We thought you should know a little more about how and when the Carbon Plague started up, to give you a little better idea of who’s on your side. Much of this may come as a surprise to you; the ISA has been notably tight on information about the Plague, and a tot of what they do release to the media is false. Trust us that these are the facts; many of these entries have been taken from secret files recovered by Rache Bartmoss, and others from defectors to the cause. Of course, some of the data has come from you kids, either through interviews or actions you’ve taken. Keep it up, kids, the future of the planet is in your capable hands! -Alt
A.D. 2000
The Wasting Plague hits the United States and Europe. The landmark case of Stoe vs. Nevada is decided in favor of the State of Nevada, resulting in a severe restriction on the rights of citizens with infectious diseases. The other states pass similar laws over the next few months.
A.D. 2012
The first viable nanotech is released by both European and Japanese corporations. Within the next few years, nanotech is used for biological enhancement and large-scale construction efforts. Even with ten years of refinements, commercially-available nanotech get nowhere near the quality of the Carbon Plague CNMs.
A.D. 2025
DECEMBER
19th: The FoxRun Incident. FoxRun 3-13 crashes in Night City. Although considered at the time to be the result of a mechanical failure (or possibly sabotage), this accident is believed by some to be the initial outbreak of the Carbon Plague. Of the crew of five, only one, Renee Suzzalo, survives. She is shipped to Crisis Medical in critical condition. The FoxRun flight is suspected of having been working on a ‘blind security test’, which is their euphemism for corporate espionage.
20th: Federal agents visit FoxRun’s Sacramento headquarters. It is unknown exactly what happened there.
23rd: Renee Suzzalo’s status is downgraded to serious, and she is transferred to Night City Medical Center for continued care.
A.D. 2026
JANUARY
2nd: Renee Suzzalo dies of a mysterious malady despite the best efforts of Night City Medical personnel. As she was seriously injured, medical personnel were unable to, get much subjective information from her —what she felt, etc. and what they did get is colored heavily with the other injuries she sustained. In retrospect, the observations recorded by the staff indicate that she suffered from nanoid infection. Unfortunately, there is no proof, as the staff did not do a nanotech scan on her at the time. This is hardly surprising, since they had no reason to believe a nanotech plague had broken quarantine
3rd: The story of the death of the Renee Suzzalo finds its way to Night City Today, and headlines the front page of the screamsheet all day long. At this time the press dubs the illness ‘the FoxRun Flu’, and runs commentary disguised as news stories prophesying that a new bio-engineered disease threatens the entire West Coast. Late in the day the screamsheet receives a visit from several high-ranking ISA personnel, and the yellow journalism stops abruptly. The editor-in-chief of Night City Today is killed in a car accident while heading home.
During the next two weeks, twenty-one people in Night City come down with the FoxRun Flu. Most live or work near where FoxRun 3-13 went down. The disease is named ‘Genetic Metabolic Disruption Syndrome’, and data regarding the disease is disseminated to several leading university research centers. The second fatality of the FoxRun Flu is recorded on the 7th, and by the end of this month, all the infected people die. As with the first case, the autopsies are inconclusive.
FEBRUARY
Throughout the month, sixty-three more people die of the Carbon Plague in Night City. Cases also show up in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, Portland, El Paso, Richmond, Detroit, New York City, and various smaller towns. Despite pressure from the national government, the Northern California government does not impose quarantines. Also during this month, the first survivor of the Carbon Plague is documented: an 18-year-old male who stabilizes in a coma. He is eventually taken by the CDC and never seen again.
16th: In response to pressure from the Appalachian states and the Northeast, GMDS is declared a threat to national security, and the CDC gets placed on the case. February is ‘month one’ in Dr. David Chaing’s notes. Apparently he was so consumed with other work that he was unaware of what was happening in the world around him. Some conjecture that he was working on a nanotech project himself, although this accusation seems illogical given that it took Chaing several months to determine the presence of the nanomachines. Additionally, private memos indicate Chaing appeared close to panic on several occasions.
MARCH
Many more cases of the Carbon Plague are reported across the country, in Mexico, and in Canada. Three more children survive the Carbon Plague, but in good condition. They are questioned, tested, and released into a parent-supervised quarantine. They are notably reluctant to talk with health workers abut their recovery. By the fact that these kids are not noticed as Evolved, it is now assumed that they are Scanners.
31st In a top-secret report, the Centers for Disease Control epidemiologists admit surprise at the low contagion of the disease; against all theory it spreads laterally rapidly without infecting a majority of people in cities where it has been reported.
APRIL
The ten-thousandth case of the Carbon Plague appears during the month. Thirteen children affected by the Carbon Plague survive and are discharged after several tests. Additionally, two children disappear under mysterious circumstances. It is possible that these are Tinmen, but also that they were kidnapped by a corporation that was ahead of the CDC in research.
1st In an EEC assembly, a resolution is proposed to quarantine the ISA (the Europeans, upset at the Second American Revolution, had been looking for an excuse for some time). Although the I.S. vetoes the proposal, most of the world complies with the quarantine anyway, cutting off trade and travel. The I.S.and world economies falter as a result of this move, and industries around the world rapidly move to make up for shortages caused by the abrupt end of trade.
