All That Glitters

New allies, new pressures...

The first chapter in the series. This chapter will expand the story line a little and include a new principle character. This chapter also includes more sex (I'm sure some of you will appreciate that).

There is little attempt to explain the back story, so it is necessary to read the prologue to fully understand where we are.

As before, I claim sole responsibility for the story line. This story is a fantasy, with no basis in reality. Any similarity that you may perceive to current events, people, or situations real or imaginary is completely unintended. Look no further than the story line for its intent and purpose.

Once again, a big shout out to SaddleRidder for all the help she provided in editing. Couldn't have provided anywhere near as good a product without her help.

Please rate and comment. But keep your comments respectful. If you rant and rave or are disrespectful in your commentary, it will be deleted.

'Nuff said...enjoy.

VIP Suite, Liramor-23, 109 Piscium Star System, 106 Light Years from Terra

Raymond Clark woke from a deep slumber as something touched his chest. He glanced down to see a woman's hand gently brushing his chest, fingers trailing over the muscles there.

Looking over, he recognized the face of Liea Samson, his mining partner. Well, silent partner, as she had funded forty percent of his last venture, which now was about to make her a multi-billionaire. She appeared to still be asleep. Raymond smiled inwardly, appreciating the fact that she sought him out even when asleep.

The call to nature made itself aware to him, and he sadly extricated himself from his partner. Raymond looked around in wonder at the splendor of the VIP room that they shared. It was much larger than many of the rooms on platform, or the cabin of his Rockhound for that matter, and very much designed to show the wealth of the Liramor Mining Company. He saw a door leading from the room and slipped inside, only to find that he was in a mostly empty walk-in closet.

With a rueful smile he checked the next door and found what he was looking for. This was no cleansing station, but a full bathroom with shower, full-featured toilette, and wash station with all the amenities.

Wow!

Raymond thought as he looked around. He did his business and slipped quietly back to the main room.

Lights from outside the platform lit the room. The view outside showed most of the working cages and a view of the Jovian like planet that looked the size of Terra's moon but was somewhat more distant. It also showed him the room's opulence that he now had time to explore. The very large bed sat in the center of the room. It was larger than most king-sized beds.

On the side near the plasteel windows were two separate desks with built in comms units. Various art pieces hung on the walls, along with 3D images of the mining platform. There were also sculpted art pieces on stands and small tables around the room.

On one side of the room across from the foot of the bed was a dining and food preparation area. At the head of the bed was a dressing and make-up area with plenty of mirrors. In the corner near the windows, was access to the emergency escape pod dedicated to this room alone. The numbers above indicated it was a class-six escape pod, which made it large enough to carry six people, eight in a pinch.

Opposite the windows were three doors that he now knew held the walk-in closet, the full bath and the exit.

It was what was in the bed that now held his interest as he approached it.

Liea Samson had the long, lean body of multi-generational spacefaring families. Her reddish-blond hair made a halo around her head, framing a face softened by sleep. She had plump lips, and a smallish nose.

The sheets had slid down around her waist, exposing her breasts. They were C-cup, which made them look small on her, but in reality, filled a man's hands when they were held. She was 186cm tall, four centimeters shorter than he was. Not an unusual height for women of spacing families.

Families...Raymond's family had disowned him when he had joined the Terran Union Space Navy (TUSN) after completing his engineering degree. They had always been against the military and the use of force. But it was the middle of what was to become known as the Terran Unification War, and Raymond Clark was a patriot who understood the need to step up when others sought to dominate his planet.

So incensed was his mother with his decision, that she had forced him to drop the 'E' from his family name, Clarke. So, he had officially changed his name from Raymond Clarke to Raymond Clark. Some years after he had joined the TUSN he learned that his home world had been attacked with the enemy throwing several near C-charged rocks at the planet, destroying a number of major cities, including his hometown of New Laytton. Millions had been killed including most of the members of his family. Of his immediate family, only his sister Beth had survived, along with several cousins, all of whom had lived well outside of the city limits.

