Date: April 7, 2100

Article in ‘Science Weekly’

"And in the Skywatch this week is the discovery of Comet Dwight-Hunt-Kontinos, believed to be new to our neighborhood. As yet, the comet is outside our solar system, but it will be passing within scan reach of ‘Wayfarer I’, which passed Pluto two months ago and is currently on course for the star Caph, expected to arrive there in 200 years. This addition to the Wayfarer I mission has reassembled the team members who had expected to be deep in data analysis and little else for the next several months. Dr. Paielli has been quoted as being "very excited" at the opportunity and expects to gain valuable information from the chance encounter."

Date: September 17, 2100

Comet Dwight-Hunt-Kontinos Fact Sheet

Orbital Period: >65000. yrs.

Perihelion Distance: .005 AU

Perihelion Date: 2104-08-23

Closest approach to Earth: 1.91 AU

Date of closest approach to Earth: 2104-04-10

Semi-Major Axis: >1600. AU

Orbital Eccentricity: 0.999998

Orbital Inclination: 46.2 deg.

Date: January 23, 2101

Article in ‘Astronomy Watch’

"Astronomers are astir over the propitious route of the Comet Dwight-Hunt-Kontinos, better known in the common press as Comet D-H-K. The comet’s route will be directing it within reach of both of the ‘Wayfarer’ missions. The last few months have provided multiple data readings from ‘Wayfarer I’ before the comet has even reached our outermost planets, and it is now estimated that in July of 2103, ‘Wayfarer II’ will also be able to scan the comet in-rote between Jupiter and Saturn. What is good news for our scientific community, might prove to be not so good for the comet itself. Analysis of the comet’s route show it to be on an orbit closer to the Sun than any other observed comet. If the comet continues on its current route, scientists speculate that its entire ice layer will be melted. It is doubtful that the comet could maintain its cohesive structure if this occurs."

Date: April 24, 2103

Excerpt from ‘Astronomy Watch’

"Comet D-H-K is again raising eyebrows of astronomers everywhere, and sending dozens scurrying to their computers and log rhythms. Latest analysis of the route of the comet appear to put it on a near-collision course with the planet Mercury. More information will be available after the observations of ‘Wayfarer II’ in July."

Date: July 22, 2103

Article in NASA’s ‘Astrogram’

"The launch date for MASP, the Mars Approach Science Program, has been rescheduled for late September in 2103. The Mission head has expressed concern over the effects the Comet D-H-K might have on the spacecraft’s navigational instruments. Data sent back from ‘Wayfarer II’ has revealed an unusual mix of iron in the comet’s core, producing a weak magnetic field. The potential hazard to MASP’s electronic instruments has compelled the scientists to develop a new route for the cosmonauts on their manned mission to Mars. The new route will allow observations of..."

Date: August 5, 2103

Excerpts from Press Hardcopy of an interview with Dr. Santillo

"Yes, I have heard the concerns being raised about the collision of D-H-K with Mercury. At the moment, the comet’s course will be more in the category of a ‘near miss’, passing within 5 million miles of the planet. ... ...but I would like to point out that even if the planet Mercury is destroyed, the effect it will have on our planet will be minimal in the next few hundred years. In perhaps a few THOUSAND years, we might be seeing some effects..."

Date: April 16, 2104

Excerpt from ‘Astronomy Watch’

"Comet D-H-K has come and gone in our skies without much notice from the lay community. Its distance from our planet, 1.91 A.U. (285.7 million km) made it all but impossible to see with the naked eye, and it was almost as hard for backyard telescope watchers. The comet that has stirred so much debate among the scientific community regarding its future intimate brush with Mercury on August 16, has been almost unnoticed by the rest of the world."

‘Argos’ probe in orbit around Io

[more news reports- to be filled in]

Neil hit the wall with his feet, pushed off with a hard shove, flipped, and hit the other wall. Bouncing back and forth between the walls, he counted, "Ninety-Eight, Ninety-Nine, Hundred, Hundred-One, Hundred-Two, Three, Four,...". The walls in the work-out room were lined with powerful magnetic, and the boots he wore were also magnetic, the force of attraction requiring actual muscle to push away and simulating the effects of gravity, at least for exercise. After 300 flips, Neil moved out of the room, while another astronaut took his place. Mopping his face briefly with a towel that was clipped onto his belt, he moved to another area and worked his way into the magnetic body sheath. Then he started on the push-ups.

"Why are you bothering with all that? You’ll be planet-bound tomorrow!"

Neil turned his head and got a sideways view of one of the Agro Engineers. "Hi, Rajh. How is the algae doing?"

"Growing like weeds." The slim pale-caucasian man waited until Neil had finished his set of push-ups and gave him a hand up. A twelfth generation American, the bio-engineer was a mixture of contradictions and variety.

Neil was also from America, and could trace his ancestry back to African slaves, European royalty, Native Americans, and 16th Century Spanish Explorers. He and Rajh often joked that the only place for the two of them was in Space, so they went.

They floated down the corridor, propelling themselves by hand-rails, as comfortable together as old friends were, though both were still quite young for their positions, in their mid 30’s. Neil finally replied to Rajh’s earlier question, "I hate spending time in reconditioning. I know people who’ve slacked off in the last few days, and, boy, are they going to be in trouble!"

Rajh laughed, "So, what are you going to do when you get back?"

Neil made a face, "You mean after the obligatory three months in reconditioning and debriefing?" His expression lightened, "I’m going hiking! Smell fresh air. Soak in real water. Watch animals that aren’t in laboratories. Probably out to Yellow Stone. Even the sulfur smell of the hot springs will be refreshing after all this recirculated air." He glanced over at his friend, "Not that I’m complaining, mind you..."

