‘We will be running a poll later to rename AG5 Minor, so please utilise your chosen media port to send us your ideas. I’d like to call it Ernie as it’s quite cute compared to AG5, which I like to refer to as Bert. As you may have guessed, I’m a big Sesame Street fan.’ James grinned at the camera before moving to another image frame and expanding it to reveal live footage of an ocean – off to the left hand side a land mass could be seen, South Africa. ‘Here is ground zero looking nice and quiet, although give it a few hours and this stream will become the most watched film ever; eclipsing even that of the famous moon landings of the 1960s.
‘When the super-condensed frame rate is viewed a millisecond at a time, we will be able to analyse the impact of a meteorite like never before, or indeed, perhaps ever again; no, doomsayers,’ he said with a roll of his eyes, ‘that’s not because we’ll all be dead, but because this may be the only meteorite we will ever be able to track and predict its impact site accurately due to its size, predictability and the resources we have put into tracking it – oh, I’m sorry, everyone, my producer is telling me that I didn’t tell you all where Ernie is going to land. Well, according to our friends at the GMRC, AG5 Minor, aka Ernie, will be landing somewhere in … hang on, is that right? Sorry, folks, bear with me.’ He put a couple of fingers to his right ear for a moment, listening. His face grew grave. ‘Apparently AG5 Minor will be impacting in India, near the town of Agra. Evacuations have already begun. They believe they can get most of the area clear before … oh, God. I’m sorry; this is difficult news to disclose live. Current estimates have the population of Agra at three million people.
‘The GMRC emergency unit was mobilised as soon as they received confirmation of AG5 Minor’s strike zone, twenty hours ago. They already have seventy per cent of the devastation zone cleared and a further thirteen per cent will be achieved before the time of impact, which is going to be nearly identical to that of AG5 itself. Up-to-date prognosis is that loss of life will be half a million—’ The presenter looked stunned, staring blankly into the camera as he comprehended the news he had just delivered.
The camera switched view to Jessica Klein, who hastily moved some paperwork to one side. ‘This is truly devastating news and our thoughts and prayers go out to those people whose families’ lives are going to be cut cruelly short. We’ll revisit the progress of AG5 and AG5 Minor later on in the programme. Now we’ll take a look at the worldwide weather forecast, which will include details of how climate and weather patterns are predicted to change after impact.’
Rebecca turned off the television. All those poor people, she thought, feeling quite emotional and helpless. She sent out a silent prayer to them, they who wouldn’t see out the next day, asking God to protect their souls. She looked over to Joseph who was happily colouring in a pop-up fire station. He caught her looking and gave her a loving smile, and then turned his attention back to the job in hand, his face screwed up in concentration as he fought to keep within the lines of the image. After she had tidied up some of Joseph’s toys, she poured herself a drink and settled back on the sofa, her mug of cocoa steaming between her hands. She turned the TV back on.
‘—yes, I can hear you; this is terrible news, do you know when it started and what is happening right now?’ Jessica Klein was asking a reporter who appeared to be in a crowded city somewhere.
‘It started recently, word got out about the new threat and panic has swept through the country, it’s absolute carnage here. Thousands are being shot by the army and police, but this is happening across the whole of India. News of AG5 Minor has brought terror to the streets of the capital!’ he said, raising his voice as automatic gunfire cracked nearby. People in the background screamed and shouted in fear as armed men could be seen advancing on them.
‘I have to relocate, the use of deadly force is indiscriminate!’ He ducked down as bullets rained around him. The camera angle shifted to the ground and began jerking up and down as the cameraman sprinted behind his colleague for safety.
‘I can’t get in anywhere!’ the reporter shouted, terror clear in his voice as the camera angle glanced past his legs. Gunfire roared out and chilling screams streamed over the feed, which continued to transmit before fuzzing out.
The TV went dark for about ten seconds before Jessica Klein reappeared on screen looking distraught. ‘That was a live report from Martin Johansson in New Delhi. We don’t know if Martin or his cameraman sustained any injuries as the stream has gone down; the Indian government has locked down communications to try to stifle further unrest. We can only pray they made it to safety in time. We’re now switching to a report coming in from here in London. Keira, can you hear me?’
