An Alternate History

Date: October 31, 2014

The Cold War never ended. At least, it hadn't 4 months ago....

On August 3, the world went to Hell in a hand basket. In an incredible effort, a Chechen terrorist group was able to seize control of the Rostov Nuclear Power Plant in the Southern USSR. There, under the guise of nuclear power, the USSR had been able to covertly add to their nuclear weapon stock piles and silos. On the next day, the Chechen leader issued an internet video ordering the USSR to release the 308 prisoners that have been associated with the terrorist group or their nuclear weapons would be turned against them. On August 9, the six secret silos attached to Rostov launched.

With no time to act, the first missile to reach its target hit Moscow. Another war head hit Rome. A third lands in the outskirts of Paris. A Fourth is destroyed above Israel. A Fifth was aimed at DC, but was diverted off course by the US Star Wars project. This war head landed in Frederick, the location of the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID).

The following volley of WMDs between different countries lasted for the next 48 hours. Tehran, Seattle, London, Kyiv, Tokyo, Beijing, these are just some of the cities that have become stories. It's argued though, that ensuing massive panic caused more damage across the world than the 26 nuclear war heads. But that was only during the first week after August 9, known as Rostov Day. 

A week after Rostov Day, reports flared up that in the American North East, thousands of people were becoming violently ill, and eventually succumbing to the sickness. This was soon linked to N6 which struck near USAMRIID, and was learned that some sort of super bug was released. Not only did this make you violently ill, it also presented similar symptoms to radiation sickness. The mortality rate was an astonishing 96%. The bug, nicknamed Rad Pox, spread like wild fire. 9 Days post Rostov Day, cases were reported on the American West coast. 16 days and the first confirmed case was found in Europe. Four months after Rostov Day, nearly 6.3 billion people died, including 98% of India. Quarantines and strong holds were set up to help survivors, but these were quickly over run by desperate people using desperate measures. 

Those who survived were either isolated from the rest of the world, extremely rich, or extremely lucky. 

Unfortunately, I'm only the first one.