TNT Chapter 4 Informational Insert

Hey everyone, I thought I'd give you the first glance at Chapter 4's informational insert. This will not be available on Reddit or RoyalRoad, and the only other place you can find it is in the published version of The New Threat. Enjoy! :)

Chapter 4 Informational Insert

Subject: A1 Weapon of Mass Destruction and Nanite Plague

The A1 Warhead, also known as "Alpha One" and "The Nanuke", is an armor penetrating warhead containing a payload of nuclear nanomechanical devices that disperse and detonate upon activation. The dispersal pattern of the aforementioned nanomachines is unpredictable, which can result in friendly fire incidents. As such, usage of the A1 Warhead may only authorized by the Directorate and its usage is logged and audited by the Senate of the United Systems Military Justice Committee.

The A1 Warhead is a multistage weapon.

Stage 1: Launch and Targeting

The missile (may only be used with missiles that feature integrated targeting) with an attached A1 Warhead is launched. The A1 Warhead's Virtual Intelligence primes the warhead and guides the missile towards the intended target.

Stage 2: Dispersion

Once the missile reaches the optimum dispersion distance from the target, the VI detonates the warhead. The nuclear nanomachines are then dispersed upon the target. This setting may be altered with proper authorization.

Stage 3: Replication

The nanomachines will replicate using any available materials for four seconds after stage 2. If insufficient material for replication is found, the weapon will skip to the next stage.

Stage 4: Propagation

For five seconds, the nanomachines will spread along the target area in a pattern predetermined by the A1VI. This pattern is created with the intention of boosting the yield of the detonation. WARNING: In 36% of simulated cases and 47% of actual cases the nanomachines fail to adhere to this pattern.

Stage 5: Detonation

Once stage four is complete the nuclear nanomachines will detonate, resulting in a wide-spread nuclear explosion. A large shock-wave, high levels of thermal radiation, high levels of nuclear radiation, and a blinding flash are to be expected.

Unauthorized use of the A1 Weapon of Mass Destruction is punishable by execution.

Authorizing the use of the A1 Weapon of Mass Destruction outside of the circumstances set forth by the Senate of the United Systems is punishable by execution.

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The nanite plague that has ravaged several United Systems settlements is a direct result of the creation of the A1 Weapon of Mass Destruction, and should serve as a warning for future weapon development projects. There can be no doubt that following proper safety standards would have completely prevented the nanite plague.

The following is the sequence of events that led to the plague's creation.

The "Nanuke Project" began with a desire to increase the efficacy of what would later be known as the A3 WMD. To do this, researches decided to create miniature nuclear bombs. Due to miscommunications between researchers and engineers, nanites with replication capabilities were created.

Due to further miscommunications among the engineers, these nanites did not have the same time constraints that the modern A1 package does. Obviously, this resulted in indefinite replication. This error went unnoticed for two tests due to the nanites successfully detonating.

During the assembly of the third test, the replication capabilities of the nuclear nanites were unknowingly activated. These nanites breached the confines of the warhead and spread throughout the test ship and the researchers that were aboard. It wasn't until Geiger counters started sounding alarms that the researchers noticed the issue.

Instead of quarantining the test ship, the researchers were called back to the command station, infecting the station and many within it. The test was scrapped, and the project was put on hold while experts attempted to figure out what happened. Once the infectious nature of the nanomachines was discovered, it was already too late to prevent the spread. The researchers and infected crew had gone home.

Out of 128 staff involved in this incident, only 21 escaped being infected. About 18% of the population of the United Systems are living with this infection. Of those, 76% are humans.

Thanks to a rapid response, an effective quarantine of this population has been put into effect and has halted the spread of the nanite plague. Additionally, the engineers that coded the nanomachines made one more error that has helped contain the nanite plague. They failed to account for the size of the nanites when they programmed them for self-replication, which causes the nanites to reproduce relatively slowly. This allows victims to lead relatively long lives, though some would argue that more time living with the nanite plague is more akin to a curse than a blessing.

The nanites contain radioactive materials which cause minor cellular damage over an extended period of time. They reproduce using whatever materials they can find, which causes even further cellular damage in organics. Radiation exposure is minimal in the early-stages of the disease, but gradually increases as the nanites reproduce.

Symptoms of nanite infection are similar to Acute Radiation Syndrome, and include nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, fever, dizziness and disorientation, weakness and fatigue, loss of hair, difficulty swallowing, heart palpitations, bloody vomit and stool, low blood pressure, and seizures. Only symptomatic treatments are available, and with these treatments patients can live up to one hundred years after they've been infected.

Death is most commonly caused by organ failure, cardiovascular failure, pulmonary edema, cancer, and additional infections caused by a compromised immune system. Without medical treatment, most patients die within thirty years of being infected.

Infant mortality rates depend upon how long the mother has been infected. If the mother is in the early stages of the disease, the infants may lead long lives with medical treatment. If the mother is in the middle stages of the disease, infant mortality rates increase but many infants still make it to adulthood. Over 96% of pregnancies end in miscarriage if the mother is in the latter stages of the disease.

Quarantined planets and stations report 43% more incidents of birth defects than their uninfected analogs. Such defects include respiratory defects, cardiovascular defects, indo/exoskeletal defects, epidermal defects, and more.

Since this disease is mechanical, it cannot be vaccinate against and can cross species. Sturdy inorganic materials can be "sterilized", but these "disinfection protocols" are too harsher than organic material can withstand. The United Systems and several private entities are working together to formulate a cure.

The nanite plague has led to economic issues due to higher trade restrictions, the loss of several accomplished researchers and military officers, and is frequently cited as the inspiration for terror attacks against the United Systems and planetary governments. The gont insurrectionists have directly cited the nanite plague as one of the primary reasons for their revolt.