Cross-Class Cooperation

The Enemy Stars. 

The Social Hierarchy

technics

commons

colonials

The Southern Cross crew are technic Maclaren, commoner Ryerson and colonials Nakamura and Sverdlov. In addition, Sverdlov is secretly revolutionary. Despite this lethal combo, Sverdlov appeals to Maclaren for moral leadership:

"'...do me a favor, will you? If you can. Don't admit to Ryerson, or me, that you're human - that you're just as scared and confused as the rest of us. Don't admit it to Nakamura, even. You didn't know, so far - not really. We need a-a-a damned cocky dude of a born-and-bred technic - to get us through!'" (10, pp. 76-77)

Later, after Sverdlov's accidental death has ground them all down, Maclaren delivers on Sverdlov's request. He tells the other two to pull themselves together and to:

"'...start practising how to be men!'" (13, p. 104)

Maclaren has become de facto captain:

"It must be I've less to lose. I can be more objective because I've no wife, no children, no cause, no God. It's easy for a hollow man to remain calm." (ibid.)

He must conceal his fear not of death but of life.