Private Mandella, Chapter 14 Summary

It is on Mandella's watch, the teddy bears still peacefully surrounding them, when Cortez orders everyone to take cover. A transparent, bubble-like Tauran ship is passing by. This is the first time they have seen the enemy and Mandella's mental description of the Tauran captain is less than complimentary. They are unsure as to whether or not they were spotted by the enemy, but the alien ship continues on its course. Less than an hour later, Cortez assembles the Seventh Platoon and the other platoon leaders to explain the next course of action. Cortez draws a map of the enemy base and tells them that they are at a disadvantage because although they know the location and appearance of every structure, they have no idea about the function of most of them. The technology of their communications, however, is...