Terran Marines Ch 03

Terran Marines (Ch 03)

This really isn't a stand alone story as the previous chapters introduce many of the characters and go into the tech details of the suits and the Marine's gear. I have included a list of characters as there are a lot of names and it can sometimes get confusing.

In this chapter, I changed up the order of things a bit. Play first, work second (then play some more!)

Dramatis Personae:

Corporal (Cpl) Claudius Stephen - 1st Fire Team (FT) leader

Lance Corporal (LCpl) Berts - 1st FT member

Private First Class (PFC) Hanaka Watanabe - 1st FT member

PFC Jose Ramirez - 1st FT member

Private First Class (PFC) Becky Johnson (deceased)

Cpl Jackie Bronson - 2nd FT leader (Fab Four)

LCpl Annie McMaster - 2nd FT member

LCpl Mary Jones - 2nd FT member

LCpl Jessica Vuong - 2nd FT member

Cpl Louis Lopez - 3rd FT leader

LCpl Cron - 3rd FT member

Sergeant (Sgt) Kronkit - 3rd Squad Leader

Sgt Bernard Durand - 2nd Sqd Ldr

Cpl Samuels

Sgt Janice Thomas - 1st Sqd Ldr

Staff Sergeant (SSgt) Kerwalski - Platoon Sergeant

First Lieutenant (1STLT) Joanna Hunter - Platoon Commander

Capt Samantha Tovington - Marine aerospace fighter pilot

++++++++++++++++

The

Basilone

settled into its assigned docking port on Heinlein Station, which orbited Vesuvius, Alpha Centauri system, home of the Terran Marine headquarters. The

Basilone

Sailors were busy, ensuring that the ship was docked properly, umbilicals attached and that they completed all of the thousand and one tasks that were required when a starship returned home. The Marines embarked were a little less busy as they waited impatiently for the Sailors to finish so they could begin their liberty. It was traditional that the Marines would receive a 48 hour liberty period upon returning to home port after a successful mission.

The Marines were gathered in the

Basilone's

briefing room, animatedly discussing their plans. The Platoon Sergeant, Staff Sergeant (SSgt) Kerwalski, stepped into the room, then took a step to the side and barked, "ATTENTION ON DECK!"

All the Marines stood and snapped to attention as their Platoon Commander, Lieutenant (LT) Hunter, walked into the room. In her warm, rich alto voice, she gave a quick "At ease! Seats, please."

The Marines took their seats and followed her with their eyes as she finished walking to the front of the room. "Congratulations on another successful mission. We took some hits and lost a lot of good people, but we saved over 70 colonists!"

There were a few cheers.

"I understand several of the colonists were very...shall we say, grateful, for their rescue? I hear a few of you had an interesting trip back."

There were some raucous shouts, laughter and a few Marines, both male and female, were pounded on the back. LT Hunter was happy to hear the laughter as there had been a lot of tears when the fallen Marines were given their funeral service and their bodies committed to space.

She held up her hands and the room gradually fell silent. "Ok, one last thing before I turn you over to SSgt K." She paused, "Your liberty brief." There were some grins and one low 'Booooo', but everyone focused on her.

"Everyone will have a liberty buddy. I know that this is Alpha Centauri, but you will have a buddy with you at all times.

"No fighting." She glared at the Marines. She sighed when a hand was raised.

"Yes, Samuels?"

"Ma'am, does that include those pogey Soldiers?"

"Yes, it does. You CAN NOT pick a fight with the Army.

"No teasing the shore patrol." There was a faint sigh which she ignored.

"And no drinking or smoking MJ and driving.

"You cannot partake of any persistent drugs, you've all been informed of the current banned list.

"Everyone will be back in 48 hours. If you're late, SSgt K will take it out of your hide." Next to her, SSgt Kerwalski bared his teeth in a wide smile.

"Questions?" There were none.

LT Hunter turned to leave and gave a peremptory, "Then be safe. Carry on. SSgt Kerwalski."

"Ok Marines, here's the updated list on which establishments are out of bounds. And yes, Sgt Thomas, that means you cannot go in or linger near those businesses. They are..."

+++++++++++++++++

Cpl Stephen stood in a line of Marines, waiting to sign the liberty book and head to the station. The most junior Marine in the platoon, Pvt Ramirez, was at the head of the line, followed by the other young Marines. Behind them were the slightly more senior Lance Corporals, followed by the Corporals and Sergeants. Finally, at the end of the line were SSgt Kerwalski and LT Hunter.

