Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Behind Enemy Lines

   Copyright (c) 2008 by deGaffer
CONTENT: MF ScFi

   Chapter 2: The Puppets Are Gathered

   After weeks of probing Sa'arm defenses on Tulak, Delta Company was
ordered back to Truman for R&R.  After two weeks of relaxation on Truman
Delta Company was ordered to the training facility at Demeter to not only
train replacements for the company's casualties, but to also train elements
of other units with their firsthand experience of what works and what
doesn't work when confronting Sa'arm units in force.

   Delta Company had gotten the training program organized on Demeter and
was ready for the first group to enter the program when orders were
received from Dothan.  The company commander, Commander Patrick Kehoe, had
sent for his Second Platoon leader, Ensign Geraldine Timmons.

   Timmons reported to Kehoe with a salute and was asked to sit.  Kehoe
passed the written orders to Timmons, "I have been privileged to read the
details of General Allen's plan.  Your fame as reached headquarters and the
General specifically requested you and your squad 'as-is'.  They don't want
you burdened with green recruits on this mission.  I realize that your
platoon took heavy casualties trying to penetrate the Sa'arm defenses on
Tulak and is seriously under strength.  You have an outstanding team that
works well together, and for this mission a small, experienced force will
have a greater chance of survival and success."

   "I've reviewed your record and that of each member of your platoon,"
Kehoe continued.  "You have a commendable combat record, Ensign.  We need
the vital intel that this mission can supply, but it's important for you
and your platoon to get out alive in order for us to benefit from that
intel.  Were it not for the extensive combat experience of you, Master
Gunnery Sergeant Raymond Budzinski, Staff Sergeant Ronald Carson, Lance
Corporal Cynthia Miller, and several others who repeatedly distinguish
themselves in combat, I don't think any member of your platoon would have
survived.  Other platoons were lost to a man."

   Kehoe placed a small stack of papers in front of Timmons.  "I have here
promotions for several members of your platoon that are effective
immediately, including one for you.  I recommend reorganizing your platoon
into three squads.  In my discussions with Major Wilson of General Allen's
staff, which planned this little outing, it will be your best chance to get
the intelligence and get out.  Good luck, Lieutenant."

   Timmons stood and saluted, "Thank you, sir."

   After retiring to her quarters, Timmons reviewed the paperwork.  The
Second Platoon of Delta Company was ordered on a deep space reconnaissance
mission aboard the assault ship Sir Galahad.  Because they would be
shipping out without replacements, Lieutenant Timmons had reorganized the
platoon into three squads as recommended by Commander Kehoe.  The mission
was expected to take nine months to a year and each member of her platoon
was authorized to take one concubine with them.

   The newly promoted Corporal Cynthia Miller had joined Second Platoon
shortly before Delta Company was sent to Tulak.  She had repeatedly proven
herself in combat on Tulak and no one had second thoughts about her taking
over for one of the fallen squad leaders.  Miller was sitting in the
platoon's day room talking with the other two squad leaders of Second
Platoon: Staff Sergeant Ronald Carson of First Squad and Staff Sergeant
Jerry Fohner of Second Squad.  Lance Corporals Walter Fitzgerald and Ralph
Sewell of First Squad sat nearby.
"We got an ass kicking on Tulak," Miller was in rare form.  "Why do they
have us sitting here diddling ourselves when we could drop in on the
dickheads for a little payback?  What makes us so special that we've been

picked for some high priority excursion?"

   "Because we got off of Tulak alive," Carson replied quietly to the
second of Miller's questions.  To the first question he postulated, "You
know that we'd just get ourselves killed along with a bunch of green
replacements if we went back down with revenge on our minds.  The brass
knows that, too."

   "Yours is the only squad at full strength," Miller said to Carson. 
"Fohner and I can hardly do more than throw spit wads to back you up."

   Carson smiled, "I think you guys can do a bit more than that.  You and
Budzinski got our dicks out of the dirt during that last disaster.  If you
two maniacs hadn't started blasting away with the pulse cannon that you
salvaged from that downed Leopard, none of us would be alive."

   Miller diverted that line of discussion with, "What's this shit about
deploying on the surface through the transporter of a Galileo?  Whose dumb
idea was that?"

   "A Galileo might be able to slip in for a recon deployment," Budzinski
suggested, also wanting to avoid talking about the crazy shit he and Miller
had pulled.  "It's really not such a bad idea.  If it turns into an ambush,
it's better to lose a Galileo and four Marines than the whole platoon and a
Leopard."

   "Look on the bright side," Budzinski added with a rare, twisted smile.
"We'll be away from Tulak for nine months to a year, we'll spend most of
that time in hyperspace or drifting out in the black, and we get to bring
live entertainment with us!"

