"Almost. Tell me, would you recommend any more of your men for promotion?
I’ll need a new sergeant and two more corporals."
Rip thought it over. "Koa can check me on this. I’d suggest making
Pederson a sergeant and Dowst and Dominico corporals. Kemp and Santos
already have promotions."
"That would be my choice, too," Koa agreed.
"Fine." Barris tapped the envelope. "I’ll correct the orders in here and
recommend the promotions. We’ll get sixteen new recruits from the
graduating class at Luna and that will complete the platoon I’m supposed
to organize. Two full platoons are waiting, and the new platoon will give
me a full-strength squadron. Except for new officers. How about Flip Villa
for a platoon commander, Rip?"
Rip knew the Mexican officer was among the best of his own graduating
class. "I have to admit prejudice," he warned. "Flip is a pal of mine. But
I don’t think you could do better." His curiosity got the best of him and
he asked, "Can you tell me what this is all about?"
Joe Barris reached over and rubbed Rip’s bald head. "By the time fur grows
back on that irradiated dome of yours, I’ll be on my way with Koa,
Pederson, and the new recruits. Santos and the rest of your crew will
report to Terra base. Flip Villa will join them there. You’ll be on
earth-leave for eight weeks, but it will take about that much time for
Flip and the men to assemble the supplies and equipment we’ll need."
He pulled a sheaf of papers out of the envelope. "Koa, here are orders for
you and your men. They say you’re to report to Special Order Squadron
Seven, on Ganymede. SOS Seven is a new squadron, the first one organized
exclusively for exploration duties, and I’m its commanding officer. Koa,
you’ll be my senior noncommissioned officer. I want you and Pederson with
me because you can organize the new recruits enroute. They have a lot more
to learn from you than they got in their two years of training. You’ll
make real Planeteers out of ’em."
He picked a paper from the sheaf and waved it at Rip. "This is for you,
Lieutenant Foster." He read, "Foster, R.I.P., Lieutenant, SOS. Serial
seven-nine-four-three. Authorized eight weeks’ earth-leave upon discharge
from hospital. Upon completion of leave subject officer will report to
Terra base for transportation to SOS Seven on Ganymede."
Joe Barris handed Rip his new orders. "You’ll be on the same ship with
Flip Villa and your men. Flip will be another of my platoon leaders. I’ll
be waiting for you on Ganymede. The moons of Jupiter will be our home for
quite a while, Rip. Our first assignment is to explore Callisto from pole
to pole."
Rip didn’t know what to say. To serve under Barris, to have his own men in
a regular squadron platoon, to have Flip Villa in the same outfit, and to
be assigned to exploration duty—dirtiest but most exciting of all
Planeteer jobs—it was just too much. He couldn’t say anything. He could
only grin.
Major Joe Barris looked at Rip’s shiny head and chuckled. "From what I
hear of Callisto, we’re in for a rough time. Your hair will probably grow
back just in time to turn gray!"