Cpl Stephen ruminated on the traditions that were at the core of the Terran Marines. They traced their history back to a wet surface navy that hailed from one of the larger and more prosperous provinces on Old Earth. It was a Service that was rich in tradition, but it also prided itself on its flexibility, discarding traditions and habits that threatened to keep it from growing and adapting with the times. However, many of the Terran Marines' central traditions remained. One tradition was to take care of the junior Marines first as they carried the burdens of the service. This meant that they were fed and sent on liberty first. This was in contrast to some of the other Services, where the senior officers and Staff Non-Commissioned Officers were the first to leave the ship on liberty. It was sometimes quite the sight to see an Admiral lined up next to a boot Private. In this case, the Navy was still putting the

Basilone

to bed, so were not allowed to leave on liberty yet, so it was only a line of Marines impatiently waiting their turn to digitally sign the log book and leave.

Stephen and his libbo buddy, Cpl Tre Williams, of 1st Squad, exited the

Basilone's

boarding tube, made their way through the station and over to the shuttle transit bay. Here they caught a shuttle to one of the smaller cities on farside. Farside, or anywhere that was on the other side of Vesuvius from the space station, was more expensive and a longer ride, but it was away from the Terran Marine Headquarters and training bases. The hope was they wouldn't run into too many other Marines and would be able to enjoy themselves without having to worry about any of their peers. They ended up in a bar in a small town. They walked in and a quick look around revealed that they were the only Marines in the joint. Booths lined a couple of walls, several small stand-up tables filled one corner and a small stage was in the back. A large wrap around bar filled the middle of the room. The bar wasn't too crowded, but there were a decent number of people. Smiling, Stephen and Williams sauntered up to the bar which was manned by two bartenders. They found a couple of empty chairs and settled in.

To their delight, the cuter of the two barkeeps walked up. "Hey, what can I getcha?"

Williams ordered an ale while Stephen went with a rye whiskey.

"Here's your drinks. By the way, I'm Cindy, let me know if you need anything."

"Thanks! What else is there to do around here?" Stephen asked.

Cindy shrugged, "You're pretty much doing it."

"Works for me!"

Cindy smiled at Williams, "So you boys just pull in?"

"How could you tell?"

"You've got that pasty look from spending too much time in deep space and in armor."

Stephen could only grin and nod, "You've pegged us right. We're on libbo for a couple of days."

"What made you pick this back of nowhere town?"

Stephen made a show of looking around, "No other Marines around. We can drink in peace."

Cindy laughed, "If you're trying to stay away from Marines, you're on the wrong planet. Half of the people in here are either retired or served a hitch."

"Yeah, but I reckon none of you will give us too hard of a time if we get plastered and make a fool out of ourselves."

"No, you're right about that, as long as you don't tear the place up. So you had a successful deployment?"

Stephen made a face and glanced at Williams, "Yeah, we did. We lost a lot of good people at some shithole called Tau Omega 6."

Cindy's eyes grew big, "No shit! Really? You guys were on Tau Omega 6?"

"Yeah, we were there."

"You guys made all the tri-V newscasts! That was some fucking op. Congratulations on rescuing all of those colonists."

Stephen muttered, "Oh shit."

Cindy turned and yelled at a bunch of guys in a booth, "Hey gramps!"

When they didn't look up, she sighed and yelled, "Hey, Sar'Major!"

An older, balding man looked up and yelled back, "What's up Cindy?"

"C'mon over here."

He strolled over. He was large, at least several inches over 6' and broad. Large, corded biceps and the lack of a gut underneath his shirt showed a man who kept himself in shape.

"What's up Cindy?"

"These two just got back from Tau Omega 6!"

The old man threw out a large paw and shook each Marine's hand, giving them a hug in turn. "Boys, thank you for what you did. I hear you lost some good Marines, but you brought back the surviving colonists. I'm Sergeant Major Paris and while you're here, you'll drink on us."

He saw the look that Stephen and Williams exchanged. "No worries, from the reports you've had a rough time and I'll make sure that you're left alone, if that is what you want. If you need someone to talk to, either let me or Cindy know. We both have a good shoulder if you need to talk about it. If you want a pro, we have a couple of good head shrinks in town." He paused, "Where are you staying?"

"We're staying at the Plaza, Sar'Maj."

Paris turned, "Hey, Tony! These two are staying at your place, can you upgrade them to a suite?"

"The VIP suite is open, I'll have their bags moved up there. No charge!"

