Kane

"You can't kill the Messiah."

- Kane

Kane is the charismatic, absolute leader of the Brotherhood of Nod. Information concerning his identity and past remains scarce; though rising to public notoriety only the last decade of the 20th century, past documentation seems to link him to Joseph Stalin, the famous leader of the Soviet Union, as far back as the early 1950s. Although his ultimate goal, or even solid evidence as to whether he has a single ultimate goal, remains a mystery, what is known is that he has been, in one capacity or another throughout the end of the 20th and first half of the 21st centuries, the foremost advocate or instigator of the global spread of Tiberium, in a continuing effort to realize what he and his followers see as its capability to act as catalyst for a higher stage in human evolution.

Numerous files exist concerning him, with the most important being Interpol file GEN#4:16 and the GDI criminal dossier. They list numerous aliases Kane used, including Jacob Caine, Caine or Amir Al'Quayym and indicate that no truly reliable source exists for reconstructing his past as all records are either false, forged or outright planted by Nod. Among the Brotherhood's faithful Kane is most often referred to simply as The Prophet.

Interestingly, despite numerous intelligence files and concerted data analyses by both terrestrial and nonterrestrial organizations, little information is available as to who Kane actually is—all known biometric data is counterfeit and no personal records, including licenses or medical files, have ever been discovered.

Character overview
Kane is a highly intelligent and cunning man possessing extreme charisma, most sources placing his IQ at 192 at the very least, vastly above genius level, allowing him to unite the Brotherhood of Nod under his authoritarian rule. He is a master at propaganda and information warfare, evidenced when he broadcasted a fabricated news report about the alleged GDI slaughter of civilians in Białystok, Poland, as well as manipulation and control, evidenced by him controlling Joseph Stalin's actions. Kane's own messages reflect his charisma, speaking with a confident deep voice. Interestingly, recovered footage from a Nod propaganda studio reveals Kane speaking with a uncharacteristically softer tone.

He has very little tolerance for incompetence and none for treason, usually dealing with both swiftly, in accordance with Brotherhood's policy "If you fail, you die". Major examples include him personally executing Seth as he attempted to circumvent Kane's authority or sending an ICBM to obliterate Vega's island as he failed Kane repeatedly. He does make exceptions to that rule, though, as he is willing to forgive less severe mistakes of his most important commanders.

All of his work has concentrated on Tiberium so far, and almost all his plans involve attempts to utilize it as a weapon, as a method of advancing humanity towards the next step in human evolution, or spreading it across the planet. He, and by extension the whole Brotherhood, possesses an intricate knowledge of Tiberium and its uses, and when coupled with knowledge from the Tacitus, the information Kane possessed allowed him to revolutionize the state of the world with the introduction of Tiberium harvesting methods as well as beginning research on Divination, a method of evolving humans with Tiberium. His plans came closest to fruition during the closing stages of the Second Tiberium War, when his World Altering Missile was ready for launch to transform the Earth and its denizens. However, it was destroyed at the last minute when GDI attacked the missile's launch site.

Perhaps the most remarkable trait of Kane is his apparent survivability and agelessness. Despite being supposedly killed three times, or at least subjected to punishment that could easily be fatal, Kane has repeatedly managed to resurface after his 'demise'. Also, Kane's age doesn't appear to have changed since the 1950s. While the reason remains unknown, it adds to the mystique of the leader of Nod.

Within the Brotherhood, Kane is viewed as a prophet and considered an immortal, as he has lived through over one hundred years without aging. Although Kane does not go out of his way to confirm or deny any of the wide variety of views and theories regarding himself, his followers are absolutely loyal to him and the Brotherhood's ideals: They would fight for the Brotherhood, but die for Kane. GDI, on the other hand, considers him to be the single most threatening man to the status quo, and constantly wages war against the Brotherhood of Nod to remove him and any and all chances he may have to interfere with worldwide "peace".

Legendary Origins
A common Nod belief claimed Kane was the Biblical Caine, and thus thousands of years old.

Second World War
""He who controls the past commands the future, He who commands the future, conquers the past.""

- Kane

Kane entered the employ as advisor to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin prior to the. With Nadia he influenced Soviet decision making at the highest levels. Kane disappeared following the Allied victory.

Kane's presence was noted by the United States Central Intelligence Agency.

Alternate Soviet Second World War
Kane accompanied Stalin to London, England, to celebrate the Soviet victory. He shot and killed accomplice Nadia, after she had poisoned and killed Stalin. Kane proclaimed himself the future and subsequently promoted a successful Soviet general to Chairman.

Disappearance
There were no obvious appearances of or references to Kane and Nod during the Third World Wars.

