Moore smiled back. “Close only counts in horseshoes and nuclear missiles, Commodore. The response both ensures that we’ll take out their sortie, and sends a clear message that we’re happy to deploy nukes. It immediately deflates their internal narrative that we will be the first to blink.” His smile changed to a predatory grin. “It’s a strategy of mine that I like to call, ‘As a matter of fact, you give me your wallet.’”
