Later that year Charlie heard some worrying news from Peter. One of Britain’s mining ships spotted a potential “Planet Killer” asteroid on the way back to earth. The Woden, contacted earth and ask the Boudicca to confirm their findings on their way back to the asteroid belt.

“I’ve sent you the data Charlie. It does look like it’s on course to hit earth. The thing is nearly 70 miles’ diameter. It will kill all life if it hits.”

“Years ago Peter, America had a space agency called NASA. They used to track this sort of thing. The feminist shut it down. Probably didn’t like the look of the big rockets.”

“Charlie please, this is serious. Can you have a look and confirm our findings. If it’s going to happen, we’ll have to go to the U.N.”

“I hope you’re wrong son. If the worst comes to the worse, I can get you and your family to Mars. It’s not quite self-sufficient yet, but we’re almost there.”

“Thanks, I just hope we are wrong. If we’re not, we have less than two months.”

The data proved correct the next week Charlie, Katherine Bergson, the Australian defense minister and Peter were at the U.N. Charlie was a little apprehensive, but he took his special forces friends, Sally and Jackie, just in case.

The whole of the U.N. were stunned. There were frantic phone calls to their home countries. Some thought it was some kind of trick until the data was confirmed by their own scientists.

Within a day most of the countries in the U.N. were asking what they could do. Many of the ones that had nuclear weapons offered to launch missiles at the asteroid now known as Anubis major. The problem was, none of these countries had the time to build a rocket system that could reach the asteroid in time.

~o~O~o~

Charlie addressed the world leaders by video link.

“Anubis is a planet killer. It’s nearly 70 miles’ diameter. I’m not sure nuclear weapons will be enough. I have another idea. My ships are the only way to reach Anubis before it hits earth. I think we can use them to pull the asteroid off course.”

The Chinese president told them he had his people retro fitting missiles for space flight. Charlie knew that it wouldn’t work. It would be like throwing rocks at a train that was about to hit you.

I have plan to use all of my ships, and Britain’s, to drag the asteroid off course. It needs a lot of work. So I have shopping list of personnel I need for the planning stage.

Charlie tapped a button, and the list of men and women scientists and specialist appeared on the screen. I need these people in Australia in five days. All the leaders agreed except one. President Kirkland of the Feminist Republic.

“There is now way I’m trusting the future of the Feminist Republic to a male. If you want our help, I insist that the planning be done only by women.”

There was an uproar from the rest of the world leaders. Charlie heard swearing in a multitude of languages. The Feminist Republic was now the only strictly feminist country. Many of the others had started to ease of off on male restrictions due to public pressure. This was after seeing what had happened in Australia and Britain. Both countries’ economies had surged.

“The world is going to be destroyed and you stick to your ridiculous feminist bullshit. I really can’t believe you.”

“I don’t mind men being involved in the grunt work. That’s all you’re good for, but intellectual work is women’s work.”

“I invented the anti-grave drive Kirkland. Is that intellectual enough.”

“We all know you stole that from Jane Anston. It’s common knowledge.”

Charlie had learned from Peter that there was no point in arguing with such prejudice. It was like playing chess with a chicken. The chicken would knock over all the pieces, crap on the board and still say it won.

“OK, we shall do without Sylvia Milbourn. I wanted her advice on power dispersion ratios. I’m sure I can work it out, even if I am a dumb male.”

Charlie outlined his plan to surround the asteroid in ships. They would be clamped on and interconnected. The gravity field would encompass the whole asteroid and steer it away from the earth.

“I have a fallback plan for humanity. We have bases on the moon and Mars. Each country can select twenty men and women to be taken off planet before the asteroid hits. I suggest that this is done by a lottery. I assure you my plan will work; this is just a failsafe to continue the human race.”

There were murmurs of agreement from the leaders them the meeting was over. The asteroid had been spotted by observatories on earth. There was some civil unrest spreading. The meeting was broadcast on news services over the world. All countries saw there was hope. All except the Feminist Republic. Kirkland thought it made her look bad, so she suppressed it.

The next day however, most of the women in the Feminist Republic had seen or heard the exchange via the internet. A hacker had broken the Feminist Republic firewalls and posted it on every social media site. Charlie had an idea who had accomplished it. He had to remember to tell Peter to pass on his thanks.

~o~O~o~
The lists of evacuees came through to Charlie while he was in Australia working on his plan. He had his factories working flat out making the clamping and power interconnection equipment. He quickly read through the list and showed it to Peter.

