[LanceH]

The problem with killing an asset is that you've now involved multiple more teams of assets who now know that you kill assets. This is not how you keep secrets, nor how you retain people who keep secrets.

Like the JFK assassination theories that involve killing off an additional dozens of people. You can't cover up one murder by involving an extra 1000 people.

[AlecSchueler]

You just make it clear that he was going to defect. Your remaining assets know that they're safe as long as they're loyal.