January 15, 1964 dawned with a proclamation that sent shockwaves through the international community. Emperor Alfonso's directive was clear and unprecedented: all travel and trade with the African continent was to cease immediately across all Oriental Empire territories. Ships were ordered to return to their ports, flights were grounded, and the empire's extensive trade networks ground to a halt.
In New York City's bustling financial district, Thomas Blackwell, a Wall Street trader who had recently attended an international banking conference in British-controlled Nairobi, struggled to focus on the morning's trading figures. His persistent cough and unusual fatigue had worsened over the past few days. In his corner office overlooking Manhattan, he had already unknowingly exposed dozens of colleagues during morning meetings.
