Chapter 2-Tiberium Dawn
United Nations, Sol System, Earth, New York City
New York, just like any place on earth, had changed severely. While not up to the level of flying cars, mile high towers, it was getting their. The influence of alien technology had given earth a massive leap. Flying overhead the city, was the Kodiak, Mobile command centre of the forming earth fleet. Barely 90 metres in length, it was not the most powerful ship in battle, armed with only 4 missile tubes and its railgun network, but barring that it was the fastest ship in the fleet.
Swinging past the Statue of Liberty, the massive thrust engines poured out the same golden energy, standard to Earth starships, old F-35's flew patrols around the city, ever since the threat the Thor faced, in the Sol System none the less, a strengthening of all earths' forces. The thing is, the attack on the Thor was just the one of recent attacks by this new threat, and unfortunately, not the worst. The Battleship Freedom, pathfinder of her class, was sent to explore the nearby Sector 003, possibly in hopes of finding allies in the war. This was 2 years ago, on a 3 week exploration mission, the ship discovered FTL-communication was taking place in the sector, under orders to investigate, it was narrowed down to a system approximately 300 light-years from Sol. The Freedom jumped in, the ship never to be heard from again, it was only 4 days later when an F-302 exited hyperspace above earth. The pilot, a Flight Lieutenant Mitchell's, was completely broken after the incident. What little he muttered out at the time were the words 'brotherhood, slaughter, Kane.' No further missions were sent.
The Kodiak did one final pass around the city before powering the engines upwards, heading towards space, apparently its new Captain, Field commander McNeil wanted to test its capabilities in different environments, New York was just the first.
Just to the east of the command ship, was the United Nations building, these days it was much busier then before, the most important treaty the leaders of earth ever thought of was been in debate right this moment.
General Assembly
The representative slammed his fist on the wooden surface of the desk." France objects to this treaty, and we urge all other nations to denounce it as well!"
Brigadier General Davis, here representing the SGC rolled his eyes 'here comes the American world domination speech again.'
"This is an obvious ploy of the United States to gain even more military power, look at the proposed commander, General O'Neill, second in command, General Solomon? And I believe you yourself General are the proposed third in command of this Global Defense Intuitive?"
"Ambassador I know what you're trying to get at, but the positions were decided by an equal decision between the security council, your nation included." Davis replied calmly
The ambassador's face screwed up into a scowl, "That is not the only problem my government must bring before this council, even to this day the stargate remains in US hands, and according to this proposed treaty will remain so even in the formation of a global military organization. The question remains, why?"
Davis was expecting this, "While GDI would have direct power over United States military forces, according to article 21, section 4, of the Treaty of Disclosure, the United States has direct control over the Stargate, until 2025, July 17th." He faced the assembly, watching as each ambassador brought out their own copies of the treaty, validating this fact. "So in a sense it is under control of GDI, only named US property due to a technicality."
The ambassador's face quickly turned to an even more aggressive tone, ready to give yet another verbal assault, but the British ambassador wisely cut him off. "Well General, I see you bring fair points, however the idea is extremely farfetched as it is, the unification of all of earth's military forces?"
The general nodded, "Its within our capability if that's what you mean, it's already started to happen with our space forces, the Thor and Kodiak being the main examples." A collective shudder filled the room, the mention of the Thor brought back memories of why GDI was being formed in the first place, a collective front against both Baal, and this supposed 'brotherhood.'
The main doors burst open, a man wearing the customary suit of the special service bolted forward, "Sirs, the Philadelphia is picking up a huge energy surge in northern Italy!'
Tiber River Facility, 15 minutes Earlier.
"Quickly everyone, Kane has arrived!"
The dozens of scientists quickly finished their last notes, and filed into formation, awaiting the leader of Nod to arrive. They did not wait long, the sealed titanium doors, slid open to reveal the leader himself. Clad in Black robes, he stood at average height, yet he had a clear presence of command, an aura of arrogance of you will, the only hair on his head barring his eyebrows was the well groomed goatee. He stood before the collection of scientists, and smiled, "How goes the project doctor?" in a strangely calm and welcoming tone.
The Doctor inwardly gave a sigh of relief, "We are making progress sir, however the design you have given us was much better suited for when earth was full of naqaudah, and not isolated pockets that it is now."
Kane shook his head, "It is an unfortunate shame, however you informed me that it could be compensated by a mass spread of the plant?"
The Doctor nervously agreed, "Yes sir, but the Tacitus revealed that the containment field is specifically tuned to Tiberium, it would require us years to create the correct field."
Kane gave a questioning look, "And why would this be a problem?" he turned to face the contained crystals "We have seen that in larger fields, more naqaudah is collected, why not let it loose?"
"But, my lord….that would poison the earth in more ways then previously thought possible, you've seen what it does to life in isolated experiments, if left to its own, earth would no longer support carbon life within 15 years of exposure."
Kane burst out laughing, "I have suffered on this world for near 5 millennia, watched as it caused pain and suffering to those that touched its surface, wars fought on its lands for the smallest of reasons, yet millions die." He turned to the assembled members of Nod, "no my brothers, earth may burn under a Tiberium flame, humanities goal is to the stars, not this bare and useless rock."
The people of the room visibly grew unsure. Kane their leader, had just told them that earth meant nothing, that he would allow it too be destroyed to further reach the goals of the brotherhood, one of them did not accept this. "No."
