First came the dismal news of the
destruction of the Martian atmosphere-generating plants, one after the
other. Then just before the tidings that the plant near Eagle City had
been demolished, the message from the missing Starmen had come into
Starlight Enterprise. The euphoria with which that word had been
received was quickly dampened by the ultimatum Lurton Zimbardo had
issued.
In words similar to those Troy Putnam had used weeks earlier, Zimbardo
demanded control of Earth's wealth and resources, with specific demands
for access to Earth's coded defense mechanisms, authority over major
ports of travel, and power over the major decision-making processes and
information systems. He closed his threat with the chilling
announcement that he had already directed a sheathed asteroid more than
forty miles long into a collision course with Earth. When his demands
had been met and verified, he would then turn the asteroid aside.
Immediately after receiving the message, the President called a meeting
in one of his maximum-security offices on Earth. Joining him at the
table were some of his senior advisors as well as Richard Starlight,
his chief assistant John Rwakatare, and other representatives of SE.
Robert Nolan with his chief assistant Beowulf Denn and other
representatives of Nolan Mining Enterprise filled out the gathering.
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