Stephen tried to refuse, "Thank you, Sar'Maj, but you don't need to do this for us. We both would just be happy to find a quiet corner and have a few drinks."

"No worries, I'll leave you alone, but when you're done for the night, you'll have a nice room to recover. If you need anything, just let one of the bartenders know and they can get in touch.

"Thank you both again." He nodded to them both and walked back to his booth.

"Damn." Stephen turned to Williams, "I think I might like this place. We may have to come back here next time."

"No shit."

Cindy walked over, "Y'all ready for another?"

"Sure!" "Yeah!"

"Another ale? Or would you like something harder."

"I'll stick to ale. Nothing good comes from drinking firewater."

Cindy laughed and turned to Stephen, "And how about you? How about a scotch?"

"Real scotch? You've got that here?"

"Yep, gramps likes the real stuff. He did say it was on the house. How about Lagavulin 16? Or we have a bottle of Macallan 18?"

"Holy shit..."

+++++++++++++++++++

Stephen and Williams had been at the bar a few hours and as daylight began to wane, the clientele became younger as the older folks headed home and the younger workers came in to relax after work. Cindy had helped introduce them to a couple of young ladies, but at a look from Stephen, she refrained from mentioning their history.

Rhia was cute, of average height with darker hair and a native tan. She was an admin at a local business and she hit it right off with Stephen. Williams was likewise deeply engrossed in a conversation with his companion. After a drink and some conversation, Rhia was becoming flirty, briefly touching his arm and occasionally leaning into him. Stephen was enjoying the company and was finally able to start relaxing.

As they talked, the bar was getting full, was getting loud and a two-piece band was cranking out covers of current hits. People were dancing on a small dance floor in front of the stage. Above the noise, Stephen looked up when he heard a familiar shout. He groaned when he saw the Fab Four walking into the bar.

Rhia saw him watching the Fab Four as they sashayed into the bar. "Friends of yours?"

"Yeah, they're in my squad."

"Oh, good friends then?"

"Yeah, but they're a handful when they are out on the town. I was hoping for a quieter night."

"Well, I was hoping for a dance." She arched an eyebrow at him. Taking the hint, he took her hand and led her out to the dance floor. Stephen was entranced with her, the natural sway to her hips, her coy smile as she danced in front of him, the beckoning finger as she urged him closer. She was in her work clothes, so they weren't risque, too tight or too short, but she wore them well. A nice hint of cleavage poked through her shirt and her slacks clung to an amazing ass. The band shifted songs, crooning out a slow song. Rhia pulled Stephen in close, her body melding with his.

"Hmmmm, this feels nice," she whispered in his ear. He was enjoying himself, the horrors of Tau Omega 6 finally fading. The sounds of his autocannon and mortar impacts were replaced by the music and her sultry voice. The sights of friends getting pulled from their holes by the bugs replaced by Rhia's smiling face. The smells of the battlefield were replaced by the jasmine in her perfume.

The song ended and another slow number started. Stephen was content to hold Rhia tight to him, so he was surprised when a hand was laid on his shoulder. He slightly disengaged from Rhia and was surprised again to see Corporal Jackie Bronson standing next to him.

"May I cut in for this song? We're colleagues and I promise to give him back to you afterwards." Jackie had directed her question to Rhia, who nodded and stepped back.

"I'm going to hold you to your promise, I just found him."

"Thank you. Just so you aren't alone, Mary here will buy you a drink. I'll return Stephen in a minute."

Rhia shrugged and followed Mary to the bar.

Stephen looked down at Jackie. Jackie was a brunette and for once he was able to see her with her hair down. She was wearing a sleek, dark blue cocktail dress. A sharp, plunging V neckline emphasized her large chest, leaving much of her inner curves exposed. The dress hugged her hips and fell to about mid-thigh. A high slit on one side indicated that she was most likely pantiless, which matched her lack of a bra. She danced close to Stephen, but left a chaperone-friendly space between them.

"You're amazing! But why are you here and why did you cut in on Rhia?"

"Oh, that's a nice name. As for why we're here, we wanted to see SgtMaj Paris' bar. He was the SgtMaj for my training battalion and he was good people. I heard he had retired out here and opened a bar, so when the chance came up, we took it. You were a pleasant surprise."

"Hmmm, ok. So why cut in?"

"Just to let you know that if Rhia doesn't work out, we're staying at the Plaza. Look us up."

"We're staying there too. SgtMaj Paris hooked us up with a suite."

