Now this is a blast from the past. Back when I was an aspiring writer as a teenager, I decided to write essays about the “Command & Conquer” franchise—it was, and still is, a noted real-time strategy computer game series. These articles appeared on the PlanetCNC fan site, which used to be active in the 1990s and 2000s. An archived, or mirrored, version is available at this link: http://planetcnc.gamespy.com/index.html I’ve moved on from gaming a long time ago, but I thought I’d put these writings up in one document. It’s a chance for readers to check out my early work… and to see something that’s “out of the way”, practically a curio (or a series of curios). Stephen Cheng May 22, 2020

1. 1
Now this is a blast from the past. Back when I was an aspiring writer as a teenager, I decided to
write essays about the “Command & Conquer” franchise—it was, and still is, a noted real-time
strategy computer game series. These articles appeared on the PlanetCNC fan site, which used
to be active in the 1990s and 2000s. An archived, or mirrored, version is available at this link:
http://planetcnc.gamespy.com/index.html
I’ve moved on from gaming a long time ago, but I thought I’d put these writings up in one
document. It’s a chance for readers to check out my early work… and to see something that’s
“out of the way”, practically a curio (or a series of curios).
Stephen Cheng
May 22, 2020
The Brotherhood of Nod: The Promise of Worldwide Revolution
By Stephen Cheng | February 28, 2003
Link: http://planetcnc.gamespy.com/View7c0c.html?view=Essays.Detail&id=150
Brotherhood! Unity! Peace!
(The mantra of the Brotherhood of Nod)
A scorpion's tail set in an irregular hexagon. It is the emblem of the Brotherhood of Nod; an
emblem that can be shelved along with the Nazi swastika and the Communist hammer-and-
sickle. One has to wonder about the ruthlessness committed under the Nod banner. The
harshness comes in the form of murder, blackmail, bribery, "inhumane experiments" that
involved human test subjects, slave labor, and countless other crimes. But all of these are simply
tools for the Nod high command, and people continue to flock to Nod recruiters.
Rumor has it that the Brotherhood is a hundreds-, perhaps thousands-, year old organization.
Furthermore, it is rumored that the leader Kane, is the Cain in the Biblical Book of Genesis. This
claim has yet to be confirmed, but those who believe in it assert that the seemingly eternal youth
of Kane and the fact (in terms of Genesis) that Cain was banished to the land of Nod, and that
Kane led the Brotherhood of Nod, was more than enough evidence. And eerily, there was no
record of him in the databases of international agencies and national governments. But he was
there; without a doubt in the flesh, alive and well.
Wherever there is unrest, places where a major war or revolution is imminent; it always appears
that Nod gets involved. Whether operating through covert or overt means, the Brotherhood
almost always gets an opportunity to further its influence. When a general goes against Nod, that
commander has the feeling that his or her mission will not be all that simple. He or she would
have the feeling that Nod has several tricks up its sleeve, always several steps ahead. Even when
the Brotherhood of Nod gets defeated, the victor still has the uneasy feeling that Nod is still out
there; that Nod agents are still lurking about. And so it was for the Global Defense Initiative in
the First Tiberium War. What did it matter that Nod's Sarajevo command center was leveled?
There were still other determined militia groups that either sympathize with the Nod cause or
outright declare allegiance to the scorpion's tail. And it was in the year AD, anno Domini, (or
CE, Common Era) 2030 when the Brotherhood rose again.

2. 2
It should be noted that the most powerful aspect of the Brotherhood of Nod lies not in its
strength, be it military, political, or economic, although those are highly formidable in their own
right; but rather in its dogma. The dogma carries a populist appeal. It carries a message aimed at
the people who feel they have nothing to lose; the people who are impoverished and handicapped
because of it; the people who feel that they are the victims of corrupt governance; the people
who feel that they are not the ones reaping in the wealth that came from the current economic
globalization due to Tiberium harvesting and processing; essentially, the ones who feel
oppressed by the modern West. It is a bitterness that also transcends what is considered the
"Left" and the "Right," and including the partisans of both camps, be they moderate or extreme.
And what did Western terminology about politics, society, and ideology matter, anyway? Getting
food on the table and securing other necessities of life are already hard enough, if not even more
difficult as the days passed. And this was where the Brotherhood of Nod came in. Its offer of a
better life, and better yet, a better world, was enough for those who wished to listen. And there
were many of those who cared to listen.
If not altogether erasing away many a discredited and/or extreme ideology, the Brotherhood was
at least able to play the various militant forces against each other or to even weld together the far
right and the far left. It may seem to be virtually impossible, but then, it seems that with Nod
anything is possible. Alliances between the left and the right are rare enough, and occur only due
to times when convenience is much needed. But then, both the extreme left and right have
similarities. The key similarity is the desire for a perfect world. And this too is the promise of
Nod. Undoubtedly, the central tenets of Nod as well as the leadership and charisma of Kane
provided the bonds needed to preserve a permanent left-right alliance. For both the leftists and
the rightists, Kane was the prophet who would lead them to another era, and a utopian era at that.
All they had to do was swear their loyalty to the Brotherhood.
The most defining moment for the Brotherhood of Nod was when it came out of the shadows.
The discovery of Tiberium benefited Nod financially and militarily. Of course, Nod continued to
be involved in the black markets, but the valuable materials found in a cheap and easily
obtainable resource gave a virtual guarantee for profitable investments. The Brotherhood also
discovered that new weapons could be developed due to Tiberium research. Tiberium gases are,
after all, quite fatal. Furthermore, new types of commando units could be developed. And for the
glory of Nod, the best operatives of the Brotherhood were practically superhuman due to the
Tiberium-enhancement programs.
But still, what makes Nod so attractive to a fanatic? It is the promise of a tumultuous upheaval,
the belief that the "oppressors" will eventually disappear, and the hope for a perfect world. How
ironic it is that the supporters of the Brotherhood are in fact fighting to establish a totalitarian
regime that would encompass the world. How ironic it is that these mere conscripts are just
enduring more suffering. And how ironic it is that the Brotherhood does not really live up to its
mantra. Nevertheless, in the world of Command & Conquer, there will always be a campus
radical, a disgruntled separatist, an outspoken dissident, and numerous other bitter individuals
reciting these four words, "One vision. One purpose."

