Solar Attack (2006) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A scientist races through political skepticism, extreme solar disasters, and a submarine standoff to prevent methane-driven extinction.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Signals From A Violent Sun

A solar probe and the Galileo spacecraft are destroyed by a CME. Satellite debris and the destruction of New Zealand reveal the scale of the threat.

Key Events

• SNEL Probe Collects Data — A SNEL solar probe operates while obtaining solar data. Location: Solar and Near Earth Laboratory
• Solar Flare Destroys Probe — A large CME or solar flare destroys the operating probe. Location: Near the Sun
• Galileo Is Destroyed — A crewed spacecraft is caught in the CME and destroyed. Location: Space
• Equipment Takes The Blame — The Galileo tragedy is attributed to defective Russian equipment. Location: Earth
• Satellites Become Meteors — CMEs knock satellites from orbit, turning them into deadly meteors. Location: Earth orbit
• New Zealand Is Incinerated — A CME destroys New Zealand and leaves molten rock. Location: New Zealand

The Methane Revelation

Lucas Foster's climate program uncovers five percent atmospheric methane. He warns that future CMEs could ignite it, but Joanna Parks and officials remain skeptical.

Key Events

• Global Warming Program Begins — Lucas Foster funds a program intended to fight global warming. Characters: Lucas Foster Location: Earth
• Methane Atmosphere Discovered — The program reveals that the atmosphere contains five percent methane. Characters: Lucas Foster Location: Earth atmosphere
• Lucas Warns Of Extinction — Lucas warns that CMEs will ignite methane and suffocate life. Characters: Lucas Foster, Joanna Parks Location: Scientific briefing
• Joanna Rejects The Warning — Joanna, Lucas's ex-wife and fellow scientist, remains skeptical. Characters: Lucas Foster, Joanna Parks Location: Scientific meeting
• CMEs Threaten The Earth — Multiple CMEs are expected to ignite methane across the planet. Characters: Lucas Foster, President Ryan Gordon Location: Earth

A Perilous Underwater Mission

A nuclear missile solution is identified, requiring submarine access and communication through a deep transatlantic cable. Lucas boards the Russian submarine and helps it survive an extreme dive.

Key Events

• North Pole Missile Plan — Officials determine that nuclear missiles can release vapor to extinguish methane flares. Characters: Lucas Foster, President Ryan Gordon Location: International crisis response
• Lucas Boards Russian Submarine — Lucas boards a Russian submarine to help execute the plan. Characters: Lucas Foster Location: Russian submarine
• Telegraph Cable Solution — Lucas explains that communication can use a cable at 800 meters. Characters: Lucas Foster Location: Russian submarine
• Dangerous Deep Dive — The submarine dives to 800 meters despite being designed for 700. Characters: Lucas Foster Location: Deep ocean

Submarine War At The Brink

The Russian submarine encounters an American submarine while preparing to launch. A mutiny, torpedoes, and submarine damage threaten to derail the global rescue plan.

Key Events

• Russian Authorization Arrives — Communication with Russian leadership produces approval for the missile plan. Characters: Lucas Foster, President Ryan Gordon Location: Russian submarine
• Submarine Standoff Begins — The Russian submarine detects an American submarine before launch. Characters: Lucas Foster Location: Underwater
• Mutiny Is Stopped — Lucas wrestles a gun away from a lieutenant threatening the captain. Characters: Lucas Foster Location: Russian submarine
• Torpedoes Are Countered — The American submarine fires four torpedoes, but countermeasures destroy them. Characters: Lucas Foster Location: Underwater
• Lucas Negotiates A Stand Down — Lucas convinces the American submarine to stand down in exchange for surrender. Characters: Lucas Foster Location: Underwater radio communication

Fire Extinguished

Lucas negotiates a stand down after the Russian submarine releases countermeasures. The missiles reach the North Pole, extinguish the methane flares, and allow Lucas to reunite with Joanna.

Key Events

• Missiles Reach North Pole — The missiles reach the North Pole and extinguish the methane flares. Characters: Lucas Foster, President Ryan Gordon Location: North Pole
• Lucas Returns To America — Lucas returns aboard an American naval vessel and reunites with Joanna. Characters: Lucas Foster, Joanna Parks Location: United States

Story Breakdown

• Solar Disaster Emerges — Early solar events establish the destructive force threatening Earth.
  • Probe Destruction — A CME or solar flare destroys the SNEL solar probe.
  • Galileo Tragedy — The crewed Galileo spacecraft is destroyed in the CME.
• Earthwide Damage Spreads — The solar activity produces increasingly severe planetary consequences.
  • Meteor Satellites — CMEs knock satellites from orbit and turn them into deadly meteors.
  • Molten New Zealand — A CME destroys New Zealand and leaves a mass of molten rock.
• Methane Threat Revealed — Lucas's scientific investigation identifies the hidden mechanism of global destruction.
  • Atmospheric Discovery — The atmosphere is found to contain five percent methane.
  • Extinction Warning — Lucas predicts that CMEs will ignite methane and suffocate life.
• Skepticism Blocks Action — Lucas must overcome disbelief from scientists and officials.
  • Joanna Doubts Lucas — Joanna initially rejects Lucas's warning despite their shared scientific background.
  • Crisis Officials Resist — Government officials do not initially accept the danger Lucas describes.
• Submarine Mission Begins — A nuclear response is linked to a dangerous underwater communications mission.
  • North Pole Solution — Twenty-five-megaton missiles are selected to release vapor and extinguish methane flares.
  • Cable Communication — Lucas identifies a transatlantic telegraph cable as the communication route.
• Underwater Conflict Peaks — Military confrontation nearly prevents the missiles from being launched.
  • Mutiny Disarmed — Lucas takes a gun from a lieutenant threatening the submarine captain.
  • Torpedoes Countered — Countermeasures destroy four torpedoes fired by the American submarine.
• Planetary Rescue Concludes — Negotiation and missile impact bring the global emergency to an end.
  • Stand Down Negotiated — Lucas uses short-wave radio to persuade the American submarine not to attack.
  • Reunion After Survival — The missiles save Earth, and Lucas reunites with Joanna in the United States.

Directed by

Paul Ziller

Key Cast

• Mark Dacascos — Lucas Foster
• Louis Gossett Jr. — President Ryan Gordon
• Joanne Kelly — Joanna Parks
• Kevin Jubinville — Brad Stamp
• Stephen McHattie — Admiral Lawrence