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Join Wundry Plus in the Wundery app or on Apple Podcasts. It's November 28th, 1962 in Whitehall, the center of the British government in London.

Julian Aemory hunches over his desk trying not to look at the clock.

He's waiting for a call that will make or break his tenure as British Minister for Aviation.

Julian was appointed a few months ago after Peter Thornycroft was promoted to

Minister of Defense. It was a bittersweet moment for Peter. For the last several months he had grown

enthusiastic about Britain's entry into the race to build a supersonic passenger plane

on the cutting edge of technology. If successful, Britain could lead the world in aviation, but with his appointment to Minister of Defense,

Peter now wouldn't be able to see the project through to the finish line.

His successor, Julian A. Mary, however, is aware of the stakes and after all the work that's gone into the project, he doesn't want to be the one to drop the ball.

The British government has struck a deal with the French to develop the supersonic plane together.

The terms are due to be signed tomorrow, but there's a single clause in the treaty which is causing

unhappiness in London and Paris alike.

It's up to Julian to stop the deal from

collapsing. Yeah, this is Amory. I hope you're about to tell me this is a joke.

Ah, Reggie. Reginal Malding is Chancellor of the is a

reggie, the man in charge of the exchequer the man in charge of the British Treasury and the

politician with the power to derail the supersonic agreement.

What on earth have you boys been playing at?

This cost-bearing clause, have you lost your minds?

...