(Capcom's primary storyline)
(An alternate timeline in the Prime universe)
The Sterilization Strategy (滅菌作戦 mekkin sakusen) was a military operation carried out by the U.S. government to annihilate Raccoon City. The primary goal was to prevent the further spread of the t-Virus. However, the operation also served a secondary purpose: to eliminate any evidence of the government's complicity with the Umbrella Corporation.[1][2][3][4]
Background[]
On September 23rd, 1998, Raccoon City's water reservoir was contaminated with the t-Virus. That evening, the city descended into chaos as mutant creatures began roaming the streets. In response, the U.S. Army established a blockade around the city to prevent the virus from spreading further.[5][6][7][excerpt 1] As the outbreak escalated and conventional military methods failed to contain it, plans were set in motion to completely eliminate the city. Under pressure from a Congressional committee, the federal government authorized a drastic solution. The President ordered the deployment of an experimental thermobaric missile to ensure total sterilization.[8]
At sunrise on October 1st, Raccoon City was annihilated in the missile strike, resulting in the deaths of both infected and uninfected civilians, as well as military personnel who were unable to evacuate.
Different Depictions[]
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis[]
Originally set at sunrise on October 2nd, 1998, Resident Evil 3 officially depicts the destruction of Raccoon City by a single missile strike. While the game's CG ending appears to show multiple missiles launched from different directions, this is likely a stylistic choice made for dramatic effect. According to official sources, only one missile was used in the actual operation.[9][10][11]
Resident Evil Outbreak[]
The file "Orders" states that Operation: Emperor’s Mushroom commenced at 05:35 AM and was intended to last for 60 minutes, concluding at 06:35 AM. Meanwhile, an unused news report from Decisions, Decisions indicates that the state government requested federal assistance at 06:15 AM, during the operation’s active timeframe, this leads us to believe that the bombing took place before 07:00 AM.
"真実は明かされるのか？本日朝 ダラス空軍基地より 12発の「エンジェル・アロー」中距離弾道ミサイルが発射され ラクーンシティから半径120マイル以内 をすべて焼き尽くしました 犠牲者は10万人を超えるだろうと 予想されています 我が国の歴史上かつてないほどの 悲劇となってしまいました 州が連邦政府に援助を求めたのを受け 本日午前６時15分をもって立ち入り禁止区域内への侵入者は 逮捕され 法的措置の対象となります アメリカ国土で起こった中でも前代未聞の大惨事かもしれません" — The mentioned news report, only a part of it can be heard on Mark's "Remain Hopeful" ending. |
That same news report also mentions twelve Angel Arrow (エンジェル・アロー) missiles, which directly contradicts Resident Evil 3’s depiction of a single missile strike. These missiles were reportedly launched from Dallas Air Force Base—with Dallas being a real-life city located in the state of Texas.
Resident Evil Outbreak File #2[]
The depiction differs slightly in File #2, where the missiles are shown being launched by jets referred to as "Angels." It’s possible that these are the same “Angels” mentioned in the unused Decisions, Decisions news report, suggesting a potential connection between the two interpretations.[12]
Aftermath[]
The federal government continued to cover up the existence of the t-Virus and B.O.W.s reported in the incident to avoid being implicated in Umbrella's bio-weapons development project. As a result, the death toll from the bombing was estimated based on the city's actual population - 100,000. The unexplained act of aggression toward the US citizens led to the President resigning in disgrace. A similar bombing took place in 2013 with the destruction in Tall Oaks to end a C-Virus outbreak, but was more readily justified as the existence of mutagenic viruses became common in knowledge.
Further notes[]
- The English localizations refer to both operations as "Operation: Bacillus Terminate". However, that name does not appear in the original scripts, so is to be treated as non-canon.
- Though the games themselves make no mention as to the weapon's nature, Yasuhisa Kawamura clarified in Conquest of Nemesis that it was thermobaric instead of nuclear and thus left nearly no radioactive trace.[7][excerpt 2] Biohazard Archives states the missile was thermobaric new type of bomb[13][excerpt 3] while Resident Evil Archives states it was nuclear.[14]
Sources[]
- excerpts
- ↑ Q1. 米軍のラクーンシティ閉鎖により、市民は誰も脱出できなかったのでしょうか？ A1. 米軍がラクーンシティを包囲するまでには議会での決議も含めて時間がかかりました。大統領発令によってラクーンシティは包囲されましたが、それ以前に街を脱出した民間人は相当数います。その多くは陸軍と州軍の警戒網につかまり、検査に引っかかった者はレベルに応じて防疫処置されました。
- ↑ Excerpt from Conquest of Nemesis, p.350:
Q19. エンディングに出てくるミサイルはどのようなもの？
A19. 核兵器につぐ威力を持つ、 気化爆弾などの新型爆弾のひとつで、 詳細は不明ですが、 放射能汚染はきわめて低いようです。 この物においては、 レールキャノンと並ぶ米軍最大の秘密兵器と言えるでしょう。 - ↑ Excerpt from biohazard archives, p.344: ラクーンシティに燃料気化爆弾を投下することで、市外への「t-ウィルス」拡散を食い止めた軍事行動。
- references
- ↑ Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
- ↑ Wesker's Report
- ↑ Resident Evil: Degeneration
- ↑ Resident Evil Outbreak
- ↑ Resident Evil Outbreak, "Outbreak"
- ↑ Resident Evil Outbreak, "Hellfire"
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 BIOHAZARD 3 LAST ESCAPE OFFICIAL GUIDEBOOK Complete Conquest Vol., (p. 350)
- ↑ Resident Evil 6, file: "Scorched Earth"
- ↑ BIOHAZARD 3 LAST ESCAPE PERFECT CAPTURE GUIDE, (p. 180-181)
- ↑ Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, "Raccoon's Destruction 3", cutscene: "Ending"
- ↑ Inside of BIOHAZARD THE DARKSIDE CHRONICLES, (p. 182-185)
- ↑ Resident Evil Outbreak File #2, cutscene: "Run Like the Linda"
- ↑ biohazard archives, p.344
- ↑ Resident Evil Archives, page 268.
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