lore Operation: COBALT | The Last Hours of Humanity's Finest

[Essence]

EXECUTIVE ORDER D-2010-23

 

WHEREAS, beginning on [REDACTED], the State of Colorado was impacted by a contagion that brought exacerbated death tolls, a significant increase in violent crimes, and an excess of biologically hazardous waste; and

WHEREAS, the [REDACTED] [REDACTED] has caused mass hysteria resulting in widespread power outages to tens of thousands of homes, nursing homes, and businesses, requiring State and local governments to assist in evacuations, as well as leaving freeways impassable, and causing schools to close; and

WHEREAS, the aforementioned conditions have existed since [REDACTED] and continue to exist across several states, including the [REDACTED], and [REDACTED]; and

WHEREAS, the World Health Organization has declared a public health emergency beginning on [REDACTED] and continuing; and

WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control has called for a ban on commuter travel, hampering the spread of the communicable virus; and

WHEREAS, the Federal Aviation Administration has released an advisory to ground all flights, including both domestic and international operations, and has ceased all public air travel with the exception of the transport of State and local officials; and

WHEREAS, the aforesaid conditions constitute an imminent hazard that threatens and presently endangers the health, safety, and resources of the residents of one or more municipalities or counties of this State, and which is in some parts of the State and may become in other parts of the State too large in scope to be handled by the normal local operating services; and

WHEREAS, the Constitution and Statutes of the State of Colorado, particularly the provisions of Article IV, Section 2 of the Colorado Constitution and the relevant portions of the Colorado Disaster Emergency Act, C.R.S. § 24-33.5-701 et seq., confer upon the Governor of the State of Colorado certain emergency powers;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, [REDACTED], Governor of the State of Colorado, in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people of the State of Colorado do hereby DECLARE and PROCLAIM that a State of Emergency has existed in the state since [REDACTED], and continues to exist, and I hereby ORDER AND DIRECT the following:

1. I authorize and empower the State Director of Emergency Management to activate those elements of the State Emergency Operations Plan that he deems necessary to further safeguard the public security, health, and welfare, and to coordinate the recovery effort from this emergency with all governmental agencies, volunteer organizations, and the private sector.

2. I authorize and empower, in accordance with [REDACTED], the State Director of Emergency Management, who is the Superintendent of State Police, through the police agencies under his control, to determine the control and direction of the flow of such vehicular traffic on any State Highway or municipal or county road, including the right to detour, reroute, or divert any or all traffic and to prevent ingress or egress from any area that, in the State Director’s discretion, is deemed necessary for the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the public, and to remove parked or abandoned vehicles from such roadways as conditions warrant.

3. I authorize and empower the State Director of Emergency Management to order the evacuation of all persons, except for those emergency and governmental personnel whose presence the State Director deems necessary, from any area where their continued presence would present a danger to their health, safety, or welfare due to the conditions created by this emergency.

4. I authorize and empower the State Director of Emergency Management to utilize all facilities owned, rented, operated, and maintained by the State of Colorado to house and shelter persons who may need to be evacuated from a residence, dwelling, building, structure, or vehicle during the course of this emergency.

5. I authorize and empower the executive head of any agency or instrumentality of the State government with authority to promulgate rules to waive, suspend, or modify any existing rule the enforcement of which would be detrimental to the public welfare during this emergency, notwithstanding the provisions [REDACTED], subject to my prior approval and in the consultation with the State Director of Emergency Management. Any such waiver, modification, or suspension shall be promulgated in accordance with [REDACTED].

6. I authorize and empower the Adjutant General, in accordance with [REDACTED], to order to active duty such members of the Colorado National Guard who, in the Adjutant General’s judgment, are necessary to provide aid to those localities where there is a threat or danger to the public health, safety, and welfare and to authorize the employment of any supporting vehicles, equipment, communications, or supplies as may be necessary to support the members so ordered.

7. In accordance with [REDACTED] and [REDACTED], I reserve the right to utilize and employ all available resources of the State government and of each and every political subdivision of the State, whether of persons, properties, or instrumentalities, and to commandeer and utilize any personal services and any privately owned property necessary to protect against this emergency.

8. This Order shall take effect immediately and shall remain in effect until such time as it is determined by me that an emergency no longer exists.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED], and of the Independence of the United States, the Two Hundred and Thirty Fourth.

 

 

[REDACTED] [REDACTED]. Governor of the State of Colorado.

By August 27, the death toll and number of undead hosts reached critical levels. The chaos caused by the undead and the public reaction to police shootings resulted in mass protests, riots, and lootings. Along with the overwhelmed emergency services, this led to nationwide anarchy and effective societal collapse. The country experienced blackouts and communication failures, and within the early hours of August 28, 2010, multiple states declared a state of emergency and enacted martial law. The National Guard was deployed into major urban areas after local law enforcement failed to contain the riots, lootings, and undead terrorizing major urban areas. Once deployed, the units established easily defensible Safe Zones, or Quarantine Zones, in suburban locales or easily defendable locations. Medical facilities and refugee centers were also set up to secure those believed to be infected, provide screenings for the injured and sick, and to act as a base of operations.

