~~~ Series Notes ~~~
This story will make more sense if you read it from start to finish. Chapter 1 was written about a year ago but the last five chapters will be submitted to Literotica as a bundle and should appear at a rate of one per day.
~~~ Little Mother ~~~
Major Johnson sat on the couch, holding the sleeping polecat on his chest. He called for the Captain to join him. When she sat down, he asked her what she thought their next steps were.
"First things first, sir," Parker said. "I think Sharma's pulling more weight than her rank denotes. She's not actively fought with us yet - but she's doing work above her current designation. I think we should promote her to Corporal. I'd also like you to consider bumping Basso to Sergeant."
"I agree," Johnson said. "Write both of those up and I'll send them in."
She nodded and continued on to what he had asked her about.
"As for next steps, I believe we should move against The Shield. That being said, The Bear was - I believe - an unknown when we took this assignment. In order to maximize our efforts, I think I need to know how deep you intend us to go, in rooting out the ones who are either behind the virus - or defending those who are."
Johnson stroked his fingertips over the sleeping mammal's small form. It seemed to be very comfortable with him - and enjoy his loving touches.
"Originally, we were sent here to support the Polish and Ukrainian efforts," the Major said. "I have (obviously) updated my contact in Washington on what we've found since we arrived. I do not have specific directives on how 'deep' (as you say) to go with this. I have not been told to proceed - but I have not been told NOT to."
Parker studied his face for a moment. She didn't seem to be staring at him. It was more like she was calculating and his face just happened to be where she was looking. He waited for her to finish.
"That suggests," she said, "that Washington either wants us to appear as a rogue element - or they fear that orders to remove certain individuals could be problematic politically. There is also a small chance that they are concerned that our channels of communication are not fully to be trusted."
"Since the broodling that was the most critical in the release of the virus holds a high position of power in Russia," Johnson replied, "I think we can assume that politics plays a big role in this."
Parker nodded.
"Let's assume - until we are told otherwise," Johnson said, "that we are to eliminate all of the vampires involved in the distribution of the virus - as well as their broods."
Parker nodded again.
"If - as happened with The Bear - we find rogue elements that oppose us in our quest, they will be dealt with in the same manner that we did with Yaroslav."
Most of the girls had found someplace to sit, listening in to the conversation. After all, these decisions would give them an idea of how much longer they would be away from home.
"Step 1," Parker said, "locate The Shield and remove him and his brood. Step 2: Repeat this with Ivan. In its simplest form, I believe that accomplishes our goals. In theory, if it were that simple, I think we could be finished here in another week. Personally, I don't think it will be that easy. I think we will need to visit the capital to deal with Ivan. I think we will find at least one more rogue vampire. Given that Ivan and The Shield are relatively young, I believe that - assuming we are the ones doing the attacking - we can deal with them without too much risk. Our battle with The Hammer worries me. We're too vulnerable here. This base of operations enables us to prepare and launch attacks with success and efficiency - but - it's also our biggest liability."
"How do we reduce that liability?" the Major asked her.
"We could spread the team out," Parker said, "but I think that actually weakens our ability to effectively defend each member of our unit - and significantly increases the avenues of approach and methods of attack that the enemy can employ against us."
"So we remain as we are, look for ways to improve our defenses, and begin collecting intel on our two targets and their subordinates."
"Yessir," Parker replied.
"I agree," Johnson said. "Make it happen, Captain."
Captain Parker flagged down Sergeant Nordahl and then headed to the computer room. Along the way, she sent Schmidt, Jimenez, and Basso to buy supplies to fill in their missing stocks of both food and ammunition.
Sharma stepped over to check on their patient again and Major Johnson pulled her down beside him, wrapping an arm over her shoulders.
"I hear that we have you to thank for all of the good meals lately," he told her.
"It's something of a hobby of mine, sir," she replied, looking at her feet.
"Everything you do is an asset to the team," he told her. "Keep it up and you'll soon replace me."
She looked up at him with a grin. He leaned forward and begged for a quick kiss - which she gave him.
