Brotherhood of Nod

"The Brotherhood of Nod", often referred to simply as "Nod" or " The Brotherhood", is a fictional faction which is featured prominently in the "Command & Conquer" franchise of real-time strategy video games by Westwood Studios and Electronic Arts Los Angeles. Revealed within the fiction of the "C&C" series to be an ancient and secret society that allegedly predates all but the earliest of civilization's history, the "Brotherhood of Nod" began to represent a globalized as well as a highly militant Abrahamic cult during the futuristic era in which these games are set; showing the combined characteristics of a vast religious movement, a multi-national corporation and a decentralized nation-state, while being none of the three in itself. The society consistently is shown to be led by a mysterious, charismatic character who is known only as "Kane". Their emblem is a chamfered triangle enclosing a curved scorpion tail, featuring black and red as its main color elements.

Storyline overview

Founding

Exact date unknown; the Win95 manual to the original 1995 "Command & Conquer" game mentions "exaggerated reports" that place the Brotherhood's founding prior to 1800 BCcite book|title = Command & Conquer For Windows 95, english manual|publisher = Virgin Interactive Entertainment| date = 1995] -- an ancient origin of Nod which the 2007 "" alludes to as well. Throughout the titles of the "C&C" series, various snippets of evidence are uncovered that cogently suggest this given date to be accurate, among them:

* The ending credits to the original game show a large archaeological artifact made of rock being excavated from a former Nod site, which crudely depicts the scene of the first Abrahamic murder.

* In the prequel ', the Brotherhood of Nod is revealed as the instigator of the Soviet's invasion of Europe during the 1950s,cite web | url=http://www.ea.com/commandandconquer/news.jsp?id=7 | title=Kane's Dossier | accessdaymonth=20 January | accessyear=2007 | publisher=EA Games, Command and Conquer 3 official website | date=2006-10-29] cite web | url=ftp://ftp.westwood.com/pub/redalert/info/RAFAQ19.TXT | title=Westwood Studios Official Command & Conquer: Red Alert FAQ List | author=Westwood Studios | accessdate=23 April | accessyear=2007 | publisher=Westwood Studios| date=1997-10-24] cite web | url=ftp://ftp.westwood.com/pub/ccgold/info/CCGFAQ13.TXT | author=Westwood Studios | title=Official Command & Conquer Gold FAQ v1.3 | date=1998-10-23 | accessdate=2007-05-13] with a Brotherhood member of the period stating that the secret society had waited to emerge from the shadows "for centuries". [Nadia:"' This temporary chaos in Europe will only help to fuel the Brotherhood's cause. For centuries we have waited to emerge from the shadows and now we will make ourselves known. And Cain went out from the presence of The Lord. And took up residence... in the Land of Nod. ("Command & Conquer: Red Alert") Westwood Studios, 1996]
* In "Command & Conquer: Renegade", an arsenal of medieval swords, armour and shields is discovered inside a Black Hand mansion, which all bear the emblem of Nod.

* Also in "Renegade", the Cairo temple of the Brotherhood is shown to house what allegedly is the tomb of Cain's slain brother Abel; its ancient epitaph displaying the Hebrew word "Abel" (הבל) together with the 4th verse of the 4th chapter of the Book of Genesis.

* Kane's apparent agelessness or immortality; the character's basic appearance has remained unchanged over the story's cumulated span of nearly 100 years, and he has survived several seemingly fatal incidents.

"Command & Conquer"

Prior to the outbreak of the first war, the Brotherhood was considered a minor terrorist faction by the G7 intelligence agencies. When a scandal broke out involving major defense contractors however, it was confirmed Nod concealed a substantial military land, air and sea capability across the globe. Before the Sarajevo headquarters was first identified, Nod was believed to have no central command base, instead operating from multiple individual locations, with posts found in Kuantan, Malaysia; the Ar-Rub' al-Khali desert, Saudi Arabia; Tokyo, Japan and Caen, France. Also before the first war, Nod backed a number of officially recognized political parties; among the ones mentioned are the "Fist of Allah" party in Jordan, the "United We Stand America" party in the United States, and the "Albion First!" party in the United Kingdom, among several others. Additionally, they are known to be affiliated with the Irish Republican Party, Islamic Jihad, Khmer Rouge and other groups.

