by totally destroying Atlantis. They
would merely destroy each other and our entire Civilization. According
to this forecast, in arriving at which the data furnished by our Officer
were prime determinants, that will surely be the outcome unless remedial
measures be taken at once. You are of course sure of your facts,
Artomenes?"

"I am sure. But you said you had a name, and that it indicated a
Norheim-Uighar hookup. What is that name?"

"An old friend of yours...."

"Lo Sung!" The words as spoken were a curse of fury.

"None other. And, unfortunately, there is as yet no course of action
indicated which is at all promising of success."

"Use mine, then!" Artomenes jumped up and banged the table with his
fist. "Let me send two flights of rockets over right now that will blow
Uigharstoy and Norgrad into radioactive dust and make a thousand square
miles around each of them uninhabitable for ten thousand years! If
that's the only way they can learn anything, let them learn!"

"Sit down, Officer," Ariponides directed, quietly. "That course, as you
have already pointed out, is indefensible. It violates every Prime Basic
of our Civilization. Moreover, it would be entirely futile, since this
resultant makes it clear that every nation on Earth would be destroyed
within the day."

"What, then?" Artomenes demanded, bitterly. "Sit still here and let them
annihilate us?"

"Not necessarily. It is to formulate plans that we are here. Talmonides
will by now have decided, upon the basis of our pooled knowledge, what
must be done."

"The outlook is not good: not good at all," the Psychologist announced,
gloomily. "The only course of action which carries any promise whatever
of success--and its probability is only point one eight--is the one
recommended by the Faros, modified slightly to include Artomenes'
suggestion of sending his best operative on the indicated mission. For
highest morale, by the way, the Faros should also interview this agent
before he sets out. Ordinarily I would not advocate a course of action
having so little likelihood of success; but since it is simply a
continuation and intensification of what we are already doing, I do not
see how we can adopt any other."

"Are we agreed?" Ariponides asked, after a short silence.

They were agreed. Four of the conferees filed out and a brisk young man
strode in. Although he did not look at the Faros his eyes asked
questions.

"Reporting for orders, sir." He salute