- Location
- US
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Honestly at this point it more likely they are being conjured from India lol
Attempting to Fulfill the Plan: GDI Edition
We haven't beaten them yet. But we will. For the sake of Humanity we will be victorious! We'll keep fighting, and we'll win!
- Location
- Ohio
I also think we should avoid tiberium power cells for now. They are very vulnerable, unstable targets and way too unpopular. It would be a lot worse than a nuclear power plant melting down because we could lose blue and yellow zone areas easily this way.
And when I say that we are not Nod, I mean that we are not the faction strapping volatiles to our troops that will explode if you look at them funny.
So I am being both ethical and pragmatic here.
And when I say that we are not Nod, I mean that we are not the faction strapping volatiles to our troops that will explode if you look at them funny.
So I am being both ethical and pragmatic here.
They could have mobile juggernauts under there, or their mega-subs are sulf-sustaining communities at this point.
Can't we look there with a satelite? Make a recon flight? Something? They can't put whole fucking country under stealth!
- Location
- colombia
is more like,the country itself is under sea,the manpower is indian
Nate700
The Great Lurker
- Location
- USA
We need a SR 71!
Dmol8
The Undead Unhinged Lunatic of the Web
- Location
- Belgrade,Serbia
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
Yeah and the Rachni themselves were indoctrinated. What is your point?
We did Tiberium Algae harvesting a while back near the start of the first plan. We deploy new military tech next turn starting with the Orcas and then the point defense system.
KnightDisciple
Love God. Do Right. Fear No Man.
- Location
- Midwest, USA
GDI still only has about 1/3 of the planet's population under its aegist, perhaps like 1.5/3 at this point. ( @Ithillid can correct that number if I'm wrong)
NOD has decades of experience of having an industrial base that is some measure of hidden away.
They likely have at least as many people under their aegis as GDI.
And they operate in a cell structure that discourages the entire edifice collapsing if one of the Warlords dies.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Oh, I'm aware. Both sides had good and bad arguments for how certain battles could of been won and indeed it could of went the other way at several points had certain officers not made the decision they had (for all the memes that Hitler interfered enough to lose the war he did actually correct his Generals such that they won battles a few times) and indeed micromanaging from the top occurred on both sides to the detriment and benefit of their forces.
Were you aware for instance that on the production front many Soviet tank factories were manned by the crews of the tanks being built? Such that in the morning one group would be building their tanks and the other would be learning the theory of how to operate the tank. This resulted in crews who knew exactly how to fix every inch of their vehicle and who were ready to go at the same time as their tank, some learning had to be done "on the road" though.
Also the Germans hamstrung their production by putting slave workers in their factories who would often machine parts incorrectly or "accidentally" break or damage the parts as they were going out. Their SS minders thought so little of their intelligence (even though some had been doctors and such pre-war) that they often took it as simple stupidity or clumsiness not deliberate sabotage.
Anywho, Command and Conquer.
- Location
- The Underdark
They will. This has been part of a slow and steady process to develop fusion, with each step being more competitive than the last.
1.5 billion people total.
GDI is about 510 million at this point, and Nod about 990 Million.
Edit: Which, yes, does mean you are stealing noticeable amounts of their peeps, but 990 million is still a lot.
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But GDI also controls most developed areas, free of people-eating rock, and full of advanced idustry, which can be operated in most efficient way because they don't need to hide from orbital bombardment, and are actualy one, coordinated state, and not a bunch of guys ruling on the basis who has more dudes to send to die and only cooperate when messiah arrives.
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Chimeraguard
We do deserve to exist.
Hmm... I wonder about doing the first phase of Agriculture Mechanization instead of YZ Water and Food. Mechanization would fulfill the food demand quicker, which in turn would then let us move onto Kudzu and Spider Cotton. It costs 5 more RpD than Yellow Zone stuff, but I could make that up by converting the LCI Fertilizer Dice into Blue Zone Light Industrial Sector Dice, since that's 10 RpD vs Fertilizer's 15 RpD, so it'd all even out.
It would mean that any Yellow Zone Agri stuff of Water and Aquaponics likely gets delayed to the very end of the plan though. But IIRC, Ithillid said that the Yellow Zoners are pretty happy with what the Treasury's done for them in this plan already.
- Location
- The Underdark
Which is why you are currently inundating them with your advances and some of the warlords are resorting to scorched earth tactics to slow you down. It might not feel like it all that much, but you are winning the war.
