Tiberium
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Tiberium is a fictional crystalline material featured prominently in the Command and Conquer series of real-time strategy games. Typically green, it is named after the place of its initial discovery on the Tiber River in Italy in the late 20th Century (although an antagonist in the game, Kane, claims it was named for Emperor Tiberius). It leeches metals and other heavy minerals out of the soil, concentrating them in crystals which can be easily collected and processed. The leeching process leaves the landscape depleted, leaving the ground underneath effectively useless for agriculture.
In the story line, it is treated as a valuable resource, and is the principal source of money in-game.
It is possible that Tiberium is inspired by the red weed that proliferates the planet in a similiar fashion from H. G. Wells's The War of the Worlds.
Proliferation
Tiberium first reached Earth during a meteor shower in the 1990s. The first patch was discovered by Dr. Ignatio Mobius (although some would argue that it was actually Kane) by the Tiber river in Italy and has since spread all over the planet.Tiberium can spread almost anywhere, with the rate of spread being influenced by soil density and ambient temperature. Only the polar caps show low levels of Tiberium infestation. Tiberium spreads through a variety of methods, depending on the local environment.
No matter how small, an isolated patch of Tiberium can spread to cover acres. The process is not entirely understood, but it is believed that underneath the surface a process of crystalization occurs wherein a concentration of Tiberium agglomerates nearby minerals into a "stalk" of varying size, density and composition which erupts from beneath the ground in what appears to be a large, earthen mass. It is estimated each stalk is only composed of about 29% Tiberian molecular structure, which tends to bond other minerals together into a coherent structure within the stalk. Small crystalline shoots erupt from the sides of the stalk, beneath ground level, further agglomerating nearby mineral abundances around themselves to form "tendrils", which grow outwards to areas of greater mineral density, and form other stalks. Meanwhile, within the original stalk, the Tiberium structure begins to solidify further, with Tiberium molecules bonding more to themselves than to other elements, until a critical mass is reached and Tiberium crystallizes, with large polycrystalline shards erupting from the surface notable stalk. Over time, these shards release small amounts of Tiberium into the atmosphere, spreading the "infection" aerially. An interesting, though unobserved process of ionization and nuclear fission or fusion is also believed to occur, resulting in the growth of Tiberium molecules from non-Tiberian substrate, as the sheer amount of Tiberium present in a given location over time seems to increase exponentially from a rather small source or "seed" of Tiberium concentrate.
A more disturbing method of Tiberium growth is witnessed when the area Tiberium is in has any sort of foliage, such as trees or bushes. Through an unexplained mutagenic process, Tiberium alters these trees into "Blossom Trees", or Tiberium Ripariuses. These 'trees' are fleshy stalks with a large bulb at the top. The bulb regularly contracts and relaxes, releasing microscopic Tiberium crystals into the atmosphere. As long as there is a Blossom Tree in an area, Tiberium will constantly regrow around the tree. Most attempts at injuring or removing Blossom trees have been ineffective.
Tiberium Vinifera, the volatile blue-colored Tiberium variant, has its own specific form of spread. If a large enough patch of Vinifera grows to maturity, the rockish lumps surrounding the crystals will fall away, and the crystals will meld together into a massive blue crystal, roughly 10 meters high. These large Vinifera masses will inexplicably grow new Vinifera outcroppings, although much slower than a Blossom Tree.
Destroying a massive Vinifera outcropping is not recommended, as the destruction of the large crystal will simply cause it to shatter explosively. This explosive aspect will throw Vinifera deposits over the area.
By the 2040s, 20% of the Earth's surface (designated as 'Red Zones') has been rendered completely inhospitable to carbon-based life (though not to mutated, Tiberium-based life). A further 50% ('Yellow Zones') is severely afflicted, yet home to 80% of the world's population; while the remaining 30% ('Blue Zones') is relatively untouched. Much of GDI's efforts are focused toward the conversion of Yellow Zones into Blue Zones, and the complete sterilization of Red Zones
Growth
Tiberium first appears as manhole-sized lumps of rock or soil. As these lumps expand, the top of the lump pulls away, to reveal immature crystal formations. As the patch of Tiberium grows, both the lump of rock and crystal grow rapidly. The typical mature Tiberium crystal is roughly 1 to 2 meters tall.
The color of the crystals is dependent on the amount and concentration of minerals that the Tiberium has leeched from the soil.
