Nuclear War

Khrushchev views the attack as an act of war.

Without warning, Khrushchev unleashes a nuclear barrage against the United States, hitting Washington DC, New York City, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Houston, Sacramento, and many others.

The United States responds with a nuclear barrage of its own.

Between the destruction of the resulting war and the massive nuclear fallout, the casualties and devastation are immense. Many would wonder why Khrushchev jumped to such devastating means so early, but so few people remained on Earth that wondering about trivial matters like that were trumped by the necessities of survival.

Within 100 years, the human race is extinct.