Christmas 2032: The British Republic's citizen government are about to begin their second year in office. Last year was pretty rough for some of the randomly chosen ministers, despite the best efforts of the Cabinet Support Team to keep them in line. But they survived the worst the Provisional Democratic Army could dream up-and news that the world came close to a fatal pandemic never did leak out. They are wiser now, being all experienced and that. Some are also cockier, and one or two are getting positively bolshy. It's just a pity someone will have to put their life on the line this year...