“And now Dulaq is in a state of shock, and your government is tottering.”
Massan’s back stiffened. “Our government will not fall, nor shall the Acquataine Cluster acquiesce to the rearmament of the Kerak Worlds. But . . .” his voice lowered, “without Dulaq, our alliances with neighboring nations may dissolve. All our allies are smaller and weaker than
Acquatainia. Kanus could pressure each one individually and make certain that they won’t take steps to prevent his rearming Kerak. Alone, Acquatainia cannot stop Kanus.”
“But if Kerak attacks you, surely you could ask the Star Watch for help and….”
“It won’t be that simple or clear-cut. Kanus wiH nibble off one small nation at a time. He can strike a blow and conquer a nation before the Star Watch can be summoned. Finally he’ll have us cut off completely, without a single ally. Then he’ll strike Acquatainia, or perhaps even try to subvert us from within. If he takes Acquatainia, he’ll have whetted his appetite for bigger game: he’ll want to conquer the Terran Commonwealth next. He’ll stop at nothing.”
“And ‘he’s using the dueling machines to further his ambitions,” Leoh mused. ‘Well, gentlemen, it seems I have no alternative but to travel to the Acquataine Cluster. The dueling machine is my responsibility, and if there’s something wrong with it, or with the use of it, 111 do my best to correct the situation.”
‘That is all we ask,” Massan said. ‘Thank you.”
The Acquatainian scene faded away, and the three men in the president’s office found themselves looking at a solid wall once again.