Kane faced the man in question, "What is that brother?"
"I will not yet you will not sacrifice earth, even for the cause of the brotherhood." Despite this large claim in defiance he hung his head to the floor.
Kane started to get interested, "Oh?" then smirked, "What does a small lowly little man like yourself, think he can do to the leader of Nod?"
The scientists expression grew into a dark feeling, "Heh, well soon find out won't we Goa'uld?"
Kane was visibly taken back, as the supposed scientist brought out a disclosed Zat gun, quickly raising and firing a quick burst of the weapons strange energy. Kane on the other hand in an equally swift move, pulled his hand of his cloak and aimed at the man. The electric energy washed over the newly formed shield around Kane, the infiltrator in a scream of rage let dozens of burst fire uselessly towards the leader. Kane, with his face showing struggling concentration, his hand shaking slightly, as with great effort, shield instantly turned into a shockwave of pure destructive force. The wave aimed at the infiltrator, slammed into him, throwing him a clear 5 metres into the lab wall. The scientists stood in shock at what happened, it lasted barely a few seconds, and yet it truly showed how powerful Kane was, it was a scary thought, but it wasn't the only thing that freaked the men out.
Kanes eyes were glowing, a bright golden colour, seemingly revealing power, that was not human, it was more. "Quickly, the western nations must have discovered our facility, we must unleash Tiberium now and destroy this base!" his voice was distorted, as if there was too, but no one cared, they were more then willing to obey, as the last sequence was activated, every single person rushed out the door, and never looked back.
Space Station Philadelphia-Same Time
A man ran like there was no tomorrow, in a place as large as the Philadelphia, you'd have to, especially when the elevator system was in use, and the comm. Systems down, even the computer network was having problems, 'damn prototypes' he thought.
Finally approaching the command centre, he found General Solomon talking to an officer, he didn't have time to be polite.
"Sir we've lost life signs of operative delta!" he reported, while interrupting the conversation.
If it were any other thing, Solomon would have thrown the man in the brig, the reports of the strange fighters were a top concern, this however was much more. "What, did we get a video feedback of how?"
"Yes sir, I ran over it a dozen times at least, but each one was as clear as the last, it was a hand device."
"You mean there's a Goa'uld on earth, and he's the one running this brotherhood?" Solomon asked
"That's all speculations at the moment sir, but we did pick up that this man was known as Kane, and he's about to unleash some form of virus on earth, we have to destroy the facility and quickly."
The General thought it over, 'Politicians aren't going to like us randomly firing super weapons at earth, but this is different.', Major, where's the closest Ion Cannon to Italy?"
Major Stevens, in command of Ion Cannon positioning, quickly went over the digital map of earth. "Umm Cannon 32, just a few dozen kilometres below the Alps."
"How long will it take to move it above the Tiber River?"
"I'm moving it now, it's going to take 2 minutes."
Tiber River Facility
Every person was running towards the docking bay, the hundreds of workers, scientists and Kane himself weren't stopping for any reason, they knew the Western Nations knew about the facility, and chances are it was soon going to be blasted away by an ion beam, no one wanted to be here when it happened. The numerous Montauk underground transports filled to capacity, their drivers quickly taking whatever path they could in the numerous underground networks. Kane, clutching the only item worth keeping in the facility, the Tacitus, literally a gift from the ancients, he hoped to copy the design used on earth, and use it against those that stood in his, and his brotherhoods way. 'I will have vengeance Baal, you left me on earth, and soon I'll leave you in your own Tiberium infested grave.'
Space Station Philadelphia
"Cannon is in position sir, were also picking up some damn powerful readings on the surface."
"Let's not find out what it is, open fire!."
Ion Cannon 32
The satellite, exactly in position, started the firing sequence, the charged particles gathered inside the collector modules. Soon the particles flowed freely in the firing tube, the soft glow of blue light reflected against the metal surface, it was time. The cannon fired the thin, let undeniably powerful beam at the surface, cutting into the stormy atmosphere below. The beam almost instantly struck the surface, literally melting through the earth, at full power, a huge amount of force was produced, the ground cracked open where it wasn't already melting, huge gusts of wind ripped into the trees and mountain sides in the distance.
Montauk One
Earthquakes were common for the literally underground forces of Nod, but this was just overkill. Even a clear 15 kilometres away from the facility, the ground shook at near the levels one would expect total destruction, this is why everyone in the Montauks, Kane included, silently thanked the engineers that designed the vessels. Suddenly the shaking stopped, and the caved in tunnels behind were all that remained of the Tiber Facility. Kane already imagining the effects of what just happened, the western humans could not stop what had just happened, he knew exactly what happened, "So begins the Tiberium War."
Space Station Philadelphia-Same Time
"Direct hit on the Facility sir, were not picking up any energy sources or life signs, only ionized particles." The major reported with a grin on his face.
The general giving a small smile in return, "Well done Major, bring the cannon back into standard orbit, we'll send a crew down to investigate immediately."
"Aye sir."
Ground Zero
It was a mess to say the least, the scorched black earth spread a good kilometre in all directions, such were the effects of the Ion Cannon. Numerous drop ships touched down shortly after the blast, they scanned the immediate area, picking up nothing but blackened rock, but little did they notice, 3 small green crystals burst towards the surface, thus began, the Tiberium Age.