Her blonde hair was tied back, her face flushed from the fresh night air, and Morland noticed a new light in her blue eyes. Keeping her voice calm, she brought him up to date on the night’s events so far. “I’ve just called in at the Constitution Protection Bureau office. They’re getting reports that Russian airborne troops have been landing by parachute onto the international airport and there’s a second landing somewhere to the east of the city, as we can hear gunfire from that direction. The Latvian battalion and the National Guard protecting the airport are fighting back, but Russian troop-carrying helicopters are now landing more men and vehicles. It looks as if it will only be a matter of time before we are overwhelmed.”

Morland thought fast. Better get the news to PJHQ to alert them. And then get “eyes on” to confirm what was happening.

Krauja read his mind. “We need to get this news out quickly, Tom.”

Once again, Corporal Steve Bradley set up the Inmarsat VTC. From his steady and practiced movements, Morland would not have known this was not another drill, instead of preparing to report the start of a war.

Major Jerry Dingley, from the Baltic desk at PJHQ in Northwood, came into the picture and was quickly joined by Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Graham, the bespectacled Baltic team leader.

Without any preamble or formality, Morland briefed him on what he knew.

In return, Graham told him that PJHQ were getting reports that the Russian Baltic fleet had left St. Petersburg and signal traffic indicated submarine activity off Riga, Tallin, Helsinki and Stockholm. “We need to know what is happening in Riga, Tom,” the colonel continued. “Chief of Joint Operations is briefing Chief of the Defense Staff before he heads into COBRA, the Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms, in a couple of hours. Things are likely to move pretty quickly now. Your mission is for you and your team to report back what is happening. You guys are our only eyes on the ground. We need to get confirmation—photos, that sort of thing—that the Russians have landed. Once you have hard proof that it is Russian regular forces, you are to send it here ASAP and then get out. Without getting involved. Do you understand me?”

Morland nodded, but did not speak. He felt diminished, agreeing these instructions in front of Marina. Here she was, willing to put her life on the line to help them. And here he was, obeying orders to get some incriminating photos prior to escaping.

“No heroics,” stated Graham. “The government doesn’t want dead or captured British soldiers in Latvia. That would tie their hands politically. . .”

Graham stared at Morland down the screen, clearly unconvinced he had accepted his orders. “There’s nothing you can do to help Latvia except get those photos. Do you understand? Proof. Out. That simple.”

“Yes, Sir.”