   Miller enthused, "Yeah!  We'll be fat, lazy, and fucked silly!"

   ----

   As the three corvettes arrived at the depot docks, their crews were
transported to the training facility on the moon below.  Only a small port
watch remained onboard as the heavy construction equipment in each
maintenance bay modified the ships.

   Commander Bronson had been assigned to guide the corvette crews through
the orientation and training programs for the weapons that were being
installed on the small ships.

   "If everyone will kindly take a seat we can begin," Bronson spoke from
the podium of the modest briefing room.  "My name is Commander Sarah
Bronson.  I'm a member of Admiral Forney's planning staff and he asked me
to develop a training program for you.  The changes being made to your
ships are the results of simulation studies focusing on the best way for a
small fleet to evade and escape from a superior Sa'arm force."

   "The plasma torpedo that is being removed from your ships is a head-on
offensive weapon.  If the Sa'arm force is in front of you, then the best
tactic is to turn.  It's doubtful that the Sa'arm can field enough ships in
a surprise attack to totally encircle you.  You'll want to go where they
aren't, making the torpedo room a lot of dead weight." Bronson paused for a
moment before adding, "I know that sounds silly, and it's really not as
simple as it sounds.  You'll not only want to be where they aren't, but
also go where they can't get to in time to attack."

   "One of the weapons that will give them second thoughts about getting in
close is the advanced five-inch plasma cannon.  This weapon is not
recommended for ships as light as yours.  The range is more a factor of the
stability of the platform that the performance of the weapon.  It is, in
effect, a plasma rocket engine that will introduce significant yaw in your
ship's attitude that must be countered when the weapon is fired."

   Bronson displayed a diagram of the cannon's breech.  "The main charge is
a thirty kilogram aluminum alloy canister filled with tritium that's
totally consumed, canister and all, when the weapon is fired.  A
significant amount of the tritium is converted into energy in a fusion
reaction that's triggered and contained by pulse lasers located at these
points." The laser locations flashed on the holographic display.  "The
tritium fusion reaction releases a large quantity of high-speed neutrons
that are a significant component of the plasma beam."

   Bronson turned to face her audience, "The fusion reaction from a single
discharge is sustained for three seconds and generates a 130mm diameter
column of incredibly hot plasma that's one hundred fifty kilometers long.
The ship's power is needed primarily for the antigravity and cryogenic
components of the weapon.  It also provides the initial trigger to the
pulse lasers.  The power requirements are enough to put a strain on the
heaviest power couplings that your ships can support.  Your new engines are
arranged in a more open pattern for better yaw control, and the engine
controls are being interfaced with the fire control of each turret to
counter the recoil-like effects of firing these weapons."

   "It will take about two minutes for the plasma to reach a target at
maximum range," Bronson looked over the group.  "If your crews can get the
cycle time down to eight to ten seconds then you can bracket a target
that's maneuvering.  Again, the idea is to force the Sa'arm into
maneuvering to make a hole, not to make a hole in the Sa'arm ship.  These
pulses are incredibly bright and easy to see from any angle.  They should
make the staunchest dickhead flinch."

   The display changed to the hull just aft of the gun mounts and forward
of the engines.  "Mixed with the latest technology in energy weapons we
have some ancient relics from decades past." Bronson pointed out the
hardpoints that were forward of the engine mounts and rotated ninety
degrees from the gun mounts.  "Tucked out of the way of the gun mounts we
have a nasty surprise for curious Sa'arm ships."

   "The W53 is at the core of both the B53 and Mark Six delivery vehicles.
It uses a lot of lithium-deuteride to fuel the fusion stage of the
reaction; so, it doesn't generate an inordinate amount of neutron
radiation. But, you still don't want to be within fifty kilometers of the
blast if you're planning on having any more children!  The test results
indicate that with immediate medical treatment you'll be okay to within
thirty kilometers.  There's no location on a Castle or Sir Lancelot class
ship where you could survive if you were closer than twenty-five
kilometers. Dickheads can probably withstand the radiation from about
eighteen to twenty kilometers depending upon their shielding."

   "The more versatile weapon is the Mark Six package," Bronson continued.
"It can only cover about eight thousand kilometers in its four minutes of
powered flight, but could coast from there if necessary."

   "Damn!" Lt.  Thomas of Hurst Castle was excited.  "And here I thought
that the simulation exercises in the curriculum were overly optimistic
because even the new plasma cannon aren't effective beyond five thousand
kilometers.  We can't do all that much damage with them until we close in
on the target to less than thirty-five hundred kilometers.  Why don't we
have more of those?"

