The concept of military issue stuff is dear to Morgan; uses it a lot in his SF books.
Concerning supposedly special and highly effective painkillers, the idea is to keep
the wounded and suffering soldier going, so that he can accomplish his mission. Side effects,
even deadly in the long term, are not to be taken into account in such conditions provided
they don’t cripple the soldier further more – ,which would indeed be in that cas pointless –
in mission time. A wounded, much suffering soldier is close to useless, and probably doomed.
So there is nothing to loose in having him take medication that can keep him going a little bit
even if it kills him ultimately. It may gain him a few hours, enough time to reach target
and accomplish mission – or help others do it.
“headeaches” is indeed a little bit upsetting…but a bullet would in the bowels
is extremely painful and crippling, and I guess the soldier concerned would rather experience a nasty
headache rather that feel the bullet wound…
Again, the whole idea is that the guy has nothing to loose at that stage if he wants to stay operational a liitle longer.
Why shouldn’t they try and market it? Oh, come on, is the American DAF such a bunch of
bad people as to authorize such a drug the purpose of which is to keep teh patient going for
a few hours at most – without taking into account the side effects ? There are plenty of drugs
that could help you in teh short term and kill you dreadfully in the long term. That cannot
be prescribed by your physician, can it? ;-)
Sorry if I tend to say that soldiers are considered … dispensable by their hierarchy
because that’s exactly what they are in mission time. Success is the only factor taken into account.
Well, that may be cynicism…;-))