"Wait, what? Are you serious? Like, serious serious?" Malisa questioned Drake in a disbelieving tone.
"Yep. I actually thought about not saying anything, but Ryan brought it up. And the government will be making an announcement about it soon, so y'all will hear about it sooner or later," Drake replied.
Malisa just stared at Drake oddly, unsure if he was playing a trick on them or not.
Daymon had a surprised expression on his face from hearing everything, and Ryan was just excited about it all.
"What all do you know about it? What did your coworker say?" Ryan asked enthusiastically.
"Honestly, I don't know much. I just know there's a high chance aliens are on their way to each planet in our solar system. At the speed they were moving, it would take less than two months to reach our planet. And that was around a month ago, so in a couple of weeks, they should make it to Earth."
"That's what the people on the internet said too," Ryan responded.
"I'm pretty sure we will get more information when the government formally announces it," Drake added.
"I'm surprised they are not trying to hide it from everyone to reduce people panicking," Daymon said with slight bewilderment.
"I don't know for sure, but if I were to guess why, it probably had to do with people overreacting. These objects are not like meteors that will 100% destroy the Earth or something when they get here, but intelligent life forms. There is no telling what will happen when the objects arrive, and I think the government would rather people remain calm during that time than overly panic," Drake responded.
"Yeah, you're probably right. If I had no idea about it and was going about my day, then saw a random object hovering in the sky, I would probably start panicking too," Malisa agreed.
"There will definitely be people overreacting and panicking when the announcement is made. There's no stopping that, but by the time the objects arrive, the majority of people will be more calm and clear-headed about things," Drake said.
They continued to talk for the rest of the time and finished their dinner.
...
On March 18, 2024, the government announcement was broadcast on all channels and on the internet.
It was 7 p.m., and the whole family came to the living room to watch the live broadcast when it came on.
"It's about time. I wonder what they will say," Ryan said out loud, not really looking for a response.
"Why hasn't anyone walked onto the stage to talk yet? It has been on for over 10 minutes. Were they not ready?" Daymon asked.
"Not everyone can drop what they are doing instantly; they are giving people time to tune in. For some reason, they did not publicly announce they would be making an announcement today," Drake responded.
"Yeah, I wonder why they chose to do that." "I actually thought you had been joking this whole time because there was no mention of an announcement coming in these last few days," Malisa chimed in.
Ten more minutes had passed until the President of the United States was in frame.
He sat down while a few random people stood next to him.
They weren't actually random, but important people in the government. However, to everyone watching, they were just random people.
...
Washington, D.C.
The Oval Office had been meticulously prepared. Flags stood at rigid attention behind him, a subtle nod to the gravity of the moment. The lighting was soft, designed to convey calm and control, yet a fine sheen of sweat was visible on President Grant's forehead as he adjusted the microphone. The red light on the camera blinked, and the world held its breath.
"My fellow Americans, and citizens of the world," President Grant began, his voice steady, though a tremor was barely perceptible beneath the practiced cadence. "Tonight, I address you on a matter of unprecedented significance. For decades, humanity has looked to the stars with wonder, asking if we are alone. Today, we have our answer."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in, picturing the billions of faces staring at screens across the globe. Fear, confusion, excitement – he knew it would all be there.
"Over the past month, our most advanced deep-space observatories, collaborating with international partners, have detected a fleet of objects entering our solar system. These are not asteroids. They are not comets. And they are not of human origin."
A collective gasp, he imagined, rippling through homes, offices, and public squares. This wasn't a leaked document or a blurry video. This was the President, on live television, confirming humanity's greatest speculation.
"Initial analysis confirms these vessels are massive, technologically sophisticated, and currently moving close to the speed of light. We have discovered eight objects as big as a continent heading towards each of our planets in our solar system. Their trajectory suggests they will reach Earth orbit within the next 11 days."
He took a slow, deliberate breath. "I understand the fear, the uncertainty, and perhaps even the terror, that such an announcement can provoke. But I want to assure every one of you that your governments, your scientists, and your armed forces are working tirelessly, around the clock, in full cooperation, to understand this situation."
"We do not, at this moment, know their intentions. We have detected no aggressive maneuvers, no hostile communications. We are, however, preparing for every contingency. Global defense systems are at a heightened state of readiness, not as an act of aggression, but as a measure of prudence and protection for our planet and its people."
His gaze seemed to harden slightly, projecting resolve. "But more than military readiness, we are preparing for communication. Our brightest minds are working on protocols, on deciphering potential signals, on crafting a message from humanity to these visitors."
"This moment," he continued, his voice gaining strength, "is not one for panic, but for unity. This is not a challenge for one nation, but for all of humankind. We are entering a new chapter in our history, one that demands our collective wisdom, our courage, and our shared humanity."
"I ask you, therefore, to remain calm. To trust in the institutions working on your behalf. To look out for one another. And to remember that while the universe may be vast and full of unknowns, the spirit of humanity—our resilience, our ingenuity, and our capacity for hope—is boundless."
"We will face this together. We will learn together. And whatever the future holds, we will do so as one human race."
He concluded, his expression a careful blend of gravity and unwavering determination. The red light clicked off, but the ripple of his words, the seismic shift in human history, had just begun. The universe had just gotten a lot bigger, and Earth, a lot smaller.