Human-Zombie War (Night of the Living Alternate History Map Game)

The Human-Zombie War, also known simply as The Apocalypse or the Zombie War was a global war that began in the year 1969. It currently involves almost every nation on the globe, devastating large sections of the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Since the initial outbreak in 1969 the Zombie outbreak has spread all across the world, rallying support from many of the world's superpowers to end the Zombie Horde. It perhaps one of the most widespread wars in history, comparable even to World War II.

In a state of total war, the major participants placed their entire economic, industrial and scientific capabilities toward the cause of eradicating the undead, erasing social classes and fiat goods that had dominated the globe in the past. Much of society broke down into primitive barter-based economies, plagued by crime, disease, and conflict following the initial global infection. The role of the average citizen descended into a fight to survive and secure the most basic necessities. Widespread destruction engulfed much of the civilized world, meeting the downfall of globalization and world travel. Bombing campaigns and all-out invasions crippled the infrastructure of Europe and North America for decades to come. Millions of civilians were killed in the chaos, displacing many and creating an entire generation of refugees.

The infection was born from the film Night of the Living Dead, by George A Romero, a classic undead movie of 1968. Shortly after the film's release a radical team of scientists from a pharmaceutical company in the United States secretly begin conducting experiments to replicate the Zombies in the movie, hoping to become rich from licensing the technology to be used as a biological weapon. The primitive virus would unknowingly contaminate the group, leading to the spread of the disease across the world.

Initial American attempts to contain the infection failed, leading to much of the US Midwest being overrun within months. The Zombies would also spread to Mexico and Central America, where the infection would manifest and mutate. After a massive mobilization effort the United States managed to push the Zombies to the Mississippi River, which became the main front against the North American infection, through the Blockade Campaign.

The infection would also appear in Europe and the British Isles through contact the scientists made there within a few months. Europe was heavily overrun, destroying entire cities of unsuspecting inhabitants. Communication between nations was severally broken down, and many nations were unable to mobilize in time to contain the infection.

The fear of a nuclear exchange reached its height in the early months of the war. With Warsaw Pact and NATO missiles pointed at the other, the prospect of an accident strike was almost realized, if not for the efforts of several peacekeeping negotiations, including the Annapolis Conference. The fear of nuclear war would again be realized with the London War, in which the English threatened to pacify the British Isles with nuclear detonations.

The Cold War would continue to play a large role in the war's outcome. American efforts in southeast Asia were largely abandoned, and similar operations would be canceled. Cold War-era sentiment would largely slow the efforts of humanitarian aid and much needed support in Europe, and lead to the continent's slow downfall.

Chronology
Most historians agree that the start of the war is officially in 1969, when Zombies first began appearing in the United States. Some people even argue that the war did not officially begin until as late as April, when large-scale hostilities began, specifically 11 April, when Phoenix, Arizona was abandoned. Some attribute the start of the war to March or early April, when the first Zombie appeared. The exact date of the start of the war is usually settled as starting on 1 April, when the first shots were fired.

Another date that many point to is the 1968 premiere of Night of the Living Dead, when the Zombie virus was first synthesized. Since the first Zombie was not yet created until 1969, most historians disagree with this date.

Cold War
The Cold War, often dated as having taken place between 1947 and 1986, was a period of political and military tension between the United States and her allies, known as NATO, and the USSR and the Warsaw Pact.

After the end of World War 2 the United States and the USSR became world superpowers with profound influence over global politics and economics, and would eventually come into competition with each other, causing a number of proxy wars and indirect conflicts.

During this time both powers were armed with nuclear weapons and were therefore threatened with mutual assured destruction if one state was to launch a weapon at the other. The United States and USSR would never meet in direct military conflict, instead influencing global affairs through ongoing psychological warfare and indirect confrontations.

Following World War 2 the Allied Powers, including the United States and the USSR, disagreed on how borders in Europe should be redrawn. Both sides held varying ideas regarding the establishment and maintenance of post-war security on the continent. The large death toll in the USSR prompted the Soviets to pursue security by dominating the internal affairs of countries that bordered it. Nazi Germany was divided by the Oder–Neisse line into four occupation zones for administrative purposes during 1945–1949. This division would eventually lead to the creation of East and West Germany, with the eastern section being controlled by the Soviet Union.

During the final stages of World War 2 the Soviet Union would also lay the foundations for the Eastern Bloc, a group of Communist or Soviet republics in eastern Europe. The newly formed governments in Eastern Europe that arose in the East Bloc not only followed Soviet command economics, but also adopted methods employed by Joseph Stalin to suppress opposition.

In 1961 the eastern and western sections of Berlin were divided by a large structure, known as the Berlin Wall. This barrier would remain until 1979 when it was demolished by the citizens of Berlin.

Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (Vietnamese: Chiến tranh Việt Nam, although in Vietnam this period of American involvement is known as the American War, Vietnamese: Chiến tranh Mỹ), also sometimes referred to as the Second Indochina War, was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in southeast Asia, specifically the nations of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 1971.

