"His physical has been completed, Mino-sama. Everything is checked off. He logged out fifteen minutes ago."
"Then where is he?"
"I'll try and find out."
He reached for a phone and punched in the main number for the Flight Prep sector. The conversation that followed was quick and, as it continued, caused a look of puzzlement to spread over his already-worried face.
"Hai, domo arigato gozaimashta," he said finally and hung up. As he turned back he was growing pale. "Mino-sama, I think there may be a problem. They say he has already left the sector, but—"
"All right then, where has he gone?"
"Sector Security says he left with one of your pilots, Mino-sama, headed for the hangar."
The room grew ominously silent. They were both now staring at the two Mino Industries pilots, standing directly in front of them.
"There must be some mistake." Tanzan Mino inhaled lightly. "Are you sure you understood correctly?"
"It's obviously impossible. I agree."