Sedulity (Book One) Impact

by David Forsyth

  Armando clung to the safety cable on the side of the lifeboat while sidestepping down its side to reach the closest access door. Fortunately there are no locks on the entry doors to lifeboats and Armando was able to gain entry after only a few more seconds of painful effort. He slammed the door closed behind him and collapsed into the closest seat, shedding the hot plastic and covering his burned face with his burned hands. He moaned in pain, yet realized that all his suffering would be in vain if he stopped now. Armando took several ragged breaths, fighting down pain so intense that he thought he might vomit or pass out. Then he mustered his resolve and rose to search for the portable satellite phone.

  ****

  After the Captain and Mr. Crawford returned to the Bridge, Kevin and Professor Farnsworth remained in the Navigation Room and stared at the map on the chart table. Of all those aboard the Sedulity these two men had the best idea of what the asteroid strike would do to the rest of the world. Looking at the chart they could see listed depths in various parts of the ocean. They knew how the waves were formed, where they emanated from, their approximate speed, and where they would rise like liquid mountains to smash into coasts inhabited by millions of people. That knowledge was heavy burden, but it was not all they knew.

  “I’ve been thinking about the cloud cover and global weather patterns,” Kevin said quietly.

  “Yes, those are major concerns,” the Professor said in an equally soft voice.

  “Do you think it will extend globally?” Kevin asked.

  “Quite possibly,” the Professor nodded. “The impact itself has already vaporized dozens of cubic miles of seawater which is condensing into rain and cloud cover. Assuming your estimate of the asteroid’s size being approximately a mile wide is in the ballpark and considering the ocean is about 2,000 meters deep where it hit, if it was an iron core object, I would project a crater of between ten and twenty miles wide. Now that crater on the seafloor is filled with molten material that is turning more and more seawater into steam. It will produce a continuous supply of additional steam until the crater melt cools down, which could take days or weeks. This could easily become a global weather event, although I’m not sure if the fact that this took place so close to the equator will add or subtract from the effects. As a meteorologist, you might have a better idea about that.”

  “I’ve been thinking about that,” Kevin said. “Ordinarily the weather patterns in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are almost independent of each other. Water and air currents turn back upon themselves when they approach the equator and it is very rare for major storms to form at the equator, or cross from one side to the other. This will be an exceptional case. Although the asteroid impact was slightly south of the equator, the cloud cover it generated is rushing out into both hemispheres.

  “Normally, the part of the ocean we are in now is referred to as the doldrums. It’s an area where the winds are generally calm, or non-existent. Early sailing ships were often becalmed for days or weeks at a time when crossing the equator. That might be one of the reasons that sailors developed the Line Crossing ceremony that we almost got to enjoy earlier. There was cause to celebrate the ship moving across the equator. Hurricanes and cyclones almost never develop near here, but they will this time.

  “The ocean water temperature is always warm here and the asteroid crater will heat it even more. The cloud cover will spread out past the Intertropical Conversion Zone and collide with the Trade Winds on both sides of the equator. At that point I would imagine they will form a giant tropical cyclone in the South Pacific and a massive hurricane to the north. The cyclone will move southwest, with a clockwise rotation. The hurricane will move northeast, spinning in a counterclockwise rotation. That’s a result of the Coriolis Effect, but I’m sure you know that, Professor.”

  “Of course,” the Professor nodded and smiled. Like any good teacher he was happy to be lectured to by a student who knew what they were talking about. “And the predicted results?”

  “In essence, the impact generated storms will charge across the Pacific in both directions,” Kevin conjectured. “As long as the impact crater continues to pump steam and heat energy into the equation, I would expect additional large storms to form and spin off in every direction. In all likelihood these storms will break out of the tropics and continue towards the temperate zones. If they are large enough, they will even reach the Arctic and Antarctic regions. We could easily experience global cloud cover with monster storms raging wherever high and low pressure zones collide, especially over continental land masses.”

  “Short-term and long-term effects on climate?” the Professor asked, as if he didn’t know, or simply wanted Kevin to be the one to say it out loud.

  “In the Northern Hemisphere the brunt of the initial storms will hit Central America or Mexico. If these monster storms are as big as I expect, they may jump over into the Gulf of Mexico, regain power over the warm water, and threaten the entire Gulf Coast of the United States. They will be coming from the opposite direction of most hurricanes in that region, so they could also disrupt normal weather patterns and even divert the Gulf Stream. That would have serious impact on water temperatures along the East Coast and the North Atlantic, even changing weather patterns in the UK and northern Europe. If the North Pacific hurricanes are really large, they could move even further up the West Coast of North America. If they reach the coast of California, which is something almost unheard of due to prevailing cold water currents, the low pressure zone could interfere with the Jet Stream. The Polar Vortex we experienced during the winter of ‘14 might seem mild in comparison. That’s in the short-term forecast for the next few months. Potential long-term effects are truly scary, Professor,” Kevin said. Then he looked back at the map on the chart table and continued.

