Green Plague

"Summon my regency council, and my council of Ministers, I will meet them in the privy room."
"Aye, Meihomei."
...Later
"Thank you for coming so swiftly, Kagomei has a problem."
"Meihomei, Meihomei, the Hunarch of Moniq wishes to speak to you urgently."
"On screen."
"Meihomei, we have sat together in friendship and candor, and I would appreciate more of this, when I ask: 'Are you behind this infection?'"
"My people are a victim, just as yours are. I'm meeting with my ministers to start the investigation, but we do not yet have an idea what we're up against."
"I've asked my Element, and by this, know that I say the truth, this disease comes from the Invaders."
"I trust you, Xiang, me and my ministers and advisors will meet to coordinate a response, I don't know if we can spare any aid to any but ourselves, but if we can, and you need it, know that it will be yours."
"Thank you, and greetings to those of your advisors I know, especially you Wuoda Airen."
"This being married to my counterpart is all sorts of inconvenient, Dan Ma!"
"I served the elements then, I do so now as well, beloved Meihomei."
"Hrrmph. Going back, our people in Harhui, and our neighbours and treaty allies in Rannick. There are reports of great missiles being fired, their explosion over fresh water lakes and rivers being of great concern. Analysis, and Elemental identification lead to believe they're a bioweapon."
"Do we know what it does?"
"Preliminary reports is that it's a superflu, jade banks actually say it's related to it, actually. It does oddly tend to give a green tinge to the skin of those infected, which isn't clear to the experts as to why."
"If it's a bioweapon, creating fear and division might be intentional."
"It doesn't do it on everyone, and it seems to affect people who have a green tinge already more, so it may be incidental."
"How long do the symptoms last?"
"We don't know, the missiles were spotted only a week ago, and symptoms are only starting to show on some of the victims. I've ordered enhanced UV treatment of all drinking water, so far it's helping, but only for the urban areas, the rural areas don't have the equipment. But since they don't have as large gatherings we may have s blessing in disguise there."
"What can we do?"
"We must hold out, our military plans to make the Invaders go away are proceeding. I'll need you to visit affected areas, show solidarity. Mikki, I'll need you to visit Rannick, show them we're on their side."
"What about Moniq?"
"I thought of sending Amarat, he's got a wealth of good impressions to use to get himself heard there. And he's a hero, like anyone I could send with a emm-oh-aitche."
"No. You need him for the next phase. I'll go."
"Marhamat?"
"You asked us our opinion for a reason, the Fount of Valor will help."
"But I can't send you, you can barely reach the plane without a minder.
"And my cousin?"
"Tadros? Tadros is staying with Valias, where he can do the most good. Who else can I send?"
"Not me, send Sothlee to Moniq." Said Dan.
"What? Why?"
'Moniq wouldn't have contacted you if they hadn't been affected badly... Sending your own prime minister over as a show of solidarity will say we don't take their plight, as treaty signatories, seriously."
"Why to them, and not Rannick?"
"Rannick will think we're behind it. if they listen to Zugon too long. I'll head over there and keep him from poisoning the situation against us. But send me backup, none of the three at the top of Rannick are people I want to spend lots of time with."
A few weeks later...
"Meihomei, the bio-research centre of Constantinople Township reports a breakthrough!"
"What?"
"I can barely read this, but the press summary accompanying it is more legible. They say they've identified markers in common between regular Corona-Beta Flu and the new breed, and through this, targeted the ACE receptors with an enzyme, making them unable to receive either virus. Seems this would cure both viruses, and they outline a treatment we can deploy in a week or two."
"How much will it cost?" Asked Meihomei.
"It doesn't matter." Interjected Valias.
"What?"
"You have a civil war brewing out there, there is no way that green tinge wasn't intentional, it's setting the greens against everyone else... Except we haven't told anyone yet the virus changed its colours, it's now targeting the slate-grey folk. If we wait too long, we won't have defenders to cure."
"Then that needs to change, prepare for an Address to the Nation

Transmission & Vectors

1. Aerosol
2. Body fluids

Causes

Bioengineered, weaponized virii particles.

Symptoms

Flu0like

Treatment

The Arndan body eventually fights it off,

Prognosis

Bed rest is required in 15% of affected victims, another 10% require oxygen life support for weeks.

Epidemiology

This engineered

Type

Viral

Children

• Slate Plague

Origin

Engineered

Cycle

Short-term

Rarity

Uncommon

Affected Species

• Massimi
• Arndan