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“about this particular Maverick Lance.”
    Murdock nodded and began telling them what he knew.
    For years, the U.S. Department of Defense had maintained a list of code phrases that described various types of potential nuclear accidents or incidents. A NUCFLASH alert, followed by the appropriate code word, set the forces necessary to contain the problem in motion. Broken Arrow referred to such nightmare possibilities as the unauthorized or accidental detonation of a nuclear device, radioactive contamination from a damaged nuclear weapon that could threaten a populated area, or the loss or theft of a nuclear warhead. Bent Spear covered less serious contingencies . . . a violation of the safety procedures surrounding the maintenance or installation of nuclear weapons, for instance. At the bottom of the list was Dull Sword, a code name for events involving nuclear material that didn’t fall into the Broken Arrow or Bent Spear categories . . . a nuclear-armed aircraft struck by lightning in flight, for instance, with no apparent damage to aircraft or weapon, but with the possibility of damage to the weapons components.
    Lately, a new category had been added to the NUCFLASH code phrase list, positioned between Broken Arrow and Bent Spear in terms of its seriousness. Maverick Lance referred to any case where it was believed that unauthorized individuals had access to nuclear weapons, weapon parts, or radioactive nuclear materials . . . such as plutonium. “Unauthorized individuals” included anyone of any nationality operating in any country who would not normally have access to such materials; a Russian Strategic Rocket Forces weapons technician would not trigger a Maverick Lance alert; an ex-Soviet general trying to sell a tactical nuclear warhead to the Russian mafia or a Libyan agent most certainly would.
    Murdock reached down and opened his briefcase. Inside was a file folder containing several photographs, as well as a stack of laser-printed hard copy. He laid one of the photographs on the table before them, face up. It showed an Oriental businessman and a woman, possibly his wife, standing in what appeared to be a customs line. The angle of the photo indicated that it had been taken from up high, probably through a security camera mounted well above the customs counter.
    â€œThis is Kim Doo Ok and his wife, Madam Kim . . . at least according to their passports. Britain’s MI5 picked them up at London’s Heathrow Airport two days ago and placed them under surveillance.
    â€œAccording to South Korean intelligence, however, the man is Major Pak Chong Yong and the woman is Captain Chun Hyon Hee, both members of North Korea’s Special Operations forces.”
    â€œWhat are they doing in England?” Inge wanted to know.
    â€œMeeting this man,” Murdock said, sliding another photograph to the table top. It showed Pak and Chun from a different angle, speaking with a tall Occidental man with knife-thin features and dark hair. “John Patrick O’Shaughnessy. Also known as Jack Mallory or Jack O’Malley. Former member of the IRA, then of the Provos. With the new truce in force between England and the IRA, he seems to have joined one of the smaller hawk factions that’s holding out for war with Great Britain to the bitter end.”
    â€œWe don’t often have many dealings with the Provos here,” Hopke said thoughtfully. “Though there has been some crossover, we understand, among the various terrorist groups.”
    â€œThe crossover is getting worse,” Murdock said. “We’re also interested in these two.” The third photograph showed two people, a muscular blond man and a tough-looking, shorthaired woman.
    â€œI recognize the woman,” Inge said. “Dierdre Müller.”
    â€œYou know her?”
    â€œIndirectly. From the data on her in Komissar. She is one of the new senior members of the RAF leadership.”
    â€œThat’s