13. Proxy War

Complete story — includes the ending

When a cluster bomb kills 29 children in Syria, suspicion falls on Israel, as only the U.S. is known to manufacture cluster bombs. An investigation reveals that the bomb was made in Russia, which had hacked the blueprints from the poorly safeguarded computer system of the U.S. manufacturer, run by a friend of Conrad's. Israel provokes Syria into shooting down a Russian plane filled with soldiers. Russia responds by sending an armada to establish a port in Syria, which the U.S. resolves to prevent with its own fleet of ships. Elizabeth desperately attempts to find a diplomatic solution. Henry and Russell clash over Henry's role in Conrad's administration. Jason's foray into cryptomining nearly triples the household energy bill.