0 comments/  12011 views/  16 favorites

Death in the Desert

By: TE999



Major Barbara was dead before she hit the ground; the .50 caliber slug passing through her Kevlar helmet, helmet liner, skull and brain tissue as easily as a swallow's darting flight. First Lieutenant Zoe ducked behind the charred hulk of a Honda, hearing muffled sobs behind her as Kay Company sought cover in Las Cruces' ruins. 'Must be Tech Sergeant Nancy' she thought as more shots hummed above their heads. The women had been lovers since the major was given command seven months ago. 

'This goddamn town was declared secure', Zoe fumed, seeking a target for her M4A1 carbine and finding none, 'Fucking HQ fucked up again'.

The comm implant in her mastoid bone blipped and PFC Janice said "Shots coming from that office building to our left, ma'am, twelfth story, that row of broken windows."

Zoe keyed into Staff Sgt. Maureen's frequency. "Maureen, it's Zoe, put some explosive rounds through those broken windows on the high rise to our left."

"Yes, ma'am"

'Tactactactac ... tactactactactac ...THOOOMP!!'

The bank of windows erupted in gouts of smoke and flame and bodies spiraled outward to disappear in the rubble below. 

First Sergeant Harriet's comm clicked through "Must'a had ammo stored up there. You're in command, Zoe. How do we proceed?"

Zoe swore under her breath, this was the second time this month her senior officers had been taken out and she was in charge. Captain Angela had triggered a Bouncing Betty mine during the mop up in Tucson, spilling her guts on the ground, now this shit. New West Point had been processing and promoting ninety day wonders as fast as it was feasible, but what they needed were officers with combat experience, not some chick wet behind the ears all gung ho to kill Sunnies.

She keyed the six platoon leader's frequencies "This is Zoe. Six troopers on point, the rest single file on both sides of the street. Stay close to the buildings. No firing unless fired upon."

A chorus of "Yes, ma'am's" was the response.

They traversed the city's center meeting no resistance. Frightened faces peered out from doorways and windows, saw cammies not drab brown uniforms and began to offer cans of food and soft drinks to the passing troopers, all of which were politely refused. Those still inhabiting the partially ruined city needed all the supplies they could find, but the gesture was appreciated.

As they moved along, Lance Corporal Margie said "Why'd the Major pull a rookie stunt like breaking cover under fire, ma'am? It's almost like she wanted to die."

"I think she did. Ever since that bubble brained cunt at HQ let it slip that her baby sister had been killed in the final assault on El Paso, Barb began acting strange. Doc Anita told her she should relinquish command and head for the rear for some R and R, but she wouldn't hear of it."

"Hera only knows who her replacement will be," Margie replied. "Maybe it'll be you, ma'am."

"Just what I need," Zoe snorted, "Another goddamn bar and the privilege of wrangling these grunts through another offensive. All I wanna do is put in my time and get back to my gardens. Why the fuck I took ROTC instead of PE in college I'll never know. Oh yeah, I hated PE."

Her comm bleeped "Looks to be the municipal airfield up ahead, Lieutenant, might be a good place to bivouac for the night. It has a good field of fire and seems easy to defend."

Zoe's helmet heads-up indicated it was one of the troops on point, one PFC Alice, a new addition to the company fresh from the repple-depple. She had previous combat experience and would be wearing corporal's stripes soon, if she lived that long.

"Affirmative, Alice. You and the others recce the site and make sure it's secure."

"We're on it, Ma'am."

She shifted to Second Lieutenant Millie's frequency "Millie, I need a bird over that airport up ahead."

"Affirmative," there was a pause, then "Bird aloft, image available ... now," an aerial view of the airport grounds appeared on Zoe's heads-up.

Millie's 'birds' were, in fact, remote controlled drones approximately the body size and wingspan of a Red Tailed Hawk. Constructed of titanium and high impact translucent sheet polymer film, each carried two video cameras with infinite focus lenses. Utilizing twin propellers, front and rear and powered by NiCAD batteries and solar power cells, the 'birds' could remain aloft for hours, relaying real time information to the control station on the ground. Millie joked that if an enemy would yawn, she could tell what they'd had for their last meal. 

Zoe keyed the six platoon leader's frequencies again, "We're going to bivouac on the airfield up ahead in the grassy area between the runways. Establish a defense perimeter; tent bubbles in concentric circles, aid station and cook shack in the center. Bring the AAPC's up and let's get rolling."

"Yes, ma'am" came the response.

***

After chow, Zoe crawled inside her bubble tent, stripped down and cleaned herself with moist wipes. What she wouldn't do for a long soak in a hot bath; fat chance of that happening anytime soon. Maybe when they reached Fort Bliss ...

"Hey Zoe, you decent?" said a familiar voice outside the tent. It was Doc Anita.

"Nope, c'mon in."

A tall, thin woman with a shock of auburn hair and firm, uptilted breasts wearing only olive drab skivvie shorts crawled into the tent saying "Damn shame what happened to Barbara. I told her she was losing it, but being the stubborn bitch she was she ignored me. It was her tough shit."

Zoe nodded; she and Anita had been fast friends with benefits since Kay Company had been formed. Anita had never been to medical school, but was drafted into the Med Corps when the crap hit the fan. Since she was in her fourth year of Veterinary College, she was given meatball med training, a Warrant Officer rank and sent to patch up the grunts. She always said her time in Veterinary school wasn't completely wasted because she was still doctoring pussies.

"A shot of red eye, doc?" Zoe said, producing a bottle of Seagram's VO from her knapsack.

"Don't mind if I do." She took a swig from the bottle, swished it around in her mouth, swallowed and smacked her lips. "Damn, that's good. Why can't every town have liquor stores that haven't been destroyed or looted?"

"War's hell, Anita; say, have you tried any of that depilatory cream that came up with the last supply convoy?"

"Yep, gave me a rash. I'll stay hairy, thanks."

"Thanks for the warning. Any wounded?"

"Penny lost a chunk off her left bicep, but that's it."

"Good deal. We're short a dozen troopers as it is and she can still fire a weapon."

"Lance Corporal Betty requesting entry to the lieutenant's quarters, ma'am" came a voice outside the tent.

Anita grinned "Three's a crowd, babe. I'm gone. I hope Cookie has some coffee left." She and Betty exchanged salutations and Betty crawled in the tent, a blanket around her. She was naked underneath. The women embraced, and then lay back together.

Zoe nuzzled the blonde's neck and purred "That was some shootin' Annie."

Betty was a member of Millie's heavy machine gun squad. She could field strip and reassemble a Browning .50 caliber blindfolded and had a natural shooters eye.

"Annie? Who's Annie?" Betty said, cupping Zoe's breast.

"A sharpshootin' woman in the old west, she could shoot a cigar from a man's mouth at thirty paces."

"Mmmm ... I usually hit what I shoot at," Betty sighed as Zoe fingered her pussy. She rolled Zoe on her back and slid between her legs. "It's show time, beautiful."

Zoe moaned appreciatively as her cunt was licked and sucked by her blonde lover. Betty adored how Zoe's pussy tasted and ate it like a starving wolf. Wanting to give her lover even more pleasure, she pushed a moist finger into Zoe's asshole and began frigging it.

"Ahhh ... fuck ... I love your tongue," Zoe gasped. "Yeah ... that's it ... right there ... suck it ... fuck my ass ...ngghhh!"

Zoe crushed Betty's face into her gushing cunt, Betty swallowing the warm juices that filled her mouth, not wanting to spill a drop. She ate Zoe to another orgasm, and then slid up to exchange soul kisses, her face sticky with cum.

"My turn," Zoe growled getting Betty into position, head on the blanket, knees bent, hips in the air and began to feast on her pussy and asshole.

Betty grabbed handfuls of the blanket as Zoe's tongue worked into her puckered hole and her hand frigged the blonde's clit.

"Nnnnn ... yeahhh ... eat my asshole, baby ... fuck me ... make me cum."

Zoe ate Betty's asshole; licking and sucking furiously while she slid her hand into the gasping woman's gooey cunt and began to fist fuck her.

Betty's senses were overloading as her holes were worked over by her sexy lover. Her orgasm hit like a thunderbolt and she erupted, screaming in pleasure, onto Zoe's hand; spraying cum onto her arm and bobbing breasts. Zoe fucked her into another orgasm and eased her to the blanket where they cuddled in the afterglow.

"I love you Zoe," Betty murmured as they shared tender kisses. 

"I love you too, baby," Zoe replied, a tear coursing down her cheek. She'd sworn to never care for another woman again after what happened to Sharon, but then she met Betty and what the hell, they might as well try to find happiness in the midst of all this death. Betty spooned against Zoe's back and they slept.

***

Before sunrise, Kay Company moved out in their Hover Armored Personnel Carriers, supported by four Perseus IV Hover Tanks that had arrived quite unexpectedly during the night. As usual, fucking HQ was offline, hence no notification, but Zoe was glad for the fire support. Their rail guns could destroy anything armored or otherwise and their quad .50's could do the mopping up.

The Sunnies had a lot of armor, all captured tracked equipment they couldn't always operate effectively, but they were learning fast and could still do considerable damage with it.

Millie's birds flew ahead of the column with a point squad ranging behind them on hover bikes; the troopers taking turns riding in and on the HAPC's. 

Barbara had 'liberated' an AeroKar from an abandoned dealership outside of Las Cruces, painted it in desert camouflage and rode in style. Now it was Zoe's turn to ride with Margie at the wheel.

"Hey Zoe, want a lift?"

She looked up to see a familiar ebony face grinning at her from the commander's hatch on the lead Perseus tank. "Sue Lynn? Where the hell have you been, woman?"

"Hop on, I'll tell ya all about it."

Zoe scrambled up the chain ladder First Lieutenant Sue Lynn tossed down. They kissed and hugged, then Zoe seated herself on the turret and they began their conversation. She and Sue Lynn had first met at the military processing center at Indianapolis, went through boot, were cadets together, had become lovers and remained fast friends. After graduating from New West Point as newly minted 'butter bars', Sue had been assigned to armor and Zoe to the infantry. They saw each other whenever they could.

"My division was up to its keester in Sunnies last week when we retook Phoenix," Sue said. "They'd captured seven batteries of Hellfire's, several 105mm howitzers, a shitload of RPG's and put up quite a fight. I lost some friends that day. We were sent to the rear for R&R and an upgrade on the rail gun sights, then my commander said 'You' and here we are. We still headed for Fort Bliss?"

"Far as I know," Zoe replied. "How Bliss held out for so long when the Sunnies came over the border, I'll never know. I think they were down to eating Road Runners and horny toads before a relief column broke through and we'd pushed the bastards back to Juarez."

"They were low on ammo too," Sue said. "If the Sunnies had any heavy armor or assault troops worth a damn, they would have been royally fucked. That human wave shit only works so often."

The tank whined past an HAPC and a blonde trooper riding on it waved at them. It was Betty. Zoe waved back and blew her a kiss.

"That your latest squeeze?" Sue asked, poking Zoe in the ribs, "She's a looker, babe."

"I honest to God love her," Zoe replied, "And she loves me. She makes me happy."

"Awww, and here I thought I was your woman," Sue cracked, earning an affectionate punch in the shoulder from Zoe.

"You'll always be my best friend with benefits," Zoe said. "What say we get drunk and screw once we get to Bliss, I need to unwind after all this bullshit."

