USGS Seismic Monitor

"Paul? Have you seen these readings?"

"Yes, Janet, and before you ask, no, I do not know what they mean. We're getting activity all across the planet. If I didn't know better, I'd say someone inside the Earth was kicking to get out."

"Let's take a look at that idea. Sometimes the wildest ideas can lead to an answer you wouldn't find otherwise. So, assume that there is something kicking to get out, where is the activity focusing? I mean, if it's a chicken egg, the chick is usually hammering on one end or the other, but that's going to kick up a fuss all around because it has to move it's body pretty hard to peck its way out."

"Okay, Janet, your idea, you run with it. I'll see if I can come up with anything that fits."

"Well, if we treat all of this as noise from inside, then we want to know where it's loudest. A simple amplitude subtraction won't do, there's a lot of harmonics and other noise, so let's use a sound filter. Run it through a few passes, and what do we get?"

"Um, I hate to tell you this..."

"...but it looks like garbage. Ideas?"

"Huh... When I did some sound work in my earlier years, I would have tried either a high-pass, low-pass, or notch filter to see if that made any difference."

"Alright, let's try them all with ten different sets of settings, and see what we get."

"That's more like it! Good job, Janet!"

"Yes, they look better, but which of the thirty is the right answer?"

"Try combining them.

"That's what, thirty factorial? No, I don't think so. We haven't got that much computer time in the whole USGS budget. We need another filter to bring things down to a reasonable size. How about we take the weakest signal and subtract it from all the others?"

"Repeat as needed, most weak candidates to the strongest candidate."

"Yes, and that we can do right here."

"Hey... I'm seeing a pattern emerge. What do you see?"

"A pattern, a very frightening pattern."

"What? It's just seismic activity; it's not the end of the world!"

"You think so, look at this 3D projection. The entire Arctic basin is cracking at the edges."

"Janet, you might be right, but this data is so massaged that we can't take it to the boss. Not without corroboration from some other factor."

Prudhoe Bay

"Mike! What the blazing blue hells is going on here?!"

"Earthquakes, bad ones, we've already had injuries on the rigs, I've called all the crews in, with their supplies. If it all goes to hell, at least we'll know where they are."

"We can't do that! We have schedules and production quotas to meet!"

"Jones, you tell the board, the customers and any other damn fool who's pushing for production to come up here and tell me how the fucking hell we're supposed to do that when the gods damned equipment is jumping around all over the place! We'll be double damned lucky if any of the drill rigs are still standing in a week!"

RUMMMBBBLLLEEEE

"HANG THE **** ON!"

USGS Seimic Monitor

"Janet? You watching the news? Turn on Channel 7; there's corroboration of the arctic circle theory. Oh, boy, is there ever!"

"Paul, I've got a clean report ready. I'm dumping it to your station, take a quick look, no more than five minutes, then we both sign and drop it on the wire to all USGS stations, special attention to chief's of station and their seconds. Then we're going to Washington and damn the travel budget. The director has to hear this now.

USGS HQ, Washington D.C.

"You two had better have something good, OMB has been pounding on me to cut the travel budget, again. For some reason, they just can't wrap their heads around the fact that we work with "geology" which means we have to go where the "geology" exists to do our jobs."

"Yes, Sir. You've seen the news from Prudhoe Bay?"

"Who hasn't. You two have a theory?"

"A theory, yes, but it's based on an absolutely outrageous idea. The only thing that got us to bring it in is how well it's predicting the current events."

"A theory that matches reality. That would be a nice change."

"Not when you realize that the theory predicts that sooner or later, and sooner is the way to bet, the entire Arctic basin is going to pop loose. What happens after that? Who knows. It's pretty near unprecedented."

"And the name of this theory?"

"Well, from the wild idea that spawned it, we call it the "Egg Hatching" theory."

"Do tell... have a seat and fill me in; this has all the earmarks of either utter brilliance or complete insanity. Of course, it's often hard to tell the difference."