3. 3
Allied Atrocities?
By Stephen Cheng | April 24, 2003
Link: http://planetcnc.gamespy.com/View89f7.html?view=Essays.Detail&id=134
Underdogs do not have luxuries. This was clearly demonstrated in the Allied-Soviet wars in Red
Alert and Red Alert 2. The Allies did not have the advantages of heavy armor and massive
manpower. What they did have, however, were resourcefulness, determination, and a few good
operatives (namely, Tanya Adams) and commanders (namely, the player). But these attributes
hardly leveled the playing field for the Allies. The Allies could take only so many poundings
from the Soviets. Several decisive Soviet victories cold very well mean crushing defeats for the
Allied powers, thus ending the war (be it the war RA or RA2) with the hammer and the sickle as
the official and dominant emblem. Thus, the two things that mattered to the Allies in their
conflict with the Soviets were: survival and expediency.
But, with all things considered, did human rights and civil liberties play secondary roles on the
Allied agenda? Furthermore, what was Allied military policy towards Soviet prisoners-of-war,
Soviet civilians, and Soviet sympathizers? Finally, was there any evidence?
First, before discussing Allied policies or actually charging the Allies with a war crime, the
evidence, although probably not evidence per se, ought to be examined. The evidence can be
found in the game play and the briefings.
In the game play, an implication of a war crime can be found in the original Red Alert in the
twelfth Allied mission. The objective of the mission was to capture the Soviet Tech Centers in
order to find data on the revived Iron Curtain project. There were two Soviet bases on the map
along with a civilian town. That civilian settlement can be targeted by the player. Also, for the
missions disk titled Red Alert: Counterstrike, the first Allied mission, called Sarin Gas 1:
Crackdown, a civilian settlement located at the top-center of the battlefield can be attacked. And
in the Red Alert add-on pack called Red Alert: The Aftermath, the player could target a civilian
town in the mission titled PAWN, in which the player has to defend an Allied base while waiting
for reinforcements to arrive. In short, if Allied forces were in Soviet territory (especially Russia,
the Soviet heartland), it appeared that civilians were essentially expendable. As for Red Alert 2,
the player could use his/her units to kill American civilians brainwashed by the Soviets in
Operation: Free Gateway. Overall, such casualties could have been considered collateral damage.
But it would be quite another story if the killings of civilians were deliberate or were due to the
actions of trigger-happy Allied troops.
In the briefings, there were also implications of Allied tolerance for excessive civilian casualties.
In the video briefing for the final Allied mission in the original RA, General Gunter von Esling
exhorted the player to fight and defeat the Soviets without any show of remorse. Were Soviet
civilians shown no mercy? There were probably a good number of Soviet civilians in the capital
city of Moscow, which was to be besieged by Allied forces. Since the area was a war zone,
civilians could be easily caught in the crossfire. Bullets, after all, know no loyalties. There was
also a text briefing in Red Alert: The Aftermath that may suggest yet another Allied crime. The

