Noah's Ark 2083

2073

Noah Fenwick woke with a start and shook his head.

“What a dream!” he muttered, as his wife rolled over asking what was wrong.

“It was weird.” he continued, “I was in the planetarium, looking up at the dome. A voice was speaking. It said…

“I'm coming to destroy 'mankind for its wickedness and violence! I'm going to utterly destroy the earth for there are few who deserve to live!”

“A bright pinpoint of light appeared centered in the head of Draco. Time sped up, and as the constellations wheeled above, the pinpoint grew into a globe that grew larger until it filled the sky. In a flash, the dome went dark. I just stood there, aghast. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder. When I turned, an ancient man stood there and said…”

“I will visit you again my son! Heed my warning!”

“Then, I woke up.” Noah concluded wearily, as he fell back asleep.

The next night he had the same dream. When he woke, he stepped out into the freezing New Mexico night to his personal observatory.

“Let's see if anything’s there.” he muttered, sitting down at the computer that controlled his telescope. Typing in the coordinates he remembered from his dream; he waited as the telescope swung into alignment. Within seconds the telescope reached the proper coordinates and there on the screen was a pinprick, just where one ought not be.

“Well, I’ll be.” he thought, checking records at the International Astronomical Union. Finding nothing, he recorded the necessary data and submitted a report. Seconds later he received an automated reply designating his report as 2073 CE1.

He was giddy the next morning as he drove to Apache Point Observatory where he served as Assistant Director for Planetary Research. Several coworkers greeted and congratulated him as he walked to his office where Observatory Director Richard Harbaugh waited.

“Congratulations Noah!” Harbaugh exclaimed, “It’s confirmed, and it’s redshift indicates it’s close, certainly within or near the inner zone of the Kuiper Belt. It’s not a planet, or a nova or supernova, or any deep space object. It’s almost certainly a large new comet!”

Noah groaned, “That’s what I was afraid of.” He muttered.

That night, he dreamed again.

“Check the orbit!” the old man advised.

The next day he checked and began a search through past records and reports of transient objects and eventually found a pattern and projected the trajectory forward in time. Then he threw up.

“Don't warn them too soon!” the old man commanded the next night.

Six months later, the IAU held a news conference. Noah had practically forgotten his odd dreams after exhaustive measurements predicted an uncomfortably close but safe 300,000-mile pass by the Earth on October 12th, 2083. Having eliminated a collision, Noah was pleased to announce the confirmed discovery as Comet Fenwick, C/2073 CE1.

After the announcement, three large men blocked Noah’s departure.

“Doctor Fenwick,” they asked, “Please come with us?” pointing at a large black limo. “It’s important… and quite safe!” they assured him.

“Hello doctor” a small elderly man said, greeting Noah as he climbed into the limo.

“Mr. Norwood?” Noah gasped, recognizing Elias Norwood, by far the world’s richest man, and an unparalleled patron of the sciences.

“Yes, Noah!” Norwood replied, “Please relax, we've much to discuss.”

“Do we?” Noah asked, more than a little mystified.

“Yes!” Norwood replied, “I understand you’ve been having dreams?”

“W… What do you mean?” Noah stammered “I never…”

“…told anyone!” Norwood finished. “I know. I’ve been having them too, and, have, shall we say, a little more information, as well as far more resources than you.”

“What did the old man tell you?” Noah asked.

“That your computations would be slightly off!” Norwood replied, “And that we needed to get to work.”

“But what can we do?” Noah asked.

“This.” Norwood replied, handing him a large data tablet.

“You’re serious?” Noah asked, his jaw dropping.

“Absolutely!” Norwood answered gravely. “Are you in?”

“Of course!” Noah replied.

2074

It was relatively easy to hide NOAH, the Norwood Organization for the Ark Habitat for the first year. Initially, Norwood’s team first task was to find a safe refuge.

Mars was the obvious choice. Pioneers had established three colonies there over the decades and, while life was hard, it was feasible. The problem was the lack of accessible water sources of sufficient size.

A second option was Europa. Its huge ocean could supply ample water, if a suitable habitat could be developed. At -250 degrees, surviving on the surface could prove untenable.

