The eight men gaped at the machine, standard spaceport size, that covered one wall. Here and there dial plates had fallen away, revealing disrupted wire circuits. "In the name of Council," Linder snapped, "I'm telling you to get that Thinker fixed."
"Oh, it's in good enough shape," Jackson yawned. "We don't need the whole thing functioning."
"And I'm ordering you to need the whole thing! No wonder we haven't been receiving regular signals."
People within earshot were grinning and turning away. "Commander—"
"Linder. L-I—"
"No need to spell anything out for us ever, sir. As I said, we don't need the whole thing. We could fix it easily enough any time the necessity arose. But it never will again, I assure you."
"Let's go to your Central Headquarters so I can settle this with someone in authority!"
"There isn't anybody in authority." He considered the Commander's puzzled expression. "Because everyone is capable of authority."
Barnes roared with humorless laughter and waved his hand at a few men gaping toward a wall. "These characters capable of authority?"