Earth Calendar, July 31, 2384.
23:30:00
Time ticked steadily away.
Inside the six surface cities.
Hundreds of millions of humans stayed in their homes or gathered in squares and streets.
Not a sound disturbed the silence.
Everyone held their breath, quietly watching the holographic projections of various sizes before them.
On the screens, the red countdown ticked inexorably onward.
The final thirty minutes.
Outside the cities, Dawn Star's atmosphere was as dry as ever.
Under the regulation of the orbiting Planetary Climate Control Satellites, another massive storm swept through the high-risk region designated X.
A gentle breeze stirred across A1 Plain. Light from Gliese 555 fell evenly over the yellowish-brown soil, bringing a little warmth to this Super-Earth.
Quiet and peaceful.
Yet anyone who looked up at the blue-violet sky would have seen a terrifying sight!
A gigantic black sphere was slowly crossing the sky.
It was Comet Nero, wrapped in black carbon nanotube fabric!
Not far from the black sphere were more than a hundred twinkling points of light.
Those were the lights emitted by the Hall Thrusters at the sterns of the [Glutton] supply transports!
Several hours earlier, thanks to the combined efforts of Dawn Star's gravity and the [Glutton] supply transports, Comet Nero had entered its planned orbit.
Now, the [Glutton] supply transports were performing the final deceleration.
As Nero's flight speed decreased, its orbital altitude would continue to drop.
Until it fell into the atmosphere.
The black fabric covering its surface would be "unfastened" just before it entered the atmosphere.
"Nero has reached the designated speed!"
"Prepare to release the 'net'!"
Lü Yongchang's steady voice rang through the command hall at the Academy of Sciences headquarters.
On the enormous holographic projection directly ahead, Nero's flight speed continued to decrease, and its projected trajectory had become