51

The mood at the officer debrief is sober, but not as grim as you might have expected. Lieutenant Sanvicente is still in her armor, looking battered but focused as she reports on the ambush suffered by her platoon. The other officers are all, like you, cleaned up and dressed in coveralls, and they listen to her report with cool professionalism. This is the first major incidence of trooper casualties you've seen, but you quickly realize that it's hardly the first time for everyone else. They take the casualties seriously, but in stride.

"Thank you, Lieutenant," Commander Celi says after the report. "Good job getting all your people out of there. Rest assured that the regiment is sending an entire troop down to that village within the hour to root out the insurgents. Now go and take care of your troopers."

Sanvicente nods her thanks and clumps away. You doubt she's stopped moving since the return to the ship.

Celi leads the rest of you through a quick debrief on the other platoon missions. You contribute your input on your own, uneventful visit to a village but otherwise keep quiet. No-one pays any special attention to you, and you realize that this is because they've simply accepted you as part of the team. There are no special explanations for your benefit, no queries to see if you understand. The officers act like you've been with the Hoplites forever. Celi even gives you a wink after she makes a subtle joke at Karim's expense.

The meeting concludes quickly, and Celi gives the surprising order for the troop to take the rest of the day off.

"We've been running hard," she says, "and I don't expect the pace of operations to let up soon. Let's take this break while we can. Let your troopers have some down time, and be sure to get some yourselves. Everyone's on stand-down until the forenoon watch tomorrow."

Some down time. You consider briefly what you'd like to do with this rare gift. You push aside all thoughts of training, and realize that you'd like most just to hang out and socialize. But with whom?