It was late November, the streets of Manehattan were busy as always. But today was busier than ever, why? Because today was Holy Friday. A national holiday, where retail stores sell products at half-off. Ponies waiting and camping overnight just to be the first ones to get the newest popular items. Only a couple of minutes before the doors opened. Just a few more seconds. The doors in shops opened across Manehattan. Ponies swarmed into the stores like a swarm of bees. Taking the cheapest but most beautiful objects before heading to the cash register. Bits filled the cash registers, they looked like it was going to explode. It was a time of happiness and joy. But one pony had other plans.
He had been planning this for months. Using the Cutie Pox virus, he modified it to be more contagious, reproduce more quickly, and be lethal. His goal, make sure mother nature survives by cutting down the pony population significantly. And today was the day he was going to release it onto Manehatten. Using bits contaminated with the virus. He traveled shop to shop across Manehatten financial district. Spreading the virus to every corner of the busy city.
After a few days since Holy Friday, the first wave of people started getting ill. Flu-like symptoms but most ponies ignored it. Thinking that the seasonal flu came early. All the while spreading the lethal virus. But when the cases of this ‘flu’ virus started to explode. Ponies went to the hospital to get medicine and even flu shots. Spreading the virus to medical ponies. But when the ponies started dying, panic spread. It was at this time that the ponies realized this wasn’t the flu. It was something much worse.
That’s when the Equestrian Disaster Management Agency and Equestrian Disease Control took action. They quarantined all of Manehatten to keep the virus from spreading. Train stations were shut down, the bridge was closed, and boats were forced to turn around. Martial law was established as resources were rationed. In a desperate attempt to control the virus, they decided to build a large quarantine zone in the middle of Manehatten. It became known as the Dark Zone or DZ. But the infection spiraled out of control and hospital rooms were filled to the max with dying patients. Soon, large graves we're built since the morgues were filled beyond capacity.
The police and Equestrian guard were stretched thin to control the looting and rioting. They tried multiple antivirals and vaccines, but nothing was working. That’s when they realized this was a homemade version of the Cutie Pox virus and that it was deliberately released on Holy Friday for maximum infectivity. EDMA then realized who could commit this bioterrorist attack. Dr. Science Book. Former EDC doctor turned environmental terrorist. His name became famous in law enforcement. He instigated a riot in the capital of Equestria. Canterlot.
But when the military and EDC raided his apartment. He wasn't there. Not a trace of the doctor could be found. Neither his family nor friends knew of his whereabouts. It was like he vanished into thin air. But what they did was find a manifesto which explained his reason for developing the virus. He wrote that.
"Nature kept the ponies population check. But with the help of antivirals and antibiotics. Ponies overcame nature's creation. So now they were bound to ruin nature. So I decided to give nature a helping hoof. By creating a killer virus to decrease the pony population. If most of the pony population dies off. Planet Earth is given a fighting chance. Now a virus decides if it's going to kill or spare the pony. That's what my virus is going to do. Decide who lives or dies. It's beautiful really. It's like a game of chance. You win, you survive. You lose, you die. It's that simple. Now my virus is also going to decide if I live or die. If I live, then I become a wanted terrorist that every pony wants to strangle. If I die, then I die. There's no changing that. If you manage to survive Bit Poison. Then nature has decided for you to live. The rest shouldn't and won't. Good luck. I'll see you in hell." - Dr. Science Book
After reading that manifesto. Most ponies considered Dr. Science Book dead. But some remained skeptical. But without the knowledge of the virus from the creator himself. The EDC and military have a huge issue on their hoof. The virus soon spread far out of ground zero. Infecting nearby kingdoms, cities, and towns. In Manehattan. Riots and crime became rampant as the police and Equestrian guard failed to control the chaos.
The number of police officers and Equestrian guard soldiers dwindled as they were either killed or deserted. The riots became too much for the police to handle. And soon, they lost control of their city. Ponies did anything for survival at this point. Committing crimes such as theft and murder. Ruthless factions grew in the city. All with different goals and backstories. From escaped convicts that destroy everything they touch. To radical followers to continue the goal of wiping out the pony race. And an armed P.M.C with the goal of setting a totalitarian government in the city. These factions waged war on the streets. Killing each other for resources and territory.
Seeing the gravity of the situation. Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and her cabinet activated Directive 51 across Equestria. A signal was activated. Activating sleeper agents who have been trained for a situation like this. It was the last line of defense when all else fails. The Strategic Homeland Division was activated. Many agents had to leave behind their friends and family to save the city. The first wave was sent into Manehatten before they evacuated. Most agents were stationed in the Dark Zone. But when they call for the police and Equestrian Guard to leave the Dark Zone. The agents felt betrayed. Many were killed by the factions or the virus. Some managed to escape and haven’t been seen since. While others went rogue.
After the failure of the first wave and the evacuation of Manehatten. The second wave of agents was sent into the ruined city. Their goal. Liberate the city and investigate what happened to the first wave. It’s time to take back Manehatten. But with the threat of the factions and the disease lurking over them. It’s going to be tough.