What If? Green Flu (Left 4 Dead) in Resident Evilverse

[Jormungandr]

Just as the T-Virus outbreak in Racoon City hits critical mass and daily life/order breaks down, with the undead beginning to roam the streets, another viral agent unrelated to Umbrella's fuckups is beginning to make itself known on the Eastern Coast: The Green Flu.

Due to its infectiousness, it doesn't take long for the Flu to spread quickly around the country, and within a few days it has reached even a Mid-Western city like Racoon... and to those manning the barricades and quarantine zone.

By the time the government and scientists realize what's happened, since their attention was on the T-Virus outbreak, it's already spread over the country, and an apocalypse scenario is happening. They were focusing on the wrong viral threat.

Around Racoon City, people are infected and have begun to mutate, and those not infected by the T-Virus or fallen prey to BOWs inside the limits proper have turned into Common Infected and Special Infected.

As a quirk, those who are Carriers or have been infected by the Green Flu are immune to the T-Virus.

Now Leon, Claire, Jill, Carlos, Sherry, Ada, and all the other survivors from the side-games/missions now not only have to contend with BOWs and zombies but also mutations like the Tank, Hunter, Smoker, Boomer, Jockey, Charger, and Witch, too! Though, luck appears to be on their side that these mutations aren't friendly to Umbrella's BOWs.

Seeing a Tyrant get yeeted by a Tank's punch would be hilarious, though.

How would the Green Flu affect the Resident Evil world?

Also, one thing to keep in mind: The Green Flu, somehow, basically transforms its infection vector almost on a daily basis from being airborne to fluid-based infection. It's why even analyzing the thing was so hard by CEDA in the L4D universe, and it somehow manages to break/escape from all quarantine and infection level protocols in labs (meaning when Umbrella tries to get a sample to one of their labs, it promptly causes an outbreak in said lab -- yeah, I have no idea how this happens outside of "plot device" too, but that's what it does apparently).

 

[Scooby Doo]

Depends on which point in RE's history the Green Flu happens, anything before Damnation and the world is utterly fucked and becomes like the RE movies a complete hell hole.

If it takes place after well apparently the BSAA have become so good at R&Ding viruses after all the events in the series that they can create a cure and vaccine for a completely new one in 24 hours, so it would just be a minor apocalypse in the RE verse instead of world ending.

 

[Husky_Khan]

Depends on which point in RE's history the Green Flu happens, anything before Damnation and the world is utterly fucked and becomes like the RE movies a complete hell hole.

If it takes place after well apparently the BSAA have become so good at R&Ding viruses after all the events in the series that they can create a cure and vaccine for a completely new one in 24 hours, so it would just be a minor apocalypse in the RE verse instead of world ending.

Thread says the period of time of the Raccoon City Outbreak which if not bad enough, the OP also added the caveat that the Green Flu will break efforts of containment and quarantine due to how quickly it changes vectors of transmission... which... as an OP parameter... actually sounds kinda wonky to me because I can't help but feel that implies a Green Flu victory. If Green Flu can change and rapidly mutate infection vectors that's one thing, but stating it just can't be contained... that basically signals victory for said virus IMHO.

WITH THAT SAID, outside of plot device spreading, the authorities seemed pretty good at containing the infection in the city as per the original time line before just nuking the place. They obviously didn't do a good enough job of keeping people out of the city, since Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield somehow got inside, but there were no significant outbreaks that spread from the Raccoon City Incident.

Which in all honesty, if we're talking about plot devices, it's hard to fathom HOW the T-Virus was contained considering it could be spread by crows, and rats and was waterborne... yet it was. Thus I shall assume the same unreal competency with the authorities in this situation to make things fair. PLOT DEVICES CAN WORK BOTH WAYS.

On the face of it, I don't think any of the Special Infected from Left 4 Dead are particularly more formidable than the T-virus forms and whatnot released in the Raccoon City Outbreak as is. I think the most problematic one to deal with is the Hunter due to their agility and stealth and the like so they could maybe cause a fuss, but with most of the rest of the infected, enough dakka is a solution just like with many of the RE forms.

So... I do think that the Green Flu types on their own won't be able to inspire a break of containment that wasn't managed by the T-virus ones, at least without plot devices being contravened.

Which leads to the other fun thing, which is Special Infected Versus BOWs. Green Flu Zombies are generally faster... but I feel also more fragile. Resident Evil zombies get their shamble on, but also require multiple headshots sometimes from pistol caliber weapons to put down. Green Flu zombies however run around in yuge hordes but can be mowed down with far less precise shot placement. Green Flu zombies, due to horde mechanics, would have a better chance of breaking containment but I don't think they will. Automatic weapons and armored vehicles are a great equalizer.

Now you got things like BOWs. You got Hunter Alphas and Betas, and Lickers versus assorted infected like Spitters, Jockeys, Hunters and Smokers. Right off the bat, I think Lickers are way cooler then Smokers and would SMOKE them... hurr hurr hurr. Hunters are cool and I feel a bit more comparable to Lickers but Lickers have claws and a lance like tongue that can impale people. So I feel its weapons are better even if its blind. Close but I'd give the Licker the advantage.

BOW Hunter Alphas meanwhile are covered in hardened scales, really fast and have super sharp claws and good senses. I think they could slice and dice most infected, but I'll be generous and say that Witches are meant to be mini bosses and could probably take a Hunter Alpha mano-a-womano.

Tanks meanwhile could probably swat most of the lesser BOWs as the Tyrants already do.

As for Tanks versus Tyrants, I think Tanks are comparable strong, but I feel Tyrants are still smarter and more durable by and large. I could see Tanks (and Chargers) maybe ragdolling Tyrants a bit but I feel they'd keep coming back and eventually beat the Tanks into submission if they are unarmed. But we know Tyrants can pick up weapons, improvised and otherwise if need be. So I feel like the Umbrella BOWs would do well overall against Special Infected. But I'm basing that off of my snap judgments.

 

[ThatZenoGuy]

As for Tanks versus Tyrants, I think Tanks are comparable strong, but I feel Tyrants are still smarter and more durable by and large. I could see Tanks (and Chargers) maybe ragdolling Tyrants a bit but I feel they'd keep coming back and eventually beat the Tanks into submission if they are unarmed. But we know Tyrants can pick up weapons, improvised and otherwise if need be. So I feel like the Umbrella BOWs would do well overall against Special Infected. But I'm basing that off of my snap judgments.

I reckon a tank could ragdoll a Tyrant around a bit, but a super-Tyrant would probably just tear it apart.