Walker Brigade - Book of Incidents

Bam, all of a sudden the image of her writhing under me in a bunk burst into my head. We were both screaming our lust and passion into each other's mouths as we kissed. The next thing I knew I was laying on the floor looking up at Becky bent over me.

"What the hell happened to you? You're not that drunk, are you?" She was trying to pull me up into my chair.

"No, I don't think so," was all I could say as I sat back in my chair shaking my head to clear it of the image that had seemed so real.

"Then what the hell happened to you, Chief?" Becky's concern was apparent.

"I have no idea. I was sitting here and all of a sudden, this image popped into my head. Then I was on the floor. What the fuck?"

"What image, Chief? What did you see?" Now she was frowning.

Should I tell her? What would she think of me? Damn, what the hell was going on? This had never happened to me before, not with any woman.

"Uh, I saw you and me in bed having sex, that's what I saw. Why I saw it, I have no idea." I was looking her in the eye to gauge her reaction to what I said. She didn't even flinch, just stared right back at me.

"Sorry, Chief." It was a whisper, barely audible. What the fuck did she mean 'sorry'? Sorry for what?

"What do you have to be sorry about? I was the one daydreaming about you." I didn't know what I was thinking right now.

"No Chief, it wasn't you. It was me, that's what I was thinking about...damn."

"What?" It was all I could say.

"I should have told you when I reported for duty, but I was afraid you would down check me, and I wouldn't get to go on this mission." What the hell was she talking about now?

"Chief, I'm a broadcaster, a hyperspace broadcaster."

"What?" It still made no sense. I had never heard of a hyperspace broadcaster.

"I'm a telepath but only while we are in hyperspace. I don't receive, only broadcast and not far, just a few hundred feet, and only to the person I'm thinking about. So, it's not a general broadcast. I should have told you. I'm sorry." She was holding her head in her hands. Her hands were just as beautiful as the rest of her.

"Becky, stop it. Think about the hydro circuit on a walker for a few minutes." The image in my head was gone. Now I could think, but what to do about her? She was a good second. She knew what she was doing with a walker too, two pluses. But could we survive ten hours of her thoughts? I mean, could I survive? Should I have her sedated for the trip?

"Chief, maybe you should have me sedated until we drop out of hyper." Was she sure she couldn't read the thoughts of others?

"Let me think here a minute. We have a lot to do in the next nine hours, and I need your help. Without you, we won't be ready to disembark." She nodded at each point. "Now, how do we keep you from daydreaming while you work alongside me?"

"Or, how do you cope with the images in my mind about you? What about other troopers? If my mind wanders and I start to think of them, and they are within a hundred feet, they might think they are going crazy." She looked frightened.

"We'll just have to keep you so busy you won't have time to daydream," was all I could come up with for now.

"But, most of the stuff we have to do I could do in my sleep, I don't even have to think about it, I've done it so many times already. So, to pass the time, I have this habit of daydreaming."

An image popped into my head, Becky and I were running naked down a beach somewhere. I was dizzy and could feel myself start to reel. Shaking my head, I held up my hand to get Becky to stop.

"Oh, shit. I'm sorry, Chief. I just can't help my self. I'm also a sex-a-holic; I can't stop thinking about it unless I really concentrate. That's why I volunteered to join a mixed squad." She was on the verge of crying. This was just what I needed in my squad, a goddamn nymphomaniac lusting after all the men on board ship. Shit. What the fuck was I to do?

"Chief, I'm sorry," she said again, as she leaned over, wrapped her arms around me and gave me the hottest kiss I have ever received. She was trying to get her tongue down my throat while her hand tried to push my shorts down around my knees.

"Second!" I shouted, pushing her away from me. "Stand at attention."

"Chief," she snapped to, at my order. Tears started to well up in her eyes.

"Second! What seems to be your problem? Focus. Focus on the mission. Is that clear?" I was not quite shouting at the top of my lungs, but pretty damned close.

"Chief, yes Chief. I'll try, Chief." She was now red with embarrassment but still turned on as her nipples were poking out under her tee shirt. Just then the all clear sounded. This meant that the squad would be reporting to the walker bays for final check and prep.

"Now Becky we have work to do. Keep your mind on the job and only the job. If I even think you're starting to daydream, I'll have the ships doctor sedate you for the duration. Clear?" I had to be stern, no time for fooling around right now, maybe later, but not now. What was I thinking again? Geez, this broad is really getting to me.