"It's a date ..." Sue began. Zoe's comm bleeped and Millie said "We've got a column of Sunnies headed our way; looks to be about two hundred fifty or so. They've got twelve pieces of tracked armor, fourteen armored Humvees with chain guns, six track mounted SMAW rocket launchers and some MAAWS recoilless rifles mounted on flatbed trucks. Troops are riding on the flatbeds too and there are more riding in canvas topped six-by trucks."

"What the fuck ... this area's supposed to be secured. Where the hell did they come from?"

"I dunno, lemme ask 'em," Millie chuckled, "Anyways they're here."

"How far out?"

"Nineteen miles, moving at a leisurely pace and rather disorganized as usual. Nancy's hoverbike patrol's staying well out in front and checking out any sites the birds see as being good for an ambush."

"Good job, Millie. Buzz me if you see any good sites."

"I copy, Zoe, Millie out."

"What's up?" Sue asked. 

"Sunnies, around two hundred fifty or so with tracked armor and missile launchers about eighteen miles up ahead," Zoe replied. "We're outnumbered about three to one, but odds are we're better armed and trained. The AAPC's armor's not that heavy, but they can put up quite a fight with that dual 30mm cannon turret and grenade launchers."

"We're carrying a good mix of sabot and flechette rounds for the main guns, plus our .50's and we can drop AP canisters off the skirts if we get overrun," Sue said.

Zoe's comm bleeped "Zoe? Millie. The road ahead runs parallel to a string of rock outcrops with an arroyo running through the middle about ten miles ahead. It's a great place for an ambush. If you haul ass I think you'll make it in time."

Zoe and Sue began barking commands into their comm's and the company surged forward, turbines whining.

***

Continued economic uncertainty, sharply reduced industrial productivity, significant losses of goods and services, chronic unemployment and rampant currency inflation made the mid-21st Century United States increasingly less inclined to continue as the world's policeman, resulting in the overwhelmingly popular Isolationist Movement of 2026. America retreated within it's own borders espousing a policy of neutrality; engaging only in limited trade and commerce, allowing other superpowers to exert their influences on the world. 

In the continuing panoply of world events, few took notice of the emergence of a stealthy and fanatical religious cult in Cambodia calling itself the Oracles of the Sun. Fomenting discord among various countries burgeoning poor populations and then intimidating and subverting their governments, they systematically seized power first over the Pacific Rim nations, then China, the Mid East, Europe, the UK, then South and Central America. By the time the average citizen realized their country was being subjugated, it was much too late. For undetermined reasons, the cult was unable to gain a foothold in Russia, Canada, Sweden, Denmark and Australia which maintained an uneasy peace with the cult and maintained trade agreements with them.

Being isolationist and having limited contact with outsiders, America was also immune to the cult's direct influences. Since the country was rich in minerals, natural resources and cultivated farmland, the Cult Elders decided that more aggressive measures would need to be taken in order to bring that country to heel.

In the halcyon summer of 2039 the Sunnies struck and America never saw it coming. What home defense measures that did exist were geared more toward internal terrorist attacks and far less against any type of Chemical or Biological warfare. When their suicide agents infiltrated thirty-five major cities and population areas across the US and released aerosol containers of Sarin nerve gas, mutated Anthrax, Bubonic Plague, Ebola and synthetic Endocrine Disruption Compound, tens of millions died immediately, others within hours or days.

The EDC aerosol sprays were the most pernicious and debilitating of all the weapons used. The chemicals produced endocrine disruptors that profoundly affected males leaving many of the surviving men with lowered bone mass, increased passivity and morbid weight gain.

With Washington, DC, New York, Baltimore, much of the BosWash Corridor and many other capital cities like Chicago, Phoenix, Denver, Seattle, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami and Los Angeles virtually cleared of all life, state capitols and military installations were the only organized governmental bodies still able to function. In the resulting confusion, the surviving population of the United States was caught off guard when the Sunnies attacked en masse over the Mexican border in vast human waves driving all before them. 

The suddenness and rapidity of the attack overwhelmed any initial resistance and the attackers penetrated deeply into the South Western and Middle West states, finally being stopped at the Mississippi River to the east, the Grand Canyon/Colorado River to the west and the North Platte River to the North bypassing numerous pockets of resistance in their desire to conquer as much territory as possible. 

The remnants of the elected officials and personnel of the national government gathered together in Bismarck, ND declaring it the new capital of the US. As the Assistant Secretary of Commerce was the sole survivor of the national governments hierarchy, she was named de facto President until elections could be held once again.

Then began the arduous job of creating an offensive force to counterattack and repel the invaders. The immediate problem in raising an army was the lack of physically capable males. Thus the armed services were compelled, despite objections from senior male officers, to initiate the training of women for combat roles. Soon, entire battalions of female warriors were taking to the field to fight the enemy.

***

Engines roaring and popping, the forward scouts of the Sunnie force traveling on mountain bikes thundered along the road past the rock-strewn arroyo, weapons at the ready. Many troops in the oncoming force were more skilled in combat than the usual Sunnie volunteers and conscripts; many being veterans of the San Antonio and Dallas-Ft. Worth campaigns where they had acquired many of their weapons. 

Giving a cursory look around and seeing nothing amiss, they headed back to the advancing column of troops and vehicles to report to their commanders. High above them one of Millie's birds watched their every move.

SPC Helen looked up from her field computer screen and said to Zoe "Looks like they bought it, ma'm."

Zoe breathed a sigh of relief. It had taken them longer than expected to reach the arroyo as one of the HAPC's had fouled its right rear impeller blade which slowed them down. They barely had time to conceal themselves before the Sunnie scouts appeared. The troops were crouched behind boulders, while the tanks and HAPC's had, by reversing their impellers, burrowed into the soft sand of the dry stream bed until only their turrets were showing. Lowering their gun barrels, their camouflage made them almost invisible.

"All units," Zoe barked into her mic, "We only have a short time until they come back. Hold fire until the scouts have cleared the other end of the boulders and most of their heavy stuff is between us. Take out the armor first, then the launchers, then the Humvees, then the trucks. Pour it on until nothing moves. We have one chance, so make every shot count."


Death in the Desert Ch. 02



Sipping disconsolately at her bowl of thin soup, Captain Zoe wondered for the nth time how long she had been a prisoner of the Sunnie Army. Without a window or any other outside light source, it was impossible to determine how much time had passed. The gloomy cell and the isolation were beginning to wear her down and she felt even more defeated every day. She had not seen a living soul since her interrogation by Shivani and her cohorts and her ribs were still tender from where she'd been kicked. 

A greater pain was in her heart knowing that the woman she loved had gone over to the enemy and betrayed her. She wondered if Shivani had been an enemy agent all along and had played her for a fool. Finishing the last of the soup, she placed the tin bowl by a slot at the bottom of the cell door where it would be retrieved and, after an interval, be refilled and slid back in. She hadn't had anything else to eat and was already feeling weaker from the poor diet and no exercise. Why didn't they just kill her and get it over with?

The sound of footsteps in the hall roused her from her gloomy reverie and she cried out in surprise when the cell door crashed open; the harsh light from the fluorescent bulbs lining the ceiling making her momentarily blind. She was lifted roughly from where she sat, placed on a gurney and wheeled briskly through a maze of hallways by two armed guards wearing surgical masks.

They finally stopped at a door that swung open at their approach, wheeled in and left there, the door closing behind her. Disoriented, she sat up and looked around. She was in what appeared to be an examination room, with various diagnostic machines, trays of instruments and rows of cabinets lining one wall. The walls, floor and ceiling were painted a soft green and various posters diagramming parts of the human body hung on the walls.

Abruptly a door opened and a figure dressed in surgical greens, masked, gloved and wearing a head covering strode into the room and said gruffly "Remove your clothing. I must examine you for diseases." Zoe dismounted from the gurney, slowly removed her now ragged uniform and stood naked as the person looked on impassively, then turned, took several instruments from a cart and began the examination, probing her various orifices and looking into her eyes and ears with a bright light. Zoe bore the examination with as much dignity as she could muster while seething inside wanting to punch this person out.

Zoe was startled when the person removed their gloves, turned her around, pressed against her back and began fondling her breasts and pussy. "What the fuck ..." Zoe began, in no mood to be assaulted.

"It's good to see you again, Zoe," said a familiar voice.

Zoe looked around to see that the masked and gowned figure was, in fact, Doc Anita who kissed her on the lips, then said, "You're looking hot, babe."

"Hera's tits!" Zoe exclaimed and they kissed and hugged happily. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I'm a prisoner like you. When the Sunnies found out I was a doctor, they put me to work in the hospital. When I found out you were here too, I asked to examine you saying you might have an infectious disease."

"Where were you captured? Did anyone else make it?"

"Yep, There's eight of us here that I know of. Shivvie's trying to find any others, but so far no luck."

"Shivvy? You mean Shivani that traitorous cunt? If I get near her I'm gonna kill her."

"You got it wrong, Zoe, she saved all our lives. She's a hero and she's risking her life mixing with the Sunnies while we figure out how to escape."

"I'm so fuckin' confused," Zoe said, "I thought she'd sold us out when she came into my cell all decked out in a Sunnie uniform spouting their garbage. She even let those goons beat on me."

"It couldn't be helped, babe. She had to see if you were okay and yet keep up a front so the Sunnies would believe her story."

"So what happened that you guys were captured and how did Shivani save you?"

"I'll explain in a minute. Here, put this exam robe on and sit down over there at that table. You want anything to eat?"

"What'cha got? All I've had is some soup."

"Hold on a minute." She went to the door, opened it, shouted something in a language Zoe didn't recognize, shut it and rejoined her at the small table.

"It's quite a tale," she began. "Shivvy and I were the only ones left alive when the HAPC we were in took a direct hit. We finally got out of the wreck and were wondering what to do next when Sue Lynn, Harriet and Wanda showed up. They'd been wandering around, found each other, then heard us talking and came over. We found Gloria, Margie and Janice, but no one else. The rest of the Company must have fought their way out and retreated or were KIA and in the wreckage."

"So how did Shivani save you guys?"

"It was the damndest thing. While we were out looking for survivors, she found a dead Sunnie officer without a mark on her. We figured it was a concussion. Shivvy stripped the body and took the gear back to our hideout we'd set up in a damaged HAPC. We knew the Sunnies would be sniffing around looking for survivors, weapons and ammo and we had nothing to fight with except the dead woman's pistol."

"A woman was a Sunnie officer? I thought they thought women weren't fit for anything except cooking, cleaning and breeding."

"We, Shivvy that is, found out later that the Sunnie Army's hurtin' for officers, so they've started offerin' women commissions. They get all the grunts they need, but any guy with brains is hiding out from the conscription sweeps and joining the movement to end the war."

"HQ'd love to hear that. Too bad we can't make contact with those people and get a fifth column thing going in Sunnie territory."

"We're in touch with some of them here that allowed themselves to be conscripted so they could work from inside, but we're both still suspicious of the other, so we're movin' slow."

"So what did Shivani do with the uniform?"

"We kicked some ideas around like finding a serviceable vehicle and making a run for it, but then sure enough the Sunnies came sniffing around, so that idea was out. Shivvy got the idea to put on the uniform and we'd act like her prisoners and let the Sunnies capture us. She convinced them that we were all medics and we'd be more useful dead than alive. They bought it since they're way short on medical staff and here we are."

A knock on the door interrupted Anita's story and she went to see who it was. She returned in a moment carrying a tray with plates of sliced broiled Lamb, couscous, cheese and bread, a jug of water, a glass and silverware. Zoe ate ravenously while Anita continued her story.

