"Dieter's not military, is he?" Alita asked after the three men had scrambled back up the ladder rugs, through the hatch, and out into the rain once more. "If he were, I'd pin his ears back for questioning your decisions that way, using a couple of blunt, Number Nine restraining bolts."
"Dr. Hollinsworth is a physicist," Jaime replied. "A scientist. New Aberdeen University.. . and he's done work at SMA Electronics."
"I knew he was a physicist. I didn't know he worked for SMA."
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"Yeah, and they did a lot of contract work for the military. He knows high-energy weapons systems."
"So you want to be nice to him."
"Let's just say the most important asset we have right now is people" Jaime replied. He smiled. "Except for Hector, of course."
"He's people. Don't you doubt it."
"Yeah. I'm beginning to think he is." He looked at her, concerned. "How's Shari?"
"Asleep in a little watch officer's bunkroom off the Battle Center. I made her lie down, and she went right out. She'll be okay."
"It was rough, finding that guy, that way. You keep an eye on her, okay?"
"Roger that. And ... I wanted to tell you . . ."
"Yeah?"
That bunkroom has some more gear in it. And some uniforms, the autofit land. Thought you might want to know."
He nodded, a knowing half-smile spreading across his face. "Excellent! Good thinking, Sergeant. That'll help. A lot. . . ."
I am growing concerned about my Commander's apparent lack of a coherent long-range battle plan, though as I consider the problem in parallel with the files I possess on human psychology, I can speculate that our victory against the /*/*/ was so sudden and, perhaps, unexpected that he is still adjusting to the change in the strategic situation.
To remain in the immediate vicinity of Celeste Harbor, however, is nothing less than suicidal. I have worked out thirty-six separate, alternate tracks that will take us away from this area, taking maximum, advantage of rough and wooded terrain or sea bottom to conceal my movements. At that, I am aware of humans in my immediate vicinity who may have
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joined their cause to that of the I"!9!, from fear, coercion, or pragmatism. Our activities are being watched.
Also of concern, of course, is my Commander's determination to bring along as many of the former inmates of Camp 84 as possible, a number which may be as high as five thousand or more, depending on how many of those who fled the camp during the battle elect to return and join our company. So large a number of humans, traveling on foot and slowed by the need to sleep, rest, and forage for food, would delay my movement to a crawl.
I understand enough of human behavior to be able to accept my Commander's compassion, and to accept the fact that the safety of the freed captives is of considerable importance to him.
I sincerely hope, however, that this compassion does not blind him to the realities of both the tactical and strategic situations of the moment.
And one thing more of particular concern. I am sincerely curious about his apparent delight in finding a uniform. Surely the acquisition of proper military dress should have a relatively low priority, compared to the larger and more urgent questions of destination, long-range strategy, and survival.
