"Seattle does, indeed, have a fine selection, but as you have noted, the guardians of our objective are a trifle upset, and we must assume that the local experts are being watched. On the other hand, you, Thorn, are a recent arrival from the capital of our great republic, and while your reputation in DeeCee is notable, your presence here is not yet common knowledge. Your departure from your home ground was rather covert, after all. I believe it involved certain transactions that had attracted the scrutiny of the Federal authorities, not so?"