"Tanya Huff - Valor 2 - The Better Part of Valor" - читать интересную книгу автора (Huff Tanya)

resisted the urge to crank it up a notch. A small indiscretion some
months previously had left her more susceptible to the lieutenant's
chemical invitation than she should have been. One night he's a pretty
young di'Taykan—one of the most enthusiastically undiscriminating
species in the galaxy—and next morning he's her new second
lieutenant. There were times Torin thought the universe had a piss poor
sense of humor.
Had her time been her own, she could—and would—have waited
indefinitely for him to continue.
His last declaration had exhibited an indignation junior officers
needed to be trained out of—the greater portion of the universe, not to
mention the Marine Corps, ticked along just fine without them ever
being consulted.
However, as she was currently on General Morris' clock...
"I sent a message as well, sir. Wrote it on the belt-way. Station
should have downloaded it to your slate by now."
She half expected him to check his inbox. When he didn't, she
allowed herself a small smile. "I appreciate the chance to say good-
bye, sir. You must have really hauled ass to make it all the way down
from Battalion in time."
"Well, I..."
"Staff Sergeant Torin Kerr, report to decontamination at shuttle bay
twelve."
"Tell the whole station," Torin muttered, as her name, rank, and
destination bounced off the dull green metal walls of the lounge.
"I think they did." The lieutenant's hair and ears both had clamped
tight to his skull. "You'll, uh ..."
When Torin lifted an eyebrow in his general direction, a skill that
had been well worth the price of the program, he finished in a rush. ". .
. you'll be coming back?"
"I always plan on coming back, sir." She took a step closer to the
decontamination lock. "Every time I go out."
"I know. I mean ..."
"I know what you mean, sir." One of the most important functions
staff sergeants performed was the supporting of brand new second
lieutenants while they learned how to handle themselves in front of
actual—as opposed to theoretical—Marines. The realization that this
relationship wasn't necessarily permanent, that said support could be
pulled out from under them at the whim of those higher up the chain of
command, always came as a bit of a shock to the young officers.
"During the time I'm temporarily detached from the company, you can
have complete faith in Sergeant Chou's ability to handle the platoon."
"I do." He opened his mouth to continue, then closed it again. After
a moment's thought, he squared his shoulders, held out his hand, and
said only, "Good luck, Staff."
"Thank you, sir." When, like any di'Taykan, he tried to extend the
physical contact, she pulled her hand free and moved into the
decontamination lock's proximate zone.
"Staff?"
A half-turn as she stepped over the lip and into the outer chamber.