Звездный десант

           Ihadnotbeenwatchingmydisplayclosely;myplatoonsergeanthadtheplatoonandIhadbeenbusy,firstwithground-listeningand,mostlately,withafewhundredBugs.Ihadsuppressedallbutthenon-com’sbeaconstoallowmetoseebetter.

           Istudiedtheskeletondisplay,pickedoutBrumbyandCunha,theirsquadleadersandsectionchasers."Cunha!Where’stheplatoonsergeant?"

           "He’sreconnoiteringahole,sir."

           "TellhimI’monmyway,rejoining."Ishiftedcircuitswithoutwaiting."FirstplatoonBlackguardstosecondplatoon—answer!"

           "Whatdoyouwant?"LieutenantKhoroshengrowled.

           "Ican’traisetheCaptain."

           "Youwon’t,he’sout."

           "Dead?"

           "No.Buthe’slostpower—sohe’sout."

           "Oh.Thenyou’recompanycommander?"

           "Allright,allright,sowhat?Doyouwanthelp?"

           "Uh...no.No,sir."

           "Thenshutup,"Khoroshentoldme,"untilyoudoneedhelp.We’vegotmorethanwecanhandlehere."

           "Okay."IsuddenlyfoundthatIhadmorethanIcouldhandle.WhilereportingtoKhoroshen,Ishiftedtofulldisplayandshortrange,asIwasalmostclosedwithmyplatoon—andnowIsawmyfirstsectiondisappearonebyone,Brumby’sbeacondisappearingfirst.

           "Cunha!What’shappeningtothefirstsection?"

           Hisvoicesoundedstrained.