Part I: Resource gathering

Tazumal (formerly: Tazumal Sur, Tazumal Occidental, Zen, Christi):

The farms and natural reserves of Tazumal helped keep the people fed. Professors from David Suzuki College of Environmental Sciences believe that the natural reserves of Tazumal helped filter the air, thus allowing some sun to shine through, and the temperatures to not fall as dramatically. The cities also continued to receive energy from Ceren’s power plants. But like all places, the death told from the Hancalae virus and the extreme weather was devastating. As the citizens watched countries around them tumble, friends die, and communication with the outside world disappear, despair set it. The worse news was the report that women were infertile.

A battalion of soldiers was sent out to Meanguera in a search and rescue mission, as all communications with them were lost. The soldiers had to bear extreme temperatures, but worse of all they had to fight against Hancalae virus infected individuals, suffering from dementia leading to extreme violence. They also had to fight regular people, looting and killing others in order to survive. The journey to Meanguera was ruthless, and it’s believe that no soldier made it.

After loosing communication with the battalion, the order to send another battalion was made. But soldiers refused to go, thus ending military support of the current government. This lead to ethnic leaders to rise, and a period of civil strife began. A power struggle between secular communitarians, Brianists and Christians began in Lebrianon, and then spread to Octavton’s Tazumal Sur and Tazumal Occidental provinces. Eventually, Brianists won militarily in Lebrianon. The fighting cost as much lives as the Hancalae virus. The Brianist government originally intended for Lebrianon to break off from the OC, but then they realized they needed Octavton for supplies. Thus they began to cooperate and agreed to ask the bases in Confucius to send troops to look for survivors in Obstetrica and Meanguera. Slowly the communitarians gained more support in Lebrianon and they took control peacefully. Soon after, Lebrianon asked Octavton if they could join them, and in that way, Lebrianon became a part of Octavton.

Ceren:

Though most of the mapp lost power during the meltdown, Octavton’s provinces did not, as they were able to use Ceren’s Green Chi Hydrothermal Energy Plant, Winds of change windmills and Inca Gas ethanol factory to obtain energy. In fact the extreme weather increased the energy production from Winds of Change. The farms in Volksagricultura also supplied food for its people. Because there was no sun, the food from Volksagricultura did not last long, and resources were spent in expanding Julia’s Greenhouses, to produce more food. Because the supplies were limited efficiency was the key. Many people died in Ceren because of the cold, in the war with Idiosincracia, and from the virus. People were instructed to concentrate into houses, so that the most people live in the smallest amount of space. Thus any non essential buildings could be closed. Only energy plants, food productions, security forces, OKEA, housing and hospitals were left functioning. Anyone with the Hancalae virus or exposure was quarantined in the airport. All the fuel from the planes in the airport was removed prior to the quarantine to make sure no one could leave.

Eventually, the weather improved, OKEA and Cruz Cerebre worked together to find a vaccine against the Hancalae virus, and some women that could still bear children were discovered. As the clouds clear, Ceren started to function more normal, and the reconstruction began.

Part II: Fighting the Hancalae Virus

Agua Clara (formerly: San Andres, Theos, Illuminata)

On 12/06 a conference regarding the Hancalae virus was being held at the World Health Organization headquarters in San Andres. Present in the conference were many physicians working for CDC or in the frontlines. The president of CP had arrived to attend the conference. On that fateful day, he had decided to visit Cruz Cerebre along with members Health Officers of various countries and members of Tamwest media. They wanted to get an update on research being conducted by the Octavton government regarding the virus. During the visit, Tamwest media correspondents suddenly lost their satellite feeds, and soon after power went out on the facility. Patients infected with the Hancalae virus being cared for at Cruz Cerebre took the opportunity to escape. They were in a state of delirium and attacked the delegates. Officers were able to evacuate the delegates, but knowing full well that they had been exposed to the virus they knew that they needed to be quarantined.

The president of CP had a conversation with the PCO through a special land line connecting most of the OC provinces. Because of lack of satellite communications, and his quarantine order which prevented him from traveling. The foreign minister of Octavton was asked to resign as president of CP. Message was sent to the CP headquarters in Marcusburg via carrier Igoslavian goat. OKEA had previously observed that Igoslavian goats kidnapped by I2 for study were radiation resistant, immune to all known human pathogens, very smart with a keen sense of direction, and able to survive in extreme temperatures. The PCO said that they were closing the boarders of all OC provinces to prevent the rapid spread of the virus, which was rumored to be occurring in around the mapp. The PCO asked the foreign minister that as the highest ranking official currently in San Andres, he take over command of that sector.

The foreign minister, Mr. Rivera, ordered all healthy civilians to be quarantined within army bases. Some of which due to their properties, also provided a good shelter against radiation. If anyone became ill or came in contact with someone ill, the army was to send them back into the surface. As much food supplies as possible were to be brought into the bases. Mr. River worked with the leader of the Theos and Illuminata provinces to coordinate all efforts, and everything was done as a unit, a community. Eventually though, almost everyone outside of the bases was infected by the virus, and the mortality was 100%. The people inside the bases were not allowed to any contact with the outside world, and they were kept safe by the army which enforced the separation. After a few months of the outside world seemed like a cold, dark dessert.

