[ The gloom dissipates somewhat at the shift in subject - particularly at the remark about dark tacticians. There's a certain wry amusement in his voice when he speaks. ]

Black cloth stains less easily than other colors. But is that so? ... Perhaps. Alternate perspectives on tactics can be of great value.

[ Well. Unless they're the sort of "tactics" that amount to let's just charge in recklessly and kill everything we can. ]