Звездный десант
Chapter 1
"Onemanabsent,"IreportedtoJohnson."Flores,squadsix."
"Missingordead?"
"Idon’tknow.Squadleaderandassistantsectionleaderdroppingoutforpickup."
"Johnnie,youletAcetakeit."
ButIdidn’thearhim,soIdidn’tanswer.IheardhimreporttoJellyandIheardJellycuss.Nowlook,Iwasn’tbuckingforamedal—it’stheassistantsectionleader’sbusinesstomakepickup;he’sthechaser,thelastmanin,expendable.Thesquadleadershaveotherworktodo.Asyou’venodoubtgatheredbynowtheassistantsectionleaderisn’tnecessaryaslongasthesectionleaderisalive.
RightthatmomentIwasfeelingunusuallyexpendable,almostexpended,becauseIwashearingthesweetestsoundintheuniverse,thebeacontheretrievalboatwouldlandon,soundingourrecall.Thebeaconisarobotrocket,firedaheadoftheretrievalboat,justaspikethatburiesitselfinthegroundandstartsbroadcastingthatwelcome,welcomemusic.Theretrievalboathomesinonitautomaticallythreeminuteslaterandyouhadbetterbeonhand,becausethebuscan’twaitandtherewon’tbeanotheronealong.
Butyoudon’twalkawayonanothercaptrooper,notwhilethere’sachancehe’sstillalive—notinRasczak’sRoughnecks.NotinanyoutfitoftheMobileInfantry.Youtrytomakepickup.
