The Virus

• The source of the virus is not known. Neither the people of Marcheleau nor the Government have been able to determine its exact origins, and so speculation (amongst the survivors) is rife, with rumors that it was man-made, natural, or some form of divine punishment.
• The virus is in fact natural, and was brought to the underground by the flood.
• The Government knows that the virus is natural, and documents in the lab will reveal this, should they be found.
• While they are working to find a cure, the Government is more interested in finding other applications for the virus. They have various holding sites throughout the underground where they conduct tests upon the undead, to study their behavior and their physical limits.
• The Government ultimately seeks to weaponize the virus, and are trying to find ways to control or manipulate the undead (this could lead into quests pertaining to strange behavior observed within the undead).
• Between the number of carriers and generally limited resources available (due to the secretive nature of the program), the Government decided it would be best to let the carriers roam free in the underground, rather than cram them into the labs.
• The virus is transmitted through bodily fluids, requiring the government to spread their screening efforts nation-wide. This has lead to the discovery of carriers throughout the country, some of whom are generations removed from the original outbreak.

Faction beliefs regarding the virus

• Mister Americana, being a well-educated man himself, believes that the virus is a natural occurrence, and encourages the rest of the Dwellers to believe the same. Some among the Dwellers may have personal doubts, but by and large they follow the Mayor's lead.
• As a former Dweller, Beloved believes that the virus is natural as well. Beloved encourages the people of the KSG to believe whatever they want, in order to better obfuscate the KSG's activities and encourage the faction's air of mystique.
• The Ratfolk tell people that the virus was sent to Earth by the Rat God to punish humanity. Whether or not they actually believe this is unknown (they don't, but it's funny, so that's what they tell people)