Chapter 10

           TheTreeofLibertymustberefreshedfromtimetotimewiththebloodofpatriots...

           ThomasJefferson,1787

           Thatis,IthoughtIwasa"trainedsoldier"untilIreportedtomyship.Anylawagainsthavingawrongopinion?

           IseethatIdidn’tmakeanymentionofhowtheTerranFederationmovedfrom"peace"toa"stateofemergency"andthenoninto"war."Ididn’tnoticeittoocloselymyself.WhenIenrolled,itwas"peace,"thenormalcondition,atleastsopeoplethink(whoeverexpectsanythingelse?).Then,whileIwasatCurrie,itbecamea"stateofemergency"butIstilldidn’tnoticeit,aswhatCorporalBronskithoughtaboutmyhaircut,uniform,combatdrill,andkitwasmuchmoreimportant--andwhatSergeantZimthoughtaboutsuchmatterswasoverwhelminglyimportant.Inanycase,"emergency"isstill"peace."

           "Peace"isaconditioninwhichnocivilianpaysanyattentiontomilitarycasualtieswhichdonotachievepage-one,lead-storyprominence-unlessthatcivilianisacloserelativeofoneofthecasualties.But,ifthereeverwasatimeinhistorywhen"peace"meantthattherewasnofightinggoingon,Ihavebeenunabletofindoutaboutit.WhenIreportedtomyfirstoutfit,"Willie’sWildcats,"sometimesknownasCompanyK,ThirdRegiment,FirstM.I.Division,andshippedwiththemintheValleyForge(withthatmisleadingcertificateinmykit)thefightinghadalreadybeengoingonforseveralyears.