The first argument began before anyone reached the briefing room.
Rhea stood at a table inside a temporary government office, reading the statement that had been prepared overnight. Adam could tell she would not approve it.
"Threat neutralized," she read aloud. "Restoration operations underway. Project Dominion has secured the affected districts." She lowered the paper. "Who wrote this?"
A local official named Hana stood opposite her, a pencil tucked behind one ear. She had been working with the shelter coordinators since the first evacuations and looked as tired as everyone else.
"The communications office," Hana answered. "They want language people can understand. If we say we're uncertain about everything, families will assume we're hiding a second attack."
"We are uncertain about a second attack," Adam said.
"I know that. I'm not asking you to lie. I'm asking you to tell people what they can safely do today."