4. 4
briefing was for the mission called Harbor Reclamation. In the text, it was mentioned that the
nearby civilians were Soviet sympathizers who might act as scouts for the Soviet forces that
were holding the harbor that the Allies wished to retake. It was the last few words of the text that
might prove to be quite chilling. These words were (the quote, in italics, may not be exact): You
have permission to terminate the informants. Terminate, in terms of the quotation, meant that the
player could kill the informants. The informants were the civilians who had pro- Soviet
sympathies.
There are further questions about Allied conduct that should be asked, this time concerning the
home front. By how much were civil liberties curbed by the Allied governments? Granted, it was
wartime. The general publics were bound to be restricted by the governments. But would such
actions be considered to be too far across the line that separates liberty and tyranny? In other
words, how limited were freedom of expression, freedom of association, freedom of the press,
due process of law, etc.? Was criticism of the Allied war effort tolerated? Were antiwar activists
(if any), leftists, socialists, and Communists in the West repressed?
The last question is the most critical one. Considering that the Allies were fighting against the
Soviets, the fear of Stalinist rule among Westerners would be very, and understandably, high.
Anticommunism probably gained a desperate form of popularity. Since the Soviets claimed to
hold the banner of Communism, Western leftists (especially the socialists and the Communists,
who were to the left in Western politics and society) were undoubtedly discredited in the eyes of
the European and American general publics. If the Western left was even suspected to be a fifth
column for the Soviets (and it probably was), it would give the Allied officials more than enough
justification to shut down the opposition press (if there was even any to begin with) and expand
governmental, and intergovernmental, power on both the national and multinational levels. These
actions would all be done in the name of stifling Soviets efforts to take over the West.
Questions about the acknowledgement of human rights by the Global Defense Initiative and the
United States (in C&C: Generals) ought to be asked as well. GDI was up to its neck fighting the
Brotherhood of Nod in both the original Command & Conquer and Command & Conquer:
Tiberian Sun. Nod leaders did not just utilize conventional militaries and military methods; they
also used guerrillas, weapons of mass destruction, and other irregular means to their advantage.
Furthermore, Nod troops (or at least the higher-ranking soldiers and officers) were highly, and
even fanatically, dedicated to their cause. They would not capitulate, but would rather fight to the
death. Even more so, Nod guerrillas and militants were essentially armed citizens-turned-soldiers
(sort of like the so-called Minutemen during the American Revolution). All this proved
frustrating for GDI. GDI forces had a difficult time capturing Nod military personnel and
checking whether the civilian in question was indeed a civilian or actually a Nod lackey. It was
also a similar situation for the US in its conflict with the terrorist organization known as the
Global Liberation Army. The GLA lacked the conventional military forces that the Chinese and
US militaries possessed. Rather, it utilized terrorism and guerrilla warfare. GLA operatives hid in
areas that were highly defensible but needed only a meager garrison. GLA commanders also had
no qualms about using weapons of mass destruction if it helped accomplish their goals. The US,
and China, thus had to deal with an enemy that could cause serious damage and would capitalize
on any opportunity at hand.

5. 5
The Allies in Red Alert and Red Alert were characterized as the heroes. However, one should
wonder if the Allies were willing to resort to an ends-justify-the-means reasoning in order to
succeed on the military front against the Soviets. To conclude, the wars of C&C probably should
not be seen as battles between pure good and pure evil, but as conflicts between a greater evil
and a lesser evil with amoral factions thrown into the fray.
Note from the author: Since I do not own a copy of Red Alert: Counterstrike, I thank Tim
Gokcen for supplying information about the first Allied mission in that add-on pack. I also thank
Adam Faubert for the assertion that Soviet civilians could be targeted by the Allies in the game
play. Finally, I acknowledge that there are perhaps more possible Allied war crimes in the Red
Alert universe.
Tiberium Economics
By Stephen Cheng | August 3, 2002
Link: http://planetcnc.gamespy.com/Viewd263.html?view=Essays.Detail&id=160
Tiberium. The one economic resource that any enterprising military commander would take
advantage of. Tiberium. Discovered at the River Tiber in Italy (hence the name Tiberium), this
phenomenon spread all over the world and was found to contain valuable minerals. An ideal cash
crop. The stuff simply grows on it own. All one has to do is to gain the necessary capital to build
refineries and harvesters. Other than that, the mining operation is all set. Besides, aside from
establishing a collection facility and procuring the needed vehicles, operating expenses are quite
low. No doubt Tiberium made its way into the global marketplace as both an ideal commodity
and currency. And of course the Global Defense Initiative and the Brotherhood of Nod would
use refined Tiberium to fund their militaries.
However, nothing comes for free. Tiberium, although valuable, brings about costs in terms of
health and agriculture. Tiberium easily absorbs nutrients from the soil and thus turns even the
best farmland into wastelands. Deaths and illnesses also resulted from gases and spores released
by Tiberium. Mutations due to Tiberium exposure arose in human DNA. As we would see in the
world of Tiberian Sun, Tiberium permeates the entire Earth with the exception of the polar
regions. Indeed, Tiberium was something that was simply too good to be true. There had to be a
catch.
The purpose of this article can be stated in one question: How did Tiberium gain widespread
acceptance on the worldwide market? Why would banks trade their gold and silver for Tiberium?
Why would so many entrepreneurs, militaries, venture capital firms, governments, international
organizations, special interests groups and corporations display so much interest about Tiberium?
I propose three reasons. The reader may notice the overlap between all three.
Convenience
Tiberium is, as stated before, easy and cheap to obtain. Gold, silver, and valuable gems are not.
With this line of reasoning established, why mine for precious metals and gems when you can
find that kind of material in any field of Tiberium? It's little wonder as to why banks,

