SITUATION ROOM
THE WHITE HOUSE
All eyes were on President J. P. Dellenbaugh as he stared at the clock, as if by staring at it he could somehow get the clock to slow down.
00.03.07
The room was pin-drop quiet.
General Tralies was standing in the far corner of the room, slouched in the corner, in total silence. Dellenbaugh looked at him. The look Tralies gave him was complicated; anger for pushing it this far, respect at the knowledge that Dellenbaugh had warlike courage. Dellenbaugh looked at Calibrisi, seated in a chair, hands clutched together, biting his lip. He saw Josh Brubaker standing next to Dale Arnold along the wall, both men silent, both staring at him as he pushed everything to the last possible moment.
Dellenbaugh forced himself to look at the clock.
00.03.02
“On my go,” said Dellenbaugh.