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Open novel with /***********

"DECEMBER 31, 1999 ...
   Victor is sitting at the command console in his RV.  He awakened
half an hour ago after his usual eight hours sleep.  It took a month
to get his sleep pattern adjusted to 12:30 to 20:30 but he's
accustomed to it now.  The commanders he's set over the ten regions,
the only ones except John Demos who report directly to himself, know
his hours and respect them.  But they have instructions to report as
necessry, regardless of the hour, for the next few days.  Ten emails
come in almost simultaneously.  Victor physically starts, then
remembers he ordered them for this time.  They indicate all is ready
to go.  Those will be the last scheduled reports until 01:00,
January 1, 2000.  If Y2k comes off as he's planned they'll tell Victor
he has control of the country.
   He walks to the window and looks out at afoot of snow.
Without help from the new moon the snow is lit only by the ceiling
lamp behind him.  His shadow and the terminating shadows of the
window frame defy normal perspective.  His views of the world haven't
changed much in the last fifteen months even as his position climbed
steadily.  He says out loud, "almost over the top".
   He remembers what it was like getting to this place.

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Then after long flashback, have briefing by John Demos on the
readiness of operation uppercase, which nuetralizes gov't,
military and gunuts, though the latter including John, aren't
aware that Victor has intrigue to get rid of them and gained
the support of the military "shadow command" by the deal.
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