Fought between the anti-Communist forces of South Vietnam, the United States, and other allies, and the Communist forces of North Vietnam, the war was an attempt by the United States to prevent a Communist takeover in South Vietnam and contain the spread of Communism, known as the domino effect.

Following the Zombie outbreak in 1969 the United States drastically withdrew military support in the war. Because of this, the North Vietnamese forces were able to push into South Vietnam easily and eventually annex the entire south.

Infection
On 1 October 1968 the film Night of the Living Dead, by George A. Romero was released in theaters. The movie became popular across the United States, drawing large numbers in the box office. Inspired by the film's depiction of life-less corpses wandering the streets, a private team of scientists would begin to research the possibility of using similar 'undead' as a biological weapon. The research team would commence work in a closed laboratory in the United States, testing several rare strains of bacteria and viruses from the Caribbean, Yellowstone National Park, and other remote areas. On the 30 December a scientist was accidentally exposed to the experimental virus, eventually contaminating the entire team.

In the early weeks of January 1969 the leader of the scientist group made several visits to private arms dealer and weapon manufacturers in Milan, Italy and in London, England, further spreading the infection. In the United States hundreds of people began to report strange flu-like symptoms. On 15 March, after dozens of deaths, the state of Arizona declared a state of emergency. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, alongside the Federal Bureau of Investigation, began a formal investigation, cleaning large buildings that were contaminated. On 25 March the research group's laboratory was discovered and FBI agents were ordered to storm the facility, arresting all members of the team at site. The team was transferred by armored convoy to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma to await further questioning, but were compromised shortly after arriving. The base was overrun within a few days.

United States
After the initial crisis US military personnel were stationed in major cities, hoping to evacuate as many civilians as possible. Basic screening stations were established, setting the example for future screening efforts. After constant bombardment for days, the United States withdrew by air to the east, officially abandoning Phoenix, Arizona on 11 April.

Texas became the first state to declare itself independent on 1 May 1969, declaring that to manage the crisis accordingly the state needed to act on a small scale, until the infection could be stopped. Texas, and the states that would follow, remained dependent on the United States, acting in the interest of the anti-Zombie effort. With western Texas largely inhabited with the undead, Texas began massive recruitment efforts. The state would remain mostly intact, acting as a buffer for the United States, thanks in part to the most densely populated area of Zombies residing behind the massive American-Mexican border. The defenses helped to prevent Texas from quickly falling to the Zombie Horde, allowing them to focus on the western border.

With much of the Southwest in disarray and chaos, new nations and survivor groups would soon appear all across the ruins of the United States. On 3 May the Bay Republic was founded in the city of San Francisco by the survivors in the city. Other western nations, including the Northwest Federation, formed from the former states of Idaho, Washington and Oregon, and Northern California would soon grow to become regional powers in the west.

Europe
Initially the European outbreaks began in northern Italy and Britain, caused directly by the American scientist who traveled there. Milan would be quarantined by the Italian government on 9 May hoping to prevent the infection from consuming the rest of Italy. The efforts were largely unsuccessful and soon Zombies are reported near Turin and Genoa. The Zombies would pick up momentum in Italy, eventually advancing south toward Rome.

London would fall quickly to the Zombie infection, which had spread rapidly before the onset of symptoms. The city is overrun and its population dispersed into the countryside. Unknowingly this would also spread the infection across Central Europe. The City of London, the small region within London, would wall itself off from the city around it, repairing the old walls to serve as a barrier to the British capital. The stronghold was bombarded with refugees who were largely turned down. People pleaded at the city gate, as Zombies roamed behind them.

The City of London was unable to allow any of these refugees from entering. Knowing that they could risk contaminating the entire population, and that supplies were short, the doors remained shut. The City was forced with a housing crisis. Since most of the nation's inhabitants were commuters from London, the nation was unable to house even a small fraction of those locked within. Poor living conditions led to outbreaks of disease and starvation. Nearly thirty-five percent of the people inside would perish in the next few weeks.

The infection would spread from Italy into France and the north, and from England into the mainland, striking in many metropolises at once. Zombies had entered West Germany by May of 1969, and Soviet forces along the Berlin Wall began using the barrier as a screening station. The Berlin Wall was vastly improved and expanded, along with the rest of the Soviet border in Germany.

Northern France, including the regions of Normandy and Brittany were quickly hit by infection. The French government largely fell back, hoping to evacuate citizens south. Out of the chaos the region of Brittany would declare itself independent, locking off the French border. By the end of 1969 much of northern and central France had been abandoned.

Mississippi
On 20 August the president of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, would begin the Blockade Campaign. The campaign was a large scale operation with the objective of pushing the safe zone to the Mississippi River. The plan began in the east, utilizing large numbers of veterans from the Vietnam War who were selected for a second tour of duty. With the cooperation of several frontier nations on the front against the Zombie Horde, the United States would begin the campaign, pushing across central North America.

The area directly west of the Appalachians had remained clear of infection, and US troops were able to quickly gain a footing against the Zombies. Through September the areas around Louisville and Nashville would be secured, following a heavy invasion. Military outposts were established in Chattanooga, and other strategic locations, where US forces from the east and from Vietnam were transported directly.

