Max Intel: Melinoe
Chapter 7 - Melinoe

Max moaned a little as she awoke from the edge of the pleasurable dream she was having.

She wondered how often that happened in her life; she kind of liked the way it felt.

Joon immediately turned and stared at Max with wide eyes, "I was with you..."

Max blinked, "What?"

"In my dream!" Joon gasped, "I was with you in my dream!"

Agatha lifted up onto her elbow listening to her girlfriends.

Joon shifted her gaze from Max to Agatha, "Did you do that?"

Agatha looked at Max, "I was watching both of your dreams, and Max was really getting into a nice orgasm with you in hers."

"I knew you'd like being with her like that, so I pulled you into her dream to enjoy it with her." Agatha looked curiously at Joon, "Did I do a bad thing?"

Max and Joon looked into each other eyes.

"Did you like it?" Max asked her wife.

Joon's eyes started watering up, "Oh fuck, Max, It was amazing!"

What really happened just clicked in Max's brain.

"We shared a dream..." Max stared at Joon, "We can be with each other in dreams."

Max turned to Agatha, "Thank you... Thank you so much!"

Agatha smiled, "I'm glad I didn't do a bad thing."

Max and Joon pulled Agatha over Max's body and then gently held her between them. They wrapped Agatha in a hug and were fervently kissing her.

After a few minutes Joon announced, "I have to pee." All three of them got up and went to the bathroom.

"We totally need to play with that more!" Joon enthusiastically announced.

Max nodded, still reeling from the experience, "Definitely, I am looking forward to it."

Agatha grinned, "If I knew it would make you both so happy, I would have done it sooner."

The toilet was flushed and everyone washed up to head down to the cargo bay. Agatha did the honors and thumbed the bay's huge door open; the chill air was sobering and vitalizing.

Agatha blinked in momentary confusion since Max was standing in the back next to Joon.

Max nodded at the Agatha standing at the front of the group, allowing her the honor of leading the morning kata in recognition of her skill.

Agatha stood up straight and bowed to her selves, Max, and Joon and after they bowed to Agatha in return the kata began. Agatha reflected on the current situation as she stood before herself leading the kata for the family. She realized the unspoken honor and recognition Max had afforded her and recognized this was yet another step in her journey.

Completing the third rotation, the group stood tall and bowed prior to Agatha thumbing the cargo bay door closed. The crew began chatting about the morning's events as they walked to the hot showers and enjoyed the refreshing experience.

Max studied the Agatha in the shower with Joon and her. She appeared more fit now, with fine muscle tone and better definition which accentuated her b-cup breasts and highly placed, perky nipples. Max watched as Agatha turned around while she rinsed off the lather and made no bones about admiring her amazing heart shaped derriere. Agatha, having felt all that Max had been thinking, glanced at Max, giving her a wink and a smile.

The three soon finished their shower, toweled each other dry, and then dressed for the day's activities. Max donned her comfy BDU's and tac boots while Ags put on her standard uniform and, after some time in the FCQ, came out in a variety of braided hairstyles. Joon chose a comfortable knee length mahogany skirt, a forest-green jumper that accentuated her eyes and showcased her bust, knee-high socks, and a pair of chunky trainers.

Max was the first into the galley and started a huge batch of scrambled eggs, bacon, and waffles.

It was a tasty filling breakfast and during the mealtime conversation Max mentioned the crew should work together on the upcoming meeting and that it would be best to wait and see what she could find out from Goat before they made any further plans.

Just as the dishes were put away Joon pulled an Agatha out of the kitchen over to the galley table and said: "I would have to say... You are my favorite Agatha."

Agatha blinked in surprise and turned to look at her other selves and Max still in the kitchen.

Everyone then looked at Max. Max nodded sagely, "I have to agree, she is by far the best."

The Agatha standing next to Max walked over to the one of her singled out by Joon. "I guess it's unanimous, you are the very best Agatha." The chosen Agatha held a look of surprise The silence lasted for three seconds, then everyone burst out laughing.

Joon couldn't help but cry as she pulled the two Agatha next to her in a hug, "I love you so much!" Max pulled the two Agatha left in the kitchen into hugs as well. Joon's twisted sense of humor was one of the reasons Max fell in love with her and it seemed Agatha enjoyed it just as much as she did. After the fun experience the crew went to stations.