- Location
- USA
Yeah NOD had more pop but was operating under distributed industry that could not take advantage of scale and for that matter supply flow across the world the same way that we can, not to mention the friction between various warlords.
This is more expensive and also takes cap goods which we need a lot of for use else where like doing all the factory refits. I would hold off until we get Nuuk phase 4 for that as we should get enough food from other projects to meet plan goals.
Chimeraguard
We do deserve to exist.
Okay, here's a slight variation on my previous plan, this time doing Agricultural Mechanization (just phase 1) instead of YZ Aquaponics, and Blue Zone Light Industry instead of Fertilizer.
Now this is more expensive in terms of Capital Goods, but with our progress on Johannesburg and unlocking another Capital Good provider in Spider Cotton early, I think we can afford the cost. But the fact that it will demand another Capital Good now, and another couple once the Light Industry Districts finish is noteworthy and may make it unappealing.
If we have some form of stealth disruptor deployment in turn options, we should make it our first priority, because it will fuck up NOD everywhere, immensly.
- Location
- Mobile, Alabama
Have more to say later but thought I'd pop in for one comment.
Nod has cloaking and man power. They don't have to be on the ocean floor to make giant subs. They just need coastline we haven't walked on in an couple of years. Heck Nod has tunneled before they might be making them under ground and exiting via underwater tunnel. What I'm very curious about is what those subs are. Are they pure missile boats or are they transports? Also seems to me they've had some sort of naval breakthrough or else we need to up our ASW operations.
Nod has cloaking and man power. They don't have to be on the ocean floor to make giant subs. They just need coastline we haven't walked on in an couple of years. Heck Nod has tunneled before they might be making them under ground and exiting via underwater tunnel. What I'm very curious about is what those subs are. Are they pure missile boats or are they transports? Also seems to me they've had some sort of naval breakthrough or else we need to up our ASW operations.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
It would, wouldn't it. 4 dice in total for 8 Food...
I think it comes down to how attractive Spider Cotton will be when we deploy it. I can't imagine it costing less than 20 a die and 200 progress, like Entari...which might still be worth it, that's basically a 3 dice project.
I'd rather not work on Kudzu, though. Regular kudzu is bad enough.
On the gripping hand:
If this is extra food from our finished projects, that might fulfill the goal right there. If it's a blank cost reduction/Food bonus to future projects that makes our job easier.
It definitely feels like we're only winning at the moment because Nod hasn't yet brought in their A-team, though.
Like, +48 kton submarines is one hell of a tip for an iceberg.
You realise that we would be growing it in closed environment, and even if it escapes into world, there are no biosphere for it to ruin?
Also, if we keep people without caffeine for logner, there are going to be riots.
The only place not corrupted by NOD!
(But it is, sadly, corrupted by tiberium)
- Location
- Cara Fahd
The arcos aren't to move people from refugee camps to normal housing, it's moving people from low to normal housing into luxurious housing. It's not an emergency, neither humanitarian or about security. It's a luxury project. It's pork. It's more than likely for politicos to score political points. Since Wu seemed like a developmentalist, it's likely she and the other are trying to get a bit more credentials before the developmentalist fracture.
They have the means to include their wants or needs into our operations, it's called the Plan. If more than 1 tier of BZ arcos was vital to the survival of the GDI, it would have been part of the Plan. If they want to include their wants and needs into our operations, they can include them in the next Plan.
It's not like the military borderline mutinying because they were ignored. It's the politicos asking us a favor in addition of what they have already gotten from us.
Throwing 2 dice at the problem each turn isn't telling them "we're workin' on it, we're workin' on it!", it's addressing a problem they brought up in addition of the demands of the Plan and the shitton of emergencies all around with whatever we have on hand. If they aren't happy with our pace, the next Plan is coming soon: they can add more BZ arcos tiers to their demands if it's necessary and they better give us the funding and PS for it.
What does the second half of Seo's skill mean? Does it mean the DC for making research teams lower or does it mean we have more research options available?
Also weren't we supposed to get a missive from Al J and the military? What happened to that? We got Wu's mail instead.
Also weren't we supposed to get a missive from Al J and the military? What happened to that? We got Wu's mail instead.
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Seo Speech Aftermath, Kane and Gideon (canon)
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Cooperative Omake by me and the awesome @KnightDisciple.