A temporary government would be established in the area directly east of the Mississippi River to properly facilitate refugees and humanitarian efforts. The United States Occupied Midwest Territory, more commonly known as Mississippi is officially declared in 1970, from the outpost at Nashville. Excluding the territories’ capitol, a loosely patrolled no-man’s-land would emerge between the front along the Mississippi River and the US to the east. Rural and suburban areas in this wasteland begin to fall into disrepair, while urban centers become havens for gangs and looters who control their share of the abandoned former United States.

St. Louis
Forces were prepared for the imminent siege of St. Louis, a city horribly ravaged by infection. Advanced assault forces were sent west into the area around the city, most notably from US Military Camp Carlyle, nicknamed by its garrison as "The Cliff". The siege began with the taking of Scott Air Force Base, where short range air vehicles could station to enter the city. The area south of Highland Silver Park, and near Swansea was heavily bombed, primarily with napalm, paving the way for ground forces. Air assault commenced north of the air force base and near Highland, where attention was drawn away from a massive ground force advancing down Route 64.

The city was officially under siege for weeks, with mechanized infantry clearing the infection one street at a time. Heavy resistance was met near Pontoon Beach by a second group, tasked with demolishing the bridge at Chouteau Island. A group of engineers, accompanied by several regiments of infantry managed to advance from the north, destroying the crossing at Alton. The area west of the river was heavily bombarded, leveling sections of the city in the west. After several days of fighting, and heavy casualties, ground forces crossed the Mississippi.

The city of St. Louis was secured, becoming the front line for the Mississippi frontier. US soldiers were garrisoned in the city, and along the river, where an expansive defense system would be constructed. The defenses along the river served as a barrier to the Zombie Horde, and as a screening station for refugees fleeing the Midwest.

Delta
The lack of agriculture in the Midwest created an imminent food shortage. The crisis begin to strike in Mississippi and some areas of the east where certain foods became rare or overly expensive. Faced with imminent starvation, many citizens would turn to crime to survive while fleeing east. Hundreds would be killed from violence along route 64 and 59. Work was scarce and food was desperately fought over by many travelers.

In 1970 in an effort to combat the attrition the government established the United States Agricultural Delta in the former state of Arkansas and Mississippi. At first very few in their right mind accepted the promises of the government to head back west. Some were literally shipped there along route 40 after failing to repay debts. Others were simply unwilling or unable to flee east, and had no other choice but to work in the Delta. Many begin purchasing land and other equipment in Nashville, which thrived from the new market. Another hub would emerge in the military outpost of Memphis, which was largely considered the final checkpoint before the infected zone. Sentries and basic patrols were established along the former highways, from Washington to Nashville, to Memphis. The former city of Vicksburg, Mississippi also prospered from the farming, becoming the center of the southern Delta. Its markets and gambling centers would make quick revenue from the traveling farmers.

Eventually the government in Nashville would begin branching out to protect farmers and traders heading to the Delta region. Many small farms were established, but constant raids from roaming bands of raiders made life on the frontier a nightmare in the early days of the Delta. The former interstates would become known as the Delta highway, a loose network of dangerous roads leading to the farms. The route would become a heavily patrolled road by US personnel in the next few years, aiding in the growth of the west.

The US currency became almost useless past Franklin except as tinder and in the many automated vending machines, and in the early years of the apocalypse many were forced to replace their fiat currency with commodities to begin a primitive barter system. Despite the United States' best efforts, crime still ran rampant, and many local communities were forced to defend for themselves. US militia began patrolling the east, making sure that no criminals or infected entered the east coast, even if it meant the death of innocent travelers.

The United States government would frown upon these practices, which some viewed as intolerant and barbaric, promoting diplomacy where available. Communication and trade would continue between Franklin, the last civilized trading union before the infected zone, and some small nations in the northeast.

Chicago
Following the successful first stages of the Blockade Campaign, the United States made its stand at the Mississippi River, with the extensive defenses. The main gap that remained was the nation of Texas to the south, and Chicago to the north. In the north near the former state of Illinois, few defenses were created and the Zombie Horde soon surrounded the region of Greater Chicago. The Chicago territory, an American puppet state, was tasked with the enormous effort of creating a general defense, fast. The US army alongside the people of Chicago would defend the city during the Siege of Chicago, costing thousands of lives. After several months of vicious fighting the Americans were finally able to push the Zombie Horde out of the reaches of the city.

The Americans would establish the city as a center for northern operations. Regiments were sent out from the city into the rest of the state, eventually clearing the area to a degree. The countryside near Chicago was badly ravaged, and would later raise sentiment against the Chicagoan government.

North African Campaign
The infection in Europe would eventually spread to North Africa, greatly affecting the member states of the EHU. In 1972 the nation of Turkey called all member states of the alliance to begin sending aid and military personnel to North Africa. The TBRU and BlackLight Special Forces units from Turkey would be the first on the ground in Morocco, the epicenter of the African Zombie infestation.

