Agent Smith explains the price of resisting him

“Getting this prisoner to Groom Lake is our top priority. And don’t you remember, Colonel Shelly gave me vital orders that need to be delivered there?”
“Yes, but … Sir, there’re a thousand soldiers and support staff here. We can’t abandon all of them.”
“Necessary losses, I’m afraid. You understand, don’t you?”
Harrison reached up and wiped away more blood. It flowed from his ears and nose in a set of steady streams. He blinked and his tears were stained pink. “That … with all due respect, sir, we can’t do that.”
“I understand,” said the agent with a sympathetic nod. He looked at the cloaked woman. “Moral conflict,” he said, shaking his head. “It starts to break down their brains. A vicious circle, really. The degradation of affected areas frees them from my control, which means I need to exert more influence, which leads to more degradation.”

Excerpt From Ex-Patriots, pg 565
Peter Clines
https://books.apple.com/us/book/ex-patriots/id585738393