Jiǔyuè 27th 186X

For one brief moment the Earth fell silent and humanity looked up at the sky. The speeding rickshaws drew to a clattering halt on smog-clogged streets that were barely illuminated by neon signs. The morning rush of commuters hurrying down the dark roads stood still in their tracks.

Everyone had realised that something was wrong. The sky was even blacker than usual, marinating in its own ink blot clouds. The winds were howling loud enough to drown out the hum of tram engines and the mechanized announcements of looming billboards.

Forked electricity speared through the pregnant belly of a growing cloud, birthing from the murky depths a haze of black spores so thick it resembled hunger-crazed locusts descending upon the Earth.

The ravenous mass was spurred on by the frothing waves of the oceans, their white stallions whipped and taunted by the howling cyclones hovering above them. Upon each steed sat a rider of the approaching army, swarms of spores hurtling towards land, ravaging all in their path.

Not content with the dominion of the coasts, the winds urged the spores even further inland, towards the cities and walled metropolises of Earth. The spores did not think, they possessed neither eyes nor mouths, but if they had they surely would have laughed at how easily they soared above the humans' walls.

At last, buffered downwards by the ceiling of smog and pollutants, the army of black specks found itself rushing through concrete alleyways and down cobbled roads. Sweeping effortlessly under doors and through masks, diving into mouths, throats and lungs.

As the spores settled with ruthless efficiency into their new homes of palpitating flesh and pulsing blood, one could almost wonder if that hadn't been their original destination all along?

Sixty percent of the human population was infected by the spores. Forty percent of the affected succumbed to the fatal consequences of what became known as 'Spore Syndrome'.

Those who survived became something else entirely.

Qīyuè 1st 200X Xinshijie Polis Report

Breeding Ban issued on all Helixed personnel and all persons carrying the Spore Strain.

Liùyuè 5th 212X Xinshijie Polis Report

Sterilisation Scheme 1918SR Approved. Formula to be sprayed via artificial rain showers using military planes on ALL of the Poleis.

Qīyuè 13th 212X Xinshijie Polis Report

'Stain Rains' implemented on all Poleis. Last to be sprayed was Podolsk Polis, Central Territories. Confirmation received at 0400 hours from Podolsk Group Captain, Q.M.

PART ONE OF THE SILVER SMOG, 'STREETS'