   "At a bit under thirty thousand kilograms each, two of them are all the
weight your ships can manage," Bronson replied evenly.

   "Commander Bronson," Colonel Murphy of the Hurst Castle spoke up.  "I
understand that the nukes were your idea.  Why didn't you pick a small,
high-speed tactical nuke?"

   "Because they would have to get in really close to a Sa'arm ship to do
any damage and we don't have room for a lot of untested torpedoes with
modest warheads that would probably get shot up before getting close enough
to do any real damage.  I figured that the biggest bomb ever deployed on a
missile would be enough to discourage even a hive ship and its escorts, and
it would give us the best chance of making a hole to escape through.  And
these were just lying around taking up space in a warehouse."

   The changes in the weapons systems required a redistribution of
personnel.  The larger and more complicated plasma cannon required a crew
of five.  The removal of the arc plasma torpedo freed up enough personnel
to staff the new cannon mounts and the expanded CIC for targeting the bombs
and missiles attached to the hardpoints.

   The two gun turret captains from the Hurst Castle, Staff Sergeants
Walter Mathews and Charles Adams, had drilled their new 130mm gun crews in
the trainer until they could load, track, and fire in their sleep.

   During a lunch break Adams and Mathews were bragging about their new
babies to other members of the crew.

   Adams was enthusiastic, "I'm in love with the new guns, not only because
they can fry through shielding that our old particle beam projectors
couldn't breach, but they can reach and touch an enemy at five thousand
kilometers!  That's a good fifteen hundred kilometers beyond anything we've
seen to date from a Sa'arm frigate or cruiser."

   "Yeah," Mathews added.  "You've got to respect a gun that can contain a
small tritium fusion explosion, if there's really such a thing as a small
fusion explosion, and harness the E-M-P to power the accelerator rails
while it corrals the abundant neutrons with the dynamic containment
provided by several pulse lasers and by the antigravity lenses that focus
the protracted explosion into the accelerator.  Have you seen the part that
sticks out from the ship?  It looks more like a huge radio tower than a gun
barrel.  It's no wonder it has to have a zero elevation and one eighty on
the azimuth before docking or going FTL."

   Adams nodded, "Speaking of tucking things in for FTL, are we still going
to take those two fireballs of yours with us by swapping Eileen and Janna
for the duration of this mission?"

   Mathews laughed, "I guess that pair can be as volatile as nuclear blast
and not nearly as easy to contain.  Yeah, it still sounds like a good plan
to me.  We need to arrange housing for the four we leave behind as soon as
they get here from Truman.  Eileen is due in about ten weeks, isn't she?"

   A gloomy expression passed over Adam's face as he replied, "Yeah, just
after we ship out.  That really sucks, man.  She could keep up with your
cheerleaders until she got so heavy with the twins.  So, are you ever going
to have Hanna and Janna drop babies?"

   Mathews cocked his head, "I want to give them a chance to grow up a bit
first.  I know they look like college freshmen, but they're only fifteen.
That ass Stokes had them looking like porn stars with massive tits, big
asses, and naked pussies.  He got my pain-in-the-ass Carlotta and her kids
for the pair when his other two concubines brought their babies home from
medlab."

   Adams was shaking his head, "I always thought you were a softie for
picking up four nursing mothers, but you saved a couple of guy's asses with
that trade."

   "Yep," Mathews smiled.  "McMurdock wasn't much smarter and hated giving
up one of his two supermodels, but neither of them had a clue what to do
with the babies they had just brought back.  So, each of them got an
experienced mom, and I got a pair of identical twins who fuck me silly now
that I've had them turned back into trim, athletic cheerleaders with boobs
just big enough to bounce and nice, bushy crotches."

   "What is it with you and hairy snatches?" Adams asked as he smiled and
shook his head.  "I hate to get kinky hair trapped between my teeth."

   Mathews just smiled and checked his watch, "We need to get back to the
trainer."

   The weapons that really complicated CIC fire control were the relics
attached to the new external hardpoints.  The crews of all three of the
modified corvettes had to go through the detailed scenarios created by
Commander Sarah Bronson during their trainer time at Dothan.  The key
contributors in the development of theoretical tactics for these archaic
weapons systems were the experienced officers and crew of the Lancaster
Castle and the Hurst Castle.

   The Captain and First Officer of the Hurst Castle, Colonel Frank Murphy
and Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Walters, studied the tactical use of these
warheads along with their Weapons Officer, Lt.  Jasmine Thomas.  These
three officers were huddled around the 3-D display in the trainer's mockup
CIC brainstorming for anything that may have been missed by Bronson.

