Starlight Gleaming Ch. 18

"Isn't that a kick? Because they weren't on the previous chart, and being either foreigners, indentured, or slaves, they weren't counted as part of the unit. Invisible. And a potential source of security issues." I added their numbers to the total. "That brings us to fifteen hundred and six total. Fifty-six officers and the rest enlisted."

I lifted up my arms and stretched. "Placement of the people we have is imperative, followed by intense recruitment for more bodies. Anyone already with CID experience and wants to stay, they can stay. But priority is filling our companies of field troopers, and if anyone in support wants to try field duty, we'll give them that opportunity. They can be trained alongside any new recruits we get. Yalcamara? How long is the standard field trooper training program?"

"Twenty weeks. There are additional programs beyond that, of course."

"Well, the sooner we get Air Service bodies, the sooner we can start training them. As for the officer shortage, getting green sublieutenants is usually not a problem. I seem to recall that when I arrived here last year, I was one of them. And you know what kind of trouble-maker I turned out to be."

There were chuckles at that.

I went to my laptop and checked my e-calendar. "Doyya? Tomorrow, at fifteen hundred hours, we have a meeting with our Ground Security counterparts. All right. If they haven't already requested it, let anyone who used to work for the 945 know we are back in business so they can make their transfer requests to the 602. Anyone who used to be on Yalcamara's squad and comes back, bump them up two grades and notify Chita so I can authorize the promotions. They get priority placement with the field company of their choice. However, no one goes higher than E5."

Yalcamara and Chita made notations on their tablets.

"This is important. Don't tell them of the promotion until after their paperwork has cleared and they're here. I want people because they want to work here, not because of the advancement opportunities. Yes, we'll give them those, too, but only after they are here. Yalcamara, you assist Doyya on company placements of any who transfer in. Make sure we split the experienced troopers evenly between the three field companies.

"Chita, if there are any of the office staff from our former unit that want to join the 602 and there are slots available, I'll sign off on them, and I'll consider any promotions that you recommend. Chita, I'll appreciate any recommendations there that you wish to make."

"Yes, sir." The look on her face told me she was already contemplating people and things.

I finally took a drink of my cahault and immediately spat it back into the cup. "Seven hells! That tastes like something died in it!"

Then I pushed it out of my reach so that I get distracted and repeat that mistake. Standing up, I dug out my charge card and looked at my watch.

"Stimmi, you and Sowitwee head over to Commissary Shopping. It's open for another half-hour. Buy seven brand new large brewing urns, and two cases of cahault. Urns for this room, my office, and Doyya's office. Yalcamara, Jay, Pen, and Chita get the other urns. Two dozen boxes of filters, too. Grab us a bunch of sandwiches and snacks as well. Also, pick up a case of bottled water. None of that vendor crap. Turn to, gentlemen."

"Sir!" Stimmi collected my card, and both sergeants hustled out.

"Ick," I said. "That really is foul. How long has the cahault been in that urn?"

"No idea, Commander. Days, probably." Giving me a sympathetic look, Yalcamara picked up my cup. "I'll go rinse this out for you, sir. Be right back."

The remaining two women looked on my bitter face with amusement. Doyya reached into her laptop bag and handed me a partially full bottle of water. "If you don't mind sharing, Commander."

"Thank you." I took it gratefully, downing most of what remained. It helped some.

Yalcamara soon returned. We talked and Chita wrote down notes of what we decided.

When the sergeants returned, Sowitwee returned my card, washed out the new urn and started a fresh pot brewing. After that was done, he took the other urn away to clean it. Stimmi delivered the remaining urns to the respective offices before returning.

The rest of the evening was four hours of reviewing personnel files and comparing notes. Grinding detail work that had to be done. Fortunately, the consensus was two senior lieutenants looked like good possible candidates for both the XO and Company E slots. And yes, I let Chita, Stimmi, and Sowitwee give their opinion. Chita was a no-brainer. But the other two didn't know them, so they could give an honest assessment based on their military record.

Chita and Yalcamara found us a printer, and we worked out an new org chart. I reviewed the final version, and Chita sent a copy to all the command staff and company commanders and their staffs - even though some of those slots were still unfilled, as their email address was by title, not by person.

Next, we worked on filling some positions. More record profiles were reviewed and we read and discussed their suitability for various slots. I wished then that Jay and Pen could have been there to provide input. Pen was due to arrive sometime the following afternoon; hopefully there weren't going to be any snags.

