Звездный десант

           Oh,theremightbeanon-comalivesomewherebutthechainofcommandhadbroken.

           Bythebook,somebodyalwaysmovesup.Butitdoeshappeniftoomanylinksareknockedout.AsColonelNielssenhadoncewarnedme,inthedimpast...almostamonthago.

           CaptainChanghadgoneintoactionwiththreeofficersbesideshimself;therewasoneleftnow(myclassmate,AbeMoise)andBlackiewastryingtofindoutfromhimthesituation.Abewasn’tmuchhelp.WhenIjoinedtheconferenceandidentifiedmyself,AbethoughtIwashisbattalioncommanderandmadeareportalmostheartbreakinglyprecise,especiallyasitmadenosenseatall.

           Blackieinterruptedandtoldmetocarryon."Forgetaboutareliefbriefing.Thesituationiswhateveryouseethatitis—sostiraroundandsee."

           "Right,Boss!"Islashedacrossmyownareatowardthefarcorner,theanchorcorner,asfastasIcouldmove,switchingcircuitsonmyfirstbounce."Sarge!Howaboutthatbeacon?"

           "Noplaceonthatcornertoputit,sir.Afreshcraterthere,aboutscalesix."

           Iwhistledtomyself.YoucoulddroptheToursintoasizesixcrater.OneofthedodgestheBugsusedonuswhenweweresparring,ourselvesonthesurface,Bugsunderground,waslandmines.(Theyneverseemedtousemissiles,exceptfromshipsinspace.)Ifyouwerenearthespot,thegroundshockgotyou;ifyouwereintheairwhenonewentoff,theconcussionwavecouldtumbleyourgyrosandthrowyoursuitoutofcontrol.