His remaining family had cheered loudly when, several years later, he had been extracted a hero from the Coalition of Planet's (CP) home world of Emporium. But he had never returned to his home world, or any other world for that matter, seeking solitude to heal from the destruction and mayhem he had caused. Yes, it had been war, but such acts as he had committed left a scar on a person's soul, and he had sought out solitude to heal and recover.

Liea stirred in her slumber, dragging him from his thoughts. He slipped back into bed and reached out to touch her. Her body reacted to him and green eyes fluttered open. She smiled and pulled him into a kiss. She had lots to thank him for and was going to do her best to make him feel appreciated.

Central Ops, Liramor-23

Fiona Marsh was trying to figure out what to do with her career. She would have to inform her superiors of the situation in which she found herself, well all mankind found itself in, thanks to Raymond Clark. On one hand, he had brought to her a rock of exceptional wealth all while assuring her there was more of the same to be had and he knew where to find it. On the other hand, he had just poked mankind in the eye and provide proof of not one, but two alien species, at least one of which was hostile.

She and the senior staff had gone through several intense strategy sessions on what to expect from LMC and from the Terran Union Governmental Authority (TGA) over this situation. It all came back to what Raymond Clark had said: "Maintain local authority and you would keep some control over the situation."

Their strategy sessions had all centered around this one fact. Clark knew what he was doing, and she hoped to enlist his aid in maintaining some control when the shit hit the fan. Everyone agreed, however, that once he had brought in the remainder of his claim and provided support to the TUSN where it came to the two alien species, he would likely take his retirement from mining, as a multi-billionaire.

At forty-two, he was still young, and soon to be worth a considerable fortune. He would be able to take his retirement and go wherever he wanted to, welcomed with open arms with the exception of certain worlds that had been members of the Confederation during the last war. His wartime experiences would not endear him to those who he had helped to destroy.

Fiona wondered how to elicit his help in this situation. Money wouldn't do it. Nor would offering him a senior position on platform or with LMC. He had left all of that behind to become a Rockhound in a little-known section of known space, just for the solitude. He would likely not be easily swayed to a management environment.

She sighed. Stranger things had happened. Though, she had to admit, strange things were generally the exception.

She needed sleep but was still too hyped up by events to go lay down. She knew that sleep would evade her for some time yet. Looking around her office for something to do, she fastened her mind on the daily reports for the platform. Things she knew. Things that she could manage in her sleep. It would give her something to do while allowing her mind to wander over events.

She picked up the 'New Messages' folder with communiqués from the latest FTL comms probe that had entered system from Liramor HQ. Everyone in the Terran Union did work by e-mail. Messages could be sent anywhere in the Union within a day, so the response was a two day turn around. Only on planet did people expect one to react immediately to an e-mail.

She hadn't yet sent a message out on Clark's brief and would wait a day or so until she and the senior staff had some kind of strategy as to what was going on. She couldn't wait too long though, she would not like LMC HQ to find out about this from the TGA vice coming from her.

She had gone through several e-mails when she found an unusual memo:

2482-10-27

2482-11821 (1042 Pers)

From: LMC HQ

To: Liramor-23

Atten: Fiona Marsh Dir LMC-23

Ref: TUSN Personnel Activation Order 2482-1117385

Ref refers to the re-activation of TUSN member G-787625-348 Commander (Navy) Raymond Clark, Combat Engineer Officer, now breveted Captain acting as Civilian Liaison Officer for local civilian authority, for unknown duration during the 'Emergency Situation' in 109 Piscium star system and areas within ten light years or as determined and directed by Capt. Clark.

We are NOT aware of any emergency situation in Piscium star system. We are aware that Raymond Clark is a member of Liramor-23 mining staff and are being informed by TUSN that our employee is now being activated and promoted to handle the ongoing 'emergency' in Piscium system.

LMC HQ demands an immediate explanation of what is happening in your area. Is there a situation that requires TUSN intervention in your system? Is TUSN currently in your system? Is this a hoax? What are you doing to handle this situation?

