"I mention it because of the effect it seemed to have with the planetary leadership. General Sturm was displeased at the destruction of the sewer intersection. Water was cut off to a few thousand citizens still trapped or choosing to stay within the engagement zone.

"Despite our efforts, which recovered what appeared to be a mutated human—ultimately determined to be a vile genestealer hybrid—the general was not willing to pay the price, not even in lives, but in hardship. I was just as bewildered at his condemnation as you are in reading it.