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Cat's Reach is an isolated settlement on the west coast of Vancouver Island, accessible only by boat or plane. Its inhabitants are an odd cultural cross section. The local potter and his family are Israeli; the schoolteacher is German; the lighthouse keeper and his mother are Scottish. But the calm surface of this community conceals a desperate secret - many people here are hand-picked members of a crack international anti-terrorist force. The people of Cat's Reach have been brought together as the Combined Anti-Terrorist Services - the ultimate strike force - ready to travel at a moment's notice.
Each member of the team has done and seen things they'd rather not remember - and their past experiences have made them determined to live their lives in a non-violent way. But these tough professionals are also being held hostage - by the countries they work for. Their families are guaranteed anonimity and protection in Cat's Reach - but only as long as the team follows the "rules" and continues their missions, willingly or not. They try to compromise by fulfilling their obligations, but they accomplish their objectives in a non-violent way - with a combination of high technology, ingenuity and cunning.
Each member has a "cover" identity - Andrew Higgs, the local fish farmer is the group leader, also a career mercenary and veteran of Desert Storm; potter Benjamin Roth is an Israeli known as "The Ghurka" for his ability to slip in and out without detection; American Bull Malorey, the marina bartender is an Olympic class sharpshooter and weapons expert; Scottish lighthouse keeper Raymond MacCallister, a communications specialist and pilot, who mans the lighthouse's "War Room"; Hong Kong resident Tong Yee, a top counterfeiter; German Erika Von Stratt, a photographer as well as a computer and explosives specialist; and biology expert Randa Higgs, Egyptian wife of Andrew.
Each of these people have dependents unaware of their true identities, and blissfully unaware of the possible dangers from the outside world. Andrew and Randa Higgs have two teenagers, Raymond MacCallister has an eccentric mother, Erika Von Stratt has a little girl, Ben Roth has his young nephew, Tong Yee has his mother and younger sister. Other members of the community are unaware of the dual identities of team members. When family members are away from the settlement, they are assumed to be performing routine business, when in reality they're doing something far different.
The head of the local First Nations band is suspicious of the community, and has formed an uneasy truce with its citizens. The atmosphere is further charged by the First Nation's outstanding land claim, which includes Cat's Reach. The head of the band has “visions” of Cat’s Reach that add to his concerns.
The residents of Cat's Reach live a strange half-life - never really free, never completely safe, never able to trust a stranger. Even as they go out to meet each new threat, they are constantly concerned about the safety of those they've left behind.....in Cat's Reach.
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