The timeline diverges from the modern world in August, 2002.
| Date | Description |
| October 29, 2002 | War is declared on Iraq. |
| May 15, 2003 | First confirmed Smallpox case in Littleton, California |
| May 21, 2003 | Al Quaida claims responsibility for the Smallpox outbreak in the United States in an article translated from an Arabic newspaper. Homefront safety measures are reinforced. |
| September 13, 2003 | The last of the troops return from the now ended Iraq maneuvers. |
| August 2004 | Jayne Abrams confirmed as the democratic presidential candidate, with Eric Edelman as her running mate. |
| November 2004 | The democratic platform wins the presidential ballot. Jayne Abrams announces that Tanner Industries will provide a national Smallpox vaccine beginning in February, when supplies are available. |
| April 17, 2006 | Fire rages through Schenectady, NY and the surrounding area, devastating New York State's Capital District. Investigation proves that the fire began beanth the bridge near the General Electric plant. Rumor has it that it was started by arsonists hoping to destroy what little was left of GE clout, but those rumors are quickly dismissed as simply that -- rumors. Killed in the fire are Blake, Dean, Noah, Jeffrey, Brandon, John -- all Schenectady High School students. |
| October 31, 2006 | Damien Jones is killed in a car fire outside of the High School Halloween dance at Schenectady High. |
| February 15, 2007 | Mark Haskell is killed when the Friendly's restaurant at the corner of Nott Terrace burns. |
| November 23, 2007 | Star Schenectady High quarterback, Steven Boone, is found under the bleachers after fire sweeps the football field. |
| July 4, 2008 | Fire destroys the home of Jake Haskell while he is home alone. The fire is later chalked up to probably negligence while smoking after his younger brother claims Jake had both cigarettes and pot in his room. |
| July 16, 2008 | Jennifer Moran, Jake's girlfriend, is killed in a kitchen fire in the Friendly's restaurant in Crossgates mall. |
| August 13, 2008 | An attack is made on Brian Abrams, CEO of Fibrodyne Development and First Husband while he attends a Broadway Show. |
| August 15, 2008 | The "team" meets Maximillian, Jamie, JT, and Babel for the first time and are offered positions on the new task force. |
| August 16, 2008 | The "team" meets Plain Jayne & Brian Abrams for lunch. |
| August 18, 2008 | First ghost sightings in Schenectady High School. Eric gets his driver's license. |
| August 22, 2008 | End of summer blowout party at Janelle's house. |