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Language:
English
Series:
Part 2 of I Believed in the Hail Mary
Stats:
Published:
2026-08-29
Updated:
2026-09-02
Words:
3,220
Chapters:
2/?
Comments:
39
Kudos:
82
Bookmarks:
12
Hits:
493

Breaking Through the Atmosphere

Summary:

Somehow, despite the apocalypse, social media sites have kept the lights on, and people have a lot to say about the return of the Hail Mary's beetles. The world is skeptical, excited, hopeful, and everything in between as they see Earth's Hail Mary pull through.

These posts are from the dashboards of a young technician, Ryland Keller (username itsgonnabealrye), at the CSA office where he works on Steve Hatch's team and who should get off his phone and get back to work right now because those telemetry reports aren't going to write themselves.

Notes:

This fic plugs into my other work, Believe in the Hail Mary, but you certainly don't have to read that for this to make any sense. It follows the same timeline and events of that fic. Also this is technically a The Fall Guy crossover with Coltland twins, but you definitely needn't have seen the movie for this fic to make sense, it's more just additional flavor (and angst).

Most of the icons are random stock photos, but a few I made myself! I don't actually use Twitter myself, so all the numbers for likes & quotes are really whatever vibe felt right idk

I got the idea from The Long Journey Home because I did not know you could be so fancy with HTML.

Work skins by jinsake, phyripo, CodenameCarrot, and La_Temperanza

Chapter 1: Beetle Window

Summary:

No news yet, but we have hope!

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

European Space Agency
@esa

Today, Jan 2, 2053, marks the first possible day to see the beetles the from #HailMary

8:14 AM · Jan 2, 2053

2.8K Retweets    150 Quote Tweets 6.1K Likes


Little Space Case
@Yáo_Jiang

I've had this day marked on my calendar for a long time. We're counting on you and the #HailMary, Dad! 💖

8:40 AM · Jan 2, 2053

15 Retweets    1 Quote Tweets 1.1K Likes


РОСКОСМОС
@roscosmos

We have 4 long range telescopes pointed out at Tau Ceti to hopefully spot the return of the #HailMary beetles. We still #BelieveIntheHailMary

8:59 AM · Jan 2, 2053

1.1K Retweets    230 Quote Tweets 4.1K Likes


Jamison Lee
@TheJamisonShow

Can I be totally honest? I completely forgot that #HailMary wasn't just a shitty children's show. The show sucked and failed much like this fucking plan.

European Space Agency @esa · Jan 2

Today marks the first possible day to see the beetles the from #HailMary

8:44 AM · Jan 2, 2053

2.5K Retweets    308 Quote Tweets    19.9K Likes


The Mingler
@taiming

I’m with @TheJamisonShow. I watched the #HailMary launch when I was a teen, and most people were skeptical. They literally lost their science officer days before launch. Their replacement was a damn middle school teacher.

9:20 AM · Jan 2, 2053

1.1K Retweets    89 Quote Tweets    4.8K Likes


Saint Hubert Community Library
@shcl-official

Want to learn about Earth's #HailMary to combat the Astrophage crisis? Check out our latest display on Project Hail Mary's history in our science section!

10:00 AM · Jan 2, 2053

254 Retweets    25 Quote Tweets 5.4K Likes


Nnnnemotoads
@nemobeamo

It's cuz the sun is darker now. Duhhhh

Henloooooo @jakedaneil1112

Good lord you people are dark…. I still #BelieveIntheHailMary. Always did and always will.

10:35 AM · Jan 2, 2053

86 Retweets    12 Quote Tweets    530 Likes


Lord Jelly
@gummyjelly

Deadass, what if the #HMBeetles say "we got nothin. good luck!" like what would we do?

3:11 PM · Jan 2, 2053

342 Retweets    95 Quote Tweets    2.1K Likes


Literal Loaf of Rye Bread
@itsgonnabealrye

Not me SPRINTING to my telescope only to be reminded that it's the middle of the day. And snowing. And that I live on the wrong side of the building. Can you imagine being the first person to spot the #HMBeetles???

1:52 PM · Jan 2, 2053

0 Retweets    0 Quote Tweets    57 Likes


SleaSug
@SeaSlugLover

She got out in 2037. Not clear why exactly. Might be Russia bought her out or she broke out??

I Scream Bitch @icequeen23 · Jan 2

Is that boss bitch @EStratt still around? Are they gonna let her out of jail if those beetles come back?

4:52 PM · Jan 2, 2053

185 Retweets    42 Quote Tweets    980 Likes


Make Me A Sammich
@TheRealRuben

Hold on, I'm shifting back in my #HailMary obsessed era that 11yo me dreamt of.

6:14 PM · Jan 2, 2053

142 Retweets    18 Quote Tweets 2K Likes


AstroAscent
@dimitri-koromov

I look forward to hearing from our dear friends again on the #HailMary soon. We have missed you dearly. I trust that we will see those beetles soon.

6:33 PM · Jan 2, 2053

321 Retweets    19 Quote Tweets 1.2K Likes


Gag Me With A
@garglemeeggs

idc what you idiots think. I am choosing to have hope.

8:14 PM · Jul 3, 2053

4K Retweets 1.4K Quote Tweets 57.5K Likes

Notes:

I did draw the Astro Ascent logo, which is Dimitri's company. Also yes, @itsgonnabealrye is Ryland Keller from my other fic. @Yáo_Jiang is Yáo's daguther.
Also rip to the poor stock photo guy I am using for our asshole white boy with a YouTube channel and probably a podcast.