Mission Control Officer (SIS); Ops Room post responsible for oversight of actual mission execution; also Main Communications Officer (SIS); responsible for recording and coordinating communications between the Ops Room and the field
Mission
Generic term used interchangeably with “post” or “embassy,” referring to the entirety of the official representation made to a host country (U.S. State Department)
MOD
Ministry of Defense (U.K.)
NCTC
National Center for Counterterrorism (U.S.)
NVG
Night-vision goggles
PA
Personal Assistant
PRC
People’s Republic of China
PUS
Permanent Undersecretary
RSO
Regional Security Officer (U.S. State Department)
RV
Rendezvous
S
Office of Secretary, Department of State; Secretary of State (U.S.)
SAS
Special Air Service (U.K.)
SIS
Secret Intelligence Service (U.K.)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
GREG RUCKA has worked at a variety of jobs, from theatrical fight choreographer to emergency medical technician. The author of A Gentleman’s Game, A Fistful of Rain, and five previous thrillers, he resides with his family in Portland, Oregon. He is currently working on the next Atticus Kodiak crime novel, Patriot Acts, which Bantam will publish in fall 2006.
ALSO BY GREG RUCKA
Keeper
Finder
Smoker
Shooting at Midnight
Critical Space
A Fistful of Rain
A Gentleman’s Game