IBMers are as shy about talking to the news media as deer around around cars at night. They freeze in the glare of the headlights, afraid to speak. They know if the company finds out that their Big Blue career is over.

So let’s take a look inside what happened at IBM’s sprawling campus in RTP where thousands of people work as the sun rose on a very cold, clear Thursday. The chill is from more than the weather.

“Do I still have a job?”

The following account is based on insider info and worker comments but where WRALTechWire obtained the information must remain anonymous to protect people involved.

Shock and awe, IBM style.

With no warning from their supervisors and only aware of rumors being reported in the media, IBMers working in various parts of Big Blue’s struggling server business expected to either be part of a sale to another company or possibly laid off – or both. Friday (today) was the deadline for names to be submitted for layoffs – or a “resource action” as IBM describes job cuts – by supervisors as part of “Project Apollo.”

Then came a flurry of news reports that sale talks of the server business – largely focused on lower-priced x86 technology plus related services – would be sold with Lenovo apparently talking deal. Lenovo’s global executive headquarters is nearby in Morrisville where a lot of former IBMers still work after Lenovo bought IBM’s ailing PC business in 2005.

Would these IBMers soon be joining them?

Would they receive a reprieve from layoffs as IBM sheds many of its hardware business units?

Through media reports early Thursday, they finally learned learned about IBM’s $2.3 billion deal with Lenovo.

Their supervisors had given them no warning.

At a videoconference in RTP, hundreds watched in awe as they were finally told what their future might be.

The reaction is somber to say the least at 10 a.m. as a standing-room only crowd of some 600 people pack one IBM cafe.

But there are more than IBM server people in the room.

Is another “re org” – reorganization happening at the same time?

What is going to happen to me? To my friends? To my family?

As tensions mount, the IBMers are told that some 2,000 of them who work in the Park will be affected by the deal and transferred to Lenovo.

The companies say job offers will be extended to the 7,500 people employed in the various IBM units.

A closing isn’t expected, however, until June – or later – as U.S. government regulators will have to review the deal.

Meanwhile, across the company, thousands more people are tuning in.

What’s happening to them?

A lot of questions remain unanswered.

Management tells them that sometime over the next 30 days or so they will learn if they have a job.

The news doesn’t really come as a surprise. The IBMers knew their units were struggling and IBM announced $1 billion was being set aside for “rebalancing” – again, job cuts and reorganization – during an earnings call on Tuesday.

They leave Thursday’s conference call hoping for the best – that they keep a job as part of Lenovo.

Many of them in the room at RTP are survivors. They have escaped previous layoffs, which have become common as IBM has slashed its North Carolina work force by 30 percent over the past five years. Its U.S. work force has been cut, too.

Is their number up?

Until more clarity comes from Lenovo and IBM as the deal progresses, the Big Blue workers don’t know.

What a way to start a New Year.