History of Post-Doomsday USA (1983: Doomsday)

The history of the United States of America in the 1983: Doomsday

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Doomsday, Sept. 26, 1983
The fatal decision to launch the nuclear missiles at the United States is given.

Nearly 1100 Soviet ICBMs in staggered waves are on their way.

12:38 pm: NORAD launch detection satellites report the incoming 1100 ICBMs from the Soviet Union.

It is apparently, to them, a Soviet FIRST-strike and President Reagan is immediately awoken and rushed to "Marine-1", to be evacuated to the Boeing E-4B Nightwatch "National Airbone Command Post" permanently standing by. He arrives twenty minutes later and the aircraft takes off at about 1:09am.

En route, the President is informed by Secretary of Defense Weinberger and the NORAD generals that the launch is confirmed and that it was total. Reagan gives the launch codes and orders a full retaliatory strike, including "city-buster" missile attacks from the American submarine fleet.

A minute later the first Soviet missile detonates in Beijing, China and nearly simultaneously  by one at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska.

Doomsday clock strikes
Doomsday. Over a period of two hours, from approximately 1:15am until 3:10am, over three thousand nuclear weapons detonate all across the Northern Hemisphere. NATO commanders are ordered to launch tactical Pershing-I missiles at Soviet tank yards, and Warsaw Pact commanders respond with the launch of their Pioneer missiles.

No American citizen was given much warning of the attack. Some cities did receive alerts and while local mayors and fire chiefs were scrambling to remember where the air-raid siren was, they were either destroyed or missed in the attack.

EMP (electro-magnetic pulses) from airbursted weapons destroy some 70% of the electronics across the United States. Radios, televisions, are rendered useless.

Final death toll on that first day is 1.53 billion people in the United States.

Aftermath - September 1983-March 1984
After a week in the National Airborne Command Post jet, President Reagan is transferred to the still-surviving Mount Weather command bunker. (Oddly, though known to the Soviets for years, no attack on the facility was made.) Vice-President George Bush is relocated to the Greenbrier Hotel facility (this was to have been the Congressional relocation center, but no evacuation of Congress was possible).

Attempts of co-ordination of remaining police, fire, and especially National Guard units in the United States proved only marginally successful. With the widespread death, starvation, and fall-out, few National Guardsmen report for duty. Most couldn't, but many (with no safe zones for their families) refused. Chaos reigned.

By Christmas 1983, Hawaii is apparently the only US state with a still-functioning government, but shortages of food and medicine caused violence between various factions. The conflict was barely held in check by the imposition of harsh Marxist-style labor quotas and rations.

Predictions of the results of a nuclear exchange from the late 70s and early 80s prove fairly accurate. In addition to the initial deaths, subsequent deaths due to fall-out, out-of-control fires, starvation, dehydration, disease, etc. adds several more billion. The predictions of a "nuclear winter" however come up short. Only a 10 F. drop is noted, and as the attack occurs going into the late fall, it isn't a major effect on typical weather patterns. The dust cover does block out the sun for several days, but within a week, it dissipates and cloud patterns return to normal by mid-October.

Later in the Summer of 1984, predictions of a "nuclear summer" do come true, as nitrogen oxides and a reduced ozone layer raise temperatures to an average high 10-25 F. over normal.

Vast areas of the United States are uninhabitable. Radiation levels drop with the predicted two week fall-out pattern, but irradiated areas and areas where toxic chemicals have been spilt are deadly to humans contacting them. Several nuclear reactors in the US go critical and explode releasing further radiation into the atmosphere.

By March 1984, the population of the United States has dropped to 28 million people, almost 1/10 the pre-Doomsday level.

All over he United States, food shortages are absolute. Cannibalism of the dead is not un-common, and some roving gangs of former military units even kill people for food.

President Reagan and his staff at Mt. Weather are facing a dire situation. The facility was only established with two years' food supply and it is running out. Neighboring Virginia farms were abandoned and orchards are producing mutated fruit or in most cases none at all. Salvage teams from his Secret Service have been sent out to get more, but are having little luck as the few surviving locals had picked stores and restaurants clean. Contact with Vice-President Bush at The Greenbrier indicated the same situation was effecting them. On May 23rd 1984 the decision was made to evacuate the President and Vice-President from North America and fly them to Australia. Reagan and Bush leave the US on May 5th, 1984. But the American Government leaving the devastated country will not be the worst thing to happen on that probably worst day in U.S. History. Both Bush and Reagan make it to Hawaii. But then destiny strikes: Reagan's plane has engine trouble just after leaving one of the few remaining airports on Big Island. The E-4 Boeing looses altitude and crashes into the Pacific. Though the President and First Lady survive the crash, the life-raft they and their Secret Service team escaped on sinks in a squall a day later. Nominally, George Bush becomes President on May 6th, 1984. He finally reaches Brisbane, after a second stop in Auckland, New Zealand. Prime Minister Hawke welcomes Bush, but informs him that the RAAF had lost contact with the NEACP.

