Scrin

Name: Scrins / Visitors*Type:* Interstellar alien civilisation*Known leader:* Overlord*Organisation:* Overlord, Supervisors, Foremen*Primary resource:* Tiberium, known as ‘Ichor’*Known hub:* Ichor Hub*Sub-factions:* Reaper-17 (Vengeance-17), Traveler-59 (Domination-59)*Speciality:* Extraterrestrial technologies, Tiberium manipulation and teleportation*Conflict:* Tiberian Dawn*Status:* Active; a future invasion of Earth has been announced

The Scrins, also known as the Visitors, are an extremely advanced alien civilisation whose existence is intimately linked to Tiberium. They refer to this substance as Ichor and appear to depend directly on its energy for survival.

Their origins remain unknown, as does the true extent of their civilisation. Their known structure, however, appears to be organised hierarchically around a mysterious Overlord, to whom Supervisors report; these Supervisors are charged with coordinating the harvesting operations carried out by the Foremen.

All the evidence suggests that the Scrins travel through space to harvest Tiberium on various planets. Earth thus appears to be just one world among many, part of a vast interstellar harvesting operation.

They are strongly suspected of having seeded the Earth with Tiberium themselves, using a meteorite to ensure the substance spread gradually across the planet.

Their strategy normally involves waiting until the Tiberium has reached a sufficient concentration and the indigenous population no longer poses a threat before beginning the harvest.

In 2047, however, this process is abruptly interrupted by Kane. He uses the information contained in the Tacitus to trigger a massive explosion of liquid Tiberium in Sarajevo, the energy signature of which is strong enough to attract the Scrins.

The alien expedition therefore arrives much earlier than expected and is surprised to discover a human civilisation that remains organised, armed and capable of putting up significant resistance.

This detail explains much of the Scrin campaign: the forces sent to Earth do not constitute a conquering army prepared for a protracted war, but are primarily a force for harvesting and protecting extraction facilities.

Despite this unexpected turn of events, the Overseer orders the operation to continue. The Scrins then attack several major cities, notably London, Munich and Kampala, in order to divert human forces away from the expedition’s true objectives.

These objectives are the gigantic Threshold Towers, or Thresholds. Nineteen of these structures are beginning to be built in the planet’s Red Zones.

Once completed, they are designed to harvest and process the surrounding Tiberium before shipping it to the Ichor Hub. They also function as interstellar portals, enabling the instantaneous transport of matter and units.

The GDI quickly realises their importance and sets about destroying them. Eighteen of the nineteen Threshold Towers are destroyed before they are completed.

The last one,Threshold 19, however, manages to be activated. Once completed, its structure becomes virtually invulnerable and the Portal linking Earth to the Scrin network remains operational.

During the operations, Foreman 371 is also ordered to investigate Kane. The Scrin discover that he was already present in their archives and seem particularly intrigued by his nature and his knowledge of Tiberium.

Whilst the Supervisor wishes to pursue this investigation at the expense of the mission, the artificial intelligence accompanying Foreman 371 disobeys and prioritises its own survival.

Following the activation of Threshold 19,Foreman 371 and his vessel finally leave Earth through the Portal and head for the Ichor Hub.

The Supervisor must then report the failure of the operation to the Overlord.

The Overlord’s response is probably the most significant factor regarding the future of the Scrins: the next expedition will no longer be a mere harvesting operation. The Overlord orders the preparation of a full-scale invasion force intended to conquer Earth. The Scrins encountered in 2047 therefore likely represent only a fraction of their true power.

Nevertheless, their technology is already considerably superior to that of humans. It relies in particular on the manipulation of Tiberium, Phase Fields, wormholes, teleportation and units combining biological and mechanical characteristics.

Two specialised groups have also been identified: Reaper-17, which favours heavy forces and the use of Tiberium in its weapons, and Traveler-59, which is more focused on speed and mind control.

Ultimately, Threshold 19 remains their principal legacy on Earth. Still active several decades later, it becomes a key element of Kane’s plan and ultimately enables his Ascension in 2077.

The Scrin thus poses a threat of a very different nature compared to Nod: to them, humanity is neither a political rival nor even necessarily an enemy, but simply a population that should have vanished before the arrival of the teams tasked with harvesting the Ichor.

In the games preceding the Tiberium Wars

Tiberian Dawn: on some maps, the wreckage of an alien spacecraft.

Tiberian Sun: An alien spacecraft, or one based on alien technology, stolen from the ruins of the Temple of Nod in Sarajevo.

Renegade: The Brotherhood’s archaeological dig site, which contains a damaged alien spacecraft.