The night was dim.
Tonight, New York's sky was covered by thick clouds. They were so dense that there wasn't even a trace of moonlight, let alone stars.
Of course, New York's residents didn't care about the night sky. The city's neon lights still shone brightly, and those who had no idea a meteor strike was about to happen remained immersed in their own lives.
Bars were filled with drinking, pleasure, and debauchery.
In the dark alleys, crime never stopped. Robberies and thefts continued as usual.
Everything was the same as always.
When night fell, the White House lit up, making the white building stand out against the endless darkness.
As the symbol of the Federation, it had never been left in the dark.
Never.
But unlike any other night...
Many rooms in the White House that normally stayed dark were brightly lit tonight.
Anyone passing nearby could see cars constantly coming and going. Helicopters were even landing and taking off from time to time.
The White House had never been this busy before.
However... such activity was anything but a good sign.
[Inside the Oval Office]
Rick Archibald, now in his fifties, stood by the window with a heavy heart.
He thought back to everything he had done since becoming president, and all the dangers he had faced.
The greatest of them all had been silently approving the operation against Homelander.
After that operation failed, Homelander had come to see him in this very office.
That day, Archibald had already prayed to God, hoping that after his death he would be welcomed into Heaven.
But Homelander hadn't killed him.
That surprised him.
It also gave him a sliver of hope.
Homelander was insane and willful, but he still possessed a measure of restraint.
That restraint was what gave Archibald hope.
Tonight... the president hoped he would see that man again.
Footsteps approached.
The presidential secretary leaned close and said softly, "Sir, your wife and children have already been taken to a secure location."
The Secretary of Defense walked over as well, "Mr. President, you should head to the bunker while there's still time."
Archibald shook his head.
"As the highest official of the Federation, I'm not going anywhere."
"If I leave, it'll cause panic."
The young Secretary of Defense lowered his voice, "We can arrange your departure in secret. No one will know, sir."
Archibald smiled, "But we can't fool ourselves, can we?"
"Enough about that."
"How's the contact with Homelander? Has he replied?"
The Secretary of Defense's expression immediately darkened.
"Not yet, Mr. President."
"I've been trying to contact the Seven since this morning. I've contacted Homelander's assistant, Ashley."
"But we still haven't heard anything from him."
"Instead, Ashley and several heroes from Seven Tower tried to leave New York, but we've detained them."
"It looks like Ashley leaked the information."
"Mr. President, if we survive this..."
"We must hold Homelander and Vought accountable!"
Archibald gave a bitter smile.
"You intend to hold accountable a superhuman who can't even be killed by a nuclear bomb?"
"Mr. Secretary, that's far beyond our capabilities."
The president quickly composed himself and said loudly, "It seems Homelander won't be able to participate in tonight's operation, so we'll proceed according to the original plan."
"We'll use our Raptor fighter to carry a nuclear bomb into the upper atmosphere. Once the large meteor codenamed 'Bad Kid' enters the atmosphere, we'll destroy it."
"Now issue the air raid warning. Evacuate as many New York residents as possible into underground shelters."
"Parking garages, underground malls, anywhere."
"Get them underground."
"As for whether we'll survive tonight..."
"That can only be left to God."
One of the generals said worriedly, "Sir, this could cause widespread panic."
Archibald looked at him.
"That's still better than watching them die under a meteor shower."
"Besides, after tonight, no matter how much we want to keep this secret, the truth won't stay hidden."
"At this point, all we can do is minimize the losses."
"And pray that we survive this disaster."
"If we do..."
"We'll still have a chance to apologize to the people."
The general could only nod before clenching his fist.
"Homelander should bear full responsibility for this!"
The president didn't vent his anger at Homelander like the general did.
He said loudly, "In addition, I need a practical strategy."
"'Bad Kid' is only the appetizer, gentlemen."
"'Destroyer' is the main course."
"Our true enemy is that giant that could wipe out humanity."
"Does NASA still not have a workable solution?"
The Secretary of Defense looked embarrassed and hesitated.
"They did submit... something that barely qualifies as an idea."
Archibald looked at him.
The Secretary of Defense cleared his throat, "They think we might use a spacecraft to deliver a nuclear bomb into outer space."
"Then, like demolishing a building, plant the bomb inside 'Destroyer,' and remotely detonate it from our ground command center."
Archibald asked, "Would that work?"
The Secretary of Defense answered awkwardly, "The chances are extremely low. But under the current circumstances, it may be the only remotely feasible option."
The general from before lowered his phone.
"Mr. President, astronomical agencies in other countries have also discovered 'Destroyer.'"
"They hope we'll share our information so we can find a solution together."
Archibald nodded, "Treat NASA's proposal as a backup plan. Prepare the spacecraft, nuclear bomb, personnel, and all necessary equipment immediately."
"If we can't come up with anything better, we'll use it."
He looked at the general again, "Have NASA's Stephen Burton contact the World Astronomical Organization."