They wait a few days for any reports, but with none coming, Bush has a local Australian judge swear him in as President on May 8th (This becoming the first inauguration not held on U.S. soil. An "American Provisional Administration" is then established in Canberra, mostly attempted to garner intelligence on the situation, both in the US and across the world. This first government in exile of the US is in fact little more then a symbolic form of sovereignity continuation, with one exception.

It quickly becomes vital for the Australia/ NZ and the U.S. that besides the top priority of food and medical supply to the poupulation, national security should be the main focus. In order to avoid future threats by third parties utilizing the superior US military technology, the already existing ANZUS defense pact between the United States, Australia and New Zealand is modified and extended. The most important part of the agreement iss the decision that all remains o the American and as far as possible NATO- army, Navy and Air Force are immediately placed under corporate ANZUS command. So, on June 1st, the ANZUS Order 001/1984 is given by the joint ANZUS Head Command set up in Brisbane. This order – today famous as the “Final Gathering” Order- is to be sent to all reachable U.S. (and NATO) units. It orders all units capable to do so to set course for Australian, New Zealand and Hawaiian territory. If this can not be realized, all surviving units in defined geographical area are routed to the nearest suiting gathering point to which ANZUS supply convoys are sent.

Response of American Forces scattered around the globes are few, but steadily increasing. The first units to report are several nuclear submarines. They set course for ports in ANZUS territory.

Due to satellite communication proving impossible only slowly several scattered naval units report from the Pacific and Indian Ocean. They are ordered to assemble at several points considered suitable, mainly not-destroyed British and American naval bases on remote islands. The most part of the regrouping flotillas consist of submarines, frigates and destroyers from NATO countries and remains of American Carrier Fleets. Civilian freighter convoys are heading to the specificied destinations.

On November 6th, the USS "Benjamin Franklin" (SSBN-640) becomes the already fifth American nuclear submarine to arrive in ANZUS territory so far. Nearly running out of food, the “Franklin” enters the harbour of Cairns.

On November 18th, a great relief brings the response of the American carrier USS “Nimitz” and a small accompanying fleet from the harbour of Papeete, Tahiti. It was feared that all carrier groups had been destroyed by direct nuclear attacks. But –apparently- due to malfunctioning ICBMS the Nimitz carrier group was  not destroyed and was able so set course south to escape the radiation in the Northern Hemisphere. On December 8th the Nimiz Group arrive in Cairns.

1987
In Hawaii, the assassination of the dictatorial Governor Goldblatt sparkes a new round of intense civil war.

1988
US and Australian troops go to Hawaii, accompanied by Bush himself. They manage to restore order and transfer power to a military committee answerable to the Provisional American Administration in Canberra.

1989
The military supervised elections in November bring a democratically elected government back to Hawaii, although the strict quotas and rations remained a fact of life.

1990
In January, Harry Kim sworn in as Hawaii's new governor.

1991
The USS "Benjamin Franklin" is re-fitted by the Royal Australian Navy and sent on an intelligence gathering mission. Her empty missile silos are filled with food, enough to last sixteen-to-eighteen months. Besides, the captain receives full diplomatic mandate to contact any remaining nation-like governments, except “apparent illegitimate dictatorship”. She heads out, returning to Cairns in August 1992.

First destination is the old U.S. from where she confirms the regular reports from Hawaii:

The situation in the continental United States is "medieval". A few towns and villages have formed themselves into barricaded sanctions, fighting off marauding ex-Army and ex-police units, scavenging for food, water and ammunition. The estimated population of the continguous US is guessed at less than 10 million. A Royal Australian Air Force pilot who volunteered to join the "Franklin" crew, found an intact Beechcraft airplane near Tillamook, Oregon and flew several hundred miles inland. He reported reaching a vast desert as he approached the old Idaho/Nevada border. Radiation levels were minimal, but the area seemed devoid of plant and animal life. He returned and reboarded the "Franklin" as it headed down along the West Coast.

Second destination: After a hard passage to a bombed and nearly unusable Panama Channel the Franklin nears Continental Europe. A big surprise to the crew happens on March 11th: the receival of radio messages from Azores, Pais del Oro and Iceland. They respond and contact the respective governments which have been equally surprised as news from the Southern Hemisphere have not been reached except from a few amateur radio messages from Brazil and South America. The Franklin crew makes official visits to both governments. The portuguese –not nuclear driven- submarine Albacora is assigned to accompany the Franklin as far as supplies allow.

