Core Defender

The Core Defender was the last line of defense for CABAL's Core against the final joint assault by the forces of GDI and Nod. It used Cybernetics and Mechanized Walker technology.

Construction
For a short time, CABAL had both pieces of the Tacitus, and a huge amount of data. With this knowledge, he managed to create an ultimate walker. Resources from CABAL-controlled territory were diverted to this project, and despite the scale, it was kept secret from GDI and Nod's intelligence networks. The project was successful, and a single prototype was deployed.

This unit was one of the largest ever constructed, towering an estimated 150 feet over the battlefield. It was plated with extremely heavy armor, matched CABAL's bluish color scheme, and featured a single eye. The armour allowed it to withstand extreme punishment, as full battalions of Titan walkers were unable to significantly damage it. EMP shockwaves were ineffective as well. In addition, even the might of the ion cannon only makes a neglectable scratch on the behemoth, much to the horror of GDI commanders.

The walker carried two obelisk-based weapons, similar to the CABAL Obelisk. They fired blue bolts, which could penetrate Firestorm defences due to their modulation, and were able to destroy Titans and Tick Tanks with a single blast. Not even the mighty Mammoth Mk. II, GDI's mightiest vehicle, could stand a chance against this monster. The damage potential was amplified by the fact that the weapons had extremely short cooldown times.

Counters
There are two flaws of the defender. The first is its complete lack of any anti-aircraft weaponry, allowing Orca Fighters, Bombers, Jump Jet Infantry, Banshees and even Harpy choppers to eventually destroy it.

The second flaw, is despite the power of its weapon, it targets units one at a time and does no splash damage. Deploying large groups 50+ rocket infantry is very effective as the Defender cannot handle so many singular units at a time. It also was not amphibious.

It can also be lured towards bridges, and by destroying the bridge the Defender dies along with the crumbling structure.

Artillery units, such as Nod's Advanced Artillery and GDI's Juggernaut proved to be effective when used en masse, provided the Core Defender was distracted from getting close to them.

Behind the scenes
The Core Defender bears some physical similarities to the Scrin's Annihilator Tripod, and Nod's Avatar Warmech, both seen in the Third Tiberium War. As CABAL possessed the Tacitus during the period when the Defender was constructed, it can be speculated that the massive machine is a product of Scrin technology gleaned from the device.

King Oni and Avatars are quite similar to it.

Interestingly enough, it leaves a small patch of Tiberium behind when it is destroyed.