Звездный десант
Chapter 7
Allthishelmetgearmakesyoulooklikeahydrocephalicgorillabut,withluck,theenemywon’tlivelongenoughtobeoffendedbyyourappearance,anditisaveryconvenientarrangement;youcanflipthroughyourseveraltypesofradardisplaysquickerthanyoucanchangechannelstoavoidacommercial—catcharange&bearing,locateyourboss,checkyourflankmen,whatever.
Ifyoutossyourheadlikeahorsebotheredbyafly,yourinfraredsnoopersgouponyourforehead—tossitagain,theycomedown.Ifyouletgoofyourrocketlauncher,thesuitsnapsitbackuntilyouneeditagain.Nopointindiscussingwaternipples,airsupply,gyros,etc.—thepointtoallthearrangementsisthesame:toleaveyoufreetofollowyourtrade,slaughter.
Ofcoursethesethingsdorequirepracticeandyoudopracticeuntilpickingtherightcircuitisasautomaticasbrushingyourteeth,andsoon.Butsimplywearingthesuit,movinginit,requiresalmostnopractice.Youpracticejumpingbecause,whileyoudoitwithacompletelynaturalmotion,youjumphigher,faster,farther,andstayuplonger.Thelastalonecallsforaneworientation;thosesecondsintheaircanbeused—secondsarejewelsbeyondpriceincombat.Whileoffthegroundinajump,youcangetarange&bearing,pickatarget,talk&receive,fireaweapon,reload,decidetojumpagainwithoutlandingandoverrideyourautomaticstocutinthejetsagain.Youcandoallofthesethingsinonebounce,withpractice.
