Another officer grumbled, "Cutting off the fleet's ekti supply in a time of war-are they insane?"

"We weren't told a damned thing," the officer grumbled, then climbed back into the patrol car.

The other officers grumbled their agreement.

The officer in charge of evidence storage grumbled as he brought out the star blade again.

The executive officer grumbled an inaudible curse.

Mondulo stood guard as the officers grumbled over their rations, the day creatures went into hiding, and the night hunters started to emerge.

"That investigation is going to have to be put on the back burner for a while," the first officer grumbled.

"Hope they feel better than I do," grumbled the officer.

While individual officers may grumble about some of the altered practices, Mr. Adams had kind words for the sheriff.

"Go ahead," grumbled the first officer, "I don't have a communicator, anyway."