When Worlds Collide

The events unfold in a near-future setting relative to the 1950s, with spaceflight and global coordination emerging as humanity's last chance. An eight-month countdown and a looming planetary collision drive the tension, reflecting Cold War-era anxieties about science and survival. The narrative treats technological progress as both hope and hazard.

The story centers on the United States where a former Army proving ground is converted into an ark. South Africa is the origin of top-secret photographs that spark the global response. Zyra, the Earth-sized, habitable planet, becomes humanity's possible new home as Earth braces for annihilation.

🛟 Survival

Humanity must improvise a way to survive a planetary collision by building arks and evacuating a chosen few. The ark represents a fragile last hope that depends on scarce resources, careful planning, and collective resolve. The story emphasizes resilience as communities adapt to a transformed world and face the unknown.

⚖️ Ethics

Decisions about who gets to live aboard the ark reveal tensions between money, power, and merit. Hendron pushes for a fair lottery, while Stanton seeks to bend rules to his advantage. The crisis exposes social inequalities and the risks of leadership driven by personal gain.

❤️ Love

Romantic loyalties influence choices amid catastrophe: Joyce's feelings for Randall complicate alliances, and Drake's actions reveal self-preservation under pressure. The relationships add a humane dimension to the fight for survival, showing vulnerability and hope alongside the mission.

🛰️ Technology

Spaceflight engineering and the ark itself are central to humanity's bid for a second chance. The plot hinges on launch logistics, fuel limits, and the crew's ability to endure a perilous voyage. Survival on Zyra ultimately tests whether technology can transform despair into a new beginning.