Epilogue

The well-organized tropical wave that moved off the African coast was first observed in early August. Two days later it was upgraded to a tropical depression. Three days later, it classification changed again, this time the strengthened storm was classified as a Tropical Storm and named Claudette. Steering currents caused the storm to track in a north-westerly direction towards the Lesser Antilles over the next several days. A week later, after wind shear initially kept the storm from strengthening further, the storm became a hurricane and continued to strengthen. Shortly afterwards, the storm became a Category 5 hurricane with winds 175 mph.

As Hurricane Claudette passed over the Bahaman island, the abnormally warm ocean water energised the storm even more. It reached the newly introduced Category 6 just before landfall. The destruction was nothing but catastrophic. All models showed that the storm will strengthen even more on the warm waters off Florida. It passed Category 7, a category that was created specific for Claudette, a day later.

Claudette made landfall in central Florida, battering cities and towns. The levees that withstood pervious hurricanes not only failed but were literally torn from the ground. The storm surge was a super-tsunami. Up to a distance of 150 miles, she states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, the entire Florida and large parts of Texas became part of the Gulf, completely under water. The confirmed death-toll was over twenty thousand. Miami and several other cities and town in Florida became unfit for human habitation.

Claudette was followed by a Category 4 hurricane that made landfall in the United Kingdom, the first Atlantic hurricane ever to do so.

Emergency meetings were called by the United Nations. The storms in the US and UK were the tipping point after a series of catastrophic droughts and flooding in other parts of the world. Nations pledged vast sums of money and resources to build the infrastructure to realise the professor’s vision.

As you watch the news reports on the proceedings, your phone rings.

“Hi!” Emily’s cheerful voice greets you. “You must have seen the news. They are going to build the space platform and the global network of satellites,”

“I’ve seen. It’s really exciting times,”

“Yes it is. I am training to go up there and supervise. My grandfather is too old now, so he will need someone to go in his place. And, we are going to need some pilots!”

To be continued…