Chapter 29 "Peckem" Summary

General Peckem proudly welcomes Colonel Scheisskopf to his command, seeing the addition of another high-ranking officer as a boost to his prestige. After making it perfectly clear to Scheisskopf that his first concern lay in deposing General Dreedle, not winning the war, General Peckem puts the Colonel to work recommending Special Services's expansion to combat activities. Seeing Colonel Scheisskopf's disappointment at not being allowed to host parades, Peckem gives him permission to issue parade cancellations. When Colonel Cargill complains that he wants to be the one to cancel parades, General Peckem plays the two Colonels against one another with lies and contradictory orders. Peckem reveals to Scheisskopf that the term "bomb pattern" is a meaningless concept that he made up on a lark, but which has rapidly convinced a number of lower ranking officers that he thinks it important...