Tiberian Prophet
Kane, and the Brotherhood, spent the proceeding decades in relative obscurity. This changed in 1995 when Tiberium arrived on Earth. Kane claimed to have named Tiberium after Tiberius Drusus Caesar, in accordance with the Nod belief that the Brotherhood discovered the substance and revealed it to the world. Kane made Tiberium a core of Nod ideology.

Over the years he worked to cement Nod influence in developing nations, exploiting disparity in global wealth and urging developing nations to use Tiberium to free themselves from their subservience to industrialized nations. Developing nations bought Nod's vision of global peace and prosperity, and the Brotherhood gained influence over a significant portion of the world's population and Tiberium deposits.

Nod pursued aggressive Tiberium research and exploitation pursuant to Kane's vision of the Technology of Peace. Kane took a personal interest in this research.

Nod global agitation and terrorism alarmed the industrialized world and was a catalyst for the formation of the United Nations Global Defense Initiative (GDI). As the center of the organization, GDI, INTERPOL, and MI6 all conducted investigations into Kane; these revealed the Nod leader had a number of aliases but uncovered very little concrete information. Kane consistently evaded apprehension.

First Tiberium War
The First Tiberium War was the first great struggle between GDI and Nod. Kane sometimes supervised the production of anti-GDI propaganda; one conduit to the world media was through WWN reporter, and collaborator, Greg Burdette. For a time the media offensive seemed to work when the UN suspended GDI funding.

The Nod leader also occasionally contacted GDI commanders and soldiers to try and goad and demoralize them. Then-Commander James Solomon, waging successful battles against Nod in Europe, received such a message shortly after suffered funding cuts when Kane interrupted an EVA briefing; although Kane claimed to know Solomon's location and made a veiled assassination threat, the commander was ultimately not deterred. Kane also targeted Nick Parker for jibes as the GDI continued interfering with Project ReGenesis.

The conflict also highlighted the deep divide between Kane's and GDI's vision for Tiberium. The Nod leader derided GDI's tentative approach to the substance and did not have a high opinion of Doctor Ignatio Moebius. In turn, GDI regarded Kane as a madman for experimenting with Tiberium on humans.

Kane's leadership did not go unchallenged. He personally executed Seth for exceeding his authority. One result was Kane took over the briefing of a commander in the African theatre. The commander had previously been subordinated to Seth.

GDI Agent Delphi finally managed to track down Kane to Bosnia near the end of the war. GDI launched an assault on a biochemical research lab while the Nod leader was on site. Kane escaped and made his way to the Temple of Nod in Sarajevo. GDI General Mark Jamison Sheppard authorized an assault on the Temple within minutes of a covert agent confirming Kane's presence in the Temple.

GDI forces converged on the Temple and broke through Nod defenses after a three day siege. Kane remained in the Temple as it came under direct attack. After the battle the Nod leader's body was not found in the rubble and presumed dead by GDI. The official investigation into Kane's fate was only terminated decades later.

African Campaign
Kane was present to witness the Temple near Cape Town, South Africa, became operational, and the netwarriors infiltrate GDI's data networks and gain control of the ion cannon. The Nod leader then gave a commander who was significant to the success of the African campaign the honor of choosing the satellite weapon's first target.

Life in Death
Kane survived and escaped the defeat at Sarajevo despite popular opinion. He did not escape unscathed. By the Second Tiberium War his scarred face was partially covered by a metallic mark. When Kane re-emerged he favored remote communication where real-time video editing ensured he appeared unscathed to friend and foe alike. In the meantime he went underground. Kane continued to spread his Tiberium vision while keeping his survival a secret from the world.

Nod factions continued to revere their "fallen" prophet. Parts of the Brotherhood took up the cry "Kane lives in death!" to signify their continued adherence, at least in spirit, to Kane's Tiberium vision. . A few believed Kane was still alive.

During this period Jannero Drake wrote Kane: False Prophet, dedicated to destroying Kane's image. The author was assassinated by by a Nod Fate Squad and the manuscript seized by GDI before publication. Former GDI InOps officer Lia Suskind drew upon the work when compiling a criminal dossier on Kane.

As the Second Tiberium War approached Kane began re-establishing contact with Nod. He gained the allegiance of General Vega, leader of the largest Western Hemisphere factions , and Commander Anton Slavik, leader of the Black Hand. Kane clandestinely supported Slavik's bid to overthrow General Hassan, leader of factions in the Eastern Hemisphere, who was a GDI collaborator.

The removal of Hassan reunified Nod under Kane. GDI noticed an increase in Nod activity and they were alerted to the full significance by Kane himself: the Nod leader contacted old nemesis General James Solomon and announced his return to the world stage.

