The bombs were kept at the Station—in case. They were strictly top-secret, stored on the satellite in the event that they would be needed in a war. Conroy knew about them only because he had seen the specifications for the satellite before it had been built; Merrill, as Commissioner, would also know about them.
And Merrill was aiming the deadly bomb square at Washington!
Conroy lifted his blaster, but knew he could never fire on Janet's father cold-bloodedly.
In a hoarse voice he said, "Have you gone mad, Merrill?"
"What—?"
Merrill turned. His face was so contorted by emotion that Conroy barely recognized it; the man's eyes were bright and glinting as if he were possessed.
He had been sent here to search out a saboteur—but how could he do that, when he himself was the saboteur?
"Conroy! How did you get in here?"
"Get away from those controls," Conroy ordered, his throat dry. "If you make a move toward them I'll blast you down."