Those were some of the milder comments. Cragen let the protests die down, rather than chewing us out for lack of discipline. "People, say hello to what we humans are calling the M4B1. The Kristang don't trust us with anything more powerful, and we won't need it for the missions we'll be assigned for the immediate future. The M4 Bravo unit fires ammo similar to the five point five six mike mike caliber, two two three long cartridge you're used to. The difference is this," he picked up a bullet from the table, and pointed to the tip. "This is an explosive charge. The Kristang assure us this ammo will penetrate the body armor that Ruhar soldiers wear, if you select the explosive option, because the explosive is a shape charge. Like a HEAT round our tanks use. You can also select to deactivate the explosive, which you will do, depending on the rules of engagement in effect at the time. The way you select the mode for the explosive tip is with this switch here," he pointed to a recessed button on the back of the grip, which was convenient for right and left handed soldiers. "You slide up this cover in the grip, to expose this recessed button. It is recessed, so you knuckleheads don't activate the explosive tip option by accident. After firing nine rounds, which you can do in standard single shots or three round bursts, you have to press the button again to select explosives."

Cragen went on at length about the M4 Bravo, but for most people, the thrill was gone. Where was the self-guided ammo, the lasers, the genetic enhancements to make us super soldiers, the bionic eyes, the mech suits that allowed us to jump thirty feet in the air and run a hundred miles per hour? Where was all the cool stuff we'd seen in sci-fi movies? This was bullshit! The Ruhar could pound us from orbit with masers, railguns and smart missiles, and all we had were Vietnam-era rifles with fancy firecracker bullets?

Total bullshit.