he briefing。 〃Operation Rum and Cola is still in progress。 We may have been cheated out of the space shuttle and a rich source of scientific data； but it is an acceptable loss pared to gaining total mastery of Cuba。〃
Antonov considered Polevoi's words； and swallowed the bait。 〃I have my doubts。 Without Velikov to direct the operation its chances for success are cut in half。〃
〃The general is no longer crucial to Rum and Cola。 The plan is ninety percent plete。 The ships will enter Havana Harbor tomorrow evening； and Castro's speech is set for the following morning。 General Velikov performed admirably in laying the groundwork。 Rumors of a new CIA plot to assassinate Castro have already been spread throughout the Western world； and we have prepared evidence showing American involvement。 All that's left to do is push a button。〃
〃Our people in Havana and Santiago are alerted？〃
〃They're prepared to move in and form a new government as soon as the assassination is confirmed。〃
〃And the next leader？〃
〃Alicia Cordero。〃
Antonov's mouth hung half open。 〃A woman； you're telling me？ We're naming a woman to rule Cuba after Fidel Castro's death？〃
〃The perfect choice；〃 said Polevoi firmly。 〃She is secretary of the Central mittee and secretary of the Council of State。 Most important； she is a close confidante of Fidel and is idolized by the people for the success of her family economic programs and fiery oratory。 She has a charm and charisma that matches Fidel's。 Her loyalty to the Soviet Union is unquestionable； and she will have the total backing of the Cuban military。〃
〃Who work for us。〃
〃Who belong to us；〃 Polevoi corrected。
〃So we are mitted。〃
〃Yes； rade President。〃
〃And then？〃 Antonov prompted。
〃Nicaragua； Peru； Chile； and yes； Argentina；〃 said Polevoi； warming to his subject。 〃No more messy revolutions； no more bloody guerrilla movements。 We infiltrate their governments and subtly erode from within； careful to arouse no hostility from the United States。 When they finally wake up it will be too late。 South and Central America will be solid extensions of the Soviet Union。〃
〃And not the party？〃 Antonov asked reproachfully。 〃Are you forgetting the glory of our munist heritage； Polevoi？〃
〃The party is the base to build upon。 But we cannot continue to be chained to an archaic Marxist philosophy that has taken a hundred years to prove unworkable。 The twenty…first century is only a decade away。 The day of cold realism is now。 I quote you； rade President； when you said； ‘I envision a new era of socialism that will wipe the hated scourge of capitalism from the earth。' Cuba is the first step in fulfilling your dream of a world society dominated by the Kremlin。〃
〃And Fidel Castro is the barrier in our path。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Polevoi with a sinister smile。 〃But only for another forty…eight hours。〃
Air Force One lifted off from Andrews Air Force Base and turned south over the historic hills of Virginia。 The early morning sky was clear and blue with only a few scattered thunderclouds。 The Air Force colonel； who had piloted the Boeing jet under three Presidents； leveled off at 34；000 feet and gave the arrival time at Cape Canaveral over the cabin inter。
〃Breakfast； gentlemen？〃 asked the President； motioning toward a small dining partment recently modified into the plane。 His wife had hung a Tiffany lampshade over an art deco table； lending an informal； relaxed atmosphere。 〃Our galley can provide champagne if anyone wishes to celebrate。〃
〃I wouldn't mind a hot cup of black coffee；〃 said Martin Brogan。 He sat down and removed a file from his briefcase before sliding it under the table。
Dan Fawcett pulled up a chair beside him； while Douglas Oates sat opposite； next to the President。 A white…coated Air Force sergeant served guava juice； the President's favorite； and coffee。 Each man gave his order and relaxed； waiting for the President to launch the conversation。
〃Well；〃 he said； smiling； 〃we've got a lot to get through before we land at the Cape and congratulate everyone。 So let's get started。 Dan； fill us in on the status of the Gettysburg and the moon colonists。〃
〃I've been on the phone all morning with NASA officials；〃 said Fawcett； excitement evident in his tone。 〃As we all know； Dave Jurgens put the spacecraft down in Key West by the skin of his teeth。 A remarkable job of flying。 The naval air station has been closed to all air and car traffic。 The gates and fences are under heavy Marine guard。 The President has ordered a temporary news blackout on the situation until he can announce the existence of our new moon base。〃