Second Tiberium War
""You're only delaying the inevitable. I have the Tacitus. I am invincible. The Tacitus told me of Tiberium missiles, of invulnerable flying ships, of real-time genetic mutation. More than alien. More than human! The next step in our evolution as a species!""

- Kane

Kane's Tiberium research was unwittingly assisted by the Forgotten; Nod secured the Tacitus from the mutants and Kane persuaded Tratos, the Forgotten leader, into helping CABAL translate the device. Tratos realized too late Kane was not interested in preserving the Earth or humanity as they knew it; Kane used the translated data to further efforts into Tiberium Divination and the creation of the World Altering Missile.

The missile's launch was foiled by a daring GDI assault under the command of Michael McNeil, who ignored his superior's orders to refrain from the attack in order to allow GDI more time to plan and prepare for the deciding conflict. Kane was confronted by McNeil within his pyramid, and was impaled by him which resulted in the Brotherhood's defeat once again.

Regeneration
""Our enemies believe that we have been defeated, and that I am no longer among the living. They are gravely mistaken.""

- Kane

The grievously wounded Kane was recovered by CABAL and placed in a medical tube to regenerate. While sequestered for years Kane pondered the way forward. In envisioning the future Kane's thoughts returned to CABAL. Although the AI had not made a favorable impression on either GDI or Nod, Kane recognized that there was solid foundations which to improve upon. Kane was eventually fit to walk on his own again but a partial face mask was required to hide the still-healing scars.

Conceptualization of the plan that would take the Brotherhood to the end of the Third Tiberium War continued. During this time Kane struck on the idea for a new AI to be built upon the lessons from CABAL. Kane used information from shards of the Tacitus to help develop the new AI. Kane eventually named the new creation LEGION.

Anton Slavik was assassinated after the Firestorm Crisis by a follower of Marcion. Marcion seized control of the Black Hand and set himself up as Nod's new prophet. This was partially legitimized by controlling the largest faction of the Brotherhood. Marcion's ideology also required demonizing the supposedly-deceased Kane.

Angered at being abandoned, Kane resorted to the familiar strategy of clandestinely reforging the Brotherhood. He operated in secret from a bunker with LEGION as operational agent. The reclamation of Nod began in the slums of Rio where minor Nod cells and the disaffected were impressed or cowed into Kane's service. It was during the uprising in Rio that a future Nod commander of the Third Tiberium War first gained prominence.

Eventually Kane's faction was strong enough to challenge Marcion and the Black Hand. Marcion was brought low in Australia and returned to the fold. As it was not yet prudent for Kane to return to the public spotlight, Marcion was required to act as figurehead in the prophet's stead. With the Brotherhood reunified preparations for the next confrontation with GDI. Kane deactivated LEGION for upgrading.

Third Tiberium War
""And he cried in a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come forth!' And Lazarus did arise from the grave""

- Kane

Kane was not to surface again until 2047, when the Brotherhood successfully attacked GDI's A-SAT space defence systems and the Philadelphia space station that housed GDI high command. In fact Kane - completely intact and without a single scar following his regeneration - appeared in front of millions of television viewers when he interrupted a W3N news broadcast on the Philadelphia's destruction. Under Kane's leadership the Brotherhood rapidly emerged as a serious global power once again. When GDI finally pushed Nod back to Temple Prime, Kane already had the necessary components for his latest venture - a liquid Tiberium bomb. Nod's most brilliant commander managed to defend Temple Prime to the last, even when traitorous Nod forces attempted to abort his mission - forces presumed to be led by Nod general Kilian Qatar. When Temple Prime was obliterated by an Ion Cannon strike, the liquid Tiberium bomb that Kane had developed in secret was detonated spectacularly, taking out Sarajevo and most of the Eastern European Yellow Zone.

Kane, whose last known whereabouts was inside the Temple, was once more presumed dead by all - even his own commanders. Qatar assumed control of the Brotherhood, forming a pact with GDI against the Scrin aliens that had recently started attacking Earth. When Kane once again resurfaced he ordered his most loyal commander to destroy Qatar's forces, and shortly thereafter he ordered her assassination for treason. Following this Kane's new second-in-command secured, in the face of overwhelming odds, the key codes for access to one of the alien superstructures being constructed on Earth. Finally the same commander successfully defended an alien tower from GDI attack, making it invulnerable to human assault.

Pushing Ahead
The war ended satisfactorily for Kane but the Tacitus remained beyond his grasp. He watched with increasing concern as GDI's experimentation rendered the device unstable. The opportunity to rectify this arose with the revival of LEGION. The AI activated the Marked of Kane and retrieved the Tacitus from GDI's Rocky Mountain facility. With the artifact in his hands Kane was finally able to see his creation fulfil its purpose.