6. 6
governments, and other organizations deal in Tiberium.
Abundance
Tiberiums grows everywhere and re- grows when harvested. Tiberium investments would
definitely be lucrative. But won't the excess of Tiberium result in inflation? After all, according
to the law of supply and demand, an oversupply brings in low prices and an undersupply causes
the monetary value of the product to rise. When one applies this to the management of currency,
too much cash in print would cause inflation.
Perhaps it should be noted that Tiberium is an expendable product. If there is more refined
Tiberium than the banking firms can handle, the surplus can be thrown away. Also, Tiberium is
rich in minerals and it can be used as a standard and stabilizer for the world's currencies. This
leads to the third reason.
An Ideal Replacement
As stated, Tiberium is cheap and abundant yet valuable. Although Tiberium is not used directly
as currency, it is apparently used as a standard. Anyone who plays Command & Conquer would
notice that his/her funds comes in the form of credits. The devaluing of gold and silver in the
face of Tiberium would mean that Tiberium is the new groundwork on which the worldwide
cash supply rests upon if it (the cash) is to retain any value.
Tiberium was probably a godsend for countries that were minor players in the global economy.
Large mining companies and special interests notwithstanding, these countries can become
powerful economic forces by harvesting Tiberium. It would be reasonable to infer that Tiberium
ushered in the era of globalization.
Tiberium, like anything else, has its pros and cons. The positive points were: a more stable world
economy, a better stabilizer and standard for currency, the catalyst for globalization, and the rise
of more major economic powers. The negatives were: declining health, deaths, illnesses, and
mutation of human and animal DNA. Of course, every era has its beginnings and endings. In
Tiberian Sun, we saw that the golden age of Tiberium did not last long. The Earth was ravaged
by Tiberium growth, forcing human populations to either flee to the Arctic or to risk additional
exposure to Tiberium. A free market economy that was dominated by the West was replaced by
a command economy under the auspices of the Global Defense Initiative, funded entirely by
Tiberium harvests. Later on, another entity would arise, the Brotherhood of Nod and an economy
similar if not the same to that of GDI.
Cold War Crisis
By Stephen Cheng | February 2, 2006
Link: http://planetcnc.gamespy.com/Viewb1cd.html?view=Previews.Detail&id=92
On Christmas day in the recently past year of 2005, the Cold War Crisis team made public its
first demo, a one-player mission for the US military side. In the months leading up to the
December 31 release (and after as well), CWC completed unit after unit as news entries like

7. 7
those on Planet CnC featured images of the mod's tanks and aircraft. Although the rate of
progress peaked because of real life academic concerns, the modders soldier on.
Cold War Crisis is a SAGE-powered mod that requires the installation of Zero Hour for game
play. CWC is also based on the Generals add-on. The mod is set in an alternate 1980s when the
United States and the Soviet Union begin a third world war. Eventually, an European union, the
European Alliance, enters the fray (and coincidentally sharing Electronic Arts' acronym). CWC
derives itself from the game Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis. Although there is a Half-
Life mod for the same game titled Cold War: Melting Point, the two projects are not otherwise
related.
While Cold War Crisis will play out in mostly European theatres of war, mod member Sgt.Skleni
said that "there may also be more 'exotic' locations like Alaska, Iceland... We will try to make the
maps look like the location they are meant to represent." Sgt.Skleni added that the team intends
on "creating more than one campaign per side, where the missions are connected to each other in
one mini-campaign." Missions will have goals such as "hold the line," stealth, assault, convoy
escorting, and air corridor clearing. These can just as well be real world military operations, and
the group aims to keep it that way.
Warfare in CWC, according to staffer HEXman, will be "as realistic as possible." HEXman
continues, saying that the project crew is "[t]rying to get the 'field look', we plan to implement a
more mobile and military look." Included in this "mobile and military look" will be the delivery
of units rather than the on-site production and training of armor and troops. As for military
differences between the two most developed parties-at-war (US and the USSR), the American
side commands the skies while the Soviets can claim to have some of the best tanks in the world.
Units on display are primarily ground vehicles and aerial fighters. The "best modeled [and]
skinned" so far has been the MiG-29 Fulcrum. The most recently released unit is the F-4G
Advanced Wild Weasel.
[images of MiG-29 Fulcrum F-4G Advanced Wild Weasel]
Currently, a slice of the gaming experience that the mod has to offer is available via download.
Concerning the ongoing production, the team will work on infantry after finishing vehicles and
aircraft. The continuing development of arsenals plus the addition of the European Alliance will
round out the three-way World War III that originated from a cold war crisis.