   Cdr.  Walters observed, "The bomb is almost useless.  Even at only nine
gees it will be impossible to predict where the dynamics of battle will
lead the enemy to deploy their ships.  How can they be maneuvered by us and
drawn within its kill zone?  We might have a chance of taking them out with
the missile, but as slow as it is ... I don't know."

   "That's not what we have them for, Sam," Murphy responded.  "We're not
planning to go into battle with these weapons.  We're planning to use them
to avoid a battle.  Our ships are faster than theirs, which limits where
the Sa'arm can position their ships to block our escape.  These old
warheads will be deployed where we DON'T want the Sa'arm to be.  Their
purpose is to deny the Sa'arm access to a position that would allow them to
intercept our fleet."

   Lt.  Thomas noted, "The missile version may be slow and hard to put into
an intercept trajectory, but it beats throwing rocks!  Even as slow as it
is it can give us a punch from a far greater distance than we've ever had
before."

   Col.  Murphy leaned back.  He had an appointment with Commodore Achord
and didn't want to be late.  Before leaving he told the other two, "I've
got to throw in with Bronson's evaluation of the new plasma cannon. 
They're just along to make us feel good.  If we get close enough to
actually use them, then we can expect to get our butts kicked.  Our only
chance against a Sa'arm fleet is to make a hole and run like Hell!  These
nasty relics just might give us the hole we need.  Keep at it, ladies."

   Murphy encountered the Captain of the Lancaster Castle, Lieutenant
Colonel Michael Wallace, as he approached Commodore Achord's quarters. 
They discovered that they both had appointments with the Commodore at the
same time.

   Achord directed the AI to admit to two officers when they were
announced. "Good afternoon, gentlemen.  Thank you for being prompt.  I
hated to pull you away from your busy training schedule, but I really need
your opinions about staffing aboard the Sir Galahad.  I understand that
Commander Bronson is really challenging the crews with her training
exercises.  Actually, it's Commander Bronson that I want to discuss with
you.  Please, sit down." Achord indicated two comfortable-looking chairs.

   Murphy smelled a rat.  He considered Achord to be more of a politician
than a commander.  He was curious to know what Achord had up his sleeve;
so, he smiled and remained silent.

   A gloriously naked Nordic goddess stepped into the room carrying a tray
with three tall glasses.  Achord looked up, "Ah, thank you, my dear.  Would
you gentlemen join me with a refreshing Long Island Iced Tea?" The blonde
bent over with her back and legs straight and extended the tray to Murphy
and Wallace.  Hand-eye coordination proved to be problematic since their
focus was on the dangling melons instead of the icy glasses.  Each of them
managed to select a glass from the tray without knocking any of them over.
Then, as they watched her breasts change shape as she moved her hips and
shoulders back in line with her center of gravity, they each pondered the
physics that supported the globes on the big woman's chest when she was
vertical.

   The two men's eyes were drawn to the juncture of the woman's legs when
she was again standing straight.  She paused for a moment to give them a
good look before turning to serve Achord.  She had a hairless pudenda
protruding from below a thick pelt of spun gold.  The orange-skin texture
of the soft lips contrasted with the pale, smooth skin on her thighs and
abdomen making the pouting pussy lips appear dark and inviting.  When she
finally did complete the turn the two men were eye level with a perfect
pair of soft butt cheeks.  The turn also revealed a thick braid of golden
yellow hair that hung past her butt crack until she bent to offer Achord
the last glass on her tray.  This pushed her soft pussy lips through the
firm thighs below the shock absorbing protrusions on her butt cheeks.

   Achord smiled as the lust slipped through the masks of calm on his
guests' faces.  "Have you gentlemen not met Frieda?  She's an absolute
treasure, don't you think?"

   Frieda tucked the empty tray under her left arm as she turned to face
Murphy and Wallace.  She blushed prettily when they began breathing again
and mumbled their polite "Pleased to meet you," responses.  The pale blue
of her eyes sparkled as she acknowledged the complements with a nod and
left without speaking.

   "To Earth," Achord said as he lifted his glass and was joined by the
other two in his toast to their home world and took a sip from their
glasses.  Each of the ship captains looked expectantly at the commodore.

   "To business then," Achord announced.  "I asked you here because the two
of you are the only captains with real combat experience who will be in my
command.  I'd like your opinions of Commander Bronson's abilities as a
tactician.  She has requested to be included in this mission and has the
endorsement of Admiral Forney."

   People rarely surprised Murphy.  That Achord would admit to ignorance of
anything was out of Murphy's experience with high-ranking, pompous asses.
'Maybe there's hope for him after all,' Murphy thought as he revised his
opinion of the commodore upwards a notch or two.

