>be me
>astronomer and data scientist at INPE (Brazil’s space research institute)
>working late on orbital models
>assigned to collaborate with ALMA and some ESA deep space tracking data
>get access to internal astronomy data feeds
just routine cross-checking storage logs
>notice unusually large data packet dumps from high-res telescope arrays
>timestamped to recent tracking of asteroid 99942 Apophis
>wtf.jpg
>most data red-flagged as “Do Not Distribute”
>Download a local backup because I’m not a good boy
>data suggests orbit deviation not aligning with public NASA projections
>panic mode
>check calculations
>Apophis is on direct collision course with Earth
impact window: April 13, 2029
>4 years away
>simulations show oceanic impact with extinction-level tsunami potential
> governments already know
classified communications with “Project Hades” header
literally trying to suppress it to avoid panic
>even fake press releases planned for “near miss” narrative
>pack shit and leave observatory next day
>try to talk to coworker
>“You want to disappear, amigo?”
>he’s in on it
>go full Snowden
>try to post about it on Twitter, Reddit, X
>posts vanish within minutes
>get flagged
>I’m now posting from a burner laptop
>tfw no one believes me
>tfw the sky looks a little closer every night
>tfw Earth has 4 years left and no one cares