[DRAFT] The Sun Is A Deadly Lazer

[Westinor]

[title] The Sun Is A Deadly Laser

[desc] This morning, cable TV viewers were sent into a panic after an electromagnetic burst from the sun deactivated television satellites. Experts are warning that future solar storms of larger magnitude could be devastating to critical services and public infrastructure.
[validity] has computers and internet

[option] "Finally, it's my time to shine!" whoops your energetic Minister of Infrastructure and Development Lester Knorpf, who is radiating pure excitement. "Sorry, got a bit ahead of myself there. I've compiled several detailed reports," he dumps a stack of thick binders labelled 'Fun in the Sun - Not so Fun!' on your desk. "on how we can upgrade our infrastructure system - step one, apply sunscreen!" He begins to cackle, then clears his throat. "Er, I meant install auxiliary power transformers. Follow that up with upgraded power lines and a revamp of our energy distribution system, and we'll be set! I bet how brilliant I am is beginning to dawn on you, eh?" She beams expectantly. "Tough crowd, huh? Well, the sun's barely risen."
[effect] the numbers on the latest infrastructural spending report are reaching stellar levels

[option] "Oh my, that sounds shockingly expensive!" comments your personal electrician as he installs your new lamp. "There's no need to waste @@CURRENCYPLURAL@@ on such a convoluted and costly project. Why not connect our power grid to a single switch that allows engineers to turn it on and off? That way, we can temporarily power down the grid in the event of a solar storm, and keep the power transformers from overloading. There's an efficient and direct solution; no wacky alternates for us."
[effect] clumsy engineers accidentally power down the nation on a regular basis

[option] "Are you insane?" cries conspiracy theorist @@RANDOMNAME@@ as @@HE@@ shoves your electrician aside and begins dismantling your lamp to search for spy ants. "Some terrorist could turn the lights off on @@NAME@@—" @@HE@@ snaps his fingers, "Just like that! A flip of the switch, and our entire defense and communications system, down! No, we need barriers around every city, shielding us from any sort of electromagnetic attack! Only then will we be truly safe!"
[effect] it's impossible to get good cell service in @@DEMONYMADJECTIVE@@ cities

[option] "Now hold on a minute - explain to me again why I need you to protect me from the sun!" rasps your elderly great-uncle as he hobbles in to the room. "You know, back in my day, we could stand under the sun for weeks. Weeks I tell ya! And we didn't need no government help! You see, when we bought our home it didn't come with a roof..." He begins to recollect some vague memory that honestly, no one is really paying attention to.
[effect] the newest sunscreen products are labelled "100% guaranteed to protect electronic appliances or your money back"

[box][title] The Sun Is A Deadly Laser

[desc] This morning, cable TV viewers were sent into a panic after an electromagnetic burst from the sun deactivated several television satellites. Experts are warning that future solar storms of larger magnitude could devastate critical services and public infrastructure.
[validity] has computers and internet

[option] "This calls for a long-overdue revamp of our energy distribution system!" exclaims your easily excitable Minister of Infrastructure, who is jumping up and down at the thought of large construction projects. "First things first - let's upgrade our power lines so that they're resistant to power surges and ionization. Then, all we need are some auxiliary power transformers that we can reroute excess energy to in the case of an overload, and we'll be set!" She claps her hands in delight. "Sure, there'll be a cost, but how can we put a price tag on our modern way of life?"
[effect] the numbers on the latest infrastructural spending report are reaching stellar levels

[option] "Ohm, that sounds far too expensive and complex," comments your personal electrician as he installs your new lamp. "There's no need to waste @@CURRENCYPLURAL@@ on such a convoluted and costly project. Why not install a single switch that can temporarily turn our power grid on and off? That way, engineers can power down the grid in the event of a solar storm, and keep the power transformers from overloading. There's an efficient and direct solution; no wacky alternates for us."
[effect] clumsy engineers accidentally power down the nation on a regular basis

