Mortimer

Character: ??

Name: Mortimer*Affiliation:* Cult of Tiberium*Role:* Religious leader*Area of influence:* La Paz region, Bolivia*Forces:* Cult followers, Tiberian creatures*Main enemy:* Ghost Stalker*Associated item:* Fragment of the Tacitus*Associated locations:* Ancient temples of Bolivia*Period:* After the Second Tiberium War*Appearance:* Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun – Hydra Missions
Status: Deceased, killed by the Ghost Stalker.Mortimer is the mysterious leader of a Bolivian cult devoted to Tiberium. Based in a region near La Paz home to several ancient temples, he exercises absolute authority over his disciples and appears to have an unusual relationship with lifeforms mutated by the crystal. His territory also houses a precious fragment of the Tacitus.

The Tiberium Cult

Mortimer’s origins remain unknown. His age, his past and the circumstances under which he became the leader of his cult are never explained. He may have grown up towards the end of the First Tiberium War, but this hypothesis has not been confirmed.

Nevertheless, he manages to gather around him several dozen followers who show him absolute loyalty. Mortimer seems to regard Tiberium as an almost mystical force rather than merely an alien substance.

Even more surprising is that his cult coexists peacefully with certain Tiberian creatures, notably the Fiends and the Floaters, which are normally extremely dangerous.

The Temples of Bolivia

The territory controlled by Mortimer contains several ancient temples where inexplicable phenomena occur.

In particular, Mortimer seems capable of disappearing and then reappearing elsewhere, giving the impression of teleporting. In the ‘Temple of Time’, the light outside changes abruptly, as if several hours were passing in a matter of moments, whilst entering the ‘Temple of Thunder’ suddenly triggers a violent storm.

The true origin of these phenomena remains unknown. Mortimer may have a way of controlling them, but they could also stem from the temples themselves or from the fragment of the Tacitus preserved in the region.

The Tacitus Fragment

C.A.B.A.L. discovers that a missing segment of the Tacitus is located within Mortimer’s territory. An operation is then organised to recover the artefact.Ghost Stalker enters the region and confronts the cult’s forces as well as the dangers surrounding the ancient temples. The operation ultimately leads to a confrontation with Mortimer.

Ghost Stalker kills the cult leader, enabling the retrieval of the sought-after fragment.

The End of the Cult

Mortimer’s death provokes a particularly dramatic reaction amongst his Disciples.

Unable to accept the loss of their leader, the survivors sink into despair and commit collective suicide in his name. This mass disappearance presumably brings an end to the cult and to Mortimer’s influence in the region.

The exact nature of his powers, however, remains unexplained. The teleportation abilities and meteorological phenomena observed around the temples are reminiscent of certain technologies later used by the Scrin, but a direct link to them is never established.

Trivia

When the Scrin appear in Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars, they are seen using teleportation and causing localised ionic storms. It can therefore be speculated that the unexplained phenomena surrounding Mortimer and the ancient temples were linked to a similar technology, perhaps derived from the fragment of the Tacitus found at the site.