The president steps forward. “I agree that change, drastic change is needed. Humanity can no longer tolerate the threat of self-destruction. There can be no more haves and have-nots. We must reorganize our economies into one world order—an order of peace. President Grozny, the United States is offering an olive branch. Are you willing to accept it?”

A rousing ovation sweeps through the hangar bay as Viktor Grozny walks over to the president and embraces him.

Dominique is on her feet, clapping, tears in her eyes, when she notices Mick approaching the podium.

The room grows silent.

Mick stands before the assembly, the apocalyptic message burning in his mind.

“President Chaney is a wise man. The message I carry in my head is also from a wise man, a man whose array helped save us. While our nations discuss politics, our world is being readied, acclimated to accommodate another species, one infinitely older, one that has no aspirations of peace or war. To this enemy, Earth is nothing more than an incubator, humanity its two-million-year-old tenant, about to be removed.”

“United or divided, let us make no mistake—tomorrow is Judgment Day. At dawn, a cosmic portal shall open—a portal that must be sealed for our species to survive. Should we fail, then nothing else said or done in this room will matter. By the solstice sunset tomorrow evening, every living creature on this planet will be dead.”

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

DECEMBER 21, 2012 (4 AHAU, 3 KANKIN)
ABOARD THE JOHN C. STENNIS

12:47 A.M.

Michael Gabriel stares out at the black sea from the open porthole of the small VIP cabin. He is too far away to see the emerald glow; the air craft carrier is stationed two miles due east of the buried alien vessel, but somehow he can feel its presence.

“Are you going to stare out that porthole all night?” Dominique steps out of the bathroom, wearing only a towel. She nuzzles her face against his chest, slipping her arms around his waist.

He feels the moist heat rising off her naked body.

Her fingertips glide down the muscles of his stomach until they reach his groin. She looks into his dark eyes, then whispers, “Make love to me.”

She reaches up and kisses him, slipping her tongue into his mouth as he fumbles to remove his clothing. Within moments they are naked, embracing each other like long-lost lovers, their pent-up emotions and fears lost in the moment as their limbs entwine, the only two people in the world.

Mick lays her back on the bed, kissing her neck as she guides him in. Dominique moans with pleasure, tasting the sweat on his shoulder as she pulls his face to her breasts, tugging at the curls along the back of his neck.

3:22 A.M.