I wasn't there for the conversation. So, all I can tell you is how I think everything happened:

"It isn't good, Mr. President," the senior official reported softly. He stood several feet away as he delivered the bad news. "The bombing didn't work. I'm sorry."

"Well, that's alright. It would've been too good of news to have been true anyway. Life doesn't mimic the movies."

The grey haired leader sat at a large conference table, in a darkly lit room, next to a set of partially shaded windows. He covered his mouth with his fist, as he grimly thought about the future of the world.

"Well, what shall we try next?" the President asked.

"Try next?" The advisor asked in disbelief. It was as if the outcome were even in question. "I don't think you understand, Sir. The meteor is just too big. Probably the parent to the one that exploded over Russia in 2013. Maybe even its grandparent. 13.9 miles wide. It's so large, it's even classified as "extinction size."

"You mean, there's nothing more we can do? Perhaps a second nuclear attempt?"

"No, Sir. The amount of nuclear firepower already used was extraordinary. Even Russia contributed to the super rocket."

"What about the other countries with nuclear weapons?"

"The U.S. and Russia already account for more than 90% of available warheads. We were fortunate to even have a shared space program with them to attempt a super warhead. But no, there won't be a second, bigger explosive."

"God help us. How much time do we have left? Should we start moving to Virginia? To the underground shelters?"

"Yes Sir, ... but," the senior advisor hesitated uneasily. "Survival is still not very likely."

The President nodded. Surrender was not in his vocabulary. The end of the world was unfathomable.

"Is the general public aware of our fate?"

"Some American institutions have reported conflicting findings. Enough that most of the public has overlooked the danger. It hasn't quite, forgive the term, struck the public what is about to happen. Now that we've used nuclear power in an attempt to destroy the meteor, people will figure out what's going on. It won't be long before there's mass panic. Pandemonium."

"Then we have to make the announcement. The world is ending, and the public has a right to know about it. So they can spend their precious last days with their loved ones. There's nothing else that can be done. It's the end of our planet and species."

Both men stayed there in quiet resignation.

Then, the moment of solemnity was interrupted.

"I do have one other thing to report, Sir."

"Ehh? What is it?"

"There was a rogue rocket launch out of Georgia earlier today, not too far from Atlanta."

"Rogue? What do you mean by that?"

"Unscheduled."

"What kind of rocket launch?"

"Outer space, Sir."

The President was flabbergasted. "One of our own?"

The advisor shook his head. "No, Sir. Private."

"Who is it?"

"Adalwolf Baron. German entrepreneur. Baron Aerospace Industries."

"What's he trying to do? Is Germany involved?"

"I don't think so."

"Why would Baron fire a rocket into space unannounced?"

"It wasn't just a rocket, Sir," the advisor corrected. "It was a space shuttle."

The President did not understand the connection.

"Baron Industries has been heavily investing in aerospace transport. Primarily to capitalize on the vast amounts of raw materials in space, like from asteroids and the moon."

"A lot of good that'll do you when the Earth's destroyed."

"But Baron was also developing mass transit for people. Some private payers had already signed up for future trips to the moon and Mars."

"You mean to tell me he's moving people to outer space?"

"It appears so."

"How many people?"

"The typical crew for a space shuttle is 7. I suspect there are quite a few more on this one."

"Headed for one of the space stations?"

"Doubtful. Space stations are still located in the sub-atmosphere. They might be too close for the meteor's impact."

"To the moon, then? To Mars?"

"It's possible," the senior official conceded. "There's even water on some of Jupiter's moons. It wouldn't exactly be the beach resort they were hoping for, but I suppose it beats the alternative."

"Well, I'll be," the President said, astonished. "Never underestimate mankind's will to survive."

Yeah, that's what I imagine might've happened before the meteor hit our planet.