Звездный десант

           InthefewmomentsIhadbeenoutoftheboatIhadspottedhalfadozenarmoredsuitsontheground—emptyIhoped,deadmenpossibly,but‘waytoomanyanywayyoulookedatit.

           Besidesthat,mytacticalradardisplayshowedafullplatoon(myown)movingintopositionbutonlyascatteringmovingbacktowardretrievalorstillonstation.NorcouldIseeanysystemtotheirmovements.

           Iwasresponsiblefor680squaremilesofhostileterrainandIwantedverybadlytofindoutallIcouldbeforemyownsquadsweredeepintoit.BattlePlanhadorderedanewtacticaldoctrinewhichIfounddismaying:DonotclosetheBugstunnels.Blackiehadexplainedthisasifithadbeenhisownhappythought,butIdoubtifhelikedit.

           Thestrategywassimple,and,Iguess,logical...ifwecouldaffordthelosses.LettheBugscomeup.Meetthemandkillthemonthesurface.Letthemkeeponcomingup.Don’tbombtheirholes,don’tgastheirholes—letthemout.Afterawhile—aday,twodays,aweekifwereallydidhaveoverwhelmingforce,theywouldstopcomingup.PlanningStaffestimated(don’taskmehow!)thattheBugswouldexpend70percentto90percentoftheirwarriorsbeforetheystoppedtryingtodriveusoffthesurface.

           Thenwewouldstarttheunpeeling,killingsurvivingwarriorsaswewentdownandtryingtocapture"royalty"alive.