At five o'clock in the morning, Washington had not yet fully awakened, but the offices in the E wing of the Pentagon were already lit with a glaring light.
A military report labeled "Top Secret · Urgent" was gently placed by the adjutant on Admiral Miller's mahogany desk.
The brief title on the cover portended something ominous—"Hulmatu Defense Assessment and Northwest Theater Crisis Warning."
The report came from front-line commander General Duke; the message time displayed was four hours ago, but the situation described within was deteriorating by the minute.
At exactly six o'clock, the encrypted video conferencing system started on time.
Multiple screens lit up sequentially, reflecting the grim faces of representatives from the Ministry of Defense, State Department, and National Security Council.
General Duke's face appeared on the main screen, with the background being the massive screen of the front-line command post.
"Gentlemen, ladies, time is not on our side."