"Release everything we know so far. All the information, all the data, including that not-so-reliable proposal."
"Make it all public."
The general grew nervous, "Mr. President, won't that expose some of our military deployments?"
Archibald looked at him, "General, if humanity has less than three days left..."
"Then let it be exposed."
The president clapped his hands.
"All right."
"Let's move."
Orders and messages were continuously sent out from the White House to every corner of the Federation.
Soon, at an Air Force base, a Raptor fighter carrying a nuclear bomb rolled onto the runway, ready for takeoff.
———
[Meanwhile, Inside an Apartment in Chinatown]
After leaving the Sage Grove, the superhuman Cindy, who had been following Homelander ever since, was eating ice cream.
Ryan was on the floor playing with a model airplane.
At that moment, the television suddenly interrupted its programming with a news bulletin.
And the person on screen wasn't a reporter.
It was President Rick Archibald himself.
"What's going on?"
Cindy stopped eating her ice cream and told Ryan to keep it down.
Then she heard the solemn-faced president say on the screen, ["Citizens of New York, I'm sorry, but I must disclose some information."]
["Not long ago, NASA discovered that meteors are heading toward Earth."]
["Among them is one approximately the size of a football field. It has been temporarily designated 'Bad Kid.' It will enter the atmosphere before dawn and strike New York."]
["We already have a response plan. We will detonate a nuclear bomb after 'Bad Kid' enters the atmosphere."]
["However, debris will still fall into New York."]
["Starting now, the city will sound an air raid alarm. Please remain calm. The National Guard and police will guide you to the nearest underground shelter."]
["If your home has a suitable shelter, begin preparing immediately."]
["In addition, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, and other cities will also be affected."]
["However, the meteors heading toward those areas are much smaller. After burning up in the atmosphere, they will shrink even further, so the damage should be limited."]
["But residents there should still take precautions."]
["Everyone..."]
["Lastly, no matter what happens tonight, I will remain in the White House and face this crisis together with all of you."]
["May God bless the Federation."]
After hearing the broadcast, Cindy froze.
"Meteors?"
Ryan, on the other hand, looked excited.
"Cindy, it's meteors!"
"I know."
"What are you so excited about? This isn't fun at all."
Cindy stood up, "Come on. We need to get to a shelter."
At the same time, the sound of cars came from outside the apartment building.
A moment later, men in black suits and sunglasses rushed upstairs, knocking on the doors of Cindy, Kimiko, Lin Aida, and the others.
Using various excuses, they escorted them away.
These people had been sent by Angelina. They would take Cindy and the others to the airport, where a private jet was waiting to fly them out of New York.
As Ryan and the others rode through the streets...
Looking out the window, they saw people scrambling in every direction. Some Black looters took advantage of the chaos, even exchanging gunfire with the police.
Time passed little by little.
By the time midnight arrived, people still above ground could already hear a distant rumble like thunder.
Those who hadn't yet entered shelters looked up.
Through the thick cloud cover, tiny specks of fire appeared in the night sky.
———
[Inside a Command Centre, NASA]
Director Stephen Burton stood on the command platform, staring at the large display.
"They're here!"
"The first meteor shower is here!"
"'Bad Kid' will enter the atmosphere in eight minutes!"
Below, someone in the operations area shouted himself hoarse.
"It's finally here!"
Stephen clenched his fists.
"Notify the Air Force base immediately!"
"They can launch now!"
The Raptor fighter waiting on the runway ignited its engines.
Moments later, it lifted into the sky and climbed higher and higher.
Inside the cockpit, the pilot gripped the controls tightly.
When the aircraft broke through the thick cloud cover, he saw a sight he would never forget.
Above him...
Beneath the sea of stars...
Hundreds of blazing streaks filled the sky.
Every one of them was a meteor burning through the atmosphere.
Among them...
One was vastly larger than all the others.
Without question, that was Bad Kid.
The super meteor the size of a football field.
"It's here."
The pilot bit his lip, reported his status to ground command, and continued climbing.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Meteors streaked past the fighter, carrying light and heat as they fell toward the Earth, crashing into cities across the Federation.
With expert skill, the pilot maneuvered around one meteor after another.
Until...
The only thing above him was the giant meteor.
Bad Kid.
"This is Raptor Three. Pilot Kelsen requesting permission to engage."
["Raptor Three, this is Ground Command. Commander Gladstone Pitt speaking."]
["You are authorized to engage."]
["Attack immediately!"]
After receiving authorization, the pilot immediately disengaged the safety lock and targeted the giant meteor above him.
"Die!", he shouted as he launched the attack.
The fighter's belly opened.
A mechanical launcher extended down, and the nuclear missile mounted on it ignited.
Whoosh!
The missile shot straight into the sky.
The Raptor immediately banked away and dove back toward Earth.
