Chapter 4

           "Howaboutlastnight,huh?Thatshitwastight."

           "Yousaidit."

           "Withreflexeslikethat,thatgirlmustbehidingspringsinthatlittlebodyofhers.Icouldfeelitallthewayintomyabs."

           "Shehearsyoutalkin’likethat,bestwatchout."

           "Whodoesn’tlikeacompliment?I’mjustsayin’shewasgood."Ashespoke,Yonabaruthrusthiships.

           SeeingsomeonemovelikethatinaJacketwasprettydamnfunny.Aneverydaygesturewithenoughpowerbehindittolevelahouse.

           OurplatoonwasonthenortherntipofKotoiushiIsland,waitingtospringtheambush,Jacketsinsleepmode.Ascreenabouthalfametertallstoodinfrontofus,projectinganimageoftheterrainbehind.It’swhattheycalledactivecamouflage.Itwassupposedtorenderusundetectablefromanenemylookingatusheadon.Ofcourse,wecouldhavejustusedapainting.Theterrainhadbeenbombedintooblivion,soanydirectionyoulooked,allyousawwasthesamecharredwasteland.

           Mostofthetime,theMimicslurkedincavesthattwisteddeepundertheseabed.Beforeagroundassault,wefiredbunkerbusterbombsthatpenetratedintothegroundbeforedetonating.Eatthat.EachoneofthosebabiescostmorethanI’dmakeinmyentirelifetime.ButtheMimicshadanuncannywayofavoidingthebombs.Itwasenoughtomakeyouwonderiftheyweregettingacopyofourattackplansinadvance.Onpaperwemayhavehadairsuperiority,butweendedupinadrawn-outlandwaranyhow.