"I've taught the others how to administer rudimentary medical treatments so they can get by while we figure out how to get out of here. We don't see much of Shivvy since she's up in officers' country, but she keeps in touch and lets us know what's going on. Words come down that there's a big offensive being planned and we figure that may be the time to make a break for it."

Zoe gobbled the last of the food, leaned back in her chair, belched and said "Damn that was good. Where do we go from here?"

"I'm having you placed in an isolation ward so your infection won't spread. You'll be fed and pretty much left alone. We'll keep you in the loop as to what our plans are."

"Sounds good to me; what's wrong with me anyway?"

"I'm telling 'em you're a Bubonic Plague carrier and you're highly contagious in case anyone comes snooping around. They're scared shitless of infectious diseases. I better get you isolated and get back to work."

They hugged and kissed, then she led Zoe off to a small room containing a bed, a table and chair, a foot locker, a half bath and a curtained window with bars. Zoe stripped, washed up in the sink and lay back on the bed. It certainly beat that damn cell. Soon she was asleep.

***

As the days passed uneventfully, one by one her captive comrades sneaked in to visit her. Hugs, kisses, laughter, tears and mutual affection were the orders of the day during each encounter. They also discussed goings on in the encampment and possible plans for escape. Then one afternoon, a person wearing surgical scrubs, a face mask and a head covering entered the room. Zoe sat up in her bed, wondering who this person was when a familiar voice said "Are you well, my love?"

"Shivani?" Zoe exclaimed.

Removing her mask and head covering, Shivani replied, "Yes, it is I, dear one. I have missed you so."

Zoe sprang from the bed and they embraced, kissing, hugging, falling back on the bed as they removed their clothing until they were naked and shivering with pent up desire. They kissed hungrily, fingering the others pussy until they were sopping wet between their legs, then scissoring together, they began a slow, grinding trib, sighing and moaning.

Given the state of their arousal and joy in being together once more, it wasn't long before they exploded in one orgasm after another until they were exhausted and lay together breathing heavily.

"Gods how I've dreamed of this moment," Shivani said as she rolled atop Zoe's muscular body. 

"Me too," Zoe replied, wrapping her legs around Shivani's and caressing her firm buttocks, "It about killed me when I thought you'd gone over to the enemy."

"I felt every blow when you were struck that day in the cell," Shivani said sadly. "But it was vital that I maintained my masquerade in order to help you and the others."

"You saved us all, baby," Zoe replied, "I'm so damn proud of you."

"You would have done the same for me," Shivani said, kissing her.

"I want to taste you," Zoe purred, squeezing Shivani's butt, "Get up here and hump my face and fill my mouth with your thick, hot cum."

Shivani loved it when Zoe talked rough to her and quickly straddled her lover's head, lowering her gooey cunt onto Zoe's wiggling tongue, sighing in ecstasy as she was eaten out and fingered by the woman she loved.

Zoe was in heaven as Shivani's warm honey filled her mouth as she licked and sucked the woman's labial lips and clit and caressed deep between the sensitive pink walls with her tongue. Shivani's gasps and moans increased in volume and frequency as Zoe brought her ever nearer to a back arching climax. 

She squealed in surprise when Zoe's fingers entered her pussy and puckered star and began frigging her holes while sucking on her throbbing clit. When she climaxed, her vision blurred and she shrieked with joy, grinding her pussy on Zoe's face, cumming again and again, finally rolling off and letting her lover catch her breath.

Zoe gulped and swallowed as much of Shivani's nectar as she could, breathing through her nose and holding her lovers ass cheeks in her strong hands, wanting Shivani to cum and cum as she dissolved in pleasure. She licked the last of the thick juices from her lips and cuddled her lover who lay shivering next to her, mewing from the intensity of her orgasms.

"Gods, that was wonderful," Shivani finally said, "You always make me cum so hard."

"I love making you cum," Zoe said, "You're so responsive when I fuck you."

"Now it's your turn," Shivani said throatily, "I've been dreaming of this moment."

She began to suck on Zoe's stiff nipples, laving them with her tongue, and then kissing her way down over her lover's firm stomach, circled her belly button and then reached her goal, a wonderfully gooey pussy dripping with juices. With a sigh of contentment, she licked and sucked the pink flesh with abandon, savoring the salty juices flowing into her mouth, her lover's moans and groans exciting her even further.

Zoe was losing her mind with lust, Shivani's skilled manipulations of her most sensitive of areas making her tremble and arch her hips, the better to offer her wet cunt to her lovers remorseless tongue. When Shivani pushed three bunched fingers deep inside her and began frigging her, she thought she would pass out from the sensations.

"Oh gods, yes, yeesss, fuck me, fuck me hard!" Zoe squealed and Shivani obliged, pumping her fingers between the pink cunt walls and sucking hard on her lover's engorged clit.

"Yes, yes, don't stop, I'm close, so close, I'm ... Eyeeeeee!" Zoe shrieked as her orgasm shook her like a leaf in the wind, cumming and cumming as Shivani finger fucked her, then with all her fingers, then her hand, wanting her lover to have as many orgasms as she could take in wave after wave of pleasure. Zoe cried out and then slumped on the bed, gasping for breath, saying "No more, please. No more." Shivani withdrew her cum covered hand, licked the juices from it, and then held Zoe in her arms until she calmed.

"Can you stay the night?" Zoe asked, expectantly.

"Unfortunately, I cannot. I told them I was going to worship at the Altar of the Sun Gods, yet even the most pious wouldn't remain there for that long. I had better leave."

"Gods, it was wonderful to be with you. How long are we stuck in this place anyway?"

"Hopefully, not long. Orders have come down to prepare for a major offensive within a week or two. The plan is to retake the territories that have been lost and conquer new ones. They are bringing in troops and equipment from everywhere. We need to escape in the confusion of the preparations and warn our people if we can."

They kissed and hugged, and then Shivani donned her uniform and protective gear and was gone. The aroma of Shivani's body clung to the rumpled and stained bed sheets arousing Zoe anew and she jilled off twice before falling asleep.

***

Ten days later, Zoe was finishing her breakfast when Anita entered the room wearing a green coverall and boots carrying a canvas bag and two knapsacks. She dropped the knapsacks, handed the bag to Zoe and said "Put these on, we're gettin' outta here."

Zoe dressed hurriedly in the same clothing as Anita, then, shouldering their backpacks, moved through the curiously deserted hospital, out the door and into the compound. There were a few people moving about, but not many. Striding briskly, they traveled between several buildings until they reached what appeared to be a garage or a barn. Ducking inside, Zoe's eyes adjusted to the dim light and what she saw surprised her. The vehicle was huge, with eight massive tires, armor plating and a gun mount on top; it looked like a tank on wheels.

"This is our ticket out of here," Anita said. "Isn't it a beauty?"

"It sure is," Zoe replied, fascinated. "What is it?"

"It's an Infantry Scouting Vehicle called a Stryker. It was developed in the late 20th Century and used for combat patrols and getting a squad of grunts to where the action was. That's a remote controlled gun mount on top with a 30mm cannon and a .50 cal. machine gun and there's a remote controlled 7.62 mm machine gun up front with a 70 degree traverse for the driver. It also has an A/P canister launcher and can hit 97 kph on the flat."

"Where'd it come from ...?" Zoe began when a side door opened and the other members of her company came running in. 

"I wanna drive this beast," Sue Lynn proclaimed, hugging Zoe. 

"I'm callin' dibs on the gunner's seat," Harriet said. 

The others began conversing excitedly in low tones when Zoe said "Where's Shivani?"

"She said she'd be along," Gloria replied, "Something about a last minute staff meeting."

"Let's check this monster out," Margie said. She and Wanda went to the rear of the vehicle and walked up the loading ramp. "Hey," Wanda called, "You could hold a barn dance in here."

The door opened again and Shivani stumbled in, breathing heavily. Her uniform was disheveled and there was blood on one sleeve. "Holy shits, what happened, are you okay?" Wanda exclaimed, rushing over to her.

"I'm fine," Shivani replied as Zoe and the others went to her, "I had to silence a guard before he could give the alarm. I do not like taking lives, but it could not be helped."

"S'okay," Zoe said, "You did what you had to. What's goin' on with the Sunnies?"

"The assault begins in two hours. Right now, the various units are assembling in formations preparatory to moving out. We have an excellent chance of escaping in the confusion."

"Let's haul ass, then," Zoe replied, "Sue and Harriet, you're the crew, we're going for a ride."

Rolling the doors aside, everyone climbed in, the diesel engine roared into life and they lumbered into the midst of the barely controlled chaos in the compound. Men wearing red helmets, waving fluorescent orange batons, were doing their best to arrange the milling tanks, trucks, armored cars, missile launchers and tracked cannons into a semblance of order. Smaller vehicles darted about carrying men in uniform shouting commands that were virtually ignored only added to the confusion.

When the escapees' vehicle entered the melee, it had not gone far before a red helmeted man came running toward it waving his baton and shouting something at them.

"Hey Shivvy," Sue Lynn hollered over the rumble of the diesel, "What's this dude sayin'?"

Shivani went to the forward crew hatch, opened it, stuck her head and shoulders out, listened, shouted something back at the man and ducked back in. The man waved them on disgustedly and went back to shouting at other vehicles.

"What was that all about?" Zoe asked.

"He wanted to know which unit we were with," Shivani said, grinning, "I told him we were the Brigade Commanders vehicle on our way to pick him up at HQ."

"Let's find a way outta here," Harriet called down from the gunners' position. "There's a gate over there that looks like it leads outside. What about it, Zoe?"

"Any port in a storm, go for it."

"What'd that sign say?" Sue Lynn said as they smashed through the gate to which it was affixed. The Stryker lurched and then dropped up to the hull in garbage. Switching to all wheel drive, Sue Lynn slogged the vehicle through the pit of decomposing filth, the stench quickly becoming overwhelming inside the crew compartment.

"Oh my gods, this is enough to make a buzzard puke," Gloria moaned, holding a jacket over her nose and mouth trying to breathe and not smell anything. The others did likewise, fighting the urge to vomit and add to the noisome reek.

Diesel roaring, the Stryker churned through the festering piles of garbage, lurching from side to side like a boat in a choppy sea. Everyone was choking and gasping for breath, their eyes streaming from the noxious fumes. Abruptly, the vehicles wheels gained traction, the Stryker climbed out of the pit smashed a chain link fence flat and accelerated across solid ground away from the Sunnie compound. 

"Aphrodite's golden bush!" Janice cried, "Can we open a window? I think I'm gonna puke." 

Crew hatches, firing ports and the rear doors were opened and soon the rush of air blew out the last of the lingering stench as the rough ground scrubbed the huge tires clean.

"Head north, Sue," Zoe shouted, "Stay off the roads, we're less likely to be spotted."

Pitching and rolling over the uneven ground, the Stryker traveled ten, then fifteen, then twenty five miles while its occupants swayed in their canvas sling seats secured by lap belts, the noise of the engine making conversation impossible. 

Shivani tugged at Zoe's sleeve to get her attention, shouting "What is that humming noise? It sounds like a million angry bees?"

"Oh shit," Zoe said, "I know that sound. Hey Harriet, swap seats with me, I need to see if that's what I think it is."

Clinging to hand holds, the maneuver was accomplished and Zoe flipped down the heads-up screen on the gunners' helmet giving her a 360 degree view of their surroundings and the sky above. High overhead, she saw a flight of Thunderhorse attack planes streaking south, no doubt to strafe, rocket and bomb the advancing Sunnie army. Then one plane peeled off from the formation and headed in their direction.




