Second Extinction

There was a buzz in the air at the Council of Dinosauria, the findings of the research group tasked with identifying the potential danger from a large asteroid was about to be delivered to the representatives. For millions of years, the various factions of dinosaurs have lived in fear of another global mass extinction brought on by large celestial bodies. It was not until they progressed in the sciences of astronomy and mathematics that they could with near certainty predict both the trajectory and potential damage another impact would cause, but the scars of generations upon generations is hard to shake no matter the projections.

The head of the research task group was Professor Teri, a Troodon. While not employed at the governing body's requests, they teach astronomy at the university of Gondwanaland. Peering into the grand hall, a look of nervousness and apprehension is written across their face. These results on the latest asteroid were not what they wanted to find, but the truth must be told.

"And the next order of business' A large Triceratops, Torrez elected head of the Council of Dinosauria, began to speak 'is the findings of our research task group on the latest asteroidal sighting from beyond our planet, headed by Professor Teri of the university of Gondwanaland.

As he yielded the stage to Teri a small hush quieted the previously anxious crowd. The more senior members leaned in intently while the younger ones began to checkout. In their lifetime, there has never even been the hint of another asteroid hitting earth, it was just something that their parents would use to scare their children into going to bed on time.

Clearing their throat, "Saurischias and Ornithias, upon reviewing celestial body KT65-78 we have determined based on our most accurate models and expected trajectory that...KT65-78 will indeed strike the earth...."

A loud gasp from the members echoed through the chamber.

"IMPOSSIBLE!"

"YOUR MODELS MUST BE WRONG!"

The news did not go over well.

After order had been restored the members began to ask questions of the professor.

A large sauropod began the line of Questioning, "What's the expected damage should the asteroid make contact?"

"Total and utter annihilation of the planet as we know it. Another Chicxulub."

"How soon will it make impact?"

"By our estimates in...200 years give or take a decade."

Some members breathed a sigh of relief

"So we have nothing to fear then!' Exclaimed a senior Allosaur 'This is just running around with our feathers on fire! We'll all be dead and gone by then. Why should we care?"

"Because we have the ability to avoid another catastrophe!" Teri retorted.

"Wouldn't you like to be known as a part of the initial group that helped save our species and world from total annihilation?"

"What can we do? We don't have the kind of technology or knowhow to change this!"

"No, not yet we don't.' Teri replied hopefully. 'But we do have some ideas as to what to do to save ourselves and this planet."

"We came up with three solutions that could save us. One, we blow it up. Destroy it long before it has the chance to hit earth. Only downside is once it explodes, the remnants remain. Several smaller chunks of the already massive object moving at random intervals and speeds potentially too numerous to track all at once. We'd be back where we started but with more than one problem."

"Two, we change its course. If we can push it away from its trajectory, we can safely deal with the object and send it far away from our orbital path with no extra variables. Downside is this asteroid is several miles wide. We would need a lot of power to move such an object. Power and resources. And resources won't be cheap either."

A small grumble emerged from the council members.

"And the third option?" asked a timid Stegosaur.

"Nothing. We do nothing."

"Nothing? What do you mean nothing?"

"We don't' do anything. We let the asteroid make its trajectory and hit us. It could shrink in size from hitting other smaller asteroids, our models could be off, the damage could be negligible, and it could just miss us completely."

"What I want this body to decide is what are we going to do about this asteroid because, the sooner we could decide what we are going to do the sooner we can potentially save millions of future lives."

Professor Teri leaves the podium to Torrez. "Its in your horns now."

"Quiet, my saurians. We will hear arguments from every representative group. Your spokesasaurs will speak first."

"I would like to provide our point of view first."

A robed Hadrosaur rose from their seat. He belongs to one of the leading major religions of dinosaurs. The Chicxulbians, a group that viewed the initial impact as the coming of a new age for dinokind. A cleansing of those in their eyes were primitive and violent. For it was not until the asteroid hit, that dinosaurs began to form societies and groups instead of the kill or be killed world of the past. Opponents of their outlook liken them to a death cult.

"This asteroid is a blessing in disguise! Too long have we lived in stagnation and depravity! This is a chance for a new beginning. A new future for dinokind, a paradise for all once we have rid ourselves of what has been holding us back from reaching our true potential as a species! I suggest we do as the professor said and do nothing."

The Hadrosaur's followers all nod quietly in agreement.

"We are not going to do nothing!" Grumbled one of the older councilsaurs.

"We are a species and a body of action! We cannot sit by and let our future generations parish because of a promised paradise. How would history look at us then? As some lazy lizards who were too preoccupied by silly daydreams to change our world?"

"And what would you do? The Hadrosaur said smugly.

"Blow it up of course! It's the simplest action there for the correct one!"

"See? This is the moral and societal rot I'm talking about! The only way to cure it is for a fresh start."

"OVER MY DEAD BODY!"

The two dinosaurs began to roar and threaten each other as if to fight in the center of the Grand Hall when once again order had been restored.

"Gentlesaurs! Your fellow Saurian is not your enemy! Our adversary is out there!" Torrez points to the sky with his horns.

"While I agree that we cannot sit by and do nothing, we will leave the decision to destroy or to divert to a majority vote. It's the only way to ensure that we are all on the same foot when dealing with this problem. A one legged Saurian cannot stand, they can only fall!"

"Those in favor of destroying the asteroid say Aye!"

"Aye!"

The Aye's are counted

"Those in favor of diversion?"

"Aye!"

"So, it is done, so it has been decided...we have elected to.... (End. To Be Continued?)