Comet Riders — Part One
The Death Comet
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When history repeats, a new solution must be found
The planet Layall lies in an unstable region of the galaxy. In the 10,000 year history of civilization on the planet, the population has come back from near extinction twice. When the cosmic forces threaten their existence a third time, the end appears inevitable. However, their Queen has found a new solution. Will the people of Layall accept the plan for survival? Can the plan possibly work?
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The Year 10,342 of Life — The Royal City
Prince Long-stick dismounted his horse. He tied the beast to the post at the entrance to the Royal House and removed the manuscript from the saddlebag. The first born prince ascended the two steps to the porch in a single stride. Pushing open the door, he entered the foyer of the great house.
Not surprisingly, there was no one to greet him. His father, Red-sky, King of the Royal Family of Life, did not believe in servants.
Long-stick’s boot heels clicked on the ancient stone floor as he crossed the foyer and entered the Great Hall. His eyes drifted along the massive wooden pillars holding up the ceiling high above. To his left, three men sat at a table playing a game of chance. Since they were using matchsticks as betting currency, the game was merely a casual means to pass the time. They ignored the prince.
On the right side of the hall, two women sat patiently waiting. Long-stick approached the women.
“Your father is tending his garden,” Princess Blossom said, without looking up from her knitting.
Long-stick nodded his gratitude to his cousin, the daughter of his aunt, Duchess Star-light.
Prince Long-stick was first in-line for the throne, his younger sister was second, Duchess Star-light was third, and Princess Blossom was fourth. However, it was highly unlikely anyone other than Long-stick would accede to the throne.
He exited the rear of the hall and stopped on the back deck. Among the lush green plants, Long-stick watched his father pull weeds and gather ripe vegetables. Long-stick considered interrupting the man. His news was of high importance; however, it wasn’t what one would call urgent news. He sat and respectfully waited.
For ten thousand years, ever since the Great Death, the Royal Family of Life had been the guiding force for the people of Layall. The family did not exactly rule the planet; their role was more akin to oversight and maintaining tradition. The Royal Family had initiated the colleges, universities, and the service branches. The family had established a taxation and user fees to financially support these institutions. However, they did not use these funds to enrich themselves. Each king or queen had always insisted the members of the Royal Family fend for themselves, as did every other member of the population.
The king tended his garden to feed himself and his wife, Queen Lily.
The king was over a hundred years old. He would rule for a few dozen more years before abdicating the throne to Long-stick. He would spend the last fifty years of his life tending his grandchildren and writing in the Book of Life. Up to this point, his reign had not been noteworthy; he would have few memoirs. Long-stick drummed his fingers on the manuscript’s cover. This would all change now. King Red-sky would have a great deal to write in the Book of Life. The question was, would there be anyone to read it. In a manner of speaking, the Great Death had returned.
As First Prince, Long-stick presided over the university system. He knew of all the scientific advances being made; most of these were not available to the general population. For the people of Layall, wood and stone were the only building materials; wood was their only fuel. Iron smiths produced small iron items — knives, hammers, nails, angle supports, horseshoes, and the like. In the university, on a small laboratory scale, much more durable metals were fabricated. In the countryside, water wheels were the only source of power for mills and what little other machinery the common people required. In the laboratories, scientists had developed steam engines to power magnetos. These generated small quantities of electricity, which powered many other technological marvels. However, these were considered pollutants, and rejected by the society of Layall.
Prince Long-stick poured a cup of water from a pitcher. As he sipped, he studied the clouds. Helos burned bright in the clear blue sky overhead, but soon it would be overrun by the thunderclouds building in the East. It would rain around four in the afternoon, as it did most every summer day.
The King slowly ascended the steps to the deck where Long-stick waited. He placed his basket of fruits and vegetables on the floor and glanced at the manuscript in his son’s lap.
“You have news from the scientists?” he asked.
“Yes, the final results have been tabulated. The scientists will continue making more precise observations, and these will lead to more accurate calculations, but there is no expectation the results will change.” Long-stick opened the book. “The calculations are presented here for your examination.” The prince knew his father was an accomplished mathematician; he would check all the numbers himself.
King Red-sky accepted the book. He studied the pages of equations and calculations.
“Who else knows about this?” he asked.
“Maybe a dozen scientists and technicians — all sworn to secrecy. However, the comet will become visible, for all to see, in about a month.”
“Comets come and go every twenty or thirty years. I’ve seen three of them.”
“Yes, but not like this one. This one will pass Layall very closely. It will be the brightest object in the night sky — by far. There are hundreds of people who will be able to observe it and calculate its orbit around Helos. They will determine for themselves what we have concluded.” Long-stick tapped the pages of the book. “The comet will return to the inner planetary system in two hundred years, but Layall will be on the opposite side of Helos. Then, in four hundred-twenty-two years and ninety-six days, the comet will return a final time and strike Layall.”
The king frowned.
“How big is it?”
“Observations, even with our finest telescopes, are inconclusive due to the cloud of water vapor and dust surrounding the comet’s hard surface. However, we have used a new technique of bouncing artificially created electromagnetic radiation off the comet. This has the advantage of penetrating the vapor cloud. Of course, when it gets closer — ”
“How big is it?” the king repeated.
“Our best estimate is that it is six miles in diameter and ten miles long.”
“How much damage will it do to Layall, when it hits?”
“Undoubtedly, it will crack the planet’s surface crust, which will release magma from the planet’s core in something resembling a volcano, but unbelievably huge.” Prince Long-stick drew in a breath. “It will certainly be the end of all life. It will render the planet uninhabitable for a thousand years, or more.”
“And, what is the recommendation of the scientists?”
“There is no other choice. We will have to find a way to stop it.”
“So, we have four hundred years to develop the means to destroy a comet?”
“Yes, but we suggest finding the means to move it, just a tiny bit. This will be an easier task than destroying it. When the comet makes its closest approach to Helos two hundred years hence, a slight nudge will be sufficient to send it out of the planetary system.”
“And, how do you propose to do that?” the King asked.
THE END of Part One
Part Two, Saving the Ice Station
Copyright ©2023 by S. M. Revolinski All Rights Reserved
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