Starship Troopers

[Announced young people all over the globe

are joining up to fight for the future.

- I'm doing my part. - I'm doing my part.

- I'm doing my part. - I'm doing my part too.

They're doing their part. Are you?

Join the mobile infantry and save the world.

Service guarantees citizenship.

The bugs send another meteor our way.

But this time we 're ready.

Planetary defenses are better than ever.

Klendathu, source of the attacks, orbits a twin-star system

whose brutal gravitational forces

produce an unlimited supply of bug meteorites,

in the form of this asteroid belt.

To ensure the safety of our solar system,

klendathu must be eliminated.

We break net now and take you live to klendathu,

where the invasion has begun.

Dxq uplink on. Two, one, you're on.

We've just landed here on what cap troopers

are calling big k, with the 6th mobile infantry division.

It's an ugly planet, a bug planet.

A planet hostile to life as we know it.

Help me!

- Die. Die. - Come on. Go, go!

- Keep moving. - Get out of here now.

Get down!

Oh, god.

Oh, god.

Rico.

Rico.

Rico!

Pay attention.

Sorry, Mr. Rasczak.

Let's sum up.

This year we explored the failure of democracy,

how the social scientists brought our world to the brink of chaos.

We talked about the veterans, how they took control

and imposed the stability that has lasted for generations since.

You know these facts.

But have I taught you anything of value this year?

You. Why are only citizens allowed to vote?

It's a reward. What the federation gives you

- for doing federal service. - No. No.

Something given has no value.

Look, when you vote, you are exercising political authority.

You're using force.

And force, my friends, is violence.

The supreme authority from which all other authority is derived.

Uh... my mother says violence never solves anything.

Really?

I wonder what the city fathers of Hiroshima would say about that.

They probably wouldn't say anything.

- Hiroshima was destroyed. - Correct.

Naked force has resolved more issues

throughout history than any other factor.

The contrary opinion, that violence never solves anything,

is wishful thinking at its worst.

People who forget that always pay.

Rico, what's the moral difference, if any,

between a civilian and a citizen?

A citizen accepts responsibility for the safety

of the body politic, defending it with his life.

- A civilian does not. - The exact words of the text.

But do you understand it? Do you believe it?

I don't know.

Of course you don't. I doubt anyone here

would recognize civic virtue if it reached up and bit you in the ass.

This is the end of period three.

Period four begins in five minutes.

Remember, all graduating seniors must fill out a 7-10 form.

Not here.

Come on. Let's see if they posted the math final.

- Rico, we gonna take Tesla? - We're gonna kill them.

Remember, all graduating seniors must fill out...

First thing fleet academy looks at is your math scores.

Wish me luck.

Just wait a minute.

- Hey, way to go. - Good job.

Your turn. Hold on.

I wanna talk to Marco. His sister's at fleet.

- Marco. - Hi, Carmen.

What'd you hear about roxy?

She made pilot.

She did?

Thirty-five percent. Very nice.

Look at that.

Thirty-five percent, ladies and gentlemen.

- Big numbers. - Carl.

Sorry.

So you haven't done it yet, have you? Don't lie.

I'm not in any hurry.

Others are waiting.

- Did you read her mind? - Don't have to. I know what she wants.

Yeah, but I want Carmen.

You got it bad. Hey, don't forget about this afternoon.

He's always late when he walks you home to fish for a kiss.

Get out of here.

- Marco's sister made pilot. - So will you.

I mean, imagine flying a half a million tons of starship.

You gotta have nerves of steel.

- You do. Let's see how yours hold up. - You may begin.

- Ugh. - Come on. It's just a bug.

- Better put your goggles on. - "Just a bug."

We humans like to think we are nature's finest achievement.

I'm afraid it just isn't true.

This arkellian sand beetle is superior in many ways.

It reproduces in vast numbers,

has no ego, has no fear, doesn't know about death,

and so is the perfect, selfless member of society.

But humans have created art, mathematics and interstellar travel.

True, but before you let that go to your head,

take the example of the arachnids,

a highly evolved insect society.

By human standards, they are relatively stupid,

but their evolution stretches over millions of years.

And now, -here, take this.

They can colonize planets

by hurling their spore into space.

Yeah, I think we got it.

And here's the stomach.

Nerves of steel, huh?

Don't think about it. Just go on instinct.

Try to visualize it.

I see the ace of spades.

Statistically speaking,

you should have accidentally guessed right by now.

- Try another. - So my psychic abilities

are zero and I'm unlucky.

No, luck's not a factor.

No one really knows why some are sensitive and some aren't.

Who knows? Maybe it's a new stage of human evolution.

That's why they do these kind of federal studies.

But, cyrano... shit. Time-out.

He just wants some attention. You don't play with him anymore.

Cyrano.

Go bug mom, cyrano.

How do you make him do that?

I gave him the impression there's a grub crawling up my mom's leg.

He's on a mission to go eat it.

Get off my leg!

Carl!

I sure hope you don't do anything like that to me.

Don't be afraid. Can't do human.

Yet.

All right.

Touchdown, tigers. And the score is now 41 to 38.

Tigers lead with 2:46 remaining here at the Buenos Aires sports arena.

- Time-out, giants. - Are you all right?

Much better...

Way to go, team!

Hey, your helmet.

So, what are you doing after the game?

Well, everyone's going to the dance. Aren't you?

- It's my last night as a civilian. - Number 12, let's go.

- Ship off to tereshkova tomorrow. - You're going to the fleet academy?

- That's where I wanna go. - Come on, number 12. Let's play ball.

Don't get any ideas about my girlfriend.

All is fair in love and war.

- Giants, giants! - Johnny. Yeah.

Hut, hut.

Giants lead 43 to 41. Just over 42 seconds remaining.

Time is running out for the Buenos Aires tigers.

Let's go. Irving, latham, cover the rook.

Perry, fake left. Ricoli, you go long.

Rico, flip six, three hole. Got it?

- Hey. Rico. Hey! - What?

You're drifting. Flip six, three hole on one. Got it?

Just throw me the ball, diz.

Ready? Break.

Down. Set.

- Flank left. - Screen.

Hut.

Yeah! Go, go, go!

All right!

He's in there. It's over.

Who said you could grow up so fast?

Mom, don't get mushy.

This came for you today. I presume, at your request.

A lot of my friends are doing federal service.

Wait, you're not thinking of applying?

Have you lost your mind?

I'd rather take 10 lashes in public square than see you ruin your life.

It's a term of service.

It's not a career.

I just wanna get out on my own.

See the galaxy for a couple of years.

Johnny, people get killed in the federal service.

Who gave you this idea? It's that teacher, isn't it?

What's his name?

You know the one I'm talking about.

Mr. Rasczak.

Rasczak?

Silly name.

There should be a law against using a school as a recruiting station.

No, rasczak doesn't do that at all.

He sort of discourages you.

Well, that's good,

because you're going to Harvard and that's the end of it.