Free Sedulity (Book One) Impact by David Forsyth

puffs of smoke. Fortunately, most of the critical electronics gear was
secured in waterproof housings that seemed to have survived, but other
equipment was clearly compromised.  “Status report, Mr. Crawford?” he called
out.
    “Unclear, sir,” the First Officer replied while staring at a
bank of wall mounted displays. “Flooding alarms on most decks, even the upper
ones, but not nearly as many fire alarms as before. I can’t tell if the fires
are out or the relay circuits are blown. Watertight doors are all closed.
Automatic pumps have activated in twelve zones. Over a thousand automated
sprinklers and fire suppression systems are active. Water pressure is marginal
and falling. Main generators are offline, but backup power is functioning.
Engineering reports moderate flooding from above, pumps and damage control
parties activated. We also have automatic shutdown of power pods one and four.
Main generators offline. No casualty reports yet, sir.”
    “Very well,” the Captain responded in a calm and level tone.
“Maintain steerage speed with pods two and three, steady as she goes. Request
status reports from all engineering spaces. Mobilize all able-bodied crew to
assist passengers and continue damage control.” Then he turned towards Kevin
and said, “So, weatherman, what comes next?”
    ****

Chapter 5:
    NORAD and US Space Command were the
first onshore entities to sound the alarm. Their satellites reported a massive
nuclear detonation in mid-ocean, sending the entire US military to DEFCON 3.
Radar tracking and reports from US military bases and ships in the Pacific,
especially the Pacific Missile Test Range, quickly flowed in to confirm an
event, but altered the categorization from NUDET to astronomical impact. Their
warnings were classified Top Secret and forwarded to the Pentagon and White
House. NASA and JPL at Cal Tech also sent classified warnings within minutes of
impact. Those with access to this data, as well as a delayed alarm from the
Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, were apparently paralyzed by shock or
disbelief. No press release or Emergency Broadcast System announcement was
issued in the first hour of the crisis. This oversight may have cost millions
of lives. The clock was ticking.
     
    “Rain and fire,” Kevin answered the Captain’s question,
pointing towards the rapidly expanding clouds roiling towards the ship from the
point of impact. Hundreds of lightning bolts flitted through the clouds,
illuminating them as if for a light show, and cracking down to strike the sea.
Flaming trails like small meteors, or artillery rockets, also fell out of the
clouds and created plumes of steam wherever they hit the water.
    “What is happening?” the awestruck Captain asked.
    “The vaporized seawater, cubic miles of it, along with ejecta
from the seafloor and the asteroid itself, all got expelled into the upper
atmosphere.  As the superheated water vapor cools it will condense into clouds,
producing massive amounts of rain. The molten solids ejected by the impact are also
falling and it looks like they are still quite hot,” Kevin explained.
     “So it’s not over yet,” Captain Krystos said as a statement
of fact, not a question.  They stood together on the Bridge, surrounded by
equally stunned officers and crew, watching yet another unimaginable phenomena
bare down on the ship and wondering how much more punishment the Sedulity could withstand.  “Mr. Crawford,” the Captain said loudly. “If the intercoms
are still working, notify the crew to prepare for foul weather and maintain
fire watch. Inform the passengers to remain inboard on the lower decks near
their lifeboat muster stations.” Lowering his voice he turned to Kevin and
asked, “What more can we do?”
    Kevin Summers shrugged and whispered, “Pray.” 
    ****
    Amanda Summers was bruised and terrified, but relieved that
the roller coaster ride appeared to be over. The water that had rushed up and
down the halls was gone now, much