2062
In 2062, the global spread of Tiberium was on the verge of making the planet uninhabitable to humans. In light of this crisis, Kane decided to approach the GDI. He was airlifted to a GDI building in Manchester, where he greeted the assembled GDI leadership as "brothers and sisters" and laid out a proposition, the details of which remained classified. He brandished the Tacitus as he did so.

Selected quotes

 * "He who controls the past commands the future, He who commands the future, conquers the past."
 * "I am the future." (Red Alert)
 * "It's time you saw the future ... while you still have human eyes."
 * "You'll come for the sunshine, but you'll stay for the people."
 * "If I am cut, do I not bleed?"
 * "It would be a sad error in judgment, General Solomon, to mistake me for a corpse... I've seen the future - our Tiberium future - and as you watch this battle just beginning to unfold, I've already seen the final act! It is my destiny to lead the way for all mankind." (Tiberian Sun)
 * "The Rivers will flow with the blood of those who oppose us."
 * "One vision, one purpose." (numerous times)
 * "Peace! Through! Power!" (numerous times)
 * "Rule of thumb, Hassan. You can't kill the Messiah." (Tiberian Sun)
 * "Go ahead my son. Push the button. Inscribe your place in history with the blood of GDI."
 * "You're only delaying the inevitable. I have the Tacitus. I am invincible. The Tacitus told me of Tiberium missiles, of invulnerable flying ships, of real-time genetic mutation. More than alien. More than human! The next step in our evolution as a species!" (Tiberian Sun)
 * "God? No, I'm not God. But I'm a close second." (Ending of Tiberian Sun)
 * "Rise my people. I have returned, never to leave your side again. GDI sought to destroy me, but they have only made me stronger.
 * Today, we march forward into our future. A stronger people. A divined people, enhanced for the Tiberium world. The time has come, to claim this world as our own. The time has come, to destroy GDI ! One vision. One purpose. Peace through power."
 * "The destruction of Philadelphia was not an accident. It was a merciful bullet to the head of a malignant ideology. It was the death of fear and the birth of hope! Rejoice, children of Nod. The blood of your oppressors will flow and the 50 years of tyranny will finally ended! Transformation is coming. A new day will dawn! The future, is ours." (Tiberium Wars)
 * "Your efforts have landed us here my fateful friend. The Temple is complete and we will now prepare for our greatest exploit."
 * "And he cried in a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come forth!' and Lazarus did, arise from the grave... I have always believed that faith was measured in deeds, not words. And while many of my children worshipped my name, their deeds betrayed them. In my absence they strayed from the path... But you... you my son, your faith never waned. Not in Honduras or Jericho, not in the Great Rio Insurrection. You risked your life countless times to topple GDI, to perpetuate our cause to honor my name. And now I call upon you again to bring glory to the Brotherhood. I have seen that GDI is vulnerable, bloated by arrogance and complacency. Now is the time to strike. While they congratulate themselves on Tiberium advancements Nod made decades ago, we will expose their weaknesses for all the world to see." (Kane's Wrath)
 * "Good Afternoon, Commander! You must be lost, this is not your precious Blue Zone, this is Nod territory! I tell you what - I'll have my forces to send you home.... in a body bag." (Tiberium Wars)
 * "Behold! Our Hero, the one whose loyalty and courage made our dreams of Ascension, a reality!" (Tiberian Sun)
 * Once again, the world is quick to bury me. How could my own brothers believe that what transpired at the Temple Prime did not unfold exactly as I planned? Of course, I could not have planned for an ambush BY MY OWN FORCES! Of all of Killian's offenses, and they are legion, her proclamation that the visitors are a greater enemy than GDI is an affront to everything I have planned for the Brotherhood. -- Prelude to the Battle of Ayers Rock.
 * (to the GDI council) "Brothers... sisters... I have a proposition." (reveals the Tacitus to the shocked audience) (Command & Conquer 4 trailer)

Command & Conquer: Tiberian Dawn
The GDI campaign shows two possible endings to the final mission, depending on whether the ion cannon is used on the Temple. If the ion cannon is used Kane ascends from the Temple's subterranean command center to the heavily damaged hall on the surface where he is engulfed by the ion cannon strike. If not, Kane is buried by rubble while walking away from the command center.

Behind the Scenes
Kane is portrayed and voiced by Joseph D. Kucan. Kucan also served as Full Motion Video director for the Command & Conquer games produced by Westwood Studios; he was the senior dramatic director for Command & Conquer: Renegade.

His brother, Daniel Kucan, also worked in Command & Conquer and played Jake McNeil in Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun.