9:30 p.m.
Signals across the East Coast had completely fallen. TV studios, mall advertisements, sports broadcasts in bars... all flickered with dense static before turning into the Ten Rings emblem. The satellite signals had been hacked, and not even the White House had been spared.
As footage of a series of terrorist attacks played, the Mandarin appeared on-screen and issued a forceful threat to America. His grim face was like that of a Hell Demon, making people instinctively feel afraid and tremble inside.
The bombing attacks over the past half month had injured at least a hundred people and killed dozens. Since 9/11, America had once again been gripped by tension. Even S.H.I.E.L.D. had stepped in and begun an intensive search for the Mandarin and the Ten Rings. Meanwhile, Tony Stark, Iron Man and one of the Avengers, was still missing, his fate unknown.
"President, we're going to continue the lesson. This is Thomas Richard. He's an accountant at Roxxon Oil Corporation, and he does excellent work..."
The camera pulled back. The Mandarin held a pistol, and at his feet was a terrified middle-aged man whose body trembled constantly like a lamb awaiting slaughter. Everyone held their breath. They knew what was about to happen.
"I've confirmed that he is a good man, so in a moment, I'm going to blow his head off. Thirty seconds from now, right in front of all of you. This will be a live broadcast with plenty of punch, and the only one who can stop it is you—President! You have this number in your phone. If I receive your call within thirty seconds, then Tom doesn't have to die."
Aboard Air Force One, President Ellis picked up his phone. An unfamiliar number was displayed on the screen. He looked toward the Secret Service