Part 40: FS GDI 05: Dogma Day Afternoon (+ World Building)
FS GDI 05: Dogma Day Afternoonhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfE1nXtGwGQ
Dogma Day Afternoon
After reprogramming CABAL to serve GDI, they receive a lead on the Tacitus and its location. It appears that the segment of the Tacitus is in La Paz, Bolivia, in a area that is quite heavily infested with Tiberium. Only a small team is afforded to you to recover the segment. Exert extreme caution, there's no telling what you may encounter down there!
The briefing tells us we're in La Paz, Bolivia.
Location: La Paz, Bolivia
Objective: Recover the Tacitus
Briefing: The second piece of the Tacitus is rumored to be held inside an ancient temple outside of La Paz, Bolivia. Ghoststalker and one of our archaeologists will assist you in locating the temple and retrieving the Tacitus. We also have a new unit for you to test: it's called the Juggernaut and is our new long-range artillery unit. Be advised this area is completely uncharted. END TRANSMISSION.
Author's note: While I enjoy the atmosphere of this level, and some storytelling, I definitely remember this one being easier. I doubt it's due to difficulty specifically...
Name: Lieutenant-General Cortez
Aliases: None
Affiliation: GDI
Occupation: GDI Commander
Voiced/Played by: Efrain Figueroa
De Facto leader following GDI's inability to maintain contact with the USS Philadelphia. Appears to be on a first-name basis with Dr. Boudreau.
Name: Dr. Boudreau
Aliases: None
Affiliation: GDI
Occupation: GDI Scientist
Voiced/Played by: Linnea Pyne
Head Scientist within GDI, she heads the recovery and translation efforts of the Tacitus. Appears to be on a first-name basis with LGen Cortez.
Juggernaut
RANGE: Long
ARMOR: Light
WEAPON: Three 120mm Cannons
Analysis of our previous battle data during the last campaign brought to the surface the fact that GDI forces lacked effective long-range support fire. Using a modification of both the Titan delivery system and ship-based artillery technology, our technicians have come up with a tremendously powerful weapon. The Juggernaut, although slow, can deliver a lethal barrage of shells at long range. This unit is a much-needed addition to our arsenal and can soften up even the most well protected bases with relative ease. The limitations of the Juggernaut come from the fact that it has a slow firing rate and has to deploy to fire. It is utterly defenceless when not deployed. In addition, being a long range weapon has another drawback; its effective minimum range is limited, so be cautious about how close to the front line battles you deploy this unit.
Author's Note: I prefer the NOD Artillery, but the Juggernaut works in a pinch. Unless I absolutely need some, I'll skip Juggernauts to get more Titans.
With the defeat of the Brotherhood of NOD, it was assumed that GDI forces and scientists would be able to halt the spread of Tiberium and prevent the fall of human kind. Sadly, the conflict consumed too many resources, and GDI was spread too thinly to fulfill its mandate. Adding insult to injury was the fact that GDI still did not have the complete Tacitus, or a means of understanding its hidden properties, much less stopping the spread of Tiberium outright. However, research was undertaken on trying to understand it where possible.
A trio of Blossom Trees
To date, there are only three known types of Tiberium. After its original arrival and establishment near the river Tiber in Italy, green Tiberium rapidly spread, of which we know of three ways for it to do so. Firstly, by meteorite, of which more and more seem to be breaking into Earth's atmosphere. Secondly, by modifying the genetic code of nearby plant life, which turns them into "Blossom Trees". Lastly, Tiberium is capable of self-replicating/growing itself by leeching compounds and materials from the soil or nearby organic matter.
A Vinifera, with nearby Blue Tiberium patches
The second known form of Tiberium is the blue Tiberium. While it does appear to self-replicate akin to its green counterpart, it has been observed that it occurs at a slower rate. Blue Tiberium appears to leech a higher concentration of minerals, making it much more volatile. Such volatility allows it to detonate other patches of Blue Tiberium by sympathetic detonation, to deadly effect for any Harvesters caught in such an event. The different concentrations of matter between blue and green Tiberium explains why green Tiberium concentrates around Blossom Trees (Organic Matter), while blue Tiberium concentrates around a Vinifera.
The third form is known only to a small few, one of whom was Tratos. It is reported that it adorns a red/orange hue, but reports concerning it are scarce.
Cultists surround, and pray to, a Tiberium Floater
As Tiberium has continued to grow across the world, worming its way into more and more locations, it appears that Tiberium has begun to reshape, or more accurately mutate, another species of life known informally as a "Tiberian Floater". The creature, resembling a jellyfish, appears to hover off the ground, hence its name. It has been known to attack when provoked, and will relentlessly chase down its target. Reports note that it can spew Tiberium gas, and also has a means of generating an electric current that it uses against its prey. Little else is known of the creature, due to being discovered only recently but it is safe to assume that both the Brotherhood of NOD and the Global Defense Initiative are already attempting to study the species.
Cultists with potentially domesticated Tiberium Fiends
Lastly, cults have risen in remote locations, as seen in the area of La Paz, Bolivia. Whether due to a need for some resemblance of a social structure or new-found faith in the properties of Tiberium, groups have gathered together to develop a myriad of different rituals and rites that, generally, only feature Tiberium, or Tiberium-based lifeforms, as a common element. Whether or not these disillusioned populations will mutate into Forgotten, visceroids, a new Tiberium lifeform, or simply perish in the attempt is too early to tell, but field reports are not optimistic of the possible outcome...