I cocked my head at him. It was quite unlike Zur to change thoughts in midsentence. Usually he was both concise and complete when he spoke.
“I am also concerned for the effective performance of my team, Zur. You started to say something about being a former Scientist. Why did you change your mind?”
He hesitated before answering, also quite unlike him.
“As you know, Commander, I have always been selfconscious about my non-Warrior background. Changing castes was not my desire or my decision, and I have always secretly regretted the move…until this assignment. Viewing the Scientists after a prolonged, forced separation, I find not only am I glad I was not accepted in their ranks, I wish that my name not be associated with them, even as a reference to the past.”
I considered his statement with mixed emotions. On the one hand, I was pleased Zur now felt completely a part of the Warriors and not torn by divided loyalties. However, it boded ill for the mission for the head of the Warriors’ team to harbor such strong and considered ill feelings toward the Scientists. Being at a loss for comment, I returned to the original subject.
“Have you considered a solution for the problem with the Warriors?”
He lapsed into thoughtful silence, but at least now his thoughts were diverted toward a constructive end.
“My analysis of the cause of the problem,” he commenced finally, “is the marked difference between guard duty and active patrol. While both are necessary, guard duty is a prolonged, low-activity assignment. If guard duty is unbroken by an active pursuit, the mind tends to create its own activity, usually in an uncontrolled and therefore ineffective manner.”