8. 8
Blitzkrieg 2
Author: Stephen Cheng
Date: 2006-03-08 15:22:52
Link: http://planetcnc.gamespy.com/View16e0.html?view=Previews.Detail&id=35
"Blitz II, in its final incarnation, is going to be as historically accurate as the game engine allows
[it to be]," so says a confident Biohazard, Blitzkrieg's project leader. And who knows? Perhaps
his faith in the work of his team really is so well placed. The modification was honored with the
Mod DB: Mod of the Year Award for 2005. The most recent update depicted Luftwaffe planes
and coming before that were new tanks and turrets. A version is already out, with the final one,
Release 3, coming sometime at the middle of this year.
Blitzkrieg II is based on Zero Hour's SAGE engine, patch 1.04. Its predecessor, Blitzkrieg I, was
built on the Yuri's Revenge engine. The differences continue between the mods. Blitzkrieg II, for
one, enjoys a three dimensional setting, air-based fighting, and more sophisticated and varied
arsenals. In short, Blitzkrieg II will try to surpass Blitzkrieg I in every aspect. Blitzkrieg II
campaigns will represent the Allied, Axis and Soviet powers. Each side will have different
strengths. The Allies will have air combat superiorities that will include the atomic bomb and the
B-17 bomber squadrons. The Germans will make use of V-1 and V-2 rocket missiles, artillery
deployments, and bombing run operations. The Soviets will have super-weapons.
The mod-sequel strives to be grittily and militarily realistic. The realism is in the units, in which
vehicle price tags are the actual historical prices (i.e. Panzer IV G at $1000 and the Maus at
$8650) and the ranges are as they were in the war (i.e. K18 field gun can outshoot the Sherman
tank by a vast ratio), and in the battles, where infantry can effectively obliterate armor with anti-
tank weapons in urban settings. Tanks, to their own advantage, have coaxial machineguns which
can ably gun down foot soldiers. Units in general will originate the way they usually do in real
time strategy games, plus armored reinforcements for the Soviets.
Combat takes place in the countryside, the cities, the badlands, and the deserts. However the
sundry scenarios will not include carpet bombing (i.e. Dresden, bombing of London during the
Battle of Britain) because of the utter banality that mass destruction tends to characterize
(although A-bombs and B-17's appear to be exceptions). Although Curtis LeMay and Arthur
"Bomber" Harris wanna-be's may feel disappointed about the lack of such an option, they can
still engage in dogfights, for which Biohazard grants two pieces of advice: "[T]ake down the
enemy ground support planes... [and] ...when the ME-262s show up, you might as well give up
and bail out."
As it is, Blitzkrieg II has been, as over 300,000 downloads can attest, one of the best known
mods in the C&C community. It has beat out its competition, evolved beyond the horizons and
abilities of its predecessor, and emerged unfazed from the release of the official Blitzkrieg 2
game. The third release will certainly consolidate the mod's position of prominence.

9. 9
Project: Exodus
By Stephen Cheng | September 17, 2005
Link: http://planetcnc.gamespy.com/Viewcd72.html?view=Previews.Detail&id=95
In an early August 2005 news post, PlanetCNC reported on two screenshots from Exodus, a mod
currently hosted at Project Perfect Mod forums. The pictures were of structures modeled with 3D
Studio MAX and Corel Photo-Paint. The praise has been unanimous, that the work was
professional quality, and more professional than what EA had done.
Exodus is based on Red Alert 2's game engine and is set in a typical fictional background. It has
received inspiration from many a sci-fi work, among them movies, images, renders, and books.
Titles include Fallout, StarCraft, Dark Reign, Allies Revenge 2 and Tiberian Sun. Being a mod,
Exodus may not at first glance differ in essence from the traditional C&C formula, or for that
matter the traditional real time strategy formula, but the project leader wants to make Exodus
different.
According to the lead mod maker (who produced the two images), he would prefer to set the
storyline along different lines. That is, there is to be no clear-cut division between good and evil.
If anything, parties-at-war may range from pretentiously noble to downright cynical in motive
and aim. Obviously this differs from the polarized, two sided, and either-good-or-evil story style
found in most C&C games (although one can find a third amoral side in Generals and the Dune
games and it's arguable to some that the early C&C's weren't exactly starkly contrasted battles
between forces of light and dark). Rather, the mod will be more like Blizzard's 'Craft games
story-wise, as can be seen in Brood War which shows insidiousness and infighting at their most
infamous levels.
The Exodus story, for that matter, is conceived within a post-apocalyptic world. A single asteroid
from a flurry of hurling space rocks escaped the Earth's defense system and produced a long term
dust storm that covered the surface from the sun's rays. An evacuation vessel was built, but was
never launched. Since sunlight was blocked out, a new power source was found in something
called sub-fusion.
And natural resources became scarce, precipitating a need to salvage. Two warring sides came
into play (or rather blows), the Exodus and the Krisiun. The Exodus took to the stars and became
the more technologically advanced of the two. Its accomplishments include nanotechnology,
miniaturization, zero waste production (definitely an eco-friendly faction) and a keen efficiency
for all things tech. The Krisiun underwent deep sleep to weather out the crisis and thus became
the more primitive side. It is dependent on pre-impact blueprints and captured equipment for its
arsenal. Missions for the two sides will extend the story along with a fuller story version to be
posted on the mod's upcoming Web site.

10. 10
The war will be fought on various fronts. The team intends to create battlefields in city ruins,
wastelands and deserts. 'Fallen vault projects' were mentioned too, which are cities that became
subterranean through mechanical means. And there was talk as to underwater settings, which yet
to have serious consideration as to its realization.
These wartime landscapes will become populated with structures and units, which are
themselves demonstrative of the differences between the Krisiun and Exodus. The Krisiun being
primitive and the Exodus being advanced is that key difference. For example, Exodus infantry
carry laser weapons, jet-packs and other high tech equipment whereas Krisiun foot soldiers are
confined to cruder explosive and/or flammable weaponry. Unit names may be somewhat telling
in and of themselves as well.
Overall, it seems the mod has benefited from a decent start. It still has a long way to go, and it
may bring an impact of its own after completion.
Tiberian Plagues
By Stephen Cheng | July 14, 2003
Link: http://planetcnc.gamespy.com/View5399.html?view=Essays.Detail&id=158
When the bubonic plague penetrated Europe, it was during the time when the Europeans began
to trade along the Silk Road, a network of commerce that stretched through the Middle East. The
sickness came from fleas that contained the bacterium Yersinius pestis. The disease had already
spread to the human populace in the Far East. These fleas, which lived on the bodies of rodents,
were also transported by caravan across the Euro-Asian landmass. Merchants were infected, and
those who conducted business between Europe and the Middle East infected their associates,
trade contacts, and customers. The disease entered Europe and decimated about one-third of the
European population. The European populace was terrified, believing that it was a punishment
from God. And anti-Semitism increased, when European Christians suspected the Jews of
poisoning the water supplies, thus causing the plague. The epidemic was also known as the
Black Death.
Now consider a similar plague. But this time however, it would be due to Tiberium. The bubonic
plague was found in insects before it began to affect humans. However, what if Tiberium had
mutated insects such as, say, mosquitoes? And what if these insects, when they "bite" humans,
begin to inject Tiberium-related toxins into the human bloodstream? Needless to say, Tiberium
mutations may occur within humans. What is more, Tiberium might also disrupt immune
systems, which would make people more susceptible to disease.
Or what if Tiberium combines with a deadly disease to form a deadlier illness? Tiberium itself is
already a dangerous substance, but with the added debilitating effects that are due to disease, the