The third option was the most complicated technologically, involving a lengthy period of hibernation aboard an automated spaceship, but it was the best long-term solution, Norwood’s ecologists and climatologists estimating they could begin repairing the earth’s plant biosphere after a mere three hundred years and limited areas of the planet should be habitable within 370 years.

In the end, the long sleep was chosen since it was certain that Mars would be flooded with refugees, rapidly overcoming its already limited resources. A smaller Ark would still be sent to Mars to provide raw materials and earth-like biodiversity.

2076

Noah and Elias Norwood stood on the summit of Haleakalā watching the first hull plates being applied to the huge Ark. Norwood had convinced the U.S. government and the governor of Hawaii to authorize the mountain’s caldera as a secure construction site. Maui had been evacuated, at great expense, largely born by Norwood and his fellow billionaires, many of whom participated on the condition that they and their chosen companions would be onboard the Ark when it lifted off. An extensive security zone, enforced by the U.S. military, surrounded the site.

Noah, as a senior mission scientist, and his family had permanently relocated to Maui. Most of his time was spent at the Observatory. It was there that he confirmed the change in Comet Fenwick’s orbit after it interacted with Uranus as it slashed down through the solar system’s plane of the ecliptic.

Computations proved that Fenwick was huge, 100 miles or more, but would pass within 300,000 miles of the earth. It wasn't much, but it was enough.

“Please,” he muttered, “No more!”

That night, he had another dream.

“Save who you can!” the old man told him, “The rest are doomed!”

“Are you God?” Noah asked.

“I am what would pass as God for mankind. I was curious and put two inanimate molecules together as an experiment, then stood back to watch what would happen. Before I knew it, humanity had arisen from the slime and proceeded to destroy all the good which had grown from my act of creation! I finally resolved to intervene.”

“Why me then? I’ve never been a religious person! I don’t go to church! I’ve never prayed! Why me? Why Elias?”

“First off, I never meant for this thing called “religion” to happen.” The old man explained. “I don’t want worship. I don’t want followers; I just want a creation which exists in harmony! That’s impossible in the current climate. Second, you and Elias were just the two humans who were in the right place at the right time, with the right resources and motivations!”

“Now go my son, time grows short. Watch the orbit closely!”

2080

Comet Fenwick grazed the cloud tops of Jupiter, and was thrown farther and faster toward the inner Solar System. The pass by Earth narrowed to a mere 50,000 miles.

When it veered off its expected course as it passed the asteroid Ceres, the old man smiled as its trajectory was nearly perfected.

A few days later, during a routine check, Noah noticed the deviation…

Others noticed too, and by the next day headlines blazed across the world.

It was front page for the New York Times

“50/50 Chance Comet Fenwick Will Destroy the Earth”

Accompanying the article was a graphic showing the comet’s trajectory which the narrative explained.

“Plunging down from the depths of space, the comet’s path deviated significantly as it passed Uranus, twisting into an orbit more aligned with the solar system’s plane of the ecliptic (the general orbital plane of most of the planets). When it encountered Jupiter, it was perturbed even more. Had it not then encountered Ceres, which was not originally accounted for, the comet would have sailed harmlessly, safely clear of the earth in 3 years. Instead, it’s encounter with Ceres aimed it closer to the sun which will, in turn, aim it, more or less, straight at our planet. The hope is that it will pass harmlessly on the morning of October 3rd, 2083, but it has come to our attention that many world governments are preparing for the worst.

The IAU announced the next morning that, with the approval of Dr. Noah Fenwick, the discoverer of the comet, the comet was being renamed “The Morning Star.” More than one commentator began to refer to it as “Lucifer,” or more bluntly, as “Satan” whin the association was noticed.

At the NOAH project, preparations continued on-schedule. Norwood’s teams scoured the earth for biological samples and specimens for both the primary and Mars Arks.

Several scientists objected to the primary Ark’s method of propulsion. The Nuclear Pulse Ramjet was experimental and had only been tested on a small scale.

“The NPR Drive will work flawlessly, but we are aware of the objections by numerous scientists. The Ark is being designed around these concerns, and they are a primary reason the Ark is being constructed where it is.” Norwood’s Senior Nuclear Engineer answered when asked about the dangers.

