Great Disaster
The Great Disaster was a politically significant event which took place in the Verionist Republic on Benacia. On the eve of 15.XII.1675 AN, several incidents occurred in the Verionist Republic that would become the prelude to the Great Disaster. At 10 PM, the Verionist authorities issued an immediate warning to all residents in the North and West of the Republic. People were told to stay indoors, and close all windows and doors. Approximately one hour later, two large explosions were heard in the city of Zolt, followed by clouds of smoke. The Verionist Benacian Army closed down all access to Zolt and quarantined the city immediately. In the day that followed, multiple similar explosions occured in the cities of Wendor and Aurum.
As it turned out, the explosions were linked to a secret government programme known as "Sword of Revenge", which was the Verionist Republican implementation of the similarly named Kasterburger research programme. "Sword of Revenge" did not only include the development of nuclear weapons, building on the previous Shirerithian arsenal in Wendor, but also several types of biological weapons. After the first explosion in Zolt, which was caused by a malfunction in the cooling system of Reactor IV, the Titus Morvayne Research Centre was largely destroyed. This explosion caused several strains of a highly lethal airborne virus, Virus Y, to be released. The subsequent explosions in Wendor and Aurum were triggered by the Automatic Destruction System, that was instigated by a computer algorythm that had mistakenly regarded the incident in Zolt as a foreign attack. This resulted in the automatic implementation of the Chryste Redoubt Plan, which would destroy all military bases in the Country simultaneaously. Although government officals were quick to respond, they could not prevent a massive and unfortunate loss of life. The total immediate death toll of the disaster is estimated at 200,000, with up to a million people expected to succumb from biological side effects of the release of Virus Y.
The Great Disaster saw the end of the Verionist Republic on Benacia. Viceroy Regina Verion stepped down immediately, and was succeeded by Jana Al-Basani, who immediately declared a national emergency. Only two days after the disaster, Monty Crisco changed its allegiance to Shireroth. Following several emergency meetings, Viceroy Jana Al-Basani declared that the government could no longer justify its rule over Elsenar and allowed the Conclave of the People to have a deciding vote on the future of the Republic. On 17.I.1676, the Conclave voted to return back to Shireroth by a margin of 405 in favour versus 89 against, with 81 abstentions.
Although ideologican Verionists had supported giving the Conclave this vote, they could not agree with reunification with Shireroth. After less than one month of service, Jana Al-Basani resigned as Viceroy and declared that the Chryste redoubt area would remain an independent Verionist state, and that the principles of Verionism were still relevant and should be guiding the nation. She assumed the position of Viceroy of Verionist Benacia immediately after. The Chryste redoubt area was transformed into the Free City of Chryste which continues to be a Verionist stronghold until this day.
Meanwhile, Regina Verion, and a group of around 200 loyalists had sailed for Eastern Keltia where her uncle Miqah Verion had been residing since 1667. The Verionists joined forces with local South Keltian tribes and warlord to establish a Verionian Empire. This Empire became the predecessor of Gran Verionia.