[option] "Are you insane?" cries conspiracy theorist @@RANDOMNAME@@ as @@HE@@ shoves your electrician aside and begins dismantling your lamp to search for spy ants. "Some terrorist could turn the lights off on @@NAME@@—" @@HE@@ snaps his fingers, "Just like that! A flip of the switch, and our entire defense and communications system, down! No, we need barriers around every city, shielding us from any sort of electromagnetic attack! Only then will we be truly safe."
[effect] it's impossible to get good cell service in @@DEMONYMADJECTIVE@@ cities

[option] "Now hold on a minute - how about you take your filthy hands off my wallet?" rasps your elderly great-uncle, who was last seen in a park screaming at birds. "You know, back in my day, we could stand under the sun for weeks. Weeks I tell ya! And we didn't need no government help! You see, my papa couldn't afford a roof for our home..." He begins to recollect some vague memory that honestly, no one is really paying attention to.
[effect] the newest sunscreen products are labelled "100% guaranteed to protect electronic appliances or your money back"

[box][title] The Sun Is A Deadly Laser

[desc] This morning, cable TV viewers were sent into a panic after an electromagnetic burst from the sun deactivated several television satellites. Experts are warning that future solar storms of larger magnitude could devastate critical services and public infrastructure.
[validity] has computers and internet

[option] "The most effective way to forestall future incidents is to revamp our energy distribution system," remarks your Minister of Infrastructure, as she dumps a dozen heavy books on your desk. "First things first - we should upgrade our power lines to be resistant to power surges and ionization. After that, all we need are some auxiliary power transformers that we can reroute excess energy to in the case of an overload, and we'll be set! There is a cost, but in the end it's truly a small price to pay to preserve our modern way of life."
[effect] the numbers on the latest infrastructural spending report are reaching stellar levels

[option] "Hey! That, um... costs too many, uh, taxes!" protests your niece as she tries and fails to discreetly read off what appears to be a script off of her phone. "Why should, uh, we need.." She squints confusedly at her phone screen, then throws her arms up in the air in exasperation. "What in the- ugh, I give up! Isn't it the government's job to keep the WiFi on, or something? You know what, I don't care whose job it is, but if you don't keep the WiFi on, I'm going to go insane! Can't you just, like, build a bunch of backup satellites, or something? That way, I'll always be able to text my phones, even when the sun explodes or whatever." She leans back and begins to text rapidly while her mother facepalms in the background.
[effect] the night sky glitters with the light of a million satellites

[option] "Um, both of those solutions sound far too expensive and complex," comments your personal electrician, who is installing a new lamp. "There's no need to waste @@CURRENCYPLURAL@@ on such a convoluted and costly project. Why not install a single switch that can temporarily turn our power grid on and off? That way, engineers can power down the grid in the event of a solar storm, and keep the power transformers from overloading. There's an efficient and direct solution; no wacky alternates for us."
[effect] clumsy engineers accidentally power down the nation on a regular basis

[option] "Are you insane?" cries conspiracy theorist @@RANDOMNAME@@ as @@HE@@ shoves your electrician aside and begins dismantling your lamp to search for spy ants. "Some terrorist could turn the lights off on @@NAME@@—" @@HE@@ snaps his fingers, "Just like that! A flip of the switch, and our entire defense and communications system, down! No, we need barriers around every city, shielding us from any sort of electromagnetic attack! Only then will we be truly safe."
[effect] it's impossible to get good cell service in @@DEMONYMADJECTIVE@@ cities

[option] "Now hold on a minute - this all sounds like it'll cost an absurd amount of money!" rasps your elderly great-uncle, who has driven the same car and worn the same clothes for the past forty years. "You know, back in my day, we could stand under the sun for weeks. Weeks I tell ya! And we didn't need no government help! You see, my papa couldn't afford a roof for our home..." He begins to recollect some vague memory that honestly, no one is really paying attention to.
[effect] the newest sunscreen products are labelled "100% guaranteed to protect electronic appliances or your money back"