Death in the Desert Ch. 02



"We've got a bogey incoming at 14:00 high, Sue," Zoe shouted, "Let's see if we can make this elephant dance. When I say 'Go', turn a sharp left and goose it, when I say 'Go' again, turn right and goose it. You copy?"

"I copy, say when."

The other riders heard the exchange and hung on for dear life, hoping they could avoid being strafed or bombed.

"What'cha gonna do, sis?" Zoe muttered as the pilot banked her mount to the left to get a better view of the vehicle below, then leveled off and began an attack run. Zoe watched the nose of the plane for the telltale flash of its Vulcan multi-barrel cannon firing then shouted "GO!"

Sue Lynn swung the speeding vehicle hard to the left, the four front wheels turning as the back four churned the rocky ground scrabbling for traction. The Stryker teetered for a heart-stopping moment on its left wheels, then thudded back down and raced away. Zoe hollered "GO' again and the vehicle swung to the right as a hail of cannon shells chewed the ground to powder where they'd been seconds before, the ricocheting shrapnel thudding and clanging against the armored vehicles hull.

"Dammit, she's making another pass," Zoe muttered, "Ready Sue, here she comes again."

"Say when."

As Zoe watched, the Thunderhorse screeched into a climbing turn, its twin turbofan engines jetting flame from the maneuver, and then it leveled off and swooped in again.

"Oh, man I bet she's pissed ... Turn right, then left this time," Zoe shouted, "That'll throw her off. Steadyyy ... GO!"

Another scrabbling, lurching turn, then "GO!" as the next turn caused the cannon fire to streak over the top of the Stryker and explode against a cluster of boulders with a booming roar. Zoe watched as the frustrated pilot executed another climbing turn, and then streaked off to join its flight before wasting any more ammunition.

"Man, that was close," Harriet said, "That was some drivin' Sue."

"Zoe called the shots," Sue replied, "I'm just the chauffeur."

"I think I peed myself." Margie said plaintively and they all laughed, breaking the tension.

***

Several hours of uneventful travel later, Sue Lynn said "There's some buildings ahead, Zoe. It appears to be the rendezvous point where we met Bea Company. You want to head for em'?"

Zoe scanned them with the telescopic gun sight and thermal imaging, saw no signs of life and said "Sure, sun's going down so we'll camp there for the night. Find a building that still has a roof and park inside it."

Reaching the cluster of abandoned buildings, they drove around to each one until Zoe said, "That one" indicating a two story structure that appeared to be a hotel or a rooming house. Sue Lynn crashed through the rear wall, crunching over dusty furniture and finally coming to a halt in what had once been the lobby. Debris cascaded down in a shower of wood, lath, plaster and tarnished light fixtures, then all was quiet.

"Oh, clerk, four rooms for the night, please," Anita said in a high voice, "All with baths. We'll carry our own bags."

Laughing as the rear doors opened and the loading ramp thudded down on what remained of the wood planked floor, the women disembarked with their weapons and knapsacks and looked around. The waning sunlight shone through the grimy panes of glass in the tall windows giving the space an air of faded majesty as dust and dirt particles danced in the feeble rays.

"Let's find another spot to camp," Zoe said, shouldering her knapsack. "If they spot this rig with a thermal scanner, they'll bomb the crap out of this place."

They trudged from one building to another until they spotted what appeared to be some sort of store. The roof was intact, so they popped the front doors open with gun butts and went inside. Rusted tools, cooking pots, boxes, crates and other discarded items littered the dusty planked floor. Shelves and cubby holes covered one wall with display cases and counters in front of them. A thick patina of grime covered the glass fronts of the cases concealing whatever could be left inside.

"Some kinda general store, I guess," Janice said, sitting on a crate. "We had a place back home like this. Crabby old bastard name of Perkins ran it. We'd steal candy from him when we were kids."

"You think that's what made him crabby?" Margie said, sitting down next to her. 

"Let's see what we have for food and ammo," Zoe said. "We may be here a while."

"There's a well out back," Anita said, who'd been looking around, "We won't die of thirst and we can always plink jackrabbits to eat."

"All the comforts of home," Harriet said, sitting down on the floor, back against a counter. She rummaged through her knapsack and announced "I grabbed some rations from the hospital kitchen, what about you guys?"

The others had done the same, except Shivani who had accumulated a stash of nutrient bars, packages of dried fruits, various packages of crackers, nuts and candy and any other goodies she could cram into her knapsack. They ate better up in officer's country. 

Pooling their resources, they dined sparingly, drank water from their canteens and settled back to rest. By nightfall, they had decided to rotate guard duties in three hour shifts at the front and back doors while the others slept and the hours passed uneventfully. 

***

By the time everyone was awake, the sun was climbing into the sky and the day was becoming warmer. Zoe decided they would spend the rest of the day and night where they were and then travel that next morning. The idea of traveling at night was considered, and then discarded as visibility was poor and using the vehicles lights would attract unwanted attention.

As it became warmer, clothing was discarded to keep cool until they were wearing little but skivvie shorts or were naked. So much flesh on display caused passions to be aroused and soon couples were pairing off to secluded corners to make love. Wearing shorts and bare breasted, Zoe and Shivani decided to sit on the back porch in the shade of the overhanging roof snickering at the slurps and moans emanating from inside the building.

Soon, their own desires rising, they removed their shorts and lay together on the porch floor, kissing and caressing as fingers entered wet pussies. They frigged each other into gasping orgasms and lay back to rest. Then Zoe crawled between Shivani's muscular thighs and began licking and sucking her gooey cunt. Shivani gripped Zoe's hair, crushing her lover's mouth against her spuming pussy and squealed with joy as she came and came again filling Zoe's mouth with warm juices.

A moments rest, then Zoe went on her hands and knees and wiggled her ass at Shivani who was behind her in an instant, sucking Zoe's wet pussy and reaming it with her tongue. Zoe rested her head on her crossed arms, moaning in pleasure as Shivani ate her asshole, driving her tongue deep inside the puckered hole that opened to admit her. Then she pushed two fingers into her lovers dripping cunt and began finger fucking her, following up with two fingers in her slick asshole, pumping into one then the other as Zoe jerked and moaned at both her holes being filled. 

"Cum for me," Shivani growled, fucking harder, "Cum for me, my love."

Zoe howled with joy, cumming again and again as Shivani fucked her holes mercilessly until she collapsed panting and whimpering. Shivani cradled her in her arms until her breathing slowed and she relaxed.

"Some soldiers we are," Harriet said as she and Sue Lynn strolled arm and arm onto the porch wearing only satisfied smiles. "Yeah," Sue Lynn continued, "A troop of Girl Scouts could have captured us while we were all fucking."

"I didn't hear you complaining about that a few minutes ago," Harriet replied, slapping Sue Lynn's ebony ass.

"When that lizard tongue of yours is up in my twat, I don't think of anything, babe," Sue Lynn said.

"I bet you say that to all the girls that you fuck," Harriet jibed and they sat down next to Zoe and Shivani. No one spoke for a while as they stared out at the heat waves shimmering from the rocky ground, reflecting on their escape from the Sunnies and the attack from the air.

When the other couples disengaged and came wandering outside, it was time to dig into the rations again and enjoy another meager, yet filling meal. Gloria found some intact buckets and they took turns pumping water from the well and dousing each other with the surprisingly cool water. Refreshed and their hunger satisfied, they sat around telling about their home towns and life experiences until sleep crept up on them, so they posted guards and drifted off cuddled together.

***

When dawn broke, the escapees were on their way north again. Taking a risk, they drove on the highway so the Stryker could reach top speed and reach their lines before the day was out. Wanda had taken over the driving, with Margie in the gunners' seat as Janice fiddled with the radio trying to establish communications with the fort and not having any luck.

The hum of the huge tires, the throb of the diesel engine and the gentle rocking of the vehicle caused the others to doze as the miles rolled by. Hours passed, then an all too familiar droning caused them all to jerk awake and become fully alert.

"Thunderhorse's heading our way," Margie shouted, "It looks like at least two squadrons. What should we do Zoe?"

"Get off the road and stay still, maybe they'll pass by. Otherwise we'll make a run for it."

Wanda wheeled the Stryker some distance from the road, stopped with the motor idling and they waited nervously as the droning grew progressively louder until the flight was directly overhead and then they were gone. 

"Oh man, I thought sure our ass was grass," Sue Lynn said, "I guess they had bigger fish to fry."

"They must be really pasting the Sunnies," Harriet added. "I wonder how much further it is to the fort?"

"No way to tell," Zoe said, we were doing over 145 kph when we passed through here before and we were concentrating on the mission. We'll just keep going and hope for the best. Any luck with that radio, Janice?"

"No ma'am, just some Sunnie jabber and static. Maybe Shivvy could listen in and figger out what they're saying."

"I will certainly try," Shivani replied. She sat on the floor next to Wanda's seat, put on a set of earphones, listened for a few minutes, and then said "From what I can determine, the offensive is proceeding slowly due to the air attacks. They're still on the move though. There's some crosstalk from what sounds like scouting patrols ahead of the advance. No telling where or how close they are."

"If we run into any of them," Zoe said, "We'll try and bluff our way through, if that fails, then we'll shoot our way clear and haul ass. How many small arms do we have, Harriet?"

"Four sub-machine guns, two rifles, a grenade launcher and six pistols. We have enough ammo for a quick firefight, after that we can throw rocks at 'em."

"What about the turret guns, Margie?"

"Looks to be about six 20 round belts of shells for the cannon, seven canisters of ammo for the machine gun. Cannon ammo's a mix of frag, ball, tracer and armor piercing rounds, Machine gun's all solid shot and tracers."

"I've got four ammo canisters for the gun up here," Wanda said.

"There's eight firing ports back here, four to a side," Harriet continued, "We can raise some hell with those too."

"Okay," Zoe said, "Two sub-machine guns to a side, one rifle to a side. I'll use the grenade launcher, Shivvy and Anita'll use the rifles, the rest of you the sub-M's. That should keep their heads down."

"There's an A/P canister launcher on the rear deck," Margie added, "I can't tell how many rounds are in it unless I go outside to check."

"Hey Zoe," Wanda shouted, "Vehicles in the road up ahead. Looks like a roadblock. Do we go around 'em or through 'em?"

"What are we up against?"

"I see one tracked tank, looks to be an old medium," Margie said, "Four armored Humvees mounting chain guns, four trucks, two jeeps and a motorcycle. There's a lot of troopers standing around and they look pretty relaxed."

"Sunnies?"

"Yep, must be one of those scouting patrols."

"Okay, let's try bluffing our way through," Zoe replied, "Shivvy, you rise up from the forward crew hatch and sweet talk 'em. The rest of you stand by and be ready to cut loose if the shit hits the fan. Go for the tank first, Margie. Those armor piercing rounds should penetrate effectively at this range. Drive on up, Wanda, and get as close as you can. You ready, Shivvy?"

"Indeed I am," Shivani replied, adjusting her uniform blouse and officer's cap. They stopped as close as they could, then Shivani opened the hatch, stuck her head and shoulders out and began talking with the noncom in command. The exchange began amiably, but soon became heated. She finally ducked back in and closed the hatch behind her.

"The stubborn ass insists on contacting his superiors," Shivani muttered. "I think we better be prepared to fight."