LMC HQ requires an immediate communiqué on this issue with recommendations from your staff.

Certified Electronic signature confirmed

William Liramor

Operations Manager

Liramor Mining Corporation

Liramor Prime

Shit!

Thought Fiona.

That`s just what I don`t need.

But then she looked again at the dispatch. There was part of her problem solved! She opened her comms unit and called the VIP suit with her two 'guests'.

VIP Suit, Liramor-23

Liea Samson came awake with a delighted purr as she felt the strong hands of Raymond Clark on her breasts.

"Mmmmmm, I could get to like waking up to that every morning." She sighed.

Raymond said nothing. He tilted his head down and trapped her left nipple in his mouth sucking gently.

Electric shocks ran from Liea's nipple to her pussy as the pleasure he was giving her fed her body's heat. She moaned and grabbed the back of his head, pulling him tightly to her.

Hands moved over bodies as each of them touched the other, seeking to excite and inflame their ongoing needs.

Raymond's hand moved downward, cupping her pussy, squeezing it gently. She growled as heat flowed, his mouth on her tit, and his hand on her mound. Her left hand, trapped between them, moved down to capture his swelling prick. She gently squeezed and stroked him, feeling him getting harder and thicker under her ministrations.

Just shy of her peak, she pushed him onto his back and rose over him. Her mouth settled over his for a brief moment, then worked its way down his body, until she arrived at his crotch. She could smell herself on him. Their combined smell, his spend and hers, assailed her nostrils as her tongue snaked out to touch him.

Moving up and down his rigid member, she slickened his manhood with her saliva. Liea kept working him for several minutes, enjoying the groans and twitches his body made, but after a time, she needed more for herself.

She allowed his cock to slip from her mouth and slid upward over his body, her lips finding his. It placed her just where she wanted to be, with his member trapped between her thighs. She flexed her hips, moving his tip against her nether lips. Soon enough, his rigid member was sliding up and down her now very wet crease.

Her movements became more vigorous, until the inevitable happened. The head found her entrance. She stopped moving and looked down at him, a sexy grin on her lips. Moving backwards slightly, she felt him slide inside. The pleasure of the movement caused her head to roll back, her eyes to close and her teeth to trap her lower lips to stifle, unsuccessfully, the groan that escaped her.

Liea pushed her upper body up from him allowing gravity to complete their coupling. She let out the breath she had been holding as she sank down taking him to the root inside her.

Raymond groaned as her weight settled on his hips. He was fully locked inside her as the two paused briefly to enjoy the feelings that passed through them.

With a moan, she began to move again, this time rocking to and fro in order to keep him deep inside her. He moved with her at first, then in counterpoint, creating longer thrusting motions.

She collapsed on him, pushing her hips up and down trying to take as much as she could of him with each of their combined strokes. His hands found her ass, helping her movements. Their actions became more heated, faster and harder. The slick sounds of his cock as it pistoned in and out combined with the slap of skin on skin as they collided against each other, reverberated in the room. Their muted cries of pleasure slowly became louder and more intense. Their eagerness increased until Liea felt the first powerful twitches within her. Her pussy clamped down on him with sudden force, overwhelming her with the strength of her orgasm.

Her orgasm triggered his and he pulled her down as he felt his balls jump and his seed rush through his body and into hers. The two remained rigid, only their internal muscles moving, as their mutual orgasms slammed through them. In less than a minute, it was over. Liea collapsed on Raymond whose rigid body suddenly relaxed onto the bed. It took them a few moments to recapture their breath.

Liea looked down on Raymond and smiled. She kissed him tenderly few several moments.

"Definitely could get to like that every morning!" She simpered with a grin.

The rooms comm unit chirped.

"Damn," Liea exclaimed. "Think we can ignore them?" She asked of no one in particular.

"It's probably Fiona Marsh." Raymond reasoned. "She'll send a runner if we don't answer."

Liea had to agree, but she wanted Fiona to understand just what she had interrupted. She sat up, her nakedness uncovered, facing the comm unit. "Open!" she snarled.

