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“On the other hand,” Overstreet said, “their objective was defensive This was a retreat I’ve had the technicians make a complete audit, and I’m prepared to certify that it’s safe for the Typhoon to make its transit”
“You’re sure about that? Completely safe?”
“I think we’ve established that perfect knowledge isn’t possible in this context But in order to pull off this last series of attacks, the underground had to spend a tremendous amount of its resources and capital on Medina If they’d stayed here, they could have used the saents within the civilian population to protract the struggle here for months Maybe years Instead, they burned it all in one day”
“So this was a good thing?” Singh said
“No,” Overstreet said “But it was all the bad things they could throw at us at once I feel confident that they didn’t hold anything back So however bad this looks—and it looks very bad—we’re going to end with Medina carrying a sent population, with fewer resources at their disposal, and the round scattered to the colonial systems”
“The colonies,” Singh said “Yes”
“The loss of the Storm … well, that’s not inconsiderable If we hadn’t pulled most of the crew off to assist with other operations … Or if your XO had scuttled the ship once it was clear they couldn’t repel the boarders …”
“Talk to h said
Overstreet blinked his too-blue eyes in so like confusion “Sir?”
“The colonies,” Singh said “That’s where the terrorists have gone That’s where the next wave of this will take place, yes?”
“That matches my analysis, sir”
“So hoe proceed here should be considered in light of the colonies We should examine how likely they are to cooperate with the enemy And hoe can affect those decisions”
“Yes, sir”
“An exa that not only restores confidence in the safety of Medina and the gate network, but displays what Laconian civilization stands for What we believe What we are willing to do to ensure our control over this situation”
Overstreet was silent for aThe faces of the enees of them, but not uncountably many This was still a solvable problem