Earth Adapts

Impending Impact

The comet came from an extraordinarily strange orbit. It was a beautiful spectacle for the observers on earth. A swirling shimmering ball of ice so large it was viewed with the naked eye as large as the sun in the sky for some time. It was spotted years before, a small dot traveling at an extremely high rate of speed.

A rogue comet flung forth from the far reaches of the galaxy. Estimates were made in that time as to the orbit this object took through the Milky Way. But consensus was never reached. Some models showed a highly elongated orbit shooting past the black hole at the center of our galaxy and reaching far into the spiral bands before it raced back to shoot out the other side. Others showed a wide circular orbit stretching through each spiral arm on its repetitive journey through the stars. The one thing scientists agreed on was that it was ancient, it was largely composed of water, and it was very large.

As it approached, high resolution images were taken of the surface. A tear drop shaped colossus as massive as mars was cutting a dangerous path towards our home planet. The probability of this event was incredibly difficult to calculate, but that mattered far less than estimating how close it would come to earth. It became clear that it would be a close call. The range was between a direct hit or missing us by a small margin.

The official reports stated It would be a near miss. At first the reports were believed by the public. Then conspiracy theories emerged as the comet got larger in the sky. Ideas of government cover ups and the truth being a swift dire end to the planet close on the horizon. Soon a large portion of the population began to prepare for worst case scenarios. Not an overwhelming percentage. Maybe one in five decided to gather food and medicine and attempt to build some kind of shelter.

These shelters ranged from reinforced basements in the suburbs to large endeavors undertaken by groups trying to build large sustainable communities under ground or high in the mountains. There were even a few communities sprouting up formed of boats and barges and floating platforms on the oceans. None of these would be feasible to survive a direct impact of an object this large. Even a close call would alter the planets own orbit.

This would have difficult to predict effects on earths climate. The unknowns caused more anxiety among the worlds population as Ymir grew larger in the sky. Comet X/2674 C1, as it is formally known, was informally named for the Frost Giant from Norse mythology. A harbinger of destruction formed countless eons ago comprised almost entirely of ice.

As it became obvious to all that Ymir was going to deal a disastrous blow to Earth and it's inhabitants, humanity had split, 50/50 panic and preparation. Riots and looting in every city center. Mass suicides led by various religious groups. Hysteria swept through a portion of humanity.

Others rolled up their sleeves and got to work on the problem. They studied survival skills and gathered supplies. They formed giant collectives in every environment or geographic location that might have offered some protection, hoarding everything you can imagine.

It was a glancing blow. Not a direct hit. But that was more than enough to wreak havoc across the globe. Ymir grazed the planet, gouging a massive rift through China and into Russia. The western world faired better, but not by much. Tsunamis pummeled the coastlines of every continent. The Earth began to wobble on it's axis, causing the day and night cycle to vary greatly. A 12 hour day. Then an 8 hour day. Then a four hour day. Back to a 12 hour day. And so on.

It would take centuries for the planet's rotation to stabilize to a point where there were not drastic differences in the lengths of one day to another. It was something the surviving population of Earth would become accustomed to out of necessity. The species that could not adapt to the changes the planet had undergone would simply die off. As most species on the planet did.

Humanity clung to life by a thread for generations. Pockets of survivors, holding on to their lives in the most unpredictable ways. Navy vessels banded together with thousands of people and supplies in different places all over the globe. Most burned up in the initial impact. Others were destroyed by tsunamis.

Every known mine and cave had been expanded and packed to the limit with food, water and medicine by people from all walks of life in every nation who simply refused to accept their fate. Most efforts were in vain, but by luck or amazing circumstances, some survived. Life was hardy. It would not be snuffed out overnight.

The day of the comets strike was different for everyone all across the world. For some it was quiet. Nervously waiting in their prepared shelters or chosen spot to spend a final few hours with loved ones. For others it was madness. Fighting had erupted in most cities as the government shelters closed their doors to newcomers. People would hold on to anything they could that provided them a way to convince themselves it would be ok in the end. Even a FEMA tent on a high school football field. When people couldn't find anything else to grab onto they lashed out. Riots became sustained combat up until the moment of impact.

Deep in Colorado, a heavy snow had begun to blanket the ground. Hard winds wiped at the air with ferocity. Four travelers pushed through the snow with a fifth in tow on a sled. The one taking point yelled out behind him, "we need to hurry!" The one taking up the rear quickened his step. The sled was being pulled by a mountain of a man. Clearly designated as the groups pack mule because of his massive build. He had a large pack with food for the entire group that would last a few weeks hunkered down somewhere.

The government said if the comet hit on the opposite side of the planet than you there was a fair chance you would survive the impact. They said you would feel the gravity shift as the comet grew closer. If you were in between the planet and the comet you would feel light. They wanted to feel heavy. To have a planet's worth of rock and metal in between them and the blistering heat. That was the only chance they had.

A woman's voice cut through the wind, "The baby is coming!" Her voice escalated into a shrill scream as the contraction intensified. The leader broke from the front to be by her side. "Just breath darling, you know what to do." He spoke into her ear so she could hear him above the wind. "I know they will find us, even in the storm. Focus on breathing." He called out to quicken their pace and began searching for any shelter they could find.

After a miserable crawl through the blizzard, they happened upon a small opening in the side of a cliff face. Abandoning the sled, they manage to help the woman into the cave where they attempted to make her as comfortable as possible. They could all feel the weight of gravity increasing. "I think we are going to be alright." The woman's lover spoke hopefully. His hand still grasping hers as she endured lengthening contractions.

"Almost there! I see the head!" he yelled triumphantly.

With a final push, a baby boy was born on the day the world ended. He would be a member of the first generation to have to grow up in a world being rebuilt entirely. If he survived past that day he would have a hard life indeed.

A loud cracking sound exploded all around them like a galactic bullwhip had been snapped next to the planet. Their ears rang loudly from the blast. "This is it! Hold on!" The leader of the group held his newborn son in one hand, and his lover in the other, heads bowed as they huddled together. If they made it through today, maybe he could give his child something resembling a normal life. He dared to dream that the GPS locator he had tucked in his bag would be their savior.

A white flash. A rumble. And the world they knew was no more.