“I obey the ship because the ship is powerful. We are told to colonize this planet? Very well. That is what we are doing and we are going to succeed. But who can doubt that the ship is dangerous to us? Have you had enough food lately? Why is the ship reducing our food supplies? I am not doing this. Send a deputation shipside if you wish to verify this.” He shook his head from side to side. “No. Our survival requires that we depend as little as possible upon the ship, and . . . eventually, no dependence upon the ship at all. Buy you with shipside time, Rachel? Hell no! I intend to save you by freeing you from the ship!”

It was a simple matter to read the majority reaction to this challenge. He might appear to be a fat little man but he was braver than any of them, dared more than the bravest among them . . . and he was risking new clones (whatever they might be). He was also going to feed them. When it came time for the question: “Put me out of office or continue me. But no more of this democracy and Council crap.” When it came time for that, it was clear they would support him by acclamation. He was their brave leader, even against Ship, and few could doubt it now.

Both Lewis and Murdoch argued for a bit more insurance, though, and Oakes knew it would do no harm to follow their script.

“It has been suggested that we introduce complicated and time-consuming forms into our survival efforts,” Oakes said, his voice tired. “The ones who propose this may be sincere but they are dangerous. Slow reactions will kill us all. We are required to act more swiftly than the deadly creatures around us. We cannot wait for debate and group decisions.”

As both Lewis and Murdoch had insisted she would do when faced with defeat, Rachel Demarest tried the personal attack. “What makes you think your decisions will save us?”

“We are alive and Colony prospers,” Oakes said. “My first effort here, my primary reason for being here, is to direct a crash program to increase food production.”

“No one else could do what . . .”

“But I will!” He allowed just a touch of mild reproof into his tone. Anyone who could defy Ship could certainly solve the food problem. “We all know that I did not make those decisions which killed our loved ones on Dragon. If I had been making those decisions, we might still be alive and growing out there.”

“What decisions? You talk about . . .”

“I would not have wasted our energy trying to understand life forms which were killing us! Simple sterilization of the area was indicated and Edmond Kingston could not bring himself to order it. He paid for that failure with his life . . . but so did many innocents.”

She still wanted her reasonable confrontation.

“How can you fight what you don’t understand?”