By Dawn’s Early Light

In 1991, Soviet dissidents launch a missile at Donetsk from a site in Turkey. Soviet automated defenses mistake it for a NATO attack and retaliate with a massive ICBM volley toward the United States. The crisis escalates rapidly as alarms sound and urgency mounts.

Strategic Air Command scrambles its forces as the situation unfolds. SAC Commander General Renning urges the President to authorize a large-scale counterattack, pushing for decisive retaliation.

The Soviet leader explains the dissidents’ actions to the American President and urges stand-down, offering a measured response. He warns that a full-scale war would cost millions on both sides.

News arrives that the Soviets have launched a second attack. The President reluctantly approves a multi-part US counterstrike, initiating ICBMs first, followed by SLBMs in hours and bomber sorties over the Soviet Union.

As the first wave is about to launch, Renning transfers command to 'Alice', the Air Force general commanding Looking Glass, the airborne command platform. The transition places critical decisions in the hands of the Looking Glass crew.

The President departs on Marine One and discovers the second Soviet attack was directed at China, a grave miscalculation. He attempts to cancel the retaliation order, but a nearby nuclear detonation forces the helicopter down.

A B-52 bomber, Polar Bear 1, takes off moments before Fairchild AFB is destroyed. The crew fights off Russian interceptors, a crew member is killed by the shockwave, and the mission pushes on into Russian airspace.

With the President presumed dead, the Secretary of the Interior is sworn in as president, codenamed Condor. Harpoon briefs Condor and urges restraint, but Condor orders Alice to execute the remainder of the attack.

Cassidy and Moreau attempt to abort the mission, refusing to carry out the orders. Tyler, grieving the loss of his family at Fairchild, commits suicide by ejecting without a parachute, killing the remaining crew.

The President is found badly injured at the crash site and taken to a FEMA emergency shelter. He reaches a one-hour stand-off with Condor to prevent further escalation and pursue a ceasefire.

Aboard Looking Glass, Alice notices Polar Bear 1 has turned back and a Soviet squadron appears to retreat. She pleads with Condor to recall the bombers so a ceasefire can be arranged.

Two US Navy fighters intercept Polar Bear 1 to shoot it down, but their carrier is sunk by a Soviet torpedo. The mission is paused as both sides reassess, and the crew wishes Polar Bear 1 good luck.

The President finally connects with Condor, who orders the Nightwatch to contact submarines and transmit launch orders. Alice and the Looking Glass crew decide to ram Nightwatch to block Condor’s plan.

Alice and the Nightwatch planes collide as the Looking Glass crew sacrifices themselves to prevent an unauthorized launch. The President issues a stand-down message to American forces, and Cassidy and Moreau, with dwindling fuel, glimpse a hopeful sunrise as they race toward land.