[title] The Sun Is A Deadly Laser

[desc] A few days ago, satellites orbiting above @@NAME@@ suddenly and inexplicably stopped transmitting signals, sending midday cable TV watchers into a panic. After extensive analysis of the situation, your scientists have figured out the cause — a massive burst of electromagnetic particles from the sun, known as a coronal mass ejection, hit the atmosphere and temporarily disrupted communications from satellites around the globe.
[validity] space program

[option] "Every few months a CME hits our planet,” explains tanned astrophysicist @@RANDOMNAME@@. "Smaller ones are absorbed by the magnetosphere, but larger ones can overload power lines, blow out power transformers and fatally damage the electrical grid, taking out vital utilities like life and food preservation, sewage disposal and water treatment. A simple and efficient solution would be to wire our entire power grid to a single emergency on-and-off switch, which engineers can use to temporarily power down the system in the case of a larger CME to avoid an overload. It's a small price to pay to preserve our modern way of life."
[effect] clumsy engineers accidentally power down the nation on a regular basis

[option] "A small price to pay, until some terrorist puts the lights out in @@NAME@@!" screams conspiracy theorist @@RANDOMNAME@@ in a high-pitched voice as @@HE@@ emerges from a vent and begins to deconstruct your clock to look for spy ants. "Creating an easily accessible power switch to our electric grid is the absolute worst way to go about things — we need to construct a massive shield above every city that can deflect these death rays! Only then will we truly be safe."
[effect] weather forecasters have recently gone out of business

[option] "Ohm, what if we built backup transformers?" queries your personal electrician Ed Thomason as he puts your clock back together. "They could work to absorb the impact of the EMP, and if we upgraded our power lines we could prevent the effects of ionization and keep our power grid up. It's a costly solution, but it gets the job done."
[effect] vacant power transformers are used by locals

[option] "Bah, these eclectro-magtelic whatchamacallits only happen once in a while anyway," scoffs your great-uncle, who's driven the same car for forty years and worn the same clothes for just as long. "I heard that from yer' sister that your labcoats can predict these things from miles away! Back in my day, we had alarms for when the nukes were coming — why don't we use those to tell everyone to turn off their power for a bit?"
[effect] trolls hack the new government warning system to power down the nation

[option] "Nay, this is a sign from the everlasting sun-god that we have gone too far in our embracement of technology!" shouts 'sun-priest' @@RANDOMNAME@@ as @@HE@@ juggles fourteen torches around. "Cast off our reliance on electricity, and merge our society once more with the almighty sun-god!"
[effect] @@DEMONYMPLURAL@@ are awfully tan

[title] The Sun Is A Deadly Laser

[desc] A few days ago, satellites orbiting above @@NAME@@ suddenly and inexplicably stopped transmitting signals, sending midday cable TV watchers into a panic. After extensive analysis of the situation, your scientists have figured out the cause — a massive burst of electromagnetic particles from the sun, known as a coronal mass ejection, hit the atmosphere and temporarily disrupted communications from satellites around the globe.
[validity] space program

[option] "Every few months a CME hits our planet,” explains tanned astrophysicist @@RANDOMNAME@@. "Smaller ones are absorbed by the magnetosphere, but larger ones can overload power lines, blow out power transformers and fatally damage the electrical grid, taking out vital utilities like life and food preservation, sewage disposal and water treatment. A simple and efficient solution would be to wire our entire power grid to a single emergency on-and-off switch, which engineers can use to temporarily power down the system in the case of a larger CME to avoid an overload. It's a small price to pay to preserve our modern way of life."
[effect] clumsy engineers accidentally power down the nation on a regular basis