Turkey would initiate a quarantine of all Moroccan borders, with the assistance of other nations in the EHU. The elaborate screening process and natural barriers such as the Atlas mountains would slow the infection's spread east. Helicopters were stationed over Morocco to search for large Zombie populations, calling in task forces from the ground. The Turkish would also begin the dangerous process of gas attacks to kill the infection.

The Turkish military first began deploying sarin gas on cities that were determined to be "dead", or without significant human populations. The use of sarin gas was largely successful at first, helping to control the infection in Morocco, and eventually the rest of North Africa. As the North African campaign continued, the nations of Libya, Egypt and Algeria would also begin to defend major cities with the use of gas, at some times even excessively.

Despite receiving warning from the government of the the UCO urging the Turks to stop using gas attacks, the practice continued to grow. Following repeated sarin gas strikes in northern Africa, select strains of the Zombie virus began to show immunity or resistence to the gas. This new strain would become more dominant in Africa and southern Europe through natural selection. By 1973 the effectiveness of sarin gas had significantly dropped and the Turks began to rely instead on other dangerous gases, such as the V Series Nerve Agents. Early research showed that VX Gas was able to kill Zombies almost two times faster than sarin gas, leading to its rise in North Africa.

Rocket artillery batteries were equipped to started firing nerve agents outside of the nation, and into dead cities. Napalm strikes would also be used to push Zombies out of the countryside. In countries such as Egypt the fighting turned to chaos as many major cities were turned to ruin.

During the campaign the Libyan army would be heavily expanded by Muammar Gaddafi, thanks to supplies from Turkey. Many armed citizens were sent into infected zones, some without proper training beforehand. Feral Zombies from the Middle East and Africa began to be noted as stronger and more resilient to various nerve gases and conventional weapons. Scientists would attribute this to the severe gassing, as well as natural mutation.

Nerve gas bombardments continued in North Africa. The spread of the dangerous chemical increased, due to Zombie movements and weather patterns. Dust from the Sahara Desert would spread the gas to neighboring populations. Within several months hundreds were dead from friendly gas attacks. Confusion in urban areas thawed much of the early anti-Zombie campaign. A miscalculation in Beni mellal, a Moroccan city, results in several squads of Turkish soldiers dying from nerve gas when an attack commenced on the wrong location.

Faced with crisis on the home front, Turkey was forced to withdraw from North Africa in 1973, leaving behind a ravaged wasteland, plagued with violence. The war in North Africa descended into practical civil war with many terrorist and militant factions using Turkish supplies to reap havoc over the local people. In the withdraw from North Africa, Turkish casualties increased slightly. Nerve gas given to Libya and Egypt would be used excessively, killing many civilian populations. Turkish nerve gas would be used for years afterword as a weapon of terror against many in the Middle East and North Africa. In 1973, in Irbil, Iraq four hundred people would be killed in a rogue gas attack, believed to be caused by an Islamic extremist from Turkey. The gas would also be used by the terrorist organization العاصفة, known in English as “The Storm”.

Background
American and Canadian forces established a forward operations base in Winnipeg after weeks of securing the region in autumn of 1970. Bombing runs are established between Regina and Reindeer Lake in an effort to surround the Zombie Horde from the north and prevent them from continuing to Alaska and the rest of Canada. A plan is drafted by generals Maxwell D. Taylor, Abrams, veteran of the Blockade Campaign, and many of the Canadian high command to push farther into Zombie territory.

Preparations are made for a massive push into the infected zone, using tanks to roll across Saskatchewan (similar to Operation: Desert Storm in OTL) while ground forces take Regina, backed by planes above. The plan is approved and ready to go into effect within five months. Forces from Chicago backed by the US take and hold their position at Peoria and begin waiting for further orders.

After months of planning between the American and Canadian governments it was decided in 1971 that a joint operation to clear the Canadian west and surround the Midwest had to be under taken to get the upper hand on the infection. If the joint forces can surround the Zombies inside the Midwest, more effective bombings can take place, and the retaking of the rest of the United States can take place.

Final preparations are made for the invasion of Saskatchewan, now commonly referred to as ‘Operation: Arctic Storm’ to push into the Canadian infected zone. American and Canadian forces fortified within Winnipeg in preparation for the assault. American and Chicagoan forces also began to occupy the Illinois region, scouting through Minnesota to secure the operation's southern flank.

​Invasion
Operation: Arctic Storm began in the summer of 1971. American commanders would later divide the region into two manageable districts of occupation. ‘District One’, is established as the area from Reindeer Lake to the Canadian border, while ‘District Two’ is established from St. Louis to the Canadian border in the north. In the first stages of the operation a large land offensive is organized to cover the southern region of District One. Several squads of US and Canadian armored cars, tanks, and transports leave Winnipeg and begin heading west. At Lake Manitoba heavy resistance is encountered, slowing down the caravan of tanks. After fierce winter fighting US special forces take ‘The Pas’, near Cedar Lake. A second convoy moves from Winnipeg north down the highway east of Lake Manitoba. Canadian forces also manage to secure the eastern coast of Lake Winnipeg.

