After receiving a thorough briefing from his advisor, President Benjamin Asher realized his original plan to use the Japanese intelligence dossier was naïve and impractical—a result of his lack of experience in intelligence work. However, when Mozzie mentioned that the list still held some value, Asher's interest was piqued. Determined to avenge the humiliation he endured during the White House attack, Asher shared his idea of using the list to deliver a severe blow to the Japanese operatives who had covertly supported Amir Barkawi.
Although the U.S. government had already responded to the attack by shifting the entire cost of stationing American troops in Japan onto the Japanese government, Asher felt personally unfulfilled. Now that he had time to focus on personal matters, the thought of retribution consumed him.
Mozzie, a man of devious intellect and endless cunning, was the perfect ally for crafting such a plan.
Asher's faith in Mozzie was well-placed. With his sharp mind and penchant for scheming, Mozzie was not only adept at devising strategies but also deeply motivated to protect his friend Castle, whose "political investment" in Asher's presidency had been invaluable. Mozzie understood that Asher's lingering resentment stemmed from the personal affront he had suffered. The president wanted to strike back at the Japanese for their behind-the-scenes meddling during the attack, and Mozzie was more than willing to assist.
After listening to Asher's goals, Mozzie proposed a completely different approach.
"Mr. President," Mozzie began, "even if we act on the list and start arresting the people named in it, the impact will be limited. At best, it will rattle the Cabinet Intelligence Office and their Chief Cabinet Secretary. But is that enough? We're talking about a nation that aided in a terrorist assault on the White House. Making them pay for our military presence doesn't truly reflect the gravity of their offense."
Mozzie's words carried an undercurrent of intrigue, and Asher, aware of his advisor's cunning nature, immediately recognized there was more to his suggestion.
It's worth noting that Mozzie's current role as National Security Advisor wasn't some token position. Officially known as the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, Mozzie was one of the most critical figures in the administration. Unlike the Secretaries of State or Defense, who managed vast government systems, the National Security Advisor had no department to oversee and did not require Senate confirmation. However, they were directly loyal to the president, tasked with coordinating between agencies, studying critical issues, and developing policies.
In this capacity, Mozzie wielded significant influence, often more directly reflecting the president's will than cabinet officials. His proposals could easily shape national policy, provided they gained Asher's approval.
Given Asher's new leverage over Congress—earned by his victimhood during the attack—Mozzie's advice carried even more weight. Members of Congress, who had benefitted from the U.S. shifting costs to Japan, were unlikely to oppose any new plans for retribution. Mozzie knew that once Asher approved his proposal, Congress would likely greenlight it without hesitation.
While Asher plotted his vengeance under Mozzie's guidance, Castle was busy with his own preparations. In his study, he rummaged through his desk drawers, searching for a business card.
The recent intelligence he had reviewed about Stan Aerospace's boardroom discussions and their initial decision to deploy mercenaries had left him uneasy. Although the company had since reversed its decision and sought to negotiate, Castle couldn't shake the feeling that trouble might still be brewing.
Didn't a representative from Stan Aerospace visit my estate once? he thought.
Castle vaguely recalled a high-ranking official from the company—a man also of high caste—who had approached him about developing advanced technologies for their indigenous fighter jets. At the time, Castle had refused to work with them, citing concerns about their technical competence and ulterior motives. However, the representative had left his business card.
Castle's motivation for finding the card was simple: he needed an alternative communication channel. While he could ask Lockheed Martin to arrange contact with Stan Aerospace, he preferred a more discreet approach.
This wasn't about conceding or showing weakness. Castle simply wanted to avoid unnecessary complications. With his schedule already packed and his focus split between various critical tasks, the last thing he needed was more trouble from Stan Aerospace. If a peaceful dialogue could preemptively resolve the issue, so much the better.
Castle's workload was substantial. In addition to overseeing the situation in Miami, where Le Chiffre planned to sabotage the prototype jet, he also had other pressing commitments. Miami's police department, equipped with Castle's intelligence, was already on high alert. Bond, meanwhile, was hot on Le Chiffre's trail. Even so, Castle couldn't afford to leave anything to chance.
Moreover, both Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin were vying for Castle's expertise. Northrop sought his help in integrating the new visual stealth technology into their B-2 bomber upgrade program—a lucrative and technically demanding project. Lockheed, not to be outdone, wanted him to assist in retrofitting their reconnaissance and electronic surveillance aircraft with similar capabilities.
These commitments meant Castle would soon have to leave New York for an extended period. While his estate was well-guarded, the thought of leaving his family unprotected—especially with Alexis still in school and his mother enjoying her retirement in the Hamptons—made him uneasy.
What if Stan Aerospace decided to retaliate in his absence? What if their agents targeted his loved ones instead of him? Castle knew he couldn't take that risk.
Finding the card was the first step. Castle didn't plan to negotiate from a position of weakness but believed it was prudent to communicate and establish boundaries before the situation escalated. If Stan Aerospace's representatives could be reasoned with, he intended to make it clear that targeting him or his family would result in consequences far worse than they could imagine.
For Castle, preparation was key. Preventing a problem was always preferable to cleaning up a mess later.
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