7: Chapter 7 Governing by Twitter

The third basement level of the White House.

The Situation Room's air filtration system operated twenty-four hours a day, but at this moment, the room was filled with a scent of pressure that no filter could remove.

A dozen people were squeezed into this windowless room, gathered around the dark oval conference table, staring at screens flickering with images they all wished they could pretend not to see.

The door opened, and President Trump sat down at the head of the table, announcing: "The meeting begins!"

Hegseth was the first to stand up: "Five minutes ago, the Europa Observatory officially confirmed our observation data."

"All signal characteristics are completely consistent; the number of heat sources, their distribution, and their trajectories all match."

"Additionally, the observation data from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has just been synchronized; their optical imaging is clearer than ours."

He switched the screen.

The darkness of the Kuiper Belt vanished, replaced by a clearer, false-color processed optical image.

The largest mothership occupied the center-left position of the frame, and around it, all large motherships had been re-marked with red circles.

"According to the latest identification and expert judgment, the targets are suspected to be mothership-class. There are a total of 1,893 vessels with a diameter exceeding fifty kilometers."

"And there are 9,732 vessels exceeding ten kilometers. The largest one, located center-left in the image, is measured at 114.7 kilometers."

He flipped a page.

"As for the small combat units, since their diameter is less than five hundred meters, an accurate count is impossible. Conservatively, there are over two million."

"They are moving toward the inner Solar System in formation. Their speed is approximately 0.3 times the speed of light, but they are continuously decelerating. They are estimated to arrive in low Earth orbit within ninety to one hundred and twenty days."

Everyone present couldn't help but gasp; their preparation time was down to a mere three or four months.

President Trump raised a hand, signaling for silence, and then asked seriously: "If we go to war with them, is there any hope of winning?"

General Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stood up: "With all due respect, Mr. President, we have no hope. I don't just mean our country; even if the entire Blue Planet united, there would be no hope."

"According to my analysis, assuming every hit, the Blue Planet's nuclear arsenal could probably destroy only seven to ten percent of this large fleet."

"And that's assuming the opponent has no interceptive defensive weapons like energy shields."

"More critically, there are two million small aircraft. Even if each carried firepower equivalent to a WWII fighter, our air defense network would completely exhaust its ammunition within seventy-two hours."

"Furthermore, the opponent might not even enter the Blue Planet's atmosphere; they could stay in low Earth orbit and conduct high-altitude attacks against us."

"It would be like us using B-2 stealth bombers to bomb a primitive tribe."

Facing this pessimistic outcome, President Trump was the first to rally: "Ladies and gentlemen, now is not the time to give up. No one understands aliens better than I do. If they were truly invincible, why would they lead such a massive fleet here?"

Hegseth was the first to react: "You mean, they aren't clear on our military strength?"

President Trump nodded: "Exactly. Perhaps they are indeed strong, but clearly not to a degree we can't comprehend. The fact that they haven't attacked us directly proves they have needs as well."

A political risk advisor spoke up: "The President is right. There are three possibilities for the aliens' needs: one, colonization; two, resource plunder; three, observation and experimentation."

"But regardless of which it is, existing human political structures will collapse. A three-month countdown will plunge every nation into a doomsday frenzy. Capital flight, religious fanaticism, and military adventurism will inevitably emerge."

"I suggest immediately activating 'Continuity of Government' protocols to ensure the core decision-making body survives after social order breaks down."

"Too pessimistic," a psychological warfare expert interjected. "From a psychological perspective, an unknown threat triggers two group reactions: cohesion or fragmentation."

"So the key lies in the rhythm of information release. If we can control the narrative and reconstruct the alien invasion as an opportunity for human unity, perhaps..."

"Using the Hollywood playbook?" the Secretary of State sneered. "Tell them we already beat Independence Day?"

"It's better than panic," the psychological warfare expert replied unmoved. "According to simulations, civilian speculation caused by a total information blackout is more destructive than the real information disclosed officially. People will make up their own stories, and stories always trend toward the darkest possibilities."

