The White House Situation Room, Washington D.C.
The electric chandeliers cast a bright glow over the long oak table as President Matthew Hesh sat at the head, his fingers gripping the armrests of his chair. Around him, his closest advisors and military officials waited in tense silence. The soft hum of the room's ventilation system was the only sound until he spoke.
"We're out of time," Matthew said, his voice firm. "We must assume Amber and the other hostages are still alive. I want every possible option for retrieving them—no bureaucratic delays, no political hesitation. Give me answers."
General Carter Hayes stood and unfurled a large map of China, spreading it across the table. The markings of Amerathian intelligence reports covered key locations, including Hanzhou, where the attack had taken place. He pointed to the city's outskirts.