White House

"Mr. President, we may have a handle on what is happening, but not why or what we can do about it."

"If you have any kind of handle, it's better than anyone else has. I've got Russia claiming that this is all some sort of scheme involving nuclear weapons to steal all the oil that they claim is theirs."

...

"Director? If it weren't for the fact that your predictions are matching what we're seeing, I'd call up the Surgeon General and have you three committed."

"Mr. President, the title comes from the first wild hair idea we had to try and figure out what's going on. The initial lack of a pattern gave us the idea that maybe something was knocking about on the inside. With that as a WAG model, we started playing with it. Since then, we haven't found another title for the model that fits it quite as well."

"Yes, Mr. President, if anything, the refinements are suggesting that there are several other "contact points" that are taking some of the impact energy."

"Paul, Janet, that was good work. Directory, bringing them here was perfect. Now I can call the advisors together and see if anyone else has any bright ideas, beyond sitting here and waiting for the Earth to hatch."

Situation Room

"...And that, gentlemen and ladies, concludes our presentation."

"Excuse me, but are you actually suggesting that something is hatching from inside the Earth?"

"No, Secretary. We are suggesting that the model that best fits is what might happen if we were standing on an eggshell, and the chick inside was pecking it's way out. What is happening inside the Earth to cause these vibrations? We do not know."

"Do you have any suggestions for the next steps?

"Mr. Secretary, under normal circumstances, half the geologists in the world would be headed to the Arctic Circle right now, but with the disruption of most ground-transport, the only way to get there is by airlift, and the only planes flying are military. Civilian pilots won't take to the air when they can't be sure that the runaway will be there when they get where they're going. The military cargo craft have rough runway capability, and enough room to carry everything we need.

"The problem is, we need everyone else with Arctic Circle interests to do the same all around the Arctic Basin; without that, we can't get enough data to predict what might happen next, much less when. We also need any GPR equipped satellites to retask to cover the Arctic Basin, in particular the edges. I don't know what the government has available right now, but if you have anything there's nothing better you can be doing with them right now than gathering all the data you can."

"And you think this might lead to a solution?"

"Mr. Secretary, I do not think anything will lead to a solution. However, I am not willing to "go quietly into that good night." I'm going to go kicking and screaming the whole damn way. Maybe someone will get irritated enough with the noise to come up with an idea."

chuckles

"Mr. President?"

"Yes, Secretary?"

"I advise putting the full resources of the United States of America on this problem. Give these three, and whomever else they pick up along the way, whatever they think they need, and maybe a bit more too."

"Gentlemen and ladies?"

"I see no dissent. So ordered. General Quartermain, make the arrangements, these three are the leads for the team, whatever they want, they get, and I don't care how much it costs.

"Director. Paul. Janet. You three may be the only hope this tired globe has. If you get there and find out it's going to subside, fine. If you get there and find out the lid is coming off, fine. Either way, it's a win for me."

"Mr. President?"

"Well, in the first case, we go back to life as normal with a bunch of disaster aid to figure out. I've got people who know how to do that, all I have to do is give the word, and I'm done.

"On the other hand, if the lid comes off, I don't have to worry about anything at all, and the preliminary budget is due in two weeks. You have that long to find out which it is.

"Of course, if you actually find a solution, I'll have to consider all of you personal enemies."

"Why!?!"

"Because then I have to find people to implement that solution, and I don't know a damn thing about geology."

chuckles

Prudhoe Bay

"Hey, Mike! We've got a military cargo overhead, looking for a place to land! Let's get the rigs clear of the road, it's the best we've got.'

"You got it! All Rig Drivers! Get your rigs clear of the road! We need it for a runway! Move it NOW! Dozer Drivers! Stand by to shove any slackers off into the marsh! You got thirty seconds to get your rigs moving!"

...

"Director! It looks like they're trying to clear the road for us."

