Sounds excellent!
Any news about publishing it? 
I'd love to know how much planning went into this story, as you have really got a lot going on, and also how much research do you have to do!
It's a really impressive storyline from what I have seen.

Just another little taster - I'll let you work out how it all fits together:


A bell jangled as Freeman opened the door. The shop was a small business in a nondescript part of town.
“Good Afternoon, sir.” Mr Cheeseman, the proprietor was a jovial man who prided himself on his craftsmanship. He’d built the business up from nothing and if not prosperous, made a comfortable living framing pictures. His wife handled the side of the business that dealt with needlecraft, supplying anything from silks, tapestry wools and needles to workstands,  hoops and lights. It wasn’t the busiest shop in the world but it had a small, regular clientele.
Freeman pulled a paper-wrapped parcel from under his arm and offered it to the man. “My brother had an accident. Is there anything you can do?” asked Freeman.
“Let’s see.” Replied  Cheeseman, unwrapping the parcel. “Hmm…”
“Just one thing,” added Freeman. “There can be no signs that anything has ever happened to it. His wife would kill him…”
Cheeseman rubbed his chin thoughtfully. To be honest, you’d be better off replacing the frame but that will be more expensive.
“No problem,” replied Freeman “Just so long as his wife doesn’t find out.”
Cheeseman tapped the side of his nose and chuckled. “Leave it to me, sir”.
Freeman reached into his pocket and drew out his wallet. From it he drew out a crisp new banknote and a business card which he laid on the counter. “You can contact me on this number”
“Very good sir”
The bell jangled once more as the door closed behind Freeman.
Cheeseman looked at the note. It seemed genuine enough. Whoever this customer was, he seemed generous enough. The banknote easily covered the costs of replacing the frame. He made a brief note in his ledger then carefully tucked the photograph away until the evening when he would start work.

A photograph

Colin,

This is really good! When you get it published let us all know so we can run out and buy a copy.

I'm going to be like Gene Kranz here, Failure is not an option!

Do they export to the States I wonder? I'm serious, I most certaily will buy a copy when it hits the shelves.

Cool! Sign me up!

Congratulations!!! 

It's really good to get a story that runs well.
I tend to slow down at about 22,000 ..I think that's my longest although FarSight was a longer trilogy.
On another point...
Anybody notice how Fanfic always seems to get the word count wrong? 

so .. MArkIXHawk... how long will this novel turn out to be? (that is an awfully clumsy sentence!) :