- For the Contra Returns characters, see Triumvirate (Returns).
| “ | Three old men represent the highest authority of the Earth Federation Government. They have ruled continuously for hundreds of years due to prolonged life through their cybernetic implants. Cerebral implants also allow them to share their thoughts — creating a single entity united in mind and purpose. | „ |
| ~ Contra: Shattered Soldier instruction booklet |
The Triumvirate (元老院 Motorōin?, lit. "Senate") are the main antagonists in Contra: Shattered Soldier. They are a trio of ancient men who had governed Earth for hundreds of years, this being possible by extending their lifespans through the use of cybernetic implants. The Triumvirate represents the highest authority of the Earth Federation Government.
They are individually named: Nero (元老ネロ Genrō Nero?, lit. "Elder Statesman Nero"), Gaius (元老ガイウス Genrō Gaiusu?, lit. "Elder Statesman Gaius"), and Commodus (元老コンモドゥス Genrō Konmodo~usu?, lit. "Elder Statesman Commodus").
History
In the Japanese script of Hard Corps: Uprising, it is mentioned that the three Tribes' decisions were being "decided by three old men who got along well with each other".[1] This implies that the Triumvirate and their influential power well existed during this time, being the ones to orchestrate the fall and overthrow of Emperor Tiberius. They each selected an elite member of the tribe to join together and lead a group to eliminate the Emperor. This group was led by Bahamut, who the Triumvirate felt was a powerful pawn to use. The three feared he would become too powerful to a point that he might threaten the power the three old men wield. As a countermeasure, they secretly hired one of their selected members to assassinate Bahamut whether the mission to kill Tiberius succeeded or failed. The elder's initial plan succeeds as Tiberius falls, but their hidden agenda fails as after the death of the Emperor, Bahamut ends up vanishing without a trace.
In 2627 A.D. –twenty years prior to the events of Contra: Shattered Soldier– a space miner that was sent to Jupiter discovered a shrine belonging to an ancient civilization said to have ruled the galaxy many years before the birth of mankind. Men of influence wanted to monopolize on this highly advanced technology, so they sent in the army, which brought back to Earth the Moirai Relic, an object said to contain immeasurable power. However, and unknown to them, this caused Red Falcon, an alien army which was programmed to protect the relic, to attack Earth in order to retrieve it.
Sometime after several unsuccessful attempts by the aliens to retrieve the relic, all thwarted by Earth's elite Contra commandos Bill Rizer and Lance Bean, the Triumvirate took the decision of framing Bill, blaming him for an accident that caused the destruction of 80% of the world's population, as well as for murdering Lance. Bill was thus apprehended and sentenced to 10,000 years in cryogenic prison. However, also by decision of the Triumvirate, he was temporarily released 5 years later in order to fight off the Blood Falcon, a new terrorist organization led by an unknown commander, who was eventually revealed to be the still living Lance.
After defeating him, and using his last breath, Lance revealed to Bill and Lucia all the truth behind the Triumvirate, as well as the reason of the previous alien invasions on Earth. After this revelation, both heroes set on their way to confront the Triumvirate, who now resided within an unknown space housing the Moirai Relic. The heroes reached the space zone where they are confronted by the Triumvirate, appearing in front of the arriving heroes. Lucia is surprised by their "using" her while they inform Bill that he is the real murderer of his war partner. The three old men then raise their hands to the sky and declare their supremacy with their newfound power. With the analysis on the relic complete, the Triumvirate begin to absorb the Relic's power. Soon, the Relic shifts power and begins to absorb the three instead, merged them with the Relic instead. The relic mutated the three members and used their new forms to attack the heroes. When all three were defeated, the Relic's true form appeared and was ultimately destroyed by Bill and Lucia.
As the relic violently explodes, the heroes escape, but out of the inferno arises the three mutated forms of the Triumvirate, now "fittingly" becoming one as an amalgamation of their mutated bodies. The mutated Triumvirate attack the fleeing heroes in one last act of revenge but are ultimately overcome by their firepower and sucked into the inferno, ending their rule and the Relic's power once and for all.
Quotes
- "Witness our power!"
Official Data
- Shin Contra Database description
- The Senate
The Senate is the highest decision-making body of the Earth's unified government, consisting of the three senators Gaius, Nero, and Commodus. All of the members have been given life-prolonging cyborg technology, and are old men who have already aged several hundred years. They have been under the influence of information-sharing devices implanted in their brains for a long time, and as a result, they have come to think in a controlled manner as if they were a single organism.
- Shin Contra/Contra: Hard Spirits - Konami Official Perfect Guide (Translated)
- Senate
The highest decision-making body of the unified government, consisting of three elders. Due to the influence of information-sharing devices implanted in their brains, the three think and act as if they were one organism.
Gallery
Screenshots
Sprites
.png "The Triumvirate model (trio).png (188 KB)")
Artworks
.png "Shattered Soldier Triumvirate artwork (End Credits crop).png (1.47 MB)")
Trivia
- It is unknown if the Triumvirate directly killed Lance Bean or if they sent an assassin to do the job (similar to how they tried to eliminate Bahamut in Hard Corps: Uprising).
- The names of the individuals comprising the Triumvirate are taken from three of the most infamous Roman Emperors: Gaius (Gaius Caesar Augustus, a.k.a. "Caligula"), Nero (Claudius Caesar Augustus), and Commodus, each presiding over periods of significant declines in the Roman Empire. Tiberius from Uprising also has a name befitting the Emperor motif, his name being modeled after Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus.
- The Triumvirate's plan to use an alien relic to gain ultimate power resembles one of Colonel Bahamut's plans from Contra: Hard Corps. Both villains managed to gain control over such power for a short time before the corporeal qualities of the alien power consumed them.
- The Triumvirate, being humans who used cybernetics to extend their lives and having governance in secret dealings and events on Earth, bears a resemblance to Z-one from Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's, a later Konami series.
- There being three of them who merge, also bears a resemblance to the character Aporia from Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's.
See also
References
- ↑ Based on a translated script.