2081

The Mars Ark lifted off from California on May 31st, full of DNA samples of the Earth’s flora and Fauna.

Then the world went mad, most of humanity fearing the worst. Attempts to reach the Ark site on Maui increased and it became far more difficult to keep people away. Throngs of terrified people occasionally appeared on the slopes of Haleakalā, pleading for places on the Ark. They were turned away as gently as possible. Security did their best, but some people inevitably died in their desperate attempts to stow away.

Russia, Germany, England, and Australia announced similar, though smaller, Ark projects as their own citizens began to panic.

Selection of the NOAH crew had been completed years before and passenger selection was well underway. Of the five thousand passengers, over 3500 had already been approved, mostly young men and women with deep sets of skills, Engineers also skilled in farming or wilderness survival, Machinists who could cook, Doctors who could build things, Carpenters, electricians, and plumbers who could work with animals, etc. The list of “essential personnel and skills” was extensive, and final selection was performed by computer. Preference was given to youth and overall health when everything else was equal. The venture was not one for the elderly.

2082

By late 2082 everything was ready. The Arks being built by other countries had already departed, most bound for Mars, one for Europa, and the last, from Russia, to an undisclosed destination.

At NOAH’s control center, Norwood gathered his teams.

“Are we ready?” Elias Norwood began.

“Crew Ops?” he asked.

“Everyone’s in place Sir!” the Ark’s captain announced.

“Medical?”

“Crew physicals are complete, and everyone checks out!” the Chief Medical Officer replied. “231 passengers have been disqualified due to previously undisclosed or unknown medical reasons. Replacements have been selected and notified. Everyone should be in place within a week.”

Norwood ran through the critical functions, finally reaching the last department.

“Navigation?”

“We’ll be away and clear within 24-48 hours of getting the final confirmation for Go/No Go.” the Chief Navigator replied.

“When will that be Noah?” Norwood asked.

“We expect Lucifer to complete its pass around the sun on Aug 31st.” Noah replied. When it reappears, we’ll know for sure whether it will hit us or miss. By the end of that day, we’ll know.”

“So, if we launch, it will be on September 1st or 2nd. Norwood replied.

“The sooner the better!” the chief Navigator replied.

2083

On August 31st, Noah watched as Lucifer came into view from behind the sun. After a few computations, his face blanched.

“It’s a GO!” he announced. A few minutes later, after consulting the observatory’s computers, he spoke again.

“Planetfall will be at 7:30AM on October 3rd in… let me double check this… on the eastern seaboard of the U.S.”

- - -

Hundreds of desperate people rushed the site attempting to escape, as the Ark launched on September 2nd.

On October 3rd, Noah, along with Captain John Franklin, and the Ark's command crew, watched powerlessly as the Morning Star stuck the Earth, impacting right on top of Baltimore, MD. They watched in horror as the Yellowstone Caldera let go, adding immeasurably to the destruction. As the world turned below, they watched impotently as volcanoes erupted by the thousands and enormous tsunamis raced across the oceans. Within three days, the surface was fully obscured.

“So ends the Earth as we knew it!” Noah remarked sadly as the last visible point on the surface, was hidden.

That evening, as he fell into hibernation, he dreamed again.

“You did well my son!” the old man said with a smile. “Sleep and rest well while the Earth is remade. I will be here when you awaken!”

- - -

“Awake my son, it is time!” Noah heard the old man say seconds later, and feeling someone touching his right arm.

“What happened?” he asked, “Did the hibernation unit fail?”

“Not at all doctor!” a voice replied, as he opened his eyes. “You’ve been asleep a very long time!”

“How… How L.. Long?” he asked.

“369 years!” the voice who he finally recognized as Captain Franklin’s replied. “We're in low Earth orbit and the biosphere is well on its way to recovery.”

“How bad was it?” he asked.

“Look for yourself.” Franklin replied, pulling a monitor in front of his face.

The Earth was changed. None of the continents had survived intact but some areas were recognizable. Where the east coast of the U.S. had been, was now a large ocean basin which reached nearly to the Rocky Mountains.

“When do we go down?” he asked.

“Forty days give or take.” Franklin replied, "Then we can get to work!"

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