   As the ranking officer, Murphy spoke first.  "I have found her training
scenarios to be very thorough.  She appears to have a firm grasp of typical
Sa'arm tactics and has some rather new and unique ideas for countering
them. She did exceedingly well in the role of a Sa'arm commander in the
scenarios.  She isn't very familiar with the fire and maneuver tactics that
we Castle skippers like to employ, but she appears to be a quick study. 
I'm not sure that an experienced officer would do any better for this
mission because they would tend to focus on opportunities to fight instead
of openings for flight.  My own crew suffers from that disability as well,
I'm afraid." Murphy ended with an amused smile.

   When Achord and Murphy turned to face Wallace it was clear that Wallace
was impressed by the depth of Murphy's evaluation.  Wallace cleared his
throat before starting, "My crew is also critical of the nukes because they
can't be effectively used as offensive weapons.  They really like the big
plasma cannon and can't wait to try it out on a Sa'arm frigate.  The
training sessions for the cannon crews were the only offensive scenarios in
the regimen.  Bronson focused on tactics for making a hole and escaping. 
Like Colonel Murphy I believe that she would be able to maintain her focus
on escape tactics rather than opportunities to attack.  She did well
thinking on her feet in the trainer, but trainer's don't blow up in your
face.  You never know until you've been there, but I believe that she is up
to the challenge."

   Achord appeared to be very pleased, "Excellent!  Thank you for your
candor gentlemen."

   Murphy and Wallace weren't quite given the bum's rush to get them out
the door, but it was clear that the Commodore had no further need of their
company at this time.

   ----

   Commodore Jason Achord looked over the group of officers that had
gathered in the commandeered classroom.  In attendance were the captains
and executive officers of the four ships assigned to his command.  Achord
spoke from the podium next to the instructor's desk, "Gentlemen, and I
include you ladies with that form of address.  I make no distinction of
gender among officers and crew.  I've asked you here to formally present
you with our orders and ask what preparations you can suggest before we
embark on a long and rewarding mission."

   Achord spoke rhetorically to the senior naval officers, "As you know,
your ships have undergone some notable changes in the last two months.  New
and more advanced weapons have been installed, along with some rather
distinctive antique weapons." Achord smiled at his reference to the nukes.
"I trust that you're satisfied with the training and proficiency of your
crews with these systems."

   Achord frowned, "Unfortunately we're not going to get much in the way of
a shakedown for the new engines and armaments before leaving for Sa'arm
space.  We'll travel from here to Demeter as a fleet.  During that brief
stop to board the Space Marines I urge that you address any detail that
presents itself, no matter how minor it may seem.  We'll be at least three
months away from assistance once we engage the FTL drives out of Poseidon.
In order to conserve fuel for our long mission we will limit our
trans-light speed to five lightyears per day."

   With a nod Achord directed his newest aide, Commander Sarah Bronson, to
project the fleet's orders onto the large screen.  Achord summarized the
language, "The orders from the Central Command specify that the scouting
corvettes will drift for four days while taking sightings of nearby stars
for later analysis of the data to determine the mostly like ones that would
have planetary systems of interest.  Upon entering normal space the
scouting ships are to send a message drone to the Sir Galahad's scheduled
position.  There will be just enough time for them receive a reply with any
new instructions and respond with their updated readings before moving on
to their next sighting position.  During this phase of the operation the
four ships will be approximately fifty to one hundred light-years away from
each other."

   Achord turned from the display to face his audience, "The ships will
spend ten days moving forty to sixty light years and repeat the procedure.
During the following FTL jump, our Science Officer, Ensign Mark Wallace,
will analyze the data and with the assistance of the AI recommend alternate
sighting positions as required until we have identified at least three
potential targets.  Are there any questions?"

   "Sir," Colonel Frank Murphy of Hurst Castle stood, "What if we don't get
a response from the Sir Galahad?"

   "An excellent question, Colonel," Achord smiled, "If communications are
not established all ships will proceed to their next scheduled jump
coordinates.  If contact is not reestablished at the second location, then
the Sir Galahad will advise those ships that are in communication and all
ships will rendezvous at the scheduled marshalling point.  A schedule of
three points will be included in each message package from the Sir Galahad
and only the third point is subject to change in each package."

   "Gentlemen," Achord took on a serious expression.  "If you do not make
the rendezvous in person or by message drone, then the ships that do arrive
will organize a search to backtrack to your last reported position.  It is
imperative that you follow the flight plan precisely.  Even so, it may be
weeks before help arrives if you have a disaster onboard one of your
ships."

   Achord called for the next slide, "The second phase gets a bit more
exciting.  The corvettes will actually perform flybys of prospective
targets to insure that the Sa'arm have been there, but are no longer
interested in the prospective planet.  Action is at the captain's
discretion if any Sa'arm ships are sighted.  The discretion is only for how
and when you engage your FTL to leave; engaging the Sa'arm in a hostile
exchange is NOT among the choices.  Are we clear, gentlemen?" Achord looked
each of the three corvette captains in the eye.

