“Good. The problem is we don't have a facility ready for you to move into yet. The amount of radiation coming off the tail of the comet indicates we're going to need to be at least twenty feet below ground. The Air Force is currently working on a new NORAD installation near the Arizona/Utah state line, to replace the Cheyenne Mountain facility outside Colorado Springs. I talked to the President about getting control of that. It's massive and will be completely self-sufficient. Unfortunately, it isn't currently scheduled to be operational for another two years,” Draper said.

“Well sir, I'll investigate my end of it, but without a facility, we have nothing to offer. Currently, I see the sleeper project offering a way of providing a rebuilding team to the people that survive either by standard underground shelters or out of sheer good luck. There's no way we'll be able to do a hundred thousand sleepers. I can't even guess how many we can do, but every day without a functional facility decreases the numbers. I'll need to see the facility before I'll be able to give you an idea of what we might be able to offer,” Matt explained.

“That certainly isn't what I was hoping to hear, but I'm not surprised. I'll move things along as fast as I can on this end. In the meantime, start planning for everything you will need. when you have a facility.” Draper instructed.

“Sir, you said yesterday that other avenues are being pursued. Can I ask what they are?” Matt asked.

The General took a moment before responding. “I suppose there's no reason not to tell you. As you can imagine, we're keeping this as quiet as possible – the complete anarchy and panic we could expect if this were known would be devastating. There are less than ten people who know about it currently. There are some people from the Air Force who are looking at altering the comet's course with nukes. No one thinks they'll be successful, but everything must be tried.

Some others are looking into underground shelters, but I think I'd prefer to take my chances in the open rather than wait in a hole for ten to twenty years or more. Undersea shelters are also being considered, the technology isn't there yet, but some are hopeful. I got stuck with the suspended animation idea – no offense. Personally, I think simple underground shelters will be the primary direction of choice, they can save the most people,” Draper said.

Matt got to his feet. “Thank you, sir. As I said, I'll get things moving as much as possible. Let me know when there's a place available for us to work.”

“I'll move things along here as swiftly as possible. In the meantime, contact me immediately with any new ideas, or if there's anything that's holding you up,” Draper said.