Shock Absorber

A military officer is briefed by an aging psychologist-captain about a covert new branch of service built around extra-rational mental abilities and the deep distrust it arouses among veteran crews. The briefing outlines why alien opponents elude normal tactics, why commanders with psi faculties raise survival odds despite unpopularity, and how popularization and a mocking nickname produced mutiny and assassination. Faced with incoming enemy reinforcements, leadership adopts covert assignment and confidence-building measures to place psi-capable officers in tactical command. The account then moves to a junior officer, Maise, whose involvement follows the tense preparations and personnel changes.