They both laughed, and swung into the main View room for lunch.

*** *** ***

Neil put another branch of wood on the fire and shivered in the cold air. He didn’t reach for his jacket just yet -- temperature change felt good. Another aspect of the Space Station that he forgot about until he came home again. Leaning back against his pack, he listened to the crickets and watched the flames dance. Then his wristcom beeped.

He looked at it in annoyance and considered not answering it. But if they were calling him in the middle of vacation, it had to be important... With a long sigh, he activated the comm, "Major Bennet reporting."

"Major, this is Lieutenant Hastov from Command Houston. We are recalling all Space Personnel. Return as soon as possible."

Neil sat up straight, "What is the situation?"

"Negative. Cannot speak over an open comm. Details will be given when you report in."

"Acknowledged. I’m in the middle of Yellow Stone Park. It will take me awhile to hike back in, but I think there is a site close to me that a helicopter can land in..." he trailed off expectantly.

"Hold for a minute, please." There were sounds of people conferring in the background, and eventually the Lieutenant got back to him. "We can do that. Relay the coordinates -- or at least the general location, and we’ll get somebody to pick you up in 2 hours."

Disconnecting the wristcom, Neil stared at the fire for another long minute, then got up and started packing up again. He was very careful to extinguish the fire completely before leaving.

*** *** ***

"Most of you attending this teleconference know of our series of probes sent out twenty years ago. The Probe ’Artful Dodger’ examined one set of the Trojan Clouds, passed Saturn one year ago, and wasn’t expected to come across anything else for quite some time. Today we received a data batch from it."

A series of pictures showed on the left half of the screen, with hard data on the right. The left showed a comet. The size was small for comets that they had surveyed, only about 10 kilometers in circumference {need to check this}. There was interested murmuring that sounded from the audience, that changed to horrified exclamations as the right screen switched to showing a projected trajectory -- straight for Earth.

The Commander spoke again, "The Artful Dodger cannot get a good reading on the comet’s speed, but we have estimated that it will reach us in less than a year. There is a percentile that it will not strike our planet, but will merely pass us by. But all of you know what those chances are." He waited until a sound of grim understanding had made its way through the room. "Unfortunately, the politicians will take that slim chance to heart. At this moment, we have no technology that will allow us to divert the comet. The most we can do is prepare, in whatever ways possible, for the impact and the problems that will arise from it. We can learn from the dinosaurs."

The lights brightened, and the Commander looked over the assembled group of Space Personnel. "We, the Space Program of the United States, and those of you who are our counterparts in other countries, believe in this threat. As I already mentioned, the politicians will not. What we must do is persuade them. All of you are now to be considered as full-time lobbyists." There were a few chuckles from the audience. "After I give you more background, and our proposed list of things that need doing, I will open the floor for questions and suggestions. Then, for our US base, at 1400 hours, you will be given a group number and specific assignments. If anyone has difficulty with their particular assignment, or thinks that they can be more effective with a different one, please see Major Heale." He looked straight at the cameras that were transmitting his image to the other countries. "At that time, the combined heads of Space Programs will hold an international news conference to inform the world."

*** *** ***

"Commander, does the President know?"

"The President is finding out at the same time you are."

There were surprised sounds from the reporters.

"But, but... Shouldn’t he have been informed first?"

"A fair question." The Commander waited just a moment for the sound level to die down, "This is a threat to the entire planet, to every human living here today. We felt that everyone had a right to know, and to know facts rather than the rumors that would have spread, probably even now have started circulating. Those of us in the combined International Space Program could not take the chance of one or more of the heads of state of our nations ordering a news blackout. The public deserves to know the truth."

More questions, more panic. Lots of disbelief. Finally, an intelligent question.

"What can we do to prepare?"

The Commander smiled, "I'm glad you asked that."

"We must turn our resources and thoughts to survival. Hopefully, the government will support us in this and respond to the threat, but each and every human being needs to commit themselves and their families to survival. Jobs must not be abandoned, schools should not close. Companies that are in positions of change, should orientate themselves to new and innovative research and manufacturing.

"We can only speculate on what will happen when the comet strikes our planet, and much of that will depend on where it hits, but we must be prepared for anything. If we prepare for the worst, then anything less will seem like a godsend.

"Survival, information relays, record keeping, transportation issues, energy sources, ecosystem revival or maintenance, alternative food ideas, preparation for different types of weather... All these must be where our attention and research should focus.

"But we must also focus on life itself. Above all else, we need to believe that we will survive this crisis. Do not give in to despair and hopelessness. It is not hopeless. We have the means to survive if we all join together. Even those whose jobs do not directly touch on research projects are still vital to our survival, for it is only through unity that we will still be human beings with caring and sharing feelings after this is over.

"Families must contain within themselves the love and teachings that we learned from our parents. Courage for the future." The Commander paused as he scanned the crowd of reporters, evaluating the response to his speech. Initially, they had been stunned and in shock, not able to absorb the information. But they were reporters with jobs to relate news to the world. Most had shaken off their preoccupation and were actively paying attention again. Several were nodding in response to the message of hope. More looked skeptical, but the Commander’s advisors had predicted that when it came time to report to the public, most would concentrate on the good rather than the negative aspects -- though the gods knew there were enough of the negative. Enough. We need positive thoughts to get through this. We need to believe that we can and will survive. Another part of his mind presented to him images of destruction and devastation. He deliberately shoved them away again. And returned to his speech of hope and togetherness, trying to pull the world together for their only chance of survival.

*** *** ***