Jeopardy: A Tripartite Peril

◆ Scientists are horrified when they discover an asteroid about to impact their colony. ◆
Although expecting a ship to collect them soon, it won't matter anymore if the monster rock gets there first. And this wouldn't be a first for this planet. Beta Hydri IV owes its backward rotation to a massive collision, a half a billion years ago, with what became the asteroid belt. A piece of that intruder is coming home to roost, and a mass extinction seems inevitable.

Already in route, Captain Thomas Jackson is ordered to hightail his ship to collect those human scientists. Worse, Beta Hydri IV is his wife, Rianya's, home planet. A planned vacation to visit her family when picking up the scientists suddenly turns to an urgent errand of mercy to destroy the asteroid. If he fails, life there will be forced to start from scratch, again.

Then his ship picks up a distress call from an unknown alien. Jackson disregards it knowing every hour is now life or death for the people of Beta Hydri IV. Not taking 'no' for an answer, the box-shaped ship attacks them. Barely able to communicate with this amphibious species, Jackson's ready to bring them coffee and donuts if these Zlogers just let them get on their way. Once he finally tackles the aliens, they retreat, taking with them the defeat, but also a secret that could salvage their mercenary mission.

★ The delay cuts their options for destroying the flying killer mountain. Everything rides on one last shot. ★

If you liked Deep Impact, this story is right up your launch pad. The science this time explores asteroids, nebulas, and environmental consequences beyond anyone's control. There's a mix of danger, humanity, wits, and plain ol' John Wayne grit from the captain when it seems he hasn't anything left to give. See what others say: