I changed the subject.
Two hours later Starza called a council of war.
The conference room was crammed with quivering executives. Starza carefully let the tension build to a shrill crescendo before he said:
"One of you gentlemen is a Guild mindless-controlled."
Ragged silence. Starza's smile was very faint.
"You gave us an ultimatum. But destroying this plant is an admission of failure you're not willing to make—yet. You'll try another tack. You're just beginning to discover that this environment we've created for the Terms is superior to the primitive jungle. Tichnat!"
Tichnat stepped forward. His antennae were a proud, brilliant gold.
"Do you want a shutdown?" Starza asked softly.
"Are we fools?" Tichnat clicked. "To lose what we've gained? To return to our tribe? To be destroyed?"