“Charlie, some of these names have the odd son or daughter of the leaders. That’s to be expected, they’re only human. It’s the Feminist Republic. The president and her partner. Her mother and her partner. Her sister and her partner. It just goes on. There are no men at all. They are just trying to save their own family.”

“What did you expect Peter? Do you think your shadowy friends can make this public knowledge? It will be good for the Feminist Republic to know what their leaders are like.”

Peter smiled.

“I’ll get on to them now.”

“I meant what I said about getting you and your friends off planet Peter.”

“I trust you Charlie. If you say it can be done. I believe you.”

The meeting at the Darwin site had just begun when Charlie got a call that there was a late arrival. Sylvia Milbourn was around thirty-five years old, and shook Charlie’s hand warmly. She wasn’t what he was expecting from a product of a feminist upbringing.

He got her up to speed quickly and she made a substantial contribution. She offered to write a program that would spread the load to the anti-grav where it would be needed, but she insisted that she could do the job better. She could compensate for unexpected dropouts quicker. Charlie agreed and the plan was finalized.

~o~O~o~

All the ships had returned to earth to pick up the equipment needed. When that had been loaded the work crews would head to the asteroid and start installing the clamping restraints and running the power cable. If the plan was to work the anti-grav engines would be running at 130%. Charlie knew they were capable of it for short periods.

When all the ships were in place he would land in Dawn 1 to control the gravity field. Sylvia Milbourn would be aboard Dawn 2. She would control power distribution on the Thor from there. The Thor was Britain’s largest ore carrier It was the size of a passenger ferry. The Thor contained two of Charlie’s upgraded generators. He could have done the job himself, but maintaining the gravity field would need all his attention.

The world held its breath while the work was being done. There were regular news updates from the men and women on the installation teams.

Chloe and all his friends had told Charlie he shouldn't be on this dangerous mission. He told them if it failed, they would all die anyway. He also had a unique “feel” for how gravity worked. He was the only one qualified to do it.

In the Feminist Republic, Kirkland and her whole government had been ousted. The new government decided it would be best to be more open, they allowed the external news reports. Most of the women were dumbfounded at the friendly way the Australian men and women interacted.

It was going to be close. The last of the installation crews left in the Austrailian personell carrier, the Charlotte, immediately after hooking up Dawn 1 and the Thor to the network of ships.

The asteroid was visible from earth and was causing mass panic.

All the televisions on the planet must have been tuned into the feed from Dawn 1.

“This is Charlie Sage from Dawn 1 on Anubis. Wish me luck, and pray to whatever gods or goddesses you believe in. Engage booster power Sylvie.”

Charlies hand moved like lightening over the controls as he stared at the readings on the screen. It was working there was a small course deviation.

“Sylvie can you give me more power to grid 17 please.”

“Done Charlie, grid 9 is fluctuating. I think one of the engines on the Juliet is malfunctioning.”

“I see it, I’m compensating. We have a 5-degree deflection now.”

“Charlie we only have 5 minutes until impact. It’s not enough.”

“It’s OK Sylvie. I’m saving the full power until the last minute. When I tell you bring the second generator online.”

“But Charlie, all the engines will overload, including yours. You’ll be killed.”

“Possibly Sylvie, but the engines will have a burst of 200% power. The exploding gravity field will give an extra push. The earth will be safe.”

“There must be another way Charlie.”

“No Sylvie. I’m sending you off when you transfer power. You’ll be safe. I’ll take it from here.”

“No let me help I can keep the power stable! Charlie let me help.”

She was sobbing now.

“You’re a brave women Sylvie. I respect you, but I’ve got this.”

The asteroid was skimming the outer atmosphere now. The friction was starting to damage the ships.

“Give me full power now.”

“Charlie thank you.”

The cameras focused on the asteroid picked up a ship shooting up from Anubis. Charlie was on his own.

He looked square into the camera.

"Chloe I love you.You were my life.”

The feed cut off and the world watched in horror as there was a series of explosions on the surface of the asteroid. The ships were exploding as the power surged through them. They extra power had given the engines a massive boost. The exploding gravity field fields pushed the asteroid out of the atmosphere.

~o~O~o~

The earth was safe. Massive cheers erupted from the whole world. In the control room it took a few minutes for the screams to die down.
Peter looked up from his coms screen. He was crying. Chloe stared and shook her head.

“I’m getting no signal from his tracking beacon I can’t raise him. All the ships were destroyed.

Chloe collapsed.

Charlie Sage, the man who had changed the course of so many lives. Who had saved his planet was dead.