That afternoon, there is one more explosion in Seattle. Two days later, there is another still. Neither causes loss of life, but the damage to property is considerable. It is enough to push Mayor Wyndham to begin encouraging people to leave the city until this phenomenon is fully understood and resolved. He even offers financial incentives to businesses that close, allowing their staff to begin the holiday season early. Thousands and thousands take up the offer and migrate out of Seattle, planning to return in the new year, or even later.
You, of course, are one of the few to know the cause of the explosions: the Surgeons are testing their spatial conduit technology and trying to open a huge portal from their homeworld to Earth. The explosions will stop on Thanksgiving morning—the day that the Surgeons are destined to succeed in opening their portal and pouring through to Earth.
During these days in the first half of November, you are not entirely surprised to receive a phone call from Bertrand Gable, the Surgeons' human spokesperson.
"The H'ssurru'ssurri are almost ready to begin the journey to this world," he says. "I trust that our agreement remains in effect, and that you will do all you can to stop those who might try to prevent that journey?"