Звездный десант

           Theverymodelofthesmartyoungofficer—"Hesnorted."Nonsense!Youmaybecomeofficerssomeday.Ihopeso...wenotonlyhatetowastemoneyandtimeandeffort,butalso,andmuchmoreimportant,IshiverinmybootseverytimeIsendoneofyouhalf-bakednot-quite-officersuptotheFleet,knowingwhataFrankensteinianmonsterImaybeturninglooseonagoodcombatteam.Ifyouunderstoodwhatyouareupagainst,youwouldn’tbesoall-firedreadytotaketheoaththesecondthequestionisputtoyou.Youmayturnitdownandforcemetoletyougobacktoyourpermanentranks.Butyoudon’tknow.

           "SoI’lltryoncemore.Mr.Rico!Haveyoueverthoughthowitwouldfeeltobecourt-martialedforlosingaregiment?"

           Iwasstartledsilly."Why--No,sir,Ineverhave."Tobecourt-martialed—foranyreason—iseighttimesasbadforanofficerasforanenlistedman.Offenseswhichwillgetprivateskickedout(maybewithlashes,possiblywithout)ratedeathinanofficer.Betternevertohavebeenborn!

           "Thinkaboutit,"hesaidgrimly."WhenIsuggestedthatyourplatoonleadermightbekilled,Iwasbynomeanscitingtheultimateinmilitarydisaster.Mr.Hassan!Whatisthelargestnumberofcommandlevelseverknockedoutinasinglebattle?"

           TheAssassinscowledharderthanever."I’mnotsure,sir.Wasn’tthereawhileduringOperationBughousewhenamajorcommandedabrigade,beforetheSove-ki-poo?"

           "TherewasandhisnamewasFredericks.