Ngano Plague

Plague / Epidemic

Outbreak of the Ngano Plague. Caused by airborne microbes in the atmosphere of 58 Eridani II ('Ngano', a jungle world in the 58 Eridani star system, in the Chinese Consortium colonised arm), the Ngano Plague is a highly contagious viral disease that causes vivid hallucinations and acute paranoid delusions in those exposed. Infected victims are dubbed 'Crazies' due to the insane psychopathic state induced during the plague's later stages. The plague quickly cripples the colony (it has an incubation period of over four weeks) and carriers soon infect the colonies in neighbouring systems. Ships with infected personnel arriving at star systems further afield are intercepted and quarantined.   Approximately half a million colonists fall victim to the Ngano Plague before it's spread is checked by the ICA and ITC. In the wake of the plague, new laws are brought into effect, making it illegal for any interstellar vessel to enter the Core Systems without first passing through ITC quarantine. It also becomes standard policy for any ITC licensed starship to have an Android Exo on board.