Звездный десант

           Agoodofficermightnotpromoteamanforoh,formanyreasons—andstillnotputhismisgivingsinwriting.Butinthiscase,ifhecouldnotrecommendhimforsergeant,thenhewouldn’tkeephimwiththeteam—sohewouldgethimoutoftheshipatthefirstopportunity.Buthedidn’t.ThereforeIknowheintendedtopromoteBrumby."Iadded,"ButIcan’tseewhyhedidn’tpushitthroughthreeweeksago,sothatBrumbycouldhavewornhisthirdchevrononR&R."

           CaptainBlackstonegrinned."That’sbecauseyoudon’tcreditmewithbeingefficient."

           "S—Ibegpardon?"

           "Nevermind.You’veprovedwhokilledCockRobinandIdon’texpectastill-moistkaydettoknowallthetricks.Butlistenandlearn,son.Aslongasthiswargoeson,don’teverpromoteamanjustbeforeyoureturntoBase."

           "Uh...whynot,Captain?"

           "YoumentionedsendingBrumbytoReplacementDepotifhewasnottobepromoted.Butthat’sjustwherehewouldhavegoneifwehadpromotedhimthreeweeksago.Youdon’tknowhowhungrythatnon-comdeskatrepple-deppleis.Pawthroughthedispatchfileandyou’llfindademandthatwesupplytwosergeantsforcadre.WithaplatoonsergeantbeingdetachedforO.C.S.andabucksergeantspotvacant,Iwasundercomplementandabletorefuse."Hegrinnedsavagely."It’saroughwar,son,andyourownpeoplewillstealyourbestmenifyoudon’twatch‘em."Hetooktwosheetsofpaperoutofadrawer.