The American Plague

Millions of Californian residents escape along Highway One

## Quote

"The Plague has devastated an already unstable United States- We, as part of the international community, must exercise our moral obligation to help the troubled populace of the West Coast, to send aid, resources, and our hopes for a resolution. This issue is not one that only affects the American people, but everyone all around the world. It is in our utmost best interests, and priority, to prevent the further spread of the plague, and to assist those who are ailing" - Chloe Kirk, High Envoy of the United Nations, in a speech to the General Assembly, 2042

## Background

The plague was originally a strand of Ebola originating from West Africa, having mutated into a significantly more silent virus. Notably, the ability to spread through fluids proved to be the biggest change. In addition, the plague had the ability to spread rapidly once inside of a fluid like water, multiplying exponentially very quickly. After originating from an unknown individual and having somehow circulated into the water supply of Southern California, notably in the LA, Orange, and San Diego county, the plague went unnoticed for a large period of roughly a month, until widespread symptoms were reported all across the Southern California Region, including fever, weakness, a sore throat. These reports sharply erupted into the hundreds of thousands. After a few weeks these symptoms were accelerated, and thousands became quickly hospitalized. it was only at this point, that the populace realized this was an issue unprecedented in American history.

## Overview

After the first few thousand hospitalizations, a quarantine order was created in order to help restrict the spread of the Virus. This order was in strict effect all across the Southern Californian region, and the Federal Government intervened with extensive military presence. Many complained outrageously of this order, referencing back to Covid-19's lock downs. However over the course of the next few weeks, not only did tens of thousands more begin to be hospitalized, but those who were previously hospitalized were dying in the thousands. Scientists at this time were able to determine contamination to be sourced from the water supplies across the entirety of Southern California , and so a statewide order was put in place to avoid drinking from tap (As a side note it is worth noting that although this order was effective for only California, pretty much the entirety of the United States also followed this order, for fear of catching the virus nevertheless. Bottled water supply was quickly evaporated). However, it was also determined that the virus could only spread through this medium alone, and that otherwise the virus had no way to spread. Nevertheless at this point panic began to ensue, and thousands began escaping in droves to Canada, Nevada, and Oregon. The Federal Government attempted to stop this mass movement, but ultimately after another week of development, the number of those fleeing numbered in the millions. Freeways were not clogged with cars, but with people, and along highway one, a caravan train of millions of people can be seen stretching for hundreds of miles, camped in the surrounding hills and beaches. Spectators commented that it was simultaneously apocalyptic, but also the most magnificent thing they have ever witnessed, to see tens of thousands of tents propped up under every tree, beach, cliff side, for hundreds of miles in each direction, to see the movement of millions of people across the land, carrying their belongings, bringing their pets, It was at this time, that an otherwise relatively unknown but charismatic songwriter of California, Dylan Kirby, began to deliver daily words and songs of encouragement reminiscent of Roosevelt's fireside talks, that began to win him popularity.

However at this point it was ironically due to the lock down order that the situation was worsened., due to the fact that millions more ended up drinking from the tap, and symptoms amongst the refugees began to show up extensively. Hospitals were already overwhelmed, and millions were now stranded in the disparate regions of central California without any access to medical care. This issue became an international crisis, and many organizations around the world rushed in to assist those in need. Amongst these groups was the Blue Kross medical group run by an Australian by the name of Johnathan Kirby, who became noteworthy for his most efficient actions. Johnathan Kirby recognized that sending in disparate individuals and small groups would not be sufficient in now treating the millions more infected, and so he created an elaborate system of massive medical "base camps" all around central and southern California, that were able to deal with a large influx of individuals. These centralized areas, numbering in the hundreds and capable of housing thousands at a time, still managed to maintain sufficient standards of general care and hygiene that many commented was astonishing.

However despite this, there was only so much care that any hospital or facility can provide ultimately. Millions ended up dying due to the degree of severity from the plague, and the entirety of Southern California was completely abandoned, left almost a graveyard compared to its previously metropolitan status. Even cities as far north as Santa Barbara was affected, and it likewise became a ghost town, looted and abandoned. However due to the fact that the plague had very other means of spreading, the death count subsided after a couple of months. While roughly four million died in the first few months, only a few hundred died in the following April. It was determined that the water supply of Southern California was hopelessly "contaminated," and the entire region was abandoned. Most of the population settled in San Francisco, Las Vegas, or Oregon, which had to deal with the massive influx of population through temporary shelters and encampments. After a period of roughly a year, it was declared that the Plague had been dealt with, and that a return to normalcy can begin.

## Aftermath

The American Plague profoundly affected American society. The United States, which already felt like it was on the decline, had this idea only reinforced by the devastation of this plague Now only had millions died, but now also the quality of life and economic output of the United States had been profoundly affected due to the loss of Southern California, and it seemed like the United States was slipping into collapse. However, talk began to circulate about Dylan Kirby's Heroism during the plague in inspiring the American people to persevere. Quickly, Dylan gained the populace's approval to run for president, or rather, to declare himself as president, as to many it seemed like he was only way to keep the United States together. Dylan agreed, and for the first time in American History, a president was sworn in without any semblance of the electoral process. After this act, Dylan declared the United State of America, to stand united as one populace instead of disparate units, to push for the democratic process instead of squabbling and meddling. This action was relatively popular, though not unanimously, as 65% approved while 20% opposed.

Besides this, the heroics of Johnathan Kirby do not go unnoticed either, and due to the fact that he was also the son of the now president Dylan Kirby, he became Prime Minister of Australia for a combination of this status and his actions in California. Pirates also began to colonize some parts of the Californian coast, taking refuge in abandoned towns and cities and creating distinct factions.