EX nihilo nihil fit. I began this novel with the advantage of notes accumulated for previous books as well as my own experiences in Asia and the Pacific. In addition to those cited earlier in the series, the following sources were helpful for this volume:
Hector’s chapters were reviewed and commented on by Peter Gibbons-Neff, for which many thanks, as well as to Katie and Drew Davis. Other useful references included David E. Jones et al., “Placement of Combat Stress Teams in Afghanistan: Reducing Barriers to Care,” Military Medicine, 178, 2:121, 2013. “Combat and Operational Stress Control,” U.S. Department of the Army: Field Manual 4-02.51. TACT 3022, “Offensive Combat 1 and Combat Signs,” USMC Officer Candidates School, April 2011.
Blair’s Zurich, White House, and Pentagon scenes were based on personal experience. Other references that proved useful for her chapters included Keren Yarhi-Milo and George Yin, “Can You Keep a Secret? Reputation and Secret Diplomacy in World Politics,” Princeton Scholar. David Szondy, “Ministry of Defence Developing New Anti-Laser Eyewear,” New Atlas, October 14, 2012. Simon Saradzhyan, “The Role of China in Russia’s Military Thinking,” Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, May 4, 2010. Thanks also to the real Liz McManus for her cameo in this and the previous book.
For Nan’s passages: Jon Cohen, “Why Flu Vaccines So Often Fail,” American Association for the Advancement of Science, September 20, 2017. Han Altae-Tran, Bharath Ramsundar, Aneesh S. Pappu, and Vijay Pande, “Low Data Drug Discovery with One-Shot Learning,” ACS Central Science, 2017, 3 (4), pp. 283–93. “Transition State Analog,” Wikipedia, accessed March 1, 2018. Food and Drug Administration, “Impact of Severe Weather Conditions on Biological Products,” accessed August 30, 2018. Also Karl Haugh for Harley details.
For Navy passages: Previous research aboard USS San Jacinto, USS George Washington, USS Wasp, Strike Group One, and USS Rafael Peralta. A deep bow and “fair winds” to all! The following additional sources were valuable as background for tactics, mind-sets, and strategic decisions, with Phil Wisecup and Matthew Stroup being especially generous with their advice. Forrest E. Morgan et al., Dangerous Thresholds: Managing Escalation in the 21st Century, RAND Corporation, 2008. “Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense,” Missile Defense Agency, accessed January 22, 2018. John Harper, “Pentagon Examining Options for Space-Based Missile Interceptors,” National Defense Magazine, June 30, 2017. David Hambling, “What Is an EMP, and Could North Korea Really Use One Against the U.S.?” Popular Mechanics, September 28, 2017. Rebecca Perring, “Kim’s Fortress,” Daily Mail, November 11, 2017. Japanese Ministry of Defense, “Ballistic Missile Defense,” accessed July 20, 2018. Ronald O’Rourke, “Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues,” Congressional Research Service, June 29, 2018. “Satellite Study Proves Global Quantum Communication Will Be Possible,” Scienmag, December 20, 2018.
For Teddy Oberg’s strand of the story, the references listed in the previous volume, plus “China Uses Facial Recognition to Fence In Villagers in Far West,” Bloomberg News, January 17, 2018. “Apartheid with Chinese Characteristics,” The Economist, June 2, 2018.
For overall help and encouragement along this lengthy pilgrimage, I owe recognition to the Surface Navy Association, Hampton Roads Chapter; to Charle Ricci and Stacia Childers of the Eastern Shore Public Library; the ESO Writers’ Workshop; with bows to Bill Doughty, James W. Neuman, Alan Smith, John T. Fusselman, Dick Enderly, and others (they know who they are), both retired and still on active duty, who put in many hours patiently leading me down the path of righteousness. If I left anyone out, apologies!
Let me reemphasize that these sources were consulted for the purposes of fiction. The specifics of tactics, units, and locales are employed as the materials of story, not reportage. Some details have been altered to protect classified capabilities and procedures.
My deepest gratitude goes to George Witte, editor and friend of over three decades, without whom this series would not exist. And Sally Richardson, Sara Thwaite, Young Jin Lim, Steve Gardner, Ken Silver, Naia Poyer, Sally Lotz, Fred Chase, and Sarah Schoof at St. Martin’s/Macmillan.
And finally to Lenore Hart, trenchant critic, anchor on lee shores, and my North Star when skies are clear.
As always, all errors and deficiencies are my own.