United Kingdom, Prime Minister's Residence.
Leonard was pacing back and forth in the office when the private secretary opened the door and came in:
"The Plathen Emperor has just issued a public telegram."
Leonard shivered: "He's not going to surrender, is he?"
"No. He's inviting Rocossov to a one-on-one duel under fair terms."
Leonard opened his mouth wide, staring at the private secretary, unable to speak for a long while.
Private Secretary: "That's really what his telegram said."
Leonard, puffing on his pipe, paced around the room in circles before asking the MI6 director present in the room: "Is the Plathen Emperor out of his mind?"
Sir Cumming from MI6 nodded: "It's possible. Considering some suspicious reports recently, it's likely he's been triggered by something."
Leonard: "Suspicious reports?"
"There have been successive mutinies among Prosen troops, abandoning their positions and heading to designated locations by the Anteans to surrender their weapons."