Seo Speech Aftermath, Kane and Gideon
Gideon could not think of many things he'd rather have happen at this moment. Interrupted by his personal guard due to a matter of immediate urgency, he stormed out of his personal chambers, still dressing himself as he made his way to his command center.
"Please, please, this cannot be happening right now.", he mumbled to himself as he fought with the zipper of his perfectly tailored pants during the elevator ride, hoping no one else was there to witness his current shameful condition.
As the door opened into Gideon's private command center, he saw that while his personal chair and its attached computer screen were dark, the large wall full of computer screens, showing constant feeds of military data from all over North America, as well as several news-casts and other information streams, was going full-blast. No other light was in the room, and the flickering, changing colors of the screens cast the scorpion-inspired chair in an eerie, otherworldly glow.
Gideon froze.
Standing a few feet in front of the wall of screens was a figure in a deceptively simple-looking hooded coat. Its cut was somewhere between a traditional long-coat and some sort of ancient robe. The man standing there had his hands clasped behind his back, his feet spread slightly, in a posture that someone in good health could probably hold for hours. The lights from the screen gleamed slightly off of his bald head. There was no mistaking who this figure was. The Messiah had come to visit Gideon.
Immediately capable and nimble hands began fumbling with buttons, straps and laces. Quick and quiet, with movements and techniques learned from the beginnings of his ascend in the brotherhood, he fixed up his appearance, smoothing out wrinkles in his uniform and straightening his hair back. If Gideon had learned one thing during his ascend in the Messias brotherhood it was that it was all about the performance, the looks, the hand gestures made during speeches, the symbols used. After a few seconds Gideon had transformed into the Gideon he presented outwards, chin up, chest out, trained breathing and a smile he had practised for Kane knows how long in front of the mirror with an outfit as immaculate as the situation allowed.
The four center screens were configured to show an enlarged view of the speech being given by Treasury Vice-Secretary Seo Thoki. A speech happening right now in the gradually-resurrected city of Chicago.
--"To defend it, we must continue to work towards understanding. Not just of each other, or of the world around us, but in all aspects of life. We must remain true to the vision of the Initiative as it has been rebuilt in these last years, and build a society where none need go hungry. None need go without shelter. A society where none are damned for the accident of their birth. I have been given the responsibility to be a torchbearer in these dark times. I hope to carry it well. Thank you."--
A hand raised and idly gestured at the screens, and they muted as the speech finished and the Vice-Secretary was ushered away by security troops in full Zone Armor. For several long moments, a time less than a minute but more than an eternity, the bald figure stood there silently.
Gideon waited for the Messiah to make the first move. It would allow him to figure out the purpose of this all too unexpected visit, whether or not he was angry, disappointed or something else and, more importantly, it would allow him to formulate a response.
Finally, Kane spoke.
"A most rousing speech, wouldn't you say, Brother Gideon? I thought the bit about contrasting peace versus the sword was a particularly fine bit of wordplay. Of course, I'm sure you already knew the contents of the speech, as well as the location and the time. You have, after all, assured me time and again, that you have comprehensive knowledge of the moves GDI is making on this continent. And while I would not think that every single person's literal movements are tracked at all times, I would conversely think that one of the half-dozen most powerful people in the Initiative would be under constant observation and tracking.
So clearly, you decided that this was not an opportunity for an assassination attempt. Almost handed to us on a platter by GDI. Unless you mean to tell me that you simply did not know that not only was the Vice-Secretary going to be in Chicago, but was going to be giving a speech in an open, public area?"
Only then did Kane turn around slowly; he stepped several feet closer to Gideon and, with another wordless hand-gesture to the room's Virtual Intelligence that coordinated many of the functions, turned the actual lights on to dim illumination. Gideon had never specifically told Kane or others about all the commands he'd coded in, but this was, after all, Kane. Rumor had it he had an Artificial Intelligence that exceeded the power of CABAL at his fingertips. The highest leader of the Brotherhood of Nod stopped a few feet away from Gideon, just far enough to allow the warlord the impression of a strong personal space. His arms were crossed over his chest, but a gentle, fatherly smile was on his face as he waited for Gideon's answer.
Gideon immediately decided on a course of action, submissiveness, as much as it pained him. He fell to his knees, head facing the polished black stone tiles beneath him.
