"We've been tracking that lead for over three years now, and its finally borne fruit."

General Keating, already out of patience, jumped back in: "Mitchell, the DIA's mole has uncovered a group of Chinese commanders calling themselves the Spring Tigers. They got itchy fingers and their sights set on Taiwan. Our intel indicates they'll use this standoff to launch their own attack."

Mitchell shrugged. "Call China. Tip off their president."

"We can't trust them to handle this," said Gorbatova. "The deputy director of the political department is a silent partner. And the Chinese could allow it to happen, then simply blame it on this cabal of renegades. We can't give the Chinese that opportunity."

"Let me ask you something, Doctor. How reliable is your intel?"

"Our operative was recruited years ago. He's one of the best we have inside."

"Well that's good, because I assume when this conversation is over that I'll be staking my life on the accuracy of the information he's given you."

"We have no reason to believe otherwise."

The general jumped back in. "Mitchell, we have a list of every Spring Tiger. We also know they've scheduled a final planning meeting exactly nine days from now--and we have the time and location of that meeting."

Mitchell knew where this was going. "What's the dress? Casual? Or do I have to wear a tie?"

"Oh, it's a formal affair, son. Black tie only. You'll crash that party . . . and Mitchell, we need a clean, surgical strike. No prisoners. Do you read me, soldier?"

"Yes, sir."

"All right, pick a team, get an outload manifest ready, and get to Subic Bay ASAP. We'll have an ISOFAC set up, and by then your target intel package should be updated and ready."

When the general said "black tie," he meant black operation sans paper or electronic trials. They would literally wear black and carry nothing that could identify them as U.S. soldiers. No one would claim responsibility for their actions. Who could? The Ghosts did not exist.

Their Isolation Facility or ISOFAC would allow them to engage in the planning phase of their mission without interruption.

Finally, their target intelligence package, or TIP, would contain timely, detailed, tailored, and fused multisource information describing a host of elements related to the mission.

However, Mitchell didn't need to review their TIP regarding the infiltration phase. Their Black Hawk pilots would be sitting this one out. Mitchell and his people were going to Subic Bay to board a submarine, because that's the only way they could infiltrate the Chinese coast while armed for bear, or in this case, tigers.

Gorbatova's tone turned grave. "Captain Mitchell, I want to remind you that our operative took a huge risk to retrieve this data."

"What's he get in return? You helping him defect?"

"As a matter of fact, we are. I just hope you and your people can make it all worthwhile."