"William Forstchen - Article 23" - читать интересную книгу автора (Forstchen William R)

"Sure. I think it's going to be an interesting year."

"All right, plebes. First Battalion Company A, fall in, let's get a hustle on! Transport Twenty-Three leaves
in seven minutes and I'll be damned if one of my pukes gets left behind."

Justin looked over his shoulder to see Brian approaching, and there was a low moan from Madison and
several others gathered around Justin and Matt.

"Come on, move it! I'm sick at the sight of you pukes! And speaking of pukes" Seay came up to Justin
and fixed him with a steely gaze.

Justin came to attention, amazed at Seay's sudden transformation from friendly comrade to company
commander.

"It's gonna be a long year with you bums and with any kind of luck we'll get rid of most of you, one way
or the other."

He could see that Brian was again all business. It was going to be an interesting year.

CHAPTER II

"Ships company, attenshun!"

Justin sneaked a quick look at the assembled crowd. The last time he had attended a meeting of cadets in
the great assembly hall of Star Voyager Academy it was both to receive his award for life saving and to
hear Thor Thorsson, commander of the Academy, discuss the declaration of non-compliance by the
Mars Assembly.

The room seemed as if it had been empty then in comparison to the thousands who now stood in orderly
ranks, arranged by class and company. The senior cadet commandant stood at the podium, her steely
gaze sweeping the room for the slightest irregularity or disturbance.

There was a stir up towards the podium and

Justin fixed his gaze forward, snapping off a salute as the bosuns pipe echoed in the vast room. Thor
Thorsson ascended to the podium, saluted the colors of the United Space Military Command, and then,
facing his audience he returned their salute.

"Ship's company at ease! Be seated!"

Thorsson stood silent for a long moment, scanning his audience, and Justin felt that calm penetrating gaze
sweep over him for a brief second. He sat a little more rigidly, as if he were alone in the room and
Thorsson had singled him out for attention.

"I trust that all of you had a stimulating and exciting summer," Thorsson began in his deep rumbling voice,
tinged with the faintest touch of a Norwegian accent. A stir greeted his words, a few of the cadets
shaking their heads and chuckling.

"On behalf of the USMC, the faculty, and the staff of this ship, Star Voyager Academy, I extend