Everyone he had called for was already gathered around the conference table: Chairman Welborn and Major General de Castro, as well as Army Chief of Staff General John C. Robinson, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral James J. Madison, Commandant of the Marine Corps General Ralph Talbot, Force Recon Commander Colonel Aquilla J. Dyess. Simultaneously least and not nearly least on the military side was Staff Sergeant Harrell, whose squad had captured the alien on Troy.The civilian contingent was much smaller: Secretary of State Walker sat to Hobson’s right. Next to her was Secretary of Extraterrestrial Affairs Orlando E. Caruana. Jacob F. Raub represented both the medical and exobiology communities. Special Assistant to the President Ignatz Gresser rounded out the gathering.Harrell was the only one who rose to his feet when Hobson entered.“Seats!” Hobson barked.Harrell dropped into his chair at the foot of the table and sat at attention, looking nervously down its length at the Secretary of War.
