CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR CLARKE: “I want to thank everyone standing behind here today for their hard work. This was truly an inter-agency effort on behalf of the American people, and each of you should be very proud. In particular, I want to thank Sheriff Landry, along with Special Agent Erving and his team from the FBI, without whom we could not have done our jobs. Thank you.
“Next to me here is Incident Commander Nguyen, who oversaw this operation on behalf of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. Some things went sideways, as they do in any operation this size, but thanks to your dedication, this incredibly destructive anomaly was ultimately disabled with minimal damage to the local community.”
REPORTER 1: “Can you confirm that the army dropped a bomb on American soil?”
CLARKE: “The army staged a test detonation in a field adjacent to the anomaly’s path in order to assess the effect and effectiveness of live ordnance. Given the results, no further detonations were ordered.”
REPORTER 2: “Is it true several houses were destroyed?”
CLARKE: “Multiple dwellings were damaged or destroyed across this entire incident. Many were destroyed by the anomaly. I can’t say for certain whether any were damaged as a direct result of the detonation, but that will come out in the final report, I’m sure. Before you ask, a malfunctioning media drone did make unexpected contact with the explosive device, but that in no way affected the outcome of the test.”
REPORTER 3: “Where did this ‘anomaly’ even come from?”
CLARKE: “That’s under investigation. I’m sure you understand, we don’t want to jeopardize an active inquiry by speaking out of turn. Suffice it to say, all relevant details will be included in the final incident report, including any evidence of origin. I will add that at this time, this does not—I repeat, not appear to have been an attack of any kind, including by any domestic or international terrorist group.”
REPORTER 2: “Can you confirm there were three fatalities?”
CLARKE: “As of now, that is the total, yes. But we’re still combing through the debris. I can’t speak to causes of death. That will be determined by the medical examiner and released with the final report.”
REPORTER 5: “How was the anomaly finally disabled?”
/pause
CLARKE: “With a cryogenic device.”
/murmuring
REPORTER 1: “A cryogenic device? Can you elaborate on that?”
CLARKE: “No. Unfortunately, I can’t.”
REPORTER 3: “Where did it come from?”
CLARKE: “My understanding is the device was supplied by members of the Science Control Agency.”
/overlapping shouts and exclamations
REPORTER 6: “Does the SCA keep a stock of cryobombs?”
CLARKE: “I believe this device was custom made.”
REPORTER 2: “How does it work?”
CLARKE: “You’d have to ask them.”
REPORTER 6: “Why aren’t they here today?”
CLARKE: “My understanding is that they were asked to participate in this debrief but refrained so as not to steal any thunder from the fine folks standing behind me who were ultimately responsible for completing this operation successfully, and we thank them for their discretion.”
REPORTER 5: “So, who’s taking the lead on the investigation? The FBI or the SCA?”
SPECIAL AGENT ERVING: “By statute, that would be the Science Control Agency.”
REPORTER 1: “You mean Science Crimes Division?”
ERVING: “That’s up to the SCA, but I would assume they’ll give it to Crimes Division, yes.”
REPORTER 4: “Was it Crimes Division that supplied the cryogenic device?”
CLARKE: “That’s my understanding. But I need to stress at this time that this was an inter-agency effort. Deputies in Sheriff Landry’s department noticed the effect that a ruptured propane tank had on the anomaly, while Incident Commander Nguyen’s team made observations about its thermal characteristics during their initial assessment. Those observations were shared real-time with members of the SCA, and the team collectively crafted a threat response that was ultimately effective at—”
Frighteningly prescient, Rick.