   "When one or more of you find a suitable candidate planet you will
notify the Sir Galahad." Achord continued, "We will then begin the third
phase of the operation.  All ships will converge on the selected planet and
begin a detailed surveillance of the surface.  At this point we will
determine when and where ground forces will be inserted to investigate
potential underground facilities.  It may be necessary to remain on station
for several weeks while the underground facilities are thoroughly
explored."

   "Once we have a good understanding of what can be expected underground,
we recover the Marines and return to Dothan at best speed.  Are there any
questions or recommendations, gentlemen?" Achord looked around not
expecting further discussion.

   Achord left the room leaving Commander Bronson to collect the materials
and tidy the room.

   The Captain of the Lancaster Castle, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Wallace,
asked her, "There was something you said in one of our initial briefings
that has been nagging at me.  I've been wondering how you managed get so
many high-yield weapons so quickly.  Did you say that they were just lying
around in a warehouse?"

   A smiling Bronson replied, "I'm a student of the Cold War, and I knew
that there were fifty of these warheads in a South Carolina warehouse left
over from the seventies, even though there are no bombers in the current
inventory capable of carrying one of them.  The B-52D 'Big Belly' retired
in 1980's was the last model in service that could deliver them.  It was
easy to fit an updated guidance and propulsion package to the bombs. 
Finding an intact Mark Six was a stroke of luck, and it was incredibly easy
to replicate.  It doesn't add much to the ship-to-ship application, other
than a modest bit of shielding, but I'm convinced that we should also be
prepared to bombard a planet if for no other reason than to distract the
Sa'arm and force them to deploy resources within their core systems.  The
Mark Six, W53 combination can easily perform both roles."

   The Exec of the Sir Galahad, Lt-Cdr.  Margret Howell, slapped Bronson on
the back, "I like the way you think!  Several of us have wanted to take the
fight to the dickheads without wasting Marines in futile ground assaults."

   Her Captain, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Collins, frowned.  He agreed with
her privately, but didn't want to challenge the decision makers who were in
charge of his career.

   ----

   Ensign Mark Wallace knew that his assignment as the Fleet Science
Officer aboard the Sir Galahad was mostly honorary.  The AI systems on the
ships were perfectly capable of coordinating the data from the three
sighting angles and recommending new sighting positions for each of the
ships.

   Wallace also harbored a great deal of trepidation about being in such
close quarters with experienced combat marines.  He had accepted the
standard marine upgrade package and both looked and felt great.  After
completing the standard infantry training on Demeter, he had tried to
remain current using sleep training, but his combat experience was limited
to video games.

   Achord had asked that Wallace be assigned to the Sir Galahad because he
had been one of the key planners of the mission and knew the search
parameters better than anyone.  Achord may be a pompous ass, but he knew
the value of a staff that could keep him briefed and make him look good. 
He was also hoping that Wallace could develop a relationship with Lt. 
Timmons.  Her service record showed her to be a very capable officer, but
Achord recognized that she was hardcore Marine and would be unlikely to
accept a naval officer as a confidant.

   Achord also wanted Commander Bronson on his staff because she was
clearly both bright and ambitious, but didn't play the power game.  This
was not the first time that she had proposed radical ideas, and her concept
of knocking big holes in Sa'arm planets with heavy weapons appealed to
Achord.  His review of her performance evaluations revealed that Bronson
had completed War College with a less than impressive standing primarily
because she had challenged conventional thinking.

   As soon as she had been transferred to his command, Achord put in the
paperwork for her promotion to Major.  He knew that the Castle crews
respected her, and he could use that to his advantage if he had her in his
pocket.

   ----

   Ensign Wallace and Commander Bronson were surprised to receive formal
invitations from Colonel Murphy to join him for dinner at the Officer's
Club the evening before the fleet was to depart for Poseidon.

   Invitations had also been extended to Admiral Achord, General Allen,
Admiral Forney, Lieutenant Colonel Segal, and Major Wilson.  Predictably,
the officers that outranked him made their excuses and declined the
invitation.  Segal and Wilson had responded with their acceptance of their
invitation.

   Colonel Murphy had arrived with two other officers from the Hurst
Castle: the executive officer, Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Walters, and the
gunnery officer, Ensign Jasmine Thomas.  Their three concubines took on the
roles of bartender, waiter, and waitress for the arriving guests.

   Colonel Murphy greeted everyone personally.  "Lieutenant Wallace, I'm so
pleased that you could make it this evening.  Who is this lovely vision?"

