Wormwood Asteroid Impact

The Wormwood Asteroid Impact was an event where the interstellar asteroid designated as Wormwood entered the Sol system and struck Earth around the mid 2300s in the Gregorian Calendar. At over 14 miles in diameter, the asteroid was much larger than the one that caused the KT extinction event that wiped out Earth's dinosaurs 66 million years prior.

Overview

While the asteroid was identified to be on a collision course with Earth decades in advance, humanity lacked the means to completely deter its path. As such, it was determined that the best result was to evacuate the planet en masse, initially migrating to other colonies such as the Moon, Mars and Jupiter. Additionally, arks were constructed to preserve various species across the planet which were also loaded onto generation ships, an ambitious longterm project designed to begin spreading humanity beyond the solar system.

With the help of Bee-Sus corporation, the upcoming asteroid was slightly redirected to lessen the impact to ensure the planet would be able to recover afterward. Despite this, the asteroid collision was nonetheless devastating, forcing humanity to abandon the planet for good. Upon the asteroid's impact into the Indian Ocean, the entire planet became covered in smog that blocked out the sun, leading to a rapidly cooling climate that wiped out the majority of life that was left behind.

Aftermath

Although most of humanity safely evacuated, Earth was no longer suitable for inhabitation. Despite the receding of the dust clouds, the overwhelming majority of city infrastructure was damaged beyond repair. Any humans that stayed behind in hidden bunkers did not make serious attempts to recolonize the entire planet, instead continuing to remain in their smaller communities.

Of particular note, house cats that had been left behind during the initial evacuation of Earth not only survived but thrived in the new environment now devoid of humans. After enduring a mini-Ice Age, they were quick to overtake a planet that had now become covered in rainforests, leading to an overall increase in oxygen levels. Over thousands of years, they eventually became the Terrafelis, forming small tribes.