Fifty minutes after the mine was attacked;
Secret meeting at Fortress 76.
Zhou Zhengde pushed open the conference room door, and the other seven attendees looked over at him simultaneously. He gave a slight nod and hurried to the last seat at the conference table.
The middle of the long table was occupied by the Fortress Governor of 76, a burly uncle with graying hair and a kind face.
He was the one Kong Nu had described as sappy.
On either side of the Governor were two women; the intellectual-looking lady to his left, slender and resembling Zhou Zhengde's older sister, was Zhou Zhengde's mother, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Zhou Meiyin.
The newly arrived Biological Minister was not present; in his place were two middle-aged men in military uniform.
"Captain Zhou has arrived," the Governor said in a deep voice, "let's begin the meeting, just two minor issues."
Zhou Meiyin spoke first:
