‘An electronic monitoring request to GCHQ and the CIA has enabled me to track down several e-mail references to faults at oil installations using OME equipment and controlled by Islamic State. Yuen and Sachs weren’t named in any of the communications, but it does seem that there is a network of engineers working for Islamic State who are capable of sourcing spare parts and repairing equipment at oil wells in Islamic State-controlled areas. Some of these people may be working willingly. Some, like Yuen and Sachs, appear to have been kidnapped and are being forced to work against their will.

‘I then worked with Morag Henderson. We made a list of eighty-three active oil wells that are controlled by groups affiliated to Islamic State, and are still believed to use OME pumps and control systems.’

The deputy prime minister cleared his throat. ‘Oil wells are large facilities that stick out of the ground, yes?’

He got a few nods.

‘So, why can’t we use air strikes to disable the oil wells?’

The head of MI6 answered. ‘US and UK policy with regard to Islamic State and illegal oil exports has been one of containment. Namely, stopping the oil being smuggled to refineries, either by sea or by pipeline. Destroying hundreds of oil wells with aerial bombing would be highly destructive, lead to thousands of casualties amongst civilian workers. It might also lead to retaliatory attacks on oil wells by Islamic State groups, and potential disruption to the global oil supply.’

The deputy prime minister nodded, then looked at James. ‘So we can’t bomb the oil wells, and I assume we can’t move in and arrest this “Uncle” character until the two British hostages are safe?’

James was about to continue, but the defence minister spoke over him. ‘Might I remind you that the current government has a strict non-intervention policy with regard to ground-based operations against Islamic State. Even if we can find Yuen and Sachs, we will not send British special forces in to rescue them.’

The deputy prime minister sat forward. ‘But we’d look very weak as a government if news of this became public and we didn’t act to help two decent men who appear to have been kidnapped on British soil.’

‘But it isn’t public,’ the intelligence minister noted.

One of the oil industry analysts said exactly what James was thinking. ‘First off, I’d like to think that some kind of attempt to rescue these two men is a good thing. Second, OME equipment is twenty to forty years old and probably goes wrong quite frequently. If we remove two critical personnel who are repairing the control consoles, chances are we’d degrade the amount of oil IS is able to put on the black market with minimal casualties.’

There were a few nods around the big table.

‘How much would we degrade the capacity of Islamic State?’ the deputy prime minister asked.