The strongest solar storm in millennia lashed the planet.
Aurorae writhed like tortured animals, stretching almost to the equator.
Satellite circuits fried.
World-wide, communications went down, along with the electric grid.
For the first time in decades, Earth went dark.
Her people marvelled at the light show in the heavens.
Billions of stars peeping through rose and green curtains.
The Milky Way, a silver scimitar carving the night sky.
While the people revelled in glory they’d forgotten, others crept through the blind spot left in the wake of slain sensors.
Thousands of ships glided down to capture an undefended planet.