In Situ by David Samuel Frazier

had been seated since lunch with a contingent of Chinese delegates, some of his staff, and a handful of interpreters. He snuck a look at the time, trying not to be obvious about it. They had been meeting all day to see if they could reach some agreement on currency, and to wrap up a few details of an extended trade deal. It was tough work and required his total concentration to keep up with the translations and make sure that no measure of etiquette was breached along the way. So far, they were making good progress. The President knew it was absolutely critical that the day end well, and he couldn’t wait for that moment. He imagined that if he sat much longer his ass was going to stick to his seat. Another hour or so, he thought, and maybe we can wrap this up.
    The Ambassador was rambling on about something in Chinese when the President saw his most trusted aid e quietly enter the room. Now what, Long thought, squirming. He had given orders that they were not to be disturbed except in the case of a dire emergency. Any interruption could be construed as bad manners, and could easily be taken as an insult that might jeopardize the entire meeting. The aide stood stoically by the door looking directly at the President, his hands at his sides, with only his index finger pointed to the floor. This was a pre-arranged signal indicating a Level One emergency. Reluctantly, the President asked one of the interpreters to apologize and say that he needed to be excused for just a moment. He waited until the words had been translated, smiled apologetically, and rose from his seat, the delegation members watching him disapprovingly as he made his way across the room.
    “This better be good , Anders,” President Long said quietly, trying to stay out of earshot of the rest of the delegates, aware that most of them actually spoke and understood English better than he. But Long had no doubt that the message would be important. Anders had been working for him since his days as a Senator, and they could practically read each other’s minds. Still, he couldn’t imagine a scenario bad enough to warrant the interruption, save a sudden all out nuclear war, and the only people he could think of that would really ever have the balls to try something like that were seated right behind him.
    “Sir, I think we need to take this outside,” Anders said, looking at him seriously, opening the door in the process so the two of them could exit the room.
    Long turned to the delegation, bowed and smiled awkwardly, then followed Anders into the corridor. Anders had already set off down the hallway. “What’s this all about?” the President asked, matching his aide’s brisk pace.
    “It’s a woman from Pan-STARRS , Sir. She’s the Chief Astronomer, and she has been holding for the last hour. She says she has important news and that her ‘protocol’ requires that she communicate with you directly,” Anders replied as they reached another office and a secure line. There was a light blinking on the phone in front of them.
    “What the hell is Pan-STARRS , Anders?” the President asked as he began to reach for the phone.
    “It’s the observatory on Maui , the one that tracks asteroids and comets. I checked before I came to get you, and she’s right about the protocol, if…,” Anders let the comment hang in the air.
    “If what?”
    “If there is a high chance of a significant impact within a ninety day window.”
    “Impact? Impact of what?”
    “I think maybe you should just speak to her directly , Sir.”
    The President looked at Anders skeptically, punched the blinking button and picked up the receiver. “This is President Long.”
    “Err… Sir…, this is Dr. Jennifer Daniels. I am Chief Astronomer at the Haleakala Pan-STARRS Observatory. I am sorry to interrupt you, Sir, but I have important information regarding the recent discovery of a NEO.”
    “A what?”
    “Sorry, Sir. A ‘near earth object,’ an asteroid, Sir.”
    “Go on,”