Звездный десант

           Itrunsthroughallourfolklore,allhumanreligions,allourliteraturearacialconvictionthatwhenonehumanneedsrescue,othersshouldnotcounttheprice.

           Weakness?ItmightbetheuniquestrengththatwinsusaGalaxy.

           Weaknessorstrength,Bugsdon’thaveit;therewasnoprospectoftradingfightersforfighters.

           Butinahivepolyarchy,somecastesarevaluableorsoourPsychWarfarepeoplehoped.IfwecouldcapturebrainBugs,aliveandundamaged,wemightbeabletotradeongoodterms.

           Andsupposewecapturedaqueen!

           Whatisaqueen’stradingvalue?Aregimentoftroopers?Nobodyknew,butBattlePlanorderedustocaptureBug"royalty,"brainsandqueens,atanycost,onthegamblethatwecouldtradethemforhumanbeings.

           ThethirdpurposeofOperationRoyaltywastodevelopmethods:howtogodown,howtodigthemout,howtowinwithlessthantotalweapons.Trooperforwarrior,wecouldnowdefeatthemaboveground;shipforship,ourNavywasbetter;but,sofar,wehadhadnoluckwhenwetriedtogodowntheirholes.

           Ifwefailedtoexchangeprisonersonanyterms,thenwestillhadto:(a)winthewar,(b)dosoinawaythatgaveusafightingchancetorescueourownpeople,or(c)—mightaswelladmitit—dietryingandlose.PlanetPwasafieldtesttodeterminewhetherwecouldlearnhowtorootthemout.