Three loud clanks rang out as Margie and Wanda cocked the cannon and machine guns, while the rest threw the bolts on their weapons and waited. Anita and Shivani gathered what first aid equipment they had, ready to render assistance if needed, and then joined the others at the firing ports.

"That guy's yelling something at us," Wanda said, "He looks pissed."

"Woop, that tank just started it's engine and the turret's swiveling," Margie said, "Those Humvee gunners are throwing their bolts too. It's party time."

"Hit 'em hard!" Zoe hollered as the Stryker's cannon and machine guns roared defiance and Wanda accelerated at the cluster of vehicles. Firing ports snapped open and everyone prepared to fire when they got closer. 

Wanda aimed the Stryker at a point where two trucks were parked diagonally nose to nose blocking the road while Margie raked the tank with armor piercing rounds that easily penetrated the aged vehicles armor at close range setting it ablaze.

Wanda's machine gun ripped into the trucks, shredding the thin metal, puncturing tires and cutting down the soldiers blazing away at them with rifles and sub-machine guns. Margie turned the gun mounts lethal pair onto the Humvees that were concentrating their fire on the charging Stryker, the barrage clattering like hail on the vehicles rhomboid armor. 

Bursts of small arms fire erupted from the Stryker's firing ports, felling more of the wildly firing Sunnie soldiers as Zoe fired a grenade at one of the jeeps reducing it to flaming scrap. Like a charging bull, the Stryker brushed the two ruined trucks aside as if they were toys and thundered down the highway leaving carnage behind. An undamaged Humvee began to give chase with its chain gun firing, but when two anti-personnel canisters exploded on the pavement in front of it showering the crew with lethal pellets, they stopped, turned around and fled.

"Yeehaaa!" Margie hollered, "That'll teach them sumbitches to mess with Kay Company."

"We sure done tore them a new one," Gloria said excitedly, "Nice shootin' troopers."

"You guys damn sure make me proud," Zoe said, hugging Shivani and Sue Lynn. "Get back on the radio, Janice and see if we can pick up anything."

"On it, Zoe, I mean yes, ma'am."

Zoe grinned and slapped Janice on the butt as she clambered forward to operate the radio. After a few minutes, she called to Zoe "I think I may have picked up an unscrambled transmission from HQ. The signals weak, but I can hear 'em."

Zoe was crouched beside her in one bound. "Can we transmit?"

"We sure can try. Here's the mic, I'll try and hold the frequency."

"Raptor One calling The Nest, Raptor One calling The Nest, you copy? Over."

"Try it again."

After repeating their call signal three times, Zoe heard a static filled voice respond "Nest calling Raptor One, Nest calling Raptor One, we copy, over."

"Roger that Nest One," Zoe replied gleefully, "This is Captain Zoe, Kay Company,we're on our way north on Highway 105 in a captured enemy vehicle; an eight wheeled Stryker in sand camo, no markings, over."

"Roger, Raptor One, we're sending you an escort, over."

"We copy, Nest, we'll be waitin', Captain Zoe out."

It's occupants whooping and hollering in joy and relief, the Stryker thundered down the highway until a Warhorse attack helicopter came whirring over them and two AeroTanks appeared to guide them in. They were home and, as it turned out, returning to a hero's welcome.

***

When the dusty, bullet scarred Stryker rolled through the gates of Fort Bliss, Zoe and the others were amazed to see troopers lined up along both sides of the road cheering and hollering. Wanda brought the Stryker to a halt as an AeroJeep hummed up to meet them and three officers got out.

Zoe and the others emerged from the vehicles rear doors, down the ramp and walked to where the officers stood. In their rumpled, mismatched and dirty clothing they looked more like tramps than soldiers, yet they all stood at attention and saluted. Zoe recognized Colonel Susan and Major Andrea and the other officer with them looked familiar.

"Welcome home, troopers," Colonel Susan said, warmly. "Major General Mary has made a special trip here to congratulate you on your successful escape. General?"

"Holy shit, it's 'Hayl' Mary," Sue Lynn hissed to Harriet.

The general was an imposing sight in her tailored dress uniform; iron gray hair trimmed short, little makeup, snapping black eyes and a snub nose on a kindly face, skin taut and tanned. She stood over six feet tall in low heeled military dress shoes, rows of campaign medals arrayed on her ample chest, shoulder boards displaying her two star rank resting on broad shoulders. Holy shit, indeed. 

"Welcome home, troopers," Mary began in a pleasant alto tone, "The Colonel and the Major have been briefing me on your exploits. You all have shown commendable bravery and courage in enduring your captivity and making good your escape. Well done, all of you."

"Thank you, ma'am," they chorused.

"I'd imagine that right now you all are thinking only of chow and a bunk, so we'll cut this short. Welcome back and I look forward to speaking with each of you individually once you've had a chance to settle in."

"Thank you, ma'am," they said again, more heartily this time.

"After chow, accommodations have been prepared for you at the BOQ and the enlisted barracks," Colonel Susan said.

Zoe and her companions looked at one another questioningly, then back at Zoe who said "If you don't mind, ma'am, we'd prefer a billet together. Can that be done?"

The officers looked puzzled, and then General Mary said, "It's not exactly military protocol, but under the circumstances of course you may. Colonel, make the necessary arrangements."

"Thank you, ma'am," was the reply, followed by a snappy salute.

***

"Oh man, this feels wonderful," Gloria said happily, the shower spray tingling on her bare shoulders.

"Can I wash your back?" Wanda asked expectantly.

"Huh? Are you trying to cop a feel?"

"Ummmm ... no ... well, maybe."

"In that case, have at it."

Wanda pressed her naked body against Gloria's back, reaching around to rub the woman's hairy pussy with a soapy washcloth saying "It's very important to make sure your privates are clean, sweetie."

Gloria sighed and leaned against Wanda who began kneading the woman's breast with her other hand.

"Look at those two," Sue Lynn said, leaning against the shower wall letting the water cascade down her body. "Right out in public like that, shameless hussies."

"They have some nerve," Harriet said, on her knees between Sue Lynn's creamy thighs, "Spread your legs some more, baby."

"Ahhh, fuck," Sue Lynn moaned, "I love your tongue."

The other women were all similarly engaged in the communal shower; Anita, Janice and Margie in a daisy chain under the spray, Zoe and Shivani in a warm water 69 under another shower head. 




Death in the Desert Ch. 02



An hour before, while the women were in the chow hall eating, they were told the Colonel had made the top floor of a barracks building available to them so they could remain together. After being issued new uniforms, skivvies, toilet articles and bedding they found their quarters and decided to bathe together. That's when the fun started.

When they were clean, toweled dry and sexually satisfied for the moment, they lounged around talking about what they would do next.

"I wonder how many of our people made it back?" Janice said. "Carol owed me twenty bucks from the last poker game."

"We'll find out tomorrow I guess," Sue Lynn replied. "You think they'll rearm and resupply Kay Company or bust us up, Zoe?"

"No tellin' what those REMF's are gonna do," Zoe said disgustedly. "I sure hope they don't disband the company."

"What are REMF's?" Shivani asked, innocently curious.

The others laughed, and then Anita said "Rear Echelon Mother Fuckers, babe, y'know, the brass, those fightin' chair warmers back at HQ."

"You guys ever hear of an outfit called the Long Range Desert Group?" Harriet said. She enjoyed studying military history and was something of an expert on the subject.

"Can't say as I have," Wanda replied. "What about 'em?"

"Back in the 20th Century, during the Second World War between the Allied Nations and the Axis Powers, there were some Allied soldiers in the North African desert theater of operations that conducted a series of raids on enemy positions using heavily armed trucks and jeeps. They also performed scouting, path finding, mapping and surveillance missions. Their strategy was to charge in, hit 'em hard and get out before the Axis enemy could retaliate. Most of the time, it worked."

"That sounds pretty cool," Sue Lynn said. "What's that got to do with us?"

"Think about it," Harriet continued, "We escaped, raised considerable hell with the Sunnies and we worked well as a team, right?"

"We sure did!" Margie said, "They never knew what hit 'em."

"So you're sayin' we should do some raidin' like that ourselves?" Gloria said. 

"Now you're gettin' it," Harriet continued, "I say we use the Stryker, it's perfect for the job and it's already proven it can take it."

"It'll need some upgrades to the armaments and comm system," Sue Lynn added, warming to the subject, "Upgrade the armor too and the engine, give it more power."

"Boost the mileage and fuel tankage too," Wanda said, "We were damn close to runnin' on fumes when we got to the fort."

"You never said anything about it," Margie replied.

"What difference would it have made? It's not like we could stop at a fuel station or nuthin'."

"Y'know, you guys may be on to something," Zoe said thoughtfully. "I kinda like the idea of being independent raiders. Pack enough supplies, load up on gas and ammo, the fort can give us some idea where the Sunnies are so we can ambush 'em or hit 'em and run when they make camp. Maybe hurt their morale too."

"It's all very exciting," Shivani said, "We'd be like those Caribbean pirates I read about when I was young. Be scourges of the bounding main on a sea of sand."

"That's downright poetic, Shivvy," Harriet said admiringly.

"Ya think the Colonel will buy it?" Sue Lynn said to Zoe.

"Hell, it's worth a try. Now that I think of it, I wonder if there are any more Stryker's out there. I dunno where the Sunnies got ours since they were sold as surplus many years ago to anyone with the cash."

"Maybe a collector would have one," Margie offered. "People used to collect old military equipment and keep it in running order for shows and parades."

"That's a thought," Janice said, "We could have two or three go out together. There'd be more firepower and one could help the other if one was disabled or got into a tight spot."

"I'm likin' this idea more and more," Anita said, then yawned, "But I'm for hittin' the sack, I'm beat."

"Want some company?" Margie said with a grin.

"To sleep, yeah, I'm too tired to fuck."

"Maybe later, then?"

"Sure, c'mon."

"Okay troops, lights out," Zoe said, "Let's hit the sack, Shivvy."

"Alright, but I'm so excited about us being pirates, I may need something to relax me," Shivani replied, swatting Zoe's firm ass cheek.

"Hera's tits, you're insatiable," Zoe said, swatting her back. 

Zoe flipped off the lights, cuddled with Shivani and soon they were asleep. There'd be time for sex in the morning.

End. 

Next: Join Zoe and her troopers as they become the Sunnie's worst nightmare in 'The Desert Raiders'. 



Death in the Desert



A chorus of assents assured her everyone was ready. "First units approaching," SPC Helen said quietly, eyes intent on her screen. "Humvees in the lead, then some armor, mostly museum pieces and MBT's with soft targets behind, then more armor and tracked launchers, then soft targets and Humvees bringing up the rear. They're all bunched up like ducklings following their mother, though. No room to maneuver, very sloppy."

"I don't think the Sunnies have a war college," Zoe quipped, checking her M4A1. She motioned Margie to follow her and they crept up the slope to peer between boulders at the passing column that was raising clouds of dust that hung in the air making it difficult to see.

"Lead armor reaching the end of the boulders," Helen's voice hummed in Zoe's ear. 

"All units commence firing!" Zoe barked over the command channel. 

Caught completely by surprise, the Sunnie commanders were stunned when several of their tanks erupted into smoke and flame, struck at nearly point blank range by the hover tanks rail guns firing sabot rounds. A torrent of heavy machine gun, light cannon and small arms fire raked the column from one end to the other, many of the enemy troops cut to pieces before firing a shot. 

