Colonel Killian is the officer who recruits Edgar to travel to Burma to fix the piano. He is anxious to procure Edgar's help in order to keep Carroll happy, because Carroll is tactically too useful for the army to lose. However, it is obvious that the Colonel disapproves of Carroll's methods and of his desire to bring piano music to the East. Colonel Killian does not believe in civilizing other countries, only in conquering them and taking their land and taxes. He is not ashamed of this view and declares it openly to Edgar.
