“The other is the San Onofre Two operated by Southern California Edison Company and the San Diego Gas Company four miles southeast of San Clemente. It went on-stream about seventeen years ago with essentially the same capacity as the Diablo Canyon Unit.

“Without question, both of these units will be swamped and may experience some type of meltdown. What we don’t know is how much radiation will escape into the atmosphere after the floodwaters recede.” She paused. “Nor do we know the extent that poisonous radiation will penetrate seawater or fresh water throughout the region. The much more serious problem for residents of the United States will be the radiation fallout from the meltdown of reactors in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and mainland China if earthquake activity of the estimated magnitude strikes the entire Pacific Rim.”

“Madame Secretary,” Al Augustus interrupted, looking at his watch, “excuse me for stopping you at this point, but we need to turn our attention to the monitor. I’ve just been informed that there will be a satellite feed piped in here momentarily to give the members of the cabinet a firsthand view of what’s unfolding at this moment on the West Coast.”

The large screen in the Cabinet Room had the capacity to receive civilian satellite pictures, as well as a range of real-time pictures from various government satellite sources. The information was sent in millions of digital bits, which allowed computer processing and editing of information to suit the tastes of the viewers.

The room also had remote control equipment that permitted an operator in an adjoining room to adjust the cameras on-board a satellite, either to scan a large portion of territory or to zoom in for detailed closeups. Since there had long ceased to be coverage on the ground, nongovernmental news agencies were now dependent on government sources, plus the commentaries of scientific advisers hastily assembled for the purpose.

The first pictures that came up on the monitor caused an intense reaction in the room. There were moans, cries, and even sobs as the cabinet looked at an earth-based view of the fireball hurtling toward impact. The picture then switched to satellite coverage of the southern California coastline, followed by a fast zoom shot giving a closeup view of the impact—and then an equally fast zoom-out to show the magnitude of the hellish scene.

They watched in horror and shock as picture after picture flashed before them, each more terrible than the preceding one. The secretary of state seemed transfixed. He kept repeating over and over again, “Oh, my God! This is the end! Oh, my God! This is the end!”