Volume I - Episode 27 Where: Washington, DC, USA When: The day before E-Day, 8:03 pm EDT Good evening everybody. Before I take your questions, I want to update the American people on the status of the situation that is developing in the eastern hemisphere. About twelve hours ago, we received reports that contact had been lost with New Zealand and eastern Russia, as well as the island nations of Samoa, Tonga and Fiji. Since that time, contact has also been lost with Australia, all of Asia, the Middle East, all European countries east of Portugal, and all African countries east of Mauritania. We have been working closely with the telecommunications industry to identify the source of the problem. The best technical minds in America have been working on this, running a series of very complicated problem-solving procedures on a wide range of very advanced communications equipment - including cable, radio and satellite equipment. So far, no problem with the equipment has been found. At this point in time, we do not believe the communications blackout is the result of the failure or sabotage of communications equipment. Satellite photographs of the affected regions reveal that the populated areas appear to be completely deserted. What you're seeing now is a photograph of the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, taken about an hour ago at 9 am local time. This area is usually crowded with tourists on a Friday morning, however as you can clearly see now, it is empty. We are now working on identifying the possible causes for the disappearance of the population from these areas. There do not appear to be any visible signs of violence or damage. Temperatures and weather conditions appear to be normal. And we have not heard from any of the affected governments. Right now, we simply don't know what has happened. There have been suggestions that the disappearances could be the result of terrorist or biological attacks. There has also been speculation that it could be some kind of retaliatory action from the Japanese - given that tomorrow, the 6th of August, is the 65th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. From the information we have gathered so far, we do not believe any of those scenarios are plausible. The federal government is directing the efforts of a wide range of national and international agencies to determine the nature of what has befallen our European, Asian and African cousins - as well as the millions of Americans that are visiting these regions. I want to assure the American people that they are in no danger. There is no sign that this phenomenon can or will cross the three thousand miles of Atlantic Ocean that stands between us. In this time of uncertainty, it is vital for the American people to remain calm, and to continue to demonstrate the strength and resilience that they have always shown. We will do whatever it takes to...ladies and gentlemen, if you'll excuse me, I've just been handed a note. It...well, it appears that we've just lost contact with Ireland, Portugal and Mauritania... First published: Sunday, 19 September 2010 Credits: Composited in Photoshop CS5 Extended