by Don Viecelli
“If you give me just a moment, I have some pictures I want to show you of the ISS and the Sun. At approximately 7:15 p.m. last night, the International Space Station suffered major damage to two of its truss segments and one of its port solar arrays and minor damage to the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module. This picture shows where the damage occurred. Thankfully, none of the astronauts were hurt and they are busy trying to repair the damage and prepare for the full brunt of the storm that is still approaching.
“The cause of the damage to the International Space Station was a powerful X-Class solar flare which erupted on the Sun’s surface. This is a picture of the flare from our SOHO satellite. The flare produced a mass of highly energized protons that caused the solar panels to overheat and send a large bolt of electrical current to a power generating motor attached to the P6 solar array truss structure. The motor overloaded and exploded sending metal fragments into parts of the space station. This is also what caused the damage to the UFO. We did not mention the UFO incident at the press conference for obvious reasons.”
“How high were the radiation levels from the flare, Doctor?” asked the Secretary of Energy.
“Solar flares are classified by the level of X-ray flux in the 1.0 to 8.0 Angstrom band, Mr. Secretary. This X-Class flare measured 6.0 Angstroms. It was high enough to produce S5 Extreme Solar Radiation Storm conditions. According to our Space Weather Scales, Extreme Solar Radiation Storms can produce high biological radiation hazards to astronauts on EVA equaling approximately 100 chest x-rays. Even inside the space station, there are risks. Some of the living modules, communication equipment, electrical and power systems are unprotected from this level of exposure.”
“Can you please explain what a CME is, Dr. Tannenbaum?” the Secretary of Human Services asked.
“Certainly. According to Doctor Henry Everest, the Deputy Director of NOAA, who was at the press conference this morning, a Coronal Mass Ejection or CME is a gigantic bubble of electrified gas that explodes out from the Sun. It can carry as much as 10 billion tons of solar material and usually travel at speeds up to 1500 kilometers per second or approximately 3 million miles per hour. It normally takes two to three days for the gas to cross the 150 million kilometer distance to Earth. As the cloud of gas expands toward the Earth, it appears to envelop the Sun, forming a halo around our star. Doctor Everest called this a ‘Halo Event’.”
“What affect will this storm have on Earth, Doctor Tannenbaum?” asked the Vice President.
“This CME is larger than any previously recorded by our satellites and is traveling towards Earth at over 1100 miles per second. The full brunt of the storm should reach Earth within 48 hours. The shock wave will be very strong. It will compress the Earth’s magnetosphere and unleash a G5 Extreme Geomagnetic Storm. Usually, these storms just produce beautiful Northern Lights. However, according to Doctor Everest, this storm is strong enough to induce electric currents in the Earth that may interfere with electric power transmission equipment and cause blackouts and other adverse effects mentioned in the press release. Fortunately, on Earth, we’re protected by our atmosphere from any serious radiation effects.”
“Does this mean we could have blackouts in our cities, Doctor Tannenbaum?” the President asked.
“Yes, Mr. President. That’s a very good possibility. The last major space storm that knocked out electric power was in 1989, two solar cycles ago. It melted a step-up transformer in the Hydro-Quebec electric power system and knocked out electricity to over six million people living in Canada and the northern US. This storm is bigger and we have a lot more at stake today.”
“Thank you, Doctor Tannenbaum, and Harry for your fine presentations,” the President said. I’m sure there are more questions, but we should take a short break. After the break, I would like to discuss plans for a special commission to be headed by the Vice President to study the impact of this crash. We need to decide how best to prepare the public for the news. I also would like to know if we’re prepared for any power outages from this storm. Let’s start up again in fifteen minutes.”
With that comment, everyone got up to stretch their legs, get some refreshments or go to the restrooms. General Walton noticed he had a voice message alert on his cell phone and listened to the message. It was from General Anderson. He listened for a few minutes and frowned. “Harry, we have a problem. General Anderson left me a message. He just talked with Colonel Hampton who said he is meeting with a TV reporter from Chicago who has evidence that the crash was from a UFO. She plans to go on the air with a 6 o’clock news story unless we find a way to stop her. Colonel Hampton says she has a video file of the dead alien in the same seat we have, but this one has the missing disk around its neck. Colonel Hampton believes she’s for real and someone gave her the evidence from the crash site. He sent General Anderson a sample of the video file from the reporter. General Anderson called the TV reporter’s boss in Chicago. He says the TV reporter wants exclusivity on the story if they hold off on the public announcement. General Anderson sent the file to us to look at and suggests we get back to him and advise what should be done. What do you think we should do?”
“I think we better inform the President and let him decide. Let me handle it.” The Defense Secretary hurried over to the President who was busy talking to his Vice President and laughing at something she was saying. President Maxwell’s mood changed as soon as Harry Patterson began talking to him.
Chapter 16
Chicago, IL:
Dick Hughes was sitting at his desk in Chicago when he received two telephone calls at the same time. His secretary said Kaye was on the first line and it was urgent. Then she said someone named General Kent Anderson from the Pentagon was on the second line and he also said it was urgent that he speak with Dick immediately. Dick smiled to himself and rightly figured Kaye was starting to create waves as she normally does. This was usually a foretelling sign that the story was going to be a good one. He decided to keep the general waiting while he spoke to Kaye first. He picked up the line. “Hello, Kaye. How’s the story going? Do you have something we can put on the air today?”