‘I can, Jessica. This is Keira Jones on the streets of London. The already deployed Territorial Army are being bolstered by regular troops. Tanks are rolling menacingly down The Mall and Typhoon fighters have been scrambled as the UK government seeks to deter any mass hysteria similar to that seen in India. Live rounds have been authorised, we have been told, so I advise anyone in the street to go indoors and to stay put until things have calmed down.
‘This unexpected turn of events is having major repercussions, but the GMRC has told me that there are protocols in place for occurrences such as these. I just hope they won’t result in the further bloodshed of civilians like the scenes we just witnessed on the streets of New Delhi; back to you in the studio.’
‘Thank you, Keira. We’re now going straight to another location in Saudi Arabia. Clare, can you hear me?’
‘I can, Jessica,’ replied a middle-aged woman wearing a head scarf. ‘Something strange is going on here; people are rioting, but the Saudi government isn’t doing anything in response. I think they may be waiting for it to burn itself out, but that doesn’t appear to be happening. Wait … I can hear something, a deep humming noise. It’s a helicopter, I think – no, wait – yes! It’s helicopters and they’re broadcasting from a speaker system around the city telling people to go back inside, but it doesn’t appear to be working. They’re Apache Gunships. Wait, they’re opening fire! Oh, my God, they’re not stopping, can you see this?! They’re committing mass murder!!’
The camera zoomed in on the military helicopters which fired off rapid bursts into the crowds of rioters and looters.
‘This is horrendous! I don’t think we can show any more right now—’
The television picture went back to the studio and Jessica Klein. ‘That was Clare Andrews reporting from Saudi Arabia. We’re getting reports of other full scale military deployments all around the world, thankfully no other scenes like those we’ve just witnessed, but since the meteorite hasn’t even hit yet we may be in for a very bumpy ride. Actually, we’re temporarily suspending this programme as we bring you a Global Alert Warning from the GMRC’s media platform.’ The screen went black once more and a familiar emblem displayed.
The screen dissolved into a shade of red, and white letters appeared.
THIS IS A GMRC EMERGENCY BROADCAST
DO NOT ADJUST YOUR MEDIA PLAYER
THIS IS A CRITICAL ALERT
PROTOCOL ONE DELTA:
AN EMERGENCY WORLDWIDE CURFEW
WILL COMMENCE IN TWELVE HOURS
PROCEED CALMLY TO YOUR HOME
OR A PLACE OF REFUGE UNTIL
FURTHER NOTICE
LETHAL FORCE WILL BE UTILISED
TO PRESERVE THE PEACE
THIS IS EMERGENCY
PROTOCOL ONE DELTA
THIS IS NOT A DRILL
The GMRC logo displayed again and then the message repeated itself. Rebecca’s phone sounded an alarm and she picked it up. It was the same message from the GMRC. Full curfew was going into effect already; her buried fears suddenly rose to the surface and her pulse quickened. A knock on the door made her jump. She went over and opened it.
Julie, her co-worker, stood in the hallway looking nervous. ‘We’re all in the main lounge; do you want to come and join us?’
Rebecca saw Julie was scared, so s
he nodded. ‘I’ll just get Joseph and I’ll be right with you.’
‘Come on, Joseph, let’s go to the playroom!’ she enthused to him.
Beaming away, Joseph packed up his pencils and crayons and folded away his pop-up book. ‘Later,’ he said.
‘Yes, you can finish it later; let’s go now with Julie to see the others.’ She took Joseph’s hand and went out into the corridor.
‘Have you seen the news?’ Julie said. ‘It’s so awful. All those people killed. I’ve got the janitor to lock up the building. Do you want a cup of tea or anything?’ she asked Rebecca, her voice shaking.
Joseph shuffled into the lounge, but Rebecca stopped and held onto Julie’s arm. ‘Julie, we have to be strong for them, if they think we’re scared they will get scared.’ She looked into Julie’s eyes to see if she could find the girl’s reason. ‘Okay?’
