The White House, Washington D.C.
The morning air in the White House was thick with tension. Matthew Hesh sat in the Oval Office, scanning through reports and briefing documents, his usual routine of handling state affairs. The hum of political discussions and bureaucratic meetings echoed through the halls.
But then—
A sharp knock on the door.
"Mr. President!"
Henry Collins, his Chief of Staff, burst into the room, his face pale and his breathing uneven. Behind him followed General Carter Hayes, his top military advisor. The urgency in their expressions sent a chill down Matthew's spine.
Matthew rose from his desk, instantly alert. "What is it?"
Collins hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and placed a telegram on the President's desk.
"Sir, we just received this from our embassy in Beijing. There's been an attack. The Boxer rebels struck during the dam ceremony in Hanzhou."
