Звездный десант

           Wewerelearning,expensively,justhowefficientatotalcommunismcanbewhenusedbyapeopleactuallyadaptedtoitbyevolution;theBugcommissarsdidn’tcareanymoreaboutexpendingsoldiersthanwecaredaboutexpendingammo.PerhapswecouldhavefiguredthisoutabouttheBugsbynotingthegrieftheChineseHegemonygavetheRusso-Anglo-AmericanAlliance;howeverthetroublewith"lessonsfromhistory"isthatweusuallyreadthembestafterfallingflatonourchins.

           Butwewerelearning.Technicalinstructionsandtacticaldoctrineordersresultedfromeverybrushwiththem,spreadthroughtheFleet.Welearnedtotelltheworkersfromthewarriors—ifyouhadtime,youcouldtellfromtheshapeofthecarapace,butthequickruleofthumbwas:Ifhecomesatyou,he’sawarrior;ifheruns,youcanturnyourbackonhim.Welearnednottowasteammoevenonwarriorsexceptinself-protection;insteadwewentaftertheirlairs.Findahole,dropdownitfirstagasbombwhichexplodesgentlyafewsecondslater,releasinganoilyliquidwhichevaporatesasanervegastailoredtoBugs(itisharmlesstous)andwhichisheavierthanairandkeepsongoingdown--thenyouuseasecondgrenadeofH.E.tosealthehole.

           Westilldidn’tknowwhetherweweregettingdeepenoughtokillthequeens--butwedidknowthattheBugsdidn’tlikethesetactics;ourintelligencethroughtheSkinniesandonbackintotheBugsthemselveswasdefiniteonthispoint.