Prior to the outbreak of war, Ohio had armed the oppressed Negro population of Virginia. Virginia, in the meantime, contemplated shutting down its borders, alleging (correctly) that Ohio was importing bandits and terrorists into its neighbor. The War of 2097 began with a formal mutual declaration, followed by a brief period of inactivity. Ohio launched the first attack, releasing a tailored strain of measles into Virginia. With the state paralyzed under quarantine and people dying in the hospitals, Virginia Consul Pendleton vowed vengeance, ordering the Virginia Air Force (VAF) to bomb critical Ohio targets.