Chapter 13

           Youseguysthinkthisdeleted

           outfitisablankety-blanknursery.

           Well,itain’t!See?

           RemarkattributedtoaHellenic

           corporalbeforethewallsofTroy,

           1194B.C.

           TheRodgerYoungcarriesoneplatoonandiscrowded;theTourscarriessix--andisroomy.Shehasthetubestodropthemallatonceandenoughspareroomtocarrytwicethatnumberandmakeaseconddrop.Thiswouldmakeherverycrowded,witheatinginshifts,hammocksinpassagewaysanddroprooms,rationedwater,inhalewhenyourmateexhales,andgetyourelbowoutofmyeye!I’mgladtheydidn’tdoubleupwhileIwasinher.

           ButshehasthespeedandlifttodeliversuchcrowdedtroopsstillinfightingconditiontoanypointinFederationspaceandmuchofBugspace;underCherenkovdriveshecranksMike400orbetter—saySoltoCapella,forty-sixlightyears,inundersixweeks.

           Ofcourse,asix-platoontransportisnotbigcomparedwithabattlewagonorpassengerliner;thesethingsarecompromises.TheM.I.prefersspeedylittleone-platooncorvetteswhichgiveflexibilityforanyoperation,whileifitwasleftuptotheNavywewouldhavenothingbutregimentaltransports.IttakesalmostasmanyNavyfilestorunacorvetteasitdoestorunamonsterbigenoughforaregiment—moremaintenanceandhousekeeping,ofcourse,butsoldierscandothat.