Manhattan Outbreak (Earth-1118)

## Outbreak

Location| * Earth
	+ New York City

Belligerents| * United States
	+ Blackwatch Special Forces
		- Wisemen Team
	+ United States Marine Corps
	+ United States Air Force
	+ United States Army
	+ United States Navy

Strength| * USS Ronald Reagan
* Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
* Viral Detectors
* D-Code Soldiers
* Walkers
* Hunters
	+ Leader Hunters
* Hydras

The **Blacklight/Redlight Outbreak**, known simply as the **Manhattan Outbreak**, was one of the worst viral outbreaks in human history, with its consequences lingering decades after the outbreak's end.

## Prelude

Mercer fled to Penn Station with a vial of the Blacklight virus in hand as insurance. He was quickly surrounded by Blackwatch agents, who opened fire on him before he could reveal having the virus. Mercer smashed the vial on the ground in an act of spite, killing everyone in the station. The virus didn't manage to spread outside of the station, as Blacklight was more efficient in killing than infecting, unlike Redlight.

## Overview

The government also advertised the existence of those with immunity to the virus, claiming the blood of immune individuals could help accelerate the development of the cure.

Many began to doubt the existence of the cure, evident by increased riots and anti-government vandalism in the latter half of the outbreak. To placate the civilian population, Blackwatch began to spread a fake vaccine via helicopter applicators to "inoculate" millions of people.

In the end, no cure or vaccine was ever created by the military. Instead, the vaccine was hastily invented by Reed Richards in the last days of the outbreak, who distributed it via his Ganali Device.

## Timeline of Events

* Day 0: Alex Mercer releases the Blacklight virus inside Pennsylvania Station, infecting and killing hundreds.
* Day 1: Alex Mercer escapes from a morgue in the Gentek building. The United States Marines and Blackwatch move into the city.
* Day 3: The infection is confirmed. Alex Mercer unintentionally releases Elizabeth Greene from her containment chamber in the Gentek building. The island is subsequently sealed off.
* Day 4: 4% of population infected.
* Day 5: The USS Ronald Reagan arrives in the New York harbor.
* Day 6: 20% of population infected.
* Day 8: 49% of population infected.
* Day 10: 68% of population infected.
* Day 11: Bloodtox and Super Soldiers first fielded in Manhattan.
* Day 12: 81% of population infected. Alex Mercer kills and consumes Elizabeth Greene.
* Day 15: 60% of population infected.
* Day 18: Alex Mercer kills both Peter Randall and the Supreme Hunter while on board the USS Ronald Reagan. A nuclear bomb detonates 15 miles off the shore of Manhattan, originally intended to wipe out New York City during Operation Firebreak.

## Aftermath

*"New York has weathered the first act of biological and nuclear terrorism... In the history of the world. It is a testament to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, that New York is still standing. We will find those responsible... We will drag them out of their hiding places... And we will make them pay. Wherever they are!* Wherever they are! *Whatever weapons they possess! They will learn the final lesson; America does not start wars, America ends them!"*
―Senator Ambrose
Sometime after her recovery, Dana Mercer leaked various documents related to Blackwatch, Gentek, and Elizabeth Greene. However, unknown individuals worked to discredit Dana, flooding the internet with poorly written articles about crackpot conspiracy theories with her name on them.

Steve Rogers notably called out Blackwatch's atrocities committed during the outbreak. Soon, however, there was no one left to criticize, as Blackwatch and all its personnel seemingly vanished off the map a few months after the outbreak.

A monument dedicated to the soldiers who died in the outbreak was built outside Pennsylvania Station.

Organized crime took a major hit during the Outbreak, with many high-ranking Maggia members perishing from the infection. The power vacuum left in the outbreak's wake was exploited by Wilson Fisk, who reorganized the remnants of the Maggia and the warring gangs into an empire.