Звездный десант

           MyY-rackhadgoneemptytwojumpsback;findingmyselfaloneinsortofacourtyardIstoppedtoputmyreserveH.E.bombsintoitwhileItookabearingonAce—foundthatIwasfarenoughoutinfrontoftheflanksquadtothinkaboutexpendingmylasttwoA-rockets.Ijumpedtothetopofthetallestbuildingintheneighborhood.

           Itwasgettinglightenoughtosee;Iflippedthesnoopersupontomyforeheadandmadeafastscanwithbareeyes,lookingforanythingbehindusworthshootingat,anythingatall;Ihadnotimetobechoosy.

           Therewassomethingonthehorizoninthedirectionoftheirspaceportadministration&control,maybe,orpossiblyevenastarship.AlmostinlineandabouthalfasfarawaywasanenormousstructurewhichIcouldn’tidentifyeventhatloosely.TherangetothespaceportwasextremebutIlettherocketseeit,said,"Gofindit,baby!"andtwisteditstail—slappedthelastonein,sentittowardthenearertarget,andjumped.

           ThatbuildingtookadirecthitjustasIleftit.Eitheraskinnyhadjudged(correctly)thatitwasworthoneoftheirbuildingstotryforoneofus,oroneofmyownmateswasgettingmightycarelesswithfireworks.Eitherway,Ididn’twanttojumpfromthatspot,evenaskimmer;Idecidedtogothroughthenextcoupleofbuildingsinsteadofover.SoIgrabbedtheheavyflameroffmybackasIhitanddippedthesnoopersdownovermyeyes,tackledawallinfrontofmewithaknifebeamatfullpower.AsectionofwallfellawayandIchargedin.Andbackedoutevenfaster.