The Heart of Valour by Tanya Huff

know how you think. They are not debilitating and we are going to Crucible although, should they figure out what bits of my brain are hurting and why, I won’t turn down a magic pill.”
    “Glad to hear that, sir.”
    “And you’ve got to look at the bright side, Gunny. At least there’s medical evidence that you’re serving under an officer
with
a brain.”
    “Yes, sir.” A very early retirement indeed.

FOUR
    “ W e’ll be going north with Platoon 71, Gunny, dropping into NHS19.” Major Svensson tapped the position on the map displayed on his desk. “It’s midwinter there: cold but dry. Platoon 72’s going to the tropics, just over three thousand k south, but I’ve had enough of being warm and wet for the time being. The scenario involves us attempting to get an important civilian out of a combat zone to the pickup point; the platoon will be supporting us. Neither my orders nor yours will supersede the senior DI’s.”
    “And the junior DI’s?”
    The major grinned. “I expect that’ll depend on their orders.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “You look doubtful, Gunny.” He waved his left hand. “Afraid this is likely to drop off?”
    “Not actually my problem, sir. I’m concerned about Dr. Sloan.”
    “You don’t think thirty-seven Marines can keep one not particularly large civilian alive? Even if thirty-two of them aren’t quite Marines? Don’t worry about it,” he continued before Torin could answer, “she’ll be wearing an observer’s chip. The system will be unable to fire directly at her.”
    That would have been reassuring, except experience had taught her that direct fire was usually a lot less dangerous than random fire; soft target rounds tended toward the impersonal. It was also significantly less dangerous than artillery fire, which often resulted in large, indiscriminate explosions collapsing buildings and/or landscapes, and entirely less dangerous than friendly fire, which was unfortunately likely when thirty-two recruits were given live ammo and tossed into a simulated combat situation. Since experience had taught Major Svensson the same thing, Torin stuck with a neutral, “Yes, sir.”
    His expression suggested he’d clearly heard the subtext. “She’ll be in full combats under that jacket of hers, Gunny, with all the built-in safeties the squints in R&D can devise and let’s not forget that the system would have to get through you and me to take her down.”
    “That’s not my concern either, sir; since Crucible is designed to challenge one twenty recruits, we should be able to kick its ass. I’m concerned about whether or not Dr. Sloan will be willing to put in the full twenty days once she gets a taste of what it’ll be like. Since the point of the exercise is to get to the pickup point and the OP won’t send down transport without a serious injury registering, does she know she’s in for the duration? Escorting a willing civilian is a whole different ballgame than escorting one who’s kicking and screaming and wanting to go home.”
    “I don’t think Dr. Sloan’s the kicking and screaming type, Gunny, and—more importantly—I think she’ll stick it out. She maintains an amazing focus on the tiniest details of what she’s working on—which would be, currently, me or rather…” He waved the hand again. “…
this
, but that kind of focus blurs out the bigger picture, so if we can keep her and her slate undamaged, we’ll be laughing. Besides…” One finger tapped the map, and NHS19 expanded to fill the desktop, multicolored lights flashing throughout the section. “…you’ve already uploaded the scenario, so I’m betting that by the time we’re dropped you’ll be able to run it with your eyes closed.”
    “Yes, sir.” It was good to work with an officer who knew what to expect.
    Jonin was in the corridor, lingering by the hatch to her quarters when Torin left the major a few minutes later. The di’Taykan recruit looked conflicted.
    “Gunnery Sergeant