“No, why would you say such a thing?”
“My dad worked for a three-letter agency and I remember enough strange people visiting him. They all looked like those two and one is coming in this direction while the other guards the door. Come on, please tell me what you really do. I find it a turn on…”
“Mr. Robert Imus?”
“Yes, that’s me. Who are you?”
“Please come with us.”
“Who are you? What do you want with me?”
“Secret Service agent Willies. Please come with us. We have a car and a plane waiting for you.”
Judy smiled, “I knew it, I knew it. Oh, you turn me on. Here’s my number, please call me when you return from your secret mission.”
“I’m not a…”
“Mr. Imus, I’m sorry to have ruined your evening, but we’re running out of time. We have our orders…”
“I’m coming, I’m coming.”
Bob was surprised when he entered the government Gulfstream V to find Professor Wright. They got you too?”
“Hello Robert, I assume this has something to do with your discovery. They haven’t told me where we’re going, but my gut is telling me we’re going to D.C. in which case get comfortable, we have a long flight ahead of us.”
“I was talking up this really cute junior and wham, I got Shanghaied.”
“Don’t feel bad, I think this is going to end very well for you. Have you considered what you’re going to name the asteroid?”
“Robert’s Rock?”
“NO, please God no. Please tell me you’ve been drinking.”
“Only coffee.”
“Then I need a drink, Robert’s Rock? NO!”
Chapter 5
President Robert Lanoha thought he was having a good morning. Since his wife was out of town, he was enjoying his favorite breakfast of crisp bacon and pancakes. His wife watched his cholesterol like a hawk. She limited his bacon to only two days a month and also mixed his coffee with decaf and she didn’t think he knew. With her in Dallas giving a speech at a woman’s conference, he had the White House to himself and with no special meetings planned he was going to enjoy himself. He thought he’d sneak over to the Marine Base on 8th to say hello and do a little shooting. While some presidents liked bowling and even had a bowling alley installed in the White House, he considered having it removed and a shooting range installed, but the First Lady vetoed the idea. So, whenever he could, he snuck away to shoot with his Marines. He’d lost more than a few beers in the O Club when the Marines snuck in a ringer, one of their snipers who whooped his ass.
He poured himself a third mug of coffee and frowned when his military aide knocked, “No, no, no. There will be no new wars today. The First Lady is in Dallas, so you know what that means…”
Major White smiled, “Sir, no new wars, but there is something that needs your attention.”
“Have a seat and pour yourself a mug of coffee and tell me what needs my attention.”
“Sir, there are a couple of people coming that you need to see. They have some, I’ll call it, Earth-shaking news to discuss with you.”
“Major, out with it.”
“Sir, it as to do with an EL event.”
“I’m sorry, I’m a little slow this morning, a what event?”
“An Ellie event, an extinction level event.” The President sat up and stared at the major.
“Explain and please do so in very simple words and if there are formulas involved, leave them out.”
“Sir, the summary is a rogue asteroid is coming our way, if it hits, it could destroy all life on the planet and that’s all I know. I mean it.”
“Why is this the first I’m hearing of it?”
“One of your science advisors knew, but he packed up and he and his wife disappeared…”
“That I heard about. He returned from a trip out west and disappeared without a trace. I thought the FBI and Secret Service were looking into his disappearance. Did they locate him?”
“The FBI located him and his wife under assumed names in Australia. When they questioned him, he admitted he knew and wanted to save his wife and himself. He submitted a report outlining everything he knew.”
“May I see the report?”
“No, sir.”
“No, sir?”
“No, sir. There are two scientists coming to brief you. It would be better if you listened to them before you looked at the report which is filled with science and all the crap you don’t like. The Secret Service located the two who discovered the asteroid. They went to pick them up and will be landing in an hour. We thought we’d give them some time to rest and then, at lunch, they’d brief you.”
“Major, is it really a, what did you call it?”
“Sir, an Ellie event. Yes, sir it is that bad or from what I was able to figure out from the report, it might even be worse.”
“There goes my nice little Saturday, why do you always do this to me? I thought you Marines could be trusted.”
“Sir, Semper Fidelis.”
“Major, Semper Fidelis. You’re not half bad for an officer.”
“You were an excellent Gunny.”
“Don’t you forget that and remember a simple gunny is now your commander and chief.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Major, we’ll use the Situation Room. I’ll be
