I'm not saying kids aren't important. [It might be telling that that's the first thing he feels the need to get off the table, and the immediacy of his response is significant even by his standards.] But people don't drag children into combat. Or at least, not easily. The heavens have claimed already that they don't know how people are coming here, so not having a choice might be closer to right.

[If not completely right, perhaps. There might still be some unseen party behind it, even if the heavens really aren't responsible for bringing them.]

How long have you been here? It's not always like this.