“So, Mr. President. What do you think of this proposal,” Daniel Tompkins asked, as James Monroe leaned back on his chair, his brow furrowed deep in thought. The proposal in question was short: a single page from the United Kingdom.

“And you, Tompkins?” the president asked the Gate Office Secretary.

“Can we risk to have one of those… Professionals come near the Federal Gate? I mean, we do know they have a form of control over the Gate. What if they shut it down?”

“They are asking for one of them to just have a look. Not to use it.”

“We are in unknown territory, Mr. President. Those abnormal Professionals could do anyth…”

“We are always in unknown territory when it comes to Gate matters. You, among others, should be the first to know that. Or do we have scientists that have finally cracked the workings of the Gate while I was busy?”

Tompkins smiled at that.

“I’m afraid Mr. Franklin remains dead.”

“My point stands. Discussing hypotheticals when it comes to the Labyrinth is a fruitless endeavor; many things are possible, few are certain. Whereas we do know for certain one can shut down Gates, and one can reopen them… and not the same ones so far.”

“We haven’t had any problem with the French.”

“No. I would have thought they’d raise a bit of a stink when we annexed Louisiana from the Spanish back in 1803. After all, it is still full of French people; they could have asked for it back once Napoleon started gobbling up Spain. But I guess he had too many things to pursue back at the time,” Monroe commented.

“Regarding the British, however…” Tompkins pursued.

“They have accepted their defeat and the loss of Canada from over a decade ago. Besides, they do have their hands full with Napoleon at their gates, and the Chinese kicking their asses out in Asia. Something tells me they certainly do not want to start a third front. We kicked their asses when no one had access to the Labyrinth, and we did it again when we both had.”

“So you are in favor of them coming to have their look.”

“I am in favor of ONE coming to have a look, no more. It took six of them to affect the Gate, remember.”

“So you still think it’s a risk.”

“Everything is a risk, but that’s one that is very small. And in the unlikely event that Napoleon decides to assault and shut the Federal Gate, having some goodwill with the British can be used. That's why you let them use the Federal Gate during their crisis, after all. Not that I think the French are going to try it again, now that everyone knows it can be reopened. No, the big and unsaid question is why.”

“Why what?” Tompkins asked.

“Why are they asking for one of their special ones to come and just have a look at the Gate. I mean, the implications are there – those Professionals can read a Gate descriptor when normal Professionals cannot. But they have their own Gate already. So the British want to know something specific about our Gate, and they are not telling us what.”

“There’s some secret information available on the Gate? What can it be?”

“What indeed. Remember what I said about the Labyrinth and hypotheses. We won’t find out what it is by staring at this letter, that is sure.”

“So, you are going to allow the visit.”

“I am. However, you are going to prepare it well. You’ve seen the same intelligence I have. The so-called Adapted Team is all youngsters, people that have been pushed to this by circumstances but have never been educated in the manner of politics and the like. Wow them. Distract them. Make the visit last and find ways of lowering their natural suspicions. And get what is important about the Gate that they are willing to risk one of their most exclusive Professionals to see.”

Tompkins’ eyes narrowed.

“That could be… useful. Depending on who they send.”

“Get all of our informants to compile as much information they can regarding those six. Make scenarios based on each, and be ready to adapt. I do not know what we will learn, but I do hope we will, in fact, learn something useful. Something is at stake, after all. I hate not knowing that. But if we ask too bluntly, we may not learn about it.”

The Gate Office Secretary stood up.

“I will have the acceptance letter out immediately then.”

“Send it to me. I will sign it. It will impart the British that we take their offer very seriously.”

“As you want, Mr. President.”