Astronauts Antonio Van Moof and Kano Folifort were on a routine mission to fix a satellite. In outer space, it’s so quiet and still that you’re not supposed to hear a sound. But as the men returned to the shuttle they could hear a loud screeching sound that appeared to be getting closer. Just as Van Moof took a peek outside the shuttle window it was blown to bits by a massive asteroid.

Back on Earth a loud alarm sounded as red sirens began flashing repeatedly. The Omega Base was the world’s top space program that combined space exploration with international defence. 

“Dr. Eleny! We have a major situation! One of our space shuttles was blown up by an asteroid. And now it appears as though it’s headed for Earth!”

“Oh no! How did this happen? There were no warning signs about an out of control asteroid. We must notify the President immediately Dr. Lane!”

President Robert Myles had been in office for only three months when he would be faced with his greatest challenge. He was spending the weekend at his goat farm in Texas when Secretary of State, Kristen Antoinette frantically relayed the message about the asteroid crisis. After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, President Myles called for an emergency meeting involving all branches of government.

After a couple of hours of squabbling, the government officials were finally able to reach a decision. A high-powered rocket would be launched by The Omega Base. The rocket was technically superior to any weapon that was ever built. But it was brand new and had never been tested. The entire world stopped what they were doing and held their collective breath as the rocket would be fired into outer space.

On orders from the President, a rocket was launched from The Omega Base in Florida. Even though it took just a few seconds, it felt as though time had completely stood still. The rocket looked as though it might not reach the asteroid as everyone watching started to fear the worst. BOOM! The rocket crashed directly into the asteroid sending it off into the cold black universe.

Hooray! The Omega Base had saved the day! Story over, right? Not even close. The asteroid wasn’t blown up. Rather it just changed direction and was now a collision course with a newly-discovered planet called Proton. It was a tiny planet but it was home to thousands of unique extraterrestrials. No human has ever set foot on Proton but there were pictures of the blue planet provided by satellite technology. The people of Earth knew about Proton but knew nothing about the thousands that called the planet home.

The nation’s Press Secretary, Godwin Vauxhall held a news conference to announce that the world was safe and that the asteroid was no longer headed towards Earth.

“But what about the lives of the inhabitants of Proton?” a reporter shouted out.

“Shouldn’t the world provide refuge for the aliens? It’s kind of our fault that the asteroid is going to crash into their planet!” another reporter pressed.

“Um, uh, err, press conference over!” Vauxhall babbled before dashing away from the podium.

Reaction to a possible influx of extraterrestrials on Earth soon became a controversial issue. Some argued passionately for Earth to provide sanctuary for the aliens from Proton. Others felt that there was no place for them and wished they’d find another planet to seek shelter. And then there were those who really didn’t care either way. As the runaway asteroid hurled towards Proton tempers flared as the arguments grew more intense on Earth.

Back at The Omega Base, hotshot test pilot Reed Boon was discussing the dire situation facing Proton.

“Don’t you guys care about the citizens of Proton? The world has been waiting for years to find life on another planet. And now we’re just gonna let it be destroyed? Not only is there much to be gained scientifically, but don’t we have a moral duty to help them?”

One of rocket scientists mockingly pretended to play a tiny violin. “If it doesn’t affect me or is far away, I could care less” he sneered.

An enraged Boon stormed past the engineers working on different rockets and other high-tech machinery and boarded the newest rocket that had just been built. The rocket had not been tested and there was a chance that it may not take off, fall apart in the sky, or even worse, explode. Boon pressed the ignition button and blasted off into space. Security tried to bring down the rocket with laser fire but weren’t successful.

Boon had nearly made it to Proton when his rocket-ship suddenly ran out of fuel. The ship crashed and immediately exploded. Boon was knocked unconscious upon impact. When he came to he was shocked to see who had pulled him from the wreckage. It was Folifort and Van Moof, the astronauts who had been wiped out by the asteroid. “Y-y-you’re alive? But how!”

Before Boon could process any of this craziness, a loud horn sounded as a group of aliens of every shape, size, and colour surrounded them. But were they friend or foe?