Fatal

Mark pressed Duncan for details of the nature of the occasional assignments.

Duncan spelt it out.

"East of here there is a lot of shit going down... and that's an understatement. Sometimes we have to do things that aren't easy to get advance clearance for in diplomatic circles. We have to act first, talk later. That seems to suit how you operate. The very nature of our needs means your assignments will be at short notice. Of course, you will have to sign the UK Official Secrets Act...

...the penalties for breaking which are serious, but in your case fatal!"