“I can’t,” he said, “I understand why you did what you did, Mikhail, though I cannot condone your decision. And Patel, I’m sorry for ever doubting that this… this thing between you and Grikov is anything other than love. So I understand why you walked away, both of you, but…”
He took a deep breath.
“…I can’t do it. I just cannot. Because I have a duty to the Republic, a duty to the men and women under my command, a duty to the people whose lives I saved and to those I couldn’t save. I have a duty to use my position for good, to try to make things better, at least a little bit. Without all that, I have nothing.”
“I know you want to make a difference, Brian,” Grikov said, his voice as soft as Mayhew had ever heard it, “But as long as there are people like Honold in charge, they’ll only de
