Appendix: Why Tiberium Was Called Tiberium

Tiberium came to the Earth when a meteor fell not too far from the River Tiber in Italy. One could reasonably assume that that was how Tiberium got its name. After all, it would seem only logical that the phenomena would be named after the region it landed in. But upon closer examination, one would find that there was another reason why Tiberium was called "Tiberium." Tiberium was actually named after a Roman emperor, Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus (10 BC/BCE - 54 AD/CE). He was the youngest in his family, and was looked down upon for his poor health and disposition. Claudius took the position of consul under the reign of Emperor Caligula, and after the death of Caligula in 41 AD/CE, Claudius was hailed by the Praetorian Guard (the elite guard that protected Roman royalty) to be the next ruler. Claudius's actions as emperor of Rome were quite significant and were not few in number. He was the first Roman leader to raise the salaries of the Praetorians (it was suspected that the Praetorian Guard manipulated Claudius... but we know better. Perhaps the manipulators themselves were under manipulation. Or perhaps a certain Praetorian Guard had some other plans). It was Claudius who integrated non-Romans into the institutions of ancient Rome. Although a revolt was sparked in 42 CE, it was brought down. Due to the revolt, Roman security was tightened and further rebellions were stopped. It was also under the rule of Claudius when the British Isles were again conquered, this time in 43 CE. Furthermore, it was Claudius who set an account meant specifically for paying off the expenses incurred by Roman royalty. He also provided insurance for grain shipments from Africa, built up food supplies that would last the winter seasons, and commissioned the building of a seaport called Ostia, or Portus. Finally, it was Claudius who constructed legal defenses for the destitute. Claudius's actions reflected those of the Brotherhood of Nod. The Brotherhood offered a path to salvation. However, the means of traveling this path tended to be secretive and rigid. Just as Claudius was more or less a puppet, Nod was notorious for its Machiavellian approach to politics and anything else. Claudius fended off many an attempted revolution, as did Nod. Although Nod offered a dream of liberation, defiance towards the Brotherhood would result in harsh consequences. And while Claudius saw to it that extra food supplies and legal protection of the poor were to be provided, the Brotherhood of Nod introduced Tiberium to the world, promising humankind seemingly unlimited wealth and a utopian era that seemed to be only a few footsteps away. His achievements aside, there was also a darker side to Claudius. It revolved mainly around his health. He was given to irrational behavior, to say the least. He would, for example, foam at the mouth. However, when he became ruler his health problems subsided, save for an acute stomachache from time to time. The substance known as Tiberium was similar to Claudius's characteristics. Claudius himself was a controversial and not-so-rational individual. And so was Tiberium. Tiberium, although a financial miracle, was a medical nightmare. The pros and cons of Tiberium were realized only too late in the 21st century. Furthermore, even in the 21st century Tiberium was not fully understood. Thus, the properties of Tiberium can be described as "irrational." Even so, Tiberium brought sweeping changes to the Earth, as did Claudius to the Roman Empire when he instituted his reforms. The advent of Tiberum has its similarities with the reign of Claudius. These parallels have both their positive and negative aspects. It would not be surprising, then, that the name "Tiberium" was based on the life of Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus.