Earthstorm

Tonight, all eyes are on the moon

as scientists around the world are piecing together

the causes of this unprecedented lunar phenomenon.

We're here on the campus of Plymouth Institute of T echnology

to speak with staff astrophysicist, Dr. Lana Gale.

Doctor, what can you tell us?

Well, basically, we've been blindsided.

The orbit of an undetected asteroid has intersected with the Moon's orbit

and the two have collided.

While we would like to think that we would see something like this coming,

the sky is a vast place, and unfortunately,

we don't have all the resources that we need to fully cover it.

And what can you tell us of what we're seeing up there?

What we're seeing is an impact cloud

of debris and regolith that will eventually subside.

Regolith?

The powdery rock covering the lunar surface.

So I guess the more urgent question would be

is there any cause for alarm?

These things are always more alarming

when they happen so close to home

but the best approach is to wait and see what happens.

React to what develops.

As my father used to say, Dr. Lawrence Gale,

"The universe is a case of unfinished business. "

Thank you very much for your time, Dr. Gale.

My pleasure.

How was it, Tony?

You were awesome!

You exuded confidence and clarity and strength,

and knowledge, and expertise, and--but, regolith?

That's what it's called.

I know that,

but the average viewer isn't that knowledgeable.

Did you eat anything? 'Cause I kinda skipped dinner.

I'm sorry T ony, please go home.

I'll see you in the morning.

No. I'll pick us up something; we'll eat it here.

We'll celebrate. My treat. Tuna salad, no mayo, heavy Dijon.

Thank you.

Dr. Bender. Can you tell us

whether the collision on the moon poses any danger here on earth?

Well, for obvious reasons it's premature to launch

into any kind of conjecture at this time.

What I can say is that we at ASI are assuming the leadership role

in interpreting incoming data gathered by the international scientific community.

ASI is the definitive space agency in the world today,

and we have our absolute best people analyzing this phenomenon.

Very shortly we'll, uh, we'll be presenting our analysis

to the White House, where a press conference will follow.

One more question,

what would happen if a similar asteroid were to hit the earth?

Depending on speed and trajectory,

there would be global repercussions.

Garth? Dr. Lana Gale is on line two for you.

Yeah, I got it. Thanks.

Lana? Thanks for calling.

Have you seen the latest?

I'm probably not as up to date as you are. What's going on?

Our information on the halo is a--concern.

What kind of a concern?

Preliminary data shows some of the asteroid fragments

on a course that will bring them into earth's orbit.

Hey, John.

You weren't on the Moon last night, were you?

Hey, John? All that dust and debris floating around,

it kinda looks like your handiwork.

If I was up on the moon last night doing my work?

It wouldn't be there anymore.

Copy that.

Checklist.

Good to go?

Yep.

Let's blow the building.

All right, Ollie, how we looking?

Locked and stocked, buddy.

Check it out.

Good. Right on schedule.

Looks like you're gonna owe me 20 bucks, homie.

I shake on that?

Oh, yeah.

Well, the building ain't down yet.

Oh my God.

Abort right now. Let's go. We gotta stop the sequence.

Bryna, shut it down now.

No, the system's not responding.

Ollie?

I'm trying to override it.

Okay, let's have some fun.

What are you doing?

Bryna. Continue to rebalance the sequence.

I'm gonna go find that misfire. Talk to me on the radio.

You can't go up there!

We don't know how that building's gonna come down

unless we rebalance the system. Ollie?

Figure out why that clock is still ticking and shut it down.

I'm on it.

I'll be back.

Okay, Bryna, give me the location of that misfire.

Ninth floor. 8A.

OK, copy that! Ollie? Have you stopped the countdown?

John, the explosion messed up the whole system.

It's lit up like the Vegas strip.

I'm tryin' to stop the detonator but it ain't happenin'.

I know you've got my back, Ollie. So make it happen!

Everything I'm seeing here says that the charges did not go off on their own.

I think someone's in there.

Great. That's all we need. Let's get the cops, tell 'em what we got.

If someone's still in there who might keep settin' things off,

you won't have enough time to fix it all.

No! I'll have plenty of time. Cause you're gonna fix that damn clock!

Hey! It stopped!

How we doin' for time?!

There's no rush anymore. The countdown stopped.

What? No!

That was the 5-minute warning. That means that clock is not off!

I'm gonna have to reboot the whole system.

John, where are you?

I'm on the 9th floor now. Do I go left or right?

Left. No, right! My left, your right!

Come on, Bryna. Focus, okay?

I'm coming up on a large central room.

In the middle of that room, you'll find column 8A.

Hold on, I think I got it.

That's the one that's missing its charge.

C'mon, c'mon!

Aaaah!

Help!

Hey, Joe? Double-check lines 21A thru F.

Okay.

Are they still hot?

Yep, they're hot.

Dammit.

Help! Help me!

I'm coming!

Okay! Looks good!

You're online and set to go, now get out of there!

Hello?

Help!

We're gonna get you out of here.

I got a guy up here. He's pinned down by some debris.

I gotta get him out.

On three, I'm gonna lift this up, pull your leg out.

One, two, three.

Get out of my house!

Hold on! Stop!

This is my house!

I'm trying to help you.

Now listen to me.

Your house is about to get blown to bits, understand?

John, just get out of there, please.

I'll be down in 90 seconds.

Come on!

Less than a minute left!

I've jacked the override into your system.

See if you can get access.

Watch out!

Come on! You almost got it.

Go, go, go!

Come on!

John, you gotta get outta there! Move it!

John, move now!

Go, go, go!

Oh my God!

We now have three reported strikes

of asteroid debris, and they're not ordinary meteors, Lana.

We're missing something.

Why are so many of them surviving atmospheric entry?

These objects aren't that big.

They should be burning up.

Then it's gotta be the density.

The mass of the asteroid must have been much bigger than we anticipated.

But it makes sense.

Because you were right about the ecliptic plane.

The lunar orbit's shifted?

The numbers indicate a very gradual shift.

And it could still self-correct but

there's already a rise in the sea levels

and the jet stream is taking a complete nose dive south.

Which means a big weather change.

Yeah, the kind that triggers an ice age.

Okay, have we located the point of impact?

No, nothing we can see.

But we've got satellites in motion.

We should get images soon.

Hey, Will, how long before we get a look?

The probes are on their way.

I'm in my office now.

Did you copy Garth on this?

You should have a spectral image coming through.

Yeah, yeah, I've got it.

Get your folks to work on that dark section.

We're having a hard time seeing through the halo.

No problem. Hey, Will,

take a look at this area. Get on that.

I hope you're not sugar-coating this to the suits in DC.

No, but that's why I'd like you here.

They're gonna want solid answers.

Which they'd rather hear from someone else.

Nobody's gunning for you here, Lana.