The debriefing was getting circular, but I pressed on.
“To clarify something you said earlier, you claim you withheld fire to conserve the power charge. Isn’t it true, however, that the Leaper pack was small enough in number that you could have eliminated them with minimal drain to your burner?”
“True, Commander, but they were so scattered during the battle that it was impossible to estimate their number until they closed in to feed on Ahk’s body. At that time, with Ahk already dead and my presence undetected, it would have been foolish to waste power by entering into combat.”
I sank into silence once again, but she continued.
“If I might add some unsolicited comments to the debriefing, Commander, your attitude on this matter puzzles me. You have constantly criticized me for taking reckless and independent action. Your only advice to me has been to try to become more team-oriented and less indulgent of my own desires and motivations. In this situation, however, when I have acted strictly by your orders and in the best interests of the team, you act more as if you were interrogating a criminal than like a Commander debriefing a Warrior. I cannot help but question whether you are asking pertinent questions seeking information, or if you are groping about for someone else on whom to blame your own incompetence as a Commander.”
It was at this point that I decided we could not afford a duel, though the frequency with which I review my decision leads me to believe I am not particularly pleased with the conclusions.