According to the canonical "C&C" storyline, Nod was defeated at the hands of the Global Defense Initiative after a three-year lasting world war. To increase support, Kane had devised a plan to blame GDI for the slaughter of the population of Białystok, Poland, with Nod broadcasting manipulated news reports claiming GDI soldiers razed the whole town on the grounds of its citizens being Tiberium smugglers. Greg Burdette: And what crime did Białystok commit to warrant such carnage? Sources indicate that GDI's terrorists were convinced that this simple hamlet was involved in the manufacture and shipping of Tiberium. ("Command & Conquer") Westwood Studios, 1995 ] This created a scandal that forced the United Nations to cut GDI funding pending an investigation, causing the organization to apparently almost shut down.GDI fifth mission briefing text: Publicity from Nod media manipulation has resulted in United Nations investigation into GDI activities. On 23 July at 1844 Zulu by a 9 to 3 vote, the UN Ways and Means committee suspended all GDI funding pending outcome. ("Command & Conquer") Westwood Studios, 1995] Kane however was unaware that this 'investigation' was in fact a hoax planned by the UN. [ Mark Jamison Sheppard: Commander, you've been hustled. The UN wasn't against me. Not all of them at least. But we had to play that little game to lull Kane into a false sense of security. ("Command & Conquer") Westwood Studios, 1995 ] Since the incursions into GDI territory caused Nod forces to be spread thin, GDI took large areas of Nod territory during their counterstrikes, giving them a decisive advantange. Kane was believed to have been killed at the final stand of the Brotherhood near Sarajevo, seemingly vaporised in the light of GDI's final ion cannon discharge.Newscaster: Kane, the single-named charismatic Nod leader, and self-proclaimed prophet, is among those missing and assumed dead. ("Command & Conquer") Westwood Studios, 1995]

"Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun"

Following the first war, the apparent death of Kane caused the Brotherhood of Nod to factionalize into numerous militia armies. [ CABAL: The Brotherhood is in chaos. A strategic opportunity presents itself. Anton Slavik: Then we destroy the rest of Hassan's elite guard. The people will sway with us in the name of Kane. ("Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun") Westwood Studios, 1998 ] For several decades, they fought more against themselves, but when Kane revealed himself to be alive thirty years later, Nod reunited and faced off against the Global Defense Initiative anew. Following the official "C&C" storyline, the Brotherhood suffers a second military defeat against the GDI, hours before the society would have launched a world-altering Tiberium warhead into the Earth's atmosphere. [ Michael McNeil: EVA, greenlight all forces; set coordinates for Cairo. James Solomon: We need a larger attack force; more time to plan. If Kane's back is to the wall, he could unleash the Tiberium effect all over the world. I will not authorize it! Michael McNeil: I'm sorry, sir - I'm going in. ("Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun") Westwood Studios, 1998 ]

The "Firestorm" expansion portrays the leader of the Black Hand, Anton Slavik, arguing with the Inner Circle of Nod over leadership issues. [ Marzaq: What is the meaning of this conference Slavik? The decision has been made. Anton Slavik: Gentlemen, with the dissapearance of Kane the Inner Circle must stand united before the Brotherhood. That means a new leader must be chosen, until the return of Kane. Inner Circle member: Our decision is final, Slavik. ("Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun Firestorm") Westwood Studios, 2001 ] Slavik reactivates the "CABAL" AI believing it will prevent Nod from splintering, [ Anton Slavik: We need order. CABAL. ("Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun Firestorm") Westwood Studios, 2001 ] but shortly afterwards the CABAL entity suddenly seizes control of Nod cybernetically enhanced's forces and assassinates all of the Inner Circle's members, with the sole exception of Slavik. Ultimately, a desperate GDI and Nod joint assault destroys the CABAL core, eliminating the AI entity as a threat to both factions. [ Anton Slavik: Today, we have defeated the single greatest threat to the survival of the Brotherhood - in Triumph! ("Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun Firestorm") Westwood Studios, 2001 ] However, the ending cutscene shows the apparently still active AI being displayed in a large hall while overseeing numerous humans held in suspended animation tubes, with one of them holding Kane himself.

"Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars"

The third war begins with the Brotherhood of Nod emerging from the shadows without warning almost twenty years afterwards, disabling GDI's anti-missile capabilities. [ Jack Granger: Nod's just taken out the entire north-eastern ASAT defense system; all our anti-missile capability. ("Command & Conquer 3 : Tiberium Wars") Electronic Arts, 2007 ] The space station "GDSS Philadelphia" becomes vulnerable to attack and is soon after destroyed by a nuclear missile. Nod subsequently assaults all major GDI installations, yet GDI manages to rally its forces and drives Nod out of the regions. [ Kilian Qatar: Not only have they driven us from these blue zones, they are decimating our yellow zone strongholds all over the map. ("Command & Conquer 3 : Tiberium Wars") Electronic Arts, 2007 ]

Kane and his scientists proved to be working on a liquid Tiberium bomb of unprecedented destructive power. [ Dr.Giraud: We believe a liquid Tiberium explosion would have a yield roughly ten times greater than a 200 megaton thermonuke. Now, with the proper catalyst such a blast may also create a self-sustaining exothermic reaction. Any proximate Tiberium deposit -liquid or crystal- would be instantly detonated. ("Command & Conquer 3 : Tiberium Wars") Electronic Arts, 2007 ] In response, the GDI turn their attention to Nod's stronghold in Sarajevo, and on the order of Acting Director Redmond Boyle the ion cannon is fired upon the temple complex, which detonates the liquid Tiberium and causes massive destruction throughout Eastern Europe. [ William Frank: The explosion also detonated a liquid Tiberium deposit hidden underneath the temple itself; producing deadly fall-out and radiation levels over most of Eastern Europe. ("Command & Conquer 3 : Tiberium Wars") Electronic Arts, 2007 ] This detonation prompts an alien species to invade, who land in the Earth's red zones and begin with the construction of monolithic towers within these areas. After GDI fights off the initial invasion of the "Scrin", they launch strikes on each of these towers. When GDI assaults the tower nearest to completion however, they are held back by Nod, leaving one such tower standing on Earth. Even with the tower standing GDI destroys the Scrin Control Hub which causes all Scrin forces on Earth to die. Kane then claims the alien tower in the name of the Brotherhood. [ Jack Granger: All the towers are down except that one in the Med. Combination of two enemies working against us was just too much. ("Command & Conquer 3 : Tiberium Wars") Electronic Arts, 2007 ]

Five years after this third world war, an artificial intelligence named "LEGION" arises, with Kane promptly placing a secret army of cyborg soldiers known as the "Marked of Kane" under the entity's command, in order to recover the mysterious Tacitus device from GDI's Cheyenne Mountain facility. Soon after, the Marked launch an unrelenting assault on the heavily fortified military research complex, overrunning GDI's finest defenses and reclaiming the object for Kane. [ Kane: Yes, we "were" tested. But in the end we held constant and our fortitude was rewarded; the prophecy has come to pass. ("Command & Conquer 3 : Kane's Wrath") Electronic Arts, 2008 ] The final cutscene, titled "Ascendance", shows Kane inserting the Tacitus into LEGION while proclaiming: "LEGION, my child, you are my greatest creation. It is time for you to take center stage; time for you to achieve the purpose for which you were created!" With this, the story of "Command & Conquer 3" concludes on a major cliffhanger.

