Some light reading: (Should you wish to be more informed on the nature of epidemics and pandemics in the real world, how they spread, and how they affect the communities and worlds at large)
Okay, so-- A while back Coulson sent the new Captain America on a mission. S.H.I.E.L.D. was working with the Kree to create and a test a new biological weapon. However the Skrulls found out and attempted to sabotage the work. During the skirmish, the unfinished biological weapon was discharged. For a while nothing appeared to happened, and up until now it's been assumed that the virus was a dud, or that humans are immune. However, unknown to S.H.I.E.L.D. the virus has slowly be spreading. So far it's mostly the all ready compromised who have succumb to it, and the spread has gone mostly unnoticed, (though if you look you'll see hints of it's build up scattered throughout).
Now the virus has evolved and spread enough that there will be a quick and sudden up rise in cases. Some members of the population may find themselves immune, or less affected that others, suffering a lesser version of the pandemic that they are able to fight off. (Technically, the virus may have been carried to the asteroid, as we have brought people from the sphere in the time frame of early infection. However, given how precarious our situation is the wrong mutant getting sick might kill us all, so asteroid players should discuss whether they want to have it there or not.)
Think of this like the Spanish Flu, or any of the more recent flu outbreaks. It won't seem that serious until it suddenly is.
The Symptoms
Severe aches in muscles and joints
Pain and tiredness around your eyes
Weakness or extreme fatigue
Warm, flushed skin and red, watery eyes
A headache
A dry cough
A sore throat and runny nose
More severe symptoms (later onset)
Trouble breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in your chest or belly
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Paranoia
Severe vomiting
Ocular hemorrhage
Death
How does this affect me?
You can be sick.
You can be hiding the fuck out in your bunker and cutting anyone who tries to touch you or your family.
You can work on curing/caring for the sick.
You can help keep order and law.
You can leave in search of help.
You can take advantage of the chaos and take whatever you want/need/take over a whole damn neighborhood (where are our villains at?)
You can be looking for friends/family.
____________ insert other awesome ideas here!
Rough Order of Events
(Once we establish a general go time, this will be the approximate order of events, feel free to suggest additions and amendments. Would everyone feel more comfortable with a general layout like this, or a more structured 'week 1- this, week 2- this' style?)
1. The young, old, weak and immunocompromised start to show symptoms (all ready happening). 2. The young, old, weak and immunocompromised start to dying (all ready happening). 3. Scattered clusters start getting sick. 4. Mentions of flu season/co-workers/friends etc. being ill. General attitude still fine. 5. Increased cases, media may start to report (think H1N1, or bird flu), some fear starting to build, but generally seems to affect 'other people'. 6. Sudden upswing in cases. Hospitals start being over whelmed. Quarantines start being put in place to try and decrease the spread and general public start going into hoarding mode (think stores when a hurricane/tornado/etc is said to be approaching), some violence may break out among civilians. Stronger long term Infected may become violent due to paranoia and attack others. 7. Breaking point, in which it becomes clear that the systems in place aren't going to work, hospitals no longer open/functioning, lack of supplies, violence starts to break out among the people in charge (ie. shooting people who aren't obeying/the infected, etc.) Marshal law or gang law takes effect. People left to fend for themselves. Bodies pile up. 8. Life is hell. 9. The turn around. Either the sickness runs its course or the cure is found. Clean up and slow recovery. Reunions. Happy and sad endings.
The Outcome
We need to decide what we want the ultimate outcome to be. Obviously the end goal is either to outlive and/or cure the plague, but what else to we want to achieve? Will this outbreak change the way the sphere is run? Will it change how we are viewed throughout the galaxy? Will we cure ourselves or will help come from anpther planet? Are there any smaller player plots people want to incorperate?
Things to note
Hospitals will be among the first to get over run.
There will likely be camps etc. set up to help treat people.
Quarantine zones will likely come into effect.
Marshal law, including curfew.
Influx in deceased bodies without means of proper disposal
Looting/panicked buying.
Goods and services will become increasingly unavailable.
Panicked people will tie up services (health, phone, internet, merchandise). The strain may shut down said services completely.
Civilians both sick and well will be fighting for resources as time goes on.
Many people will not follow the rules regarding sick family members, meaning anywhere is potentially deadly.
Families/friends may be separated and unable to communicate for long periods of time.
In conclusion Comment below with what you'd like to see in this plot, what questions you have, new ideas or changes you want to see incorporated. Give an idea what you'd like your characters to be doing. Please indicate if you intend to get sick, I will try to compile an up to date list of those who are sick vs. well for easy reference. Being sick does not mean you have to die or even that you will reach the more severe levels of the sickness, especially in superhuman individuals. Give your ideas for how the event should end, any plots you want to add. Big juicy comments! Plot away.