Patriot games - Tom Clancy [200]
"I like it." He turned to his intelligence chief. "Michael?"
"The opposition will be formidable, of course, but the plan allows for that. The only thing that worries me is that it will take nearly all of our people to do it."
"Nothing else looks feasible," Miller replied. "It's not so much a question of getting close enough, but of leaving the area after the mission is accomplished. Timing is crucial-"
"And when timing is crucial, simplicity is a must." O'Donnell nodded. "Is there anything else that the opposition might try?"
"I think not," McKenney said. "This is the worst-case expectation."
"Helicopters," Miller said. "They nearly did for us the last time. No real problem if we're prepared for it, but we must be prepared."
"Very well," O'Donnell said. "And the second part of the operation?"
"Obviously we need to know where all the targets will be," McKenney said. "When do you want me to activate our people?" On orders, the intelligence chief's penetration agents had been quiescent for some weeks.
"Not just yet," the Commander replied thoughtfully. "Again a question of timing. Sean?"
"I think we should wait until the mission is fully accomplished before moving."
"Yes, it proved to be a good idea the last time," the Commander agreed. "How many people are needed for your operation?"
"No less than fifteen. I think we can depend on Alex for three trained men, himself included. More than that-no, we should limit his participation as much as possible."
"Agreed," McKenney said.
"And training?" O'Donnell asked.
"The most we've ever done."
"To start when?"
"A month beforehand," Miller answered. "Any more time would be a waste of resources. For the moment I have quite a lot of work to do."
"So here are the plans," Murray said. "You can either let them stay at your embassy or we'll put them in Blair House, right across the street from the President."
"With all due respect to your Secret Service chaps-" The head of the Diplomatic Protection Group didn't have to go on. Their safety was his responsibility and he wouldn't trust it to foreigners any more than he had to.
"Yeah, I understand. They'll get a full security detail from the Secret Service plus a couple of FBI liaison people and the usual assistance from the local police. Finally we'll have two HRT groups on alert the whole time they're over, one in D.C., and a backup team at Quantico."
"How many people know?" Ashley asked.
"The Secret Service and Bureau people are already fully briefed. When your advance men go over, they ought to have most of the events scouted for you already. The local cops will not be notified until they have to know."
"You said most of the locations have been scouted, but not all?" Owens asked.
"Do you want us to check out the unannounced points this early, too?"
"No." The man from DPG shook his head. "It's bad enough that the public functions have to be exposed this early. It's still not official that they're going, you know. The element of surprise is our best defense."
Owens looked at his colleague, but didn't react. The head of the DPG was on his suspects list, and his orders were not to allow anyone to know the details of his investigation. Owens thought him to be in the clear, but his detectives had discovered a few irregularities in the man's personal life that had somehow gotten past all the previous security screenings. Until it was certain that he was not a possible blackmail risk, he would not be allowed to know that some possible suspects had already seen the itinerary. The Commander of C-13 gave Murray an ironic look.
"I think you're overdoing this, gentlemen, but that's your business," the FBI man said as he stood. "Your people are flying over tomorrow?"
"That's right."
"Okay, Chuck Avery of the Secret Service will meet your people at Dulles. Tell them not to be bashful about asking for things. You will have our total cooperation." He watched them leave. Five minutes later Owens was back.
"What gives, Jimmy?" Murray wasn't surprised.
"What further progress have