4th: The Medical Examiner who performed the autopsy on the FoxRun survivor dies of the Carbon Plague.
MAY
During the month, cases appear in Western Europe, Japan, and Central America.
3rd: The Orbitals cut off all traffic to and from Earth, causing further economic upheaval, especially in Europe.
10th: A child with ‘silvery RealSkinn sleeves’ is abducted off the street by an unmarked vehicle in Helena, Montana.
17th: In Boston, an adult claims to have come down with the Carbon Plague, but shaken off the effects after a day or two. This case is not believed because the presence of the Carbon Plague is largely confirmed by the screaming death of its victims. Although initially dismissed as a hoax, more cases start appearing over the next few months.
21st Alt Cunningham meets her first Wizard.
30th: A Tinman and several prisoners attempt to break out of prison in Dothan, Alabama. Fourteen prisoners are killed; the Tinman escapes. Twelve guards also die in the attempt, most at the hands of the Tinman. The Alabama National Guard begins openly hunting Tinmen.
JUNE
The millionth case of Carbon Plague appears sometime this month.
2nd: Mexico belatedly tries to close its borders as a member of one of the ruling families comes down with the Carbon Plague.
5th: Martial law is declared by the ISA. In a speech to the American public, Whindam assures everyone that elections will not be suspended, and that freedoms will be restored just as soon as the infection has been fought to a standstill. As the culmination of a two year program of propaganda and clandestine warfare, Whindam reintegrates most of the Free States into the Union. Only Texas manages to declare itself an independent nation, although it quickly allies itself with the I.S.A. government in order to ensure its continued autonomy.
11th: First report of presumed Bolter activity. At an intersection in Washington D.C., seven congressmen went down “twitching like a maniac’s marionette” over the course of five minutes.
JULY
Cases of the Carbon Plague are reported in almost every major population center on Earth, despite all attempts at quarantine.
AUGUST
1st: The Crystal Palace has its first confirmed case of the Carbon Plague. The victim is immediately thrown out an airlock. This heinous action is repeated three times over the next two weeks, and unrest grows.
3rd: The Carbon Plague is determined to be nan-otech-based. The term ‘Carbon Plague’ is coined by WNS, and soon supplants FoxRun Flu and GMDS even in official communication.
4th: In a top-secret communiqué, the CDC revises its estimate of contagion of the disease from very low to almost certain, but adds that the gestation period for the plague is indeterminate and sometimes very long. Some models project that the nanites can be found in some quantity everywhere on Earth.
16th: Tycho base has its first case of the Carbon Plague. The victim is heavily irradiated and fired at Earth in the mass driver. Tycho and Copernicus announce they will fire on all approaching traffic.
SEPTEMBER
1st: The Johnson Space Platform reopens transportation with Earth. There is no demand, since no orbital station is willing to follow suit.
8th: The first confirmed sighting of a renegade cyberevolved gang takes place in Detroit, when four Bolters, three Tinmen and two Scanners rob a posh restaurant. The kids apparently came from a variety of backgrounds; it is unknown how they got together. Some believe that the Scanners organized the group.
10th: The ISA passes the Emergency Powers Act.
Combined with Stoe vs. Nevada, this gives the government unparalleled power to act against those infected with the plague. The I S A immediately begins active persecution.
OCTOBER
By this time the Carbon Plague has claimed millions of lives in the Incorporated States. The number of adult fatalities in the Incorporated States begins to slow in acceleration; although the number of fatalities is still more than last month, the increase is not as great as expected. Also, the first sighting of what may have been Scouts is reported, although the report is sketchy. No further incidents are reported for many months.
NOVEMBER
In response to planet-wide infection some small countries reopen communication with the 1 S . Most countries, however, have further isolated themselves.
DECEMBER
The increase in the number of adult fatalities slows further. Rumours of immunity treatments hit the streets.
13th: CorpSec agents report that they have located an Alchemist with the capability of performing complicated biochemical synthesis. The kid manages to kill herself in a fire before she can be caught and studied.
A.D. 2027
JANUARY
At the start of the year, it is estimated that between 5% and 20% of the juvenile population of the Incorporated States has been Evolved. Approximately 1% of the juvenile population across the country belongs to the Eden Cabal. The Carbon Plague has killed over 5% of the adult population by this time.
FEBRUARY
The ISA discovers the existence of the Eden Cabal and begins a covert war to eliminate it.
MARCH
While adult fatalities are still on the rise, the increase is approaching arithmetic instead of geometric. The number of children infected by the plague continues to rise.
APRIL
1st: Coordinated CyberRevolutionary harassing attacks embarrass the I S A across the nation. Naturally, the media twists the stories to make the I.S.A. look good against savage terrorists.
MAY
12th: Dr. David Chaing of the Centers for Disease Control makes his initial report on the Evolved.
16th: Dr. David Chaing disappears under mysterious circumstances.
27th: Rache Bartmoss takes Chaing’s files.