‘Mike was my old commanding officer in the Regiment. He’s a top-class bloke. All the guys at Hereford respected him.’

A gleaming smile crawled like a colony of ants across the president’s face. ‘I couldn’t agree more.’

Bowman recalled the photograph he’d seen pinned to the board in the Shed. The sun-blasted face, the wild hair and bushy beard. He remembered, too, how Gregory had stepped in to stop him from being RTU’d on Selection. The drunken fight outside the pub. The flashing lights from the police car. The night he’d spent in the cell. There had been no reason for Gregory to intervene. But he had argued Bowman’s case anyway. Saved his career. Because it had been the right thing to do. Bowman had looked up to him during his time in B Squadron. Admired him. Gregory had almost been like a father figure, looking out for Bowman during those difficult early days in the Regiment.

‘Does Mike know about this deal with the Russians?’ asked Mallet.

Seguma shook his head. ‘Lang told me not to mention it to anyone else. My mistake. If I had sought Mr Gregory’s advice, I am sure he would have argued against it.’

‘We can trust him, then?’

‘Without question.’ Something hard glinted behind the president’s eyes. ‘Mr Gregory would never betray me. Unlike some.’

He gazed through the floor-to-ceiling windows at Lang, scowling.

‘Can we rely on him to hold the fort until we get there?’ asked Casey.

‘Mike is as tough as they come,’ Bowman said. ‘He used to come out on patrols with us in Iraq and Afghanistan. A lot of Ruperts would have hung back in the safety of the ops room, but not Mike.’

Casey stared at him. ‘You really rate this guy, don’t you?’

‘I’m just telling you what he’s like.’ He nodded at Seguma. ‘You don’t have to worry, sir. Your family will be safe until we get there. Mike is a top soldier.’

‘You don’t need to remind me of his qualities.’ The corners of his mouth curved upwards. ‘Mr Gregory has been very loyal to me over the years. He has proved himself many times.’

‘Those extra bodies from the Presidential Guard will even things up a bit,’ Mallet said.

‘Agreed,’ said the Voice. ‘Between yourselves, Mike Gregory and the Presidential Guard, you should have enough firepower to defend against anyone who might take a pop at you. More than enough.’

‘We’re going in half-cocked,’ Bowman said. ‘That’s never a good idea.’

The Voice said, ‘We’re not asking you to go in and save the country. All you’ve got to do is secure the family and wait for the strike force to arrive. How hard can it be?’

Bowman clenched his jaws but said nothing.