The Federal Government enacted a nationwide state of emergency followed by martial law. There was an active collaboration between the governors of all 50 states and the Department of Defense, as the governors gave domestic information on the epidemic. The DOD would then take the proper measures to act. All military reservists were called, National Guard units mobilized, and overseas military assets recalled. Shortly after these actions, members of the U.S. Government, such as the President, Vice President, General Secretary of Defense and many others, evacuated from Washington D.C. to undisclosed locations.
 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL DENVER, CO

EMERGENCY EVACUATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR OPERATION COBALT

TO: PRESIDING SAFE ZONE OFFICERS

Higher authority has directed the immediate evacuation of all personnel from militarized Safe Zones. Separate instructions detailing the handling of civilians and quarantined patients will follow. The readiness, reporting, and evacuation procedures are detailed hereunder and should be disseminated to soldiers via special delivery letter:

Pick up your pre-packed suitcases (not more than one per person). Include any special medicines, special foods and several changes of clothes. One blanket per person may be carried. Take I.D. cards, important legal and personal papers, etc. Flashlights and transistor radios may be included. Tag all suitcases with your name and rank. Have your two-part evacuation card filled out and ready to hand to the evacuation team when called for. Extra cards and shipping tags will be available at command posts. Transport will run continuously direct to [REDACTED] starting shortly after you receive this information until everyone is picked up. DO NOT PROCEED BY CAR.

The evacuation will be conducted by [REDACTED]. There will be plenty of food and water and the best possible arrangements will be made for your comfort and quick travel to [REDACTED]. You will be given all possible assistance at [REDACTED]. Please keep calm and carry out all directions given to you.

KEEP THESE INSTRUCTIONS ON YOUR PERSON.

READINESS:

1. Soldiers are to avoid accumulation of personal effects. (Books, heavy and cumbersome objects that cannot be readily moved.)
2. Suitcases are to be kept ready for packing, already tagged and labeled.
3. Containers should be on hand which are ready for shipping (heavy cardboard boxes, strong cord, labeled, taped, etc.).

REPORTING:

1. In case of a major local flood, fire, riot, civil strife, or hostility, soldiers are to report to the nearest Safe Zone and report status, awaiting further instructions.
2. Safe Zone officers, after learning of established disturbances, are to investigate unreported or unaccounted for troops.

EVACUATION STEPS:

1. Continue working normally, but soldiers are to follow and acknowledge instructions from the Safe Zone officers.
2. Soldiers will receive instructions from Safe Zone officers via special delivery letter or transistor radio, depending on the time factor involved.
3. If the message is “[REDACTED]”, soldiers will pack one suitcase for immediate evacuation and pack other personal effects in boxes properly wrapped and labeled for shipment.
   1. Soldiers should be aware that only necessities will be able to be taken with during the time of evacuation.
4. If a second message is received by the soldiers, “[REDACTED]”, then soldiers are to proceed to command posts immediately.
5. Soldiers are to avoid all unnecessary conversation and explanations that may cause suspicion or hysteria among the civilians populating the Safe Zones and quarantine centers.

REVIEWED BY: [REDACTED]

On September 8, the President of the United States approved the contingency plans for Operation: COBALT, also referred to as the Sunset Protocol by the U.S. Marines. The Safe Zones proved to be impossible to defend against the billions of undead, lack of resources, breakdown in communications, and soldiers abandoning the frontlines to saves themselves and their families. On September 9, Sunset Protocols were put into effect at 0900 PDT. All military personnel were ordered to withdraw from their posts to the nearest base.

As the operation continued, the military began sweeping areas outside the Safe Zones and executing civilians. This military action was regarded as a last resort by the political leadership to ultimately contain the growing contagion. By the time it was enacted, downtown centers in major metropolitan zones were overrun with undead. Due to scarce medical intelligence, however, the initially favorable situation for the military was quickly reverted in a poorly coordinated retreat which greatly accelerated the dissolution of the United States government. The U.S. Air Force began a campaign of using napalm to destroy all major infected areas and cities. After the bombings, the U.S. Marines entered the cities to liquidate any non-military personnel in the region, regardless of their status as living or dead. Military Safe Zones were liquidated and abandoned, with military personnel executing perfectly healthy citizens and people as they prepared a hasty retreat.

The targeting of civilians outside of the Safe Zones and the enactment of the Sunset Protocol initiated the brief Second American Civil War, in which military forces were divided between following orders and protecting their fellow citizens. Army and Air Force National Guard units defected and seceded from the Union, engaging in open combat with overseas Active Duty military personnel. Surviving National Guard units still stationed in major cities from the napalm bombings ambushed and assaulted U.S. Marine forces, engaging in all-out urban warfare amidst a backdrop of undead hosts pining for their flesh.
 

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The overall outcome of Operation: COBALT is a decisive and major strategic military failure, due to the safe-zones being abandoned and overran, military facilities destroyed and massive losses of troops and equipment. While the Contingency Plan had few chances to limit the number of infected people in the United States, it was not enough to completely halt the spread of the Wildfire Virus. As a result, large groups of infected individuals were terminated but an insane number were still on active.

The U.S Army disintegrated at a rapid pace as military action failed to contain the virus, with amounts of desertions increasing day-by-day. It is unknown if the U.S Navy had any particular role inside Operation: COBALT, but it is assumed that few days after the infection started all naval battle-groups and aircraft carriers were recalled to the United States and had the important mission to use their airplanes to bomb the infected zones. The fate of all these ships after Operation: COBALT is unknown, likely to wander around oceans trying to survive or tried to took the matter on their hands and attempted to restore contact with a centralized command. As a result of those factors the United States, after 244 years, is de-facto dissolved.

The Federal Government withdrew first to the Presidential Bunker under the White House, then fled to a more secure location attempting to contact units of the now disintegrated U.S Army and Federal Emergency Agencies. Ultimately, what happened to the Federal Government, notably the President and their cabinet, following Operation: COBALT, is unknown.

Edited April 22 by Essence (see edit history)