But not everyone left outside of the bases became infected. Around 300 people, who had been left outside because they had been exposed to the virus, were immune and they were left outside fighting for their survival against thousands of “zombies.” They were able to survive and hide inside Cruz Cerebre. From there they contacted OKEA and told them of their situation. These people had to wait a long time before help came to them. Many starved, froze, or dehydrated to death. When a team of scientists backed up by military squadron came to their aid months later, only 30 people remained. But they were nourished and then examined. All the people were found to have diets rich on Igoslavian Goat Products. Their plasma was found to be full of antibodies against the Hancalae virus.

At this point all the other population from Sand Andres, Theos, Illuminata and Idiosincracia that was not in sheltered in the military bases had passed away. Military from Ceren set up a perimeter around Cruz Cerebre, and brought in at team of scientists from OKEA to reestablish Cruz Cerebre operations. There, using blood cells from the human survivors they developed a cell line that when grown in goat serum enriched media produced high titers of Hancalae Hyper Immunoglobulin (HHIG). Thanks to this scientists were able to produce a vaccine to give passive immunity. Word came later, that scientist at OKEA in Ceren had found that by transfusing people with a two units of fresh frozen Igoslavian goat plasma, and then injecting them with a low titer of the Hancalae virus, subjects became immune to the virus.

With this great news, the people were released from the military bases, vaccinated, and the rebuilding process began once more.

Idiosincracia:

On 12/6 a party celebrating the victory over Zimbabmei was held in Idiosincracia by the Weimaran Cultural Society. At the party the old flag of Weimar was being raised up high. Now that their common enemy was gone, some former Weimar politicians were discussing what the role of their ethnic group should be within the OC. Some were saying that they felt having their own country was something they should pursue. Though they wanted to remain within the OC, they were discussing separating from Shannli. But this discussion boiled after 12/06.

Being far from the nuclear blast, they were spared most of the immediate destruction, and did not suffer much radiation damage. However, people struggled with keeping warm, hypothermia, and cold weather related illnesses were killing many citizens. But panic ensued when they heard that most of the population of Illuminata had perished due to the Hancalae virus. Many people packed their things and started running to Ceren. But Ceren had closed its boarders. Feeling abandoned and fearing for their lives, the Weimarian nationalist performed a coup and took over Illuminata, making it a break away province from Shannli. The Weimar army marched towards Ceren, where they were met and defeated by the Octavton army in wastelands formerly known as Zimbamei. Neither army wanted to damage each others’ structures, so the fighting took place in neutral ground.

After the defeat, the Illuminata province informed the Shannli government that they would break away from Shannli and join Octavton. Shortly after pro-Octavton activists held a second coup, taking over the government of Idiosincracia, spoke with their counterparts in Illuminata, and it was decided that all of Shannli would abdicate to Octavton. After the abdication, Idiosincracia followed the same policies as Illuminata and their history is shared.

Part III: Preserving fertility

Sparta (formerly: Cuzcatlan, Confucius)

On 12/6 the troops stationed in Cuzcatlan and Confucius were watching a live broadcast through Tamwest media of the parties being held in Idiosincracia, celebrating the victory over Zimbabmei, and in Ceren, celebration Octavton’s induction to Greatness. All of the sudden the feed was lost, and so were all other satellite communications. General Handal ordered everyone to battle stations as they were not sure, if the PXE had lunched massive surprise attacks. Tense few hours followed. Eventually communications came through a land line communicating all the provinces except Obstetrica and Meanguera. Word came of the tragedy.

General Handal of Octavton met with General Schafik of Lebrianon and they decided that the bases were to all work as one unit. They were isolated and so they needed to work together. To brave the cold, the brave soldiers dismantled walls of buildings, and vehicles, to add insulation to the housing buildings and food buildings. The beds were removed and mattresses were all laid in the floor, and soldiers were asked to all sleep together, having five times as many soldiers sleeping in one room to increase warmth. The bases were turned from a military function, to shelters for the soldier to try to survive the winter. They had enough food and water to last them a couple of months, but they would require supplies from Tazumal, Zen and Christi if they were to survive in the long run. For fear of spread of the Hancalae virus they were instructed to stay put in the base.

A month and a half later, much needed supplies arrived by caravan from Tazumal Sur. Special instructions came with them. After this, two months elapsed with no communication between Cuzcatlan and the rest of the OC. Finally a convoy came from Tazumal and Zen. They informed that Shannli had now become part of Octavton, and that civil war had erupted in Lebrianon between Christians from Christi, Brianists from Zen. The Christians had lost, and the Zen based Brianists were in control. The Octavton and Lebrianon soldier also brought instructions to form joint task forces to go to look for survivors in Meanguera and Obstetrica.