A 3D image of Fiona's face snapped into view in front of the unit. She smiled at the sight before her, a naked Liea Samson, legs spread and obviously freshly fucked, and an equally naked Raymond Clark though with the important bits hidden behind Liea.

"Now there's a sight I could get used to seeing!" she quipped in unconscious mimicry of Liea's words. "I need to speak to CAPTAIN Raymond Clark." She said.

Raymond's head snapped over to look at Fiona. With a quick flip, he was sitting beside Liea giving Fiona the view she had been missing. He saw her appreciative eyes move downwards and then back up to his face.

"I'm sorry, did you say Captain?" He asked.

"Yes. It seems that the Union Navy has reactivated 'G-787625-348 Commander (Navy) Raymond Clark, now breveted Captain and acting as Liaison Officer to the local authority for unknown duration during the 'Emergency Situation' in this system. What does it mean to be breveted?" She asked, already knowing the answer.

"It means that I'm promoted due to circumstances and the rank is probationary, which means I am Captain in name only. The rank can be made permanent or removed without prejudice to my current grade if they consider the situation didn't warrant the promotion or I didn't live up to their expectations. It's a means to test potential candidates or to provide a more controllable situation in an emergency.

"A ships Captain can be of any rank, though usually it is of a grade of Lieutenant Commander or above. While Lieutenant Commander and Commander are of sufficient rank to get things done within the Navy, most civilian authorities respond to the minimum rank of Captain with the desired respect that the Navy requires for action between sometimes conflicting authorities.

"Breveting me Captain allows me some level of discretion with local authorities. To whit: you," Raymond stated.

"I need to speak to you immediately in regard to the situation," Fiona stated firmly.

"Assert your authority," Clark said.

"Excuse me?"

"Declare the immediate areas of interest restricted to all but the specialized scientific teams that the TUSN will send. There will likely be other areas of interest found, which the scientific teams will want declared restricted as well.

"You probably have been conducting some rather bizarre and inane strategy sessions with your senior staff, trying to determine how you can retain control of the situation within the compliment of your own staff and authority. Doing what I have suggested will go a long way toward that end.

"LMC-23 is quite large and is not fully used. The platform is designed to a standard model that includes being able to build its own equipment on site. You currently do not do that, so you can provide some of these areas to the TUSN teams to work from. This will give you some control over the situation, as well as keeping you more in the loop as to what is going on. We could commit, you and I, to keep open the lines of communications between the local authority and TUSN where you and I are acting in that regard at the moment.

"Your legal department can draw up standard contracts to this end. Just be aware not to demand too much or add any legal bullshit or the TUSN will just declare an emergency and shut out LMC completely, including closing off large areas to mining operations. You do not want that to happen.

"It's in the best interest of this platform, and LMC, to roll over and let the TUSN rub your belly. That's the angle your going to pitch to LMC HQ, along with some signed documents between the local authorities for LMC and TUSN," Raymond concluded.

"Damn," Fiona sighed, impressed. "Brains, strategic thinking, a flawless body, and a good sized cock. What more could a woman ask for?

"Your ideas will likely allow me to keep my career and possibly retain control over the platform. Along with the current senior leadership.

"You were right about the strategy sessions. We really hadn't come anywhere near the suggestions you have just made. We'll draw up some documents for your approval and signature. I want this cut and dry before sending anything to HQ, but we only have until the daily FTL comms probe goes out later today to get all of this under wraps to cover our combined asses. Otherwise, LMC might be making decisions for us.

"When you are ready, can you come to Central Ops in your capacity as Capt. Clark?" She asked.

"I guess we're finished for the moment?" He asked looking at Liea.

She gave him a shy nod. "For the moment," she grinned.

Fiona took another long look at both of their naked bodies before cutting the comms link.

Damn!

She thought.

Central Ops, Liramor-23

Raymond and Liea strode into Fiona's office 45 min after their conversation. They had taken the time to use the VIP unit's shower, together. The unit was an actual water shower, something he not had since the last time that he had been planet side, just over ten years ago.