11. 11
danger only increases. Now if such Tiberium-"modified" diseases were also contagious it can
very well mean the decimation of the world populace. A Tiberium-bubonic disease would be one
such example.
And consider a third scenario. Would not the profits from Tiberium harvesting and the
technology yielded thanks to Tiberium-related research allow for the "rebirth" of a long-dormant
but fatal sickness or even the creation of new diseases? This would certainly be an opportunity to
be capitalized upon by terrorist groups, authoritarian states, and other ruthless entities. Diseases
used for aggressive purposes are biological weapons. The threat of using such weapons to kill off
a large portion of a nation's population is not something to be taken lightly. Such threats may
force the national government to capitulate to terrorist demands.
Tiberium itself has been a mystery to humans (except perhaps for Kane, who is quite an
extraordinary individual), a mystery that also happened to be dangerous. There had been no
successful method of fighting off Tiberium expansion, and it would be reasonable to assume that
there would be no effective cure for Tiberium-disease combinations. The problems afflicted by
Tiberium will only be exacerbated.
And there are also the consequences that may come from a Tiberian plague. Obviously, the high
death rates would lead to severe reductions in the workforces, thus damaging economies.
Politically, governments would be pressured upon by the general public for a solution to the
plague and the problems it has incurred, such as the aforementioned major economic recessions.
The political opposition groups would have popular support for unseating the incumbent. And
this opposition may consist of extremists such as fascists, Communists of the Marxist-Leninist
sort, and religious fundamentalists. These are people who would not hesitate to establish
totalitarian states. And needless to say, these extremists may have backing from Nod remnants
that had survived the First Tiberian War. In short, society would undergo drastic changes that
may not be for the better.
More importantly, major factors for the consequences of the plagues are not just Tiberium, but
also panic. By the early years of the twenty-first century, Tiberium growth will have increased
greatly, invading at a horrifyingly high rate. The idea that Tiberium has the ability to cause
devastating epidemics will only cause people to become more fearful. There may be riots and
armed rebellions. There may be mass suicides. The level of chaos may rise to a point that even
totalitarian regimes cannot control the anarchy.
And with this anarchy, the Global Defense Initiative would also be likely to step in, offering with
much futility a reprieve from the onslaught of Tiberium. Eventually, aggressive Tiberium growth
prompted GDI to evacuate unaffected (by Tiberium) humans to the polar regions. As for those
ailing due to disease, Tiberium, or both, they were probably left behind. And thus, this was how
the Forgotten came to be. Those left behind were also subject to "experiments" by the
Brotherhood of Nod.

12. 12
The devastating effects of Tiberium may not just be limited to the loss of habitat for humans and
animals. Plagues that may arise due to Tiberium would also devastate the Earth's population.
Even the Black Death cannot compare to the scourge of Tiberium. And as the C&C saga had
revealed, the biological dangers that Tiberium poses clearly outweighs the economic benefits.
Related Links (References):
http://members.hometown.aol.com/_ht_a/nathan19901162/myhomepage/
http://www.byu.edu/ipt/projects/middleages/LifeTimes/Plague.html
http://www.american.edu/projects/mandala/TED/BUBONIC.HTM
A Return to Feudalism
By Stephen Cheng | June 23, 2003
Link: http://planetcnc.gamespy.com/View7214.html?view=Essays.Detail&id=142
It is unknown why Kane put Stalin up to this. We believe that Kane, once the USSR had
conquered whole of Europe, would dispose himself of Stalin and either take control himself or
leave the Russian Empire without a leader, with a sure collapse as a result. The Brotherhood's
cause would surely benefit from the chaos that would then arise.
? From the C&C history text co-written by Tim Spelt, Dario Djuric, and David "DaveOneX"
Parunakyan
According to the above quotation from the Command & Conquer history text (now replaced by
the Canon, originally written by an anonymous author and edited by Mark "Cypher" Kotliar) that
was co-authored by Tim Spelt, Dario Djuric, and David "DaveOneX" Parunakyan, it was stated
that with the assassination of Joseph Stalin after the Soviet takeover of Europe, the rise of a
Greater Russia would be thwarted and anarchy would sweep throughout the continent, which
Kane and the Brotherhood of Nod may take advantage of.
Obviously, an outbreak of new violence would be a product of the disorder. But this time, the
Soviets may be divided among themselves, if some of the Soviet military officers may view the
chaos as an opportunity for consolidating their own power and break away to become
"warlords." Also, any surviving Allied forces and resistance movements would take advantage of
the chaos by establishing a new front against the Soviets. However, the new war that would be
fought between the formerly united Soviets and a renewed resistance movement may lead to a
stalemate, since none of these competitors for dominance may have overwhelming force at their
disposal. And with this stalemate there is a possibility that feudalism would have a comeback in
Europe.
The practice of feudalism is, essentially, the making of a pact between the vassal and his lord.