"Now report to the walker bay to begin final check and prep, is that clear?"

"Yes, Chief." She turned and walked away. It was hard not to look at her perfect ass as it swayed away from me. Shit, I was getting excited. Knock it off Chief, I had to admonish myself as I followed Becky to the bay for another twelve hours of work.

* * * Becky Latham

Damn, it was difficult while in hyper to concentrate on the job at hand. But, I had to, just so I would be able to stay with my team and the squad. The Chief had finally found out about my secret. He was such a...think about the job Becky.

The Chief found out the hard way. Fell off his chair in the lounge. It probably was a little disorientating, to see images in your head that aren't yours. He was really pissed at me for not telling him up front, and had ordered me to think of nothing but work or he would have me sedated. The fact that he needed me to help with the prep for arrival at three-four-alpha-nine was probably the only reason he didn't have me sedated.

Damn, keep your mind on the work, Latham. It was hard to do with that hunk of a man standing so close to me.

"Ouch!" I yelled, grabbing the back of my head.

"Mind on the business at hand Second," he told me.

"Aye, Chief." My mind must have wandered there for a second.

Ok, mind on work...mind on work...mind on work.

3.2.0093/5

* * * Max Jones

The landing on three-four-alpha-nine went off without a hitch. The local colonial marines had already secured the area in which we landed. They had managed to keep the M'roby out of a thousand-mile perimeter centered on the spaceport. As I broke my squad off the formation and headed toward our barrack assignment, Becky came up alongside me.

"Chief, I want to apologize for what I put you through in hyper. I don't know why I was fixated on you like that," she said sheepishly.

"No problem, Second." I thought formality would be the best way to handle this from now on.

"Right Chief," she snapped off, although I detected a little hurt in her voice. She moved off to pick up her fire team.

"Alright, listen up. Squad formation at sixteen hundred, mission parameter assimilation at sixteen thirty, now hustle on over to chow. Dismissed," I snapped to the squad after they had stowed their gear and walkers. We were moving out the next morning for a routine patrol, whatever that was. Never been on one in the last, what was it now, twenty-five years of service.

Becky fell in beside me as I made my way over to chow. She didn't say a word, just walked with me as if everything was normal. I had to say this for her, she was a good second, knew her job and did it well, knew several other jobs as well. I was glad to have her, but we would have to work something out before our next hyper-jump. I don't think I could take another one with her awake. It was all I could do to keep from dragging her off to some secluded spot.

Keep your mind on the job Chief, I told myself silently, on the job.

* * * Becky Latham

The landing on three-four-alpha-nine went smooth as silk. We had our gear and walkers stowed in time for lunch, local time. Walking to chow with the Chief, I let my mind wander where it wanted since no one but I would know what I was thinking. It was such a relief not to have to keep focused.

As I walked with the Chief, my mind was full of images of him and me in his bunk. The thoughts were so delicious and stimulating, I wanted to jump him right here. I knew I would have to wait for the right time though, a time when he would be unlikely to tell me no.

When we arrived at the chow hall, we sat with the rest of the squad and watched the Marines around us. They ate with the zealous attitude of a pack of carnivorous voles. The Marines here were on leave from the front line. Big hulking piles of meat that relished life every minute of the day they were alive. It was fun watching them haze the newbie's and the old-timers alike.

After eating, the Chief and I walked with the squad back to the squad bay for mission parameters assimilation. Once the Chief was done going over the patrol parameters he went to his quarters and closed the door. I stuck around the lounge and watched a little tri-d with the rest of the squad.

When lights out sounded, I was surprised. I jumped up and went to bed.

3.3.0093/6

* * * Max Jones

We were patrolling an area twenty miles square just behind the colonial marine's lines, looking for M'roby infiltrators. We had been out here for eight hours with no sign of M'roby anywhere. Two more hours and we could head for the barracks and some hot chow. Field rations are ok, but nothing beats hot food in a tired body. The fact that we could all catch a hot shower was just icing on the cake.

"Contact bearing oh-oh-niner degrees," the team three, sensor-scout shouted.

"Team Three, Team Two, converge on contact bearing oh-oh-niner degrees from Three-Three's position. Team One hold your pattern. Second Latham, keep me updated," I shouted as I continued on my search pattern.

