Sondra slipped on her own shoulder harness and leaned back. She was still a little deflated and somewhat annoyed that the Lieutenant Colonel had chosen this time and this way to share his philosophy, but feeling more confident than ever that here was a man she could follow into battle

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Monday, 4:30 P.M., Washington, D.C.

While Rodgers sat in his office, reviewing the latest Striker plans from TAS, Stephen Viens E-mailed the AIM-Satellite report on the crates:

CONTENTS OF EACH CRATE APPEARS TO BE A SOLID

MASS. PROBABLY NOT MACHINERY. EASY FOR TWO



MEN TO LIFT. SENT PHOTO RECON TO MATT STOLL



FOR ANALYSIS.

Rodgers muttered to himself, "Bricks of cocaine or packets of heroin would fill the bill. And I'd love to make the bastards eat each and every one of them."

There was a knock on the door. Rodgers buzzed Lowell Coffey in.

"You wanted to see me?" Coffey asked.

Rodgers waved him to a chair. Coffey removed his black trench coat and planted himself in the leather armchair. The attorney had bags under his eyes, and his hair wasn't as carefully combed as usual. This had been a long, tough day for him.

"How did it go with the Congressional Intelligence Oversight Committee?" Rodgers asked.

Coffey tugged his LC cuff links out from under the sleeve of his jacket. "I went over our revised outline with Senators Fox and Karlin, and was told we're crazy. Senator Fox said it twice. The answer was no change in the original Striker mandate. I think they have a problem with the prospect of engaging the Russian Army, Mike."

"I can't worry about the problems they have," Rodgers said. "I need my team in there. Go back and tell them we're not talking about an engagement, Lowell. We're just reconnoitering."

"Just reconnoitering," Coffey said dubiously. "They'll never buy that. I don't buy it. I mean, reconnoitering to find out what?"

"Where the soldiers are headed and exactly what they're guarding."

"You'll have to get on the train for that," Coffey said. "That's some pretty close reconnoitering. And if Striker is found out? What do I tell the Senators? Do we surrender or fight?"

Rodgers said bluntly, "Striker doesn't surrender."

"Then forget my even going back," he said.

"All right," Rodgers said. "Tell them we won't fight. Tell them we won't use anything stronger than flash/bang grenades and tear gas. We'll put everyone to sleep, no one gets hurt."

"I still can't do it," Coffey said. "I can't take that to the committee."

"Then screw 'em," Rodgers said. "Hell, we're still breaking international law even if we get their approval."