The convoys brought many more supplies, new equipment, and technical data. General Schafik and General Handal began making preparations to send to search and rescue teams. A rescue team called Sparta had been send by Tazumal early in the tragedy and they had all perished. In their honor, the teams were called Sparta 2 and Sparta 3. They were now better equipped more knowledgeable, and faced improving environmental conditions. They also had been given a newly developed vaccine against the Hancalae virus. Sparta 2 would travel up the Thaydelus River to reach Meanguera; Sparta 3 would go by ground to Obstetrica. The missions were successful.

With time more communication and supply chains were open between Cuzcatlan and Confucius, now known as Sparta, and Tazumal, which comprised the now merged provinces of Tazumal Sur, Tazumal Occidental, Zen and Christi). Sparta became the lunching site for supply and reconstruction missions to Obstetrica and Meanguera.

Meanguera

When the Sparta 2 squadron reached Meanguera it found survivors living in the subway system. They said that most of the population of Meanguera was killed instantly by the thermal blast. The rest of the population hid inside the Casino’s which were very well supplied. But the Hancalae virus started spreading quickly. Those infected became insane and violent. People formed gangs to defend themselves against the zombies, as they called the people infected with the virus, and to defend supplies they had secured. Two months after 12/6, a few of the gangs banded together, and decided to hide in the subway system, locking themselves there, protected from the Hancalae virus and looters, but with supplies that could last at most for 4 months. They hoped and prayed that they would be rescued in time by someone from the outside. And just as the last piece of bread was eaten, and the last drop of water was drunk, a person prayed, and a door into the subway was open. Light shun in, and soldiers entered. They were the women and men of the Sparta 2 squadron, who had come to save them. The Sparta 2 squadron rescued thousands of people from Meanguera, and took them back to Tazumal. Meanguera was left abandoned, but the survivors bowed to return. And sure enough, by helicopter and by boat, the survivors have return with aid, and have begun to rebuild their glorious province.

Obstetrica

The province of Obstetrica was renowned for having the highest birth rate in the mapp. In fact, at the time of 12/6, 1 in 4 women of child bearing age were believed to be pregnant. The Province was also well known for taking care of its children. The initial impact of the events of 12/6 was devastating for this province. Being the most remote of OC provinces, it spent many months in isolation from the rest of the world. For months they heard no word from the outside world nor had any contact with people from the outside.

The relative isolation helped keep the spread of the Hancalae virus to a minimum inside this city. When contact with the rest of the OC was lost, a temporary matriarchy was established, with the mandate “Think of the Children.” All non Hancalae virus infected pregnant women, women with young children, children younger than 7 years, and men 18-30 years of age, with college education and a mark of more than 9.0 in the hot or not website, were placed in schools and hospitals for shelter. Anyone exposed to the Hancalae virus was asked to go into voluntary exile into the unknown of the adjacent territories, or placed in a makeshift detention cell consisting of a barbwire fence, with morphine being the only thing they were allowed to have. Most of them died of dehydration, morphine overdose, or trauma. The rest of the people, used all their efforts to find food and supplies to bring to the select few held in the schools and hospitals. They sacrificed themselves for the good of their province. They died of cold, hunger, and pneumonias. It was a dark and gruesome time.

In the first two months, all the pregnant women lost their babies. The radiation caused them to have spontaneous abortions. It was a depressing time for the few who had been chosen to survive. After three months, no one came to visit or bring any more supplies, but they had enough accumulated to last two more months. Depression set in, and eating, sleeping and sex is all they could do to pass the time. By the sixth month, women were pregnant again, but it gave little hope, as supplies were running out. But suddenly, a contingent of 300 soldiers from Cuzcatlan and Confucius, with a 1000 other soldiers from Tazumal, Theos and Christi, calling themselves the Sparta-3 squadron found them. Bringing with them water, bread, and Igoslavian goat cheese.

The Sparta-3 squadron was as happy to see the pregnant women. Though the rest of the mapp was believed to be infertile, the fertility of these women was preserved. They would go to deliver healthy babies, and later scientists and doctors who examined them hypothesized that the infertility experience by other women was an autoimmune reaction triggered by the radiation and Hancalae virus. The immunosupression caused by pregnancy must have spared the women from Obstetrica from a similar fate. The survivors were given supplies, and new communication equipment, giving them a link to the rest of the OC. The women that were pregnant were brought back with the contingent of soldiers to Cuzcatlan and eventually Tazumal. Most women from the rest of the OC who were pregnant and had lost their babies, had not attempted to get pregnant right away. But with time, a handful of women from outside Obstetrica that had also been pregnant and lost their children due to radiation, found that they could still give birth. Thus hope for the future was restored.

Shipments of supplies started arriving to Obstetrica after Sparta 3 left, and the rebuilding process began.

Fort Venus

Fort Venus was just in planning stages when 12/6 hit. Now that order has being restored to the glorious nation of Octavton, Fort Venus will be its newest province, full of hope and energy for the future. It will be a beautiful and modern place to mark a new beginning.