〃The reporters must be screaming like wounded vultures；〃 said Oates； 〃demanding to know why the shuttle made an unscheduled arrival so far off course。〃
〃That goes without saying。〃
〃When do you plan to make the announcement？〃 asked Brogan。
〃In two days；〃 replied the President。 〃We need time to sort out the immense implications and debrief Steinmetz and his people before we throw them to the news media。〃
〃If we delay any longer；〃 added Fawcett； 〃someone in the White House press corps is bound to hit on a leak。〃
〃Where are the moon colonists now？〃
〃Undergoing tests at the Kennedy Space Center medical facility；〃 answered Fawcett。 〃They were flown out of Key West along with Jurgens' crew shortly after the Gettysburg touched down。〃
Brogan looked at Oates。 〃Any word from the Kremlin？〃
〃Only silence so far。〃
〃Be interesting to see how they react to having their nationals shot down for a change。〃
〃Antonov is a wily old bear；〃 said the President。 〃He'll reject a propaganda blitz accusing us of murdering his cosmonauts in favor of secret talks where he'll demand restitution in the form of shared scientific data。〃
〃Will you give it to him？〃
〃The President is morally bound to ply；〃 said Oates。
Brogan looked appalled； and so did Fawcett。
〃This is not a political matter；〃 Brogan said in a low voice。 〃There is nothing in the book that says we have to throw away secrets vital to our national defense。〃
〃We're cast as the villains this time around； not the Russians；〃 protested Oates。 〃We're within inches of a SALT IV agreement to halt all future nuclear missile placement。 If the President ignored Antonov's claims； the Soviet negotiators would take one of their famous walks only hours before signing the treaty。〃
〃You may be right；〃 said Fawcett。 〃But everyone connected with the Jersey Colony didn't struggle for two decades just to give it all away to the Kremlin。〃
The President had followed this exchange without interrupting。 Now he held up a hand。 〃Gentlemen； I am not about to sell out the store。 But there is an enormous wealth of information we can share with the Russians and the rest of the world in the interests of humanity。 Medical findings； geological and astronomical data must be freely passed around。 However； you may rest easy。 I'm not about to promise our space and defense programs。 That area will remain firmly in our hands。 Do I make myself clear？〃
Silence descended on the dining partment as the steward delivered three steaming plates of eggs； ham； and hotcakes。 He refilled the coffee cups。 As soon as he returned to the galley； the President sighed deeply and looked at the table in front of Brogan。
〃You're not eating； Martin？〃
〃I usually skip breakfast。 Lunch is my big meal。〃
〃You don't know what you're missing。 These hotcakes are light as a feather。〃
〃No； thanks。 I'll just stick with coffee。〃
〃While the rest of us dig in； why don't you brief us on the Cayo Santa Maria operation。〃
Brogan took a sip from his cup； opened the file； and condensed the contents in a few concise statements。 〃A special bat team under the mand of Colonel Ramon Kleist and led by Major Angelo Quintana landed on the island at 0200 hours this morning。 By 0430 the Soviet radio jamming and listening facility； including its antenna； was destroyed and all personnel terminated。 The timing was most fortunate； as the final radio transmission warned off the Gettysburg only minutes before it would have landed on Cuban soil。〃
〃Who gave the warning？〃 interrupted Fawcett。
Brogan stared across the table and smiled。 〃He gave his name as Dirk Pitt。〃
〃My God； the man is everywhere；〃 the President exclaimed。
〃Jessie LeBaron and two of Admiral Sandecker's NUMA people were rescued；〃 Brogan continued。 〃Raymond LeBaron was killed。〃
〃Is that confirmed？〃 asked the President； his expression turned solemn。
〃Yes； sir； it was confirmed。〃
〃A great pity。 He deserved recognition for his contribution to the Jersey Colony。〃
〃Still； the mission was a great success；〃 Brogan said quietly。 〃Major Quintana recovered a wealth of intelligence material； including the Soviets' latest codes。 It arrived only an hour ago。 Analysts at Langley are sifting through it now。〃
〃Congratulations are in order；〃 said the President。 〃Your people performed an incredible feat。〃
〃You may not be so hasty with praise； Mr。 President； after you hear the full story。〃
〃Okay； Martin； let's have it。〃
〃Dirk Pitt and Jessie LeBaron。 。 。〃 Brogan paused and