Abrahamic references

Throughout the titles of the "Command & Conquer" series, Brotherhood of Nod characters of different generations alike have been alluding that Kane is none other than the Abrahamic figure of Cain -- allegedly the first man in Earth's history to have committed murder according to the scriptures of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Cain and Abel were the two eldest sons of Adam and Eve, born after the Fall of Man when Adam and Eve had been tempted into eating the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

The parable is told in the Bible at Bibleref2|Genesis|4:1-16, the Qur'an at 5:26-32 and in Moses at 5:16-41. In all versions, Cain, a farmer, commits the first murdering by killing his brother, a shepherd named Abel, after God rejects Cain's sacrifice yet accepts that of Abel. God sought out Cain to ask him where his brother might be, to which Cain replied: "I know not; am I my brother's keeper?" Upon this answer, God cursed Cain to wander the Earth forever, unable to die of old age. Translations of Aramaic and ancient Hebrew texts describe these alleged events, [Jim R Davila, "Unpublished Pentateuchal Manuscripts from Cave IV Qumran: 4QGenExa, 4QGenb-h, j-k", unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Harvard University, 1988.] stating that:

"Cain departed to the Land of Nod. And Adam had another son, whose name was Seth."

In a direct correlation, the manual of the original "Command & Conquer" game lists a quote by the Kane character, with the source being cited a fictional Interpol file designated as "#GEN4:16". This again is a direct reference to Genesis 4:16, which reads;

"And Cain went out from the presence of The Lord, and dwelt in the Land of Nod, on the east of Eden."

Additionally, in the title of ', the player discovers an underground sarcophagus located near Cairo, Egypt, its epitaph depicting and describing Abel's slaying, and with Kane stating that the coffin contained his remains. The character also appears either immortal or ageless, as its actions are shown to span over 100 years (as of the latest installment in the "C&C" franchise), yet Kane seems to have not aged a day since his first canonical appearance as Joseph Stalin's mysterious advisor in the 1950s settings of '.

Brotherhood philosophy and ideology

The parable of Cain and Abel has been explored in many scriptures and literary works over the course of history, which according to Kane actor Joseph D. Kucan served as inspiration for original "C&C" designer Eydie Laramore when she created the world views of the "Brotherhood of Nod" faction. [cite web | url=http://www.imperium-ww.pl/articles.php?article_id=33 | title=Joe Kucan interview | accessdate=04 October | accessyear=2007 | publisher="JCDX" and "Fatman"|] In line with the fate of the Cain figure within this ancient parable of the Abrahamic religions, Nod political rhetoric has tended to closely identify the fictional quasi-cult, quasi-state organization with the downtrodden and impoverished peoples of the world. [EVA: The Brotherhood springs from the lowest of places, offering unity and peace to otherwise abused and neglected nations. ("Command & Conquer") Westwood Studios, 1995] ["From a yellow zone information pamphlet" ("Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars, Intel Database") Electronic Arts, 2007]

"Tiberian Dawn Official Strategy Guide excerpt"

This backstory is furthered by Electronic Arts Los Angeles in ', where it is mentioned that the Brotherhood views itself "as the agent of change for a world in the throes of transition to a new order, the representative of the poor and the oppressed, and a foil to the previously unchecked power of GDI"."About the Brotherhood of Nod"' ("Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars, Intel Database") Electronic Arts, 2007]

The precise nature of the Brotherhood of Nod's long-term goals, however, never has truly been unveiled throughout the storylines,EVA: Commanded by this man, known only as Kane, Nod's long-term goals are unknown. However, recent activities include: expansionary behavior into disenfranchised nations, high-volume investment in global trade markets, and aggressive manipulation of international mass media. ("Command & Conquer") Westwood Studios, 1995] and has consistently remained shrouded by a mysterious and religious referencing to "ascension" and "transformation". [Kane: Look to the skies, my children. A new dawn is rising in the East. Ascension awaits the faithful. ("Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars") Electronic Arts, 2007] [Kane: Transformation is coming. A new day will dawn. The future... is ours. ("Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars") Electronic Arts, 2007]

