"Be sensible, young man. A colony is a waste of effort unless it
becomes more than self-sufficient. Until Eden, Tau Ceti, has become
populated to the point where Eden can support her own highly technical
culture, it is an economically unsound proposition." The commander
glared at the young spaceman. "Must I be blunt? Every effort must
be spent in raising the culture-level of Eden, Tau Ceti. That means
increasing the population, Mr. Reed, until the numbers are high enough
to pay for industrialization. Once the cities of Eden, Tau Ceti,
offer the culture opportunity of the cities of Earth, then we'll
have migration on a social level instead of the malcontents, rugged
individualists, and petty lawbreakers who've been given the alternative
of migration instead of incarceration.
"Now, Mr. Reed, do you see what I'm driving at? It would be far wiser
of you to spend your time enhancing the aspect of Eden, Tau Ceti, than
trying to figure out ways and means of getting to more distant stars
and locating other distant planets--to which the human race wouldn't
migrate."
"But sir--"
"Mr. Reed, I recognize in you the admirable spirit of adventure. But
we must remember that this same spirit that once drove men to land
on Earth's moon in a multi-stage chemical rocket was not enough to
establish a tax-paying colony there. Now, about this project of yours.
You say that you have not yet located the flaw in Hansen's Folly?"
"No, sir, but--"
"Mr. Reed, you realize that you'll stay here on Eden until you do?"
"Yes, sir, but--"
"And the longer it takes you, the more ridicule will be directed at
you, at me, and the Bureau of Operations?"
"But, sir--"
"Mr. Reed, I'll also point out that there will be no promotion until
your assignment is complete."
"I'm aware of that sir, but--"
"But what, Mr. Reed?"
* * * * *