In this chapter, the reader is introduced to Lieutenant Colonel Conrad, the new head of the Second Research Office. Conrad is a newcomer to the military, and he is shocked to learn that the Second Office is responsible for preparing the military's "Rome defense plan" . The Second Office's director, Lieutenant Colonel Thompson, is also present, and the two men discuss the plan's flaws. The director of the sixth Research Office, Lieutenant Fatso, is the previous head of that office, who "colluded" with the enemy. The two men agree that the plan is "crap" , but they are not sure how to respond to it. They decide to "pummel" the plan, and when the director comes in, they are shocked to find that he is the one who submitted the plan. They are also surprised to find out that the director is a lieutenant, not a colonel. The men decide to mock the plan again, and Fatso memorizes it and takes it to the command