  “As for the Southern Hemisphere, I’m not really familiar with prevailing weather patterns down here, but I’m sure these storms will disrupt and defy them. I wouldn’t be surprised if they sweep all the way to South Africa and wrap back up into the Atlantic Ocean. The amount of water vapor being pumped into the atmosphere is truly unprecedented. So the effects are unpredictable,” Kevin paused and looked up to meet the Professor’s wise eyes before concluding. “What is predictable with reasonable certainty is, if we end up with global cloud cover and storms for any length of time, worldwide temperatures will plummet. And what we heard on the news about volcanic activity could make matters even worse. If several large eruptions eject billions of tons of dust and ash into the upper atmosphere, on top of all the evaporated seawater, it could easily be enough to throw the Earth into an ice age.”

  “Exactly,” the Professor concurred. “The clouds will reflect sunlight back to space, as will the snow falling in the higher latitudes and elevations. Volcanic ash will combine with the storm clouds to block the sun from heating the oceans. Currents will slow. Weather patterns change. The snowline moves south. Glaciers and ocean ice shelves expand. If it lasts more than a few months the changes will be permanent, or take decades, perhaps centuries to reverse. The survivors will be pumping out as much CO2 and other greenhouse gasses as possible in hopes of global warming and it won’t make a damned bit of difference.”

  Kevin felt a small spark of relief that he wasn’t the only one aboard who knew the truth, but it was far overshadowed by the dread and dismay of having his fears confirmed. It was terrifying to realize that the apocalyptic catastrophes sweeping around the world that night were only the beginning of global climate change that would threaten most of human civilization. “We have to focus on the short-term threats right now,” he said. “Keep track of the path of destruction and look for surviving ports, as the Captain said. However, when it comes time to decide on a final destination, we should keep the long-term projection in mind. We don’t want to sail somewhere that will become uninhabitable.”

  ****

  GNN announced that the President would be addressing the nation in a few moments and Lydia left the dayroom briefly to notify her hu
sband. The Captain returned with her and went to sit behind his desk where he also had a good view of the TV on the wall. A few moments later Kevin and Professor Farnsworth entered the room. Kevin sat on the floor in front of the sofa where his wife and daughter were. The Professor stood next to his wife, who was seated in a chair. Nobody spoke as the President took the podium. His mood was somber and he displayed a characteristic squint that he wore when he didn’t like something, as if he smelled something distasteful. He looked down at his notes for a moment before looking up into the camera, but focusing slightly left on the teleprompter.

  “My fellow Americans, fellow citizens of the world and members of the human race, it is with a heavy heart that I bring you this sad news. As many of you know by now, today the Earth was struck by an object from outer space, what we believe was an asteroid. It came without warning from the direction of the sun, thereby alluding the ability of astronomers to spot it in advance, and struck our planet in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. While there was initial relief that it did not hit a populated area, it is now clear that this ocean impact has unleashed a wider catastrophe.

  “Scientists have confirmed that the asteroid impact generated massive tsunami waves and has triggered major earthquakes around the Pacific Rim. I have issued mandatory evacuation notices for all coastal areas on the Pacific Ocean in anticipation of the waves’ arrival. Unfortunately, earthquakes have disrupted many of our evacuation plans. Many of you, especially on the West Coast, are listening to my voice on the Emergency Broadcast System. This alone should confirm the gravity of the situation. I cannot overemphasize the necessity and urgency for you to seek higher ground. These waves are larger than any previously recorded and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center believes the waves will travel many miles inland along low-lying coastlines.

  “Although the waves are still hours away from California, it is imperative that evacuations commence immediately. I and my staff have been working to organize evacuations. We made arrangements for passenger and freight trains to be loaded with evacuees and taken inland. Commercial airliners and military transport planes were redirected and deployed. Buses and trucks were tasked to evacuate people to higher ground. The National Guard and active military units have been ordered to assist. Unfortunately, the serious earthquakes in California have crippled all public transportation and infrastructure. Therefore, it is my sad duty to warn residents in coastal areas of California affected by earthquakes that they should not rely on any form of organized evacuation. I am sharing this information in order to give each individual, hopefully working together with their neighbors, friends and family, a chance to evacuate on their own. You have more than ten hours to get as far away from the ocean and as high above sea level as possible. Don’t waste another minute of that time. May God Bless you and grant you Godspeed.

  “As for the rest of the nation, and the world, I have more sad news to share. We have confirmed that tsunami waves hit the coast of Australia with devastating results. Other island nations are also falling victim to this catastrophe. Those of us on the other side of world can do little more than pray for their safety. The United States will do everything in our power to assist with international rescue and recovery efforts, but this act of God and Nature is truly unprecedented. Even with the best of intentions, it has become clear that nothing can be done to prevent millions of lives from being lost or disrupted. Therefore, it is with a heavy heart that I offer prayers and condolences for all those who have been and will be lost during this crisis.