"Messiah!", he called out, carefully controlling the tone of his voice. "I can assure you, it was still yesterday that my agents and I were sure about Granger using the Energy Summit to present his successor, and had made preparations for this possibility. The fact that my entire network was unaware of this development only speaks of our enemies' increased strength and cunning and not the incompetence of my agents."
Kane stood there for several moments. Who knew what was going on inside of his mind? Certainly not Gideon.
'Ancestors give me strength, this one really is a simpering fool.'
Finally, he spoke.
"So. Your entire intelligence network is exceedingly competent. It is simply that GDI is more competent? More..powerful?"
Kane paused, and seemingly took a moment to examine his fingernails, as if searching for an imperfection or some sort of bit of captured dirt.
"I do appreciate your attempt to give grace to your subordinates. However, this is a worrying trend. If you had known of this and simply chosen not to act, then I would not necessarily mind. My field commanders have the leeway they do because I try to trust their judgement. But if it was because you truly did not know, then we may have a problem."
He tapped his chin in thought, before snapping his fingers.
"Ah, yes. Brother Mehretu has extensive experience working with extremely asymmetrical power dynamics. His troops are excellent infiltrators. I will request he provide you with a handful of trainers, to help your own intelligence operatives get a better handle on how to handle superior enemy means. But, Gideon…"
Kane knelt down, placed a single finger under Gideon's chin, and gently, almost lovingly, lifted the Warlord's face until he was looking Kane in the eyes. The Messiah no longer smiled.
"It is the job of the troops to carry out the will of their commanding officer. But it is the job of the commanding officer to understand their shortcomings and, if it is beyond their own means, ask for assistance. I would rather see my commanders constantly requesting aid from each other, and succeeding, than see them all fail individually. So tell me, Gideon...how will you do better next time?"
His hand dropped away from Gideon's face, and Kane stood straight and tall once more, his arms crossed against his chest, his face a mask of stone that revealed little of his thoughts.
"My Messiah", Gideon answered composedly, returning the eye contact without flinching. "I can give the brothers and sisters of Nod motivation should they lack it. I can give them symbols to believe in should they need them. Through speech, prayer and sermon I can hype them up to willingly lay down their lives for your cause. But motivation alone cannot stand against the Marv, the manifestation of their imperialist nature. Motivation does not help if the Brotherhood soldiers are blown apart by GDIs artillery. But if you would be willing to share a sliver of your plans with the likes of me, I'd have something to rally the followers of the Brotherhood in North America. We can disrupt GDI all we want but they grow stronger every day all around the globe. What will the Brotherhood's response be?"
Kane tilted his head to the side, as if confused. HIs tone as he spoke was light, conversational even.
"To grow stronger, Brother Gideon. Have you not been doing that? Have you and your fellow war-leaders not been constantly working to grow your forces? Not just our faithful brothers and sisters who fight as Militia troops, but your heavy infantry, cavalry, and air force? Tell me, Gideon…"
Kane's hands went his his hips, his elbows pointed to the side. His brows shifted down slightly.
"How was it that GDI reached the point that Chicago is the fortress it has become in the first place? Why do we not have Shadow teams scattered about its landscape already? You speak of the power of GDI's MARV fleets; at least Stahl's troops put active pressure on the Hub in their territory. I expect my Commanders to act Gideon."
Kane barely disguised the sheer disgust in his voice.
"Where are your sweeping moves? I do not ask that you succeed every time. I ask that you do the best and boldest with what you have been given. To whom much is given, much is required. So now the question becomes how much more you feel can be required of you, Brother Gideon. I am truly beginning to wonder."
Gideon rose, furious at the humiliation, but remaining calm on the outside. "Let me show you what I have been working on."
He walked over to the table in the middle of the room, quickly running his hand over the keyboard to load up the schematics of his latest project. Slowly dimming the lights, he waited for the right moment to project the 3D blueprint into the air above them, the hologram painting the room into a violent red light.
Two vehicle schematics flickered above them. Both tanks are reminiscent of scorpions, the tail section raised high above the main body, the armor angular and plate-like, but one significantly larger, with slim, angular quad tracks and two sections.
"The results of months of research by my scientists." Gideon declared theatralically, with all the pomp and energy he could muster. "The scorpion tank, reimagined and given a new form. Imposing, deadly, ready to strike and...." He turned towards Kane, carefully reading his reactions. "...with a miniature Obelisk of Light as the main weapon."
