The idea of the plague is to create an analogue to the 1918 Spanish influenza, and the 100 million deaths caused in OTL. The intent isn't to cause a scenario out of World War Z . Much like the films Doomsday and 28 Days Later , the "zombies" (or "necrotics" as they are listed in the entry), are actually infected with a slow and extremely gruesome degenerative disease. The person is in a constant state of decomposition and won't live more than a year. They also can be killed by any wound inflicted on the body. They can still be killed by all of the same implements as anyone else. It can also be utilized by certain regimes as a form of genocidal violence (e.g. Unit 731).
Yeah, I can imagine some Apokalips mad scientists researching some more potent forms of this illness as biological warfare. I'd say the Plague also caused an irrational desire to walk around moaning, and in some cases, fake signs of death. Lends more credence to the zombie stuff.
I can certainly add that information. Can you give me some names of cities or military commanders in Apokalips? If anything, it would help in developing the military unit that began experiments. It would also help if there is some information as to the ethnic or religious minorities within Apokalips. THe more information, the better….
One link you have to check out for a WWII-style spin on the Stoker-Romero plague would be:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz2rlszMJc8
It's from the film Fido (2007)
Hmm, I haven't fleshed out Apokalips yet… it's somewhat Transylvannic. Mad Scientist Country. Maybe the Magistrates could tie in a major part of the formation of Apokalips… given that they're not vampires outright, but humans, mutated or something like that… Keep in mind that we don't want something too outlandish that the would-be readers could still accept the realism.
So, maybe the Apokalips scientists are operating their own agenda concerning the distribution of the weapons…
I certainly have some ideas where we can go with this. I have always been playing by the rule that even the most incredible items can be explained scientifically.
Starting in 1003, the leader Gyyla the Apokaliptan uncovers the secrets that created the Order of Magistrates. By 1241, their reputation was sealed as defenders of the realm after holding off the invading hordes of the Django-Ito. You can have in c.1648 the members of the Magistrate establish Apokalips as a central homeland.
As for their role in the Third Great War and Nation of Apokalips, consider the idea that starting in 1932 the Apokaliptan government established "Unit 417" in an effort to begin experiments initially to recreate a "New Order of Magistrates", but when that proved unworkable went into the idea of creating biological weapons. Cities that can be used as names are Hailar, Qiqhar, Horea and Caragea…
Well, they're workable… Oh yeah, I commented something about the Magistrates in their page, too. I think we're on to something here. Good job!
Just out of curiosity, what are the parameters for the development for the flora and fauna of the planet. Consider that I have some ideas about the idea of Mesozoic fauna (e.g. dinosaurs, pleisosaurs, pteranodons, et al.). I was also thinking of the addition of some cryptids that would make things stranger still (e.g. the "Mongolian Death Worm", man-eating plants, freshwater sharks, et al.).
Well, mostly like normal, real-world analogues, but you can put in some of the more 'docile' ones from past prehistoric eras. Maybe the small descendants of sea scorpions, or that horned gopher from the Eocene… just small ones, maybe nothing too popular (t-rex is way out). As for cryptids, well, maybe small ones. Mongolian deathworms may be a small worm which secretes almost-fatal poisons or something. And try to name them differently! :D
Don't worry, I don't plan on any Tyrannosaurs running through major cities. I have no intent to recreate the series "Dinotopia". I have some ideas of some big creatures, but thankfully, they are in the oceans or in the portions of the globe that are not populated.
As for the "back story", I am still planning to add an Islamic-style state, along with some ancient cultures for the world. I also want to add some decidedly non-European cultures and ideas to the TL.