The second extinction

“Settle down, class … settle down. Please return to your squabs and let’s go ahead and get today’s lesson started.”

Instructor Provident decreased the illumination in the circular, revolving room, and with a wave of their hand produced a glowing, three-dimensional orb. The image slowly floated among the students so each could get a look at it.

“OK,” Provident said. “Today we’re continuing our study of planetary science. Does anyone know this one?”

Right hands went up immediately, but none more enthusiastically than the pupil who was almost always front and center during science segments.

“Tavor, you were first, so take it away.”

“That’s the Planet Earth,” she said.

“Correct. What do you know about Planet Earth?”

Tavor had already decided she wanted to become an astrogeologist, and prided herself on her knowledge of celestial bodies and their histories. What did she know about Earth?

Plenty.

“The Earth is 4.544 billion years old and its surface is 71 percent water,” she said. “The first life forms were prokaryotes, and it’s generally considered that sponges were the first animal-type organisms on the planet. The first vertebrates appeared roughly 500 million years ago.”

“Excellent,”  Provident said. “You’ve certainly done your research.”

“Earth fascinates me, Instructor,” Tavor said. “Once I get to Advance Academy, I plan to make it my Skill Expertise.”

“Would you care to tell me – and the class – what it is about Earth that interests you most? I’m certain we all want to hear it.”

Tavor smiled and rose, relishing the opportunity to share her curiosity.

“Yes, I would, thank you,” she said. “Originally, I was drawn to the massive asteroid impact that caused the extinction event there 67 million years ago,” she explained. “At that point dinosaurs ruled the planet – it was what Earth scientists referred to as the Mesozoic Era – and there was also sea life, including flying reptiles. The extinction was triggered by the Chicxulub impactor, an asteroid which is estimated to have been 10 kilometers in diameter. It created wildfires and tsunamis, and ultimately led to the extinction of more than three-quarters of plant and animal life on Earth.”

“That’s fascinating, Tavor,” Provident said.

“It is, but not nearly so much as the second extinction event on the planet a million years ago,” added the student. “Do you guys want to hear about that?”

Her classmates nodded approvingly.

“The 2024 YR4 meteor was discovered in Earth Year 2024, and was predicted to pass by Earth in 2032,” she said. “Whereas the Chicxulub impactor was 10 kilometers in diameter, 2024 YR4 was just 0.09 kilometers – significant, certainly, but much smaller. As scientists studied it more closely, they determined that it would not create an extinction level event were it to make impact, but was potentially what they called a ‘city killer’ – an asteroid that would cause significant loss of life and damage. Still, their early predictions were that it would miss the Earth entirely.”

Raven, a classmate of Tavor’s, raised her hand.

“Go ahead, Raven,” Provident said.

“Tavor, I’m a little confused,” she said, pointing to the orb. “I’ve done a bit of research on Planet Earth as well, and don’t understand how the 2024 YR4 asteroid – considering its size – could’ve basically wiped out human life on the planet. As we know, Planet Earth is now home mostly to rodents and sea creatures, so something else had to happen, didn’t it?”

“Something did, indeed,” Tavor said. “Turns out, by 2032, society across the planet had mostly collapsed. There was violence and chaos across the globe. So, a group of international scientists helped build a rocket that could intercept 2024 YR4.”

Raven looked confused.

“Wait … they tried to destroy the asteroid? Did they think by doing that it would somehow unify the planet?”

“That’s what’s so interesting to me,” Tavor said. “According to records that have been uncovered, the scientists had no intention of stopping it … instead, they armed the rocket with so many explosives that they were able to dock it with the meteor, supercharge it with nuclear energy, and transform it into an extinction level asteroid. They changed a city killer into a planet killer.

“They called the mission ‘Operation Own Goal,’ and they’re considered heroes.”