Звездный десант

           Ifamandidn’thaveanyothertalenthecouldalwaysscrubbulkheads;nothingwaseverquitecleanenoughtosuitSergeantJelal.WefollowedtheM.I.rule;everybodyfights,everybodyworks.OurfirstcookwasJohnson,thesecondsection’ssergeant,abigfriendlyboyfromGeorgia(theoneinthewesternhemisphere,nottheotherone)andaverytalentedchef.Hewheedledprettywell,too;helikedtoeatbetweenmealshimselfandsawnoreasonwhyotherpeopleshouldn’t.

           WiththePadreleadingonesectionandthecookleadingtheother,wewerewelltakencareof,bodyandsoul—butsupposeoneofthemboughtit?Whichonewouldyoupick?Anicepointthatwenevertriedtosettlebutcouldalwaysdiscuss.

           TheRodgerYoungkeptbusyandwemadeanumberofdrops,alldifferent.Everydrophastobedifferentsothattheynevercanfigureoutapatternonyou.Butnomorepitchedbattles;weoperatedalone,patrolling,harrying,andraiding.ThetruthwasthattheTerranFederationwasnotthenabletomountalargebattle;thefoul-upwithOperationBughousehadcosttoomanyships,‘waytoomanytrainedmen.Itwasnecessarytotaketimetohealup,trainmoremen.

           Inthemeantime,smallfastships,amongthemtheRodgerYoungandothercorvettetransports,triedtobeeverywhereatonce,keepingtheenemyoffbalance,hurtinghimandrunning.WesufferedcasualtiesandfilledourholeswhenwereturnedtoSanctuaryformorecapsules.