Patrol ships would rally at the twelfth Bloodvein Indian Reserve along Lake Winnipeg and make landing at Matheson Island. Supplies from Winnipeg were shipped to Matheson where a forward operations base was established. Artillery is planted and a basic airfield begins to take shape to support operations in the north of the lake. After two weeks the convoy had reached the Manitoba border. Routine bombing begins north of The Pas, and as far west as Saskatoon to contain the Zombie Horde within the District. Special forces stationed at The Pas manage to collect two Zombies still alive that appear to be weakened by the cold. The slower, weaker Zombies are send by helicopter to Matheson, where they are transported by boat to Winnipeg. From there they are shipped by armored car to the research center in Halifax to begin testing. In District Two US and Chicago-based infantry wrap around Lake Michigan, advancing through the streets of Greater Chicago toward Milwaukee. Ground forces also enter Springfield, Illinois and begin planning to push into Iowa.

Matheson Island would continue to be fortified, becoming one of the main refueling station for forces in the north of Canada. Falling the successful first stages of the operation, preparations were made for the next phase in Operation: Arctic Storm. The plan was to send a convoy along Route One from Winnipeg toward Regina, another along Route 16, toward Saskatoon, and another from The Pas. Despite this, frequent Zombie attacks are still common in Manitoba, and US special forces are tasked with marking targets in the north for bombers. Canadian and American forces launch an offensive from Thunder Bay and Winnipeg into the south with the objective of taking Minneapolis.

The Winnipeg division manages to take some ground traveling along Route 29, and takes Grafton. The Canadian advance from Thunder Bay follows Lake Superior’s coastline, trekking through the Superior Upland wilderness. North of Chicago the advance is staled by heavy Zombie resistance near Milwaukee. The southern offensive is more successful, meeting up with forces from St. Louis south of Springfield.

After a few weeks of fighting the city of Regina was surrounded and a siege began. Reinforcements poured down Route One from Winnipeg to Regina, clearing much of the land in between. In the north Melfort is taken and the city of Saskatoon is raided by US ground forces. By 1972 Alberta, Montana, North Dakota, and southern Minnesota begin to be heavily bombed in preparation for further invasion. Forces from Thunder Bay and Chicago manage to take Milwaukee after a few months of fighting in the streets. The city of Madison, Wisconsin is also taken in spring of 1972.

The United States began mass producing Cadillac Gage Commando land vehicles, and other armored cars to replace outdated models, and ones destroyed or lost in Arctic Storm. M103 heavy tanks were also produced, boasting 180 mm armor and a 120 mm, M58, main gun, to be used in the assault of western Canada.

In late 1972 the city of Saskatoon was secured and the city of Minneapolis began to be taken by the American forces in the south. In 1973 fighting was temporarily stopped, waiting for further action following the Chicagoan Summit. The defenses in the north were fortified and small trenches and barricades were built to hold the line. After intense fighting the city of Minneapolis would finally fall to the American forces. Reinforcements from Chicago are hastily shipped west, along Route 94, fortifying the US position. US scouts continue down the highway, spotting heavy resistance near St. Cloud. A vertical front is loosely established from Leech Lake to the south, and from the east coast of Leech Lake to the north of Red Lake. From Winnipeg, two separate armies, one near Devil’s Lake, heading southwest, and one in Grafton, heading south, plan to close the gap between Minneapolis.

Standing Rock
Following successful advances along Route 94, forces from Red Lake take Grand Forks and push on to Fargo, North Dakota. From the east the city of Cedar Rapids also falls. Zombie sightings are less frequent in the Dakota region, allowing American forces to scout the area less hindered. Following the extensive surveillance it is believed that a large population of survivors still remains in Fort Yates, North Dakota, and US forces begin pushing into northern North Dakota. By summer of 1973 US forces had surrounded Bismarck, North Dakota, and managed to partially clear the area. The survivor group in Fort Yates is contacted, and the local population begins increasing hostilities against Zombies to reach the American forces. After the liberation of North Dakota, the nation of Standing Rock was established with Fort Yates as its capital. US forces fortify Route 94 in the north, shipping refugees and supplies to Standing Rock.

After a three month offensive US forces manage to secure Omaha, and hold a loose grasp over Iowa. The highway system is reconstructed to secure trade routes, and a plan is created to fortify roads south to north, from Chicago to Green Bay, and east to west, from Chicago to Omaha. Reconnaissance from Matheson reports that the Zombies have entered Vancouver, and are naturally drifting west and northwest, escaping the cold. Zombie activity is spotted to be scarce in the Northwest Territory and in northern Alberta, excluding small instances of higher population where former towns stood. Small bombing commences in the north, trapping the main Zombie force in the south.

