Звездный десант
Chapter 13
Briefingwasreadtoeverytrooperandhehearditagaininhissleepduringhypnopreparation.So,whileweallknewthatOperationRoyaltywaslayingthegroundworktowardeventualrescueofourmates,wealsoknewthatPlanetPheldnohumanprisoners—ithadneverbeenraided.Sotherewasnoreasontobuckformedalsinawildhopeofbeingpersonallyinonarescue;itwasjustanotherBughunt,butconductedwithmassiveforceandnewtechniques.Weweregoingtopeelthatplanetlikeanonion,untilweknewthateveryBughadbeendugout.
TheNavyhadplasteredtheislandsandthatunoccupiedpartofthecontinentuntiltheywereradioactiveglaze;wecouldtackleBugswithnoworriesaboutourrear.TheNavyalsomaintainedaball-of-yarnpatrolintightorbitsaroundtheplanet,guardingus,escortingtransports,keepingaspywatchonthesurfacetomakesurethatBugsdidnotbreakoutbehindusdespitethatplastering.
UndertheBattlePlan,theordersforBlackie’sBlackguardschargeduswithsupportingtheprimeMissionwhenorderedorasopportunitypresented,relievinganothercompanyinacapturedarea,protectingunitsofothercorpsinthatarea,maintainingcontactwithM.I.unitsaroundus--andsmackingdownanyBugsthatshowedtheiruglyheads.
Sowerodedownincomforttoanunopposedlanding.Itookmyplatoonoutatapowered-armortrot.Blackiewentaheadtomeetthecompanycommanderhewasrelieving,getthesituationandsizeuptheterrain.
