Звездный десант
Chapter 10
Yougoslowingmedown,Ibreakyoursillyneck."
Ijustnodded.Iwasbeginningtorealizethatthiswasnotapracticedrop.
ThenIhadtheshakesforawhileandthenweweredown—
OperationBughouseshouldhavebeencalled"OperationMadhouse."
Everythingwentwrong.Ithadbeenplannedasanall-outmovetobringtheenemytotheirknees,occupytheircapitalandthekeypointsoftheirhomeplanet,andendthewar.Insteaditdarnnearlostthewar.
IamnotcriticizingGeneralDiennes.Idon’tknowwhetherit’struethathedemandedmoretroopsandmoresupportandallowedhimselftobeoverruledbytheSkyMarshal-in-Chief--ornot.Norwasitanyofmybusiness.FurthermoreIdoubtifsomeofthesmartsecond-guessersknowallthefacts.
WhatIdoknowisthattheGeneraldroppedwithusandcommandedusonthegroundand,whenthesituationbecameimpossible,hepersonallyledthediversionaryattackthatallowedquiteafewofus(includingme)toberetrieved—and,insodoing,boughthisfarm.He’sradioactivedebrisonKlendathuandit’smuchtoolatetocourt-martialhim,sowhytalkaboutit?
Idohaveonecommenttomaketoanyarmchairstrategistwhohasnevermadeadrop.Yes,IagreethattheBugs’planetpossiblycouldhavebeenplasteredwithH-bombsuntilitwassurfacedwithradioactiveglass.Butwouldthathavewonthewar?TheBugsarenotlikeus.ThePseudo-Arachnidsaren’tevenlikespiders.
