Shards of Honour (Vorkosigan Saga, #1)

by Lois McMaster Bujold

The really unforgivable acts are committed by calm men in beautiful green silk rooms, who deal death wholesale, by the shipload, without lust, or anger, or desire, or any redeeming emotion to excuse them but cold fear of some pretended future. But the crimes they hope to prevent in that future are imaginary. The ones they

commit in the present—they are real.”

But what do you do when all choices are evil? Shameful action, shameful inaction, every path leading to a thicket of death.”