[Greg Anos]

"Alright," I said. "Let's get this show on the road."
"What's the plan, boss?'
"I guess we go knock on the door and ask to see Ralph."
VR just sorta stared.
"Don't worry, VR. You can come along to see I'm not wasting any of her Majesties' money."
He finally found his voice. "Diplomatic immunity doesn't stop bullets."
"And permanently misplacing the Paleozoic Patty doesn't leave a Viceroy with much of a career either. Besides, I have a job for you to do."
"What job?"
"I've been keepin' this in a sealed jar. It's a piece of some beddin' Ralph used back then. You need to learn his scent. That way you can identify the real Ralph von Wau Wau."
"What makes you think my nose it that good?"
"I see it stuck in everywhere, I figger it's good enough. Especially when you other end is on the line."
VR didn't make any further response.
"Now, as I figger it, we can't call in the Aussie military, 'cause if we do, the whole cat's out of the bag. And Pinwheel can't provide any support for the same reason. So it's all on us. Now Ambassador, can you send a couple of croakers and some trauma supplies to Perth? We may need some patchin' up before this is over."
"Croakers? What is a croaker?"
"Sorry, Ambassador. That's Runyonese for a doctor."
"Oh. I think so."
"Good. Now when this pops, y'all aren't gonna be able to pull me out of it. Not enough people, and not enough firepower. So once the doors close, we're on our own. the only thing you might do is create a diversion. I'll call for that if it's do any good. Right now I don't forsee it."
BadGoodDeb said, "That's not much of a plan."
"I know, but there's no way to get any more facts to plan with. We'll just play it by ear. I'm betting on a combination of curiosity and arrogant viciousness. He'll want to have his say before he bumps me off, or else he would've used a sniper weeks ago. VR,"
VR looked up. "Yes?"
"Give Pshrynk a ring and have him get the plane ready to go. It's time to giddy-up."

We loaded up and headed for Perth.