Chapter 34 - The War Spills Over

Of course peace did not last very long for us. We had been keeping track of the fighting between Manuel and Ruth and it was clear that both sides were growing increasingly impatient for the war to end.

The first indication of how nasty it was getting came when a fight in the colony center spilled out into our corridor. The command post staff alerted the rest of the enclave and Yvette and I dashed to the command post to watch a bloody knife fight between members of both factions. The fight only ended when Ruth's followers retreated leaving one of their own lifeless in the corridor as Manuel's minions dragged away a seriously wounded comrade.

More worrying was the escalation of the fighting. Manuel had gone to Bernard to demand that he join his side and convince the eight remaining neutrals to support him. Bernard refused and Manuel ordered one of his grenade launchers fired at the pod door. The blast had shattered the door and allowed Manuel's men inside. Unfortunately the blast also killed Bernard, leaving Manual no leverage on the remaining seven neutrals. However his tactics frightened two neutrals into joining him while four snuck off and threw themselves at Ruth's feet begging for protection.

We were trying to figure out what to do when the AI made a startling report. I had been in conference with Yvette, Linus and Mike about developing a space-based automatic cannon to add to the defense with the AI interrupted. "The command post in the colony center has been destroyed."

"What?" Yvette responded. "I mean we know it wasn't operational, but to destroy it?"

I sighed. "At least we know that the inmates aren't actually running the asylum, but we need to keep them out of here."

Yvette then suddenly had a thought and turned to me. "You realize that Amanda needs to test in a week right?"

I nodded. "Yes, as does Jack Junior but I think she'll be good. She's a bright kid and loves to help out at the school or even here when her mother stops by. At least that's what I hear," I said.

There was a sigh from Mike. "I just wish we could do more," he said.

Yvette looked at me. "I know that we have three more pods growing near the crossing, but we are still just too outnumbered. Even with Tyson, Terrence, Timothy and me finally outfitted with full battle armor that leaves us with only eight true fighters and between Manuel and Ruth there are more than forty armed and angry people out there.

Linus held up a hand when Mike seemed about to speak. "The armor doesn't prevent death. Especially in winding corridors when a grenade aimed at the right point can bring the ceiling down on you. We just can't risk it."

I turned to look at the command post where Kate and Kelly were working quietly. They had become excellent workers who obviously enjoyed their time in the command post. I was going to call out when Kate gave a squeal of joy. I was going to ask her what it was when the speaker crackled and we could hear Commander O'Brien speak. "Well, I wanted you to hear that we made it home safe. Admiral Himmel demanded that I come straight to his office with the battle records that Louis managed to salvage. He was very impressed that you managed to get the Nassau back in service in a week's time."

"Good to hear that," I replied. "We aim to please. Hopefully, if you return, it will be under better circumstances."

I could hear a giggle and Commander O'Brien's Kelly spoke up. "And thank you for the bunny. The whole household loves him."

Yvette laughed. "Just let the others know where he came from. We'll have more in the future."

The only response was a final giggle before the connection died.

I could see Yvette smiling. "I'm sure Admiral Himmel will be calling soon and asking when he can get one."

I laughed. I was going to say more when Kelly gasped. "We have visitors."

Yvette and I dashed out to find two naked figures lying down in the area between our outer and middle doors. It appeared to be a man and woman in their early twenties and I sighed. "My turn?" I asked.

Yvette was already handing a flechette gun to me. "AI, have Brittany and Janice meet James at the crossing, and alert Philippe and Bethany to go to the recreation hall."

I threw Yvette a mocking salute as I dashed out of the room. Meiko and Tina had been meeting with Robin, Michelle and Micky, while Kitty worked on helping Claire get over some nightmares, so I was not surprised by Yvette's orders. Brittany and Janice giggled when I arrived and they saw me holding a gun.

"Why am I always part of your welcoming teams?" Janice asked with a wink. "You'd think you trust me with your life or something."

Brittany fell over laughing for a moment, but recovered enough to jump up and give me a hug and kiss. "Let's meet our new friends."

We made good time down the corridor and soon arrived at the middle door. There was no sound coming from behind and I called for the AI to open the door. I remained back as it opened, but the two figures did not move and my concubines soon dashed forward to check on them.

Janice looked up after holding her hand in front of the mouths of both. "They are breathing, but they look starved. Should we move them?"

I was about to call for a gurney when a series of ricochets echoed off the outer door. "Fuck! Yvette, company!" I shouted. I looked back at the two figures who were struggling to rise.

