A clash between US and Chinese destroyers near the Spratly Islands prompts President Samuel Walters to launch an attack against one Chinese military base. To curb influence of Super PACs in the national political process, the President urges the Supreme Court to reverse its 2010 decision on the 'Citizens United v FEC' case. He then introduces the 28th Constitutional Amendment to set Congressional term limits. These measures seriously threaten corporate influence over Congress, and the secretive Omicron Group orders the President assassinated.