General Hofstader cleared his throat. "I should be at Cheyenne Mountain if an attack is imminent . . ."

"It is important to have the Joint Chiefs together for this meeting. In person. Top security." He turned his burning eyes on Murdock. "And you. I want to hear the latest intelligence from your mavericks on the Moon."

Murdock swallowed hard. "They seem to be taking the crisis much more seriously now. Apparently they've gone into a maximum-security status . . ."

"'Apparently'?"

"From . . . from ... the latest report. This afternoon."

"And the Soviets?"

"1 don't know." Murdock felt helpless. "I don't have access to that information."

"I suppose you also do not know that the Soviets are deploying nuclear weapons in orbit." 410

"Ohmygod."

"Indeed. Now, tell me, what is your personal assessment of the commander of Moonbase?"

Murdock blurted, "Kinsman?"

"That is his name, isn't it? I understand he is a dubious factor."

"Well, he's . . ."

"Yes?"

His eyes were boring into Murdock. Hofstader was staring at him, too. Miserably, Murdock answered, "He's been a good administrator but I'm not certain that he's the best man for the job in an emergency situation."

"Then get rid of him."

Murdock turned to Hofstader.

"Remove him," the Four-Star General said. "Do you have a reliable second-in-command up there?"

"Oh, yessir. Very reliable!"

"Put him in command. Send whatever-his-name-is back down here."

"He can't. Medical disability."

The other man leaned forward and put a heavy hand on Murdock's knee. "Get him out of there. If you have to arrest him and put him in a life-support capsule for the rest of his life—get him out of there!"

"Yessir. Right away, sir," Murdock squeaked.

It was close to 0200 hours when Kinsman finished his inspection rounds of Moonbase.

Everything's buttoned up tight. Shuttle's down and won't move until I say so. The base is as secure as it can be. Reliable people on duty. No screams for help from Leonov.