"Good! Go for it whenever you think you've got room."

"Strap down folks! This is going to be bumpy!"

...

"Welcome To Prudhoe Bay, I sure hope you people are the cavalry, cause there's some really bad shit going down here."

"I don't know about cavalry, you might consider us combination scouts and medics for the very sick Earth we have. We have some heavy equipment to move, can any of your people help?"

"Standard ice-country pallets?"

"Yes!"

"No problem. Where do you need it?"

"String it out along the bay, just make sure it's all on solid ground and at least 10 meters above sea level."

"Doc? That's going to be hard. Sea level has been jumping around between 10 and 20 meters as it is. Despite the risk, I've had the men staying on the local drill platforms, at least that way they won't drown in there sleep!"

"Can we get 30 meters above sea level?"

"Only on the rigs. Does everything have to be in contact with the ground, or do you have remote lines for the sensors?"

"Good idea! Let's get moving!"

USGS HQ

"Yes, Mr. President, they're safe on the ground, for certain values of "safe." I understand that sea level has been jumping between 10 and 20 meters, so they're having to use the platforms to stay above the water."

...

"Yes, Mr. President, I'll pass the word. They have Irridium phones with them, the latest encryption tech too. Certainly! Here's their phone number, but I wouldn't recommend calling them, they're probably up to their ears in cables getting everything set up. If you'll give me your number, I have them call you as soon as they report in."

...

"Yes, Mr. President, I have a TS/SCI clearance."

...

"Thank you, Sir. I'll do my best."

Prudhoe Bay Drill Rig 253

"Holy Howling Jesus! What's with this wind?"

"Dunno, Doc, but it's getting worse. Too much worse and these rigs are going to fold. If we're on them, we'll likely die."

"If we're not on them, we'll likely drown! At least this way, I don't have to worry about swimming in all this gear!"

"How close are you?"

"About fifteen more minutes. Make sure that the plane is warmed up and ready to go, as soon as we get done here, we're going to evac. Get everyone else on the plane now. No gear, no bags, no nothing, just them and their arctic wear, that's it. We'll pack them in like sardines, that'll keep them from bouncing around too bad."

"Already in progress, Doc! And we've got an armed airman making sure that no one brings anything extra onboard."

...

"Aw, come on! He's a cat! I carry him inside my parka, I'm so round he won't take up any more room! Have a heart!"

"Living breathing creature?"

"Yes!"

"Two legs?"

"Two sets of two legs, but takes up less than one set of two legs!"

"I'll buy it, get in, and keep that damned cat out of sight."

...

"THAT'S IT! WE'RE DONE! MAKE FOR THE PLANE!"

The waves have been pretty regular to this point, but a new set of temblors throw a new curve into the mix. Janet and Paul make it to the plane, but the director is swept off his feet only yards from the plane. A matter of a few feet height above sea level was the only difference. One could wish for some heroic or tragic scene, but there's no time. The director is gone before anyone notices, and the plane must take off. The next wave would sweep it from the land.

"Paul! The Director! Where is he?"

With pain in his voice, "If he's lucky, he's already dead."

"Paul!?!"

"I just got the call from HQ, the crust is cracked all the way down to the Moho layer already, and it looks like it's going to keep going. All the other teams are reporting the same. There's no way this is going to stop.

"Best outcome? The lid pops up, seawater rushes in, and we have a massive Krakatoa that's going to echo around the Earth from pole to pole. The blast wave alone will level anything in its way. The tsunami that will surely follow will do for the rest. Some humans might survive somewhere, but it'll be pure chance and no guarantee that we'll have enough to restart humanity in any given location."

"Bad outcome? The lid pops completely off, the oceans drain into the enlarged basin, the steam blows the lid to smithereens and it rains down everywhere. After the blast wave and probably before the Tsunami in most places."

"Worst outcome... The lid pops, the oceans drain, then the lid comes back down hard. The steam explosion blows the world apart."

