Starship Troopers Page #9

Johnny is stunned. All the other recruits suddenly seem to have

something else to do.

CARMEN:

I know that's not what you wanted to hear...

but I have to follow my heart. I'm sorry.

I'm afraid you'll hate me, and I couldn't

stand that. Write me, alright ? Write me,

so I'll know that we'll always be friends.

The Fleet Mail logo appears again:END OF MESSAGE. Johnny

shuts the handcam off. Ace puts a hand on his shoulder.

ACE:

Funny how they always want to be your friends

after they kick your guts out.

JOHNNY:

It's what I deserve.

ACE:

Whad'ya talkin about ?

JOHNNY:

I joined up for her. I wouldn't even

be here if it wasn't for her.

I'm a fool.

ACE:

You made squad leader on your own,

and, hey, you still got me to kick

around.

Johnny smiles in spite of himself.

JOHNNY:

Thanks, Ace.

Johnny turns for the door, flipping the chevrons like a coin.

Dizzy watches him leave. She'd so like to comfort him.

73EXTLIVE FIRE COMBAT RANGE - DAY - THE RECRUITS

arm their Marauder power suits. Zim and Bronski wear Command model suits

with rank designations. Johnny checks weapons, scans the electronics on

each squad member's power suit.

ZIM:

With the Marauder's visual capabilities,

all you have to do is look at something

to hit it, so you will exercise EXTREME

CARE on my firing line.

Do you get me ?

RECRUITS:

Sir, yes, sir !

ZIM:

The live firing combat range is the

closest simulation of actual combat

we can provide. If you do not hit

your target, it will shoot you...

Fifty blackened AUTOMATED TARGET DRONES fitted with pulse guns

are presently visible along a gauntlet of low walls, gullies, and three-story

building facades.

ZIM:

The Marauder power suit will prevent

serious injury, but if you are hit, you

will be non-operational and your team

score will suffer accordingly. Rico,

has each member of your squad completed

a weapons safety check ?

JOHNNY:

Sir, yes, sir !

On a signal from Zim, the Live Fire Combat Range comes to life

as the target drones take cover and disappear from view.

ZIM:

Perfect score for this exercise is 300.

B company came through last week

with 285. I expect you to do better.

74EXTLIVE FIRE COMBAT RANGE - DAY - THE RECRUITS

take out the target drones as they appear. Halfway through the course,

a recruit takes a hit and goes down, immobilized. Djana'd has a clear

shot, but Breckinridge gets in her way.

DJANA'D

You're in my line of fire, Breckinridge

Before the others can react, a second drone appears.

JOHNNY:

CROSSFIRE ! EVERYBODY DOWN !

Everyone kisses dirt. Pulses from the two drones fly thick overhead.

Shujumi rises to fire, a round slams him back to the ground.

Johnny and Djana'd knock out the two drones.

JOHNNY:

Alright, no more screw ups. Ace takes

point. Diz, you and Kitten Smith cover

the flanks. Djana'd, you're rear guard.

Move out.

The squad resumes ist advance. Breckinridge bangs on his helmet.

There is something wrong with his "head up" display.

JOHNNY:

What's the problem ?

BRECKINRIDGE:

Dunno. Display's fritzed.

DJANA'D

Lose another rifle, we're gonna mess up

our score...

JOHNNY:

Let me see.

Breckinridge takes off helmet, hands it to Johnny. Djana'd turns on

Breckinridge. Her "head up" zeroes him.

DJANA'D

How come when something goes wrong,

it's always you, Breckinridge ?

That's when Djana'd trips on a loose stone. She fumbles her rifle and

it discharges. The round tears the top of Breckinridge's head off.

The recruits stare in horror.

JOHNNY:

Oh, God... uh... MEDIC !

Zim arrives with Bronski on the bounce.

ZIM:

Rico, you are relieved of squad command.

Levy, McIntire you will escort private Rico

to the C.O.'s Office.

The recruits watch Johnny leave, stare aghast at their dead comrade.

No one looks at Djana'd, who stands alone sobbing.

75INTC.O.'S OFFICE - DAY - JOHNNY

stands before the C.O. braced by Katrina and Ace. Zim and the C.O. are

both saddened by the proceedings.

C.O.

Rico, did you give the recruit permission

to remove his helmet ?

JOHNNY:

Sir, yes, sir. Breckinridge reported a

helmet malfunction, and I asked him

to show it to me, sir.

C.O.

Are you rated to repair a Marauder

power suit, Rico ?

JOHNNY:

Sir, no, sir.

C.O.

Then why did you order your man to

remove his helmet during a live fire

exercise ?

JOHNNY:

Sir, I needed everyone in my squad

operational, sir... I... I wanted to win,

sir.

C.O:

(sigh)

You disobeyed safety regulation 21-404.

You may, of course, demand trial by

court martial.

JOHNNY:

Sir, no, sir !

C.O.

Do you freely admit to the charges

made against you ?

JOHNNY:

Sir... I guess I do, sir.

Zim looks out the window. Djana'd, dressed for travel, in civilian clothes,

crying as she heads off down Washout Lane.

C.O.

Sergeant, we've lost two recruits

over this incident already...

is there any possibility of salvaging

this man ?

Zim

I believe so, sir.

C.O.

Alright. We'll try administrative

punishment. Until then you are

confined to your quarters, Rico.

76INTBARRACKS - SUNSET - JOHNNY

looks out the window to the parade ground where a POST has been

erected. The recruits look up as Zim enters.

ZIM:

Alright, let's go, Rico.

Johnny takes off his shirt. Ace who now holds the chevrons of squad

leader, watches, feels bad for his pal.

77EXTPARADE GROUND - SUNSET - THE RECRUITS

stand with recruits from other platoons. Johnny is led to the post and

strung up as the C.O. reads the charge.

C.O.

For incompetence of command, for

failure to abide by safety regulations

in a live fire exercise, for negligence

which contributed to the death of a

teammate...

Zim steps up to Johnny, offers him a red rubber mouthpiece.

ZIM:

Bite on this. It helps. I know.

C.O.

... recruit trainee John Rico is sentenced

to administrative punishment. Ten lashes.

Johnny takes it in his mouth. His tear away shirt is torn away. Johnny

stands at the post alone. Corporal Bronski, a big man with an unhappy

task, unrolls his whip.

C.O.

You may carry out the sentence.

BRONSKI:

One.

CRACK !Johnny's face wrenched by pain, spontanous tears, a terrible

sound stifled by the bright red mouthpiece.

BRONSKI:

Two.

CRACK !Again. Dizzy flinches for Johnny.

BRONSKI:

Three.

CRACK !Ace looks away.

BRONSKI:

Four.

CRACK !Zim watches without any apparent emotion.

BRONSKI:

Five.

CRACK !Johnny faints, sagging against his tether.

FADE OUT:

78EXTOUTER SYSTEM - STARSHIP ATHENA

cruises past, 600,000 metric tons of star class destroyer, FIGHTERS

and LANDING BOATS lining her open hangar deck.

79INTATHENA - COMMAND AND CONTROL - NIGHT CYCLE - CARMEN

works alone on the empty bridge. She yawns. Zander brings coffee for himself

and Carmen.

CARMEN:

Thanks. You read my mind. Third watch

always seems to last forever.

ZANDER:

Oh, I don't know... Depends on who you

are spending it with.

He caresses her hair. She kisses his hand. Zander notices the plot map.

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