relativistic-bombardment
The use of a spacecraft traveling at near-light speed as a kinetic weapon, delivering destructive energy upon impact equivalent to a particle accelerator.
2 chapters across 1 book
The Killing StarCharles Pellegrino & George Zebrowski
The chapter describes the arrival of a hostile, unmanned relativistic spacecraft from Sagittarius that attacks the solar system with devastating kinetic weapons. The ship, traveling at 92% of light speed and carrying antihydrogen fuel, deploys multiple bomb-like projectiles aimed at Earth and other planets, ensuring near-total destruction. The narrative emphasizes the cold, mechanical nature of the Intruder and the futility of any defense against such a swift and lethal assault.
The chapter depicts the catastrophic aftermath of a relativistic bombardment that has annihilated all inhabited planetary surfaces in the solar system, forcing the survivors on Ceres Station to drastically reduce power and adopt primitive communication methods to avoid detection by lethal alien intruders. Facing an energy crisis, the settlers shift from traditional farming to minimalistic algae cultivation while grappling with fear, hope, and the psychological toll of their dire situation as they prepare for an uncertain future in hiding.