1 Asteroid
[Time - 06:27:45] [Location - Keck Observatory, Hawaii]
Beep... beep... beep...
The incessant noise of a computer warning woke the researcher that was slumped over his desk. His hands habitually started to hit randomly to his side in a vain attempt to find the snooze button of his alarm clock.
Quickly realizing that he slept while monitoring the routine sweep of the night sky, the researcher pressed a few keys to check his computer. His sleepy eyes dilated more and more as he pulled up images and code regarding the irregularity detected by one of the two telescopes.
Grabbing the phone attached to his desk, the researcher reported immediately to his superior, "Telescope 2 is tracking an unknown object on an interception course with Earth. Estimated time until atmospheric entry to be less than 30 minutes."
"How did we get a notice so late? Do we have a visual?"
"The preliminary pictures are out. It looks like an M-Type asteroid. Estimated size shows it- Wait, it... it's moving!?!?"
"We need to report this to the PDCO immediately!"
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[Time - 06:34:00] [Location - Planetary Defense Coordination Office, Washington D.C.]
Several figures are seen rushing into a conference room in the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters. In a discussion that lasted 10 minutes, an emergency press conference was called.
"Our observatories have confirmed a potentially hazardous object approaching Earth. The asteroid designated PW-47 was first sighted by Keck Observatory at 6:27 am today. Our scientists have confirmed based on the trajectory of the object, that it performed a gravitational slingshot from Mars orbit and was obscured from our observation until a routine sweep performed by our telescopes." A bespectacled man wearing a hastily put on suit and crooked tie read out from the podium.
The man appeared almost too calm while reporting the news, almost like he was trying to make this sound routine and unassuming. "While the asteroid is 160 meters wide, around 40 meters will be incinerated upon entry through the atmosphere. It will land roughly in the Pacific Ocean, 200 miles east of the Midway Atolls. Estimated damage will be isolated and limited to the regional level."
That is it.
The news was reported without much gusto, it came and went without much notice from the international community.
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[Time - 6:45:00] [Location - Pentagon, Washington D.C.]
"We have confirmed the potentially hazardous object that will crash into Earth is not an asteroid, but some kind of extraterrestrial life form." Reported Chief of Space Operations, United States Space Force General Steven Carall.
...
"The creature resembles a squid but it doesn't have any tentacles. Pictures also show what appears to be open wounds on the creature."
...
"Have the other nations discovered this detail?" Asked a uniformed man sitting in one of the many seats of the conference room.
"As of now, we cannot confirm. Although we noticed several nations have moved active observation satellites to follow the path of the incoming object." Answered a Space Force support staff member.
...
"New orders. Coordinate with the relevant departments, all information regarding this subject is to be classified at a top-secret level with the codeword Architeuthis." A man with a suit walked in, flashing an FBI badge, and informed all the members present.
