Chapter THIRTY-ONE
Camari strode into the Conference Room, took his seat at the head of the long table, and stared bleakly at his advisors. The faces of the Ministers of Diplomatic Protocols and Intelligence were grim; the Commander of the Space Forces ready to explode.
"I suppose you've all studied Ram's report," Camari said in a low, angry voice. "What do you think? Selvin?"
"If they take the depot," Admiral Selvin said, "we're out of business. Even if we get the depot back undamaged, we'll be unable to make up the time lost. The construction and launch schedules are that tight."
"What do you suggest?"
"Stop them — now."
"They'll know we're coming when our fleet lines up to enter the spunnel. The gateway can handle our military craft, no problem there. What we cannot count on is INOR's failing to see us on the move."
"How do we get around that?"
"Diversionary tactics; draw their attention to a major initiative on our part in which all of INOR has role vital to its interests, if not survival. Risky, but we have no choice."
The Strategic Concepts Computer recorded, analyzed, and reported. They listened, then talked.