‘Okay,’ Julie said, giving her a weak smile.
They followed Joseph in to find all the other residents, carers and patients alike, gathered in the room in two groups. The mentally handicapped were off entertaining themselves on a rug and Joseph had already gone and joined them. The carers had huddled round the TV and spoke in raised, agitated tones.
Rebecca headed towards the TV to see the news ran in one image while another displayed the GMRC’s alert message. She went straight up to it and switched it off.
‘We were watching that!’ an older woman said to her. She was one of the second tier carers who helped manage the building and admin, normally issuing duties and rosters to Rebecca, Julie and the part timers.
‘We know what’s going on,’ Rebecca replied coolly, ‘so instead of feeding your own fear and passing it around, I think it would be better for us all to concentrate on our wards; we should focus on them rather than a situation we cannot control.’
‘But we need to know what’s going on,’ said the older woman as she leaned around Rebecca to turn the TV back on.
Rebecca moved so she couldn’t reach the switch. ‘Maria, we have our phones for GMRC and local news updates,’ she said, her expression stern, ‘we do not need the TV on in here any longer.’
Maria squared up to her trying to stare her down, but Rebecca held firm, her face set. She raised her eyebrows and Maria relented.
‘So what do you propose?’ Maria grumbled, her defiance deflated but not gone.
‘I say we look after them and act as normally as we can. In the meantime, Julie, come with me, I need your help.’
‘With what?’ Julie said.
‘Just some clothing I got recently,’ she told her. Rebecca left the room and led Julie back to her apartment. On entering, she quickly turned on the TV, hooked up her phone and scanned the local information feeds. Thankfully, much to her relief, no disturbances had been reported. Switching it off, she went over to a cupboard and opened it up to reveal two large bulging black sacks.
‘Help me with these, will you?’ she asked her friend as she passed a heavy sack to her.
‘This weighs a ton what have you got in here?’
Rebecca tapped her nose mysteriously and winked which eased the tension in Julie’s face.
‘Just some supplies in case things get a little ugly.’
‘Like what?’
‘Wait and see,’ Rebecca said, as she hefted her own bag down and shut the cupboard door.
Chapter Fourteen
Impact Day
Space, a cold deep expanse, an endless void interspersed by spherical bodies of matter and energy so large they defied comprehension. And within this cosmic eternity the solar system continued to perform its majestic dance without pause. Sunlight glinted off the surfaces of Earth’s oceans as the Sun edged out from behind its silhouette. Wispy white cloud structures slipped across a new dawn as a dark shape loomed large above, still distant but closing impossibly fast.
Barely noticeable on the very limit of the planet’s gravitational field, bisecting Earth and the blackness of space, a small craft manoeuvred into position. Rays reflected off its white casing and small irregular jets of gas vented out into the vacuum surrounding it.
‘This is Orbiter One, we are prepped and a go for live feed, Houston.’
‘Orbiter One, we are reading you five by five. Live feed is a go.’
‘We are tracking two targets, Houston, as expected. Velocities and trajectories are following observational data and impact sites will be unchanged. I repeat, impact sites will be unchanged, Houston.’
‘Roger that, that’s a visual and confirmed telemetry check, thank you, Orbiter One. Please ensure all secondary and tertiary recording systems are activated and data transmission is shielded as per simulations.’
‘We read you, Houston. We are proceeding as directed, Orbiter One out.’
‘Copy, Orbiter One.’
Tyler Magnusson shifted his seat one hundred and eighty degrees to take in the view from the nano fabricated observational window on the U.S.S.S. Orbiter One. His fellow astronaut, Ivan Sikorsky, sat beside him for what was going to be the biggest show on Earth ever witnessed. At the flick of a few switches and tapping of buttons Tyler dialled in the telescopic digital head-up display and brought up the tracking window. The asteroid had reached the final transition towards Earth’s atmosphere.
‘This is it then,’ he said to Ivan.
