Planet Wrecker

-101-

There were various objects under thirty-five meters. Each burned through the upper atmosphere. The first one became visible to the naked eye at one hundred and five kilometers high. Air friction began to heat the rocky object. Gasses burned off the meteor and the denser air turned it white hot. The increasing friction and heat caused the Saturn-rock to break apart into seven different pieces. Those burned faster, creating a glowing tail visible in the daylight to those craning and watching the doom of Earth. Because of its rocky nature, this object burned up at fifty-seven kilometers above the surface.

The other small meteors also burned up in the atmosphere.

There came one big object, the nickel-iron asteroid slightly under four-kilometers in diameter. Its velocity had taken it from Saturn to its destiny here over South America. It appeared at one hundred and five kilometers above the surface, smashing down through the thin atmosphere. Soon, gasses boiled off the increasing heated object. A gigantic tail appeared and remained like a jet’s exhaust as a streak of grim finality. Still the massive object sped down. At seventy kilometers from the surface, it blazed at four thousand degrees Fahrenheit. At fifty-five kilometers, the ear-splinting booms began. It roared and blazed like a projectile from Hell as it headed for the Amazon Basin in Brazil Sector. At twenty-two kilometers, it cast a shadow on the surface like a targeting dot.

Soon thereafter, the terrible asteroid struck the surface of the Earth, releasing incredible kinetic energy. A circular shock wave of obliterating proportions flattened everything for half the continent. Trees, buildings and even mountains blew down, apart and often into the air. Earthquakes shook the planet. Billions of tons of debris billowed upward in a vast cloud that dwarfed anything ever seen on Planet Earth.

In South America, moments after impact and continuing in a ripple-like wave, over five billion people died in the crumbling underground cities. Billions more were going to die as the planet entered a new era of weather patterns and cycle of seasons.

The cyborgs had made their annihilating mark, creating the hugest crater on Earth. Likely, it would become a new lake in the middle of South America. The cyborgs had also achieved a first: the greatest single death toll of any one particular action.

Some time later in the Joho Mountain Bunker, Hawthorne slowly picked himself off the floor.

“What happened?” someone asked nearby.

Hawthorne worked his mouth, but no words issued. His mind was numb.

“Sir!” a man shouted. It was Manteuffel. The small ex-cybertank colonel sat at a communications board. Blood leaked from Manteuffel’s nose. “Sir, Grand Admiral Cassius of the Highborn is hailing you.”

Hawthorne limped near the screen. On it, he saw Cassius and the proud manner of the Highborn leader.

“I’m glad you’re alive,” Cassius said. “Our Doom Stars shall reach near-Earth orbit soon and assist you in any way we can.”

All Hawthorne could do was stare at the Grand Admiral.

“They hit South America,” Cassius said. “I doubt much lives there now. You’re lucky none of the pieces hit the oceans and created tidal waves.”

Hawthorne frowned, trying to absorb the thoughts.

“Earth is going to be a harsh place to live,” the Highborn said.

“Death,” Hawthorne said. His mouth was dry. So was his heart.

“Excuse me, Supreme Commander?” asked Cassius. “What did you say?”

“Death to the cyborgs,” Hawthorne whispered.

“Yes, it is time for a real alliance,” Cassius said, nodding. “Through these past weeks, we’ve seen that we can work together. And we’ve learned to trust each other.”

Hawthorne stared at the Grand Admiral, believing nothing the Highborn said.

“You need us,” Cassius said. “And we need to concentrate on the real enemy before the cyborgs obliterate us both.”

Hawthorne’s head swayed as the idea struck home. Likely everyone in South America and maybe even Central America was dead because the cyborgs had launched asteroids at Earth. What he saw from some satellite cams….

Was it possible to trust the Highborn? Earth couldn’t survive a second strike like this.

“We must unite,” Cassius said.

It felt like there were cobwebs in his mind. Hawthorne tried to think. He said, “You are the Highborn and we’re premen. Can we work together without you trying to dominate us?”

“I’m the only chance you have,” Cassius said. “Agree to a real alliance, and I can hold my position as Grand Admiral. Believe me, Supreme Commander, there are officers among us who wish your species’ destruction. I do not agree with them. If nothing else, this strike shows that we don’t have the time to subjugate or annihilate you. We must turn our effort against the cyborgs, or risk total defeat.”

“I have work to do,” Hawthorne said. “The world needs me now. Maybe we can speak again later.”

Cassius lurched closer until his face filled the screen. “Listen to me, Hawthorne. You just lost billions of your fellow humans. If you want to save the rest, you need me so together we can kill these genocidal cyborgs.”

Hawthorne stared into those feral eyes. Cassius was the Highborn Grand Admiral. The Highborn could change course with amazing speed and decision. Did Cassius see something new after this strike? Maybe Social Unity no longer had a choice. South America—

“Yes,” Hawthorne whispered, “a true alliance. Together, let us kill the cyborgs.”