"No use calling the crew. They're with me."
"Damn you!” shouted Chambers, taking a step forward. He halted as Stutsman jerked the pistol up.
"Forget it, Chambers. You're just second man from now on. Maybe not even second man. You tried out this dictator business and you bungled it. You went soft. You're taking orders from me from now on. No questions, no back talk. You do as I say and maybe you won't get hurt."
"You're mad, Stutsman!” cried Chambers. “You can't get away with this."
Stutsman barked out a brittle laugh. “Who is going to stop me?"
"The people,” Chambers shouted at him. “The people will. They won't allow this. When you get back to the Solar System…"
Stutsman growled, stepping toward Chambers, pistol leveled. “The people won't have anything to say about this. I'll rule the Solar System the way I want to. There won't be anyone else who'll have a thing to say about it. So you dreamed of empire, did you? You dreamed of a solar dictatorship. Well, watch me! I'll build a real empire. But I'll be the head of it… not you."
Craven sat down in his chair, crossed his knees. “Just what do you plan to do, Dictator Stutsman?"
Stutsman fairly foamed at the mouth over the insolence of Craven's voice. “I'll smash Manning first. I'll wipe him out. This ship will do it. You said yourself it would. You have ten times the power he has. And then…"
Craven raised a hand and waved him into silence. “So you plan to reach the Solar System, do you?” You plan to meet Manning, and destroy his ship. Nice plan."