  “I want to close with a message to those in my home state of Hawaii, most of whom are also listening to me on the Emergency Broadcast System. The evacuations began soonest there and every coastal community had an evacuation plan in place. I am pleased to report that the majority of Hawaiian residents have already reached higher ground. Nevertheless, we know that some will not reach safety in time. I want you all to know that I am praying for you and the land of my birth. For those of you in peril, I say Kulia i ka nu’u, strive for the summit. Never give up. The survivors of this calamity can rest assured that I will send aid and assistance to the people of the Hawaiian Islands.

  Finally, I cannot stress strongly enough the need for anyone living anywhere close to the shore of the Pacific Ocean to evacuate to high ground. I will be back on the air again before the tsunami waves reach California with another announcement. Until then the Emergency Broadcast System will continue to provide those of you in threatened regions with local news and instructions. God bless and save all of you in the United States of America and elsewhere around the world.”

  The President turned and left the room, ignoring dozens of shouted questions from the White House Press Corps. The GNN anchor began to repeat highlights of the President’s statement while bullet points scrolled down the screen. Those gathered in the Captain’s dayroom aboard the Sedulity were not surprised by what the President had to say. It was simply confirmation of what the news had been reporting and Kevin had predicted. There was instead a general sadness and resigned acceptance that what they feared was actually happening and nobody had the power to stop it.

  ****

  Chapter 16:

  The nation of Indonesia was composed of over 18,000 islands which were home to over 200 million people concentrated on 6,000 of those islands. Even before the asteroid strike Indonesia had been the repeated victim of tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The tsunami of 2004 killed more than 175,000 Indonesians. The eruption of Krakatoa in 1883 was one of the most violent and deadly volcanic events in history. At the time of the asteroid strike there were already more than 150 active volcanoes in Indonesia and thousands of active fault lines. They began their destructive work long before the asteroid’s tsunamis arrived.

  It began with a magnitude 8.5 quake that accompanied the eruption of Mount Semeru in East Java. Soon dozens of quakes and eruptions occurred throughout the archipelago. Some of them were strong enough to generate tsunamis of average size and destructive potential. Hundreds of seaside villages were damaged or swept away, tens of thousands of people perished, but that was only the beginning of the end. Volcanic eruptions drove people away from high ground to seek the perceived safety of the shoreline. That was a tragic decision for multitudes.

  The ability to warn the Indonesian population of the approaching tsunamis was limited to begin with and hampered further by loss of power after the earthquakes. Millions of people were at or near the shorelines when waves more than a thousand feet high tore through the archipelago. It was later estimated that more than 100 million Indonesian lives were lost before the sun rose on that fateful day. No disaster in human history came close to matching that level of decimation, yet it was only a portion of the death and destruction being unleashed by the asteroid. The Philippines were next on the hit list.

  ****

  It only took a few moments for Armando to figure out how to use the Iridium phone. He unfolded the satellite antenna mounted to the side of the phone and was happy to see it had charge and signal. He dialed the country code and local number for his family’s home on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. The phone rang half a dozen times before he heard the voice of his mother. Speaking in rapid Tagalog, Armando said, “Mother! You must get everyone up and leave the house right now! A tsunami is coming!”

  “Armando?” his mother asked in surprise. “We know. Your father told us. We had an earthquake tonight and then he listened to the radio. He says this will be the end for all of us. We were just leaving when the phone rang. Oh, Armando, we were all so worried about you! Your father said something terrible happened near where your ship should be right now. We prayed for you, but I could tell that your father thought it was hopeless. Thank God you are alive. I love you, my son! Hold on while I get your father.”

  There was silence for precious seconds while Armando listened with tears in his eyes. Of course his father would know what to do. He always did, but it was heartbreaking to hear that his father had lost hope.


  “Armando?” his father’s voice expressed disbelief and despair, mixed with joy. “My son! You’re alive?”

  “Yes, Papa. I’m safe on the Sedulity, but you are all in danger! An asteroid hit the ocean near us and the ship was almost lost, but the Captain drove us right up and over the waves, just like you used to do in the Bangka pump boat! It was an amazing miracle that we survived, but those waves are heading for you now! You must take the family to high ground!”

  “I’m afraid it is too late for that, my son,” his father said. “We are far from the hills and the car won’t start. I tried and tried. So we will take the Bangka out to deep water and I will try to do what your Captain did. Our family will face the waves on their own terms and God will decide our fate. I can only thank Him and your Captain for saving you tonight. That is enough of a miracle for one family. We are all so proud of you and we will love you forever.”

  “I love all of you too,” Armando said through blinding tears.

  “We must go now, though I fear it may already be too late. Whatever happens, know that you are the light of this family, the flame that burns in our heart. Your mother and brothers and sister want to talk to you more, but we have no time now. There will be more than enough time for everything when we meet again. We all love you. Good bye, my son. God bless you.”