   Wallace was not socially graceful and stammered a bit as he introduced
his blushing concubine.  "This is Janet.  She's the one thing not
associated with work ..." Wallace was about to embarrass himself and was
saved by the arrival of Commander Bronson.

   When Wallace stopped midsentence and turned to face the new arrivals,
Murphy greeted Bronson with, "It's so nice to see you again, Commander. 
And who is this tall, dark, and mysterious looking gentleman?" Murphy was a
bit surprised when he realized that her concubine was at least an inch
taller than she was and distinctly Middle Eastern.

   Bronson giggled and actually bowed to Colonel Murphy, "This is Hasid,
the man who keeps me focused and effective.  Thank you so much for inviting
us."

   The senior officers of the Sir Galahad arrived together.  Colonel Murphy
was not as familiar with them as he was with the officers of the other two
corvettes.  The corvette crews had been training together for the last two
months to become proficient with the new weapons systems and sensors.

   "Colonel Collins, Colonel Howell, it's good to see you again.  I'm
honored that you could make it this evening." Murphy greeted the captain of
the Sir Galahad, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Collins, and his executive
officer, Major Margret Howell.

   At Murphy's expectant look Collins and Howell introduced the concubines
they were escorting.  "Oh, excuse me, this is Mellissa and Chester," he
turned to the pair and continued with, "Colonel Murphy, our host for the
evening."

   Murphy then greeted the captain of the Farnham Castle, Lieutenant
Colonel Frederick Delano, his executive officer, Major Daniel Caruthers,
and his gunnery officer, Lieutenant Saul Thompson.  They were followed
closely by the officers of the Lancaster Castle: the captain, Lieutenant
Colonel Michael Wallace, the executive officer, Major Samuel Johnson, and
the gunnery officer, Commander Elizabeth Watts.

   Major Wilson arrived with a tall teenager just ahead of Lieutenant
Colonel Segal who was in the company of a Marilyn Monroe lookalike.  Segal
and his concubine were the last guests to arrive.

   Colonel Murphy mingled for a while before getting everyone's attention.
"Now that everyone is here and has had the opportunity to indulge in some
of the excellent concoctions created by Samantha's very talented Andrew, we
should all be seated for a purely social event.  Well, mostly social
anyway. Nothing is purely social for someone bucking for an admiral's star.
Speaking of admirals, Commodore Achord sends his regrets, although he is
well represented by Commander Bronson and Ensign Wallace."

   The crowd joined in laughing at Murphy's joke, knowing that he was not
entirely kidding.  As the second ranking officer in the fleet, command
would fall to him if something untoward happened to Commodore Achord.

   Murphy was the only experienced corvette captain in the room. 
Lieutenant Colonel Delano had been the executive officer of a Tarawa class
assault ship that had never seen action.  This was to be his first command
as a captain.

   Lieutenant Colonel Wallace had spent eighteen months as the executive
officer of the Berkeley Castle and had distinguished himself during a
rather bloody engagement enforcing the blockade of Tulak.  He had been in
command of the Lancaster Castle for three months, two months of which had
been spent in the depot maintenance facility.  His command experience had
been limited to bringing the Lancaster Castle from Tulak to Dothan.

   Unlike Commodore Achord, Colonel Murphy was a hands-on leader.  There
was no task aboard his ship for which he couldn't proficiently demonstrate
how it should be done.  Murphy had a topnotch staff, but their job was to
challenge him to perform better; not just make him look good.

   Murphy was an excellent judge of competence.  By the time the soup and
salad had been cleared, he knew who in the room he could depend on, and who
would have to be looked after by someone else.

   He was intrigued by Commander Bronson.  Here was an incredibly
innovative officer who had enough confidence in herself to have a
dominating concubine, whom she clearly controlled.  He suspected that
nothing was sacred to Bronson except for her comrades and her mission.  He
would not have a problem with her directing the fleet's firepower from the
Sir Galahad's CIC.  Hopefully that putz Achord would have the sense to turn
the hard decisions of combat over to her.

   The very young and incredibly green Ensign Wallace would be able to
answer any technical question without even referencing his ever-present
PDA. Wallace wasn't yet a leader, but Murphy was certain that when the time
came all of Wallace's wounds would be in his chest, not in his back.  The
young officer would need guidance to keep him from doing something
incredibly brave and unbelievably stupid, though.

   Murphy was pleased to notice that Lieutenant Colonel Wallace was also
evaluating the officers he would be depending on for the next year.  Yes,
there would be at least two effective combat crews in the tiny expedition.
Lieutenant Colonel Delano and his crew had done well in the simulators, but
in simulators the hull breaches were only fatal on paper.