Effect on organic matter
Outcroppings of Tiberium release odorless gasses as they appear. While Tiberium was originally considered harmless (and perhaps even beautiful due to its shimmering sparkles), these fumes will poison any human that ventures through it.Long-term low-level exposure to Tiberium causes illness of various systems amongst all terrestrial life. As the exact mutagenic means by which Tiberium affects terrestrial biology are largely unknown, treatment is generally restricted to alleviating the symptoms rather than curing the cause. Unfortunately, this means that victims of Tiberium poisoning almost uniformly experience a gradual decline over a number of years until eventually succumbing to the effects. A research study funded by GDI that was conducted mid First Tiberian War produced the following statistics:
| Damage | Humans | Livestock |
| Respiratory ailments | 2,447,392 | 9,442,661 |
| Reproductive ailments | 1,446,294 | 12,443,761 |
| Immune system ailments | 14,681,994 | 29,377,224 |
| Tiberium-related deaths | 4,286,334 | 11,223,994 |
Long-term mid- to high-level exposure to Tiberium can result in effects that reveal an alarming aspect of the mineral/life-form: Tiberium is a mutagen. Humans and animals that have been exposed to Tiberium at these levels have experienced genetic mutation, involving physiological modification in a number of ways. These include the growth of Tiberium crystals on the skin of the individual, immunity from the effects of Tiberium poisoning and even (ironically) the ability to rapidly accelerate cellular regeneration when in the presence of Tiberium Riparius and Vinifera. The Forgotten (or Shiners) are a group of such 'mutants'.
When exposed to very high concentrations of Tiberium, such as while passing through an area of dense Tiberium growth without protective apparatus, the short-term effects of Tiberium poisoning are immediately experienced by individuals. If an individual dies from such exposure, either because they lingered in the area of Tiberium growth for too long or because they were already in a weakened state of health before the exposure, irregular Tiberium mutation can sometimes result. Through a process that is both amazing and extremely disturbing, the Tiberium toxins that caused the death of the individual through saturation appear to act as a resource for the semi-infectious growth of non-necrotic cellular systems remaining in an otherwise deceased individual. The cells within the body that have not died, but managed to successfully mutate into a viable form, feed off the necrotic remains over time. Externally, this resembles a cross between accelerated decomposition and severe bacterial infection, with the cadaver gradually being digested by its own mutant cell colonies, which then, after a period of gestation, replicate into a crude clone of the original, carbon-based life form. These are known as "visceroids", as they bear the appearance of a somewhat inside-out, amoeboid organism, with a strange tendency to "bleed" fluids in both gaseous and liquid forms. Visceroids tend to feed upon nearby sources of Tiberium, or, if available, they will attempt to digest organic matter of vaguely similar genetic composition to the host organism that preceded them.
As a terraforming agent
The most common belief held on the nature of Tiberium both in-game and in player speculation is that the crystal is a terraforming agent of the alien race known as the Scrin. All evidence of the Scrin show that they are a Tiberium-based lifeform with control over Tiberium mutations. The most obvious sign of these abilities is the Tacitus, a computer-like Scrin device that can control the mutations.If this is true, these are the assumed goals of Tiberium from the Scrin point of view:
- Deposition - The Scrin seed the intended world with Tiberium.
- Exploration - Beings on the intended world discover Tiberium. Because of its valuable nature, these beings begin to use Tiberium a great deal, increasing the spread of Tiberium.
- Conflict - The mysterious crystal being valuable, beings on the planet begin to fight over them. This further spreads Tiberium growth, as Tiberium-fueled products will be deposited in areas Tiberium has not had a chance to expand to.
- Mutation - Tiberium forcefully mutates planetary flora and fauna, changing the environment into something more hospitable to Scrin colonization.
- Clean Up - Scrin invade after the intended planet is sufficiently mutated. Scrin now have the upper hand in defeating any resistance, as the Scrin hold greater knowledge of Tiberium.
Chemical properties
"Molecularly, it is a non-carbon-based compound which appears to have strong ferrous qualities with non-resonating reversible energy. It has a tendency to disrupt carbon-based molecular structures with inconsequent in unequal positrons orbiting on the first, second and ninth quark rings." -Dr Ignatio Mobius
"...The significance of the heavy particles within Tiberium's crystal lattice is that they are the key to the matter transmutation process - Tiberium's most interesting property. Because of the high mass and energy of these particles, when Tiberium comes into contact with other matter, the particles at the boundaries of its lattice randomly collide with the nuclei of the target matter, smashing it to pieces (in the case of smaller nuclei), or incrementally knocking protons or neutrons off (in the case of heavier nuclei). Somehow, the Tiberium is able to capture a fraction of the protons and/or neutrons that are ejected during this collision process and incorporate them into its own structure, thus growing. Whenever a muon or tauon collides with an atomic nucleus, fission occurs, which results in the random production of alpha, beta and gamma radiation, as well as other forms of electromagnetic radiation (such as infrared). During the transmutation process, nuclei that Tiberium has come into contact with may be changed into nuclei with different (usually fewer) numbers of protons or neutrons. The result is a complete elemental transformation."-The C&C Science Bible (EALA)
Tiberium composition
- Phosphorus: 42.5%
- Iron: 32.5%
- Calcium: 15.25%
- Copper: 5.75%
- Silica: 2.5%
- Unknown: 1.5%
\"Tiberium gas\" composition
Varieties
Harvestable varieties
- Tiberium Spore (also known as Blossom Tree) - A mutated tree that puffs out spores that quickly grow into green Tiberium crystals in the immediate vicinity.
