Kalico fixed her steely glare on Gabarron, who, as usual, was too socially incompetent to understand the ramifications. “My people have enough on their hands as it is. Corporate Mine is not here to provide services that you yourselves can perform. My responsibility is not to keep you safe. It is to manage Corporate ventures on Donovan, not play nursemaid to people who can’t adapt to Donovan’s challenges.”

“Then perhaps we’d be better off on our own,” Gabarron declared stiffly. “We did well enough on Ashanti by relying on ourselves. And here we have a better hydroponics system that we can recharge. Not to mention an ocean full of resources. So, if The Corporation refuses to honor its responsibilities to its citizens, then perhaps cutting ties, as Port Authority did, will be in our better interests.”

“Wait!” Michaela cried, raising her hands before Aguila came unglued. She stepped forward, calling, “Since her arrival, the Supervisor has gone out of her way to—”

“She’s been present at each death!” Gabarron cried, pointing a finger at the smoldering Aguila. “That’s the constant! She was standing right there when Shinwua was taken, the same for Lara. If she’s so smart about Donovan and danger, why is she always a little too late, and more than a little short when it comes to saving our people?”

Mutterings came from around the room. All but the children, who seemed to be watching with those new eerily wide-eyed and emotionless expressions. What the hell was it about them?

“Fine!” Aguila snapped, eyes gone fierce. “If you want, I can shut this whole thing down.”

“Supervisor, please,” Michaela turned. “We’re just a little upset. To have so many losses, so quickly. It’s emotion talking, not—”

“Is it?” Bill Martin asked from where he stood in the kitchen door. He looked at the now-sobbing Dik Dharman. “I hate agreeing with Anna, but how many of us are going to lose loved ones if we keep doing things the Supervisor’s way? I understand her responsibilities, but we’re the Maritime Unit. We’re the ones trained in oceanography, marine biology, and the functioning of the Pod and its equipment.”

“Supervisor Aguila is an administrator,” Kevina Schwantz stated as she stood and looked around the room. “Key word: Administrator. The role of a Supervisor is to oversee the big picture. She might know what’s best when it comes to Corporate Mine and digging holes, but we are the experts when it comes to the oceans. Will we make mistakes? Sure. But I think we’re better equipped to adapt our methodologies and equipment to Donovan’s maritime environment.”

Yoshimura rose even before Kevina stopped speaking, and said, “Let’s not be too hasty. I was out there the day the scimitar grabbed Shin. The Supervisor’s instincts were correct. We just didn’t know what a scimitar was. What it was capable of.”