‘They have maintained an extensive fleet of Type 209 submarines taken from the navies of constituent states, or former states I suppose, and it is our belief that these subs are being used right now to infiltrate agents into North and Central America. In our sphere of influence – by which I mean America’s, lest you mistake me. My Coast Guard intelligence folks tell me the 209s are providing material support to the pirate groups that operate out of Mexican and Cuban ports. Their air power is a frequent concern of mine. They possess sufficient capacity to attack the Panama Canal Zone. Half of the TDF Air Guard is tied down in Panama serving as a deterrent against that very threat. Unfortunately, half of the Guard often sits on the ground for want of spare parts. I can’t get Seattle to free up my requests for spares or support from the US Navy and Air Force. Perhaps your own assessment will help break open that log jam, Kate.’

‘I’ll make no promises,’ Caitlin replied. ‘Other than to assess the intelligence without bias. I’ll report to Mister Culver. What he puts in front of the President is up to him.’

‘Fair is fair,’ Blackstone said, reaching for the coffee pot. ‘Musso, you up for a fresh cup? You look like you’re drifting off, old man.’

In fact, he looked like he was lost in some old memory. ‘No, I’m fine. Thank you,’ Tusk said once he’d rejoined them.

‘Kate?’

She demurred. ‘We have all of the data you’ve cited so far, sir,’ she said. ‘None of it implies a need for urgent policy or resource action. Not given the way our forces are already overstretched. Is there some other reason you’re concerned about the Federation?’

Special Agent Monroe had little interest in his answer. But she had her role to play, and Colonel Murdoch would not have been impressed with Blackstone’s case thus far. The Governor and his aide exchanged a glance. McCutcheon excused himself and left the office.

‘You read much history, Kate?’ asked Blackstone.

‘Some, sir. In college. Mostly course-related.’

‘Of course. But you would be familiar with the big picture, between the wars last century. The rise of the absolute tyrants and the superstates. Hitler’s Germany. The Soviet Union. And the little Hitlers here and there. Saddam. The interchangeable ayatollahs.’

She indicated some familiarity with the twentieth century.