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Alpha and Omega - Part 15
By Marie Ellen Pacha
The nuclear winter that impacted the earth had been forecast by the scientists of that time; although they had no way of knowing the full scope of damage. Most of their conclusions were theoretical. They tried to warn the world.
The major powers of that time; the United States, Russia, China and Great Britain listened and attempted to limit the possibility for world wide disaster. But there were an unscrupulous few who felt nuclear capabilities belonged to every nation; regardless of their ability to recognize the potential for disaster. And nations that had struggled under the thumb of others for centuries strove to take a place in world politics and domination. The raw materials for nuclear weapons were made available to the highest bidders.
When the war in Iraq erupted most people recognized it for what it was; a struggle for control of the largest source of petroleum on the planet. Most of the world recognized that the United States' contention that Iraq had nuclear weapons was largely unfounded...but the potential for that was taken seriously.
But while the United States and the other world powers focused their attention on the Middle East other nations quietly pursued their own interests.
It wasn't until North Korea tested its first nuclear weapon that the scientists of the world shuddered in fear, and world leaders took tentative steps to urge caution. What could they do? The risk of invading a relatively unstable nation which possessed such armaments could only aggravate conditions. And so a deadly waiting game began. It didn't take long.
Two years after North Korea detonated its first nuclear weapon Pakistan sent in an investigative team to determine their capabilities. Unfortunately, this investigation was not pre-approved by the North Koreans who promptly declared they had been "invaded" by the Pakistanis. The "invading army" was taken captive, and imprisoned and tortured. The entire world held its breath as the inevitable played out.
The world powers jumped into mediation mode, and the war in Iraq was suddenly and completely abandoned. Japan urged both nations to use caution. That nation had already felt the effects of nuclear blasts. United States warships moved to positions in the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea. And Great Britain, Russia and Canada soon joined them there. China moved troops to its border. World leaders called for an immediate summit.
It was too late.
Pakistan fired the first missile. North Korea retaliated immediately. The first missiles hit their intended targets, but the second and third were directed at secondary targets in China and Russia. Government after government first initiated their defenses, as volleys of missiles where fired and detonated around the globe.
The Russian system of defense had deteriorated with the end of the cold war and as the country fell beneath the onslaught the order was given to retaliate. Unfortunately no one thought to reset the primary target and the United States was suddenly under attack.
The President of the United States had been notified when Pakistan fired the first missile and had taken shelter far from Washington, DC and so far underground his survival from the attack was guaranteed. From there the situation was monitored as closely as possible. Estimates in 2006 had indicated there were 30,000 warheads armed and capable of being fired. Of those, all but 200 were part of the defense systems of the United States and Russia.
The barrage Russia inadvertently set loose upon the United States overwhelmed the defenses in place in part because those tensions had eased and focus had been placed on the Middle East. One by one the major cities and military targets in the United States were hit, and as soon as the President had been notified that the first strike was imminent he authorized retaliatory strikes. If one had been foolish enough to stand outside and look at what was left of the sky it would have been crisscrossed with the trails of weapons.
Four days later, finally realizing the futility of his dream to succeed to a position of world dominance the President of North Korea authorized the release of a final volley of weapons. He himself was already dying from the initial stages of radiation poisoning. Maybe it affected his judgment, or maybe he just intended to take as many people with him as he could. No one will ever know. And by then it really didn't matter from a global perspective.
Skies around the world were by now darkened by the smoke and ash from the fires that had followed the initial blasts, and from the blasts themselves. To some degree all these particles were radioactive.
Oddly enough the last missile to strike the United States was the only hit on Washington, DC. But the nation was already in ruins; as the world was. Those nations not affected directly would soon feel the impact of the fallout, and the nuclear winter that followed.
Communication around the world immediately following the detonations had collapsed. It took weeks for it to be partially restored and gradually reports trickled in from around the globe. The news was not good.
South America and Australia had not been directly involved in the exchange of weapons and initially most of their populations were hopeful; until the fallout spread. Eventually it became apparent that survival on the surface of the planet would become impossible. A few very wealthy people attempted to build shelters, but they did not anticipate how long lasting the effects would be.
As communications were reestablished message after message came pouring in and individuals and groups pleaded for assistance. Mothers begged for salvation for their children, and some wealthy individuals tried to barter their way into facilities such as ours. We refused to disclose our exact location knowing even then that our only chance for survival was based on allocating our resources carefully and that any fluctuation in our population would be a dangerous risk. It was an unnecessary caution. Travel would only expose one to additional risks from radiation.
Food and water sources became contaminated; and even the soil itself. Even the oceans which humans had always considered a nearly unlimited source of food were affected.
Gradually the pleas stopped.
Radiation sickness and starvation had reduced the total remaining population of the world to under 2,000 people.
Continue to Part 16
This article is © copyrighted by Marie Ellen Pacha. Any use of this article, in full or in part, is strictly prohibited without written permission from Marie Ellen Pacha.
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