- Tiberium Riparius - referred to as green Tiberium for its color, this variant of Tiberium has a low level of leeched minerals and is therefore the least valuable resource in-game, albeit the most common.
- Tiberium Cruentus - A massive blue crystal form of Tiberium that functions like a spore tree but rather than spreading Tiberium Riparius, it spreads Tiberium Vinifera.
- Tiberium Vinifera - referred to as blue Tiberium for its color, it leeches minerals from the soil in high concentrations, making it more valuable in-game. It grows at a slower rate than green Tiberium but is volatile and prone to explode when fired upon or struck by shrapnel or lightning, and is rare compared to green Tiberium.
- Tiberium Veins/Veinhole Monster - The veinhole monster itself is a mouth-like orifice embedded in the ground with "veins" growing outward. The monster itself emits Tiberium Gas when fired upon. The veins spread quickly and cause massive damage to buildings and the game's heavier tanks, whereas infantry, harvesters, and certain light tanks can pass unharmed over veins. Killing the monster causes the veins to slowly recede and eventually disappear. The veins' principal use in the game is by Nod - Nod commanders can send out Weed Eaters (immune to the veins' deadly effects) to harvest the veins as "Tiberium waste" and transfer them to the Nod Tiberium Waste Facility for Chemical Missile production.
Non-harvestable varieties
- Tiberium Gas - This is a dangerous form of Tiberium which forms toxic clouds. Often observed being emitted by Veinhole Monsters and Tiberium Floaters. The gas quickly mutates or kills infantry and heavily damages cyborgs and mutants, and in larger concentrations can cause heavy damage to structures and vehicles.
- Unknown Strain - This new strain of Tiberium appears similar to Cruentus, but it has yet to spread any type of Tiberium. It is believed that this variation may spread a red form of Tiberium in the future.#redirect
- Tiberium Algae - Tiberium colonies that extended from either Riparius or Vinfera on the seafloor to the surface by strands. The Tiberium poisons and clogs waterways. By the time of the second Tiberian War, most of the oceans have been covered by this unhelpful variant of Tiberium which makes travel by ship impossible. Unlike land-based types, this form of Tiberium does not leech any units.
- Tiberium "Creep" - A sludge/moss form of Tiberium in blue and green variations which marginally slow down travel but are otherwise unobtrusive.
Fauna
- Visceroid - Originally discovered during the first Tiberian War, Visceroids are reddish-purple spheres of flesh, which defend themselves by shooting out sprays of Tiberium gas. However, more recent game art dictates that visceroids are pinkish-colored wads of flesh, which strike at enemies with pseudopodia. Visceroids are 'created' when Tiberium concentration has reached saturation in an organic body. Immature Visceroids are smaller and tend to be non-hostile. When two or more of these visceroids merge, however, they become extremely dangerous. It is believed that in the "new tiberian ecology", these life forms are the "white blood cells", erasing potential threats to the new ecosystem.
- Mutant Humans - As Tiberium spread closer and closer to populated areas, many people began suffering from varying degrees of Tiberium mutation. Many of these unfortunate people have Tiberium crystals in their flesh, and will some day no longer be human. Most of these Mutants consider themselves "The Forgotten", as many civilians were ignored by GDI (and studied by Nod) during the first Tiberian War.
- Cyborg Humans - Nod's experiments into human-Tiberium mutation has yielded a variety of mutant cyborg soldiers. These special troops can pass through Tiberium fields with impunity, and will actually benefit from prolonged exposure to the crystals.
- Tiberian Fiend - The 'fiend' is a horse-sized animal, resembling a terran dog. The flesh is blackish or red, and the back is covered with Tiberium Crystals. Fiends can fling these crystals at enemies, causing both damage as well as Tiberium poisoning. Often, they bury themselves in Tiberium fields (the Tiberium on their backs concealing them) and lay in wait to attack Tiberium Harvesters. Fiends also have great burrowing ability. They do react to perceived acts of kindness, and The Forgotten have been able to actually "tame" a significant number of them for use as watchdogs.
- Tiberian Floater - Looks like a big floating jellyfish. Can build up an electric charge in its tentacles and can release Tiberium gas to propel itself and hover it through the air.
External links
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