Vorgan looked at Lindoo. "Was that your reason for fighting?" asked the Lord of All.
"The basic reason for all strife," said Billy, "is to impose your will upon your adversaries."
Vorgan and Lindoo nodded impatiently.
"We fought to impose our will upon you. Our will is that we of the Solar Sector gain your respect, slaves though we must be."
"And you were willing to lose eight and one half million men to gain that respect?"
"Your estimate is wrong. We lost but seven thousand souls—five thousand of which were civilians caught in the backwash and splash-over from our fighting."
"Seven thous—" exploded Vorgan, visibly shaken.
"Seventeen million—" cried Lindoo hoarsely.
"Your losses?" asked Billy of Lindoo.
The Head of Strategy nodded.