Kane had followed Gideon, hands clasped behind his back. His expression had fallen into "inexpressive stone" until Gideon clarified the weapons systems on board the tank. His eyebrows rose fractionally, a sign of rather large surprise on the enigmatic leader's part.
"Intriguing. The positioning of the Obelisk allows for it to fire from a more protected position than many models of tank. I am impressed your engineers were able to include one. Though, I am curious Brother, what in particular is the difference between the two models? Simply the size?"
"The smaller one will hopefully replace the disgrace that is the current model of scorpion tank for Brotherhood forces across the world. It is fast, agile and can attack both air and ground targets and…" Gideon grimaced and clenched a fist, turning around towards Kane. "...It is one of my many failures. The original goal was to provide a mobile version of the Obelisk of Light, a beacon of brotherhood supremacy, unstoppable in its advance, deadly in its strikes. But my engineers had problems with its balance and ground pressure, so as much as it pains me to admit the Emperor Scorpion is currently the less finished prototype of the two."
Kane smiled.
"It is the nature of Nod to turn failure into opportunity. While there are merits to more traditional tank designs, having a mobile Obelisk mounted on a literal Scorpion's tail makes for fearsome sight indeed. We have other, more traditional designs being worked on anyways. I will direct some additional resources to this project, Brother Gideon. You have proven yourself a true follower of the ways of the Brotherhood. I was not mistaken in giving you leadership of this area, it seems. We will ensure the new-model Scorpion's design is finalized and distributed as soon as possible. Hopefully, this new weapon will give your forces the infusion of power and motivation necessary to begin pushing GDI's war-dogs back."
Kane turned and began to walk toward the door, but stopped halfway there.
"Was there anything else that required my attention, Gideon?"
Gideon smiled, exhausted and relieved, quietly wiping away a drop of sweat that had formed on his forehead. "No, Messiah. Peace through Power."
Kane's smile intensified for just a moment, before he turned and walked to the doorway.
"Peace Through Power, Brother."
And then Kane was through the doorway and out of sight. When Gideon nervously stepped up just moments later, he looked both ways and did not see the Messiah anywhere, or hear his footsteps. He was simply gone.
Seo Speech Aftermath, Kane and Gideon
Gideon could not think of many things he'd rather have happen at this moment. Interrupted by his personal guard due to a matter of immediate urgency, he stormed out of his personal chambers, still dressing himself as he made his way to his command center.
"Please, please, this cannot be happening right now.", he mumbled to himself as he fought with the zipper of his perfectly tailored pants during the elevator ride, hoping no one else was there to witness his current shameful condition.
As the door opened into Gideon's private command center, he saw that while his personal chair and its attached computer screen were dark, the large wall full of computer screens, showing constant feeds of military data from all over North America, as well as several news-casts and other information streams, was going full-blast. No other light was in the room, and the flickering, changing colors of the screens cast the scorpion-inspired chair in an eerie, otherworldly glow.
Gideon froze.
Standing a few feet in front of the wall of screens was a figure in a deceptively simple-looking hooded coat. Its cut was somewhere between a traditional long-coat and some sort of ancient robe. The man standing there had his hands clasped behind his back, his feet spread slightly, in a posture that someone in good health could probably hold for hours. The lights from the screen gleamed slightly off of his bald head. There was no mistaking who this figure was. The Messiah had come to visit Gideon.
Immediately capable and nimble hands began fumbling with buttons, straps and laces. Quick and quiet, with movements and techniques learned from the beginnings of his ascend in the brotherhood, he fixed up his appearance, smoothing out wrinkles in his uniform and straightening his hair back. If Gideon had learned one thing during his ascend in the Messias brotherhood it was that it was all about the performance, the looks, the hand gestures made during speeches, the symbols used. After a few seconds Gideon had transformed into the Gideon he presented outwards, chin up, chest out, trained breathing and a smile he had practised for Kane knows how long in front of the mirror with an outfit as immaculate as the situation allowed.
The four center screens were configured to show an enlarged view of the speech being given by Treasury Vice-Secretary Seo Thoki. A speech happening right now in the gradually-resurrected city of Chicago.
