Sertinphus (Carbon Cancer)

SERTINPHUS

Sertinphus is a viral infection that attacks the brain and respiratory system aggressively. It was the cause of the Collapse, also known as the Event or Zero Day, and continues to be one of the greatest threats faced by survivors.

Transmission & Vectors

AIRBORNE

Sertinphus travels through 'carbon' particles in the air, sweeping through the planet in surfacebound clouds. Occasionally, these clouds will speed up into storms that shred through everything in their paths, even wearing down large structures like skyscrapers. These clouds can then leave carbon deposits, which gradually emit the virus into a small surrounding radius. Once inhaled, the virus quickly pervades the respiratory system and eventually works its way to the brain, effectively spelling a death sentence for those infected.

BODILY FLUIDS

This includes blood, saliva, sweat, tears, and sexual fluids, but not urine. The most notable vector of this type of infection are the Taken.

TAGON

In some rare instances, Sertinphus can also spread through infected Termoyl cells, which enter the target's body in some way. Ever since the Event, this has occasionally been used as a method of biological warfare.

Causes

REVEAL

In 12561, Ciphrus was visited by a series of extraterrestrials who deemed themselves the Human race to the Selahktian population. They revealed that the disease originated from a third-party civilization that has since been unnamed. The disease itself is thought to be a biological weapon of mass destruction that was created by that civilization, but this is merely the inference of the humans, and no other proof has been decided.

INVENTION

Sertinphus, or Carbon Cancer, is thought to have been created by an unnamed civilization that originated in the nearby star cluster, Messier Object 19 (M19). It is speculated that it was fossilized on an asteroid that traveled towards the planet Ciphrus, where it passed by and thawed above the planet's surface either intentionally or by pure coincidence.
Data analysis from human researchers found the strain to also be virulent towards humans as well, causing a few human subjects to be quarantined. This revealed that the disease was possibly meant to be an interstellar W.M.D. that was designed for other civilizations as well. This suggests that the civilization that created it was aware of other extraterrestrial civilizations, even though neither Humanity nor Ciphrus was aware of any other intelligent species in the galaxy beforehand.

Symptoms

The current symptoms observed include:

• Sweating

• Chills

• Fever

• Dementia

• Dissociation

• Vomiting

• Dry cough

• Seizures

• Death

Treatment

There are currently no known methods of curing Sertinphus, however some individuals are known to have survived it. (See Prognosis)

Prognosis

There are four main stages of Sertinphus, which an infected individual goes through over the duration of one or two weeks.

STAGE 1

The subject develops a dry cough, which soon develops into an aggressive fever within the first couple of days.

STAGE 2

The subject feels chest pains as the cough worsens. Their fever remains steady, but profuse sweating and involuntary bowel movements may follow if not treated with antibiotics.

STAGE 3

The subject enters a catatonic state in which they can no longer speak or respond to outside stimuli. This is typically followed by seizures, as the brain begins to hemorrhage due to minor lacerations in the veins caused by tissue-dissolving enzymes that are developed in rogue cells, similar to a cancer. Death is imminent.

STAGE 4

Stage 4 includes one of two outcomes: Either the patient is pronounced dead, or they enter a demented state fueled by extreme emotions, also known as "Taken".

Sequela

TAKEN

This stage is called the Taken state, and sometimes referred to as a Carbon Ghoul, as the subject will attack anything that they may find to be a threat, including (but not limited to) other Taken, inanimate objects, and/or healthy individuals. They often die within a couple of weeks, either due to dehydration or starvation. If struck to the head with enough force to crack the skull, they explode in a cloud of carbon, infecting anyone nearby. It is advised to attack the torso or limb area, so this is avoided. Taken have been known to attack animals and other people in order to feed and sustain their self. One can also speak somewhat intelligible sentences, but cannot be reasoned with. They have no reaction to pain or outside stimuli. At best, some can survive for up to a couple years, however this is a rare occurrence and has rarely been seen often enough to research.

Prevention

AIRBORNE PREVENTION

An individual can avoid contamination if they regularly clean their surroundings, as well as avoid contact with infected persons as much as possible. If avoidance is inapplicable, gas masks or other forms of air filtration are recommended, which should be changed once every 24 hours.

OTHER FORMS OF PREVENTION

Burning contaminated items, bodies, or otherwise can help sterilize infected areas as well.

Epidemiology

WATER

Humidity has been known to spread the disease more quickly due to damper conditions, which allows the virus-infected carbon to spread into water supplies by rainfall and resultant flooding. This was a contributing factor during the Ten Days, as the event occurred during the middle of monsoon season for the Vai Continent.

History

TEN DAYS

The chaos that ensued after Ciphrinians were exposed to Sertinphus had essentially cut the world's population by 60% in a mere 10 days. This is how it played out.

DAY ONE:

Initial symptoms are reported. Clinics begin receiving patients at low rates.

DAY TWO

The clinics are filled, hospitals begin taking in patients.

DAY THREE

The clinics are overwhelmed, as more doctors and nurses are hospitalized, and the hospitals begin to reach full capacity. Help centers are constructed in stadiums and malls.

DAY FOUR

All hospitals are completely full. The International Health and Militaristic Division is assigned to deal with the crisis in Tornun, but ignores all other parts of the world. More centers, including in some people's homes, are established in cities.

DAY FIVE

Beylu, one of the most populated cities in Tornun, is put under martial law. Inadequate health supplies leads to civil unrest and riots throughout the city. International transportation is shut down, and all planes to and from are grounded.

DAY SIX

Those who are uninfected are quarantined into special zones called Walls, which are built around sectioned off cities. Hundreds are established, as the IHMD spreads to the Tornian nations of Undata, Selahktia, and Tornun. and a back-up is established in Rysia.

DAY SEVEN

Hospitals are shut down, and infected are exterminated so as to save the majority. This unpopular decision furthers the unrest, as more and more begin to riot throughout the world.

DAY EIGHT

International trade halts, and non-essential resources are no longer extracted. The Collective initiates the Last Initiative, and the entirety of the Tornian continent is put under I.H.M.D. Martial Law. The government of Tornun fails to enact any safety procedures, and is rendered irrelevant.

DAY NINE

Undata, Selahktia, Rysia, and Tornun’s governments fall. The major cities of Tamper, Beylu, and Fordo are in flames. People abandon their homes, loot buildings, and burn down anything they think may be infected, in a fit of mass hysteria.

DAY TEN

The last strongholds of civility remain vigilant, being the Left Wall, the One Wall, and the Right Wall. All other quarantine zones are assumed to have fallen, and the world is sent into disarray. The IHMD is believed to be the last vestige of civilization on the planet.

Type

Viral

Origin

Alien

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Common