"Oh cool, we may have to crash your party at some point."

"Now, Jackie...."

"Don't 'now Jackie' me, Claudius."

Stephen winced when she said his name. "C'mon Jackie, you know I prefer Stephen."

Jackie smirked at him as the song ended. "Let's go to the bar and see if Mary has stolen your date yet." Mary liked girls and was known to steal them from the guys.

"Hey, she better not! I saw her first!"

Rhia was talking to Mary and the last two members of the Fab Four, Lance Corporals Annie McMaster and Jessica Vuong, when Stephen and Jackie walked up. Rhia greeted him with a hug and a quick peck on the lips.

She began, "So, Stephen, I have a couple of questions for you."

He shot a glare at the Fab Four, then turned to Rhia, "Anything."

"Ok, first, why did you introduce yourself as Stephen and not by your first name, Claudius?"

The other girls giggled as he rolled his eyes at them, "Well, it's a little obvious. I don't particularly care for my first name. In the Marines we usually go by last names anyways so it's become a habit."

"Hmmm, ok, although I like Claudius and I think that you shouldn't be embarrassed about it." He shrugged in response.

"What else?"

"Well, how did they get the name Fab Four? Mary wouldn't tell me."

Stephen quickly summarized their history and how their unusual longevity as a team despite the odds had resulted in the nickname. Terran Marines were often thrust into perilous situations and were almost always outnumbered, relying on teamwork, skill and firepower to overcome their adversaries. Casualties were often high as a result. Almost a third of the platoon had died on Tau Omega 6 during the rescue of the colonists while the Fab Four had come out without a scratch, despite being in the middle of some of the fiercest fighting. The four were also all female, unusual in an organization where 75% of the personnel were male. They also tended to party together and were tighter than the typical team.

"Huh, should I be jealous?"

Jackie stepped in to place a hand on Rhia's arm, "No, we wouldn't horn in on another woman's man. We're here to party and not looking to hook up." She stepped close to the other woman and whispered in her ear, "But if you hurt him, run. He does mean something to us and he just lost someone close to him." She stepped back, "You two have fun, we may see you around."

Jackie gathered the other three and they disappeared deeper into the bar.

Stephen looked at Rhia nervously. She regarded him solemnly for a minute, "You have some dedicated friends who seem to care deeply about you."

He could only shrug in reply.

She smiled, "Buy me another drink, the night's still young and I want to dance some more."

+++++++++++++++++

Rhia and Stephen stumbled into his suite. The lights were turned down, leaving the living area dimly lit. An opened bottle of champagne was on the table, thankfully stoppered. A couple of used glasses were arranged around it. They both giggled when they heard low moans coming from one of the bedrooms.

Stephen found two champagne flutes in a cupboard, then poured a glass for Rhia and himself. "I guess my buddy found someone too."

Rhia gave him a sultry smile as she sipped at her champagne. "Hmmmm, this is good stuff."

She sauntered over to him and took him by the hand, leading him to the couch. "Let's get better acquainted."

She pushed him down onto the couch, then sat down on his lap and leaned in to kiss him. Their lips met and she leaned into him, pressing her chest against him. They kissed deeply, tongues dancing. She wiggled on his lap until she felt him stiffen. She broke the kiss and looked down at him.

"Hmmm, someone wants to say hello," she purred.

"He really does want to make your acquaintance!"

Rhia adjusted herself, straddling Stephen's legs. She ground herself on his groin as she felt him thicken and harden. She pulled back, then worked on the fastener of his pants and pulled them down. He helped by lifting his ass. She only left him in his boxers for a moment, pulling them off to join his pants on the floor.

Rhia regarded his erect member, stroked it a few times, then licked her lips. "I have to taste this beast!" She took him into her mouth, swirling her tongue around his tip, causing him to groan. She slowly suckled on his shaft as she took more of him into her mouth. On the upstroke, she stroked his shaft with her hand.

"Oh fuck, that's good!" he groaned.

She worked his shaft, alternating licking up and down and taking him into his throat. She couldn't inhale all of his cock, but took a respectable amount. Soon, he felt himself approaching the end. He warned her and she responded by cradling his balls and gently rubbing the tender spot below them while increasing the rate in which she blew him. He groaned again as he came, blowing three jets into her mouth before she pulled away and let him finish on her chest. She smiled, opened her mouth to show his load coating her tongue, then stood and walked over to the kitchen sink to spit. She rinsed with a glass of water, then swayed over to him.