"Let's just go over our command tent options again." "All right," Hood said patiently.

"We've decided that the Indian government is probably out of the loop on this nuclear option," Herbert said.

"So unless we get that Kargil woman, Nanda, in front of a TV camera to explain this was an inside job we have no proof to offer the president or the Indian people." "That's it," Hood said.

"We've also got Indian troops moving in to cut Nanda and the Pakistanis down." "We assume," Herbert said.

"We have to assume it's search and destroy," Hood pointed out.

"The SFF gains nothing by capturing the Pakistanis and letting the truth come out. We need to give the cell a chance to get home."

"God help us," Herbert said.

"Bob, there's a bigger picture than aiding terrorists," Hood said.

"You know that."

"I know," Herbert said.

"I just don't like it."

"The time it would take us to move this through diplomatic channels could cost the Pakistanis their lives," Hood said.

"And going ahead with this operation can cost Striker their lives,"

Herbert said. been true every time they've gone into the field," Hood reminded Herbert.

"If Mike or Colonel August has any doubts about this action they can call it off at any time."

"They won't," Herbert assured him.

"Not with what's at stake."

"That's probably true." Hood agreed.

"And not with the balls Mike's got," Herbert went on.

"It's more than that," Hood said.

"He knows his people.

Did he ever run that quote past you, the one from the duke of Wellington?" "I don't think so," Herbert said.

"I was watching Striker drill one morning and I asked Mike how he could tell when he had pushed his people as far as they could go," Hood said.

"He told me that Wellington had a simple way to determine when he had created the best fighting unit possible.

"I don't know what effect these men will have upon the enemy,"

Wellington wrote, 'but, by God, they terrify me." Mike said that when he felt his people were tough enough to scare him, that was when he stopped."

"Paul, I don't need to be reminded that Striker is the best," Herbert said.

"But I'm worried about the jump into the Himalayas.

I'm worried about the odds and having to trust terrorists.

I'm worried about having no backup for them and, worse than that, no exit strategy."

"I'm worried about all that too," Hood replied.

"I'm also aware that we have no other options."

The intelligence chief was quiet for a moment. The silence was uncomfortable. Hood felt as if Herbert were judging him.

Herbert must have felt that too.

"I know we're doing what we have to do," he said.

"It doesn't mean I have to like it."

Herbert's voice was no longer angry or searching. It was resigned.