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receiving very sensitive information from high up within the American government."
    Jared's black eyes fixed on her. "How high up?"
    "From inside the White House, our source suspects."
    Jared leaned back in his chair, forming a steeple with his fingertips. "What makes your source so sure of that fact? Couldn't it be someone within the CIA or the FBI? Not knowing your source, Lieutenant, makes it hard for me to decide what to think or even how to analyze this information."
    Nevin Daniels cut in. "My lord, it's for your protection that we've set this system in place. The less you know about our spies' identities, the safer you'll ultimately be." Nevin turned to face her, black eyebrows lifting. "But, yes, we do need to know how you're so confident the leaks are coming from the White House."
    Thea had to tread carefully; she wanted to assure the team that her source was reliable but also had to protect the soldier's identity.
    Marco caught her eye, giving a slight nod of encouragement. Just tell them, baby, she heard within her spirit. Jared's safety depends on this source — not you protecting her identity.
    She bowed her head, averting her eyes lest any of the others realize she and Marco were communicating.
    If Jared is ever captured, she reminded Marco , knowing the source's identity could mean he'd be tortured … or worse.
    If Jared's ever captured, your spy would be the least of our problems … and his.
    Marco's words caused Thea to shiver yet again, despite the heat coming off the adjoining hangar deck.
    "There's been a great deal of backlash since the Antousians' defeat at Warren," she began. They'd recently quashed an attempt by their enemies to seize US missile control at Warren Air Force Base, and their enemy's casualties had been considerable. "The revenge quotient is very high right now. Apparently a plan was mentioned—one Antousian in particular was a huge proponent of it. The idea was to intercept the vice president when he visited Warren in the attack's aftermath. To intercept him and … replace him."
    "And this plan has been carried out?" Jared's voice remained calm, but after years under his command, she could easily read the grave emotion in her leader's tone.
    "The man who concocted the idea has vanished from camp," she explained, "and now very high-level intel is coming down their pipeline from the Americans. Very accurate information, as well."
    Jared slid his chair back from the table and rose to his feet; placing both hands behind his back, he began to walk the room. "Kelsey's father is friends with the vice president. Knows him well from years ago here in Wyoming, as well as from his political consulting work."
    Nevin raked a hand through his silvered hair. "I don't believe it wise, sir, to involve an outsider in our situation."
    Everyone knew that Patrick Wells would be visiting the next day. After months of waiting, Kelsey would finally see her father for the first time since marrying Jared—and at slightly more than four months into the five-month gestational phase, her father would glimpse, firsthand, just how pregnant his only daughter truly was.
    "I have to agree," Marco added. "It is risky enough that her father is coming on base at all. We can't involve him, not in any way."
    "Someone in the human command's structure needs to know our latest intel," Thea argued, locking gazes with her commander and cousin. "The FBI … the USAF. We can't just sit on this—it's too big."
    "Agreed. We bring the alien task force in on this one." Jared nodded thoughtfully, returning to his place at the table. "We'd best begin analyzing what it might mean for Earth if the vlksai have truly infiltrated the American government at such a sensitive level. Damn it, we need Jakob back in camp." Jared drummed his fingertips on the table, clearly thinking. "How is Shelby Tyler's mission faring?"
    Nevin raised a quizzical eyebrow. "What was it you reported, Lieutenant Haven? That Medic Tyler