Romis blinked. “You … you’ve locked up Kor? You’re at the Intelligence Ministry?”
“Yes,” Odal said. “If you have any troops you can rely on, get them here immediately. We’re going to release as many of Kor’s prisoners as we can, but we’ll need more troops and weapons to hold this building against Kor’s private army. If we can hang on here and get to Kanus, I think most of the army will go over to your side. We can win without bloodshed, perhaps. But we must act quickly!”
Sitting on the edge of his bed, staring at the two young blond faces on his bedside viewscreen, Romis struggled to put his thoughts in order.
“Very well. 141 send every unit I can count on to hold the Intelligence Ministry. Major Odal, perhaps you can contact some of the people you know in the army.”
“Yes,” said Odal. “Many of their officers are right here, under arrest.”
Romis nodded. “I’ll call Marshal Lugal immediately. I think he’ll join us.”
“But we’ve got to get Kanus before he can bring the main force of the army into action,” Hector said.
“Yes, yes of course. Kanus is at his retreat in the mountains. It’s not quite dawn there. Probably he’s still asleep.”
“Is there a dueling machine there?” Odal asked.
“I don’t know. There might be. I’ve heard rumors bout his having one installed for his own use recently….”
“All right,” Hector said. “Maybe we can jump there.”
“Not until we’ve freed the prisoners and made certain this building is well defended,” said Odal.
“Right,” Hector agreed.
“There’s much to do,” Odal said to the Foreign Minister. “And not a second to waste.”