I'm working on a sci-fi story, and I'm trying to figure out if my plot is even remotely plausible. EDIT: See post #13 for my revised explanations.
The story takes place in a fictitious town called New Place (not final name, but I can't think of a better name right now), in a near-future United States. An outside company mistakenly dumps toxic chemicals into the town reservoir. The toxin seems to only affect humans. The tainted water quickly is taken in by local plants and animals, making any local products unsafe to consume. Experts have been trying to identify the toxin, but have been unable to find a way either to filter it out of the water or to produce an antidote for those who accidental ingest it. The poison generally kills the person within a few minutes, cutting off their breathing. It only takes a small amount to kill someone, but it is not absorbed through the skin. It is possible that very tiny amounts would not kill, but because of the prevalence of the poison, most incidents of people ingesting the poison are deadly.
New Place is then placed under quarantine - nothing can be shipped out, and only government vehicles are allowed in. While the government has been supplying the city with bottled water and basic necessities, many citizens feel the supplies are insufficient for their wants or needs. Some people attempt to produce additional food, while others are transporters, arranging with clients to pick up packages at the city's border and then delivering them. (The security at the border is mainly heat-activated, so packages can be smuggled in and out much more easily than people.) The quarantine is meant for safety only, with everyone from outside the city afraid of contamination themselves. The company that infected the water supply is still unknown and would like to stay that way. However, not wanting to be responsible for the city's collapse, they attempt to devise a way to cure the city of the poison without publicly admitting their mistake.
Thoughts? If it's not plausible, what changes would have to take place in the world or the society to make it so? Thanks so much!
The story takes place in a fictitious town called New Place (not final name, but I can't think of a better name right now), in a near-future United States. An outside company mistakenly dumps toxic chemicals into the town reservoir. The toxin seems to only affect humans. The tainted water quickly is taken in by local plants and animals, making any local products unsafe to consume. Experts have been trying to identify the toxin, but have been unable to find a way either to filter it out of the water or to produce an antidote for those who accidental ingest it. The poison generally kills the person within a few minutes, cutting off their breathing. It only takes a small amount to kill someone, but it is not absorbed through the skin. It is possible that very tiny amounts would not kill, but because of the prevalence of the poison, most incidents of people ingesting the poison are deadly.
New Place is then placed under quarantine - nothing can be shipped out, and only government vehicles are allowed in. While the government has been supplying the city with bottled water and basic necessities, many citizens feel the supplies are insufficient for their wants or needs. Some people attempt to produce additional food, while others are transporters, arranging with clients to pick up packages at the city's border and then delivering them. (The security at the border is mainly heat-activated, so packages can be smuggled in and out much more easily than people.) The quarantine is meant for safety only, with everyone from outside the city afraid of contamination themselves. The company that infected the water supply is still unknown and would like to stay that way. However, not wanting to be responsible for the city's collapse, they attempt to devise a way to cure the city of the poison without publicly admitting their mistake.
Thoughts? If it's not plausible, what changes would have to take place in the world or the society to make it so? Thanks so much!
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