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sealed red folder. The folders were imprinted with ‘TOP SECRET – PROJECT ‘PT-12’ – HIGHLY SENSITIVE’.
    Gen. Falton and Lt. Gen. Yates broke the seal on their folders and started reading while Col. Mathis spoke.
    “As you can see, ‘ PT-12 ’ is an ex tremely virulent mutation of four different crossbred neuroinvasive disease agents . It is classified in the program as a social destabilization agent. It attacks the respiratory and neurological systems simultaneously and clinical death occurs five to ten hou rs after airborne exposure or around fort y-five minutes after bodily fluid and bite exposures. As far as we know, the disease is not vector-borne. After initial infection, rather bite-borne or airborne, flu-like symptoms show within the first fifteen minutes as the immune system goes into immediate overdrive. After initial clinical death, things get considerably worse.”
    Col. Mathis pulled out a glossy photograph from his dossier and handed it to Gen. Falton.
    “This is one of the first test subjects,” Col. Mathis explained. “The photograph was taken after the test subject was pronounced clinically dead. Prior to his death, the subject was lethargic, docile, and delusional with fever. He eventually fell into cardiac arrest. We did not resuscitate and allowed the subject to die. Approximately five minutes later, the subject reanimated. That is when the photograph was taken.”
    Gen. Falton stared at the image of a young man wearing an army hospital smock. The words ‘TOP SECRET – TEST SUBJECT ADAM’ were stamped across the top of the photograph.
    “Dear God,” Gen. Falton muttered.
    The man was chained against the wall. Blood ran freely from his ears, dribbled out of his nose, and clouded his eyes. He was facing the cameraman with an expression of feral rage.
    Gen. Falton hurriedly passed the photo over to Lt. Gen. Yates .
    Lt. Gen. Yates stared at the photograph, unwavering in his expression.
    “Prior to reanimation, the infected subject is contagious and unknowingly spreads the virus much like a common cold. Subjects in the beginning stages will experience severe coughing, sneezing, and shortness of breath. Mania and fever-induced delusions have also been reported shortly before the subject dies.
    “The reanimated subject’s behavior,” Col. Mathis continued, “is extremely hostile and focused on creating new hosts. They actively seek out new hosts. The subject will try to spread the infection by biting, vomiting, or most often a combination of both.
    “The reanimated subject will remain active in its search for new hosts for up to five days. After that, the infected host starts to shut down as the ‘PT-12’ virus follows its genetically engineered self-degeneration program.”
    “ Thank you, Colonel,” Gen. Falton said, shaking his head. He laid the red folder on the desk and sighed. “It’s one of our germs, right?”
    “Correct,” Col. Mathis said.
    “So we have the antivirus in cold storage?” Gen. Falton asked.
    “Yes, sir, the Atlanta storage facility has active vials of the antivirus,” he paused, thinking. “I recall that they had an issue with it during the annual audit, though, but I can’t recall the exact nature. I glanced at the internal memorandum briefly a few weeks ago.”
    “It doesn’t matter,” Gen. Falton said, “As long as we still have the antivirus, we’re okay. I’ll contact the Atlanta facility later to get the details. What about the weapon itself? Do we have any active vials in storage?”
    “No, sir,” Col. Mathis said. “They were all incinerated in the Fort Detrick incident.”
    “Since we have an active antivirus on file, the weapon is still classified as viable,” Gen. Falton said. “I’ll shift production of ‘PT-12’ over to the Utah compound to get it back into our arsenal. Thank you for the report.”
    “Yes, thank you, Colonel,” Lt. Gen. Yates said as he snapped his red folder shut. “Unfortunately, you didn’t offer