Upon arrival, Continental Europe and the Soviet Union seems as worse as the U.S.  Dust and windstorms prevent aerial reconaissance but the land seems devastated. Ice cap measurements in the Arctic are unusually thin, and apparently global warming (due to the drop in plant life and rise in CO2) is occuring.

Afterwards – the “Albacora” leaving upon arrival at the Suez Channel- a visit to China, Japan, and much of Asia shows everything to be as "medieval" as the United States. The "Franklin" crew narrowly escapes when it is attacked in Okinawa by islanders who (from observation) have become cannibals.

India, though lightly damaged from the war, has suffered mass starvation and disentegrated into numerous warlordships. No official contacts are made at this point.

A general rise in temperatures, and an increase in UV radiation is reported.

It has become apparently, even before the "Franklin" left, that the ozone layer had suffered tremendous damage due to the effects of the nuclear explosions. Sunburns begin in southern Australia after only a few minutes exposure. Ultimately many Australians (as well as other Southern Hemispherans) have to fully cover themselves (even on the hottest days) and apply generous amounts of sunscreen. (Sunscreen now is a top priority, after food, for production in the surviving nations.)

1995 –End of an Era
On August 15th, Australia and New Zealand declare their formal unification as the Commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand" (commonly known as ANZC or ANZ).

The Provisional American Administration formally ends on May 1st, 1995. President Bush in consultation with Prime Minister John Howard issues a short statement to the American expatriates and forces in Australia, stating that it is best if they "become part of the Australian life and culture". He acts as an advisor to Howard, primarily on development of Australian oil production in Indonesia. This de facto – though not nominally- marks the end of the 219 – year long history of the United States of America that started in 1776. But the door for a legitimate succesor to take up the former superpower's mantle remains open as the famous “Continuity Act” declares the United States Sovereignity and Constitution “temporarily suspended until a legitimate successor –continuing the US traditions of Freedom and Democracy- is elected by the American people”.

All remaining U.S. American military forces and material (ships, submarines, bases, personnel) are formally integrated into the ANZC military.

The surviving U.S. territories or mandatory territories hold a popular vote over their future status. American Samoa, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands decide to become incorporated into the ANZC while Hawaii votes to become an independent but associated territory to the ANZC, similar to like Puerto Rico has been to the US. When Hawaiians draft a new Constitution, they restore the old monarchy under King Andrew I.

1996
The Aircraft carrier USS "Nimitz” (CBN-86) is rechristened as the ANZS "Commonwealth" (ANZS-01) and becomes the new Flagship of the combined ANZC Navy. New principal ANZC naval base is set up in Cairns.

2000
The new Millenium begins without any greater festivals as apparently no one could enjoy firing rockets to the sky.

2000
In April 2000 another ANZC recon mission of to the old US (headed by the ANZC flagship “Commonwealth”) is undertaken.

The former US (at least to the Rocky Mountains) have melted down to a scattered group of heavily fortified villages (less than 50 from Washington State to southern California), with nearly double that number abandoned or burned. Fired upon by some inhabitants, the Australian pilots make safe landings only at two. Once in Bay City, Oregon and another at Crescent City, California.

Both towns are walled and had feudal warlords, one called "the Mayor" in Bay City, the other called "Boss Jones" in Crescent City. Starvation-level food production barely keeps the villagers alive, while the warlords and their guards reap most of the benefits of the food and fresh water. Plagues of typhus, cholera, and diptheria had depleted their numbers and neither town had a population larger than 1100 people. It is assumed this situation has repeated in much of the old United States.

Fly-overs of the land east of the Rocky Mountains reveal that grass and some trees have started to grow again in much of the formerly desert areas. Nomads are seen scavenging through ruins, but no contact was made with them. Radiation "hot zones" are detected near old nuclear power plants, but generally the radiation has dropped to low levels.

2006
The fortified cities along the U.S. Pacific coast, facing desperate food supply and no real perspective for anyone, finally agreed to accept the conditions set up by both the ANZ and SAC for delivering humanitary aid: the symbolic foundation of the MSP - Municipal States of the Pacific with its main task of coordinating the distribution of the humanitary aid. The second condition to form a "Pacific Coast Police Unit" unifying the cities' security forces in order to secure the humanitary transports and infrastructure is fulfilled as well.

The signature of the MSP Contract takes place on July 4th, 2006 at Crescent City. Eleven years after the “Continuity Act” former Pres. Bush describes his feelings as: “The seed of the spirit of the United States has survived on U.S. soil. Maybe one day our glorius heritage will be continued..."