Turrets swiveling, the remaining enemy tanks and Humvees blasted the fallen trees, rocks and boulders, searching for their concealed tormentors until they were destroyed by well-placed rounds from the tanks and the troops shoulder mounted Serpent missile launchers. Machine gun and small arms fire picked off the gunners on the flatbed trucks while several Humvees and tracked missile launchers were reduced to piles of flaming junk. As the battle continued, the enemy's return fire was becoming more accurate as they tracked the muzzle flashes from the troops hiding places and several fire teams were put out of action by explosive shells, missiles, shrapnel and rock fragments. The Sunnies were panicking at being trapped on the road with the only way to retreat was across the badlands.

In a desperate attempt to escape, several of the Humvees began swerving through the column of burning vehicles, turrets rotating, spraying their attackers with bursts of chain gun fire. Five truckloads of troops followed them, their occupants firing back as best they could. One truck, its tires shot out, overturned and crashed, the rest made good their escape, fleeing across the rough ground in an undisciplined rout. Then all was quiet except for the crackling flames and the occasional explosion as ammo cooked off in the wreckage.

"Cease fire, repeat, cease fire," Zoe said. 

"We got all their armor and tracked launchers, half of the Humvees, several of the trucks," Harriet reported. "We're fanning out looking for survivors."

Mindful of possible snipers lying in wait, Zoe and Margie picked their way carefully down the slope, joining the troops as they searched the smoldering wreckage.

"We're finding lots of dead guys without a mark on them," SSgt. Pauline reported. "I guess those rumors about their troops carrying poison pills were true."

"We got us a prisoner, Lieutenant," PFC Susan cut in, "It's a female. She's got a head wound and she's cut and bruised, but she's okay and offering no resistance. Where do you want her?"

"Bring her over and post a guard. I'll interrogate her later."

"Got a casualty count," Harriet said her voice low. "Fourteen dead, sixteen wounded, four severely. Doc Anita and her people are doing what they can with the supplies we have. We really need to get them into a hospital at Fort Bliss."

"Who'd we lose?"

Harriet swallowed hard and said "Three from Wanda's squad, two from Michelle's, four from Dottie's and ... um ... Maureen and her squad took a direct hit, Zoe, I'm sorry."

Zoe's heart lurched and tears stung her eyes. Betty was in Maureen's squad. She tried to keep her voice level "Damn. Bag em' and bring 'em with us. I'm not leavin' 'em in this Christ-bitten hellhole."

"What about the Sunnies, ma'am," Harriet asked.

"Fuck 'em," Zoe said bitterly, "Leave 'em for the buzzards."

***

The company traveled on until dark, then bivouacked for the night.

Doc Anita, Harriet, Millie and Sue Lynn joined Zoe in her tent to mourn their fallen comrades. As they passed the bottle of scotch around, Zoe wept bitterly for her lost love in Sue Lynn's arms while Anita, Millie and Harriet clung together, rocking to and fro singing an old Methodist hymn "Love Devine, All Loves Excelling," then "Amazing Grace." They drained the bottle, finished a second one and drifted off to sleep cuddled together like kittens.

***

The next morning, the prisoner's large, dark eyes had the look of a trapped animal when she was brought before Zoe and Harriet. SPC Carol, a linguist before the war, stood by to interpret. The Sunnies were truly a mixed bag of cultures and races, united solely by their fanatical devotion to the Gods of the Sun and there was no indication as to what language the woman spoke.

After trying several languages and dialects, when Carol uttered a phrase in a Hindustani dialect, Khariboli, the woman reacted, saying "I am a non-combatant. I am a nurse. I am not a soldier. Take pity on me, please."

"Tell her she won't be harmed unless she tries to escape," Zoe said when Carol had translated. "Does she know where her unit came from and where it was going?"

The query loosed a torrent of words from the woman who began to cry and sunk to the floor, her face in her hands. She continued to babble until she finally stopped and sat looking sadly at them.

"What was that all about?" Zoe said, stunned at the woman's outburst.

"Well," Carol began, "Her name is Shivani. She was conscripted while training as a nurse in Lahore, loaded on a transport plane with many others, flown to Chihuahua, was attached to the 'Heavenly Justice' battalion and they set off for she knows not where. She had little to do except ride in a truck cab and patch up the occasional wounds caused by accidents. 

When the bullets started flying, she'd ducked down as the driver lit out across the desert. Next thing she knew, the truck crashed and rolled over and she was upside down in the cab next to the dead driver. She broke a window, got out and that's when our people got her. She says she never fired a gun and didn't want to be here in the first place. She also said the Sunnies are conscripting people to fight over here and there's supposedly an underground resistance movement to end the invasion of America. She's scared to death we'll torture her for information, but she swears that's all she knows and I believe her."

Zoe looked into the woman's pleading eyes glistening with tears, body trembling in her torn uniform and felt pity for her. "Tell her we don't torture prisoners and she can come with us. Get her some cammies and something to eat and toss those rags of hers on the nearest fire."

"Yes, ma'am," Carol replied with a grin.

She repeated Zoe's words to Shivani, who began to cry again and grasped Zoe's hand in mute thanks. Zoe motioned her to stand and Carol led her away, the two conversing in Shivani's language.

"Think she can be trusted, ma'am," Margie asked, "Them Sunnies are a sneaky bunch."

"Yeah, I do. She's scared shitless and doesn't want to be here. The Sunnies must be having problems keeping their troops up to strength if they're forcing people into their army. HQ'll be happy to hear that. Hey, Gloria, that comm link to HQ open up yet?" 

Gloria looked up from her comm screen, "Ten minutes ago, ma'am, the First Shirt's been bringin' 'em up to speed, but they still wanna speak to you."

"Patch 'em through," Her comm bleeped and Zoe said, "First Lieutenant Zoe here, reporting as ordered, ma'am."

"Good afternoon, Lieutenant, this is Brigadier General Mary." Zoe winced; 'Hayl' Mary was a no-nonsense commanding officer at HQ. She had a well-deserved reputation as a no nonsense titty twister, but she was fair and not rank-happy. What were they in for now?

"First," Mary continued, "I want to commend you on your company's action today. You practically destroyed an enemy force three times your size and put the rest to flight, well done Lieutenant."

"Thank you, ma'am."

"Second, you are to continue to Fort Bliss for some R&R along with resupply and equipment upgrades. Thirdly, I'm proud to promote you to the rank of Captain and place you in command of Company Kay."

Fuck! "Thank you, ma'am, I'll make you proud."

"I know you will, Captain. Good hunting, Mary out."

"What's the word, ma'am?" Margie said.

Zoe sighed, "I'm now the ringmaster of this fuckin' circus and I'm a fuckin' Captain. I'll be goddamned."

"Congratulations, ma'am," Margie and Gloria said. 

***

The remaining travel to Ft. Bliss was uneventful and they were welcomed enthusiastically by the base commander. Colonel Susan was pleased with the addition to her troop strength and the hover tanks firepower. A direct hit on the HQ building in the Sunnies initial attack had killed all the other officers leaving her in command. Had she not been elsewhere on the post inspecting some newly constructed barracks, she would have died with the rest of them. She congratulated Zoe on her promotion, gave her a set of Captain's twin silver bars and invited her to the Officers Club for a drink to celebrate.

When they arrived, Doc Anita, Millie, Sue Lynn and Harriet (as Millie's guest) were already there. Several post officers joined them and it soon became a party. When things finally wound down, Zoe and the others were comfortably drunk and one by one drifted off to their quarters. Zoe politely refused several requests to share another woman's bunk for the night, wanting to be alone and think about what had happened to her that day.

Bringing a pint of scotch with her, she found her room in the BOQ, stripped down and sat on the bed, sipping alternatively from the bottle and a glass of water. She began to cry as she missed Betty terribly and suddenly felt very alone.

A gentle tapping on the door interrupted her pity party and she walked angrily to the door not wanting to be disturbed. When she opened it, she was surprised to see Shivani standing there, smiling shyly. She was dressed in a blue silk caftan with soft shoes on her feet. Her short dark hair had been washed and combed, her large dark eyes shone and Zoe saw for the first time she was quite pretty.

"Hello Lieutenant ... I mean, Captain Zoe," she said haltingly, "I wanted to thank you again for sparing my life." Her eyes roamed appreciatively over Zoe's nakedness and she smiled and continued "May I visit for a moment?"

"Uh ... yeah ... sure, c'mon in," Zoe replied, momentarily flustered by Shivani's beauty and the frank appraisal of her body. She felt a flush creep over her face, her nipples hardened and her pussy moistened.

Shivani walked to the bed, sat on the edge and crossed her legs revealing a tantalizing glimpse of muscular thighs and shapely calves. Zoe sat next to her, took the bottle from the bedside table and said "Care for a drink?"

"What do you have?"

"Um ... water and scotch ... that's about it." Zoe felt increasingly warm in the woman's presence and noticed Shivani's eyes becoming smoky with desire.

"Is everyone treating you well?" Zoe said, breaking the silence.

"Oh, yes, quite well. I told them I meant no harm and only wanted to continue my work as a nurse. They said they would check with Headquarters and see if I could be enlisted. Women are treated much more kindly here. The Sun Children believe in the inherent superiority of the male and that women are born to serve them and produce children to strengthen the order."

"Pretty backward if you ask me. I'd imagine you're pretty happy to be out of there."

"Very much so, I am so sorry your lover was killed in battle. It must be difficult for you."

Zoe nodded, her throat felt tight and her eyes misted over. "I loved her with all my heart. I will never forget her."

Shivani sighed, "I know how you feel. I too have lost my lover, never to see her again. When I left I was not allowed to tell her goodbye. My heart is heavy and sometimes in the night I weep for what I have lost."

"Misery loves company, I guess," Zoe said, taking a swig from the bottle. "This is good stuff, want some?"

"I have never tasted Scotch, but I will try it." Shivani took a sip, then another, then another, and then said "It is quite harsh and yet it tastes like wood smoke smells. I think I like it."

"Wash it down with this," Zoe said, offering the woman a glass of water.

They sat in silence for a while, each with their own thoughts, passing the bottle and the glass of water between them. Then Shivani said "Is it getting warm in here?"

"Yeah," Zoe replied, "It's the booze that makes you hot."

"I also feel slightly dizzy, is that the Scotch as well?"

Zoe chuckled, "Yeah, some folks drink too much and get so dizzy they fall down."

"That is most unladylike," Shivani said and burped. "Oh my goodness, excuse me."

Zoe laughed and patted Shivani's shoulder, "S'okay babe, it's just us girls here."

"Oh my, it is hot. Would you mind if I removed my robe?"

"Go for it."

Shivani stood up, pulled the caftan over her head, threw it over a nearby chair and sat down saying "Ahhh that is so much better."

Zoe was speechless and a low moan escaped her lips. Shivani was naked under the robe, her light brown skin shining in the lights. Her breasts were firm, high and shaped like ripe apples, the nipples and aureoles a darker brown and her nipples were stiff. Her body was lean and muscular, with a thick waist and broad hips; her pussy hidden in a thicket of pubic hair. Zoe's pussy was leaking onto the mattress and she licked her lips.

Shivani lowered her eyes and smiled, seeing the effect her naked body was having on Zoe. She had been intrigued by the pale skinned, freckled redhead from the moment she saw her; she was so unlike other women she had known. Zoe's body was similar to hers, lean and muscular with larger breasts and a narrower waist. 

