Звездный десант
Chapter 13
Shewasnotreallyamartinetandshehadanicesmilewhenshewasn’tbeingstern.CaptainBlackstoneassignedSecondLieutenant"Rusty"Grahamtocrackthewhipovermeaboutmath;shefoundoutaboutit,somehow,andtoldCaptainBlackstonetohavemereporttoherofficeforonehourafterluncheachday,whereuponshetutoredmeinmathandbawledmeoutwhenmy"homework"wasn’tperfect.
Oursixplatoonsweretwocompaniesasarumpbattalion;CaptainBlackstonecommandedCompanyD,Blackie’sBlackguards,andalsocommandedtherumpbattalion.OurbattalioncommanderbytheT.O.,MajorXera,waswithAandBcompaniesintheTours’sistershipNormandyBeach—maybehalfaskyaway;hecommandedusonlywhenthefullbattaliondroppedtogether--exceptthatCap’nBlackieroutedcertainreportsandlettersthroughhim.OthermatterswentdirectlytoFleet,Division,orBase,andBlackiehadatrulywizardfleetsergeanttokeepsuchthingsstraightandtohelphimhandlebothacompanyandarumpbattalionincombat.
Administrativedetailsarenotsimpleinanarmyspreadthroughmanylight-yearsinhundredsofships.IntheoldValleyForge,intheRodgerYoung,andnowintheToursIwasinthesameregiment,theThird("PamperedPets")RegimentoftheFirst("Polaris")M.I.Division.Twobattalionsformedfromavailableunitshadbeencalledthe"ThirdRegiment"inOperationBughousebutIdidnotsee"my"regiment;allIsawwasPFCBamburgerandalotofBugs.
