Juan “Johnnie” Rico is always scared before a jump. He’s had the injections and psychotherapy, and they tell him it’s just excitement, but he knows it’s fear. His platoon—named “Rasczak’s Roughnecks” for Lieutenant Rasczak, their leader recently killed in action—stands for inspection in the drop room of the spaceship Rodger Young. The inspector is Sergeant Jelal, “Jelly,” small but tough. He notes that one man’s suit sensors indicate that he has a mild fever; he orders the man to fall out. The soldier starts to complain, but Jelly cuts him off and commands him to stay behind. Rico’s section will be missing a trooper.

The sergeant quickly reminds the men of the plan—they’ll be dropped onto the planet in two sections and will have 10 seconds to form coordinated lines and smash enemy buildings in a quick demonstration of Earth’s power. Jelly gives the men five minutes for prayers; some of them—“Moslems, Christians, Gnostics, Jews, whoever wanted a word with him before a drop” (4)—gather around the Padre. The Roughnecks file into the launch room, where each boards a capsule that slides down a firing tube, ready for launch. Once locked into his capsule, Johnnie begins to shake violently.