They sat studying each other for a moment, then slid closer and brought their heads together for a kiss. Shivani hissed with pent up desire and clasped Zoe to her in a passionate embrace. Zoe wrapped her arms around her and they kissed, open mouthed, grinding their lips together, tongues rippling together in each other's mouths.

Lying back on the bed, the women continued their frenzied kissing, wrapping their arms and legs around each other; their black and red pubic hairs ruffling as they rubbed their wet pussies together.

"I want to suck your pussy," Zoe growled in Shivani's ear, "I want to eat you out until you cum in my mouth."

"Oh, gods, yes, lick my pussy," Shivani replied huskily, "It's so hungry for you. Make me cum, I want to cum."

Zoe rolled Shivani on her back, spread her legs and settled between them on her stomach, the woman's luxuriant bush tickling Zoe's nose as her tongue sought and found Shivani's gooey slit. She began to lick and suck the pink flesh, enjoying the feel of Shivani's tangy pussy juice on her tongue and loving her moans of pleasure.

Shivani was shaking with lust as Zoe pleasured her, lifting her hips to meet the other woman's slithering tongue and, when Zoe inserted one, then two fingers deep inside her and wiggled them around, she felt as if she might faint from desire.

"Ahhhh, yesss, "Shivani moaned, head tossing on the pillow, "Suck it, suck it, yesss, right there, oh gods don't stop, don't ... Yeeeee!!"

She climaxed powerfully, ejaculating into Zoe's eager mouth. She drank it greedily and went back for more, licking and sucking until Shivani came again with another jet of warm cum soaking Zoe's face and close cropped hair. Shivani's hips stopped jerking and she fell back on the bed, moaning and whimpering. Zoe crawled up to her and they kissed, letting Shivani taste her own cum from her lovers mouth. They lay together until Shivani caught her breath and she purred "Now it's your turn."

Zoe lay back, spreading her legs in wanton invitation. Shivani gripped Zoe's ass cheeks and began to devour her pussy banquet, growling deep in her throat as she filled her mouth with Zoe's drooping labial lips and probed deeply between them with her wiggling tongue. 

Zoe jerked and moaned as Shivani ate her out, her entire body tingling as her lovers lips found her engorged clit and began sucking and nibbling on it. Zoe was no stranger to oral love from women, but Shivani was the best she'd ever experienced. The woman's tongue was amazing and felt as if it was a foot long as it caressed Zoe's wet, pink pussy walls. 

Shivani loved the salty flow of fluids into her mouth as she licked deep into Zoe's gooey crevice, determined to make her lover cum and cum hard as Zoe gasped and moaned pushing her furred crotch against her lover's busy mouth, wanting Shivani to never stop eating, and then it was upon her, a massive orgasm the likes of which she had not felt for many years. 

Arching her back, she shrieked in joy and ejaculated powerfully, filling Shivani's mouth to overflowing with clear, salty cum. Shivani swallowed greedily, coughed, gasped and dove in again abusing Zoe's drenched pussy with her mouth until her lover howled and came a second time, releasing another torrent of fluids into Shivani's face and then collapsed.

Shivani slid up, cuddled Zoe's shivering body, shared a mouthful of cum with her in a long soul kiss and held her until she stopped quivering. "Hera's tits," Zoe finally gasped, "Where the hell did you learn to eat pussy like that? That was amazing."

"I'm so glad you liked it," Shivani replied, kissing her, "A girl I was friends with in school and I used to pleasure other when we were alone in our rooms after class. We used to watch pornography on the internet and copied what we saw there. We always tried to see how few licks it took to make the other cum and we practiced a lot."

"Man, I'm still horny," Zoe said, "Wanna fuck now?"

"Oh yes, what shall we use?"

"Hold on a second, I've just the thing." Zoe walked on wobbly legs to her duffel bag, rummaged around in it and brought out a strap-on. She bore it triumphantly back to the bed and let Shivani examine it.

"Ah, I see, the shorter one goes in your pussy and your lover gets the longer, thicker one. Will you fuck me with it, dear Zoe? I want to feel it deep inside me."

Zoe smiled and nodded, fastening the straps around her thighs, sighing with pleasure as the short phallus slid into her sopping pussy and the ridged pad on the harness rubbed her clitoris. Shivani got on her hands and knees, wiggling her ass at Zoe and smiling over her shoulder in anticipation of being penetrated.

"Lie on your back, lover. I want to look into those beautiful eyes and see you enjoying it as I fuck you."

Shivani complied, putting a pillow under her ass to elevate her hips so Zoe could get it in as deep as possible. She was warm all over, trembling in anticipation as Zoe knee walked between her creamy thighs and rubbed the phallus' tip over Shivani's glistening pussy lips.

"Fuck me, dear Zoe," Shivani said, her voice thick with lust, "Fuck me until I scream your name."

Zoe hesitated, what the hell was she doing, this woman was an enemy combatant and her people had taken Betty from her, now they were going to fuck? Shivani moaned and held out her arms to Zoe and the thoughts disappeared in a wave of desire. Zoe eased the thick phallus into Shivani's pussy, loving the woman's whimpers as it filled her near to bursting. A final grunt and thrust and it went all the way in. 

Zoe hugged Shivani's quivering body to her, their nipples rubbing together and began a gentle rocking motion easing the phallus in and out. In response, Shivani locked her ankles over Zoe's, gripped her lover's ass with strong hands and raised her hips to meet Zoe's thrusts. They began a rhythmic fucking that drew gasps and moans from both of them, each wanting to please the other and make her cum and cum hard.




Death in the Desert



Zoe squealed in surprise when Shivani rolled her on her back and began riding the false cock like a galloping horse, breath hissing between her clenched teeth as she surrendered herself to incredible pleasure. They fucked that way for a while, and then Zoe rolled on top again, never breaking stride as she hammered Shivani's pussy, filling the room with slurps and squishes and the pungent smell of a well fucked cunt.

They fucked for what seemed like hours until Shivani moaned "Fuck me, fuck me harder, ohhhh, I'm so close, so close ... unghhhh ... ZOEEEEE ...Ahhhhgghh!!"

Shivani's ejaculate shot past the phallus and sprayed Zoe's belly and thighs with sticky cum as her orgasm stiffened her body in a spasm of release. Zoe's body had been screaming at her to cum, but she forced herself to hold on until Shivani had gotten off, now she let go with a powerful orgasm that blurred her vision as she howled with joy. They continued fucking until they each came a second time and collapsed on the bed in a tangle of sweaty limbs and sticky cum.

"Gods, that was wonderful," Shivani panted, "You are a magnificent lover, Zoe."

"So are you," Zoe purred, kissing her passionately, "You make my toes curl. Do you want to fuck some more?"

"Mmmmm, oh yes, take me from behind this time."

Shivani turned over, raised her ass in the air and Zoe entered her with a single thrust, making her gasp. The fucking was rougher, more intense this time, Zoe jabbing the dildo deep into Shivani's hot cunt, rabbit like, Shivani gripping handfuls of the sheet, pushing back against Zoe's false cock, grinding the harness with it's dildo and clit pad against Zoe's gooey pussy. Zoe bit her lower lip and fucked Shivani with all her strength, feeling her shudder and knowing she was about to cum.

Zoe crouched over Shivani's ass, still fucking her mercilessly, gripped her shoulders, leaned over her back and growled "Come for me, babe, cum for your Zoe." Shivani rose up on her arms, still pushing back against Zoe's thrusts, turned her head so that she and Zoe were face to face and they kissed open mouthed swirling their tongues together.

"Ah, ah, ahhhh ...I'm cominggg ...fuck me, Zoe ... nghhhhh!!" Shivani cried, pumping a flood of juices from her battered pussy around the embedded phallus. Zoe was with her, right with her, crying out in ecstatic release as her orgasm seemed to go on forever. Shivani fell forward onto the mattress with Zoe on top, both gasping for breath from their exertions. 

Zoe leaned back, pulled the dildo from Shivani's pussy, unbuckled the straps and tossed the harness on the floor. When Zoe snuggled up to her new lover, Shivani was already asleep, a beatific smile on her face. Zoe spooned against her, pulled a blanket over them and they slept.

***

A knock on the door of her room awakened Zoe from her slumber. "Yeah, who is it?" she called out sleepily.

"The Colonel wants you to report to her office at Zero Nine Hundred, Captain," a female voice replied.

"I'll be there."

"Be where sweetie?" Shivani said, awakened by the voices.

"The colonel's office at Zero Nine Hundred, something's up; good morning beautiful."

"Good morning my love, I so enjoyed last night, I'm so happy I'm with you."

"Not as happy as I am," Zoe replied, embracing her. "How'd you learn English so fast, anyway?"

Shivani giggled, "I speak five languages, lover, including my native tongue. When you captured me I was so frightened I lapsed into the one I knew best. At the time I thought I was going to be tortured for information and killed. That is what they told us would happen if we were captured. We all carried poison pills so we could take our own lives if capture was imminent."

"Why didn't you take yours?"

"I do not know, I like living I suppose."

"I'm glad you didn't," Zoe said, rubbing against her. They were both becoming aroused and Zoe looked at the clock to see if they had enough time to have a good morning fuck; they didn't. 

"Where are you staying?" Zoe asked as they dressed.

"I'm across the way in Barracks Ten with several of the women from your company. They have all been very nice to me."

"I'll just bet they have," Zoe snorted, "They're all probably figuring a way to get in your panties."

Shivani giggled again, "You can get in my panties any time you like, Zoe dear." 

Zoe grinned, gods, she was hot. "Tell you what, get your cammies on and we'll have breakfast in the chow hall before my meeting. After that, what say we meet up at the PX 'round Fourteen Hundred, okay?"

"I'll be there, love."

When they left, they were holding hands.

***

"Spank my ass and call me Rosie," Sue Lynn exclaimed when Zoe told her about Shivani and their all night romp. "She just showed up at your door, huh?"

"Yep," Zoe replied, taking a sip of coffee, "One look into those eyes of hers and I was a goner. I'm tellin' ya, Suze, we fit together like two parts of a puzzle. I was still shook from losing Betty and the promotion, now this happens and all I can think about is her."

"I wondered why you'd asked the General after the briefing about Shivani; I thought she was still a POW."

"Not any more, she's been made a Buck Sergeant and assigned to Doc Anita as a nurse; Hera knows she can use the help, especially if we get into another firefight like the last one."

"What are you two going to do now that you're together?"

"For starters, I'm gonna check with Housing and see if I can get a bigger place and ask her to move in with me."

"I guess I'll just go back to my lonely room and read a book, then," Sue Lynn said in mock sadness, looking at Zoe with an exaggerated frown.

Zoe looked at her watch, "I've got three hours 'till I meet her at the PX. Wanna show me your room?"

Sue Lynn smiled and licked her lips, "I can taste that pussy of yours already."

***

Zoe strode rapidly along the sidewalk leading to the PX, returning salutes as she went; she was already late and didn't want Shivani to become concerned. She and Sue Lynn had pleasured each other repeatedly, knowing the others body as well as their own and what made the other cum and cum hard. Exhausted, they had fallen asleep until Zoe had awakened and realized what time it was. Sue Lynn wanted to fuck some more, but Zoe said she'd catch up to her later and that she didn't want to disappoint Shivani.

When Zoe entered the PX, she saw Shivani in her newly issued cammies with three chevrons on the sleeves looking at a jewelry display. She moved up quietly behind her and kissed her on the neck. Startled, Shivani spun around and, seeing Zoe, smiled and kissed her soundly on the lips. 

"Sorry I'm late, babe," Zoe said, "I got tied up for a while."