"Thank you, sir," she said.
"As you were, Corporal," he told her.
Her eyes glistened. She hopped up and returned to her workstation.
The Major watched as Martin, Takao, and Washington worked to service and clean the team's weapons. Sergeant Carpenter returned from her supply run and asked the three to help her bring up her goodies.
"Fuck, Carpenter," Washington complained. "What's in these things?"
"Steel flat stock," Carpenter replied, grinning.
The wooden crates were big enough that it took two of them to carry them up the stairs. They quickly decided that Takao and Martin couldn't be pair together because they weren't strong enough to manage both the weight and the climb. Washington and Takao worked together; Martin helped Carpenter. Thankfully, there weren't that many crates and, soon enough, they were done.
Takao dropped onto the couch beside the Major, breathing heavily. She snuggled against his side and studied his new pet.
"You can probably pet her, if you'd like," he said.
The slender sergeant ran her fingers down through the small animal's coat.
"What are you going to do with her, Major?" she asked.
"I don't know," he admitted. "At first, I just wanted to see her healed back up. She was hurt bad. I bit my wrist and got her to take some blood. That got her stabilized. She had a few more little feedings before I thought it was safe to try moving her."
"Feedings, sir?" Takao asked.
"Somehow," he replied, "I feel like she's bonding to me - like you girls did when I brought you into the brood. I've never tried this with a non-human before - and I don't think I've ever read or heard about someone else trying it - but I feel like she's part of us now. I can't just free her. Actually, I think I could - but she wouldn't leave. I guess we'll have to see what she does. I plan to let her choose."
"She's so cute for all that Sharma read in that description," the Sergeant told him.
"Cute and dangerous," the Major said, grinning, "like a few other females I know."
Takao grinned - and purred - and leaned over to give her superior officer a kiss. She climbed up from the sofa and went back to helping Washington and Martin with the weapons. Carpenter had a cordless drill and was fixing the flat stock into place over the apartment's windows, bolstering the team's defenses against intruders. The bars wouldn't do much against a vampire who could shadow-step - but it would keep the less-able from coming in unannounced.
Nordahl appeared at the Major's shoulder.
"Ready for me?" Johnson asked.
The Sergeant nodded, eying the sleeping polecat.
The Major eased up, off of the couch, and followed her into the computer room. He looked over the promotion requests and other requisition forms that the Captain and the Sergeant had prepared. He added his signature to the documents and then stood once more, heading back to the front room - and then changing direction. He went to his bedroom and carefully laid the polecat on his pillow. He pulled his blanket up and tucked it around her. Returning to the front room, he went to help Carpenter.
"Sharma?"
"Sir?"
"Look up 'little mother' in Polish for me, would you?"
She tapped a few keys and clicked the mouse a couple times.
"Mala Matka".
"I like it," Jimenez said, coming off of the stairs with a load in her arms. "It sounds like 'bad mother' or 'bad death'."
Basso laughed and said, "Sounds like my mother."
"We must be sisters," Schmidt told her, "cuz that sounds exactly like my mom."
Washington looked over at the pair and laughed, "Yeah, you two are practically fucking twins."
The room erupted into laughter. Even Sharma was wiping tears from her eyes. It quieted when Captain Parker stepped back into the room.
"Sir, the promotions and requisitions were approved."
"Congratulations Sergeant Basso, Corporal Sharma. Keep up the good work. The rest of you are beautiful people too but Colonel Legato might be disappointed if we got back home and I had to tell him that he wasn't the only one running around with an eagle on his shoulder."
Titters, giggles, and chuckles floated through the room.
"Job well done, ladies," he told them. "I would just like to remind you that I was damned nervous about having a brood again after all these years, but I couldn't be happier about how it has turned out. Not only are you girls as hot as fuck but you've come together as a power to be reckoned with - all while showing me that you care enough about me and each other to overlook the little shit that can cause units problems with morale and cohesion."
"We love you, too, Major," Washington said.
The Major laughed and said, "No, you can't have an extra feeding."