Chapter 7 – Entry
The next day, Jerry found himself back in the gravpack airlock, suiting up for another exercise. Getting killed once was bad enough. If he got killed again, the platoon might think it was a pattern, and that would hurt morale. General Gardener's “symbols and patriotism” lecture kept echoing in his mind.
“Don't screw up this time, Fielding,” said one of the infantry privates, a tall, lanky, eighteen-year-old man named Ken Flint. “The rest of us just got out of Space Camp, so we're in top shape and we know what we're doing. I don't know where you came from, or why you're here, but we're not going to let you slow us down. This is the military, and that means life-and-death stuff. Understand?”
“Yeah,” Jerry said dryly. “I'll try not to be a burden for all you battle-harden