After the death of Rolf Fitzgerald in 1975 the first American-backed elections took place in the new nation of Standing Rock. The nation would continue to grow with US support, growing to become a strong power in the Dakotas. The government of Standing Rock would begin to consolidate power in the region, sending forces up the Missouri River, into Bismarck where the local population joins the new nation. Trade begins along the waterway, reaching as far as Lake Sakakawea, and as far south as Mobridge. The military is tasked with destroying small isolated populations of Zombies in the Dakotas, paving the way for future reconstruction.

Trade from the Standing Rock posts in the north flowed down the Missouri River, reaching many small survivor communities. In 1976 the Crow Trading Co is founded in Fort Yates as an independent trading company. The small company, like many others of its kind, begins transporting goods between settlements. John Beckett, founder of the company, proposes the idea of trading with the Mississippi region. Very few investors agree to fund the exploration party, and Beckett uses up much of his small fortune to fund a voyage. The party of three ships departs from Pierre, South Dakota, hoping to contact the US cities to the south.

The Crow Trading Co, from Fort Yates, led by entrepreneur John Beckett, finished its expedition to the Mississippi several weeks later. The trip is extremely profitable, and trade to US outposts begins widespread. The Crow becomes one of the predominate companies in Fort Yates, financing several more voyages to the Mississippi.

Initial Assault
Operation Hydra began in 1976, spearheaded by the Turkish government. Alongside several regional powers in Europe the operation commenced hoping to achieve a foothold on the European continent.

The operation began with the Turkish occupation of Thrace, crossing from Istanbul into the infected zone. Turkish forces along with French, Spanish and Cypriot forces were dropped into Madrid, Paris and other strategic locations. Plans were also made to invade Greece via North Africa, supplied primarily by Libya and Algeria. Turkish forces would also attempt to enter Berlin. Due to a lack of intelligence, the Turks believed the city to be a wasteland, calling in airstrikes and other destructive measures. Troops were roped down from helicopters onto buildings throughout the city.

Within two days beachheads were held and multiple FOB's were set up, and begin pushing north against the infection. Artillery pieces were set up along the coastlines and began firing down upon infected towns. Helicopters sent from the military bases in Brighton, Turkey, Spain, and from the aircraft carriers of the Turkish Navy managed to get supplies to the front lines.

Romania
After a costly landing in Constanta Turkish soldiers along with Romanian forces moved from the coast toward Bucharest. The USSR and Turkish troops managed to push back the infection in the European countryside, allowing special forces to begin clearing the Transylvanian region of Romania. Bran Castle is fortified by the Turks and becomes an outpost for the Transylvanian front. The castle was repaired and established as an important forward operations base, housing about 1,500 troops at any given time. Small makeshift bunkers are built underneath the castle to create more space. In a matter of days Bran Castle is a small military fort, with machine gun bunkers pointing in all directions. Since most of its population evacuated before the infection came, Zombies were cleared out in most areas of the region of Transylvania in about five weeks.

With the coast of Romania still heavily infected, supply lines were ambushed or cut between Bucharest and the coast. Overextended, supplies or re-inforcements were unable to reach central Romania from the garrison in Thrace, or from the USSR camps in the Crimea. Many of the Turkish forces are killed or die from lack of supplies.

Aftermath
In the initial assault on Berlin and in other cities, the local population assumes there is a foreign invasion and begins firing upon Turkish landings and planes. The Germans, who are unaware of the landing, engage in several skirmishes across the area. After several weeks of disastrous casualties caused by bad planning and other issues plaguing the Turks, the Turks are forced to retreat. Almost all soldiers north of Switzerland and southern France are reported missing or killed.

Following the blunder in central Europe the Turks concluded Operation Hydra. Although the Turkish government argues the operation was definitively successful, the operation ended with thousands more dead and little territorial changes.

Northwest United States
After the success of the Blockade Campaign, the United States had securely established a defensive border and prevented the infection from reaching the East Coast. The border at the Mississippi would become heavily guarded and patrolled for years after the end of the operation. Despite the large border at the Mississippi, forces from the United States would liberate much of the American northwest.

By 1977 Vancouver Island had been contacted by US and Canadian forces. The former provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan would also become considered clear by the end of the year. Forces from Canada departed down Route 15 into Montana, seizing Helena after several weeks. Helena would become an important military outpost over all of Montana, eventually leading to the state's liberation.

American control over Iowa would be solidified and more forces became stationed in Omaha. Forces from Standing Rock, and from the east, managed to take the city of Sioux Falls, South Dakota without many casualties. Minnesota would also be declared clear around this time.

With Helena now becoming a heavily fortified city, reconstructed with modern defenses, preparations were made to close the gap between Helena and Standing Rock. The clearing of Montana would take place over the next few years, with the majority of the United States' focus on the Middle East War.

In 1983 soldiers from Helena, Montana made contact with the nation of Cascadia after securing the route from Helena to Spokane. The road will eventually be used for trade between the two nations. Over the next few years route 90 from Helena to Spokane would become heavily traveled as trade from the United States reached Cascadia. A screening station would be developed at the gates of Spokane Valley, while the official border, which met along Route 90 through Lolo National Forest was originally left unprotected, and soon criminals, political prisoners, and thefts would attempt to use the forest to escape from Cascadia, hiding in the Lolo and St. Joe National Park.

