Balt Haer had been looking back and forth between his father and the
newcomer and becoming obviously more puzzled. He put in, "Well, what in
Zen motivates you if it isn't the stock we offer?"
Joe glanced at the younger Haer to acknowledge the question but he spoke
to the Baron. "Sir, like you said, you're no fool. However, you've been
sucked in, this time. When you took on Hovercraft, you were thinking in
terms of a regional dispute. You wanted to run one of your vacuum tube
deals up to Fairbanks from Edmonton. You were expecting a minor fracas,
involving possibly five thousand men. You never expected Hovercraft to
parlay it up, through their connections in the Category Military
Department, to a divisional magnitude fracas which you simply aren't
large enough to afford. But Hovercraft was getting sick of your
corporation. You've been nicking away at them too long. So they decided
to do you in. They've hired Marshal Cogswell and the best combat
officers in North America, and they're hiring the most competent
veterans they can find. Every fracas buff who watches Telly, figures
you've had it. They've been watching you come up the aggressive way, the
hard way, for a long time, but now they're all going to be sitting on
the edges of their sofas waiting for you to get it."
Baron Haer's heavy face had hardened as Joe Mauser went on relentlessly.
He growled, "Is this what everyone thinks?"
"Yes. Everyone intelligent enough to have an opinion." Joe made a motion
of his head to the outer offices where the recruiting was proceeding.
"Those men out there are rejects from Catskill, where old Baron
Zwerdling is recruiting. Either that or they're inexperienced
Low-Lowers, too stupid to realize they're sticking their necks out. Not
one man in ten is a veteran. And when things begin to pickle, you want
veterans."
Baron Malcolm Haer sat back in his chair and stared coldly at Captain
Joe Mauser. He said, "At first I was moderately surprised that an old
time mercenary like yourself should choose my uniform, rather than
Zwerdling's. Now I am increasingly mystified about motivation. So all
over again I ask you, captain: Why are you requesting a commission in my
forces which you seem convinced will meet disaster?"