The People Of The Wind, Chapter VII

(i) When he attacks the Domain of Ythri, Admiral Cajal expects the Ythrians to:

"'...try to maintain hedgehog positions.'"
-Poul Anderson, The People Of The Wind IN Anderson, Rise Of The Terran Empire (Rivedale, NY, 2011), pp. 437-662 AT Chapter VII, p. 512.

OK. It was interesting to google Hedgehog defence and the Wiki article fits with what Cajal goes on to say:

"'From those they'd make sallies, harass, annihilate what smaller units of ours they found, prey on our supply lines. We can't drive straight into the Domain with that sort of menace at our rear.'"
-ibid.

(ii) Cajal and the governor discuss the difficulty of spying on Avalon, which we have mentioned before. See here.

(iii) Cajal reflects that man's duty is to choose the lesser evil. A fine rationalization! Surely this attack on the Domain is not a "lesser evil"?

(iv) He reflects that the earliest accounts of contact with the enemy are:

"...always subtly helpful, as if the tone of a battle were set at its beginning."
-op. cit., p. 515.

This sounds plausible but is it an inspired guess by Anderson or does it reflect someone's combat experience? Surprises are also possible, as Cajal will learn.

(v) On p. 515, there is a reference to an "'...a.u....'," which is explained as "...an astronomical unit..." and as about eight light minutes. It is the distance from the Earth to the Sun. Thus, if the Sun nova'ed four minutes ago, then it will not affect Earth for another four minutes. I know that that is not expected to happen but many events are unpredictable and it is possible at any moment to die instantaneously. It seems appropriate to be grateful for every moment.