It’s the week before Christmas, 2032. World leaders hold Fannie responsible for the mess left by President Julius Emp. She never promised to solve the world’s problems. Fannie has given most of the White House staff the week before Christmas off. Even robots have their limits, she learns. China trespasses on Japanese territory, and on Christmas Eve hardline extremists present Fannie with a surprise: 28 states vote to secede from the union. Is civil war inevitable? Is World War III again possible? What will Fannie do?