I spent the remainder of the flight trying to figure out what to say, what I might be asked, what I should wear (the clothes I grabbed in my haste were less than formal), how to address people.
We touched down after about 2 hours. From the airport I was taken, via limo, to the Pentagon, where I was taken to a sort of ‘war room’ filled with monitors, technicians, scientists, and more military personnel. My single suitcase was taken to a hotel where I was to stay for the time I was there. I was shown the images the General had mentioned. There were a total of 6 Star Destroyers on their way to Earth, and it was very plain to see them. The resolution on the images was clear enough to see the bridge domes. I couldn’t understand one thing, though. The actually outline of the Star Destroyers were so clear, yet there was a lot of extra, what looked like interference, in the space around them.
I asked around with the technicians and scientists. They seemed to be at a consensus that it was just interference and flaws in the transmission. It didn’t make any sense. There were no flaws inside the outline of the Star Destroyers. Then, I noticed something.
“Can someone get me a magnifying glass?” I said in a loud voice.
A few second later, I was handed one. I peered through it at one of the pictures. Hoping to confirm what I thought I had seen. After seeing it for long enough, I removed my book bag, pulled out one of my books, and flipped around for a second. Then I found it. This fleet was more than just Star Destroyers. Almost immediately, I was called over by General Johnson.
“You’ve got about half an hour before your first briefing. You will be addressing the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the President.”
“Alright, I should be ready by…wait a second, wait a second. Say that again??” I was surprised to say the least.
“I said you will be addressing the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the President.”
If I had been a cartoon, my jaw would have landed on the floor, and my eyes would have popped out of my head. I was going to be addressing the President of the United States? My stomach knotted up in several places. I knew I should have brought some better clothes.