"Janice, Brittany, I hate to ask, but grab them and get them to medical. They probably need some nutrients before we can talk to them," I ordered as I knelt down and brought my flechette gun to firing position.

The girls quickly hoisted the two almost unconscious concubines and dashed past me. I backed up the passage as the middle door slowly closed. It had nearly finished closing when a loud explosion announced the impact of a grenade on our outer door.

I ducked down as some shards flew past the still closing middle door. "Breach!" I shouted.

Kate's voice spoke over a speaker. "Yvette is on her way along with Timothy and Linus, as others arrive we are handing out rifles and sending them out."

"I'll try to hold. Do we know who's leading this attack?" I asked as I circled over to the left wall of the tunnel and found a firing position.

"There is a lot of dust, but the leader appears to be a heavily muscled woman," Kate replied.

A terrible pounding started up on the middle door. Kate must have switched on the microphone because I could hear voices and soon discerned Ruth's voice snarling. "Come out on mice. We've heard that you have teeth, but you still hide. Are you afraid?"

I was considering replying when I heard the sound of a body moving in battle armor. I half turned to find Tyson and Brad making their way down the passage. "Brad was showing me how to use the targeting display," Tyson's voice boomed.

I laughed. "Just remember that the built-in gun in the arm throws a heavy slug. Aim low, we don't need to punch through to the surface."

Brad snarled. "Let's just make them regret pounding on our door."

I turned back to the door and set up a firing position. I squeezed against the wall and shouted. "Door!"

The next moments passed as in slow motion. The sudden opening of the door caught Ruth's minions up the passage as they were retreating to avoid any back blast from the explosives they had placed against the door. Ruth clearly had not expected her 'mice' to fight back and none of her goons were facing the door as it started to open. Her men tried to turn, and with the marine upgrades they were snake-quick, but Tyson and Brad had battle armor and the fastest marine cannot react as quick as the auto-gun mounted on the primary arm of battle armor. I watched amazed as the right forearms of Brad and Tyson seemed to burst into flame as their guns threw over two hundred shells down the hallway in less than a minute. There were screams of panic and as both men raised their hands and stopped firing the only sound was of several people rapidly retreating down the passage.

"What about the explosives?" I asked. "Kelly are they visible on the screen?"

"Yes," she replied. "They have a remote detonator set up, but one of the three bodies up the hallway is holding the trigger. It should be safe to approach."

I sighed. "How did they clear the first door?" I asked.

Yvette must have been at the crossing because she responded. "It looks like they used a grenade. No one would plant a bomb where this explosion started."

Brad had carefully walked forward and was looking at the bomb. He bent down and pushed it along the floor until it was clear of the door and then kicked it with all his might, sending it flying down the corridor. Tyson yipped in protest, but Brad's response was a growl. "Maybe we'll get lucky and it will blow up out there."

I shook my head as Brad and Tyson returned to the crossing and I followed after verifying that our middle door had closed safely. As I reached the crossing Yvette was laughing. "What do you bet that we never again have someone knock on our front door?" she asked.

I just smiled. "AI, could put me in touch with all sponsors outside the enclave?"

There was a pause and then a ping. I did not wait for any response, but spoke. "This is for all of you brain-dead morons, but especially for Ruth and Manuel. Ruth just got a taste of what just one suit of battle armor can do. We have eight operational suits and also the will to use them. I'd also like to note that with the exception of your pod doors, not one pressure door on your side of the colony continues to work. Now unless you want me to send out a couple suits of battle armor to collapse the ceiling and let you all die in delicious acidic agony you will keep your petty little games outside our doors. Is that clear?"

There was a long moment of silence and I sighed. "Let me try that again. Ruth, is that clear?"

I could hear a very small and frightened voice say, "Yes."

"Good, Manuel, you lost four during your strike and back then we only used flechette guns, so I have the same question. Are we clear that you keep away?"

The voice that responded was angry, but after a moment managed to cough up a "yes."

Yvette just smiled as Brad and Tyson continued on to the laser pod, to get out of their armor. "I think they just might understand," Yvette said as the AI cut the connection.

I smiled. "And we might get a few more refugees from their less-than-happy-followers, although I'd now watch for a fake turncoat or two. I'm surprised they haven't tried that already."

The crowd of armed sponsors that had formed at the crossing started to disperse and I handed my flechette gun to Timothy to return to the armory when Shawna's voice spoke from a speaker. "James, can you come to the medical bay. These concubines are asking me a question I don't understand."

