"Sir, the admiral can tell you what the navy'll say."

"I sorta figured that one out, boy," Moore laughed.  "What do you think?"

"Judge, setting up the decision tree on this will not be easy—there are too many variables, too many possible contingencies.  But I'd say yes.  If it's possible, if we can work out the details, we ought to try.  The biggest question is the availability of our own assets.  Do we have the pieces in place?"

Greer answered.  "Our assets are slim.  One carrier, Kennedy.  I checked.  Saratoga's in Norfolk with an engineering casualty.  On the other hand, HMS Invincible was just over here for the NATO exercise, sailed from Norfolk Monday night.  Admiral White, I believe, commanding a small battle group."

"Lord White, sir?"  Ryan asked.  "The earl of Weston?"

"You know him?" Moore asked.

"Yes, sir.  Our wives are friendly.  I hunted with him last September, a grouse shoot in Scotland.  He makes noises like a good operator, and I hear he has a good reputation."

"You're thinking we might want to borrow their ships, James?" Moore asked.  "If so, we'll have to tell them about this.  But we have to tell our side first.  There's a meeting of the National Security Council at one this afternoon.  Ryan, you will prepare the briefing papers and deliver the briefing yourself."

Ryan blinked.  "That's not much time, sir."

"James here says you work well under pressure.  Prove it."  He looked at Greer.  "Get a copy of his briefing papers and be ready to fly to London.  That's the president's decision..  If we want their boats, we'll have to tell them why.  That means briefing the prime minister, and that's your job.  Bob, I want you to confirm this report.  Do what you have to do, but do not get WILLOW involved."

"Right," Ritter replied.

Moore looked at his watch.  "We'll meet back here at 3:30, depending on how the meeting goes.  Ryan, you have ninety minutes.  Get cracking."

What am I being measured for? Ryan wondered.  There was talk in the CIA that Judge Moore would be leaving soon for a comfortable ambassadorship, perhaps to the Court of St. James's, a fitting reward for a man who had worked long and hard to reestablish a close relationship with the British.  If the judge left, Admiral Greer would probably move into his office.  He had the virtues of age—he wouldn't be around that long—and of friends on Capitol Hill.  Ritter had neither.  He had complained too long and too openly about congressmen who leaked information on his operations and his field agents, getting men killed in the process of demonstrating their importance on the local cocktail circuit.  He also had an ongoing feud with the chairman of the Select Intelligence Committee.