During the briefing, Kevin said little—Kevin seemed rather embarrassed. Burningboy proved most forthcoming. The Moderator captain launched into a detailed and terrifying recitation of the Collaboratory’s strategic plight. Buna was a mere twenty kilometers from the highly porous border with Louisiana. The murky swamps of the Sabine River valley were swarming with vengeful Regulators. Though the armed helicopter attack against the Regulator commandos had never become official news, the assault had provoked them to fury.