5:00, 05-06-20XX, NY-NY

Despite the early morning hour security double checks for any problems. The hotel staff also arrives early to finish preparing for that evening’s event. The surround system is double checked as the music playlist is double checked by the event coordinator to ensure the chosen music list was appropriate. The silverware and glasses were checked to be spotless and anything short was sent back to be cleaned. The hordes of hotel staff moved busily like ants around their work places.

The day slowly grows late as security double checks the guest list for any problems. All is well on the security cameras as a cute teddy bear in a butler suit sits innocently on the guard supervisors desk. The guards grin at the head of security, who knows it’s a practical joke. The men laugh pointing fingers at each other until the head of security fed up at their jeers grabs the teddy bear and tosses it in the trash. A few minutes later the teddy bear is picked up by janitor cleaning out the trash. The guards don’t pay any attention to the janitor and continue to chat until an hour later when the guests are poised to arrive.

As the hour grows near a janitor with greasy white hair in a ponytail and pulled janitorial cap pulled down heads towards the locker room to change at the end of the days shift. However, the camera system flickers for a moment as the janitor seems to arrive at the janitorial locker room to change and exit the building some minutes later time.

The rich and famous or powerful guests begin to arrive in their limo’s and glistening black cars that screamed extravagant wealth and new money. The flashing of cameras from the photographers and paparazzi is enough to leave an elephant stunned at the blast of lights. Somehow, the guests manage to make their way down the red carpet and into the hotel.

Security carefully checks the guest list that included facial recognition software. The security team at the doors only allow the guests to enter having been verified. Further down another door, the guards drag an irritated man who had attempted to fake his way inside. The nosy reporter shrieks about freedom of the press, but the guards don’t react as they escort him out of the hotel and warningly say, “It’s also a crime to trespass.” The affronted reporter stomps away menacingly.

The remaining guests arrive and are seated on time. The front hotel doors are firmly closed not allowing anyone else to enter. The large ballroom is full of chatter as the seated guests chat and mingle with each other. The playing band ceases to play as the entire room stands up in a crowd of applause. A charming politician waves to the crowd as he walks on stage and halts in front of a podium.

“Fellow Americans, thank you for joining me and everyone else who has fought for this great cause, this evening. Thank you for placing your hope in this humble nation’s servant to make a change for the better. But importantly, one that will not give our children a brighter tomorrow, but one that will change the whole world!” Senator Ricks persuasively said. The beaming crowd cheers as Senator Ricks waves his hand in humble appearance.

“Thank you for your applause, but that is not for me, but for all those that made this possible. Please remember them, but more importantly, thank you for coming to the opening of project VAIR. Now then, before my wife gets angry at me for my long speech, I’ll cut it short, I’m sure we’re all starving. So please, enjoy!” Senator Ricks confidently said as the crowd once more wildly cheers.

Senator Ricks walks off stage and shakes hands with various political movers. He smiles and listens with attentiveness as he mingles with the crowd. Shortly, afterward, a message is slipped into his pocket. Senator Ricks subtly reads the message in his hand, before politely excusing himself and heading out of the ballroom.

Security carefully watches the Senator on screen as Senator Ricks motions for his bodyguards to follow him and wait at a distance. At a brisk pace, Senator Ricks makes his way through the empty hotel hallways before stopping, before the hotel room number, 187. His detail stops further down the hallway and waits for any sudden movements. The door opens and Senator Ricks vanishes into the room as the guards circle the door and wait attentively listening for any signs of danger or call for help.

*

At the Center for Near Earth Objects, the young scientist rubs his eyes as he stares at the space radar. “Uh, sir, I think you need to come take a look at this,” the young scientist nervously said.

The night shift supervisor, an older astrologist, glances up from his computer screen. The older astronomer shakes his grisly hair and snaps back, “What is it?”

The young scientist merely points to the space radar that is showing a large concentration of energy spikes that are ever increasing. “Sir, at this rate, I think it’s going to pass into the atmosphere in less than thirty minutes. Shouldn’t we alert someone?” The young scientist anxiously asked.

he astronomer gapes and says, “By the time we reach anyone, the energy will have reached us.” However, despite having said that, the astronomer rushes towards the phone on his table and dials a number. The astronomer taps his foot angrily as he whispers, “Damn, come on! Pick up!” Finally, a recorded operator voice says, “Thank you for reaching CNEO Headquarters, your call is important to us. All our operators are currently busy, please hold.”

The astronomer almost hangs up but remains on the line despite his feelings. Other members begin to come over and study the radar as some of the more ingenious members begin to calculate damage from impact. Some tense minutes later, the mathematical members of their scientific group finish drawing advanced rudimentary formulas on a white board.

The members of the group pale as some of the group members instantly reach for their phones to call loved ones. The astronomer stares speechlessly at the screen as a middle-aged female scientist says, “If and where it hits, discounting very probable giant tsunami’s, the destruction will be less than an extinction level event, but at a world catastrophic level enough to wipe out a 1/3rd of the world’s population. As for the aftermath, ignoring the likelihood of an outbreak of diseases and other variable factors such as the government's collapse and so forth, the dust will darken the atmosphere, causing a cooling effect and quite possibly launch the world into an ice age. There will be a mass food shortage and possibly even a change in the electromagnetic field. And if the magnetic field goes down, well, T.V.’s done a good job of speculation of the outcome.”

A smooth voice pierces the heavy silence. “Thank you for calling, CNEO Headquarters, how may I direct your call?”

The astronomer's lips twitch in a sneer. “This is Mercer calling Director Stuart. Tell him it’s an Alpha Class event,” Mercer roared.

“I’m sorry, sir, but he’s not in the office right now,” the operator politely stated.

“I don’t care if he’s on the toilet, get him on right now!” Mercer roared.

The operator hesitates before replying, “Just a moment, sir.”

A click later an annoyed voice says, “Mercer this better be good, I’m in the middle of a meeting.”

Mercer straightens up and replies, “Sir, it’s an Alpha Class Level Event.”

“WHAT!” Director Stuart shouted.

“Yes, sir. We have roughly about twenty minutes until space energy waves impact Earth,” Mercer steadily said as he clenches the phone in his hand.

Director Stuart clenches his teeth and says, “You’re going on speaker, Mercer. I’m currently in a meeting with General Rizzoli’s chief of staff and other members of the military. Go.”

“Hello, everyone. We’ve never seen anything like this, so we are vastly unprepared. However, vast cosmic energy has accumulated somehow and is rapidly moving towards us. The impact is less than twenty minutes away.”

“And what happens if it hits?’ An impeccably dressed man in military uniform asked.

Mercer hesitates, before answering the question. “It’s a world catastrophic event, sir. We’re looking at least a 1/3rd of the world’s population simply gone. The dust thrown into the air will not only cause climate change and food shortage but a possible Ice Age. With the worst result being that the electromagnetic field being affected as well.

There is silence on both ends of the phone. The men in the room can’t seem to wrap their heads around the idea. Finally, the Chief of Staff says, “What can we do now?”

“At this point, the only thing that can be done is sound the alarm for the general public to reach any nearby bunker/ shelter and prepare for the worst,” Mercer truthfully said.

The men are quiet as the Chief of Staff mutters, “The president will have to be contacted immediately.” The call abruptly ends as Mercer nods in understanding. While various members speak to their families and instruct them to seek shelter, Mercer heads to the break room. If the world was going to hell, he’d like to fit in a final meal into his schedule.