[option] "A small price to pay, until some terrorist puts the lights out in @@NAME@@!" exclaims conspiracy theorist @@RANDOMNAME@@ in a high-pitched voice as @@HE@@ deconstructs your clock to look for spy ants. "Creating an easily accessible power switch to our electric grid is the absolute worst way to go about things — we need to make a shield around @@NAME@@ that deflects any solar attack by the Blackacrean sun-weapon — or heck, one that deflects all attacks of any kind! Only then will we be truly safe."
[effect] weather forecasters have recently gone out of business

[option] "Nay, this is a sign from the everlasting sun-god that we have gone too far in our embracement of technology!" shouts 'sun-priest' @@RANDOMNAME@@ in an even higher-pitched voice as @@HE@@ juggles fourteen torches around. "Cast off our reliance on electricity, and merge our society once more with the almighty sun-god!"
[effect] @@DEMONYMPLURAL@@ are awfully tan

[option] "Are you stupid?" shrieks mad scientist @@RANDOMNAME@@ at an ear-deafening pitch. "It's our magnetic poles that protect us from radiation — speaking of which, my newest project enhances the strength of our magnetic poles a hundred-fold, causing them to deflect any and all radiation from outer space! Now, all I need is a bit of funding, and we can get this baby off the ground!"
[effect] every night the sky is lit up with a thousand different colors
OR the knife fatality rate is rising

[option] "These scientists have no clue what they're talking about!" yells your Deputy Intelligence Minister, who predicted UFOs would abduct you last week. "This was clearly an attack by those damned East Lebatuckese gone wrong — I heard it from my coffee mug yesterday that they've been developing a huge EMP weapon to take down our satellites and claim control of space! We've got to develop our own weapon — that'll give those idiot scientists something useful to do!"
[effect] the government blames earthquakes on Dàguó heavyweights
OR frustrated teenagers go insane as the internet goes down for the twentieth time

[box][title] The Sun Is A Deadly Laser

[desc] A few days ago, satellites orbiting above @@NAME@@ suddenly and inexplicably stopped transmitting signals, sending midday cable TV watchers into a panic. After extensive analysis of the situation, your scientists have figured out the cause — a massive burst of electromagnetic particles from the sun, known as a coronal mass ejection, hit the atmosphere and temporarily disrupted communications from satellites.
[validity] space program

[option] "Every few months a CME hits our planet,” explains tanned astrophysicist @@RANDOMNAME@@. "Smaller ones are absorbed by the magnetosphere, but larger ones can blow out power transformers and shut down the electrical grid, taking out electrically powered utilities like refrigerators and the sewage system. A simple, efficient, and admittedly costly solution would be to wire our entire power grid to a simple emergency on-and-off switch, which engineers can use to temporarily power down the system in the case of a larger CME. It's a small price to pay to preserve our modern way of life."
[effect] clumsy engineers accidentally power down the nation on a regular basis

[option] "A small price to pay, until some terrorist puts the lights out on @@NAME@@!" exclaims conspiracy theorist @@RANDOMNAME@@ in a high-pitched voice as @@HE@@ deconstructs your clock to look for spy ants. "That's the absolutely wrong way to go about things — we need to make a shield around @@NAME@@ that deflects any solar attack by the Blackacrean sun-weapon — or heck, one that deflects all attacks of any kind! Only then will we be truly safe."
[effect] the nation has plunged into an eternal night

[option] "Nay, this is a sign from the everlasting sun-god that we have gone too far in our embracement of technology!" shouts 'sun-priest' @@RANDOMNAME@@ in an even higher-pitched voice as @@HE@@ juggles fourteen torches around. "Cast off our reliance on electricity, and merge our society once more with the almighty sun-god!"
[effect] @@DEMONYMPLURAL@@ are awfully tan

