novelslam Chapter 302 Global Panic, Countdown to Doomsday
Chapter 302 Global Panic, Countdown to Doomsday
It's 3 a.m. Washington time.
The White House, Situation Room.
Under the glaring lights, smoke filled the air. The entire core of power in the United States of America—the President, Vice President, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the four-star general who had just rushed back from Cheyenne Mountain—were all gathered here.
Every face was etched with a solemnity and fear unlike anything seen since 9/11.
On the holographic projection in the center of the situation room, all the data and simulation animations about asteroid "CE-279" provided by the North American Aerospace Defense Command are being played repeatedly.
The enormous, irregularly shaped celestial body, resembling a demon's skull, trailed a long, death-symbol red orbital line in the 3D model, and was inching closer to the azure planet.
Each simulated impact instantly tears that beautiful blue planet into countless burning fragments.
"...Based on our cross-validation with NASA and the European Space Agency, this is the final result."
A four-star general stood beside the holographic projection, pointing at the terrifying model with a laser pointer, and gave a report in a hoarse voice.
"It can be confirmed with 100% certainty that 'CE-279' did not derail naturally. Its acceleration method and its orbital precision both indicate that it was deliberately manipulated. It is a super bomb from deep space."
"Its target has been locked. The impact point is expected to fall near Omaha, Nebraska, where our Strategic Command headquarters is located."
"The impact is expected to occur in 94 hours."
"The energy generated by the impact will be equivalent to 50 billion tons of TNT. That is one million times that of the largest hydrogen bomb ever made, the Tsar Bomba."
"The shockwave will level the entire North American continent within three hours. The dust it generates will obscure the entire globe within twenty-four hours. Earth will enter a 'nuclear winter' that will last for hundreds of years. Ninety-nine point nine percent of life on the Earth's surface will become extinct."
Every word the general spoke was like a heavy hammer blow, striking the hearts of everyone present.
The command center was deathly silent.
All that could be heard was heavy breathing.
"We...we can't stop it?" After a long silence, the president asked in an almost groaning voice, "Are all our nuclear weapons, our most advanced missile defense systems...just for show?"
"Mr. President," the four-star general said with a wry smile, shaking his head.
"First of all, its size is too large. All our existing nuclear warheads, bundled together, would only be a tickle to it. It might even cause it to shatter prematurely into countless smaller but equally deadly fragments, forming a global 'meteorite shower,' which would be an even worse outcome."
"Secondly, its speed is too fast. Moreover, it seems to possess an 'energy shield' that we cannot understand. Our laser weapons and electromagnetic cannons are completely ineffective against it."
"We tried. Just an hour ago, we used the highest-powered directed-energy weapon deployed at the lunar base to launch a probe attack on it."
The general paused, a look of despair appearing on his face.
"As a result... our energy beam inexplicably dissipated ten thousand kilometers away from it. It was as if it had been blocked by an invisible wall."
"We are facing a technological creation that we cannot understand at all."
"Before it, all our proud weapons became nothing more than a ridiculous pile of scrap metal."
These words completely shattered the last shred of hope in everyone present.
"Then... then what should we do?" Secretary of State Blinken muttered to himself. "Issue a global announcement? Tell everyone to take shelter in underground bunkers? But... which bunker can withstand an impact of this magnitude?"
"This is... judgment..." One of the advisors completely broke down, slumping into his chair, his eyes vacant. "This must be... God's judgment! It was our previous arrogance and ignorance that angered... that... Eastern... god!"
"Shut up!" the president slammed his hand on the table and shouted.
But his own body was also trembling slightly.
He must have thought about it too.
First, there was that devastating warning video.
Then there was that majestic, divine question.
Then there's that incredibly domineering "Merit Rules".
And now, just as they've made up their minds to make a big splash under these new rules...
A single asteroid, powerful enough to destroy the world, fell from the sky.
If all of this were just a coincidence, who would believe it?
"China...it must be China!" The four-star general suddenly raised his head, a glint of madness flashing in his eyes. "Or rather, it's the entity behind China! It's him! It must be him!"
"He is showing us his true power! He is telling us who the true master of this planet is!"
"He can destroy us so easily! Like crushing an ant!"
"Mr. President!" The general suddenly turned to the president and said in an unprecedentedly urgent tone, "We have no time! We can no longer hesitate!"
"Immediately, contact the capital! Immediately, contact that... Li Zhenguo!"
Tell them! We are willing to pay any price!
"If only he could take back this 'divine punishment'!"
"We are willing to hand over all our core technologies! We are willing to disband all our overseas military bases! We are even willing to become a vassal state of China!"
"As long as I can survive!"
The general's words sent a huge shockwave through the entire command center.
To become a vassal state of China?
What a disgrace this is for America, which has been proud for more than a century!
But, in the face of absolute death.
What does dignity even matter?
Mr. President, you closed your eyes.
His face was full of pain and struggle.
A full minute passed.
He slowly opened his eyes and said in a voice that sounded as if he were twenty years old:
"Connect...connect to Beijing Hotline."
……
Meanwhile, global panic has spread like a plague.
Although officials from various countries are doing their utmost to block the news.
However, there are no secrets in the world.
Especially in this information-exploding, internet age.
The news was first leaked by some amateur astronomers.
Through their own telescopes, they also discovered that strange object, "CE-279," which was rapidly approaching Earth.
"Apocalyptic asteroid strikes! Humanity has only 90 hours left!"
"God's punishment! 'CE-279,' a death star with a diameter of 50 kilometers, is hurtling towards Earth!"
"This isn't a drill! This isn't a movie! Run! We're all going to die!"
One after another, sensational posts and videos spread like wildfire on social networks around the world.
At first, most people thought it was just another boring hype and rumor.
However, as more and more evidence, and amateur observation data from different countries and institutions, are released.
People began to sense that something was wrong.
Panic began, like a spark ignited, quietly exploding in the crowd.
The final straw that broke the camel's back came from China.
Just when the whole world was caught up in speculation and panic.
China's national television station suddenly cut off all its regular programming and broadcast an emergency news report.
In the news footage, the spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs had an unprecedentedly serious expression.
"...According to close monitoring by my country's space agency, a super-giant asteroid, codenamed 'CE-279,' has deviated from its normal orbit and is expected to collide with Earth in 93 hours."
"The impact could potentially trigger a global ecological catastrophe."
"We urge people around the world to remain calm and not panic. Trust science and trust governments."
"The Chinese government hereby solemnly promises to the world."
"The sky won't fall down!"
This brief, official announcement instantly ignited global public opinion.
It confirmed all the worst guesses.
The end of the world is really coming!
The world was instantly plunged into chaos.
Panic buying, riots, vandalism...
In the streets of countless cities, a crazy scene that only appears in apocalyptic movies is unfolding.
Countless people knelt on the ground, weeping and praying to the gods they believed in.
Despair, like the deepest night, enveloped the entire planet.
And right here, in the deepest, most desperate place.
The Chinese proverb, "The sky will not fall down," represents a promise.
But it's like the only starlight in the dark night.
Although, it is faint.
But it gave countless people trembling in the darkness a glimmer of hope, their last hope.
Everyone's gaze instinctively turned towards the east.
They turned their attention to that ancient country that had just created a "miracle."
Do they really have a solution?