“Things are going fine, Dick, but I’m having a slight problem getting the colonel up here to agree to do an interview to confirm the UFO story. He says it’s a national security issue and his boss must approve it first. I had to give him some pictures to show his boss that I have proof it’s a UFO crash. I think you’re about to get a call from the Pentagon, from some guy named General Anderson.”
“He’s on the other line holding for me, Kaye. I haven’t talked to him yet. What do you need?”
“Tell the general I want first rights to break the story when the President decides to go public with it. Otherwise, we go today with what I have. Freedom of the press should prevail somewhere in all of this, don’t you think?”
“I’ll check with our lawyers, Kaye, but I think you’re right. We may have a problem if the President puts pressure on us, though. He might want more time.”
“Well, I’m giving them until three o’clock to decide. I think the President is having a meeting today in Washington to discuss the situation. Let’s put some pressure on them.”
“I’ll do that, Kaye. Let me talk to the general first and hear what he wants. I’ll make the request and see if we can get them to agree. Hold their feet to the fire, Kaye. It looks like you’ve got a great story brewing. I’ll call you back in a few minutes.” Dick hung up the phone, took a deep breath and picked up the second line. It’s been a long time since he negotiated with a general at the Pentagon.
Kaye ended her phone call and walked back into the conference room. Dave had also left the room to make his call and was not back yet. Colonel Feldman excused himself to attend to some other matters concerning the investigation. The TV crew was left alone to ponder the situation.
“What do you think they’ll do, Kaye?” Debbie asked.
“I don’t know, Debbie. Dick said the general from the Pentagon was on the other line wait
ing to talk to him as we hung up. I told Dick what I wanted. Now we wait and see what they decide.”
“What do you think of Colonel Hampton?” Debbie asked out of the blue. “I think he likes you.”
Kaye tried to hide her feelings, but Debbie saw right through it. “I know you like him, Kaye. Did you see the way he looked at you when he shook your hand?” Joe and Kurt just sighed in exasperation as men do. Debbie grinned at Kaye. Debbie wasn’t about to give up that easily.
“He seems a little too conservative for me,” Kaye lied. Besides, this is not the time for finding a date. Let’s just drop it. Okay?” She glared at the two men who were smirking at her, especially Kurt who was still smiling. She noticed how he looked over to Debbie as if they shared some sort of secret. It happened very quickly. Then it dawned on her. They were seeing each other. That explained why they seemed to avoid each other on the helicopter ride even though they’ve worked with each other for months. Kaye had thought they might be mad at each other for some reason. She decided she was going to have a good girl-to-girl talk with Debbie when she got her alone tonight.
Of course, she liked Colonel Hampton. Kaye was attracted to him the moment he entered the room and looked into her eyes. He was handsome, she thought, but not overly so. His face was tanned and she wondered where he got it. He had a nice smile, but it was his confidence that she liked most, and his eyes. They looked straight at her and didn’t blink until he spoke. For a moment, she though he could read her mind. He was taller than her, maybe six feet and was in good shape. His hair was cut short, but she didn’t mind. She could tell that he liked her and was trying hard to put everyone at ease. She wished they could have met each other under different circumstances. But then what? She hasn’t dated anyone seriously for over a year. She knew it was time to get back into the dating scene if she was ever going to settle down and have a family. But she still wanted to establish her career first and she hadn’t met anyone she felt instantly attracted to. Now she wondered if she had. She tried to put that thought out of her mind when Dave suddenly walked back into the room.
“Did you talk to your boss, Miss Weston? What did he say?”
“Yes, I did, but he had a call waiting from your general. I’m waiting for him to call me back. What did the general say?”
“He sent the pictures you gave me to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Defense Secretary. They’re meeting with the President right now. I told him what you wanted in return for delaying your story. He said he would pass your request on. I’m waiting for their decision just like you. Are you and your crew planning to stay for the night?”
It was a simple question, but Kaye hadn’t expected it. She tried to reply as casually as she could. “Yes, we are. We have a place in Houghton. Joe has to refuel the helicopter there for our return trip tomorrow. Where are you staying? I didn’t see any place to stay here at the park.”
“Well, this morning I slept in a tent at the crash scene. Tonight I get to sleep in a real bed. We have a place at a motor lodge in Silver City four miles up the road. They have a nice bar and restaurant if you people care to join us tonight?” Debbie just smiled as Kaye looked over at her.
“That would be nice if we can work it out. I’ll let you know after we check in at the hotel.” Kaye tried to think what would happen if her brother called. It was hard to concentrate with everyone staring at her. Then someone’s cell phone rang. Everyone looked at their phones. It was Dave’s satellite phone.
Dave did not recognize the calling number. He pressed the talk button and said, “Hello, Colonel Hampton here.” He paused for a second and a strange expression crossed over his face. He stood up as if he were at attention. “Thank you, Mr. President.” Everyone in the room looked stunned.