In 1990 Montana, the Dakotas, and Iowa were deemed relatively clear of infection. Over the next few years the US would continue to work to solidify control over this area. US forces in North America continued south, establishing Sheridan, Wyoming as a forward operations base, moving soldiers along Route 90 into the state. Wyoming was secured relatively easy, although little of the population would choose to venture into the territory, aside from major trade cities and military bases, such as Sheridan and Helena.

During this time the United States would make contact with Deseret and the city-states of Colorado, opening foreign relations and extending trade routes to meet them. Scouts and merchants began to frequently travel the route from Cheyenne, Wyoming, headquarters of the southern Wyoming military district, through the dangerous Colorado region to New Mexico. Stories of the ‘Southwest League’ reach many US officials in the north. It is reported that Denver is in ruins, controlled by a series of hostile factions, which makes travel from the US outposts to the Southwest League difficult.

These area would begin to be re-populated by settlers from the east. Trade would also be opened between Deseret, the Southwest League, and Las Vegas in the next coming months.

Arkansas
West of the US border in the city of Little Rock, Arkansas the Confederate States of Arkansas is officially founded by Neo-Confederates, with the former Lieutenant Governor being elected as the first President of the CSA. The idealistic Neo-Confederates ironically strip all notions of racism from the new nation's constitution given that "the dead pose a bigger threat to our way of life than a person of any race." The new nation's government is slightly decentralized, with each state having a bit more power over their affairs than in the United States.

Rumours of the Confederacy in Arkansas reached the Mississippi. Many originally perceived the nation to be nothing more than a gentlemen’s club, and not taken seriously, but some felt motivated by the efforts of the Little Rock inhabitants. Many of the Ku Klux Klans in the Delta, which had remained largely suppressed, sign allegiance to the new confederacy. Several farms in the Delta swear allegiance, some even at gunpoint. After the brutal murder of several black farm owners, the US military would send a small force to pacify the Delta. The klansmen are arrested, and all mention of the Confederacy is stumped down. Worried that the southerners might favor a unified south as time goes on, the US and the large majority of Delta citizens from the north, order the confederates to leave or face prosecution. Dozens of farmers are arrested or killed in the violence. A small band of klansmen, confederates, and those opposed to the violence depart across the US military line in secret, much to the disapproval of the government, into Arkansas. It is believed the group hopes to make contact with the city of Little Rock.

When US soldiers finally did reach Little Rock in 1991, it was discovered that a fledgling nation had been established, barricaded within the city. The first patrols were fired upon by the city inhabitants, whose military largely consisted of militia. The group was forced to retreat deep within the city, allowing the United States to secure the outskirts of central Arkansas, encountering small resistance. Despite this, many CSA members quickly surrendered, gladly wishing to rejoin the United States and return to relative civilization.

Little Rock was surrounded and would eventually surrender after a quick siege. The remaining dedicated members of the CSA were found dead, killed either from betrayal, starvation, or suicide. Those who did surrender were granted freedom within the city, and Little Rock became a small military outpost for the next few months.

Midwest Campaign
With Zombie frequency beginning to drop significantly by the late 1980's and early 1990's in the Midwest, many survivor communities began to appear in the Midwest and Southwest United States.

Because of this plans were made for an invasion of Zombie lands past the Mississippi River. The operation, which would be the largest in North America in several years, will begin with rapid bombings of eastern Kansas and Arkansas. Several divisions of armored ground force personnel will then pour into the Midwest via predetermined points of entry. The garrisons in St. Louis, Memphis and Omaha were built up in preparation for the operation.

In 1991 US ground forces entered Missouri and Arkansas. The US soldiers, who were well seasoned anti-Zombie personnel, make quick headway into the sparsely infected regions past the Mississippi. Hundreds of people were liberated who had managed to survive since the withdrawal past the Mississippi. With soldiers pouring in from Omaha and St. Louis, Kansas City is finally taken after several months of fighting across the state. Several armored divisions are also sent into Nebraska, traveling along Route 80 from Omaha.

Background
Since the apocalypse the nation of India, rampant with infection, had collapsed into a few small survivor states. Before this the Indian government had managed to retain some order by deploying its large military force to contain the infection. Large, densely packed communities made easy targets for the infection, which could easily spread across a series of villages practically overnight. It was believed that by the late 1980's the Indian government has fled into exile, but at the time it was unknown where. With an estimated 500 million dead in India and the area around it, the current situation in India was desperate.

Of the many small survivor states in India, the most successful states would become the nation of Kashmir, established around the city of Sringar in northern India, and the Sikh Empire, established around the city of Amritsar. The nation of Kashmir would eventually expand from the city of Sringar to loosely control all of the Indian region of Jammu and Kashmir, making it a powerful state in the north, and controller of the routes into China and the Middle East.

Despite large portions of its land being overrun by Zombies, the government of Bangladesh made an effort to relocate civilians and take back the southern regions of its nation. The nation of Wu would also accept a large number of Indian refugees who made it to their borders, usually through Bangladesh or through the northern passes.

