I'll start the brainstormiung.
The implosion story is a cover up and they actually entered the hollow earth through an elaborate system of locks and dams in order to meet with Peter Viereck, who has been reigning over the sub-subterranean ape people as a tyrant since 1952. Using the mystical power of orgonism they will return to the surface and subjugate humanity to build a giant crystal pyramid from which they will fight the Posada aliens. Our Orca comrades are trying to stop them by incapacitating their agents off the coast of Gibraltar.
The navy was jealous the airforce got to get confirmed kills shooting down trash. That's promotions, money, fame. So they saw an obvious bit of trash to take down and took the shot. Unfortunately they discovered that the obvious trash contained rich people and had to cover it up.