Joon sat on Max's lap on the command couch with Agatha manning the navigation and piloting stations. Agatha was also on the com desk in the command cabin as well as the one in the FCQ.

"Max?" Agatha at navigation turned to look at her Captain.

Joon and Max gave her their attention.

"It never came up before, but I was curious, do you want me to learn how to use the corvette's weapon's systems?"

Max drew a blank, "Uh."

Joon nodded at Agatha, "It's probably a good idea to know how."

Max looked at Agatha with regret, "I'm sorry, I have no idea how to use the ships guns."

Joon patted Max's hand that was resting on her thigh. "That's ok sweetheart, I'm sure our girlfriend can figure it out."

With a nod Max agreed, "I bet she can."

Joon smiled at her wife and gently nudged her, knowing she was procrastinating: "Dark corners time?"

Max grimaced as she brought up the account with a groan.

Ms_Muffit has entered dark corners: While Max was not surprised to see Ms_Muffit sitting in the same chat room, she was surprised to see BG_Gruff sitting across from her.

BG_Gruff: Anders, I have a few questions before I tell you what I can offer.

Ms_Muffit: OK

BG_Gruff: Did you sustain any damage?

Max thought about it and as far as she could tell she couldn't think of a reason to deny it.

Ms_Muffit: Some, it took me a while to repair.

BG_Gruff: Are you able to use the corvette's full capabilities?

Max knew Goat was trying to figure out if Max was a threat, but Max didn't want to ruin her chances of getting out of the cold.

Ms_Muffit: Mostly.

BG_Gruff: Are you able to get to Oxbow?

Max was pretty sure she could, but she was starting to feel exposed.

Ms_Muffit: How about we start discussing an offer.

BG_Gruff: I can offer you a long term independent Intel contract, with support.

Max realized 'independent' was a tricky way of saying unofficial, and disposable.

Ms_Muffit: I want something less exposed, I value my security more than that.

Seconds slowly ticked by.

BG_Gruff: I can get you into TFNI, but you have to meet the boss.

Max's mind raced, she felt Joon's reassuring hand.

Ms_Muffit: I need some assurance, Boggs.

Seconds slowly ticked by.

BG_Gruff: I will be on Oxbow for 24... alone.

BG_Gruff has logged out.

Max immediately logged Ms_Muffit out of dark corners.

Joon squealed softly, "Holy shit that was cool!"

Max blinked at her a bit concerned, "You think so?"

Joon nodded fervently, "Yea, I loved seeing you all cloak and daggery!"

Agatha got up from navigation and stood next to the command chair, "Are we going to Oxbow, Captain?"

Max looked at Joon and she smiled at her exuberant wife: Max then nodded to Agatha, "Yea... but it's probably a trap."

"What would you like to do with the hover car, Max?" Joon asked as she peered at her wife by gazing into her soft-brown eyes.

Max thought about it, "Where can we remote it to?"

"Our flat or the Smith residence," Joon replied.

"No decision really, send it to the Smiths." Max nodded, "Howard might actually use it for something."

"They are both keyed for it; mum would never drive it though." Joon smirked.

Agatha sat down at navigation and began tapped a few keys then another series of keys; finally putting her thumb on the DNA lock pad at her station. Agatha turned and looked at Max and Joon watching her; they were both smiling. Joon narrowed her eyes to slits and said, "Definitely the best Agatha." She beamed as everyone laughed.

"Oooh, let me call daddy!" Joon tapped out the holocom

---

Howard Smith was sitting on the rise in his dojo, his breathing was calm and he was centered. He felt much more at peace today, Mercedes was also in a great mood; which of course made a huge difference in his day as well. His watch beeped and Howard glanced at his service com watch: Holocom-unkown.

Howard smiled as he accepted the call. Max was sitting with Joon on her lap in the now familiar but small TFN bridge command station. "Good morning my lovely daughters." Howard greeted them.

"Hi daddy," Joon greeted and Max smiled. "We're going to go out of town for a bit so we sent the car to your place: is that ok?"

