Science has advanced to the point of finding an unlimited source of energy from a new type of planet we have found in recent discoveries. Humanity is about to extract its first “Surge Core” from the middle of a planet. This is a small sphere filled with energy which fills that planet with power to help feed it’s wildlife and plants, all of which are nourished by electricity.
Stephen grabs his high powered laser slicer and faces the sphere in the depths of this rocky planet. This procedure has never been done before, and the timing has to be perfect. The crew, who were in a laboratory on the ground of this planet, were giving Stephen comms based on the surges of energy received from this core. It is essential that it is cut within a small window of the surge of energy slowing down, however Stephen cannot be around the core underground for too long as the electromagnetic forces can interfere with his brain signals, as well as the technology he needs to used to get back above the ground. In fact, once he is face to face with the sphere he has two minutes to cut it out of the core of this planet before the systems start shutting down. This surge could happen once, maybe twice, so it’s crucial he gets it right.
“Captain, I’m face to face with the core, we have one minute and fifty seconds,” states Stephen down the intercom within his astronaut helmet. Captain Mitchell is in charge of this mission, and is closely monitoring the activity of this core so he can get the timing exact on when to cut it. “Okay, I’ll tell you when. This is big, it is crucial we get this done right now, for the good of humanity,” The Captain replies. Stephen powers up his laser slicer, capable of gliding through this rock like butter within seconds. “I am ready when you are Sir!” Exclaims Stephen. The problem is, the Captain only hears half of this before the communications went down, Stephen’s voice was cut off, and it seems all contact has been severed. “Stephen, do you copy? Reply to me Stephen, give me a signal if you hear me,” Captain Mitchell panics.
A wave of dread flushes over the crew. Without this core, humanity on Earth may become extinct, with resources at an all time low. However, if Stephen panics and cuts this core out at the wrong time, the destabilisation that could occur is incalculable. The co-pilot, Janice, frantically thinks of a solution, however nothing comes to mind. It was thought that the technology could survive the electromagnetic force of this core, but the science was wrong. “We need to tell him not to cut it, if he does this wrong, we are done!” Says Janice. “Fuck, this is bad.” Stephen is waiting for a reply from the Captain, not realising what has gone wrong. Laser in hand, face to face with the solution to humanities problems. “Janice, you need to calm down! We are limited on time, worrying will mess this up!” The Captain exclaims with an anger in his voice.
Stephen checks the clock. Thirty seconds left, not a word from the Captain, a bead of sweat drips down his face, the helmet covering him making it impossible to wipe it away. “Captain, he has thirty seconds, what the hell do we do?!” Janice now horrified, not thinking straight. The Captain turns around, shocked at the unprofessionalism“Cut it out! Stephen is trained, he knows what to do in this scenario, I trust-“
A slight misunderstanding can change the course of human history. As if the planet was playing around with this crew like they were prey, the communications came back online for a split second as the Captain shouts “Cut it out,” and Stephen, being in the unknown, just follows orders. The core is at the peak of its surge, and as the laser cuts through the vein holding it in place, everything disappears. The planet is disintegrated within a nanosecond, the space around the planet becoming incredibly dense, the energy released creating a black hole big enough to swallow this little solar system.
For Stephen and his crew, death was too quick to notice. For humanity, extinction will last months and years, will the lack of resources slowly wiping us out.