From the point of view of the "international community", which typically is represented by the Global Defense Initiative faction in the games of the Tiberium story arc, the Brotherhood of Nod constitutes "a quasi-state, quasi-terrorist organization", seeking to "unite the third-world nations under a pseudo-religious political platform with imperialist tendencies". This profile further states that GDI holds the Brotherhood to be "a popular neo-fascist, anti-West movement vying for total domination of the world's peoples and resources". In "Tiberium Wars", it additionally is mentioned that GDI views Nod as "a dangerous, virulent and inexplicably self-sustaining terrorist group obsessed with accelerating the worst ecological catastrophe in history".

Organization and hierarchy

The "Brotherhood of Nod" initially constituted a religious to quasi-religious secret society which is estimated to be nearly four millennia of age, [Kilian Qatar: Most people do not realize that the roots of our faith extend back several millennium. ("Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars") Electronic Arts, 2007] of which the core organization is very sophisticated and high-tech in nature. After its emergence from the shadows, however, as portrayed in the original "Command & Conquer" game, the society began to grow exponentially in its membership and available infrastructure, and started exhibiting the combined characteristics of a vast religious movement, a multi-national corporation and a nation-state that has been decentralized and scattered across the continents, in ways reminiscent of Christian Christendom or an Islamic Caliphate. By the era portrayed in ', the continued spread of Tiberium, and the industrialized world's subsequent retreat to the so-called "blue zone" territories, caused Nod to operate virtually unchallenged in those regions of the world designated as "yellow zones", [EVA:"' The Brotherhood of Nod operates virtually unchallenged in these zones. They take advantage of the chaos to recruit members and disguise their military infrastructure. ("Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars") Electronic Arts, 2007] which still harbored most of the world's population.

The greatest authority within the Brotherhood appears to always have been "Kane", who is viewed by many of his followers as well as by Kane himself as a prophet and Messiah to humanity. [Kane: Rule of thumb, Hassan-- You can't kill the Messiah. ("Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun") Westwood Studios, 1998] The closest to the figure of Kane are his chosen, who have been hand-picked from amongst the current generations of his followers and who represent the highest governing body within the fictional faction-- the Inner Circle of Nod.

; The Black HandThe Black Hand is a feared and prestigious echelon of warrior priests who serve as both a type of religious police as well as the ritual executioners of Kane's choice enemies."Background on the Black Hand Nod splinter faction" ("Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath, Intel Database") Electronic Arts, 2008] cite web | url=http://www.commandandconquer.com/intel/default.aspx?id=110#NewsMain | title=Kane's Wrath Marked of Kane & Black Hand Unit Spotlight | accessdate=26 February | accessyear=2008 | publisher=Electronic Arts] Introduced in "s expansion pack ', the Black Hand are shown as being comprised out of Kane's wardens in all matters which concern the spiritual fortitude and internal stability of the Brotherhood; being the congregation of those who possess unwavering loyalty and unquestioning obedience to the prophecy of Nod. As such, the Black Hand are tasked with distributing and proselytizing of the word of Kane, as well as maintaining discipline among the ranks of the Brotherhood. Rumored to date back to shortly after Nod's own emergence as a globalized quasi-state in the modern world, the Black Hand maintain a parallel organization within the Brotherhood with political, religious and military wings. Despite this, the order kept a surprisingly low profile prior to the era portrayed in "Tiberium Wars"; shrouding their rituals, beliefs, and, to the world beyond Nod, their very existence in a veil of secrecy. The Black Hand became a playable faction in the expansion to "Tiberium Wars", titled "".cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/commandconquer3kaneswrath/news.html?sid=6186810&mode=all | title=Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath - Nod Subfactions | accessdate=15 June | accessyear=2008 | publisher=Gamespot Staff, Electronic Arts | date=2008-02-27]

