Cogswell said heavily, deliberately. "Under a white flag. A dispatch to
Baron Haer. My compliments and request for his terms. While you're at
it, my compliments also to Captain Joseph Mauser."
Zwerdling was bug-eyeing him. "Terms!" he rasped.
The marshal turned to him. "Yes, sir. Face reality. We're in the dill. I
suggest you sue for terms as short of complete capitulation as you can
make them."
"You call yourself a soldier--!" the transport tycoon began to shrill.
"Yes, sir," Cogswell snapped. "A soldier, not a butcher of the lads
under me." He called to the Telly reporter who was getting as much of
this as he could. "Mr. Soligen, isn't it?"
* * *
The reporter scurried forward, flicking signals to his cameramen for
proper coverage. "Yes, sir. Freddy Soligen, marshal. Could you tell the
Telly fans what this is all about, Marshal Cogswell? Folks, you all know
the famous marshal. Marshal Stonewall Cogswell, who hasn't lost a fracas
in nearly ten years, now commanding the forces of Continental
Hovercraft."
"I'm losing one now," Cogswell said grimly. "Vacuum Tube Transport has
pulled a gimmick out of the hat and things have pickled for us. It will
be debated before the Military Category Department, of course, and
undoubtedly the Sov-world military attaches will have things to say. But
as it appears now, the fracas as we have known it, has been
revolutionized."
"Revolutionized?" Even the Telly reporter was flabbergasted. "You mean
by that thing?" He pointed upward, and the lenses of the cameras
followed his finger.
"Yes," Cogswell growled unhappily. "Do all of you need a blueprint? Do
you think I can fight a fracas with that thing dangling above me,
throughout the day hours? Do you understand the importance of
reconnaissance in warfare?" His eyes glowered. "Do you think Napoleon
would have lost Waterloo if he'd had the advantage of perfect
reconnaissance such as that thing can deliver? Do you think Lee would
have lost Gettysburg? Don't be ridiculous." He spun on Baron Zwerdling,
who was stuttering his complete confusion.
"As it stands, Baron Haer knows every troop dispensation I make. All I
know of his movements are from my cavalry scouts. I repeat, I am no
butcher, sir. I will gladly cross swords with Baron Haer another day,
when I, too, have ... what did you call the confounded things, Paul?"
"Gliders," Lieutenant Colonel Warren said.