Command Decision (Vatta's War, #4)

by Elizabeth Moon

“No, I’m not soldier material. But despite folk mythology that you have to do it to understand it, even the sterile can understand how babies get made, and even a pacifist can understand supply, tactics, and the chain of command.”

But here he was, mired in an expensive suit in a vast office where most people seemed to think the purpose of their job was to feed him comfortable lies.

“I’m quite willing to blow them away, but not to pretend it meant nothing.”