President Maxwell had received word at the cabinet meeting from Harry Patterson that a TV reporter had evidence and pictures from the UFO crash site and was planning to go public this evening unless they stopped her. After looking at the video pictures, they had agreed something must be done immediately. President Maxwell instructed the Defense Secretary to call the TV Station and work things out. President Maxwell would handle the TV reporter. He had an idea. General Walton dialed Colonel Hampton’s satellite phone number and handed it to the President. The conversation would be encrypted, thus secure. “Colonel Hampton, this is the President. I hear you’re doing a good job up there on the crash investigation.” He waited for Dave to reply and then continued. “I know this is a bit unexpected, but we didn’t want to take any chances with the TV reporter you’re talking with. It’s very important she not break this story on the air today. We need more time to resolve some very important issues we’re working on. So, I want you to do a favor for me.”
“Yes, Mr. President. What do you want me to do?”
“I want you to take the TV reporter to the crash site and show her everything you’ve found. I want her to document everything for us, so when we do go public, she can help us prepare the public for the shock. Can you do that for me?”
“Yes, Mr. President. I can do that. I’ll get right on it.”
“Good, Colonel. Oh, one more thing. We’re talking with the reporter’s TV station to stop them from going on the air until I’m ready. I’m not sure when I can announce this thing, but it won’t be today. Now, if you don’t mind, I would very much like to talk to that reporter, Miss Kaye Weston, I believe her name is.”
“Yes, Mr. President. That is her name. Here she is.” Dave looked at Kaye and smiled slightly as he handed her the phone. “The President would like to talk to you, Miss Weston.”
Kaye was nervous. She wasn’t expecting a call from the President of the United States. She stood up and took the phone. “Hello, Mr. President. This is Kaye Weston. What can I do for you?” She had a good idea what he was about to ask.
“Hello, Miss Weston. I’m sorry to call you like this, but you didn’t leave me any alternative. I just saw the evidence you have on our Top Secret crash investigation and I believe you can help us.”
“How is that, Mr. President?”
“We need to keep things quiet for a while longer, Miss Weston. We don’t want to alarm the public until we have had a chance to work things out with a lot of other people. Do you know what would happen if you were to say something on TV today about a UFO crash?”
“The public has a right to know what happened up here, Mr. President. We shouldn’t be hiding the truth on something as important as this, Mr. President.” Kaye was trying hard not to show any disrespect to the President.
“I agree with you, Miss Weston. But sometimes we need to take a pause and understand the implications of what we’re about to do. That’s what I’m trying to do. We need to prepare the public for the news. I would like you to help me do that. I’ve asked Colonel Hampton to allow your crew to film the crash site and document everything he has found up there in exchange for not going on the air until I say it’s okay. Will you agree to that?” The President could be very persuasive when he needed to be.
“Only if I can break the story first, Mr. President. We deserve that.”
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the call while the President considered the request. Harry Patterson advised him that this would probably come up. President Maxwell didn’t think it would be a problem, but he wished his press secretary were here to give him some advice. It sounded like a fair deal under the circumstances and he knew what it could do for this reporter’s career. It wouldn’t be the first time, or the last for that matter, that he had to make a deal with someone to do what was right for the country. Even so, he didn’t mention the pressure they were putting on the TV station to stop the story while he was speaking to her. He made his decision. “You have my word, Miss Weston.”
“Then I agree to your terms, Mr. President.” Kaye thought for a second how important this was to her career and then added. “Thank you, Mr. President.”
President Maxwell smiled to himself. “It’s a deal then. Enj
oy your story, Miss Weston. Let me be the first to congratulate you on the biggest story of the last two thousand years. We’ll be in touch.” President Maxwell ended the call.
Kaye stared at the phone for a second and then handed it back to Dave. He was looking at her intently. She smiled and decided to ask him a question. “Does the President call you often?”
Dave smiled back. “No, that was the first time. How about you?”
Kaye didn’t get a chance to reply. Her TV crew started asking questions, all at the same time. “What did he say, Kaye?” Kurt asked loudly above the rest for the third time.
“The President agreed to let me break the story first before he goes public.” Everyone cheered. “And he wants us to film the crash site for the story.” They couldn’t believe what they heard. Everyone looked over at Dave for confirmation.
“She’s right. The President asked me to show her everything we found at the crash site. He wants her to document everything. I think we should get started before it gets dark.”
Kaye looked at Debbie, then Kurt and lastly at Joe. They were all smiling broadly at each other. This was a big deal and they all knew it. This story would be broadcast worldwide, on every major news channel when it broke. Kaye looked at Dave. He was smiling too, which made her glad for some reason. “We’re ready when you are, Colonel. Kurt, Debbie and I’ll cover the story. Joe needs to take care of the helicopter. Just show us the way.”
“Give me a few minutes to talk to Colonel Feldman. You’ll all need hazmat suits and some instructions on how to use them. I’ll get the helicopter crew ready. We can leave in half an hour. Meet me outside by our helicopter.”
They all began to pack their things. Dave left first to find Colonel Feldman. Kurt walked up to Kaye and tapped her on the shoulder. “What about your brother? Any news?”