Around midnight, people were beginning to nod off a bit, so I told them to wrap it up.

The policies and practices that we had established with the 945 were to be folded into the 602. First aid training for all field troopers. Bonuses for completing extra training. Electronic adjustments would have to be made to include these new tracking functions we needed on their personnel records.

If I was worried about Doyya, I was also worried about Chita. As my senior NCO, she had a lot of duties. She was also going to have a handful as the new Office Manager. I gave her a free hand to pick who she wanted in her office. I also informed her as Regimental NCO, she was being promoted to Senior Sergeant, and that she needed to prepare the paperwork for me to sign.

Chita gave me a tired yet gleeful smile that made me chuckle. The others congratulated her on the promotion. Then she and Doyya departed.

When Yalcamara and Stimmi rose from their seats, I asked them, "Are you two unpacked yet?"

What I saw were two guilty faces.

"All right, you two. Here's the deal. Morning shift tomorrow is at zero-seven hundred. I don't want to see either of you here before ten-hundred hours. Is the house you got okay? Or are you going to have to move?"

"The quarters are fine, Commander," Yalcamara answered meaningfully. "Thank you. It means a lot that we can live together and have some privacy." Stimmi nodded his assent.

"Then get settled. Use that time tomorrow to at least get your clothes out and hung up. Pretend like you live there. It'll feel like you don't for a while. It'll probably feel like boot camp all over again. But I will demand that things around here improve, so that each of us had down time away from our jobs. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Commander. Ten-hundred hours. I'll email the captain in the morning, so she doesn't freak."

"Ah. Good idea. Thank you. At least one of us is thinking ahead. Is there going to be a SNAFU about your pay, transferring back to the Air Service?"

"I don't know, sir," she answered. Stimmi pursed his lips but said nothing.

I wrote a task reminder to follow up with that. All the people transferring from Ground Service might run into pay snags. That included Pen, Jay, Doyya, and Chita, too.

"Inquire about your pay status and let me know. Don't hedge it or attempt to soften it. And track the other field troopers coming in, too. When they start duty, I don't want them having to dodge laundry or having to skip meals because Finance is screwing around. I mean it!"

"Yes, sir."

"Now take off and get some rack time."

"Good night, Commander."

Sowitwee had already returned the printer to its previous location and now worked on clearing the trash. I started helping and he looked unhappy about it.

"It needs to be done, right? I've got no use for officers who don't get off their ass and get their hands dirty with their troops. Llam nuqan, Sergeant."

Sowitwee put the last of the trash into the bin. "Yes, sir. I'm just worried is all, sir."

"About what?"

"You're a nobleman and an officer. Others don't know you like we do. Some of the men won't respect you if you do tasks traditionally beneath your station, sir."

I leaned my butt up against the table. "I expect I will have no difficulty disabusing them of my elite status. Do you know why I promoted you, Wit?"

"Not exactly, sir."

"When I had to leave, I asked you to look out for Captain Lovyanchiti. When she went to the War College at Tikún, you went with her, doing what I asked you to do instead of staying here with your pregnant wife. I know that was a real sacrifice for both of you. I hope you were able to keep in touch?"

"We did, sir. The captain made sure of it."

"There you go. And a good point to Doyya for that. Anyway, Wit, another man would have stayed behind, thinking Doyya would be safe at the war college. You also showed your loyalty to me when you were questioned by the Household Guard Captain, and then again when you fought beside me and the others in the temple. Over and over, you stepped up, Sergeant. Your promotion was not a gift. It was well-earned."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

After locking up my office, we exited the building and got into the ChoCac cruiser. Since it had been a long day for both of us, the ride home was quiet.

I parked out front and secured the vehicle, and we both went inside. There was a muted light on in the kitchen to our left, and another muted light on the wall on the staircase. We both saw Nariya sleeping on the couch in the front room, wrapped in a blanket.

I left him to help her to bed. I headed upstairs.

There was another night-light along the baseboard in the hallway, next to the second bathroom, between Cholan's room and the master bedroom.

I was going to go straight to bed, but I remembered as a child that my father often checked on me before retiring for the night. As quietly as I could, I opened the door to Ixma's room and crept in. There in the large bed were Calia and Ixma, and between them Mina and Sisi slept peacefully tangled together. The four of them were so adorable I wished I could burn the image into my mind forever.