"Aye, Chief," Becky replied.

"Contact bearing two-seven-oh degrees," sensor-scout Barr shouted. That was behind us at the current time.

"Team One converge on contact at two-seven-oh degrees." I wheeled around and headed for the contact. Flipping down my distance viewer, I cranked up the magnification. There were four M'roby running like crazy, two miles in front of us. They were coming our way.

"Team One slow to one-half speed. Contacts are headed right at us."

"Chief, our contact is a marine transport headed for the port."

"Aye, Second. Get your team turned around and headed our way, we have four M'roby comin' at us."

"Aye, Chief. Team Three turn bearing two-seven-oh degree true, converge on Team One's position three-quarters speed."

They would be here in a hurry; just about the time, we made contact with the M'roby. The M'roby looked like they were in a hurry to die. They were coming at us at full speed. Maybe they thought they could just blow right through us. Probably thought we were colonial marines.

"Team One stop and cover, wait for my signal to open fire. They are coming at us fast so let your automatic gun sights take control." I stopped and stepped behind a waist-high boulder, flipping my guns to auto-sight. All six started tracking, following my eye movements.

"Chief, we're two klicks away," Becky said, letting me know, where they were.

"Roger. Team One open fire." The noise was deafening until the noise dampers kicked in. Plasma bolt, particle beams, and collapsed aluminum shot out towards the M'roby. Our weapons turned all four to vapor in an instant.

"Weapons on safe, all troops weapons on safe..." Didn't want any accidents, although they're not supposed to be able to fire on friendly troops, better cautious than dead.

Becky's team showed up just as the smoke was clearing. Charred M'roby remains were scattered all over the plain.

"Team Two, begin sweeps on two-five-oh through two-nine-oh half speed. Execute."

"Westerboc take over the team for me. Sweep one-eight-oh through Two-four-nine, half speed."

"Aye, Chief. Team One, you heard the man, move it out." And my team was gone, leaving me with Team Three, to sort through this mess.

"So, this is what happens to them when you hit 'em with everything you have?" Becky was joking I knew, but her squadmates didn't. They looked a little uncomfortable. Being green themselves, they may have thought Becky was a newbie too. All except for Ernie who was grinning like a Cheshire cat as he scanned the area.

"You see any weapons?" I was looking around and couldn't find a single weapon among the mess on the ground.

"No, I don't. You don't suppose these were civilians?"

Good question, are there such things as M'roby civilians? Don't know, I'm just a lowly Chief Warrant Officer, they don't tell me much.

"Don't know. Maybe they thought we were Marines." I kept scanning for any signs of weapons or ammunition.

"Okay, Latham, get your team on a sweep, oh-nine-oh through one-eight-oh half speed. Execute."

"Aye, Chief. "You heard the man, move it," she bawled to her troopers. "Barr, I want full power sweeps, understand?"

"Aye, Sec."

I stood and surveyed the ground where we had just blown four M'roby to vapor. Well not quite vapor, but close to it. There was a green haze covering everything in a hundred-meter circle, and little bits and pieces of exoskeleton scattered about. Well if they all went down this easily, why the fuck did the marines need help?

* * * Becky Latham

Our patrol didn't last too much longer after running into those M'roby. The Chief and I spent about an hour together after the patrol writing up the After Action Report, which would be forwarded to the Company Commander.

Being this close to him was causing me some problems, but I hoped I could manage. He was so, so, so hunky. All I know is that I wanted him, wanted him bad. He caused my insides to churn with desire. I was determined to get him into my bed and into me as soon as I possibly could.

After lights out, I lay in bed thinking about him and came to the decision I would bed him the next night, come hell or high water.

I drifted off to sleep with thoughts of him and me together.

3.4.0093/3

* * * Max Jones

Today we had a rest day, nothing to do but equipment checks, but that wouldn't take all day. We were in the walker bay cleaning, polishing and fixing our walkers when the alert sounded.

"All hands break through section four-four-oh, nine hundred klicks. All hands, man your battle stations. All hands, man your battle stations. This is not a drill."

"All right, you heard the man, suit up we have some M'roby to fight," I yelled across the bay. It would take us twenty minutes to suit up, but that was our battle station.

