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“What exactly are illing to do, sir?” Overstreet asked, and his tone told Singh that he kneas co

“A white list,” Singh said “I would like you to identify the people e are certain are not involved with the insurgency The people we know absolutely that we can trust”

“And the others?”

Singh closed the ie down The enemy vanished “An example has to be made”

Overstreet went very still For a moment, the only sound was the hum of the air recyclers

“I see,” Overstreet said “So a step up froency”

“It’s been justified”

“The official position of the high consul is that these are all Laconian citizens That the terrorists are Laconian citizens who are also criminals”

“I know,” Singh said “But I also know that I was placed in command of Medina to learn from practice what theory can never teach And this is the lesson that Jaht me Will you refuse to respect the chain of command?”

Overstreet chuckled at that Singh didn’t knohy

“No, sir, I will follow the chain of command, as is my duty”

“Good Please prepare the cull, then I will trust your judgs on the white list”

“Yes, sir,” Overstreet said “Only I have other orders Sir”

A thrill of confusion h’s spine “Other orders? From whom?”

“Standing orders I received from Colonel Tanaka when I accepted this position So ultih consul made it very clear to Admiral Trejo that the rule of the e, it’s that people hold grudges for generations Whole societies have lived and died because of their antipathy born out of events that happened generations before Or ized, they were just pissed off about stories of things that never happened in the first place The adher standard As ays have” Overstreet spread his hands in a gesture that un