Yvette slapped my back. "Your work is never done,' she said with a laugh.

I walked over to the medical bay and found Shawna waiting at the door. She led me into the small office and looked at me. "It's the concubines that Brittany and Janice brought in. I've put them in pods to deal with their malnutrition, which will only take a few minutes. However, they were asking about Kathy, and wondering if she made it. Who are they talking about?"

I looked down for a moment. "AI, could you alert Bethany that Kathy's concubines have been found, and see if Michelle and Micky would like to bring the babies to medical?"

Shawna looked confused, but I held up a hand. "Kathy was captured by one of Manuel's minions. We received word a few days ago that she had died. We can confirm if they are really her concubines in a moment."

"Oh my," Shawna said with a sigh. "To think they struggled so hard to return to her only to fail."

"I'm not sure it was to return to her, but they did manage to escape and stay free for several weeks, but it's clear that they weren't eating often enough," I said. I thought for a moment. "Is Brittany still here?"

Shawna nodded. "She's waiting for the couple to come out, which should be another fifteen minutes or so. I want them to eat real food so I'm limiting the medical pod to just repairing any damage and giving them the energy to walk to the recreation hall for food."

I smiled. "Can you go and convince her to go into a pod. The AI already knows the cosmetic changes I have planned, but I've wanted to surprise Brittany."

Shawna giggled. "I'm guessing long hair and not much else. I've heard you say you want to let her grow up naturally."

I nodded as Shawna stood up to head to the pod room. I did not follow, but instead called up some inventories on a screen while waiting for Shawna to return. I noticed that the inventory now reported that the repair dock now had a remote tug to assist damaged ships in maneuvering to the dock and was about to call Louis about it when Kitty burst into the room.

"Why?" she cried as she ran forward to give me a hug. I put my arms around her and held her, listening to her sob softly.

"What's wrong, kitten?" I asked as I stroked her hair.

"Why am I not getting any cosmetic changes?" Kitty wailed. "Don't you love me?"

I sat down and grabbed Kitty's chin, turning it so she could look me in the eye. Her brown hair flared out behind her and I smiled. "Did you ever think that I find you perfectly beautiful as you are?" I asked.

Kitty gasped, but I held her tight with my right hand as my left came up under her halter-top and fondled her right breast. Her breasts were each a perfect handful, and I caressed the breast until I felt the nipple harden. "Your breasts are nice and tender," I whispered in Kitty's ear. "They're just the right size for me to lick. I'll have the medical bay firm them up so they are always perfect, but that doesn't require a special trip."

Kitty sat motionless as I released her and pushed the halter-top up over her head. She looked at me hesitantly and sighed. "But..." before I silenced her with a kiss.

I pushed her back just a bit to look her in the eyes again. "I love your blue eyes and red cheeks, and I can't imagine how the medical bay could make your smile any brighter." I leaned in to kiss the hollow at the base of her neck and listened to a moan escape Kitty's mouth. "You are sensitive and passionate. Your body is slender and athletic with all of the wonderful curves I love."

I pushed Kitty off my lap so she was standing in front of me. She looked nervous as my hands found the waistband of her skirt and slowly pushed it and her panties down, until they slipped below her hips and dropped to the floor. I could see a faint blush as I smiled at her. "I'm looking at a perfectly lovely woman, and one who I love. Why change perfection?"

Kitty snapped at me. "But you just gave Brittany longer hair. Everyone knows that you planned on doing that. Mine isn't that long! Why can't I have hair like that?"

I smiled and pulled Kitty back into my arms. "And yet you have the perfect hair for a cheerleader or schoolgirl. It would even look good in a ponytail," I told her as my hands ran through her hair.

Kitty gave another gasp and pushed away from me. She stared me in the eyes for a moment. "You really think that? You think I'm beautiful?" she cried! I attempted to nod, but Kitty started frantically pulling at the waistband of my shorts, finally forcing them off and exposing my hard cock to her sight. "Oh God!" she cried. "I never thought! I mean, I knew you cared, but! To think that you desire me for my looks too!"

She pushed me back in the chair and mounted me with a growl of passion. I found myself trapped by a wild passionate girl who did all she could to fan my passion and bring me to orgasm. At first I had worried about her own pleasure, but Kitty's moans and cries quickly became screams of passion as she milked my cock in a wild bout of fucking.

I had just finished bathing the inside of her pussy with my cum when she collapsed against me with a sigh. "I love you James! Thank you for gifting me with so much."

