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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."

"True," Coffey said, "but if we get caught then, it's Congress in the hot seat and we don't get crucified. Do you have any idea how many national and international laws and treaties you can conceivably break with this one action you're proposing? The good news is, you'll never go to jail. You'll spend forty years in court fighting each of the charges."

Rodgers thought for a moment. "What if you tell the committee that it isn't the Russian government we'll be going up against?"

"In Russia? Who else would we be fighting?"

"We believe a rogue official, very high up, is in bed with drug lords," Rodgers said.

"Then why haven't we told the Russian leaders?" Coffey asked. "If he were to invite us in--"

"He can't," said Rodgers. "The election didn't leave President Zhanin strong enough to deal with the rebel faction."

Coffey considered the new information. "Rogue officials. Elected ones?"

Rodgers shook his head. "Appointed by the last President and sure to be gone when Zhanin finds the broom."

Coffey chewed the inside of his cheek. "That plus the drug angle could work. Congress likes tackling bad guys the constituents can hate. What about the President? Is he behind us on this, or are we on our own?"

"Paul told him what we're proposing to do," Rodgers said. "He doesn't like the downside, but he's itching to hit someone for what happened in New York."

"And Paul's behind you, I assume?"

"He is," said Rodgers, "as long as you can get me CIC approval."

Coffey crossed his leg. He shook a foot nervously on his knee. "I assume you're going to use something other than the StarLifter to get Striker in?"

"We've taken an Il-76T from mothballs in Berlin and sent it to Helsinki--"

"Wait a minute," Coffey said. "Ambassador Filminor got the government to okay a Russian incursion?"

"No," Rodgers said. "Bob went to the Minister of Defense."

"Niskanen?" Coffey shouted. "I told you this moming he's crazy! That's why the Finns keep him in office. He actually scares Moscow. But he can't give the final okay for something like this. You need approvals from President Jarva and Prime Minister Lumirae."

Rodgers said, "All I needed from Niskanen was permission to get the plane in. Once my team is airborne, he or you or the Ambassador can deal with the President and Prime Minister."

Coffey shook his head. "Mike, you're all over the map on this one, and every inch of it's an earthquake zone."

There was a knock on the door and Darrell McCaskey entered. "Am I interrupting something?"

"Yes," said Coffey, "but that's okay."

Rodgers said, "I heard about the agent in Tokyo. Sorry."

The short FBI liaison and crisis management expert scratched his prematurely gray hair and handed papers to Rodgers.