*One Second After*
A nuclear missile is launched from a cargo vessel in the Gulf of Mexico and detonated miles above the surface in the Mid-West. There is very little fallout due to the missile detonation at a high altitude but the nuclear bast causes a massive EMP wave that completely shuts down the power grid across the United States. In the ensuing weeks death becomes a constant companion. People on medications for heart disease and diabetes as well as others begin to die. Anyone that had a pace maker is already dead. Gangs of convicts and other low lifes begin looting at will.
Characters will have to adjust to the new, harsh realities of their circumstances. They will need to learn to survive and defend themselves. Character's first post will begin the day of the EMP wave. In the early afternoon every electronic device including cars quit working unless it is a pre-1985 model. Not all of the characters will know or understand what is going on, and not everyone starts with a gun or something like that. I literally want to start this out with your character going through their regular day to day routine whether they're a janitor or an attorney etc. I'd like to try to keep this as real as possible.
This is set around Lake Hartwell in South Carolina, near the South Carolina & Georgia border.
March 1, 2014
The world is glued to their televisions as reports break out that after Russia invaded the Ukraine that it then began invading Georgia as well as several former USSR countries. Fearing a second Cold War or possible retaliation many US citizens begin stocking up on food essentials and while consumer goods rise, trading on the stock markets begins a steep decline.
March 2, 2014
0900
The US along with other UN countries impose sanctions on Russia and go on record as being opposed to their sudden invasions.
1000
President Putin holds a press conference warning the US to lower the sanctions or reap destruction.
The US ignores the threats.
1159
NATO satellites begin tracking unidentified flying objects from the Gulf of Mexico.
1201
Objects detonate miles above the atmosphere in the Midwest. Seconds later the nuclear explosion triggers a chain-like reaction as an EMP wave begins to build.
1202
The US power grid is completely offline from the electrical surge from the EMP wave.
Most cars newer than the early 1980's quit where they are. The interstate looks like a parking lot.
Jason Leavitt was a Highway Patrol Officer. Thirty one years of age he had just gotten out of the Marines. He was single with no prospects and not actively seeking. His motto was if the military wanted me to have a wife they would have issued me one. Upon his discharge he had completed his training as an officer. Living near the mountains in South Carolina had its advantages. Work was usually quiet and on the weekends he went backpacking. Due to the military training over the years he had become quite adept at living on MRE's in the field. In fact he was planning on doing some hiking again this weekend and had his pack in his car.
Parked in the median of Interstate 85 Jason was listening to Talk radio where they were discussing the latest on Russia's invasion when all of a sudden the radio quit. Jason turned and looked and all of his electronic equipment was off also. He tried to start the car but nothing happened when he turned the key. He popped the hood and stepped out of the car when he realized all of the cars on the interstate had stopped also. It only took a few minutes to add it all up. EMP, Damn Russians, we used to say the bear wasn't dead he was only sleeping and now it proved correct.
Jason's military training kicked in immediately, he opened his trunk grabbed his hiking pack and immediately changed out of his uniform, he knew it would only be a matter of time before anyone who hated cops would realize this was WROL (Without Rule of Law) situation. He threw on his tan cargo pants and a plain tan tshirt and put on his green hiking pack. He threw his handcuffs and badge in his pack and zipped it securely. In the front pouch he stashed the extra ammo and Kevlar vest that he was required to keep in the car. Strapping his service pistol back on he quickly disassembled the shotgun and put into his pack also.
With his gear situated he locked the car doors and began the hike to his cabin. he had roughly 20 miles to his exit then 15 miles of back road to walk to get there. He quickly distanced himself from the squad car not wanting to be associated with it. Along the way he recommended to several passers by that they needed to get whatever they could use from their car and start walking.
He had hiked for about 10 miles without incident when he heard gunshots. Ducking low and moving forward from car to car Jason slowly took in the scene. Apparently a prison transport bus had stopped in the middle of the highway. The prisoners had overpowered the guards and while it looked like a few of the convicts had fled the scene there were still five or six hanging around the bus. They were robbing and killing the men and throwing women on the bus. Jason watched horrified as they stripped a women down and then groped and pawed her like an animal before throwing her in the bus as well. Only God knows what they're doing to those poor souls he thought.
Jason watched carefully from his hidden position, There were five of them but they only had 2 shotguns. His pistol had a longer range but he'd have to shoot quit if he were to surprise them. Drawing his pistol he checked the magazine, 15 rounds. The feel of the cold steel of the Beretta pistol grip felt comfortable in his hand. He had used the weapon in several deployments and had even earned his pistol expert ribbon in the Marines with it. He kept maneuvering slowly until he was behind the bus. the 2 convicts with the shotgun were guarding the bus entrance on the left side.
Slowly he reached up and opened the rear exit door, and jumped in immediately. There was a man straddling a women who was crying. Jason Yanked the man's head back and slammed the pistol butt straight down between his eyes crushing his skull in a sickening thud. He threw the man out of the back of the bus. Hearing a noise the first man with the shotgun boarded the bus and was greeted immediately by the burst of 9mm rounds. Jason was rewarded immediately with a spray of blood as one of his rounds entered the man's face. Alerted now the second man boarded the bus carefully.
Jason ducked down beneath the seats and slid forward slowly underneath them. The convict began shooting the seat backs as he walked towards the back of the bus, thinking that Jason would be up behind one of them. Puling his legs in tight and lying prone underneath the set, Jason felt the seat shake as the backrest was blown out of the bus. As the man stepped forward Jason kicked at his legs with all of his strength and tripped him up, before the man could react Jason pulled the trigger as fast as he could giving the man a serious case of lead poisoning.
Jason inserted a new magazine into his pistol before coming out from under the seats, he then picked up the shotgun and threw the strap over his shoulder. The first man was bleeding by the door and his shotgun was still laying there. Slowly walking forward Jason picked up that shotgun and threw it over his shoulder as well, before exiting the bus. The thing about bully's his father said once, is that they are like cockroaches when the lights come on, stand up to one and they scatter. Luckily for Jason this proved true as the other convicts scattered.
He walked back to check on the woman but she had run off. Sadly Jason turned back towards his exit and began walking, doing his best to distance himself from the scene of the carnage.