I was holding her and trying to get my breath back. She had done all the work, but her passion had taken my breath away and I was shocked by her need. "You gift me everyday, kitten," I told her.

We broke off the embrace a moment later and after finding some wipes in the room to clean me up, Kitty started putting her own clothes back on. She had just finished pulling her skirt back into place when Shawna walked in blushing.

"I don't know what you were discussing," Shawna said. "But I can guess that you came to an agreement."

I laughed as Kitty blushed. "I just took time to convince my kitten here that I thought her beautiful. She decided that I deserved a reward."

Kitty blushed deeper as Shawna laughed. I noticed that Shawna appeared a bit uncomfortable and smiled. Shawna did not notice my observation, but looked at Kitty. "I can't imagine her not seeing how you feel about her. She's a darling little girl and so sweet. I just wish you hadn't been quite so vocal."

I smirked and smiled. "Well, since Kitty was the aggressor with me, why don't you lie back on the table and she can lick you as her penalty."

Shawna looked over at me in surprise, but at my faint nod smiled and moved to sit on the table. A quick motion pulled her surgical gown open to reveal that she was only wearing a garter belt and stockings underneath. I raised an eyebrow at this and Shawna giggled. "Marina turned me on to this. Usually she'll sneak in during Angel hour and we..."

Kitty giggled nervously and looked over at me. I smiled. "It's okay. Show Shawna some of that passion you just showed me."

Kitty gave a squeal of delight and kissed me before turning to run her hands up Shawna's stocking-covered legs. A moment later it was Shawna's turn to moan in pleasure as Kitty put her tongue to work.

I laughed silently and stepped out of the room to give Kitty and Shawna some privacy. A moment later, Marina showed up at the main door and smiled as she heard the cries. "Oh, Shawna will be eager for my pussy," she said with a light in her eyes. I laughed with her and waved as I entered the pod room to look at the newcomers.

I had been in there about five minutes when Kitty stumbled into the room, once again dressed, and took my hand. I was going to give her a reassuring squeeze, but she pulled me down so that my ear was next to her lips and fiercely whispered. "Master, I loved all of that, but, the next time, I want your cock in my pussy while I lick Shawna's pussy."

I shook my head and looked her in the eyes. "It was my gift to my little kitten," I said. I would have said more, but David strolled in wearing only a tiny Speedo and looked at us.

"Shawna called me to tell me she was busy and needed someone to open two pods," he said with a shrug. "I'm guessing that Marina is with her, which means that she'll be occupied for at least thirty minutes."

"Why not join her?" Kitty asked with a giggle.

David smiled at my young concubine. "Because Shawna and Marina use this time to help bond. Marina came from a rather traditional family and is not comfortable with some of the pleasures women can enjoy together. She's learning to love them, and someday soon she will invite me to join. Until then our trysts are all couples only."

I nodded. "May that day be soon," I said.

David laughed. "It will be. Zenita walked in on Shawna and Marina a couple days ago, and Shawna just waved for Zenita to join in. Marina gasped when she felt the second set of hands, but never refused and admitted to me later that she wished it had been me. I just want it to be Marina who asks for it. Shawna and I have talked about that and we are working to get Marina to ask, but she has not quite been horny enough."

Kitty laughed as David deactivated the security on the two pods and allowed them to open. A moment later the man and woman inside sat up in shock.

"Where...? Where are we?" the man asked as the woman started sobbing.

David put a gentle hand on the woman's shoulder. "You are in the Ishtar Medical Bay. Here we fix all the aches and pains that ail you."

The man's head whipped around and he stared at David's toned figure. "What are you?" he demanded. "You don't look like one of those over-muscled marines."

David laughed as Kitty held onto me in surprise. I was going to say something, but David shook his head. "I'm just one of the concubines who assist in keeping this place up. I stopped by to let you out of the pods. You arrived rather malnourished and the pods were used to fix that before your first meal."

"Where?" the woman said as she started to look around. "Is this really Ishtar?"

Kitty laughed. "What do you remember?" she asked.

The man groaned. "Kathy decided that someone was going to talk to Manuel and convince him to back down from his stupid dreams of being overlord. We followed as she wandered the tunnels in search of his pod, but one of Manuel's goons grabbed her and we ran off and hid. We found a pod that for some reason was empty and stayed there, eating what food the replicator would give us, but it stopped working two days ago. We had been sneaking out to listen and heard some of Manuel's men complain about a door they were supposed to avoid and tried to find it, but last thing I remember..."

