Quarantine 2020

Outbreak erupts in Los Angeles

July 18, 2017 marks the start of an unknown virus spreading through the Los Angeles area. In the first 14 days, the infection kills roughly three-quarters of the population, triggering a global panic. The U.S. government begins isolating the entire affected zone to contain the spread.

Global panic and zoning lockdown

As the virus sweeps across the region, the scale of death and chaos fuels a worldwide alarm. The U.S. government isolates the Los Angeles outbreak, fencing off the affected zone and stopping rescue and evacuation attempts. Border controls and emergency measures spread to other countries.

Virus evolves into a human-changing form

By the middle of September 2017, the virus evolves into a more deadly variant that turns the infected into rotting, corpse-like hybrids with an unquenchable hunger. The new form is slow under daylight and ferociously predatory at night, altering how the infection spreads and endangers survivors. The change marks a shift from mere infection to a sustained existential threat.

Infected exhibit day-night behavior

During the day, the infected hide from the sun to avoid burning, while at night they become active predators. This diurnal shift shapes when and where people can attempt to move through the city and how surveillance and containment must work. The hazard remains constant, just modulated by daylight.

Search for survivors deemed futile

All search efforts for survivors in the infected area are deemed futile as the hybrids guard the perimeter and the zone is effectively sealed. Rescue operations are suspended, and the area is treated as a lost cause. This verdict tightens the government's control over information and response.

Jake Miller’s exclusive video surfaces

On November 26, a local news channel receives an exclusive video from J.S.O.C. Chief Sergeant Jake Miller. The footage shows Miller and a group of six survivors trapped inside the infected zone, surviving on limited supplies. It contradicts earlier government statements that there were no survivors left.

Contradiction from the J.S.O.C. team

The J.S.O.C. special ops team responds skeptically to Miller's video, having previously claimed there were no survivors. The discrepancy fuels distrust in official communications and raises questions about what the authorities know and hide. The public begins to doubt the government's narrative.

Nuclear option considered to decontaminate LA

To manage the outbreak and preserve political cover, the government contemplates using a nuclear detonation to decontaminate Los Angeles. The plan would erase the city from existence and reframe the disaster as a nuclear accident rather than a biological epidemic. The optics of such a move create immeasurable fear and controversy.

Decontamination plan announced as safety measure

The official narrative frames the nuclear strike as a safety measure to prevent further spread, prompting confusion and fear among the public. Critics call it a cover-up and a drastic response to a crisis that remains poorly understood. The plan sets a timer on the fate of the infected city.

Survivors endure with dwindling supplies

Miller and the six survivors inside the infected zone struggle to maintain basic supplies while waiting for a resolution from the outside. Their video messages become rare lifelines for information and possible aid, if any can reach them. The tension inside the zone builds as resources thin out.

Global response to LA crisis

News of the LA outbreak and the looming nuclear plan dominates international headlines. Governments worldwide reassess biosecurity and travel policies while citizens react with fear and speculation. The event stretches into a broader conversation about crisis management and political responsibility.