He would have argued with his boss some more, but he'd never seen him react to anything like this. He had not even heard of anyone changing colors the way Director Williams had just done. Waldorf decided to drop it for now, but in seven days, he and Jackson would tell the world.

As Waldorf left the office, the Administrator called after him. “Have you told anyone yet?”

“Not yet” he responded grimly and left.

As soon as Waldorf had gone, NASA Administrator Williams pounded both fists on his desk and rose, and starting to pace the room. This was a big problem; there was no way Draper would be holding a press conference to explain the truths behind the comet anytime soon.

After a few minutes of thinking, he snatched up the telephone, punching in a special number he'd been given. He had been ordered to contact General Draper urgently if anything regarding the comet arose.

He dialed the number, and it was answered by a voicemail system. “This is Mr. Williams here in town. I believe we have a Code Omega. Please call me when you can. Thanks.” Williams felt foolish talking about codes, but those were the instructions that had been agreed upon.

Less than five minutes later, his phone was ringing. “Williams here.”

“What is it Director?” asked the General with a hint of concern in his voice.

“I have two people on staff here, the first is one of my department directors, Stanley Waldorf and the other is an astrophysicist named Tony Jackson. They were the ones in charge of putting together all the data I first brought to you.”

“And?”

Williams squirmed uncomfortably in his chair. “Well, they're really agitated and want to go to the media with the information about the comet. I talked to Waldorf, and there's no changing his mind. I've convinced him to wait one more week, and I told him I'd see if I could get the powers that be to agree to release the information. He went along with waiting the week, but they're both committed to letting the public know. Can they maybe be detained for a while or something? I'm convinced that they'll start talking otherwise.”

There was a long pause before Draper spoke. “I'll see what can be done, but it's imperative that we confirm if they've told anyone yet.”

“No, General, I'm certain they haven't said a word. I asked the question specifically, and Waldorf claims to have kept quiet up until now, but he and Jackson seem convinced the public has a right to know,” said Williams.

“You were right to call me about this; I'll see what I can do.” General Draper hung up the phone and cursed, slumping against the back of the chair while he thought. In less than a minute, he was back on the phone.

Chapter Fourteen

DAY 932