“Let’s check on the satellite solar panels to make sure one didn’t accidently deploy while facing us,” Bill Cranston said.
“Rosetta headquarters, Rosetta headquarters, this is Nancy Mullin on Stargazer.”
“This is Rosetta. Please hold, Nancy, while I get Phil Duncan,” said the radio operator. Strict orders were for Phil Duncan, and only Phil Duncan, to communicate with the crew of Stargazer.
“Go ahead, Nancy, this is Phil Duncan.”
“We’ve just been hit by the brightest light we’ve ever seen,” Nancy said. “Bill checked the solar panels on the satellites and nothing’s deployed, thank God. Wait a minute, Bill is showing me a video replay of earth a couple of minutes ago. Jesus, we need to wear sunglasses to look at it. There was an extremely bright light on the ground, which also covered a hell of a lot of sky, emanating from the western United States. It looked like it was around the Dakotas. The light started as a flash but then persisted for about a minute. We’re going to check of all our instruments to make sure nothing’s been compromised.”
“I’m starting with the satellite monitoring systems,” Cranston said. “Video feed, check; main panel power, check; fail-safe system down, but we already knew that; solar panel override switch, DOWN. Holy shit, we don’t dare run another solar panel test with the override down. Now I’m checking the onboard environmental systems. Main panel, check; lighting systems, check; video feeds, check; atmospheric control—DOWN. He looked at Nancy as she wiped perspiration off her forehead. It’s getting hot in here, Phil. I’m going to dress for a spacewalk to see if I can fix the atmospheric controller.”
Nancy Mullin helped Cranston into his space suit. Before she put his helmet on she leaned over to his ear.
“Be careful, baby. If you see something you don’t understand, don’t touch it.”
Cranston eased himself through the hatch leading to the airlock that opened into space. He floated up to the instrument panel on the outside of Stargazer and, after checking it for static electricity, removed the cover. His hunch proved correct—a burned out solenoid, possibly damaged by the gigantic flash of light. He replaced it and spoke to Nancy over the radio. “Flick the console on, Nance.”
“Perfect, Bill, you’re a genius. Now we’ll be able to play Scrabble later in comfort.”
Phil Duncan, who was listening in, laughed.
“While I’m out here, I’m going to check the transmitter on the satellite override switch.”
He moved himself 10 feet to the left and located the override switch cover. He opened it, expecting to find another malfunctioning solenoid. The solenoid was not damaged.
“Phil, if you’re listening, I expected to find a burned-out solenoid on the override switch. It’s in perfect shape. But having said that, what the hell could be causing the override problem? Dare we test the solar panels without knowing what the problem is?”
“No, Bill, we can’t take that chance,” Duncan said. “Great work, pal. Now get back inside or you’ll be late for your Scrabble game.”
Chapter 35
July 28
“Good afternoon everyone, Martha McCallum reporting for Fox News. Unfortunately, I have a tragedy to report. NASA Flight 17, a DC-8 plane that was used to track weather, especially major storms like hurricanes, has crashed in South Dakota. We have heard a report from the NTSB that the plane experienced an extreme flash of intense light from the ground, and it lasted for about a minute. The plane lost all hydraulic controls, which made it almost impossible to fly. It’s unclear whether the flash of light had anything to do with the crash, but the loss of hydraulics came moments after the sudden light and therefore it’s under suspicion. I’m sad to report that the pilot and co-pilot lost their lives.
“In other news, the weather of course. The Department of Homeland Security has announced that it’s exploring every possible scenario that could have resulted in our insane weather. Richard Bellamy, Secretary of Homeland Security is on the line to bring us up to date.”
“Good afternoon, Mr. Secretary. I hope you’re going to tell us not to put our summer clothes away on this July day, not yet anyway. Please tell us what’s new.”
“Hello, Martha, and hello to your viewers. I wish I could give you more definitive news, but let me just say that the weather is now the major priority on the federal government’s list of urgent matters. We’re treating this weather as we would a war. Nothing is off the table, and we’ve assembled a team of scientists and engineers to help us.”
“Is there any truth to the rumor that the government thinks this event could have been intentional, in other words man-made?”
“As I said, Martha, nothing is off the table and we’re exploring every avenue. I know it sounds incredible that this weather could have been the result of a deliberate act, but let’s face it, the entire event is incredible.”
“Thank you for taking the time to talk to us, Mr. Secretary.”
“In other news…”
Chapter 36
July 28
“Good morning everyone, Darryl Smith for NBC News. We’ve received word from the Office of Emergency Management and from the New York City mayor’s office, that major snow clearing has begun on this beautiful but still freezing July 28th. The emergency local law against driving unless you have permission from the Office of Emergency Management is still in effect. Because the temperatures remain below freezing, despite the two-hour thaw a couple of days ago, the plows have a hard time finding places to drop the snow. Sanitation trucks and private construction vehicles have been enlisted to carry snow to the East and Hudson Rivers and drop it in the water.
“I’m happy to announce that our own Ellen Bellamy will be returning to our studio after broadcasting her show from the Federal Office Building for the past few days. Ellen’s husband, as you know, is Rick Bellamy, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and was gracious enough to enable NBC to broadcast her show from his government office. Just so you know, NBC paid the going rate for the privilege of broadcasting from federal property. We tried to cut a deal, but Ellen’s husband is a tough negotiator.
“I close this segment with a question we all have. What else can go wrong?”
Chapter 37
July 30
“This is fucking impossible,” Admiral John Campbell said to Captain Frank Paluzzo, commanding officer of the USS Gerald R. Ford, flagship of Carrier Strike Group 2600. Campbell was the commanding officer of the strike group. The Ford, along with a cruiser and two frigates, steamed across the Pacific for the Sea of Japan, where it would rendezvous with ships of the Japanese and South Korean navies for maneuvers. The purpose of the exercises was to try to convince Kim Jong-un, the boy dictator of North Korea, to pull back on his provocations and nuclear ambitions.
“Do you think that fat kid in North Korea could have something to do with this?” Admiral Campbell asked. “Our previous fix as of a couple of minutes ago showed us 1,200 miles southeast of Japan. Now our satellites show us off the coast of Bermuda. What about our other systems, Frank?”
“Our inertial navigation system shows us where we know we are, 1,200 miles southeast of Japan,” Captain Paluzzo said. “This is one for the books, admiral. I’m wondering if our cold temperature could have something to do with this. I don’t have a clue why this happened. Satellites are satellites, and they’re not programmed to play games. They either work or not, but they never put out wrong positions. I recommend that we contact Norfolk, sir.”