Howard listened closely to Joon's question, "Yes, of course, will you be back for dinner?"

The code words were there, making sure everything was okay.

"We'll pick up snacks, daddy, do you want a souvenir?" Joon replied. Translation: could be dangerous, but we are playing it safe.

"Oh yes please, a little memento would be appreciated." Howard smiled.

Howard was glad they would play it safe and let him know how it turned out.

"Give mum a hug for us, love you daddy!" Joon's smile for her father was genuine.

Howard knew now, beyond doubt, that all of his daughters were forging a new destiny for themselves. "Be well and safe my daughters." Howard closed the call. Howard felt older now, but as the younger generation's drive for independence generally left the older ones behind, he understood the natural flow of family life. He also knew it was his responsibility to be there to support them when they needed him.

Waxing nostalgic, Howard felt the need for breakfast and some tea.

---

Max had Agatha go through all the pre-flight checks which took about twenty minutes. During that time Agatha was able to give Max a brief on the corvette's firepower. Eight Gatling Lasers were strategically placed around the hull. Two mounted on the bow, two on the aft section of either side of the cargo bay door, and the other four located radially amidships; two top deck and two bottom. Amidships on each side was a turreted laser cannon with a 180 degree firing arc. A single spinal mounted beam laser that had to be targeted with the helm finished the compliment of ship's guns.

The corvette's sensor-baffle suite had been engaged continuously for days since entering the Epsilon Eridani system. According to Agatha, it was designed to be used for extended periods of time, months or years: even diagnostic checks could be run while it was active. The extremely sensitive passive sensors of the corvette were also designed to be used with the stealth suite.

Unfortunately use of the powerful hyper-link would render the sensor-baffle useless. So would the standard TFN corvette class active sensors, combat shields, and weapons. Agatha was unable to find any combat records for the corvette; the maintenance records were consistent however.

Max brought a knuckle to her chin, "I'm pretty sure the guns and shields on this ship are only for last resort. This ship was designed for intelligence gathering, not for combat." Max continued. "But as this is what we have to work with, you should learn how to use them."

"Before we leave the system, I want you to shoot some rocks... there are plenty out there, but I want us well out of sight from system sensors and prying eyes." Max reviewed in her head what she just said and she realized that it sounded rather authoritative and commanding.

She looked at her wife in her lap to see Joon's eyes were dancing at her. "Oh, that sounded so nice..." Joon's voice purred. "I think I'm going to like being the Captain's wife!"

Agatha giggled and nodded to Joon.

Max smirked, "Let's dust off, Ags."

Agatha saluted her Captain... It was a textbook maneuver.

Retaking her seat at navigation while tapping power up sequences at piloting, she immediately laid in a course to follow an easterly flight path at tree top level for twenty miles. The unmarked, charcoal colored, TFN corvette came alive as she powered up and lifted to just about the treetops; slowly increasing velocity and realigning to follow the eastern track.

With enough distance away from populated areas, Agatha brought up the corvette's bow and accelerated skyward. Once again there were no hails from ATC as they still had no idea the ship was even there. Ten minutes out, though, Agatha had to change trajectory to avoid a TFN patrol: a pair of Rapiers now relegated to a secondary tier posting since the adoption of the Claymore.

Agatha kept well out of visual lanes and took a heading out to one of the massive belts of the Epsilon Eridani system. As the corvette slid past the edge of the belt thirty minutes later, Agatha tapped an action stations order for the corvette.

Max cleared her throat.

Agatha looked over from navigation, "Sorry, I just wanted to see what it looked like."

Max nodded, "No worries, as you were."

Agatha beamed, "Yes, Captain!"

As the corvette ship's weapons appeared from recessed weapon mounts, the tiny warship bared it's sharp teeth.

Her piloting self, announced, "Firing main gun!"

The corvette scanned a three hundred metric tonne rock asteroid, and shed it's cloak in anger for the first time.

As the beam laser cored the huge space rock, it exploded from thermal conversion, neatly breaking in two large chunks.

The two laser cannons immediately lit up the large pieces of debris, shattering them into smaller bits.

Four linked Gatling lasers on each port and starboard side shredded the remaining rocks to either side of the targeting arcs.