--"To defend it, we must continue to work towards understanding. Not just of each other, or of the world around us, but in all aspects of life. We must remain true to the vision of the Initiative as it has been rebuilt in these last years, and build a society where none need go hungry. None need go without shelter. A society where none are damned for the accident of their birth. I have been given the responsibility to be a torchbearer in these dark times. I hope to carry it well. Thank you."--
A hand raised and idly gestured at the screens, and they muted as the speech finished and the Vice-Secretary was ushered away by security troops in full Zone Armor. For several long moments, a time less than a minute but more than an eternity, the bald figure stood there silently.
Gideon waited for the Messiah to make the first move. It would allow him to figure out the purpose of this all too unexpected visit, whether or not he was angry, disappointed or something else and, more importantly, it would allow him to formulate a response.
Finally, Kane spoke.
"A most rousing speech, wouldn't you say, Brother Gideon? I thought the bit about contrasting peace versus the sword was a particularly fine bit of wordplay. Of course, I'm sure you already knew the contents of the speech, as well as the location and the time. You have, after all, assured me time and again, that you have comprehensive knowledge of the moves GDI is making on this continent. And while I would not think that every single person's literal movements are tracked at all times, I would conversely think that one of the half-dozen most powerful people in the Initiative would be under constant observation and tracking.
So clearly, you decided that this was not an opportunity for an assassination attempt. Almost handed to us on a platter by GDI. Unless you mean to tell me that you simply did not know that not only was the Vice-Secretary going to be in Chicago, but was going to be giving a speech in an open, public area?"
Only then did Kane turn around slowly; he stepped several feet closer to Gideon and, with another wordless hand-gesture to the room's Virtual Intelligence that coordinated many of the functions, turned the actual lights on to dim illumination. Gideon had never specifically told Kane or others about all the commands he'd coded in, but this was, after all, Kane. Rumor had it he had an Artificial Intelligence that exceeded the power of CABAL at his fingertips. The highest leader of the Brotherhood of Nod stopped a few feet away from Gideon, just far enough to allow the warlord the impression of a strong personal space. His arms were crossed over his chest, but a gentle, fatherly smile was on his face as he waited for Gideon's answer.
Gideon immediately decided on a course of action, submissiveness, as much as it pained him. He fell to his knees, head facing the polished black stone tiles beneath him.
"Messiah!", he called out, carefully controlling the tone of his voice. "I can assure you, it was still yesterday that my agents and I were sure about Granger using the Energy Summit to present his successor, and had made preparations for this possibility. The fact that my entire network was unaware of this development only speaks of our enemies' increased strength and cunning and not the incompetence of my agents."
Kane stood there for several moments. Who knew what was going on inside of his mind? Certainly not Gideon.
'Ancestors give me strength, this one really is a simpering fool.'
Finally, he spoke.
"So. Your entire intelligence network is exceedingly competent. It is simply that GDI is more competent? More..powerful?"
Kane paused, and seemingly took a moment to examine his fingernails, as if searching for an imperfection or some sort of bit of captured dirt.
"I do appreciate your attempt to give grace to your subordinates. However, this is a worrying trend. If you had known of this and simply chosen not to act, then I would not necessarily mind. My field commanders have the leeway they do because I try to trust their judgement. But if it was because you truly did not know, then we may have a problem."
He tapped his chin in thought, before snapping his fingers.
"Ah, yes. Brother Mehretu has extensive experience working with extremely asymmetrical power dynamics. His troops are excellent infiltrators. I will request he provide you with a handful of trainers, to help your own intelligence operatives get a better handle on how to handle superior enemy means. But, Gideon…"
Kane knelt down, placed a single finger under Gideon's chin, and gently, almost lovingly, lifted the Warlord's face until he was looking Kane in the eyes. The Messiah no longer smiled.
"It is the job of the troops to carry out the will of their commanding officer. But it is the job of the commanding officer to understand their shortcomings and, if it is beyond their own means, ask for assistance. I would rather see my commanders constantly requesting aid from each other, and succeeding, than see them all fail individually. So tell me, Gideon...how will you do better next time?"
His hand dropped away from Gideon's face, and Kane stood straight and tall once more, his arms crossed against his chest, his face a mask of stone that revealed little of his thoughts.