13. 13
The lord grants the vassal land in exchange for loyalty. The vassal may in turn serve as lord to
lesser vassals. These lesser vassals could well be serfs, peasants bound to the land that they farm.
And from the bottom up, this was how feudalism operated, peasants obeyed their lord and the
lord in turn answered to a higher one. And this higher lord might report to an even higher one.
In the era of postwar European feudalism, the top of the social pyramid would be claimed by
former Soviet commanders who had become the warlords. Below them would probably be the
lesser military officers. Below these officers would be perhaps the town and village elders and
other local officials. At the very bottom would be the farmers and the workers; they would be the
serfs. And there might also be former Allied commanders and resistance leaders who would try
to become feudal lords and forsake their fight against the Soviets.
The new feudalism may also have an industrial streak. As the Soviets claimed territory during
the Great World War II, it would be reasonable to assume that they established bases and had
rebuilt captured Allied bases in order to secure their gains. And these bases would have armories
and factories (as anybody who has played C&C would know), ready to provide equipment,
weapons, and supplies for the front lines. These structures would surely be the targets of the
warlords.
And although the renewed combat resulting from the Soviet empire's collapse would perhaps
lessen when the feudal structure sets in, there may still be sporadic fighting. The skirmishes
would be directed by the warlords themselves, with their vassals supplying troops, weapons, and
other forms of military aid. The serfs would be the ones called to serve as conscripts and
producers of weaponry.
The feudal era would also give the Brotherhood of Nod a chance to spread its influence. Since
the workers and peasants would presumably be at the bottom of the social hierarchy, this would
be where Nod will gain its recruits. These serfs of the postwar era would perhaps be bitter at the
dismal living and working conditions imposed upon by their lords. These lords, after all, would
certainly want the maximum output of labor at the least cost for the sake of economic self-
interest and for the buildup of military force against their rivals.
The Brotherhood of Nod would play on the serfs' emotions, telling them that they are
"oppressed," and that there is a way for liberation. These serfs, if they are to be so easily
influenced, would be the soldiers of Nod. They would fight for what would perhaps be termed a
"people's state" or a "people's order." Also, feudal lords sympathetic to the Nod cause would
greatly benefit the "liberation" movement. The lords' access to armories and command over
military forces would give the movement a greater strength in its militant edge.
The return of feudalism may be a result of the collapse of the continental Soviet Union that was
established at the end of the Red Alert 1 Soviet campaign. And should this feudal period come, it
would surely be a chance for Nod to build a base of popular support. And as for the dream of a
united Europe, it would be but a mere folly.

14. 14
The Global Defense Initiative: A Fundamental Force for Peace
By Stephen Cheng | September 3, 2002
Link: http://planetcnc.gamespy.com/View4dad.html?view=Essays.Detail&id=143
"Fight! Win! Prevail!"
(GDI motto)
An image of a hawk swooping down for its prey set in a circle of solid yellow. That is the
symbol of the Global Defense Initiative, also known as GDI. Its mission is peacekeeping,
essentially the official military arm of the United Nations. The GDI is, in the Command and
Conquer world, inarguably the greatest military organization known to humankind. The burden
upon the United States as a world power and the world's policeman was considerably lightened.
Now Russia, Western Europe, Brazil, Canada, India, and Australia were also out there keeping
the peace as member nations of GDI. The ultimate goal of the UN was to achieve and to
maintain world peace. The Global Defense Initiative was quite apparently the means towards
achieving that goal. The GDI handles volatile situations that can easily fuel a devastating
conflict. GDI forces are sent to pacify the strife. Through negotiations, commando operations,
full-scale military assaults and a satellite weapon system called the Ion Cannon; the Global
Defense Initiative has numerous tools at its disposal for cooling down hot spots.
GDI was established on 12 October 1995 in accordance with the United Nations Global Defense
Act. However, one could say that GDI was in fact in existence before 1995. The UN operated a
secret unit under the code name Special Operations Group Echo, Black Ops Nine. This unit, as
its title suggests, conducts classified missions all over the world that could either mean peace or
war, order or chaos, life or death. Of course, such high-profile operations could result in
exposure by the mass media. By declaring a new military peacekeeping organization, the UN
Security Council would not have to worry about maintaining secrecy. Furthermore, the Security
Council could outfit Black Ops Nine with a new name and conventional military forces.
The rise of the Tiberian Age meant that GDI could finally be self-sufficient. Mining operations
cost little but rake in high profits. The funding required for large military operations, the Orca
helicopter project, and the Ion Weapon development was no longer difficult to secure. GDI truly
became a force to be reckoned with.
Not surprisingly, there were numerous critics of the Global Defense Initiative. Those who long
suspected that the United Nations would take over the world characterized GDI as the final nail
on the coffin, that the Biblical Apocalypse is imminent [1]. Civil libertarians were worried about
the vast, sweeping powers that GDI holds. Conservatives and nationalists decried the formation
of the GDI as a violation of national sovereignty and dignity. The withering reaction was
intensified when a propaganda campaign run by the Brotherhood of Nod portrayed GDI troops as
mass murderers who pillaged civilian settlements.
Amid much criticism and condemnation, the GDI proved itself in the First Tiberium War. GDI

