[SFAP] Chapter 7:2

This is the second section of the seventh chapter of Sonnets from a Proton. The novel starts here.
The next section is here.

James stared out of the window not even looking around when he heard someone enter
“Well we did it” Alice placed a hand on James’ shoulder.
James stared at the receding Contrafibularity “One way or the other yeah”
“Whatever else happens the message is sent”
“So now success only happens in degrees.” James paused “What do you think they’re doing over there now? They should be starting their engines soon”
“I guess they’re arguing over what to do”
“Until time makes the decision for them”
“Any news from the base”
“All ready and waiting for the engines. Just bolt them on and off we go”
“The men handled themselves well”
“I thought so”
“What was it with your little speech before they left?”
“I thought I should be frank with them, get them thinking, not what they expected”
“You could have really screwed them up. The successful militaries across the centuries did it a certain way for a good reason”
“Maybe but this isn’t a normal war and things have changed”
“People haven’t not that much”
“I refuse to turn them into robots”
“They have to be some of the time”
“Maybe, but I won’t win it this way. It’s not worth it.”
“You’d rather they died in a failed cause than changed a few men temporarily into something you find distasteful”
“Pretty much yes”
“Why? Would you rather die than work with Jo?”
“Jo’s different”
“Why?? Because he’s your friend?”
“Because he chose, or at least gave the impression of doing so.”
“You still doubt him.”
“Hey if I doubt myself why can’t I doubt him?”
“You think you’re being used by someone?”
“I can’t be sure I’m not.”