Second Tiberium War and the Brotherhood of Nod's subsequent implosion, GDI came to believe that the quasi-state and fanatical cult no longer represented a significant threat to Earth's population. Consequently, GDI shifted its strategic goals from defeating Nod to the reclamation of those parts of the planet previously consumed by Tiberium. The vast majority of GDI's research and development budget was repurposed to further that goal, bringing to a close the period of rapid technological development that had characterized GDI's military over the previous several decades.

Needless to say, there were several within the military who questioned this new directive - notably General Joshua 'Mitch' Mitchell, a decorated veteran of the Second Tiberium War renowned for his youth, aggressiveness and tactical innovation. Mitchell contended that while Nod may have been defeated, it would be foolish for GDI to assume that no successor would rise from the dispirited populace of an increasingly Tiberium-stricken earth. Therefore, he argued, funds allocated towards Tiberium control should instead be earmarked for the research and development of new combat technology, in anticipation of this next potential conflict.

After a lengthy, volatile hearing, Mitchell emerged with a partial victory. While GDI refused to divert a significant part of its R&D budget to the General's cause, they did agree to fund a new experimental combat technology division under Mitchell. Dubbed the 'Steel Talons' by Mitchell's admirers - notably famed war hero Nick 'Havoc' Parker - this elite, unconventional combat battalion quickly rose to prominence in the splinter faction skirmishes that followed Nod's implosion, becoming known both for their ruthless efficiency on the battlefield and for the shroud of secrecy they maintained at all other times.

Excerpt from 'GDI and the Future of War,' by Xavier Des Jardins

GDI钢爪实验作战师的背景

在第二次泰矿战争结束，Nod内部分裂后，GDI开始相信准国家和狂热宗教不再对地球人口产生重大威胁。因此，GDI把战略目的从防御Nod转为夺回充满泰矿的土地。GDI的绝大多数研究和发展预算被重新用于进一步实现这一目标，结束了在过去几十年里的GDI军队飞速技术发展时期。

不用说，军方中有几个人对这项新指令提出了质疑—尤其是Joshua 'Mitch' Mitchell将军，第二次泰矿战争中功勋累累的老兵，以年轻，侵略性和战术创新而闻名。Mitchell主张即使Nod已经被打败，GDI假定没有继任者会从泰矿侵扰越来越严重的星球上沮丧的民众崛起这一想法也是愚蠢的。因此，他认为，分配给泰伯利亚控制的资金应该专门用于研究和开发新的战斗科技，以应对下一次潜在的冲突。

在漫长而反复无常的听证会之后，Mitchell取得了部分胜利。虽然GDI拒绝将其研发预算的很大一部分用于将军的事业，但他们确实同意资助Mitchell领导下的一个新的实验战斗技术部门。Mitchell的崇拜者们将其称为“钢爪”——尤其是著名的战争英雄Nick 'Havoc' Parker——这支精锐的、非传统的战斗营在Nod内部分裂后的派系冲突中迅速崛起，以他们在战场上的无情效率和他们所保持的秘密性而闻名。

摘自《GDI和战争的未来》Xavier Des Jardins著