The State Within

A UK Airlines flight explodes in mid air during take off from Dulles International. Sir Mark Brydon, the British Ambassador to Washington, is out of the ambassadorial Rolls Royce and delivering first aid by the side of the Beltway. Later that day, as a shocked Washington struggles to come to terms with the disaster, a diplomatic inferno envelops the Embassy. It was a terrorist explosion. And the bomber was a British Muslim. Brydon’s initiative to restore relations with the Administration is derailed by an early reaction from the Governor Karpinski of Virginia. Effective immediately, British Asians can be detained without charge. Then, as the crisis takes a grip, a Washington-based foreign policy thinktank invites James Sinclair, a disgraced former British Ambassador, to speak about human rights abuses and government-sponsored torture in his former patch, the Central Asian republic of Tyrgyztan. This major embarrassment to the US administration (supporters of the current President of Tyrgyztan), is a personal embarrassment for Ambassador Brydon who has deep-rooted personal connections with this diplomatic untouchable. Meanwhile, in Florida, British paratrooper Luke Gardner is awaiting execution on Death Row. And in Virginia, his former brothers-in-arms are preparing a private military action under the aegis of Secure Operations, a British military contractor working for an American paymaster.

Since the Governor of Virginia began apprehending British civilians, the Embassy has been besieged by British nationals seeking sanctuary. Brydon is happy to offer it but, as his level-headed deputy, Phil Lonsdale, keeps reminding him, gesture politics is easy; there's a bigger picture to keep hold of. Priority must be to get the policy reversed. But who could the Ambassador influence on the Security Committee? Secretary of Defense Lynne Warner has the same idea. Her priority is a show of strength and she's first to reach the Chair of the Committee, Madeleine Cohen. At the Embassy, Nicholas is sidetracked into an apparently separate story. There's evidence to suggest that the unidentifiable body washed up in a creek in Virginia might be that of a British soldier. In Florida, Luke's appeal is denied and Governor Karpinski signs his Death Warrant. Jane sees one last chance. She can plead his case at the Pardons Board. When the shaky evidence that convicted him is exposed, they must surely admit clemency. After working round the clock for three days, Mark is having an evening off and is looking forward to dinner with Caroline Hanley. But when he arrives at her house, an ambush awaits and he is confronted with an impossible situation. Awaiting his arrival, along with Caroline, are Gordon Adair, CEO of Armitage Corp, and James Sinclair, whom Mark is forbidden contact with…

As day breaks, the Embassy is fire-fighting the latest conflagration to envelop Anglo-American relations, as the conspiracy thriller continues. A party of British mercenaries has been apprehended taking off from a private airfield in Virginia, apparently en route to deliver 10 cylinders of a component of nerve gas to Tyrgyztan in Central Asia. On the principle that attack is the best form of defence, British businessman Charles Macintyre is threatening to file an official complaint about the FBI's handling of his "entirely legitimate business operation". Brydon visits the airfield to see the impounded planes still on the tarmac, he spins a proposition to National Security Adviser Carl Garcia: support for the rogue regime in Tyrgyztan is becoming untenable and the UK/US should consider an approach to the democratic opposition. Mark is in a position to make it happen because of his influence with Eshan Borisvitch, leader of the Tyrgyztan opposition, who is currently in hiding. James Sinclair, ex-British Ambassador to Tyrgyztan, agrees to broker Eshan's visit to Washington, but goes AWOL. Mark finds his old friend in a local bar but, as he manhandles him into the street, a camera flashes from the shadows… Losing patience, Mark walks away and James reels back into the bar to take comfort with a hooker. The evening ends with sickening violence when someone steps out of a Washington alley with murder on their mind; and in Florida, as former British Paratrooper Luke Gardner waits on Death Row to hear his fate, the next piece of the deadly plan falls into place.

Returning to Washington after the death of Luke Gardner, Ambassador Mark Brydon embarks on a delicate diplomatic mission. He has invited Eshan Borisvitch to Washington in secrecy. Despite the diplomatic and personal risks this involves, Mark is pushing for the UK and US to work with Eshan in post-regime change Tyrgyztan. But in meeting Eshan, Mark is forced to confront the ghosts that haunt him from the past. As Mark and Eshan have dinner in the Residence, Jane Lavery is on her own personal mission in Florida. She has received a letter from Luke Gardner directing her to an address in Tampa. There, she finds some politically explosive correspondence; material which could endanger her life. Jane returns to Washington and, in a secure room at the Ambassador's Residence, she reveals all to Nicholas Brocklehurst, including evidence linking Secretary of Defense Lynne Warner to some murderous events. Nicholas threatens Jane – this information is dynamite and she must keep quiet. If this comes out, the credibility of the Western Government is at stake. So why is the Secretary of Defense now in talks with Eshan? Where will the conspiracy end? Who else will be sacrificed along the way?

Mark is reeling from the assassination of Eshan Borisvitch. Downing Street is recalling him to London. His career looks over. Until he is thrown a lifeline from a very unexpected quarter. Defense Secretary Warner is on the warpath. She is determined to make a case at the United Nations for regime change in Tyrgyzstan. If they can get a resolution, there will be US planes in Central Asia by nightfall. Mark is determined to stop her. But Caroline makes a discovery that threatens to make his efforts impossible. Mark meets covertly with James Sinclair. James is shattered and scared. Eshan's death has been apocalyptic. Mark finally learns from James the true nature of his enemy. The people behind this will stop at nothing. James' only option is to disappear for a while, leaving his son Azzam in Mark’s care. Mark and Jane rendezvous secretly in a Washington hotel. But as they make love, they are unaware of the danger lurking outside. The killer who has dispatched so many others over the past few days now waits for them.

Mark is reeling from the assassination of Eshan Borisvitch. Downing Street is recalling him to London. His career looks over. Until he is thrown a lifeline from a very unexpected quarter. Defense Secretary Warner is on the warpath. She is determined to make a case at the United Nations for regime change in Tyrgyzstan. If they can get a resolution, there will be US planes in Central Asia by nightfall. Mark is determined to stop her. But Caroline makes a discovery that threatens to make his efforts impossible. Mark meets covertly with James Sinclair. James is shattered and scared. Eshan's death has been apocalyptic. Mark finally learns from James the true nature of his enemy. The people behind this will stop at nothing. James' only option is to disappear for a while, leaving his son Azzam in Mark's care. Mark and Jane rendezvous secretly in a Washington hotel. But as they make love, they are unaware of the danger lurking outside. The killer who has dispatched so many others over the past few days now waits for them.