Alex Simon jumped up from his bed and ran downstairs to have some breakfast. It was the day of the family vacation to the Churno Dam! The Dam was his country’s greatest achievement. Alex wanted to be an engineer so he was pumped to see this amazing construction. His sister, Chloe was already downstairs. She was discussing plans with Dad, while Mom was making breakfast. After they ate, the Simons pulled their luggage into their car and got on the road.
After nearly ten hours of driving, they reached the dam. Soon afterward they met with their tour operator named Marshall and were each handed a paper as the tour began. “We all know that our planet, Fria, is frigid, and we have to rely on geothermal energy to heat our underground homes,” said Marshall. Everyone nodded. Alex had learned about this before in school. Marshall also explained that “ new technology has allowed us to make hydroelectric, solar, wind, and nuclear energy sources. Our dam is the most prominent example of this. It is by far the most reliable and largest dam in the world!”. Everyone oohed and aahed. Alex realized that many of the people there had never seen the newest technology. He then looked at the paper he was given and saw that it included information about the dam. “Did you know the Churno Dam produces more energy than all the dams combined in the world, and it produces twice as much energy in an hour as the biggest nuclear reactor!” Alex read.
As they continued the tour Alex couldn’t help but ask about the construction happening above them. “Oh, that? That’s for radars that will detect if nukes come near the dam. This dam is a huge target for our rival country, Sidia, so we need to make sure any bomb never lands. If a bomb comes near the dam, we’ll know and send a missile of our own to intercept it,” Marshall replied. Alex recalled his history lesson in school. He learned that Sidia had been a long-time rival of their country, Tunia. They were currently in a nuclear arms race!
Suddenly sirens went off. The Marshall sprinted away, as the alarm screamed, “A nuke has been detected within the radius of the Churno Dam. Expected landing time: 20 minutes.” They rushed back to their car as jets flew from the ground. The bomb whizzed past the jets and hit the dam. The nuclear defense system had failed. It was clear to Alex, that the Sidians had struck first. They must have located the dam and sent a nuke to destroy it.
It was a mini-nuke and the dam slightly cracked causing water to break through. It was a disaster. The area around the dam completely flooded. Tons upon tons of water bulldozed through nearby towns and historical areas. Other prominent cities were also nuked. The implications meant an all-out war with the Sidians. Alex’s life was forever changed, and the following years would be full of pain and hardship. The war ended four years later when the Tunian and Sidian governments finally agreed to end the destruction.
After nearly ten hours of driving, they reached the dam. Soon afterward they met with their tour operator named Marshall and were each handed a paper as the tour began. “We all know that our planet, Fria, is frigid, and we have to rely on geothermal energy to heat our underground homes,” said Marshall. Everyone nodded. Alex had learned about this before in school. Marshall also explained that “ new technology has allowed us to make hydroelectric, solar, wind, and nuclear energy sources. Our dam is the most prominent example of this. It is by far the most reliable and largest dam in the world!”. Everyone oohed and aahed. Alex realized that many of the people there had never seen the newest technology. He then looked at the paper he was given and saw that it included information about the dam. “Did you know the Churno Dam produces more energy than all the dams combined in the world, and it produces twice as much energy in an hour as the biggest nuclear reactor!” Alex read.
As they continued the tour Alex couldn’t help but ask about the construction happening above them. “Oh, that? That’s for radars that will detect if nukes come near the dam. This dam is a huge target for our rival country, Sidia, so we need to make sure any bomb never lands. If a bomb comes near the dam, we’ll know and send a missile of our own to intercept it,” Marshall replied. Alex recalled his history lesson in school. He learned that Sidia had been a long-time rival of their country, Tunia. They were currently in a nuclear arms race!
Suddenly sirens went off. The Marshall sprinted away, as the alarm screamed, “A nuke has been detected within the radius of the Churno Dam. Expected landing time: 20 minutes.” They rushed back to their car as jets flew from the ground. The bomb whizzed past the jets and hit the dam. The nuclear defense system had failed. It was clear to Alex, that the Sidians had struck first. They must have located the dam and sent a nuke to destroy it.
It was a mini-nuke and the dam slightly cracked causing water to break through. It was a disaster. The area around the dam completely flooded. Tons upon tons of water bulldozed through nearby towns and historical areas. Other prominent cities were also nuked. The implications meant an all-out war with the Sidians. Alex’s life was forever changed, and the following years would be full of pain and hardship. The war ended four years later when the Tunian and Sidian governments finally agreed to end the destruction.