President Trump raised his hand, stopping the impending argument.

He suddenly turned to the Director of National Intelligence, an old-school intelligence officer known for his silence, who had remained quiet in the corner.

"Can the information be suppressed?"

The Director of National Intelligence did not answer immediately. He took a folder from his briefcase and pushed it to the center of the table.

"These are the observation records from amateur astronomers worldwide over the past twenty-four hours."

"Twenty-seven reports in total from all over the world. The most expensive equipment they used cost less than five thousand dollars, but it's enough to capture the infrared signature of the fleet."

He looked at the President: "Even if we block NASA, block the ESA, and block all official channels, there are a hundred times more civilian observatories than ours."

"Within forty-eight hours, by the most conservative estimate, over three hundred independent observers will confirm the same target and produce clear images. Social media will then spread the information globally within six hours."

Realizing it was unavoidable, President Trump stood up. The sound of his chair sliding back was particularly harsh in the quiet Situation Room.

"Listen carefully to what I am about to say."

He looked around at the people in the room.

"First, starting now, all internal communication encryption levels are raised to the maximum. Second, notify the Five Eyes alliance; we're having an emergency video conference tonight."

His gaze lingered on Hegseth's face. "Third, contact the Eastern Power and the Polar Bear. I know we have many issues with them, but this matter..."

He pointed at the main screen.

"Is a matter that concerns everyone on the Blue Planet. We must stand on the same side."

He walked toward the door: "Fourth, I will post a tweet after leaving, and at eight tonight, I will give a national address. Have the White House spokesperson prepare the speech!"

"Meeting adjourned!"

The moment the door opened, President Trump's hand was already impatiently picking up his phone to draft a post.

Trump: My fellow great United States citizens, at eight o'clock Eastern Time tonight, I will deliver an important address to the nation from the Oval Office of the White House.

Our planet is facing an unprecedented situation. Unknown beings from a distant galaxy are approaching our planet. Our military strength is the most powerful in the world. Our people are the bravest in the world. We will stand united to face any challenge.

No one knows how to protect the United States better than I do. God bless the United States!

Comment Section: [Here we go again. Fucking again. Every time he makes a mess, he starts rambling about aliens. Last time it was election fraud, the time before that it was migrant caravans, and now we've jumped straight to interstellar war? Old man, did you steal a Marvel script?]

[Mr. President, the New York subways are still leaking, the West Coast wildfires are still burning, and the healthcare gap is larger than your golf courses. Maybe we can solve the problems on Earth before worrying about aliens?]

[Analyzed frame by frame. I recognize every word in this tweet, but put together, I have no idea what he's talking about. "Unknown beings from a distant galaxy"—is it a star? A comet? Did Elon Musk throw something else into the sky? Can you, just once, make things clear?]

[Don't you think the timing is a bit too coincidental? That "Blue Planet is about to be liberated" video from Times Square is still going viral, and now the President comes out saying he's giving an alien speech? This isn't changing the subject; this is coordination. This is something they've known about for a long time; they've always known!]

[Aliens: We have crossed the vastness of interstellar space, coming to Earth with peaceful intentions.

President Trump: No one knows aliens better than I do. I've negotiated with them. Very great negotiations. They love me.

Aliens: Let's go.]

[What can you leftists do besides insult? The President says stand united, and you start mocking. If there really are aliens, are you going to blame President Trump for not signing a trade agreement with them in advance?]

[I'm an amateur astronomer. A rumor has suddenly started spreading in our circles. They say a massive number of heat sources have been discovered near the Kuiper Belt. I'm not saying the President definitely isn't lying, but try pointing your telescopes in that direction yourselves at eight tonight and you'll see. I've said nothing.]

[Breaking: The White House confirms President Trump will deliver a national address at 8 PM Eastern Time; the theme has not been disclosed. We are tracking the story.]