Звездный десант

           Anyhow,IshouldnotbethinkingabouttheRoughnecks;IhadallIcoulddoasaBlackguard.Myplatoonwasokayforthemoment—safeasyoucanbeonahostileplanet—butIhadplentytodobeforeCunha’sfirstsquadreachedthefarcorner.Ineededto:

           1.Locatetheplatoonleaderwhohadbeenholdingmyarea.

           2.Establishcornersandidentifythemtosectionandsquadleaders.

           3.Makecontactliaisonwitheightplatoonleadersonmysidesandcorners,fiveofwhomshouldalreadybeinposition(thosefromFifthandFirstRegiments)andthree(KhoroshenoftheBlackguardsandBayonneandSukarnooftheWolverines)whowerenowmovingintoposition.

           4.Getmyownboysspreadouttotheirinitialpointsasfastaspossiblebyshortestroutes.

           Thelasthadtobesetupfirst,astheopencolumninwhichwedisembarkedwouldnotdoit.Brumby’slastsquadneededtodeploytotheleftflank;Cunha’sleadingsquadneededtospreadfromdeadaheadtoleftoblique;theotherfoursquadsmustfanoutinbetween.

           Thisisastandardsquaredeploymentandwehadsimulatedhowtoreachitquicklyinthedroproom;Icalledout:"Cunha!Brumby!Timetospread‘emout,"usingthenon-comcircuit.

           "Rogersecone!"—"Rogersectwo!"

           "Sectionleaderstakecharge...andcautioneachrecruit.You’llbepassingalotofCherubs.