This excerpt takes place after the major decisions have already been made, when actors begin to understand the limits of what they can still control.

July 18, 2030 – Moscow, The White House

Sergei could not believe how bad things had gone since the destruction of the convoy. Over the following days, news of the conflict had gone from good to grim.

"This cannot continue, Marshal," Putin snarled at his supreme commander. "The debacle over Lake Baikal and now a cyber-attack at the hands of the Chinese on Vladivostok? What is going on?"

Sergei, the marshal, and the rest of the Russian cabinet were at yet another meeting of the Council of Ministers with Vladimir Putin. The rage in his voice was different. Chilling.

Sergei did not envy the marshal. The Russian losses were mounting as the confidence caused by the destruction of the Chinese convoy on the banks of Lake Baikal faded.

"Mr. President, I apologize, but our pilots ran out of ammunition, and the Chinese seem to have some sort of new artificial intelligence we have not seen before," Ivanov reported, unflinching and unemotional.

"What of our efforts to get more equipment and personnel to the East?" Putin demanded.

"Supply trains are on the way," the marshal responded. "But they are vulnerable."

Excerpt from a forthcoming novel.