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the United States. It’s a platform we don’t use nearly enough. If the United States ambassador goes on the radio with a declaration, we can make it true by just saying so. The streets are under control. There is no fuel shortage. The president has lost the election and will step down. The message to the army, to the police, to the politicians can be clear: The tide is turning and you better get on the right side of history. This is how the United States can shape events if we know what we want and are prepared to act swiftly. Otherwise we are just bystanders.”
    Landon Parker glanced at his watch. “Okay, people. Thank you for coming. Thank you, Dr. Ryker. I think your Minute Zero concept is a useful one and I hope it will inform NEA’s planning for Egypt. Meeting closed.”
    Parker grabbed Judd’s arm. “Thanks, Ryker. Very interesting. Can I have a word?”
    “Of course.”
    “Walk with me, Ryker,” he said, gesturing for Judd to follow.
    The two left the conference room and strolled down the long hallway, illuminated with flickering fluorescent light.
    “You know I’ve always been a champion of S/CRU, right?”
    “Yes, sir. I appreciate your support,” Judd said.
    “You know I stuck my neck out to create your whole goddamn office in the first place, right?”
    “Yes, sir. I know that.”
    “I did it because I want the Secretary to have a legacy. I want to be able, when we are all done here, to point to a few things and say:
We. Did. That.
Do you understand?”
    “Yes, of course. That’s why I’m here, too.”
    “Then we are on the same page.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “So I need you to help me.”
    “Of course.”
    “Actually, Ryker, to be precise, I need you to help me
to help you
.”
    “Sir?”
    “The Mali coup worked out a few months ago. President Maiga is back in power, Senator McCall has his daughter home safely, and we’ve been able to restart our counterterrorism operations in the Sahara Desert. It’s a good outcome all around. As far as I’m concerned, our success in Mali is a credit to you and to S/CRU.”
    “Thank you.”
    “But not everybody agrees with me on that, as I’m sure you know. There’s been blowback right here inside the building. People are complaining to the Secretary about S/CRU, about your office encroaching on their issues. No one wants that.”
    Judd nodded.
    “To put it bluntly, Ryker,
no one wants you
.”
    “I realize S/CRU is still new and some people are resistant to a new way of doing things.”
    “It’s the goddamn State Department, Ryker. Of course they are going to resist. It’s part of the DNA of the bureaucracy. It’s just part of the culture. It’s in their blood.”
    “So what do you want me to do, sir?”
    “We need a win for S/CRU. Something big that no one can ignore. We still have to prove the concept. It’s been, what, a year?”
    “Coming up on fifteen months.”
    “Okay, fifteen months. The budget is up for review, and if we are going to keep S/CRU afloat, I’ve got to justify it to the Secretary. She’s supportive, don’t get me wrong. But she’s got a lot of requests on her plate, and the budget office is desperate to cut something. It doesn’t help to have her senior staff bitching about your office. It puts a big fat target on your back.”
    “What you’re saying is S/CRU is facing its own Golden Hour.”
    “Exactly, Ryker. I knew you’d get it.” Parker placed a hand on Judd’s shoulder. “And that’s why I wanted you to brief the NEA team on the Egyptian elections. To get them to seize the initiative. To get them excited about Minute Zero. It’ll help make the case to give S/CRU more time. Got it?”
    “Yes. So you’d like me to join the Egypt team and help them with election planning.”
    “Hell, no, Ryker!” Parker withdrew his hand with a laugh. “The NEA Bureau won’t let you anywhere near Egypt. It’s too damn important. The White House is breathing down their necks. I’d be all for it. But, frankly,