In the world of Fullmetal Alchemist, the manga series created by Hiromu Arakawa, one fortress stands as the greatest military base in all of Amestris. Its name is Fort Briggs, and it is the ultimate symbol of Amestris' military power.
For a few hundred years, Amestris grew and grew, conquering more and more lands with military force and fighting great battles. This was all part of Father's plan, and Fort Briggs played a big role in all this, too -- a fact that Edward Elric didn't fail to notice
Inside Fort Briggs
Fort Briggs is a gigantic, wall-shaped fortress, gently curving along its entire length. In a sense, it is like a dam, a massive and imposing barrier designed to keep something out. It is many stories tall and is nestled among the snowcapped mountains in the northern region of Amestris, blocking the only viable route into Amestris from that direction.
To the north lays the massive nation of Drachma, which has a large military to its name. It is clear that no immigration or emigration takes place along Fort Briggs; it does not serve civilian needs. Instead, it is a strictly military installation, designed to repel the opportunistic Drachma armed forces. The Amestris military built this fortress, apparently, not out of xenophobia but for defense because the nation of Amestris tends to not get along with its armed neighbors. If Briggs weren't there, the Drachma army arguably would have laid siege to the north long ago, and probably claimed some land.
Fort Briggs serves as a wall and a bunker, having many rooms inside ranging from barracks to mess halls, admin offices to fully-stocked hospitals and repair stations. When Edward and Al visited, Ed got his arm tinkered with inside Fort Briggs, where dedicated technicians (and later Winry) got a chance to work on Edward's automail limbs. And, of course, Fort Briggs contains a few detention cells as well, a fine place to put any spies or moles who are uncovered there. Down below lays the massive sub-levels of the fort, warmed by the giant machinery that keeps the entire fortress powered. Down there, workers are responsible for keeping the lights on and building and repairing all kinds of vehicles and weapons (including portable rocket launchers and battle tanks).
Fort Briggs In Fullmetal Alchemists' Story
Fort Briggs appeared halfway through the story of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood when Edward and Al arrived under the pretense of looking for ways to repair their bodies (a legacy of their attempt at human transmutation.) While there, Ed realized that his metal arm was unsuited to the cold, so he needed a replacement -- and got one. He and Al also found out that "survival of the fittest" was the prime rule at this pragmatic and unforgiving place, and Maj0r-General Olivier Armstrong embodied it best of all.
It didn't take long for trouble to arrive in the form of Sloth, the hulking homunculus. Sloth wasn't openly hostile, aside from wanting to throw objects out of his way and complaining about work. Olivier found a way to subdue Sloth, then discovered the circular tunnel right under Fort Briggs, which Sloth had been digging. This tunnel was the shadowy home of Pride the homunculus, and Pride quickly dispatched all scout parties sent inside, so Olivier sealed it off. A few days later, General Raven, an officer who was part of Father's plan, visited and had Sloth placed back in the tunnel to resume digging it, passing off Sloth as a homunculus. Raven tried to convince Olivier to take part in Father's scheme, but Olivier instead injured him by the sword and threw his body into wet concrete, burying him.
Solf J. Kimblee, the crimson lotus alchemist, also paid a visit to Fort Briggs, and he had Winry Rockbell in tow. He was sent to keep control over Ed and Al, using Winry as leverage, and Kimblee forced Ed and Al to help him hunt Scar in a local mining town. Kimblee returned later to approach the Drachma army and lead an assault on Fort Briggs, telling the Drachma commander that with Olivier Armstrong absent, Fort Briggs would succumb. But this was a lie, and Fort Briggs' defenders easily repelled the attack. This was all so hundreds of people would die at this location, fueling Father's plans and his giant, nation-wide transmutation circle. Briggs' mighty defenses ended up aiding the enemy without even realizing it.
