Звездный десант

           ThereadingsshowthatIwon’tgettoomuchdosageifI—"

           "Youngster,stayoutofthatcrater."

           "ButCaptain,Ijustmeantto—"

           "Shutup.Youcan’tlearnanythinguseful.Stayout."

           "Yes,sir."

           Thenextninehoursweretedious.Wehadbeenpreconditionedforfortyhoursofduty(tworevolutionsofPlanetP)throughforcedsleep,elevatedbloodsugarcount,andhypnoindoctrination,andofcoursethesuitsareself-containedforpersonalneeds.Thesuitscan’tlastthatlong,buteachmanwascarryingextrapowerunitsandsuperH.P.aircartridgesforrecharging.Butapatrolwithnoactionisdull,itiseasytogoofoff.

           IdidwhatIcouldthinkof,havingCunhaandBrumbytaketurnsasdrillsergeant(thusleavingplatoonsergeantandleaderfreetorovearound):Igaveordersthatnosweepsweretorepeatinpatternsothateachmanwouldalwayscheckterrainthatwasnewtohim.Thereareendlesspatternstocoveragivenarea,bycombiningthecombinations.Besidesthat,Iconsultedmyplatoonsergeantandannouncedbonuspointstowardhonorsquadforfirstverifiedhole,firstBugdestroyed,etc.--bootcamptricks,butstayingalertmeansstayingalive,soanythingtoavoidboredom.

           Finallywehadavisitfromaspecialunit,threecombatengineersinautilityaircar,escortingatalent--aspatialsenser.Blackiewarnedmetoexpectthem."Protectthemandgivethemwhattheywant."

           "Yes,sir.