[Erax]

Screenplay from a Stormtrooper recruiting vid, aired throughout the Virgillia Sector on SGY 2405.1:

External. Stormtrooper Recruiting Center. Day.

Two young men walk up the broad staircase and enter the building.

Interior. The Lobby. Day.

The Fleet Sergeant sits at a desk, in dress uniform. His chest is full of ribbons. His right arm is entirely missing; his tunic has been tailored without any sleeve at all.

First Young Man : Good morning. I want to join up.

Second Young Man : Me too.

Sergeant : For what ? Labor battalions ?

Second Young Man : Oh, no ! I'm going to be a Stormtrooper.

Sergeant, turning to the first young man : You ?

First Young Man : I'm interested in Research and Development, especially electronics. I understand the chances are pretty good.

Sergeant : They are if you can cut it, and not if you don't have what it takes. Look boys, have you any idea why they have me out here in front ?

First Young Man : Why ?

Sergeant : Because you can't all be Stormtroopers ! We don't need that many and most of the volunteers aren't Stormtrooper material anyhow. Got any idea what it takes to make a Stormtrooper ?

Second Young Man : No.

Sergeant : Most people think that all it takes is two hands and two feet and a stupid mind. Possibly that was all they required ten thousand years ago. But an Imperial Stormtrooper is a specialist so highly skilled that he would rate 'master' in any other trade. So they put me out here to discourage you boys. Look at me.

The Sergeant shoves his chair away from the desk. Both young men see that he has no legs.

Sergeant : Let's assume that you don't wind up digging tunnels on Virgillia IVB or playing human guinea pig for new diseases; suppose we do make a Stormtrooper out of you. Take a look at me - this is what you may buy... If you don't buy the whole farm. Which is more likely, because these days, there aren't many wounded. I'm the rare exception. I was lucky down on Aram I... though maybe you wouldn't call it luck. So why don't you boys go home, go find other ways to serve the Empire ? Stormtrooper service is rough and dangerous even in peacetime, which this isn't. It is not an adventure. Well ?

First Young Man : I'm here to join up.

The Second Young Man hesitates, looks down, then looks straight at the Sergeant with fiery determination in his eyes.

Second Young Man : Me too.

The scene freezes on a close-up of the Second Young Man. The Imperial symbol and the words "Stormtrooper Service : We Need the Very Best" come onscreeen. The Imperial March plays softly in the background.

Fade out.

Note : Today's post is a tribute to Robert Heinlein's "Starship Troopers". If you haven't read it, do yourself a favor : get off your computer and go buy the book right now, you won't regret it.