The longest chapter. It's the hight point of the book. John is aboard the transport Tours. One of the largest troop carriers of the fleet. He still has to study in mathematics to catch up. He's learning what it is like to be an officer in the "Blackies" MI unit under the command of Captain Blackstone. Soon he will have to replace Lieutenant Silva, and it pushes him to his limit. So on top of the duties of a third lieutenant, he must also accomplish those of a first lieutenant. They drop on planet P, the real name is classified, to obtain information on the bugs. He will be head of a platoon of MI. Through sheer luck and guts his unit's sergeant, former drill instructor Zim who will receive a field commission for it, manages to capture a live bug specimen of the "brain" cast. Mission accomplished but John is injured.