What is the main conflict in In the Penal Colony by Franz Kafka?

In stepping back and looking at the novella as a whole, we can see the the main conflict in the novella actually takes place within the ranks of the reigning officers on the island, and their feelings about the machine. The officer is in full support of the machine as the sole source of punishment for crime..... any crime. The new Commandant, however, has a different opinion and in contrast with the officer, hopes to see the eventual elimination of the machine altogether.