Звездный десант

           Oh,weweretobeintheoperationbutwewouldridedownlikegentlemen,cushionedinretrievalboats.ThiswecoulddobecausetheFederationalreadyheldthesurface;Second,Third,andFifthM.I.Divisionshadtakenit—andpaidcash.

           Thedescribedrealestatedidn’tseemworththeprice.PlanetPissmallerthanTerra,withasurfacegravityof0.7,ismostlyarctic-coldoceanandrock,withlichenousfloraandnofaunaofinterest.Itsairisnotbreathableforlong,beingcontaminatedwithnitrousoxideandtoomuchozone.ItsonecontinentisabouthalfthesizeofAustralia,plusmanyworthlessislands;itwouldprobablyrequireasmuchterra-formingasVenusbeforewecoulduseit.

           Howeverwewerenotbuyingrealestatetoliveon;wewenttherebecauseBugswerethere—andtheywerethereonouraccount,soStaffthought.StafftoldusthatPlanetPwasanuncompletedadvancebase(prob.87+-6percent)tobeusedagainstus.

           Sincetheplanetwasnoprize,theroutinewaytogetridofthisBugbasewouldbefortheNavytostandoffatasafedistanceandrenderthisuglyspheroiduninhabitablebyManorBug.ButtheC-in-Chadotherideas.

           Theoperationwasaraid.Itsoundsincredibletocallabattleinvolvinghundredsofshipsandthousandsofcasualtiesa"raid,"especiallyas,inthemeantime,theNavyandalotofothercaptrooperswerekeepingthingsstirredupmanylight-yearsintoBugspaceinordertodivertthemfromreinforcingPlanetP.