A connection between real-life historical events and the fictional Black Hand of the "C&C" games exists as well -- on June 28, 1914, at Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a Serb nationalist belonging to a group called the "Black Hand" assassinated Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, an event often attributed with having triggered World War I. Coincidentally, the second prelate of the Black Hand in the "C&C" universe, Anton Slavik, was revealed to be a character of Serbian origin who also was known as "The Serbian Wolf". [Paul Cortez: But you listen to me, Slavik. They used to call you "The Serbian Wolf", right? Bite me and I'll put you down like I would any wild dog. ("Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun Firestorm") Westwood Studios, 2001]

; Sarajevo and CairoDuring the course of the , the Brotherhood of Nod is revealed to place a significant level of interest in the two regions of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Cairo, Egypt."Kane's fascination with Eastern Europe" ("Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars, Intel Database") Electronic Arts, 2007] The reason behind these sites consistently being focal points for Nod activity in the successive storylines is a mystery. However, in ', the temple of Nod near the city of Cairo was discovered to house an ancient underground tomb allegedly belonging to the Abrahamic figure of Abel, with the Kane character stating the site represents ground most hallowed. In "Tiberian Sun", Cairo additionally is revealed to be the location where a world-altering Tiberium warhead was being manufactured by the Brotherhood. [Ghost Stalker: At Kane's temple in Cairo, I found a missile that will soon destroy the Earth. ("Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun") Westwood Studios, 1998 ] In "Tiberium Wars", this same region is found to conceal the Nod facility from which the nuclear strike against GDI's "GDSS Philadelphia" command station was launched. ["Cairo nuclear launch facility"' ("Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars, Intel Database") Electronic Arts, 2007]

Likewise, for reasons which are unclear, the site of Sarajevo is continuously shown to be the cradle for the Brotherhood of Nod's main base of operations as well as their primary religious infrastructure, and is referred to as "Temple Prime" by the era portrayed in "Tiberium Wars". ["Kane lives" ("Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars, Intel Database") Electronic Arts, 2007]

Military doctrines

The military philosophy of the Brotherhood of Nod faction has typically been centered around the concepts of stealth and mobility; preferring outmaneuvering enemies, guerrilla warfare, highly advanced hit-and-run tactics and subterfuge over direct confrontations.cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/commandconquer3/news.html?sid=6163297&tag=topslot;title;1&om_act=convert&click=topslot | title=Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars Designer Diary #4 - Comparing the GDI and Nod Factions | accessdate=22 December | accessyear=2006 | publisher=Gamespot Staff, Electronic Arts | date=2006-12-15] ["Nod tactical doctrine" ("Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars, Intel Database") Electronic Arts, 2007] Nod's armies are infamous for deploying various forms of high technology in unique tandem with fanatical loyalty, and utilize a deceptively dangerous combination of low-tech, poorly trained militant forces with relatively fewer but elite and highly trained troops, who in turn have been equipped with state of the art communications gear and the most advanced weapon systems available. Military hardware of the Brotherhood often mirrors that doctrine; maneuverable and expendable vehicles tend to be designed to draw attention and enemy fire away from powerful and lethal higher tier equipment.

Long-range weaponry is prevalent, executing surprise attacks and hit-and-run strategies on unprotected parts of enemy infrastructure, or long range bombardment with ballistic missiles. Civilian casualties are not a concern. Nod's disregard for international ethics guidelines has also led to the extensive usage of napalm varieties, eugenic and cybernetic enhancements to troops, a rogue nuclear arsenal and radically advanced Tiberium-based equipment and weaponry.

