Secrecy

Secrecy is one of the major themes of the book. It begins with Mercier trying to track down an unaccounted-for appropriation to the Department of Energy. The funds, it is found, were transferred to NUMA for the development of the Doodlebug, the most advanced research ship in the world. There is so much secrecy surrounding this underground research ship that even the President doesn't know about it.

There is also a lot of secrecy surrounding the treaty. The original treaty that gave Canada to the United States was not well publicized. It only became known because Heidi stumbled across a letter that referred to it. The parties involved in the negotiation of the treaty decided to destroy all reference to its existence. When the British find out about the treaty and that the Americans know about it, both sides do everything in secret without using official channels.

Secrecy...