When the Rifts erupted, not everyone was instantly ahnilated, nor did they lay down to die.  A group of survivalists siezed supplies and weaponry, drawing on military experience and logic, and some criminal skills to expand their power, despite being constantly bathed by the energy from the Rifts.
  During the first fifty years, they siezed multiple hard sites, caches, military bases, cities, and increased their membership with one simple rule:  Work or Die.  They engaged and defeated no less than sixteen hard sites, subjagating thier populace and harnessing their technology.  All were accepted or subjagated, without respect to worldly origin or magical power.
  Over time it became apparent that the leader of the self proclaimed "American Mercenaries" was immortal, or at least did not age, and possessed powers of regeneration and was able to withstand military grade weapons.  Not only the leader, but multiple members of the upper power structure, those who had been together since the beginning.
  The immortals set aside their Pre-Rifts names and took others, and began taking the long view, releasing the children of those who were conquered, granting them full citizenship, provided they still contributed to the greater good.  They named their territory New America, and began spreading out more slowly, consolidating their hold on already conquered territories and improving their technology rapidly.