A dirty bomb or radiological dispersal device was a type of nuclear weapon in which conventional explosives were used to disperse radioactive material. Although the blast itself would yield minimal damage, the area surrounding it would be contaminated by the fallout, causing numerous civilian casualties and making that area inaccessible for as long as decades.
Day 2[]
Casaulty estimates for a radiological attack on Los Angeles
When the CIA learned of an imminent nuclear threat against Los Angeles, it was speculated that a dirty bomb might be used. A team of experts concluded that if such a device were to be detonated in L.A., casualties could have reached as high as 14,000. However, the use of a dirty bomb was eventually ruled out. ("8:00am-9:00am")
Day 8[]
A dirty bomb comprised of nuclear fuel rods
The Kamistan splinter cell acquired a case of nuclear fuel rods from Russian crime syndicate Red Square. Their initial plan was to take the rods back to Kamistan and use them to arm a nuclear weapon. However, the authorities soon learned of their plan and shut down the ports, making it impossible for them to get the rods out of the U.S. The conspirators then decided to use the rods to arm a dirty bomb, which would detonated somewhere in Manhattan. ("7:00pm-8:00pm", "12:00am-1:00am")
The rods bore an explosive yield of 300 lbs, which would disperse enough fallout to contaminate approximately one square mile. Depending on the population density on the target, casualties could have been as high as 19,563; the majority of which would die from radiation poisoning, leukemia, and other radiation-induced illnesses. The contaminated area would have also remained uninhabitable for approximately forty years. ("1:00am-2:00am")
The terrorists demanded that the U.S. hand over Kamistani President Omar Hassan in exchange for their surrendering the bomb. President Allison Taylor refused to comply with their demands, but Hassan decided to hand himself over anyway. With President Hassan now in their custody, the terrorists gave up the bomb's location, and it was safely disarmed by a N.E.S.T. team. ("5:00am-6:00am", "6:00am-7:00am")