   There was an animated discussion in progress to Murphy's left at the far
end of the 'U'-shaped table arrangement.  He had seated the three corvette
gunnery officers near Commander Bronson.  Those were the four individuals
who would determine the fate of the expedition if they were jumped by
Sa'arm while in orbit.

   Bronson shook her head, "Standing toe-to-toe and duking it out may be
the honorable way for gentlemen to fight, but why trade casualties unless
you have to?  The cannon are a last-ditch choice.  I think that they mostly
let you feel like you're doing something useful right before you die.  If
the Sa'arm get that close in force, then we're all dead no matter how many
plasma cannon we have punching holes in them."

   "Speaking of punching holes," Commander Watts glanced at Hasid.  "Where
did you find Hasid, and is he available for parties?"

   Commander Thompson, the only male in the group, almost choked on his
wine.  "How long WAS your patrol, Elizabeth?" Everyone in the small group
started laughing, including most of the concubines.

   ----

   The trip to Demeter was mostly uneventful.  All but one problem item had
been corrected before establishing orbit.  The faulty power coupling for
the starboard plasma cannon on the Farnham Castle had to be replaced, and
all of the couplings on all three Castle class ships were inspected and
tested under combat load before Commodore Achord was satisfied.

   The Second platoon of Delta Company and their supplies were boarded
without incident.  They occupied space intended for a two platoons.  The
original forward Space Marine quarters on the Sir Galahad had been
reconfigured to house a single platoon, their equipment, and their
concubines.  The mission was to take eight to ten months; so, even each of
the lowly Marine privates had been allowed to bring along a concubine.

   Commodore Achord entered the plush wardroom of the Sir Galahad, and
after doing a brief headcount to ensure that he had a full audience, he
smiled at Lt.  Geraldine Timmons, "Lieutenant Timmons, you're the senior
Marine officer on this mission and will be in command of all ground
operations.  As such I've asked you to this briefing even though you aren't
a field grade officer.  I require you to voice your concerns and not be
intimidated by the other officers present or even by myself."

   Timmons smiled and nodded at the Admiral.  "Thank you, sir.  I'll do my
best to comply." At the same time she was thinking, 'What a pompous ass!'

   Achord introduced her to the captains and first officers of the four
ships as they conducted a final briefing before departing for Sa'arm
occupied space.  It was basically a repeat of the briefing that had been
given before leaving Dothan.

   "One last item before we adjourn, Commander Bronson has new orders. 
Please join me up here 'Mister' Bronson." Achord was full of himself as the
puzzled Bronson stepped forward.  She wondered if this had anything to do
with the mysterious errand Achord had given to Hasid to run.  The AI had to
get her permission before allowing Hasid to perform whatever task it was
that Achord was asking of him.  "Please remove your silver bars and replace
them with this pair of gold leaves, Major Bronson.  Congratulations on your
well deserved promotion."

   Bronson was shocked.  She had been passed over when first presented to
the board, which is not all that unusual, but there had not been enough
time since then for another promotion review board.  'This has to be his
doing,' she thought as she caught the scheming in Achord's eyes.  'I wonder
what he wants from me.'

   At a signal from Achord, the door opened to permit Hasid to push a cart
into the room.  On it was an incredibly decorated cake with a scene of
corvettes taking on a hive ship with Bronson's missiles.  Achord invited
everyone to celebrate Bronson's promotion with cake and coffee.

   ----

   Commander Elizabeth Watts didn't think coffee was the right beverage to
celebrate a promotion and invited everyone to the wardroom of the Lancaster
Castle to celebrate with a more appropriate beverage.

   During the brief and informal second party Commander Watts learned that
Hasid was not only available for parties, but that he was also a party
animal, with emphasis on 'animal'.  Bronson had given Watts permission to
'play with her toys', but cautioned her repeatedly to be careful what she
asked for.

   As the party was breaking up, Watts had stepped up to Hasid and pulled
his hard dick out of his pants.  She looked him in the eye and asked, "Can
you show me how well you use this thing?"

   Hasid glanced at Bronson who was close enough to hear the question. 
When she gave him a smile and nodded, Hasid picked Watts up by the waist,
flipped her around, and laid her across a table in the blink of an eye. 
Before Watts could draw a breath he pulled the waistband of her stretchy
slacks down onto her thighs and shoved his kielbasa between the smooth lips
of her very wet pussy.

   Watts barely squeaked as the air was forced out of her lungs by the
sudden pressure of his cock in her twat and his hand in the small of her
back.  He kept her pinned to the table as he fucked her to a gasping
climax. Hasid started to play with Watts' anus, but Bronson shook her head
when he glanced at her.