The woman gasped. "We found a dead-end, but before we could turn back a door closed behind us."

"And that's when you passed out," I finished for the duo who turned to look at me. They seemed confused, but I smiled and held out my hand. "The door that closed is the one that Manuel's men have been told to avoid."

Just then Janice walked in with Michelle and Micky, who were carrying the two babies that had been in their care. The woman immediately jumped up with a cry of joy. "Kirk!" she cried as she took the child that Micky was holding and held him to her breast.

Her male partner was a bit slower stepping up, but stood as well and smiled at the two girls who had just arrived. "I see that Kaylee is well. Does that mean that Michael is here?"

The girls giggled. "Do you mean Mike our master, or Michael, the dreamy male concubine who works in this medical bay?" Michelle asked.

The man looked over at me but I only shrugged. "I didn't know that they thought of him as dreamy," I replied. "But if you are asking about their sponsor, he's probably at the recreation hall. And that is where we are taking you two, so you can get some food."

Michelle and Micky gave delighted squeals as they helped steady the two newest concubines. The woman still held the male baby to her chest, but looked over at the females and then asked. "Is Kathy here?"

I sighed as I had avoided announcing the news, but felt trapped. "The AI informed us that one of Manuel's goons beat her to death. I'm sorry."

The woman dropped to her knees sobbing and the other concubines knelt down to comfort her. The sobbing had finally started to slow when the man stood up and looked at me. "Carol here is Kathy's sister. Kathy took her as a concubine and promised to take care of her."

I nodded. "I truly am sorry, but we are badly outnumbered. At best we can keep Manuel and Ruth away, but going out to rescue someone would be suicide."

The man nodded and then held his hand out. "I know, but it still hurts. I'm Tom, and I guess I'm now an unowned concubine. I'm not sure what that means."

I smiled and took his hand as Michelle and Micky managed to help Carol back to her feet. "It means that you and Carol will be staying in the spartan, but comfortable dorm for dispossessed concubines until we find the right sponsor for you. I should warn that right now we don't have any sponsors needing concubines, but the future can change things."

Tom gave me a faint smile and as Carol seemed to have steadied her emotions we left the medical bay for the short walk to the recreation hall. Tom was subdued and Carol sniffled the whole way, but when we arrived and Mike gave them another friendly welcome the duo seemed to perk up. Food was definitely a priority and Tom and Carol soon were eating merrily while Michelle and Micky described the situation to them.

Carol grew more solemn as the reality of her sister's death sank in, but was starting to smile when she turned to me. "What happens to Tom and me now?"

Bethany, who had been waiting in the recreation room and was now sitting on my lap smiled. "Well, we will set you up in our concubine's dormitory until a new sponsor is found. That might be some time though. Until then you are welcome to assist in the nursery."

Carol smiled and relaxed then looked down at her baby. "Do I keep Kirk?" she asked. "And what about Kaylee?"

I shrugged as Yvette walked in and joined the group. "Kirk is your son, so if you want to keep him you may. I'm guessing that Kaylee is your sister's child, so it makes sense for you to keep her if you wish," I replied

Carol gave a faint smile and hugged Tom. Yvette was looking at them and asked. "I know it's none of my business, but how did you end up here. Not the sneak through the tunnels part, but how did Kathy select you, and do you want to stay together?"

Tom looked startled and thought for a while. He looked at Carol for a moment and then returned his gaze to Yvette. "I never considered it much," he started. "I always felt so blessed to have Kathy showing me so much respect. Kathy and Carol attended the same gym I did, and one evening after a workout, Kathy talked me into going to Denny's for a late night snack. We were there when the pickup started, and Kathy just turned to me and asked if I wanted to come. She already was holding Carol's hand and I accepted without thinking about what it meant."

Bethany gave me a kiss and then looked at him. "Let me guess. It turned out to mean that you had made yourself the sex slave of a wonderful woman who you miss very much."

Carol giggled. "Yes. For both of us actually, but how did you know?"

Bethany just smiled and looked at me. The silence extended and I sighed. "Someone wants me to spank her when we get home," I muttered. I looked at the couple. "Let's just say that Bethany here makes sure I have no complaints that I asked her to join me."

There was laughter and then Tom spoke up. "I know the feeling, and you are right, mistress. If possible I'd like to stay with Carol, we have been through a lot together."

I could see Yvette considering something, but the conversation drifted until Tom and Carol were taking about the babies and finding out how they spent the last few weeks, so after a nod to Yvette I headed off to my pod with Bethany and Kitty.