The situation in India reached the international community in 1991. A conference of all ULN nations were called to discuss the plan to liberate India. It was finally decided that a joint military invasion of the subcontinent would be undertaken. Nations involved would occupy a small designated region each, until all of India was liberated and a stable government could be established.

Overview
In late 1990 an operation was proposed to the United League of Nations to retake India from the infection. The Commonwealth and its CSTO allies proposed the temporary invasion of India to retake, eventually establishing a secure, stable democracy in the region. By 1991 the United States and several other nations had agreed to the plan, setting aside large quantities of soldiers. A general strategy was written up and approved, with each large nation receiving a section of the occupied zone to facilitate.

An estimated 2,353,534 soldiers would fight in India during the liberation process, assembled from the United League of Nations coalition, Indian armed forces, and local militias.

About 300,000 Russian troops were taken from the reserves for Operation: Indian Order. Troops who were going to be conducting Operation: Indian Order were given special combat hazmat suits and gas masks for the infected environment. The Russian invasion began with an amphibious deployment near the city of Calcutta. BTR-60/70/80's were used immensely because of their amphibious and decisive ground armament. Within the first week the city of Calcutta was liberated from the infection, becoming the Russian forward operations base for future assaults.

Troops began to move through the northwest provinces of India, clearing the countryside and many of its towns and villages. Along the way large refugee camps were constructed, alongside lofty military outposts. Humanitarian supplies such as medicine, food, water, and face masks were distributed to the native populace. Following the initial landing, large amounts of Mi-26 Halos, Mi-8/17 Hips, and Mi-6 Hooks were used to transport heavy amounts of supplies and troops further into India. Omon Spetsnaz special military police forces were placed in charge of enforcing local laws and distributing humanitarian aid in the provinces the Russians liberated.

In late 1991, United States ground forces landed at Nagercoil, India after a long naval bombardment. A temporary military airfield was established on Sri Lanka to begin routine bombing runs and surveillance of zones that were discovered to be heavily infected beyond saving. Most importantly, the reconnaissance division was critical in the search for civilians so that they can be extracted, relocated or informed of the operation. After a few days Nagercoil was secured and the majority of the US ground forces were dropped to the east of the city. An armored convoy was sent north along Route 93, parallel to the navy along the coast, making some quick territorial gains.

A separate force was also able to land at the city of Ramanathapuram, where bombings from Sri Lanka had been highest. It is discovered that thousands of refugees had fled to the island of Ramaswaram during the early months of the infection, and have since established a large society on the island, using the guarded bridge to the mainland to occasionally search for supplies. Plans were made to turn the island into a large refugee camp, and some construction vehicles were dropped at the island from the United States, plowing away a clearing near the northern end. The locals were found to be friendly toward the Americans, and soldiers were stationed there to protect the future refugee camp.

Portions of the fleet stationed at Sri Lanka also began patrolling the coast farther to the north, where the joint American-German section was established, targeting a few large populations of Zombies.

In the former city of New Delhi the locals would eventually join together to form a new nation. Under a mysterious conservative Hindu leader nicknamed 'Ghandi', the group would go on to establish a democratic, self-sustaining nation that rapidly expanded to include most of the city. The nation becomes known as "नए भारतीय हिन्दू गणराज्य" or in English, "The New Indian Hindu Republic". The Hindu Republic would work closely with the foreign armies, as coalition forces reached them, to secure the region around the city.

Hoping to deter crime in the liberated regions, it was declared that any soldier caught breaking the Geneva Convention during Operation: Indian Order would be immediately court martialed and serve a certain amount of time in prison depending on how serious the crime was. This helped to decrease looting and other crimes to a degree.

About 200,000 police and soldiers were launched from the United Republics into their specified region of India. The UR forces quickly established control and employed many survivors in Mumbai. By the time of the invasion Mumbai had many survivor communities in hiding that the UR would employ to defend the city. Unlike most occupying forces the UR began the process of creating a self-governing body early on, creating the Republic of Mumbai with the first few weeks.

After a few months the United Republics would begin large-scale withdraws, leaving the locals in charge of their defense. The people of Mumbai were trained by UR specialists, creating a decent military and police force. The cities of Pune and Nashick and Goa would eventually be reached by these combined forces, leaving a UR outpost in Goa. By late 1991 the Republic of Mumbai held its first elections and began its reign as a functional government over Mumbai and the surrounding area. UR and Mumbai began to assist bringing governments to Goa and the rest of the region under the names of the Republic of Goa and the Republic of Maharashta.

In 1992 a large force was also mobilized and sent from South Africa, assisting in the central and northern provinces. From the Bengali area of control, troops roll into Bihar and Jharkand - destroying Zombies in the thousands. Many soldiers do die in the Operation, but good planning and execution means that a very small number of casualties exist. As a result, the liberation becomes highly successful back home.

Aftermath
Although Operation: Indian Order never had an official ending, most nations had completely withdrew their forces by the end of 1993.