"Ranji? Is something wrong?" A sleepy Calia raised her head.

"Everything's fine," I whispered. "I just got home, and I wanted to check on all of my girls before going to bed. Since you're awake, I will give you another kiss goodnight." I moved around to her side of the bed, and leaning down, made good on the kisses and caresses that she happily responded to.

Naturally, the whispers caused Ixma to stir. "Is something-?"

"It's okay. It's Ranji," Calia whispered.

I moved around to Ixma. "I didn't mean to wake you, Little Mama. I just got home, and I just wanted to make sure all of you are safe and sound. I'm sorry I woke you."

Leaning down, I caressed Ixma's cheek, and gave her a couple of slow kisses.

"For kisses like that," she murmured with a sleepy smile, "feel free to check on me anytime."

"Sweet dreams, all of you." Another kiss, and then I left, closing the door softly behind me.

At the end of the hallway, I pushed aside the curtain and looked out the window. The new deck looked great. Lawn chairs and a couple of picnic tables. The reinforced wooden lattice for the railing looked sturdy. From what I could see, I was pleased with the construction. Thank you, First Sergeant Kitam and your crew of mobile construction engineers. A superb job.

I yawned and checked my watch. Zero-one-thirty. I adjusted my alarm to go off at zero-five hundred, then quietly opened the door to the master bedroom. Saw two adjacent lumps under blankets. The second lump was undoubtedly Zinja. Ever since my trip to Sparantzlo, they'd taken to sleeping together; Janetta for comfort and Zinja because she loved her officer.

Entering the bedroom as quietly as I could, I undressed to my underwear, leaving my clothes on the floor in front of my dresser. I double-checked that both safeties were on by feel, then both weapon belts and pistols went into the closet and were hung it up.

There was only a trace of light. Just barely enough to see lighter shadows against darker ones. My eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness. Another check. I was pretty sure which side Janetta preferred to sleep on.

A quick bathroom break, then yawning again, I went over to Janetta's side of the bed and slipped under the covers. Scooted closer and put my arm around the sleeping woman.

As I spooned up to her, I discovered she was quite naked. Running my hand over the small breast told me it was Zinja, not Janetta. The caress was enough to elicit a sigh and a wiggle of her butt against my groin. Apparently what she wiggled against was enough to prompt another wiggle, followed by a soft sigh.

A sleepy Janetta propped herself up on her elbow. "Ranji? Is that you? Thank the gods. Now I can sleep easier. What are you doing over there?"

"Trying to go to bed without waking anyone and failing miserably at it."

Zinja took my hand from her hip and moved it to her breast. Then cupped my hand with hers. Slowly rolling her hips, she made a pleased noise as she ground her butt against me.

"Well, you might as well poke her," Janetta told me with a smirk. "Zinja comforted me earlier, but I'm afraid all I did was leave her hanging."

"I had a good time, Captain," Zinja protested as she stretched. "What matters to me is taking care of you."

"You needed comforting?" I asked Janetta.

"I wasn't sure you were even coming home tonight," Janetta admitted. "I just got you back, and after everything that's happened... I needed to be held."

"He's your man, Captain. You're allowed to miss the man you love."

"Ranji, what time are you getting up?"

"Zero-five hundred."

"Fuck, Ranji. That's not even four hours. Hurry up and poke her pussy so you can get at least some shut-eye."

"I'm happy to just snuggle," Zinja offered.

I think if I tried, I could get Zinja to come just from playing with her breasts.

Both she and Ixma had smaller-sized breasts that were quite sensitive to stimulation. Some men consider a smaller-breasted woman to be short-changed. To me, it was part of who they were, and I enjoyed trying to inhale an entire breast into my mouth like I was devouring them. It was something that was harder for me to do with Janetta, Cholan, and Calia. I rolled Zinja's nipple between my fingers, tugging gently on her sensitive nib, encouraging it to thicken and harden.

"Sure about that, Zinja?"

She arched her back against me, gasping. "That's not fair, Commander. Ah!"

My mouth nibbled along her neck, and Zinja whimpered as she shivered.

Waking up a bit, Janetta scooted closer to Zinja's front. "She says she doesn't need an orgasm. But if you give her your cock, I think she will come for you, Ranji."