Max just stared at the sensors, "Whoa, nice shooting, Ags!"

Joon squealed in excitement, "Bad-ass!"

Max glanced at the long range sensors, "Okay, Ags, shut it down, lets disappear."

"Aye Captain!" Agatha pulled all of the turrets back from action stations and re-initiated the sensor-baffle suite.

Max scanned the sensitive long range sensors, and waited as the minutes dragged by.

"Nice and quiet." Max smiled, "smartly done, Agatha."

Joon slipped off Max's lap and pulled Agatha at navigation into a hug. "That was brilliant!"

Agatha beamed, "Thank you, it was very exciting!"

Max smiled, "Now lets hope we never have to do that for real. Alright, Ags," Max assumed that surprisingly enjoyable command voice, "Lay in a course to Proxima Centauri."

The corvette quietly slipped away into hyper warp.

---

Forty three minutes later a tiny warship came out of hyper warp and efficiently engaged it's sensor baffles.

The red dwarf known as Proxima Centauri was the first trans stellar system humans had explored, and it was thoroughly harvested for metals, minerals and gases as well as being the test bed for terraforming. It's minuscule population was found only on the nominally habitable planet Kozuno. Oxbow base was formerly a mining colony located in the asteroid belt surrounding the planets of the system and rumor had it the belt was the remains of an initial failure in terraforming.

Max had Agatha follow The edge of the system to the region of the base instead of cutting across the system. It added another ninety minutes to the trip; but Max was being cautious and wanted to be able to sprint to the system's edge if they were outed. Approaching Oxbow from an oblique angle, Agatha slowly brought the ship in.

Max had her hold station ten kilometers out. "Anything on sensors?"

Agatha winced, "I'm sorry, Max, there is too much rock for our passive sensors to determine anything dormant and hostile.

"Hmm." Max said quietly.

Back in her wife's lap, Joon asked, "How close can we get before they see us?"

"Our stealth doesn't stop visual, and even though we might blend in with the void, we can still be seen."

Agatha blinked, she spoke in stereo. "Max..."

Joon and Max looked at both Agatha.

Agatha at navigation turned, "If we can get a little closer, I might be able to feel them.

Max stared, "Seriously?"

"I had noticed, I could feel many more animals when we were on Jericho with four bodies, than with two." Agatha nodded, "Animals have emotions too."

Max looked at Agatha, "Okay... Take her in, really slow."

Agatha turned back to her station as she closed her eyes and concentrated. The corvette gently moved forward on thrusters alone as seconds turned to minutes. Agatha pulled back suddenly and began tapping on her input a few times.

"Just one rather anxious person."

Max nodded in understanding, "Okay... This is what we're going to do."

---

Sergeant Major Irasmus Boggs was waiting, not his favorite thing to do. All the paperwork he had to do wasn't going to do itself but he had found that sending ALL the data to TFNI was rewarding instead of drips and drabs over years.

A red light flashed on the screen, the proximity alert. Boggs stood up, sighed and checked the heavy pistol at the small of his back. "This could really end poorly," Boggs muttered to himself, "damn shame for everyone really. Okay old man try to be courteous, she might not blow your head off." Boggs walked out of his office and through the pressurized doors to the rough hewn docking bay of the ancient place.

The charcoal grey corvette was still maneuvering slowly around coming to rest forty meters from the pressurized doors.

Not quite cutting off Boggs' view of the stealth shuttle he arrived in.

A few moments passed before the large cargo door opened with the whine of well oiled and maintained hydraulics.

Anders slowly walked down the cargo ramp; not with arrogance, but certainly with a great deal of caution. She eyed Goat then glanced at the stealth shuttle which was exactly like the ones she had used on a regular basis for five years.

"Anders." Boggs nodded, "I wasn't sure you would show."

Max nodded, "I wasn't sure you would be here... alone."

Boggs narrowed his eyes, "I said I would be, is that a start on the right foot, Anders?

The earwig Max was wearing quietly crackled, "He has a heavy pistol at the small of his back."

Max nodded to Boggs, "Were you going to make sure I was alone before you shot me?

Boggs blinked.

Joon stepped onto the ramp with her chunky trainers.