[option] "You've all got it wrong!" shrieks mad scientist @@RANDOMNAME@@ in an ear-deafening pitch. "It's our magnetic poles that protect us from radiation — speaking of which, my newest project enhances the strength of our magnetic poles a hundred-fold, causing them to deflect any and all radiation from outer space! Mwuahahahah!"
[effect] every night the sky is lit up with a thousand different colors
OR it’s always bright outside
OR the knife fatality rate is rising
[option] "You're all wackos!" yells your frustrated Intelligence Minister @@RANDOMNAME@@, who accidentally ate @@HIS@@ shoe last week. "These 'see-ehm-eehs' aren't real, and what took out our satellites were East Lebatuck missiles! @@LEADER@@, we've got to launch missiles at all East Lebatuckese satellites right now!"
[option] the government blames earthquakes on Dàguó heavyweights

[Karakoko]

How would a sewage system be electrically powered? As far as I know, it's just a network of pipes and tanks and stuff that's mechanically powered. Maybe your sewage system is electric in a more obvious way. I would suggest changing the sewage to something that's clearly electric, like communications. But hey, you don't have to take my advice. I'm not an issue-writing professional.

[Westinor]

How would a sewage system be electrically powered? As far as I know, it's just a network of pipes and tanks and stuff that's mechanically powered. Maybe your sewage system is electric in a more obvious way. I would suggest changing the sewage to something that's clearly electric, like communications. But hey, you don't have to take my advice. I'm not an issue-writing professional.

Sewage disposal, among other things, is reliant on the power grid to function. Treatment in the sewage system requires electricity to function. There are other things besides sewage disposal that I could mention, but just imagine being unable to dispose of waste for extended periods of time.

[Pythaga]

"A small price to pay, until some terrorist puts the lights out on @@NAME@@!"

This should be "puts the lights out in @@NAME@@!"

That's the absolutely wrong way to go about things

This sentence is off, it should be "That's absolutely the wrong way", or "That's the absolute worst way".

"You've all got it wrong!" shrieks mad scientist @@RANDOMNAME@@ in an ear-deafening pitch. "It's our magnetic poles that protect us from radiation — speaking of which, my newest project enhances the strength of our magnetic poles a hundred-fold, causing them to deflect any and all radiation from outer space! Mwuahahahah!"

It should be at, not in, an ear-deafening pitch.

This option doesn't perform any action. The scientist simply mentions the project. Change it so that the character is trying to get you to buy their tech for the government, or so that the character is trying to get research funding from you.

"You're all wackos!" yells your frustrated Intelligence Minister @@RANDOMNAME@@, who accidentally ate @@HIS@@ shoe last week. "These 'see-ehm-eehs' aren't real, and what took out our satellites were East Lebatuck missiles! @@LEADER@@, we've got to launch missiles at all East Lebatuckese satellites right now!"

This one doesn't make too much sense. A big enough pulse would surely wipe out all nation's satellites, East Lebatuck's included. For an intel big-wig to claim it was a conventional weapon is nonsensical. Even more crazy is to propose attacking the dead satellites. I'd suggest changing the minister's explanation from missile attack to an EMP attack that ended up being way to broad and powerful. That way it fits with the solar flare story, and gives @@NAME@@ a reason to develop/use such weapons themselves.

[Westinor]

"A small price to pay, until some terrorist puts the lights out on @@NAME@@!"

This should be "puts the lights out in @@NAME@@!"

That's the absolutely wrong way to go about things

This sentence is off, it should be "That's absolutely the wrong way", or "That's the absolute worst way".

"You've all got it wrong!" shrieks mad scientist @@RANDOMNAME@@ in an ear-deafening pitch. "It's our magnetic poles that protect us from radiation — speaking of which, my newest project enhances the strength of our magnetic poles a hundred-fold, causing them to deflect any and all radiation from outer space! Mwuahahahah!"

It should be at, not in, an ear-deafening pitch.

This option doesn't perform any action. The scientist simply mentions the project. Change it so that the character is trying to get you to buy their tech for the government, or so that the character is trying to get research funding from you.

"You're all wackos!" yells your frustrated Intelligence Minister @@RANDOMNAME@@, who accidentally ate @@HIS@@ shoe last week. "These 'see-ehm-eehs' aren't real, and what took out our satellites were East Lebatuck missiles! @@LEADER@@, we've got to launch missiles at all East Lebatuckese satellites right now!"