"Maybe she'll come for both of us," I said, grazing my teeth along Zinja's bare shoulder.

"She was so good to me earlier. Licking my pussy and eating up any of your sperm she found. Like you, she seems to like it when I come on her face." Janetta kissed Zinja. "I fingered her earlier, but I am certain it wasn't enough. Give her your cock, Ranji, while I rub her love pearl. Together, I'm sure we can make her feel loved."

Zinja suddenly twitched, then she lifted her knee, planting the flat of her foot onto the mattress, giving us more access to her center. Zinja moaned as Janetta kissed her.

I moved my hand down Zinja's lean flank, cupping and caressing her tight butt. Then slid my fingers between her heated center from behind. Running my fingers over her soft curls and along her tender folds, I traced along her fragile, soft lips. Brushed gently along the hair covering her hidden treasure. I could feel those damp lips being gently tugged from above as Janetta worked her clit.

The tall, wire-strong woman whimpered between us. As her pussy swelled, her inner lips pushed their way out. Feeling along her heat, my fingers found her liquid arousal seeping out. Probing gently, I stroked her lower lips. Zinja rocked her hips back and forth, the heat in her loins igniting. She rocked her hips, trying to get more contact for her needy pussy.

Feeling and hearing Zinja's panting noises, I grew hard. Withdrawing my hand, I pushed down my underwear, kicking it off. Guiding my erection to her leaking crevice, I pressed against her soft flesh. I parted her lower lips, causing Zinja to gasp. Janetta's hand briefly reached down and caressed my shaft before returning to rub around Zinja's clit.

"There he is, with his mushroom knob, and long, thick cock. Feel him going in, Zinja?" Janetta asked her. "He's going to open you all the way up. Make you stretch open wide for his pleasure. Make you take his cock deep, bury himself to the root inside your pussy. He's going deeper, isn't he? Feel that hot, thick bar of flesh of his sliding further inside, filling all those special empty places."

I moved my hips lower to enable more penetration, setting one hand along the vee of her groin, keeping her there while I probed into her wet, snug sheath. Janetta's hand lightly moved along our connection. I withdrew until only my crown remained, and then pushed back into her folds. Moisture spread, and each stroke became easier and easier. Feeling Janetta's wet fingers tantalize along my balls caused me to push harder into Zinja. Zinja groaned in approval.

"Do you love me?" Janetta asked Zinja between kisses.

"By all the gods, yes!" Zinja moaned. "I love you, Captain!"

I began a slow thrusting into Zinja's slick sheath while playing with her sensitive breast. Janetta's fingers continued her circular motion around Zinja's nubbin of joy.

Janetta slowly kissed her. "I'm glad you love me, Zinja. A sergeant should love her officer."

"Yes, I do," she husked out.

"Good. I love you, too, Zinja. Do you love Ranji?"

She moaned, her voice shaky. "Yes, Captain."

"Does he make you glad you're a woman? Sliding his big cock inside your tight, wet pussy?"

"Gods, yes!"

Zinja met my movements with her rocking hips, pushing back to envelop my shaft within her heated, slick folds. I could already feel my balls beginning to tighten.

"Not going to last long," I grunted. "Gods, you feel good, Zinja. So hot and tight!"

"Hear that, Zinja? Ranji loves your pussy. He loves it so much he's going to fill your pussy with his cum straight from his hard cock. Think of it! No, not a cock. Rather, an injector rod, spraying all his hot, sticky seed deep inside your womb. Using his cum to mark you as his woman. Just like he marked me earlier. You wear his neckerchief. Are you his woman, Zinja?"

"Yes, Captain. I'm his woman," she whimpered.

"Are you going to come for us?"

"Oh... yes!"

My cock was pumping faster into her depths, plunging into her heat, nearly pulling free, then driving back into to her core, the frisking of my shaft within her folds a wet, squishy sound.

"Tell him you're his woman, Zinja!"

My hips slapped more firmly into her backside.

"I'm your woman, Commander! Yours! Ahhh!"

Janetta used her mouth to flick Zinja's engorged nipple, then lightly bit down. Zinja arched back into me, hissing with ecstasy. Then I felt her pussy suddenly convulse around my length. Pulling her hips flush to mine, my cock and balls answered. I swelled within her undulating walls and exploded, shooting out pulse after hot sticky pulse, coating her intimate depths with my essence.