Звездный десант

           "Thebulkheadthatseparatesladies’countryfromtheroughcharacterswhoshaveisnotnecessarilyNo.30but,bytradition,itiscalled"bulkheadthirty"inanymixedship.Thewardroomisjustbeyonditandtherestofladies’countryisfartherforward.IntheToursthewardroomalsoservedasmessroomforenlistedwomen,whoatejustbeforewedid,anditwaspartitionedbetweenmealsintoarecreationroomforthemandaloungefortheirofficers.Maleofficershadaloungecalledthecardroomjustabaftthirty.

           Besidestheobviousfactthatdrop&retrievalrequirethebestpilots(i.e.,female),thereisverystrongreasonwhyfemaleNavalofficersareassignedtotransports:Itisgoodfortroopermorale.

           Let’sskipM.I.traditionsforamoment.Canyouthinkofanythingsillierthanlettingyourselfbefiredoutofaspaceshipwithnothingbutmayhemandsuddendeathattheotherend?However,ifsomeonemustdothisidioticstunt,doyouknowofasurerwaytokeepamankeyeduptothepointwhereheiswillingthanbykeepinghimconstantlyremindedthattheonlygoodreasonwhymenfightisalivingbreathingreality?

           Inamixedship,thelastthingatrooperhearsbeforeadrop(maybethelastwordheeverhears)isawoman’svoice,wishinghimluck.Ifyoudon’tthinkthisisimportant,you’veprobablyresignedfromthehumanrace.

           TheTourshadfifteenNavalofficers,eightladiesandsevenmen;therewereeightM.I.officersincluding(Iamhappytosay)myself.