Звездный десант
Chapter 7
PerM.I.doctrine,Iorderedthepickup,feltrathercockythatIhadmanagedtogettheorderoutbeforemynumbertwocutouttodoitanyhow,turnedtodothenextthingIhadtodo,whichwastolaydownasimulatedatomicruckustodiscouragethesimulatedenemyovertakingus.
Ourflankwasswinging;Iwassupposedtofireitsortofdiagonallybutwiththerequiredspacingtoprotectmyownmenfromblastwhilestillputtingitincloseenoughtotroublethebandits.Onthebounce,ofcourse.Themovementovertheterrainandtheproblemitselfhadbeendiscussedaheadoftime;wewerestillgreen—theonlyvariationssupposedtobeleftinwerecasualties.
Doctrinerequiredmetolocateexactly,byradarbeacon,myownmenwhocouldbeaffectedbytheblast.ButthisallhadtobedonefastandIwasn’ttoosharpatreadingthoselittleradardisplaysanyhow.Icheatedjustatouch—flippedmysnoopersupandlooked,bareeyesinbroaddaylight.Ileftplentyofroom.Shucks,Icouldseetheonlymanaffected,halfamileaway,andallIhadwasjustalittlebittyH.E.rocket,intendedtomakealotofsmokeandnotmuchelse.SoIpickedaspotbyeye,tooktherocketlauncherandletfly.
ThenIbouncedaway,feelingsmug—nosecondslost.
Andhadmypowercutintheair.Thisdoesn’thurtyou;it’sadelayedaction,executedbyyourlanding.IgroundedandthereIstuck,squatting,helduprightbygyrosbutunabletomove.Youdonotrepeatnotmovewhensurroundedbyatonofmetalwithyourpowerdead.