Another notable way in which the Brotherhood engages its enemy is through misinformation warfare and hate-mongering. For example, Nod was able to obstruct and fight the GDI indirectly by triggering a massive public scandal regarding the massacre of civilians in Białystok, Poland during the first war; supposedly committed by GDI soldiers. This incident forced the United Nations Security Council to suspend all funding for the Global Defense Initiative pending the outcome of an official investigation into the organization's activities. A second such instance of mass media manipulation by the Brotherhood was when operatives of the Black Hand razed the central refuge of The Forgotten during the while using procured GDI equipment; rallying the mutant population to Nod's cause through their subsequent media reports. [Oxanna Kristos: Battlegrid response has reported that a GDI battalion rolled into an undefended mutant camp today, killing all but a few of the long suffering Forgotten who lived there. The Brotherhood asks all citizens to join them, receive divination and fight the Great Oppressor. ("Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun") Westwood Studios, 1998] [Kane: The mutants are convinced GDI is responsible for the attack. ("Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun") Westwood Studios, 1998 ]

Technological level

In certain fields, the Brotherhood of Nod consistently is portrayed as technologically superior to its Global Defense Initiative adversary; an organization backed by and effectively operated on behalf of the United Nations, and more specifically, the G8+5 economically and technologically developed countries of the world. [cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/commandconquer3/news.html?page=1&sid=6155386&tag=result;title;0 | title=Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars Designer Diary #1 - The Story Behind the GDI Faction | accessdate=10 May | accessyear=2008 | publisher=Gamespot Staff, Electronic Arts | date=2006-08-07] It is not fully revealed how Nod achieved this unique level in human technological prowess, though it is implied throughout the various game titles to be in part because of their initial monopoly and monopsony on Tiberium, which provided them with vast amounts of wealth, both financially and scientifically, and an alleged access to and study of extraterrestrial technology. [Newscaster: Nod Tiberium holdings now account for almost half of the world's known supply, giving the quasi-terrorist group incredible leverage in the London Gold Exchange. ("Command & Conquer") Westwood Studios, 1995] [Newscaster: New Tiberium harvesting methods, instituted by the Brotherhood of Nod, increased profitability by 49%. ("Command & Conquer") Westwood Studios, 1995] [Kane: The underground hangar you are about to enter houses an alien warship constructed at the end of the last war. The technology in this ship is more valuable to the Brotherhood than anything that has come before. ("Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun") Westwood Studios, 1998] During the course of the series, the Brotherhood is revealed to have constructed, to own, and to operate many state-of-the-art research institutes, and to hire out research teams globally. Often, these institutes and related facilities are kept highly secret, and are hidden from academia and especially from national and international bioethics committees. It is revealed that routinely speculative and occasionally unsafe human experimentation, generally performed upon Nod volunteers, prisoners of war, and occupied civilian populations, is commonplace at Nod research facilities. [Mark Jamison Sheppard: [Kane] 's experimenting with Tiberium; injecting the stuff into human guinea pigs. ("Command & Conquer") Westwood Studios, 1995] Some technologies the Brotherhood has devoted particular attention to include lasers, directed-energy weapons, bioweapons, chemical weapons, nuclear weapons, advanced robotics, artificial intelligence, theoretical anti-gravity, active camouflage, advanced sustainable electricity generation, reprogenetics, eugenics, cybernetics, and its offshoot, brain-computer interfaces.

This is in addition to a great deal of aggressive research into Tiberium and alleged extraterrestrial artifacts, which was often crossed-over with the aforementioned fields for various purposes.

References

See also

* Land of Nod
* Cain and Abel
* Kane (Command & Conquer)
* Nod characters of Command & Conquer
* Tiberium

External links

*http://www.kanelives.org/ - Official fansite of the Kane character, sponsored by Electronic Arts
* [http://planetcnc.gamespy.com/View.php?view=Encyclopedia.Detail&id=7#neworg/ PlanetCnC Encyclopedia] - Extensive "C&C" storyline compilation at Gamespy, detailing the Brotherhood of Nod's initial rise
*