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“How impossible?”

“As in contrary-to-the-laws-of-physics impossible,” Murray said. “But it’s there all the same.”

Gutierrez stared at the fuzzy double teardrop up on the screen. “Are there more of these objects?”

“Now that they know exactly what anomalies to look for, they’re doing global searches. This object appears to be the only one of its kind.”

“Why us?” Gutierrez asked. “Why not Russia? Or China? What does NASA say about that?”

“They think it was just bad luck, Mister President. If this really is an alien craft, it probably locked in over the first landma.s.s it found. We’ll probably never know, unless you want to try to communicate with it.”

“Communicate?” Gutierrez laughed. “It’s already communicated. Its message is loud and clear. This is amazing. Murray, your team is just amazing. And no, I don’t want to try to communicate with this thing. I want to blow it out of the G.o.dd.a.m.n sky.”

“We thought you might choose that option,” Murray said. “General Monroe?”

Murray sat as the air force general rose to discuss his attack plan. Murray looked across the table, and saw that Vanessa was watching him, not the screen. She wore her normally cold expression, but Murray was learning how to read her. On her best day, she couldn’t hope to ever match the show he had just put on, and she knew it. Did the corners of her mouth reveal just a touch of envy?

He turned his attention back to the screen and watched General Monroe outline his strategy.

GENERAL CHARLIE OGDEN

No point in calling himself a colonel anymore. As Chelsea’s top military leader, now he was truly a general. He could promote Cope while he was at it, but why bother? Corporal Cope had such a nice ring to it.

“What’s the latest from Whiskey Company, Corporal?”

“Captain Lodge reports zero traffic at all checkpoints,” Cope said. “He suspects that your readiness drill is actually a way for you to get X-Ray Company in heated tents while his men stand out in the cold. Sergeant Major Nealson also called, wanted me to tell him on the sly if you had an op planned and if he could get in on it.”

“And what did you tell him?”

“I told him this was just a boring drill, sir,” Cope said. “And I took the liberty of suggesting that if he snooped around for more information, you’d have him on the first transfer back to Fort Bragg.”

Ogden smiled. Cope showed initiative, and Ogden needed that kind of person around. Better a clever corporal than a stupid lieutenant.

“Pack up my things, Corporal. I’ll be leaving tonight.”