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           Ifyouswing200kilogramswiththeamplifiedpowerofaJacket,youcanliterallytwistyourselfintotwopieces."

           Iknewexactlywhatshemeant-theinertiashewastalkingaboutwasexactlywhatIwasafter.IttooksomethingmassivetoshatteraMimicendoskeletoninonehit.Thatitcouldkillmeintheprocesswasbesidethepoint.

           "Look,I’msureyouthinkyou’regood,butRita’snoordinarysoldier."Shastamadeonefinalattempttodissuademe.

           "Iknow."

           "She’sextraordinary,really.Sheneverusesherauto-balancer.AndIdon’tmeansheturnsitoffbeforebattle.HerJacketisn’tevenequippedwithone.She’stheonlymemberofoursquadwithoutit.Inanelitesquad,she’smorethanelite."

           "Iquitusinganauto-balanceralongtimeago.Ineverthoughtaboutremovingitentirely.I’llhavetodothat.Lessweight."

           "Oh,soyou’rethenextRita,Isuppose?"

           "No.Icouldn’tholdacandletoRitaVrataski."

           "YouknowwhatshetoldmethefirsttimeImether?Shesaidshewasgladshelivedinaworldfullofwar.Canyousaythesame?"Shastaappraisedmefrombehindherthicklenses.Iknewshemeantwhatshewassaying.Ireturnedherstarewithoutaword.

           "Whyareyousohungupaboutherbattleaxe?"sheasked.

           "Iwouldn’tsayI’mhungupaboutit.I’mjusttryingtofindsomethingmoreeffectivethanapiledriver.I’lltakeaspearoracutlass,ifyouhaveone.AnythingIcanusemorethantwentytimes."

           "That’swhatshesaidwhenshefirstaskedmetocuthertheaxe."