"Is there nothing we can do?"

"If you'll help me work the math out, maybe... It's a totally wild assed idea, but it just might work."

Washington D.C.

"Paul, Janet, thank you for coming."

"Mr. President..."

"I know, he was a good man, and we'll remember him as long as we can. Now, my secretary said you might have an idea."

"Yes, Mr. President."

...

"So let me sum this up. You want to use everyone's ICBM to hit the fissure in selected locations. Repeatedly. The hope is that this will let enough water in to cool the magma that's welling up, enough to tack-weld the basin back in place. Have I got that right?"

"Largely, Mr. President. There's a lot of details on exactly where, what size, and when the missiles impact. In some cases, it may be better to use bombers. At least they'll be able to adjust for extreme wind that might push a missile off course at the last moment. Honestly, we should leave the delivery methods up to the people who know the systems best. They just have to be aware of all the conditions at the locations, which are subject to change without warning."

"How long to decide?"

"Honestly? You should decide go/nogo right now. If it's nogo, Janet and I will have time to get back to our families."

"And if it's go?"

"We stay, lend whatever help we can to calculating the best positions based on the latest data we have."

"A moment please."

Janet and Paul watch as the President walks over to the window. The storm outside is not only unseasonable, it already has 2356 deaths attributed to it. Of course, the storm front covers the entire United States from coast to coast. Contact has already been lost with Hawaii, and the worst is feared.

"It's only going to get worse the longer I wait, isn't it?"

"Yes, Mr. President."

"Very well, who else do we need to coordinate with?"

"Russia. Unless you want to start throwing nukes their way and pray they don't shoot back."

"We were fortunate, one of their Academicians was in the states for a geology conference. I understand he occupies much the same position as Janet and you. He said you might even remember him."

"Georgi?"

"Yes, that was the name. He's in the situation room, making sure that the latest data is available to all. Go talk to him. By the time you have him on-board with the plan, I'll have nuclear release of our entire arsenal to you. Work with General Quatermain on delivery systems, and ensure that the people making the decisions have your best guess at what the weather is doing. We've got some bright boys from NOAH here too. We're feeding them all the data we get. For doom and gloom, you just can't match a depressed weatherman."

Situation Room

"Mr. President, Mr. Primere, all the coordinates for the first way have been locked in. We await your final authorization for launch."

"Premier! On the count of one two three turn?"

"Yes. Alternate numbers, we say the last together and do it. Please start, Mr. President.

"One..."

"...Two"

"Three..."

"TURN!"

"Mr. President, NORAD reports all missiles away and on course."

"Thank you, General. Premier?"

"We report the same. Bonus issue though."

"Like we don't have enough already? Shoot."

"Rockets traveling so little way they will have power all the way to target and be driving down may make some small difference."

"Doctors?"

"We hadn't considered that, but as long as the bomb goes off, I don't see how the rocket fuel is going to make much difference."

"Now I know you're Geologists."

"Why?"

"The rockets can steer, as long as they have fuel; and they'll be driving through any soft stuff before they detonate. They'll get that much deeper into whatever hole the previous blast made."

"Um, Mr. President?"

"Yes?"

"D'OH!"

Some laughter makes everything feel a bit lighter. They're still looking at the death of the world, but maybe this will work. It's a million to one shot, but it just might work.

"What was that incredible scream from?"

"The unborn child of whatever it is."

"The tremors have almost stopped, Mr. President."

"FIBS is reporting the sound from all around the world, including one fellow who was on a mountain with a view over the basin. He came out after each bombardment and looked. He finally saw something that looked like iridescent golden bird feathers and a hint of a wing."

"What size?"

"Best estimate based on his claim is that it was a Phoenix, about the size of the core of the earth,"

"What happened to it?"

"Mr. President, if it subsided under the basin, then most likely one of the missiles drove straight into the heart and killed it."