in that
time?"

Joe was taken aback. "Why ..." he said, hesitated as he got the
other's point, then went on, nodding. "Yes. They used to be company
size--a few hundred lads involved. After a while, a battalion size
fracas became fairly commonplace, then about ten years ago a
corporation of any size had to be able to put at least a regiment into
the field and the biggies had brigades."

"And now?" Holland urged.

"Now a divisional size fracas is the thing."

"Yes, and if a corporation isn't among the top dozen or so, a single
defeat can mean bankruptcy."

Joe nodded. He had known of such cases.

Holland leaned back in his chair, as though all his points had been
made. He said, his voice less brisk, "Our People's Capitalism, our
Welfare State, took the road of bringing the equivalent of the Roman
ludi to keep our people in a state of stupefied acceptance of the
_status quo_. And as in the case of Rome, the games are bankrupting
it. Our present day patrician class, our Uppers, have a tiger by the
tail, Joseph Mauser, and can't let go. We need those capable and
intelligent people of whom you spoke earlier, to make some basic
changes. Where are they? Nadine said that your great driving ambition
is to be jumped to Upper in caste. But even though you make it, what
will you have on your hands but these problems that the Uppers seem
unable to solve?"

Joe said, impatiently, "Possibly you're right. What you say about the
fracases becoming bigger and more expensive is true. They're also
becoming more bloody. In the old days, a corporation or union going
into a fracas was conscious of having a high casualty list among the
mercenaries. Highly trained soldiers cost money. Insurance, indemnity,
pensions, all the rest of it. Consequently, you'd fight a battle of
movement, maneuver, brainwork on the part of the officer commanding,
so that practically nobody was hurt on either side. One force or the
other would surrender after being caught in an impossible situation.
Not any more. These days, they want blood. Plenty of blood. And they
want the Telly cameras to focus right into the middle of it."

Joe shook his head. "But it's not my problem to solve. I've got my
goal. I'll worry about other ones when I've achieved it."

* * * * *

A voice behind him said superciliously, "I do believe it's the status
hungry captain, ah, that is, major these days. To what do I owe this
unexpected visit, Major Ma