This one doesn't make too much sense. A big enough pulse would surely wipe out all nation's satellites, East Lebatuck's included. For an intel big-wig to claim it was a conventional weapon is nonsensical. Even more crazy is to propose attacking the dead satellites. I'd suggest changing the minister's explanation from missile attack to an EMP attack that ended up being way to broad and powerful. That way it fits with the solar flare story, and gives @@NAME@@ a reason to develop/use such weapons themselves.

Made the changes and edited a few other things! Hopefully the issue flows a bit better now, thanks for the change on option 5 btw

[Pythaga]

entire power grid to a simgle emergency on-and-off switch

This is from option 1, it should be single, not simgle.

Great job on option 5 by the way, it fits much better with the rest of the issue now.

[Westinor]

entire power grid to a simgle emergency on-and-off switch

This is from option 1, it should be single, not simgle.

Great job on option 5 by the way, it fits much better with the rest of the issue now.

Ack- I'm stupid ;-;

Thanks! your advice really helped, appreciate it!

[Westinor]

Tidied up the first option, as well as option 3. Hopefully it flows a little bit better now.

[Australian rePublic]

How is manually turning off the electrical grid any different to an EMP doing so?

[Westinor]

How is manually turning off the electrical grid any different to an EMP doing so?

EMPs, or essentially the CMEs mentioned in this issue cause the power lines to overcharge and blow out the transformers, which in turn shuts down the electrical grid and permanently damages it. On the other hand, turning off the power grid prevents this from happening because the power lines will not become ionized, therefore not blowing out the transformers or the electrical grid.

EDIT: Edited the first option to hopefully make that clearer.

[Candlewhisper Archive]

The main problem with this is that its one sensible but expensive option followed by four crazy options.

I think of the four crazy options maybe keep the one where you shield the nation, but parse it as building faraday cages over major cities, with the added benefit of protecting from EMP pulses (and the unspoken downsides of ridiculous costs, and isolating from the outside world).

Then add in one or two other sensible options, though delivered with humour of course.

[Westinor]

The main problem with this is that its one sensible but expensive option followed by four crazy options.

I think of the four crazy options maybe keep the one where you shield the nation, but parse it as building faraday cages over major cities, with the added benefit of protecting from EMP pulses (and the unspoken downsides of ridiculous costs, and isolating from the outside world).

Then add in one or two other sensible options, though delivered with humour of course.

Awh, I liked the fire juggler

Edited second option, added two new options - hopefully they work better

Also, did I sort of get the faraday cage concept right?

[Candlewhisper Archive]

Eh, I might have convinced you to make the issue boring instead.

Tough one to balance this, can you find a middle ground?

[Westinor]

Eh, I might have convinced you to make the issue boring instead.

Tough one to balance this, can you find a middle ground?

Yeah, I'll work towards that. I've edited it a bit, but it still seems fairly lackluster. I'll put more work into it

EDIT: I've added the fire juggler back in. I'm currently dying of the heat here and I can't distinguish humor from, well, anything at all. The draft might be a bit disjointed - let me know what you think, thanks!

[Westinor]

Rewritten - hopefully this proves more entertaining and effective! Feedback and comments are appreciated!

[Westinor]

Cleaned up the issue a bit, added a couple of puns

[Minskiev]

I think you should get rid of the coronal mass ejection part. The explanation makes it basically redundant.

[Westinor]

I think you should get rid of the coronal mass ejection part. The explanation makes it basically redundant.

I'll see if there's a better way to merge the two, since I feel a CME explanation might still be valid. Taken into consideration.

[Drasnia]

[desc] This morning, a coronal mass ejection — a massive burst of electromagnetic particles from the sun — hit the atmosphere, deactivating satellites over @@NAME@@ and sending midday cable TV watchers into a panic. Experts on the matter have revealed that future solar storms may be a cause for concern, with larger waves potentially overloading the electric grid, which could mean the end of electric-powered utilities like food and life preservation, sewage disposal and water treatment, as well as any sort of modern communication.