"Chief, Team Three, up and ready," Becky called out eighteen minutes later. My team was all suited up just waiting for me to call out the ready.

"Team One, up and ready," I barked. We had actually beaten them by one minute, but I felt it wasn't good leadership if my team was always first.

"Chief, Team Two, up and ready," Akers called out.

"Zulu One, Echo One, up and ready," I yelled on the all-com to my company commander.

"Roger, Echo One. Standby for orders." was the response I received.

"Roger, standing by." I switched back to squad-com. "Standby."

We waited. You could wait a long time in a walker with armor on, or just armor for that matter. We waited and waited. Becky would be listening on all-com for orders from higher up. Meanwhile, I listened on squad-com for chatter. There was none. Each trooper was busy going over data on the terrain between here and the breakthrough. I had a good squad; even the green troops knew their job.

"Chief!" Becky shouted as she switched in all-com.

"All hands stand down. The breakthrough has been turned back. Repeat. All hands stand down." The com went silent.

"Becky, squad-com," I heard the click. "Echo Squad, stand down. Power down and rack your walkers." The team leads repeated the orders, and the whole squad backed into their racks and powered down.

After we racked our walkers, I gave the squad the rest of the day off, subject to alerts. After everyone had headed back to the squad bay, I headed out myself. As I approached my room, I noticed the door was open. I know I hadn't left it open; it must be one of the squad members wanting to talk about something.

I pushed the door open and was surprised to see Becky lying on my bunk, boots off and jumpsuit undone. I could see the soft curve of her breast as she lounged on her side facing the door. I was stunned, to say the least. I hurriedly closed the door.

"Second." I hoarsely whisper. She just lay there smiling at me. "Becky, what the hell do you think you doing?" I whispered.

"You are going to make love me whether you like it or not. I can't stand it anymore. I need to feel you inside my body before I go crazy," she said as she shrugged out of the top of her jumpsuit, bringing her breast into full view.

"You're crazy! I can't do this, and neither can you. Now, get dressed and get out." She was up off my bunk and her jumpsuit dropped to her ankles. Damn, she was beautiful. I could smell her musk across the room.

"You," she started toward me, kicking off her jumpsuit, "are going to take me, do you understand? No ifs, ands, or buts, is that clear, Chief?" She was right up against me. She reached up, grabbed me by the neck, and pulled my lips to hers. I don't know what came over me, but I kissed her back, shoving my tongue into her mouth to duel with hers.

* * * Becky Latham

I woke a little while after I had drifted off to sleep in Max's arms. I don't know what had awakened me, but I couldn't get back to sleep. Max was mumbling as he slept. He was also twitching a bit. Maybe it was his restlessness that had awakened me. I lay there listening to him breath as he slept. God, he had been good for me. Now maybe I could calm down and not be in such turmoil, I was just glad that he hadn't noticed. But I had needed him so, since before we had met.

Turning my head I watched as his eyes flickered in REM. I should be asleep, but I was too hyped up. Besides, I liked watching him sleep. True, we had a patrol in the morning, and I would need my rest, but I was feeling those urges again as I watched him.

Turning away from him, I closed my eyes forcing sleep to come. That sweet blanket of darkness was soon rolling over me.

3.5.0093/8

* * * Max Jones

"Echo One, bearing four-five true, contacts one-five-oh klicks," Becky called out on the all-com.

"Hold positions, let 'em come to us." We had known they were coming. The break out had happened while we were on patrol in the breakout sector of the marines lines. We were currently two hundred klicks behind the Marines, waiting in a good defensible position. The word was that there was fifty M'roby on the way; we were a squad of twelve.

"Contacts bearing four-five true, one-zero-zero klicks." She was good; we would get reports from her right up until they got here.

"Echo Squad, weapons up, auto-gun-sights on. Get your bearings sorted out. Becky, give me a range every ten klicks."

"Aye, Chief, eight-zero klicks."

"Seven-zero klicks."

"Seven-zero klicks. They seem to have stopped, Chief." They were only a hundred klicks from the breakout point. What the hell were they doing?

"Roger, Sec. Keep an eye on them and give me command-com." I needed to report to HQ.

"C-com online," Becky called out.

"Echo One, contacts have stopped. Repeat, contacts have stopped. Should we go get 'em?"

"Wait one, Echo One." That means there are no officers in the com-center, crap.