DESTINATION: TOTAL DESTRUCTION

"No! This can't be possible!" cried professor Bill Jennings in astonishment.

His assistant, Dr. Ted Simms, peered into the gigantic lens of the telescope then consulted several nearby space charts.

“Perhaps not possible, my dear doctor, but true!” he stated. “The planet Pluto has come out of it's original orbit. It's on a direct path toward Earth and a collision is imminent! We have limited time. We must make plans to divert it," he concluded. His eyes searched the expressionless face of his associate.

Every space official in the world was alerted and summoned to The Imperial Space Capitol. In just a few short hours limousines began to arrive at the capital building. An entourage of world leaders, diplomats, scientists, consultants and military personnel paraded up the stairs and through the heavy doors. Every country on Earth had representation in the spacious, domed council room.

The chairman, a short and heavy-set man, stood up and addressed the assembly. "Gentlemen, you know you have been summoned here on a matter of the gravest importance. You have already been informed of the approach of the planet Pluto. It is a crisis situation of astronomical magnitude. We must set aside our differences and make every effort to unite our resources and knowledge to find a solution. The floor is now open for discussion," he finished.

After several moments of deep thought the Russian delegate, General Von Stristan, a tall and muscular figure, rose to his feet.

"Is it possible to engage powerful retro-rockets to push the planet off it's course the number of degrees required to miss the planet Earth?" he posed.

"That seems like a sound suggestion," replied the chairman.

"It would require a large and continuous supply of energy," stated one of the French scientists.

"Perhaps it is possible," continued an American scientist. "But, would we have enough time?"

"And what if it fails?" posed an African delegate. "What then?"

"Are we just to sit here quietly and await complete destruction?" asked the Russian delegate, his voice booming. "We must do something!" he demanded.

The Chinese delegate was asked if he had any ideas. He wondered if it was possible to create a magnetic force field around Pluto and somehow alter its course in this fashion.

"That's a reasonable suggestion," claimed a Swedish scientist, "and it too has merit."

"What about using a laser beam?" questioned someone else.

An American General stood up. "Gentlemen, if all other attempts fail," he said with assurance, "we have no other choice but to use the atom bomb!"

"Let's blow her out of the water!" agreed several of his cohorts.

The council room erupted with conversation and argument.

"Gentlemen! Gentlemen, please!" implored the chairman. "May I have your attention!" he shouted as he repeatedly banged the gavel on the desktop.

After some time, the assembly came to order.

"We have heard several ingenious ideas," continued the chairman, "are there any others?"

When no other suggestions came forth, a committee was organized to consider the proposed ideas and to prioritize them into a viable plan. Another group was asked to gather supplies, raw materials and financial reserves. Specific building and manufacturing jobs were allocated. News releases were prepared and delivered to the public.

Months later, two huge retro-rockets sat on the State Capitol launching pads. People around the world waited in breathless anticipation.

"Six...five...four...three..." sounded the countdown on loudspeakers throughout the grounds. "Blast off!" came the order and the pencil-thin vehicles rose slowly from their platforms amidst clouds of smoke and exhaust fumes.

"This is mission control. All systems are go!" came a voice over the radio.

Tracking systems followed the rockets on their journey into space. It would take several weeks to reach their destination, even if they traveled at the fastest possible speed. Anxiety increased with each passing hour. Nerves were frayed. Tempers flared.

Finally, the rockets were in position and began to push. Again and again vast amounts of power and energy were exerted. Everyone waited and prayed. Again and again the rockets pushed but nothing happened.

"It's no use!" cried the General. "We are beaten!"

The rockets were called back to Earth. The first attempt had resulted in failure.

Scientists now worked feverishly on the completion and preparation of the gigantic magnetic force field. After several unsuccessful attempts, this idea was also discarded.

With each passing day, Pluto drew nearer and nearer. The laser beam proved minimally successful. It did destroy parts of the planet, but was unable to sustain enough power to alter the course of Pluto.

"Gentlemen, it is as I feared. We are left with no alternative. We have to use the bomb!" stated the chairman to the assembled delegates.

Final preparations took another three weeks. The small metal cylinder was carefully secured in the designated compartment of the rocket. The ship was launched and the automatic pilot steered it on it's course.

By now, Pluto was in a position close enough for Earthlings to see it's mountain surfaces, huge craters, and deep seas by telescope.

"It won't be long, my dear sirs," stated one of the scientists in grave expectation. But the man was never to know his own fate.

As it neared Pluto, a small meteorite hit the rocket. It spun away from it's designated target and crashed to the surface, half-a-planet off course. The bomb went off but the force of the explosion did not fulfill it's original purpose. Instead, it split Pluto into pieces. Half of it veered away as planned. Hundreds of other fragments were hurled into space.

Molten masses hit Earth and turned it's surface into a raging furnace. Volcanoes were reactivated. Seas and oceans began to boil. Earthquakes shifted the planet's crust. Cities were swallowed. Populations disappeared. Everywhere wild agonizing screams were heard as the flames licked long and ravenously. Then there was a deep and hollow silence.