Best Intentions

Only a few optical telescopes happened to be pointing in the precise direction to glimpse the mysterious astronomical phenomenon. It appeared briefly in the night sky at 82 degrees north latitude with an apparent magnitude close to that of Venus at its brightest. At the same time, every active radio telescope in the northern hemisphere detected a new and powerful source of electromagnetic radiation from the same region. Both the EM and visual phenomenon disappeared after only a few minutes, leaving some very puzzled scientists. Nothing like it had ever been detected near those coordinates, and strangest of all, the stars in that region of the sky were all shining normally.

They barely had three hours in which to consult one another before it reappeared, far brighter and more energetic than before. At first glance, they believed it was a supernova, one even more powerful than SN 1054, which Chinese astronomers had recorded in the Middle Ages and had formed the massive Crab Nebula.

Just as happened before, the visible phenomenon vanished in short order, completely baffling scientists. It would not be long before the inhabitants of Earth’s northern hemisphere would learn of the events deadly invisible effects.

Radiation detectors everywhere, from those in nuclear power plants to military facilities, started chattering of their own accord. Every single satellite not in the planet’s southern shadow went offline simultaneously. Earth’s magnetic field, as well as their own radiation shielding was no match for the magnitude of the energy bombarding them.

Above thirty-three degrees north latitude, the effects were particularly strong as massive surges of electricity induced along above ground transmission cables blew out power plants and transformers. The resulting blackouts crippled much of the industrialized world while tens of thousands were electrocuted in their homes. Most forms of communications were disabled due to lack of power. Huge lightning bolts flashed through the heavily ionized atmosphere, bringing down no less than fifteen hundred airplanes, both military and civilian.

Once NASA’s emergency power systems kicked in, they were able to access the small quantity of data that their Integral and Swift satellites had managed to transmit prior to going offline. What that data showed were spikes in ultra-high energy gamma radiation. The levels recorded were far higher than anything ever seen in orbital space. Even more disturbing, the readings had still been climbing rapidly when the satellites failed.

Technicians tried to reestablish communications with the crew of the International Space Station, but it was a futile effort. The station didn’t possess anywhere near the amount of radiation shielding necessary to protect its electronics, let alone the crew. If the readings they had were accurate then the astronauts had received close to ten thousand rads; enough to kill them almost instantly

The world was thrown into instant chaos. But as a strange and beautiful counterpoint to the destruction, vibrant auroras were visible in the skies over most of the planet.

No one had any idea what it was that had caused it. The only known events that could produce energy of such magnitude were supernovae and quasars, but nothing about this event fit either profile.

The questions of what the event truly was and its cause were in the short term irrelevant. There was only one truly significant question:

Would the human race survive?