The White House – Morning, June 1896.
The Spanish ambassador arrived at the White House just as the morning sun cast its first golden rays over Washington. Dressed in an impeccably tailored suit, Ambassador Luis de Montoro stepped into the conference room, his expression unreadable. The atmosphere was thick with tension, the air charged with the weight of a decision that could send Amerathia and Spain into war.
President Matthew Hesh sat at the head of the long mahogany table, flanked by his closest advisors—Secretary of War Thomas Sinclair, Secretary of State Richard Alden, Admiral Jonathan Welles, and Chief of Staff Henry Collins. Across from them, Montoro took his seat, his two aides standing rigidly behind him.
Matthew wasted no time. He leaned forward, his fingers laced together. "Ambassador Montoro, thank you for coming on such short notice. I'm sure you're aware of why we've called this meeting."
