Happy Monday-After-July-4th to everyone who celebrates! I don't make any secret that this game was inspired in no small part by this scene in Independence Day (or, as real ones call it, "ID4" for some reason). For that reason, I thought it might be fun to go through this speech as if it's a round of play.

TURN 1: 5 ♣ Kairos (Drawn 4 ♠, Minor failure, 1 stress draw)

Walking at a clip from the hangar, you couldn't help but notice how young the assembled pilots look. How scared. You couldn't blame them. There was a pervasive irritability among the crowd. Above everything, the flag billowed. It was your flag, but it wasn't everyone's. What right had you to call on their service? 

You remembered this feeling though, this tension before action. They had preparations to make, pre-flight checks to do, prayers to say. They didn’t want to hear more words. They needed to move to stop themselves from going nuts. The problem with that is it could boil over, could turn to bickering or worse. What these folks needed was a way past their differences. You look up at the stars and stripes again, and despite yourself, a grin tugs at the corner of your mouth. They need to be United.

You see the bullhorn atop the back of the truck and hop up, impressing even yourself with how nimble you can still be at your age. Hopefully you won't pay for it later. You grab the mic and speak.

"Good morning." It's not on. You hit another button. It squeaks, and the crowd recoils. Off to a great start. You try again - "Good morning" - and you hear it reverberate. There it is. You never did get used to the sound of your own voice.

TURN 2: 4 ♦ Pathos (9♣, Success by a wide margin, 1 stress draw)

The crowd, curious, begins to assemble.

"In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world. And you will be launching the largest aerial battle in this history of mankind." You were taught that, when you speak, you shouldn't try to speak to everyone. Choose one person, your old mentor said, and get through to them. Just them.

You see him. A scruffy guy, older, tanned and burned by the sun, not wearing a uniform. Goggles dangled from his neck. You realize you have no idea where he's from. He could be American, or he could be... how many countries even answered the call today? How many even could? He's looking up at you with expectant eyes. He scratches his beard. This one's for you. "Mankind -- that word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests." He nods slowly, inhales deeply. You did it.

TURN 3: 7 ♣ Kairos (9 ♣, Suit Match Success, 1 stress draw)

"Perhaps its fate that today is the 4th of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom, not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution -- but from annihilation. We're fighting for our right to live, to exist." Did the Founding Fathers also think they were fighting for their right to exist? Did you ever think, in your wildest dreams, that you'd be in this position? All you wanted was a quiet presidency. You wanted to hold the wheel steady for a while.

TURN 5: 10 ♥ Logos (King ♠, even number value draw, Positive Face Card Prompt: What traditions, beliefs, or convictions are helping you through this moment? Do you have a personal code or motto? A hero that you look up to?)

What they thought then doesn't matter now. Would there even be a country when this was over? What would it mean for there to be countries in the face of this alien threat? "And should we win the day, the 4th of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day when the world declared in one voice: 'We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on! We're going to survive!' Today, we celebrate our Independence Day!"

A cheer went up.

Endgame: 1-2 failures. Prompt: We win handily, although not without the sacrifice of a few heroes, whose names will be memorialized. It was a nailbiter there for a minute, but the plan worked out, and human ingenuity prevailed.