He picked up the red phone, his finger hovering just a few centimeters above the red button, slightly trembling, sweat gathering and dripping from his forehead.
"This doesn't make sense! How can the Americans start a nuclear war with just five missiles? This seems more like an exercise malfunction or a technical failure! But... what if it's not? What if this is a preemptive strike?"
"22 minutes! Protocol demands immediate reporting!" The staff officer stood by his side: "We must respond!"
At this moment, everyone's eyes were fixated on Petrov, each aware of the horrifying pressure he was under.
To retaliate means war! An irreversible nuclear war ensuring mutual destruction!
Billions would die tonight, including those present here, the nation could vanish, no one would believe that destruction could come in an instant.
Time seemed to freeze, only those red numbers counting mercilessly down.
