The lights flickered and went out heartbeats before the explosions began. There was just enough time to hear the intake of breath, and then the air was filled with an almighty rumble – detonations blurring into one long pounding of the ears.

The musicians, along with most of the attendees of tonight’s dance, were on the floor. Those who weren’t were making their way purposefully towards me.

“Ma’am, we have to get you out of here. The air defence grid is down. Sabotage – both the lasers and the radar towers are out.”
“What about the jets?”
“Scrambling now, ma’am, but you need to get to a secure location.”

I produced a tablet from the folds of my gown and checked in on the other cabinet ministers.

“All right. I want a full dozen security eggs on each minister, kill-on-threat autonomy. Give them air traffic clearance up to five hundred.”
“Ma’am, the eggs are not cleared for general use.”
“My goal is the protection of the cabinet, Frances, not adherence to safety regulations.”
“Ma’am.”
“Now, the car.”