‘These glasses will protect us from the flash, won’t they?’ Ivan asked him as he fidgeted nervously with them.
‘So they tell me,’ Tyler said. ‘If in doubt just don’t look.’
‘What, and miss the greatest ever event in history? I don’t think so.’
Tyler twisted a couple of dials overhead, their tiny cams clicking for each notch moved, and then checked the countdown timer. It read one minute five seconds.
‘Here we go,’ Tyler said and they both pulled down their visor glasses to block out the blinding light of the impact that was about to occur. ‘All camera video streams are recording across the board, let’s enjoy the show.’
The two men gazed out into deep space with the shining light of Earth on their left.
AG5 2011 hurtled towards them, now clearly visible with the naked eye. In a heartbeat it was past, shooting through the thin layer of gas surrounding the planet. Moving at nine miles a second, the asteroid cut like a burning comet through the sky below. A brilliant flash of white light eclipsed their field of vision, momentarily blinding them despite their protective glasses. A yellow dome erupted from the centre of the light, ever climbing and widening as the impact explosion shattered everything in its path. The first tsunami streaked out like a ripple on a pond, except this ripple was a mile high and travelling at one thousand miles an hour. A smaller trail of smoke indicated the course of AG5 Minor, which had impacted in India at roughly the same instant as the main strike off the South African coastline.
A dark cloud rose up from the primary impact zone, and a haze from a great plume of steam expanded alongside it as water rushed back into the massive crater left by the asteroid.
‘I hope they managed to get everyone out of the way of the smaller one in time,’ Ivan said.
Tyler nodded in solemn agreement. Houston had told them the people were being evacuated, and that was some time ago, so hopefully casualties had been minimal. He flicked a switch as the show below still unfolded in what looked like slow motion from so far away, but which in actuality occurred at frightening speed on the surface.
‘Houston, are you getting this?’
‘Copy, Orbiter One, we have one hundred per cent data conversion down here, not a packet lost, good job.’
‘Tyler?’ Ivan said.
Tyler looked over at his colleague, who still looked intently at the planet.
Ivan pointed far off to the horizon, thousands of miles away from the impact zone. ‘What are they?’
Tyler looked back down following the path of Ivan’s finger. He squinted, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. About a dozen small trails were arcing up from the surface in unison. At the tip o
f each trail a small bright light pulsated, a pinpoint from their distant vantage point.
‘They look like rocket trails, don’t they?’
Ivan was right; that’s exactly what they were. Another wave had launched behind the first, perhaps twenty more. Tyler brought the reserve camera online and positioned it on the area. ‘Houston, this is Orbiter One. I’m sending you an additional feed. There appears to be some ballistic activity over China.’
A silent pause hung in the air as he waited for a response.
‘Copy, Orbiter One, we’re receiving your new signal. Decrypting.’
Tyler watched the trails drop back to the surface, where small domed lights sprang up as each one struck, and it dawned on him what he was seeing. A nuclear attack!
‘Houston, we have confirmed multiple detonations, over.’
‘Copy, Orbiter One, we see them too. Utilising one of our satellites it seems the Chinese have launched a full blown nuclear strike on Japan and South Korea.’
‘Dear God,’ Ivan said.
‘Copy that, Houston,’ Tyler said, watching in horror as rockets lifted off in a return volley from Japan. ‘And may God protect us.’
♦
Rebecca sat in her room, resting, while checking the BBC news show on her TV display. She had witnessed the image of the meteorite hitting the Indian Ocean and multi-image videos informed viewers about the progress of each wave, fire, earthquake and dust cloud from the main site. She brought up another channel; the same images played out. She tried another and another, and another three after that. All showed the same pictures.
At last the inexorable wait was over and it felt liberating. The veil had been lifted and life could now push ahead and brace for the future instead of concentrating on one single point in time. She checked the data feeds again. The National Guard had been bolstered by the army, but tensions ran high as people were herded like cattle to prevent disorder. This is going too far, she thought, the images she’d witnessed earlier still strong in her mind’s eye. She switched back to the BBC. Jessica Klein was still on air.
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