"My Messiah", Gideon answered composedly, returning the eye contact without flinching. "I can give the brothers and sisters of Nod motivation should they lack it. I can give them symbols to believe in should they need them. Through speech, prayer and sermon I can hype them up to willingly lay down their lives for your cause. But motivation alone cannot stand against the Marv, the manifestation of their imperialist nature. Motivation does not help if the Brotherhood soldiers are blown apart by GDIs artillery. But if you would be willing to share a sliver of your plans with the likes of me, I'd have something to rally the followers of the Brotherhood in North America. We can disrupt GDI all we want but they grow stronger every day all around the globe. What will the Brotherhood's response be?"
Kane tilted his head to the side, as if confused. HIs tone as he spoke was light, conversational even.
"To grow stronger, Brother Gideon. Have you not been doing that? Have you and your fellow war-leaders not been constantly working to grow your forces? Not just our faithful brothers and sisters who fight as Militia troops, but your heavy infantry, cavalry, and air force? Tell me, Gideon…"
Kane's hands went his his hips, his elbows pointed to the side. His brows shifted down slightly.
"How was it that GDI reached the point that Chicago is the fortress it has become in the first place? Why do we not have Shadow teams scattered about its landscape already? You speak of the power of GDI's MARV fleets; at least Stahl's troops put active pressure on the Hub in their territory. I expect my Commanders to act Gideon."
Kane barely disguised the sheer disgust in his voice.
"Where are your sweeping moves? I do not ask that you succeed every time. I ask that you do the best and boldest with what you have been given. To whom much is given, much is required. So now the question becomes how much more you feel can be required of you, Brother Gideon. I am truly beginning to wonder."
Gideon rose, furious at the humiliation, but remaining calm on the outside. "Let me show you what I have been working on."
He walked over to the table in the middle of the room, quickly running his hand over the keyboard to load up the schematics of his latest project. Slowly dimming the lights, he waited for the right moment to project the 3D blueprint into the air above them, the hologram painting the room into a violent red light.
Two vehicle schematics flickered above them. Both tanks are reminiscent of scorpions, the tail section raised high above the main body, the armor angular and plate-like, but one significantly larger, with slim, angular quad tracks and two sections.
"The results of months of research by my scientists." Gideon declared theatralically, with all the pomp and energy he could muster. "The scorpion tank, reimagined and given a new form. Imposing, deadly, ready to strike and...." He turned towards Kane, carefully reading his reactions. "...with a miniature Obelisk of Light as the main weapon."
Kane had followed Gideon, hands clasped behind his back. His expression had fallen into "inexpressive stone" until Gideon clarified the weapons systems on board the tank. His eyebrows rose fractionally, a sign of rather large surprise on the enigmatic leader's part.
"Intriguing. The positioning of the Obelisk allows for it to fire from a more protected position than many models of tank. I am impressed your engineers were able to include one. Though, I am curious Brother, what in particular is the difference between the two models? Simply the size?"
"The smaller one will hopefully replace the disgrace that is the current model of scorpion tank for Brotherhood forces across the world. It is fast, agile and can attack both air and ground targets and…" Gideon grimaced and clenched a fist, turning around towards Kane. "...It is one of my many failures. The original goal was to provide a mobile version of the Obelisk of Light, a beacon of brotherhood supremacy, unstoppable in its advance, deadly in its strikes. But my engineers had problems with its balance and ground pressure, so as much as it pains me to admit the Emperor Scorpion is currently the less finished prototype of the two."
Kane smiled.
"It is the nature of Nod to turn failure into opportunity. While there are merits to more traditional tank designs, having a mobile Obelisk mounted on a literal Scorpion's tail makes for fearsome sight indeed. We have other, more traditional designs being worked on anyways. I will direct some additional resources to this project, Brother Gideon. You have proven yourself a true follower of the ways of the Brotherhood. I was not mistaken in giving you leadership of this area, it seems. We will ensure the new-model Scorpion's design is finalized and distributed as soon as possible. Hopefully, this new weapon will give your forces the infusion of power and motivation necessary to begin pushing GDI's war-dogs back."
Kane turned and began to walk toward the door, but stopped halfway there.
"Was there anything else that required my attention, Gideon?"
Gideon smiled, exhausted and relieved, quietly wiping away a drop of sweat that had formed on his forehead. "No, Messiah. Peace through Power."
Kane's smile intensified for just a moment, before he turned and walked to the doorway.
"Peace Through Power, Brother."
And then Kane was through the doorway and out of sight. When Gideon nervously stepped up just moments later, he looked both ways and did not see the Messiah anywhere, or hear his footsteps. He was simply gone.