Twilight Exodus

[Webstral]

Almost three years ago, I started the attached pieces with the intention of describing the movement of people in the US during the run-up to the surgical strategic exchange in November 1997 and through the start of the Second Mexican-American War. I have made no real progress since, and I anticipate making no further progress anytime soon. Rather than continue to sit on them, I'll put them up here. Neither is a finished work. There is much overlap, as "Pulses 03" is the father of "Twilight Exodus", the latter of which is still in its juvenile stages.

Anyway, since the subject of civilian response to the nuclear threat has come up, I'll share these unfinished works rather than wait for perfection.

[mikeo80]

I just finished both articles. They paint a very graphic and realistic portrait of what would happen if a T2K type of event occur.

The possibility of the government calming the public fears in 1995-1996 was possible. However IRL, with the evidence of Katrina, 9/11,and other local catastrophic events, the colapse of the housing/credit market in 2007-2008and the amount of time it took for real help to arrive, I think that the average person would think "OH S**T!!!! And then strike out on his/her/their own. I think that in the real world of 2012, the average person has lost most, if not all faith in government in a crisis situation.

I also think that law officials would be very hard pressed to deal with a "pulse" in today's environment. I agree that survivalists would probably be the first on the road, and would "head for the hills" as fast as their FWD could get them there. I think that today, with the drawdown in Iraq and Afghanistan, the govt DOES have access to a large body of trained troops, both regular service and National Guard available for crowd control. I think you would see martial law issued in a very SHORT time after the start of a pulse. And I think that the general rule of thumb would be "Shoot First...Don't bother asking questions".

I think the martial law would be on the order of 24 hour curfew. IF you have a problem, hang a white flag out a door or window for food, red for medical, blue for death. Or something along those lines. IF you stay INSIDE, you will not be shot. If you come out, unless ordered to by authorities, BANG.

I know you said that you would probably not work on these articels again. I hope to see more.

Very well done, Sir!!!!

My $0.02

Mike

[Webstral]

Mike, thanks for the feedback. I must confess, I'm a bit taken aback that you're the only one who has commented. Surely I've said something with which my Twilight: 2000 fellows can take issue. Leg? Olefin? Law? Somebody? Don't tell me I wrote 10,000 words and everybody in this crowd agrees with all of it.

[mikeo80]

Originally Posted by Webstral

Mike, thanks for the feedback. I must confess, I'm a bit taken aback that you're the only one who has commented. Surely I've said something with which my Twilight: 2000 fellows can take issue. Leg? Olefin? Law? Somebody? Don't tell me I wrote 10,000 words and everybody in this crowd agrees with all of it.

My pleasure, Web. I have always enjoyed the various additions to T2K you have added since I joined the forum.

In the T2K timeline, your scenarios would probably play out very close to your description.

One thing that ALWAYS puzzled me was why the President/VP/Sec of State were so close together. I would think that once nukes started to fly in China, the VP would be sent to somewhere like Cheyene Mountain, the Sec State to one of the Presidential Hideouts, Sec of Defense could be positioned, say with Air Force One!!! (Another mistery of T2K, what DID happen to AF1??)

Even with a stand down, politicians are ALWAYS looking out for their hide. I would think it would only be prudent that a rotating schedule of cabinet secretaries would be moved from place to palce to insure Presidential succession.

In Our TL, the U.S. Government would seperate in a hurry with the first nuke. Just as with 9/11, the President is taken to AF1, sent aloft with WHATEVER air cover that can be found anywhere!!! I know "Looking Glass" does not exist in our timeline. But surely an AWACS or two could be scrambled??? Again with whatever air cover is available. Also the existing mid air refuling jets would be scrambled. AF1 can be refueled mid air, so can AWACS and any USAF, Navy or Marine fighters.

My $0.02

Mike

[Targan]

Originally Posted by mikeo80

(Another mistery of T2K, what DID happen to AF1??)

A bit of a mystery. From memory, according to canon, AF1 blew up on takeoff for reasons that were never conclusively determined (or possibly were determined but never made public).

[stg58fal]

Haven't commented cuz I haven't downloaded. Most of my web use is on my phone, since the internets absolutely SUCKS where I'm currently living. Downloading on my phone is real dicey and problematic, so I generally don't do it. When I have a chance to download and read, I'll comment.

[rcaf_777]

Originally Posted by mikeo80

The possibility of the government calming the public fears in 1995-1996 was possible. However IRL, with the evidence of Katrina, 9/11,and other local catastrophic events, the colapse of the housing/credit market in 2007-2008and the amount of time it took for real help to arrive, I think that the average person would think "OH S**T!!!! And then strike out on his/her/their own. I think that in the real world of 2012, the average person has lost most, if not all faith in government in a crisis situation.

Don't you think the President would sign a number of executive orders, freezing prices, wages ect, using the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and activiting the military and FEMA plans?

[mikeo80]

Originally Posted by rcaf_777

Don't you think the President would sign a number of executive orders, freezing prices, wages ect, using the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and activiting the military and FEMA plans?

I agree that these would all be practical, prudent and productive measures. My only question is would they have any real effect on the "locusts" who swarmed out of our urban areas to escape possible nuclear attack.

Can you see 10+ MILLION people in NY City trying to swarm out into upstate NY or Rural NJ? I can forsee 80-90% death rate in first 96 hours as the highways come to a complete stop. The panicked masses take to their feet. Probably with little or no supplies. Maybe a backpack.

My $0.02

Mike