Звездный десант
Chapter 13
TableofOrganization
"RumpBattalion"StrikeForce—
Cpt.Blackstone
("firsthat")
FleetSergeant
IwouldhavebeenunderLieutenantSilva,butheleftforhospitalthedayIreported,illwithsomesortoftwitchingawfuls.ButthisdidnotnecessarilymeanthatIwouldgethisplatoon.Atemporarythirdlieutenantisnotconsideredanasset;CaptainBlackstonecouldplacemeunderLieutenantBayonneandputasergeantinchargeofhisownfirstplatoon,oreven"putonathirdhat"andtaketheplatoonhimself.
Infact,hedidbothandneverthelessassignedmeasplatoonleaderofthefirstplatoonoftheBlackguards.HedidthisbyborrowingtheWolverine’sbestbucksergeanttoactashisbattalionstaffer,thenheplacedhisfleetsergeantasplatoonsergeantofhisfirstplatoon—ajobtwogradesbelowhischevrons.ThenCaptainBlackstonespelleditoutformeinahead-shrinkinglecture:IwouldappearontheT.O.asplatoonleader,butBlackiehimselfandthefleetsergeantwouldruntheplatoon.
AslongasIbehavedmyself,Icouldgothroughthemotions.Iwouldevenbeallowedtodropasplatoonleader—butonewordfrommyplatoonsergeanttomycompanycommanderandthejawsofthenutcrackerwouldclose.
Itsuitedme.ItwasmyplatoonaslongasIcouldswingit—andifIcouldn’t,thesoonerIwasshovedasidethebetterforeverybody.
