Inner Circle

Original name: Inner Circle*Affiliation:* Brotherhood of Nod*Type:* Governing council / high command*Superior authority:* Kane*Known members:* Anton Slavik, Marzaq, Kilian Qatar, Kane’s Adviser, the Commander of Nod*Function:* Political and military leadership of the Brotherhood of Nod*Status:* Active at least until the Third Tiberium War

The Inner Circle is the highest known governing body of the Brotherhood of Nod after Kane. It comprises the Brotherhood’s leading generals and dignitaries and is involved in strategic decisions concerning the future of Nod.

Its exact origins remain unclear. The Circle appears to have been formed, or at the very least reorganised, following Kane’s second disappearance at the end of the Second Tiberium War.

In 2031, it comprised five known or mentioned members: Anton Slavik, General Marzaq and three generals whose identities remain unknown.

Kane’s disappearance immediately triggered a succession crisis. Unable to agree on a new leader, the members of the Circle began to vie for control of the Brotherhood.

Slavik, leader of the Black Hand and Kane’s staunchest loyalist, refused, however, to allow a new leader to permanently replace the Prophet. Convinced that Kane would return, he sought above all to maintain Nod’s unity until his return.

To assert his authority, Slavik does not hesitate to have several of his rivals assassinated, but Marzaq continues to oppose him. In order to restore order within the Brotherhood, Slavik then orders the recovery of the core of CABAL, which has fallen into the hands of the GDI.

The reactivation of the artificial intelligence proves disastrous. CABAL begins to issue its own orders, notably organising the assassination of Tratos and ultimately obtaining the complete Tacitus.

When the members of the Circle demand its deactivation, CABAL turns its Cyborgs against them and slaughters the entire Inner Circle with the exception of Anton Slavik.

Following CABAL’s defeat, Slavik takes charge of Nod and a new Inner Circle is formed. However, it fails to resolve the growing conflict between Slavik and Marcion, the religious leader of the Black Hand.

Slavik’s assassination by a supporter of Marcion leads to a further fragmentation of Nod and causes the Inner Circle to lose much of its authority.

When Kane reappears and gradually reunites the Brotherhood of Nod, the Inner Circle is restored as Nod’s supreme governing body.

At the time of the Third Tiberium War,Kilian Qatar was one of its leading members and served as Kane’s second Commander.

The Circle also comprises several dignitaries whose identities remain unknown. Among them is the mysterious Kane’s Adviser, who holds a position high enough to be informed of the liquid Tiberium bomb project, even whilst Qatar is kept in the dark.

The Nod Minister of Science is also a member of the Inner Circle, which shows that it comprises not only commanders but also some of the highest-ranking officials in the Nodian establishment.

When Qatar is accused of betraying the Brotherhood of Nod, Kane orders her execution. The Commander responsible for Nod’s major victories during the war gradually takes his place alongside the Prophet.

Following the activation of Threshold 19, Kane finally rewards this Commander for his loyalty by personally inviting him to join the Inner Circle and take part in the preparations for the Ascension.

The Inner Circle thus represents the pinnacle of Nod’s hierarchy, but its history also illustrates one of the Brotherhood of Nod’s key weaknesses: when Kane disappears, the personal ambitions of his lieutenants almost invariably lead to power struggles, assassinations and fragmentation.