Грань будущего

           RitaVrataski,aValkyriecladinacrimsonJacket,andheraxe.Itmighthavebeenmoreappropriatetocallitaslaboftungstencarbideintheshapeofanaxe.Abattleaxeneverranoutofammo.Youcouldstilluseitifitgotbent.Itpackedplentyofpunch.Itwastheperfectmeleeweapon.

           Butasfarastheworldwasconcerned,KeijiKiriyawasanewrecruitwhohadyettoseehisfirstbattle.IfIaskedthemtoreplacemystandard-issuepiledriverwithadifferentweaponsimplybecauseIdidn’tlikeit,theysureashellweren’tgoingtolisten.Yonabaruhadlaughedatme,andFerrellactuallythrewapunch.WhenItriedtakingitstraighttoourplatooncommander,heignoredmecompletely.IwasgoingtohavetoacquiretheweaponIneededonmyown.

           IheadedforthebarracksofthesupplydivisionthathadaccompaniedU.S.SpecialForces.FiveminutesaftercrossingintotheU.S.sideofthebase,Icametoaspotguardedbyonlyonesoldier.Shewastwirlingamonkeywrenchinherhand.

           Thepungentscentofoildriftedintheair,swampingtheocean’sbrinytang.Theeverpresentdroneofmenbustlingaboutthebasehadreceded.Inthedarknessofthebarracks,thesteelweaponshumanityusedtostrikedownitsenemieswereenjoyingashortnap.

           ThewomanwiththewrenchwasShastaRaylle,aciviliantech.Herpaywasatleastonparwithafirstlieutenant.Wayabovemine,atanyrate.I’dsnuckalookatherpapers:height,152centimeters;weight,37kilograms;visualacuity,20/300;favoritefood,passion-fruitcake.