This desc is the same length as a full option. Is there any way to condense this a bit? Maybe something along the lines of:

This morning, cable TV viewers were sent into a panic after an electromagnetic burst from the sun deactivated several television satellites. Some experts are warning that future solar bursts could devastate critical services and public infrastructure.

I think making it a bit more uncertain that there will be more dangerous bursts can help balance out the issues. Now spending is less attractive since there's more doubt whether it'll even be needed - but that doubt/skepticism needs to be introduced in one of the options.

[Westinor]

[desc] This morning, a coronal mass ejection — a massive burst of electromagnetic particles from the sun — hit the atmosphere, deactivating satellites over @@NAME@@ and sending midday cable TV watchers into a panic. Experts on the matter have revealed that future solar storms may be a cause for concern, with larger waves potentially overloading the electric grid, which could mean the end of electric-powered utilities like food and life preservation, sewage disposal and water treatment, as well as any sort of modern communication.

This desc is the same length as a full option. Is there any way to condense this a bit? Maybe something along the lines of:

This morning, cable TV viewers were sent into a panic after an electromagnetic burst from the sun deactivated several television satellites. Some experts are warning that future solar bursts could devastate critical services and public infrastructure.

I think making it a bit more uncertain that there will be more dangerous bursts can help balance out the issues. Now spending is less attractive since there's more doubt whether it'll even be needed - but that doubt/skepticism needs to be introduced in one of the options.

Ahh, I see - added in the description edit, will get to working on the second part. Thank you!

EDIT: added another option, should I start cutting down on the second one just to shorten the issue up?

Changed option 3 to be more of a "not too costly" option. Hopefully it looks better!

[Westinor]

Cut down on options 2 and 4 to hopefully bring the issue into a decent length. Hopefully this is looking better now!

[Pythaga]

Cut down on options 2 and 4 to hopefully bring the issue into a decent length. Hopefully this is looking better now!

It definitely is, good work!

temporarily turn our power grid on and off — yhat way, engineers can power down the grid

You misspelled "that"

[Westinor]

Cut down on options 2 and 4 to hopefully bring the issue into a decent length. Hopefully this is looking better now!

It definitely is, good work!

temporarily turn our power grid on and off — yhat way, engineers can power down the grid

You misspelled "that"

Fixed, thanks! Yeah, I don't know why yhat's there.

[Westinor]

I've made wording changes to several options, hopefully the dialogue reads better now. Feedback and comments would be appreciated!

[Daarwyrth]

This morning, cable TV viewers were sent into a panic after an electromagnetic burst from the sun deactivated several television satellites.

Wouldn't more technology be affected by an electromagnetic burst from the sun? Like GPS systems or other important machines, like the ones operated in hospitals?

the numbers on the latest infrastructural spending report are shockingly high

Consider changing it to "the numbers on the latest infrastructural spending report reach stellar levels", as the sun is a star as well

[option] "What do we need all of that for?" rasps your elderly great-uncle, who has driven the same car and worn the same clothes for the past forty years. "I don't need you stealing my tax money to protect me from the damn sun! You know, back in my day, we could stand under the sun for days. Days I tell ya! You see, you weak punks nowadays..." He begins to recollect some vague memory that honestly, no one is really paying attention to.
[effect] @@DEMONYMPLURAL@@ apply excessive amounts of sunscreen to their appliances

Perhaps it's just me, but this option feels a little passive to me. It doesn't seem to really add a proactive choice on the part of the government. Perhaps you could consider leaving this option out? Four options would seem more than enough as each options offers a good approach to the problem and a fifth option isn't too necessary. But of course, if you feel different then you can keep it in!

All in all, I really like the topic of the premise. Anything space-related grabs my attention immediately so I'd love to encounter this issue someday, as it's also well-written in addition