War Game (2024) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A simulation explores how election denial and political violence could trigger a domestic crisis, while leaving officials to confront the risks of government intervention.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Diversion Framed as Patriotism

Insurgents plan to draw response teams into Virginia and stage a confrontation that could make troops appear to attack patriotic citizens. A leader's broadcast claims the election was stolen and urges service members to join the cause.

Key Events

• Insurgent Diversion Plan — Insurgents plan a diversion intended to draw response teams into Virginia. Location: Near Washington
• Bridge Closures Proposed — The group discusses cutting off bridges as part of its plan. Location: Virginia
• Patriotic Image Exploited — The plan seeks a visible confrontation that could portray troops as attacking patriotic citizens. Location: Near Washington
• Insurgent Broadcast — A leader claims the election was stolen and urges armed forces members to join the cause. Location: Unspecified

The Coup Scenario Takes Shape

The exercise models an extremist uprising and considers how election disputes, distrust, and military divisions could threaten the country. Violence around the Capitol forces congressional evacuation and halts election certification.

Key Events

• Simulation Begins — Participants examine a hypothetical extremist uprising involving military personnel. Characters: President John Hotham, Senior Advisor to the President, Chief / National Guard Bureau, Game Consultant, Game Producer, Lieutenant General Roger Simms Location: War-game exercise
• Coup Risk Assessed — The scenario considers how election disputes and distrust could deepen military divisions. Characters: President John Hotham, Senior Advisor to the President, Game Consultant, Game Producer Location: War-game exercise
• Capitol Violence Erupts — Violence around the Capitol forces members of Congress to evacuate. Characters: President John Hotham, Senior Advisor to the President Location: Capitol
• Certification Halted — The violence halts certification of Hotham's victory over his defeated opponent. Characters: President John Hotham Location: Capitol

A Government Response Under Strain

The President's team debates how to condemn criminal assaults while defending peaceful protest and demonstrating resolve. A video from the defeated candidate raises the stakes by urging military and law-enforcement personnel to remove the administration.

Key Events

• Public Response Debated — The President's team weighs defending peaceful protest while condemning criminal assaults. Characters: President John Hotham, Senior Advisor to the President Location: War-game exercise
• Resolve Versus Escalation — Officials consider how to show government resolve without worsening the crisis. Characters: President John Hotham, Senior Advisor to the President Location: War-game exercise
• Defeated Candidate's Video — The defeated candidate calls on military and law-enforcement personnel to remove the administration. Location: Unspecified

The Limits of Intervention

Officials consider monitoring Lieutenant General Roger Simms and the candidate, while legal and practical concerns complicate that option. Reports of crowds at state capitols leave officials uncertain about control and state needs.

Key Events

• Monitoring Considered — Officials consider monitoring Simms and the candidate but raise legal and practical concerns. Characters: Lieutenant General Roger Simms Location: War-game exercise
• Statehouse Crowds Reported — Reports describe crowds demanding changes to election results at state capitols. Characters: Chief / National Guard Bureau Location: State capitols
• Control and Support Unclear — Officials struggle to determine who is in control and what state governments need. Characters: President John Hotham, Chief / National Guard Bureau Location: War-game exercise

An Unresolved Federal Choice

Participants weigh the Insurrection Act and debate whether state National Guard units can manage the violence. The exercise ends without a decision, emphasizing the danger that intervention could intensify an armed domestic crisis.

Key Events

• Insurrection Act Weighed — Participants weigh federal assistance against the risk of intensifying conflict. Characters: President John Hotham, Senior Advisor to the President, Chief / National Guard Bureau, Lieutenant General Roger Simms Location: War-game exercise
• Federal Intervention Unresolved — The exercise ends without resolving whether National Guard units or stronger federal intervention are needed. Characters: President John Hotham, Senior Advisor to the President, Chief / National Guard Bureau, Lieutenant General Roger Simms Location: War-game exercise

Story Breakdown

• Insurgent Diversion — The opening scenario shows a group planning to exploit patriotic imagery and draw response teams away.
  • Virginia Bridge Plan — Members discuss drawing response teams into Virginia and cutting off bridges.
  • Patriotic Confrontation — The group seeks a visible confrontation that could make troops appear to attack patriotic citizens.
• Stolen Election Claims — The broadcast uses election denial to encourage support for the insurgent cause.
  • Leader's Broadcast — A leader claims the election was stolen.
  • Military Appeal — The broadcast urges members of the armed forces to join the cause.
• Coup Simulation — Participants examine how political distrust and divisions in the armed forces could threaten the country.
  • Military Divisions — The scenario considers the potential consequences of distrust and divisions within the armed forces.
  • Election Crisis — A disputed election forms the political backdrop for the simulated uprising.
• Capitol Upheaval — Violence around the Capitol disrupts congressional activity and election certification.
  • Congress Evacuates — Violence forces members of Congress to evacuate.
  • Certification Halted — The unrest halts certification of President John Hotham's victory.
• Public Response Dilemma — The President's team seeks to distinguish peaceful protest from criminal assaults while signaling resolve.
  • Protest and Crime — Officials debate defending peaceful protest while stating that assaults on the Capitol are criminal.
  • Resolve Without Escalation — The team considers how to demonstrate resolve without worsening the crisis.
• Candidate's Intervention Appeal — A video from the defeated candidate intensifies the scenario by calling for the administration's removal.
  • Removal Call — The candidate calls on military and law-enforcement personnel to help remove the sitting administration.
  • Promised Pardon — The candidate promises to excuse disobedience after taking power.
• Monitoring Concerns — Officials consider monitoring Lieutenant General Roger Simms and the candidate but encounter legal and practical concerns.
  • Simms Considered — Lieutenant General Roger Simms is among those officials consider monitoring.
  • Legal and Practical Limits — The proposed monitoring raises legal and practical concerns.
• State-Level Uncertainty — Crowds at state capitols and uncertainty about control complicate the response.
  • Capitol Crowds — Reports describe crowds demanding changes to election results at state capitols.
  • Unclear State Needs — Officials struggle to identify who is in control and what support state governments need.
• Federal Response Choice — The exercise considers the threshold for federal intervention and ends without resolving the choice.
  • Insurrection Act — Participants weigh invoking the Insurrection Act against the risk of intensifying the conflict.
  • Unresolved Deployment — The exercise leaves open whether state National Guard units or stronger federal intervention are needed.

Directed by

Jesse Moss, Tony Gerber

Key Cast

• Steve Bullock — President John Hotham
• Wesley Clark — Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• Heidi Heitkamp — Senior Advisor to the President
• Linda Singh — Chief / National Guard Bureau
• Alexander Vindman — Game Consultant