Behind the pilot... the missile climbed higher and higher until it struck the giant meteor, Bad Kid.
BOOM!
A dull explosion echoed.
A blinding flash erupted, illuminating the entire night sky.
The enormous shockwave violently shook the fighter and swept away the thick cloud layer below.
Everyone on the ground could clearly see... a "sun" had appeared over ten thousand meters above them.
The night sky shone like day.
The spectacle left everyone speechless.
Some fearless people didn't even run.
Instead, they took out their phones to record it.
One man did exactly that.
After taking a photo, he suddenly noticed a black dot appear within the blazing "sun" on his phone's screen.
Then a second.
A third.
In the blink of an eye, countless black dots emerged from within the "sun."
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Accompanied by thunderous sonic roars, the shattered remains of Bad Kid, blasted apart by the nuclear bomb, rained down as countless fragments.
Large and small meteor fragments streaked across the sky and fell into New York.
They toppled the Statue of Liberty.
They smashed into the World Trade Center.
They struck the White House.
They crashed into streets and neighborhoods throughout New York.
Explosions! Explosions! Explosions!
In an instant, New York was riddled with destruction.
Countless buildings caught fire as thick smoke rose into the sky.
The entire city looked as though it had suffered a massive terrorist attack. Explosions, sirens, and screams never stopped.
While New York was under attack, the other cities fared no better.
Meteors fell into Yellowstone National Park.
They struck Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, and many other cities.
Seen from above, flashes of fire lit up the entire Federation.
Destroyer hadn't even arrived yet.
Yet the Federation was already on the brink of disaster.
However... at the very moment nearly every region of the Federation was under meteor attack... there was one place on that map of flickering fires.
One tiny, insignificant place.
Completely untouched.
It was the commercial plot of land Angelina had purchased at the auction, where an experimental facility was under construction.
It too had been struck by meteors.
The difference was...
Above the facility, rings of diamond-shaped ripples appeared.
Protected by those ripples, every falling meteor shattered itself upon impact.
The ripples themselves didn't even produce the slightest disturbance.
On the rooftop of a newly completed building... Homelander stood with his arms folded.
The flashes erupting above his head and across the horizon illuminated his face.
The corners of his mouth lifted into a smile.
"What a magnificent fireworks show."
———
The attack ended seventeen minutes later.
Finally.
No more meteors fell from the sky.
But several major cities across the Federation had already been devastated.
Among them, New York had suffered the greatest losses by far.
[The White House]
President Archibald brushed the dust off his clothes and coughed a few times.
The White House itself hadn't been hit directly, but one meteor had landed nearby, leaving a huge crater.
A massive crack had appeared in the ceiling of the Oval Office, with dirt and debris still falling from it.
Escorted out of the office, Archibald stepped outside.
He looked up at the night sky.
A faint glow still lingered high above, but no more meteors were falling.
Looking out from the White House, fires burned across New York.
Buildings leaned at dangerous angles as thick smoke rose into the air.
The distant sounds of ambulances, police cars, and countless other emergency vehicles echoed through the city.
The rescue system had already been activated.
But Archibald had no idea how many people could still be saved.
"Mr. President, something's strange."
The Secretary of Defense walked over carrying a tablet.
"NASA has just finished compiling some data. During the meteor attack, more than ten of our major cities suffered severe strikes."
Archibald frowned,."What's so strange about that?"
The Secretary of Defense turned the tablet toward him.
A map of the Federation appeared on the screen, with red dots marking every area struck by meteors.
He then opened another chart.
This one showed red dots spread across the entire Federation.
Comparing the two, it was easy to see the difference.
The first map had impacts concentrated around major cities.
The second showed the locations NASA had originally predicted. Nearly every city would have been affected, but the impacts were far more evenly distributed.
"And the second map?", Archibald asked.
"That's NASA's original prediction for where the first meteor shower would land."
The Secretary of Defense's face was grave.
"In other words..."
"NASA believes the meteors changed their trajectories after entering the atmosphere."
"This wasn't a natural disaster."
"Sir... this was a deliberate, targeted attack."
"NASA believes this may be an extraterrestrial contact incident."
Archibald's eyes widened.
"Is that possible?"
The Secretary of Defense couldn't be certain.
"It's only NASA's hypothesis."
"But if the computer calculations are correct, then the meteor shower did alter its trajectory after entering the atmosphere. That alone is highly suspicious."
"However, we don't have direct evidence yet."
"NASA will need to reconstruct tonight's events before they can produce conclusive proof."
The president nodded, "Have them report to me the moment they reach a conclusion."
"In addition..."
"Put our military on full alert."
"The highest level."
———
The meteor shower had ended.
People slowly emerged from underground, facing the ruins of their homes, unsure where to go next.
At that very moment...
Inside one of the craters left by a meteor on a nearby street...
As an ambulance drove past, its headlights shone into the crater.
A slug-like creature clinging to a rock immediately slipped into the shadows.