"Was that before or after you ate her pussy?" Shivani said teasingly.

"Busted," Zoe said with a grin, "Sue Lynn and I got together after the briefing. We've been friends a long time."

"And lovers too," Shivani replied, "I'm not jealous darling, we both may stray on occasion, but we'll always return to each other."

Zoe raised an eyebrow, "Both of us?"

"Well, some of the women in my barracks have offered me the opportunity to share their bunks with them and some of them are rather enticing." She kissed Zoe again, "But not half as enticing as you, my love."

"Touché," Zoe replied, wanting her right then and there. "What were you looking at?"

"These pretty rings, that one with the emerald is lovely."

"You want it?"

"Maybe, are you ready to make a commitment?"

"Sure."

"Let us both get one, then."

"Done, Oh miss," Zoe called to the salesperson, "Over here please."

***

"Intel says the Sunnies are massing along the border for a counterattack," Colonel Susan said, leaning on the podium, "Bea Company's being airlifted in to combine with Kay and together you're gonna draw first blood and bust up their little party. We'll have a flight of Thunderhorse gunships flying cover and raising whatever hell they can. It's gonna be a target rich environment, so give em' the business."

Zoe's face was impassive, but she was both sad and disappointed. She and Shivani had been together only four months and she had hoped they would have more time together before the war started up again. She looked around and saw Shivani in her cammies sitting with the other NCO's, looking beautiful as always. She saw Zoe looking at her and she winked and smiled.

When the briefing was over, they kissed and hugged, then went back to their quarters. Shivani could see Zoe was upset and suggested they shower and relax. Being naked together led to teasing and tickling under the warm spray until they were fully aroused. Barely stopping to dry off, they tumbled into bed, went into the sideways 69 position and licked and fingered each other into shuddering orgasms that left them breathless.

"I'd really hoped we'd have more time together," Zoe said, hugging Shivani to her. 

"We'll still be together, Zoe dear," Shivani replied. "We will be performing our duties as ordered; you as a warrior, mine as a healer, it is our destiny."

"Destiny really sucks sometimes," Zoe said wryly.

"Not always, it did bring us together."

"So true, I want you again."

"Take me, my love."

***

"Nearing the rendezvous point," Millie announced in Zoe's ear. "Looks like a crossroads settlement. No signs of life."

"Affirmative; Nancy?"

"Ma'am?"

"Send out a patrol and check out the rendezvous point. See if any of the buildings are occupied. Millie will keep watch."

"Affirmative."

Moments later, the six woman patrol swooped away on their hover bikes, weapons at the ready.

"I'm getting IFF signals from friendly birds," Millie said, "It's Company Bea. ETA is 18:50 at the point. We'll be there to greet them."

"Affirmative, Millie," Zoe replied.

Another hour passed, and then the patrol reported in. It was safe to approach as the buildings were gutted and there were no inhabitants. When Kay Company arrived, they bivouacked on a plain near the crossroads, established a perimeter, erected their tents, posted guards and settled in.

Zoe had requisitioned an armored hover scout car for her use that mounted a .25 mm chain gun in its turret and launch tubes for anti-personnel rockets. She had no intention of being 'behind the lines' when a firefight started.

She was drinking coffee in the mess tent with Sue Lynn, Shivani, Nancy and Harriet when Helen clicked in to announce the arrival of Company Bea with Major Andrea in command. Calling Millie and Doc Anita to join them, the five went to greet the new arrivals; Shivani remaining behind to ready the troop's individual medical packs for quick response to wounds.

Major Andrea was tall with the build and facial features of a fashion model, short sandy colored hair, tanned skin, wearing an impeccably tailored cammie uniform and so enthusiastic she almost vibrated. She bounded from her hover scout car, returned Zoe's and the others salutes and began talking excitedly.

"I've heard a lot about you, Captain," she said, "My troops and I are itching to teach those Sunnies not to mess with America and the U.S. Army." As she spoke, five women in desert cammies arrayed themselves behind her, their faces impassive. She introduced them as Second Lieutenant's Marion and Jennifer, First Sergeant Kathryn, Master Sergeant Marianne and Tech Sergeant Bianca. Zoe introduced her people and they all began talking with each other.

***

"Impressions?" Zoe said when the meeting was over and they had returned to their unit.

"The noncom's seemed squared away," Harriet began, "Kathryn, Marianne and Bianca have all seen action and about half the company has as well. Since they've only been formed about four months, they're doing all they can to bring the rookies up to speed."

"Their tanks and APC's are new issue," Sue Lynn continued, "The crews are mostly experienced and they're full of confidence."

"Their birds are newer models than ours," Millie said, "Three cameras and a shorter wingspan. We can work well together."

"Their medical unit has some new equipment such as a portable MRI and bioengineered sulfa drugs and vaccines," Anita continued. "The personnel are pretty green and some are fresh from med training, but they're learning fast. You gotta have something on the ball to take a nine month course that attempts to cram five plus years of medical school into your head."

"They have newer small arms and heavy machine guns," Nancy said, "Along with shoulder mount guide by wire missile launchers that pack the punch of a 105mm cannon shell. The vets are teaching the newbies the fine points of shooting and overall, I think they'll be fine in combat."

"What's the major like, Zoe?" Millie asked.

"Still wet behind the ears and full of piss and vinegar," Zoe replied, shaking her head. "Five months ago, she was in Personnel Administration at HQ in Billings, so no combat experience. She'll be in charge of this operation and I'm gonna help her as best I can. I just hope she listens to me and doesn't decide to do some damn fool stunt that'll get us all killed. Marion and Jennifer are equally green, but seem more level headed. Maybe they can keep her in line."

"We can take care of our own," Harriet replied, "They can watch their own asses."

"Roger, that," Sue Lynn added.

***

When Zoe and Shivani made love that night, as they did every night, it seemed even more tender and satisfying to them. The kisses and caresses thrilled them beyond measure and the orgasms were more intense and deeply satisfying. When they fell asleep in each other's arms it seemed so right. Neither of them cared to voice the concern they had for the other in the battles to come. They were together now and it was enough.

***

"HQ's Sky Eye's sighted an enemy force forty-five miles southwest of here," Andrea said, keying in on Zoe's frequency. "It appears to be a sizeable one, so we'll initiate aerial recon before we attack."

"Shouldn't we send out some patrols as well?" Zoe replied.

"I don't want to risk tipping them off. We'll use a pincer and envelopment maneuver once we're in range. You take the right flank, I'll take the left. Tanks the spearhead, HAPC's in V-formation behind them. They'll suppress the enemy's fire until the troops can offload and mop up. The Sunnies won't know what hit them."

"What about our air support? They can be here in an hour or so."

"We won't need them. Besides, you can hear those engines a mile away. I want the element of surprise."

"I still think we should send some patrols out ahead. My people have muffled impellers on their hover bikes and can approach on foot to get even closer. They may be setting a trap for us."

"Nonsense, the Sunnies are nowhere near that disciplined and organized. We'll hit them hard and keep hitting them until they either retreat or surrender. We'll initiate aerial drone recon ASAP. I want a good look at that base. Coordinates to follow, over and out."

"What's the word?" Sue Lynn asked. She and the others were standing by while Zoe conversed with Andrea.

Zoe repeated Andrea's recon and attack strategy to them and shook her head. "This is not a good move, attacking an enemy force of unknown strength without air cover. We need boots on the ground and recon for several days running. One overflight isn't going to give us enough info to plan an effective attack. Angela ... excuse me ... the Major ... wants to go storming in there without knowing what we may be up against."

"Birds are aloft," Millie said, having received the coordinates. "We should be getting an image in ten minutes or so."

"This has all the makings of a Class A cluster fuck," Harriet snorted. "Lt. Colonel Sandra pulled a stunt like this in the battle to retake Amarillo. Sixth platoon was wiped out to a woman when they tried advancing across a freshly mined golf course. The mines had time delay fuses and ..."

"Image on screen," SPC Helen said in Zoe's ear, "Looks peaceful enough alright."

"Got it," Zoe said as it appeared on the drop down tactical screen built into her helmet. 

"I'm counting at least eighty personnel tents," Millie said. "From the size of 'em they're easily ten person models, so that's a good eight hundred troops right there. There's some tracked armor, machine gun emplacements and AA guns posted around and a bunch of trucks moving about. That big tent in the center must be their command post and the other big ones must be the cook shack and the medical tent. Sure looks quiet to me."

"Excellent work, Lieutenant," Andrea said, clicking in on the command frequency, "They don't suspect a thing. Execute the plan of attack Captain, over and out."

"Oh, now we're using rank," Zoe said sarcastically.

"Into the valley of death rode the six hundred," Sue Lynn interjected, "Let's kick some ass, Zoe."

"All units forward," Zoe barked into the company's command channel, "Maintain interval and fire on my command."

Turbines roaring, Company Kay surged forward in attack formation quickly reaching a speed of seventy MPH above the uneven landscape, Millie's birds keeping watch over the seemingly peaceful enemy encampment. Cresting a rise, they saw the target spread below them in what had once been irrigated farmland. 

With that, many of the tents fell away revealing numerous guided missile batteries, stabilized rocket launchers, 155 and 105mm howitzers, entrenched 120mm mortars and 40mm anti-aircraft auto cannons. With a thunderous roar and gouts of reddish yellow flame, the weapons sent a hail of missiles and shells at the attackers, catching them by complete surprise.

"Fire at will," Zoe barked on the command channel, "Take those bastards out."

The tanks were immediately destroyed or disabled by the enemy fire, hit with a torrent of rockets and shells. The HAPC's behind them returning fire with their cannons, scoring many hits on the defenders with many destroyed before they could close with the enemy and offload their troops.

Zoe's scout car was in the thick of it, chain gun and anti-personnel bombs spewing death and destruction until, struck a glancing blow by a projectile; it careened wildly then smashed through a row of tents and lay smoking in the debris.

***

When Zoe regained consciousness her body ached, her head throbbed and when she coughed, she spat blood. She was bound hand and foot, lying on a concrete floor in a pitch black room. Where the hell was she? 

A door swung open and the blaze of light from banks of fluorescent tubes in the hall ceiling made her eyes blink and water. Through blurred vision, she saw four figures enter the room, striding to where she lay.

"So, western swine are you ready to tell us all you know?" snarled a voice, followed by a kick in Zoe's ribs. 

"Captain Zoe, US Army, serial number 402367900," Zoe gasped.

Another kick; "Tell us more, swine," the voice grated, "What are your battle plans? What size was your unit? What weapons did you possess?"

"Captain Zoe, US Army, serial number ..."

"Silence! We know that. You will tell us all you know about your army and it's feeble attempts to halt the heavenly march of divine justice into your benighted country."

"Captain Zoe, US ... Ugh!" Another kick sent her thudding back against the wall.

"Come now, Zoe dear," said a chillingly familiar voice, "Tell us what you know and no further harm will come to you."

"Shivani," Zoe said, incredulous, "Is that you?"

"Yes, it is I, Lieutenant Shivani, Army of the Sun, please tell us what you know and I guarantee you will be treated well."

"Go fuck yourself, Lieutenant," Zoe grated. "I'm telling you nothing."

"Ah, that is indeed a shame. I was so hoping we could avoid further unpleasantness. We shall leave you to your thoughts for the moment, but we shall return presently and question you again."

Zoe's vision cleared enough to see a smiling Shivani, resplendent in an officer's uniform, flanked by three burly soldiers carrying sub-machine guns.