Book excerpt: Covert-One agents must trace the source of a deadly disease - and stop the outbreak of a Third World War. A once-great nation is determined to rebuild its shattered empire, and lightning military strikes against its neighbours are planned. But first they must sow confusion and fear in the ranks of their enemies. They turn to one of the world's wealthiest and most powerful men. He has control over an undetectable and incurable bio-weapon, the perfect assassin's tool. Created using a strand of each victim's own DNA, it is the ultimate precision-guided silent killer. Lt Col. Jon Smith and his Covert-One operatives take orders from the US President: their mission is to stop this murderous conspiracy - and thwart the leaders who are seeking to restore their country to her former power...