15. 15
managed to supply evidence about Nod's atrocities and propaganda program. GDI liberated
Eastern Europe from Nod occupation. The use of the Orca attack helicopters and the Ion Cannon
satellite later in the war helped to achieve GDI's victory in Sarajevo. With the Nod headquarters
in the Balkans destroyed, the central organ of the Brotherhood's movement was dead for the time
being.
The blue and white of the UN banner as well as the Stars and Stripes of the United States flag
was replaced by the swooping hawk set in yellow. GDI became the world's new policeman.
Although supporters laud the GDI as a defender of freedom and its opponents call it an
instrument for worldwide domination, it can be safely said that GDI is the guarantor of the
current world order.
________________________________
[1] Right-wing conspiracy theorists have long claimed that the founding of the United Nations,
black helicopter sightings, international military operations, supposed left- wing bias in the mass
media, the alleged decline of the Western ethical-structure and thus society itself, and the
establishment of Israel spells out the end of the world as according to the Book of Revelation in
the Bible.
The United Nations: Progenitor of the Global Defense Initiative
By Stephen Cheng | October 24, 2002
Link: http://planetcnc.gamespy.com/View2606.html?view=Essays.Detail&id=161
A picture of the Earth encased between two olive branches and embossed in solid blue. It is the
flag of the United Nations, an international peacekeeping organization. In the real world, it was
founded after the Second World War by the victorious Allies with the purpose of preventing
another global conflict. In the Command & Conquer universes, the UN was flung into the Red
Alert wars [1], the Tiberium Wars, and the war in C&C: Generals.
The tenet that serves as the groundwork in which the UN rests upon is the preserving of peace.
However, the UN was only partially successful at this task. Member states of the UN were
indifferent if not hypocritical and hostile towards the achievement and enforcement of world
peace [2]. Although the UN is, at least theoretically, an independent political entity, it relies
either on cooperation from the member nations or on support from the United States of America.
If the UN were to have more independent authority, it would need its own military.
UN military operations are traditionally peacekeeping missions. Peacekeeping forces consist of
both military and civilian personnel. They are at best lightly armed and at worst unarmed [3].
This was a drawback. Another drawback is that peacekeepers can only fire if fired upon.
Furthermore, member countries "loan" personnel and materiel. If a contributing nation sees fit, it
could withdraw its support [4]. In worst case scenarios, the UN Security Council could resort to
enforcement actions [5]. But what if UN members are silent and inactive as a crisis unfolds?

16. 16
The formation of a UN military would be a sensible answer to this question. As a matter of fact,
an armed force was established and utilized by the UN. This force came in the form of a covert
unit named Special Operations Group Echo, Black Ops Nine. Eventually, such secret operations
proved to be too difficult to handle and an information leak could easily result in a scandal that
would bring down the United Nations. A public military organization was established on 12
October 1995 as according to the dictates of the United Nations Global Defense Act. This
organization was called the Global Defense Initiative. It was during this time when the
Brotherhood of Nod made itself known throughout the international community. The advent of
Nod would test the effectiveness of GDI via combat. GDI succeeded in this trial.
As efficient as GDI was, the UN needed to fund this organization. It most definitely did not
come cheap. UN member nations are required to pay dues, but one could hardly expect that the
money could be used to cover all of the operating expenses incurred by GDI. Tiberium was the
answer to this financial problem. Tiberium mining allowed cash to flow into UN and GDI
accounts. Weapons such as the Orca helicopters and the ion Cannon satellite were made
available. Although GDI also relied on UN funding, the Tiberian Age meant that it (GDI) could
become self- sufficient and thus independent.
The UN is an organization for peace. But peace is not necessarily achieved through pacifistic
measures. In fact, pacifism can turn out to be highly impractical when warmongers gain full
control of a current or potential world power [6]. This is why a UN military was established in
C&C; to prevent conflicts from worsening through any means possible. With the Global Defense
Initiative, the United Nations became the embodiment of the words, "Peace through strength."
Related Links as References:
United Nations Article at MSN
Official United Nations Web Site
________________________________
[1] The UN backed the Allies in the RA wars (or at least the first RA war).
[2] See the introduction of the article on the UN found at www.encarta.msn.com.
[3] See "The UN's International Influence" in the UN article on Encarta and "Peacekeeping" in
the "Peace and Security" section of the UN Web site, www.un.org.
[4] The United States government did this in 1994 when 18 American soldiers were killed on a
peacekeeping operation in Somalia.
[5] Enforcement action was utilized in the Korean War (1950-1953) and the Gulf War (1991).
[6] This was the case when Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany in 1933.