Звездный десант

           Amanoughttofilleachspotonhiswayup;Ishouldhavehadaturnassquadleaderinsteadofbeingbumpedfromlanceandassistantsquadleadertocorporalandassistantsectionleader.Jellyknewthis,ofcourse,butIknowperfectlywellthathewastryingtokeeptheoutfitasmuchaspossiblethewayithadbeenwhentheLieutenantwasalive--whichmeantthathelefthissquadleadersandsectionleadersunchanged.

           Butitleftmewithaticklishproblem;allthreeofthecorporalsundermeassquadleaderswereactuallyseniortome--butifSergeantJohnsonboughtitonthenextdrop,itwouldnotonlyloseusamightyfinecook,itwouldleavemeleadingthesection.Theremustn’tbeanyshadowofdoubtwhenyougiveanorder,notincombat;Ihadtoclearupanypossibleshadowbeforewedroppedagain.

           Acewastheproblem.Hewasnotonlyseniorofthethree,hewasacareercorporalaswellandolderthanIwas.IfAceacceptedme,Iwouldn’thaveanytroublewiththeothertwosquads.

           Ihadn’treallyhadanytroublewithhimaboard.AfterwemadepickuponFlorestogetherhehadbeencivilenough.Ontheotherhandwehadn’thadanythingtohavetroubleover;ourshipsidejobsdidn’tputustogether,exceptatdailymusterandguardmount,whichisallcutanddried.Butyoucanfeelit.Hewasnottreatingmeassomebodyhetookordersfrom.

           SoIlookedhimupduringoffhours.