"Oh hell, Anders... you brought your wife?" Boggs face reddened in frustration.

"Correction... She is my medical officer." Max let that settle in a bit.

"I need someone to keep my crew healthy."

Boggs' eyes nearly fell out of his head as he felt two gun barrels, one under each of his scapula. He was Instantly relieved of his heavy pistol and he just stared at Max.

Boggs just nodded his head, "You definitely have learned to hunt, Anders."

"Put this old dog down, I've needed it for a long time."

Max squinted at Boggs, "What the hell are you talking about Sar-major, now we can start negotiating."

Boggs blinked, "That was just a bargaining ploy?"

"Of course," Max smiled, "I already played my perfect record card, I had to do something."

Boggs actually laughed.

"Alright, Anders, can we at least agree on some basics?"

Max looked curious, "What might those be?"

"How many Charlie Alpha Tango did actually survive?" Boggs asked, looking a little left at slightly blurry outline.

Max grew sober, "I didn't lie, I'm the only member of my unit left."

"Then... who the hell...?" Boggs didn't finish.

"My crew... Girls?" Max watched Goat carefully, as the two Agatha disengaged the nanoweave, stepping away in timed, sideways and synchronized steps to flank Max.

Boggs' eye brows rose high as the hoods came off to reveal identical pretty faces with identical serious looks.

"These are Agatha and Una, my very dedicated crew." Max continued, "We are a package deal."

Boggs adjusted to the situation and nodded, "I think I understand, not sure how you got them trained, but I can see you've made your own team."

Boggs pursed his lips, seemingly oblivious of the fact that he was still under threat. "I think I can sell this team, but we need to do some paperwork first."

Max glanced at Joon and she just shrugged.

"Can we at least go back to my office, I think I could use a drink." Boggs began turning around and walking slowly to the doors.

"Hey.. wai.." Max began, but Goat just yelled, "Move it, Anders, we've got shit to do."

The four women followed Goat: one Agatha hung back to cover the rear as the other sprinted forward to cover Goat as he headed to his office.

"He really is a crotchety old goat," Joon muttered.

"I heard that," Boggs yelled from up the hall as he turned into his office. The door was left standing open with an Agatha faithfully covering him while he poured two fingers from a bottle.

"Anyone else?" Boggs raised an eyebrow.

Joon smiled, "Yes please." She turned into his office and sat in a green leather short backed armchair.

Max followed Joon in, both Agatha were outside the doorway watching the hall while covering Boggs. In Max's ear Agatha related Boggs wasn't nervous or upset, rather he felt excited, happy even. Boggs offered Joon a glass of whiskey, she accepted and gave a slow inhale as she took a tentative sip. Boggs sat on the corner of his desk, sipping his whiskey.

"I'm going to try and sell this team to Admiral Garbert-Smythe as a solution for the Minor Empires problem."

Max tilted her head and looked at Boggs

"Alright, here is the rub." Sergeant Major Irasmus Boggs then started to outline the huge policy shift from the new Fleet Admiral.

Goat began: "Now while there are no Ashanath, Trankaran, or Maliri desks at TFNI any longer and Naval Intelligence agents are being cut like tall grass with only the Kintark, Brimorian, Enshunu, and Drakkar desks left: there was only one problem...there is a desk that doesn't exist. And, it should: Minor Empires. Instead, TFNI personnel were given the choice of transferring to TFIS, moving to a similar division, or retirement."

"With the surplus of analysts and data-miners," Goat continued, "TFNI needed another direction to look in a "use-it or loose-it" situation. They may be on the other side of the Trankarans, but they definitely affect T-Fed trade and influence our politics and we only have guesses as to what is motivating them."

"Hell, we're currently relying exclusively on independent intelligence assets... merchants mostly, trading in rumors," he scoffed. "There is almost no current hard data on any of them; just academic studies from a hundred years ago. We need reliable, credible, factual data along the lines of political charting, military assessments, customs, social hierarchy and the like and TFNI has none of it's own people in place."

Joon watched Irasmus Boggs explain everything as his body language grew more and more animated; he was relaxed and enjoying himself, and it wasn't the whiskey.

Joon smirked at him.

Max glanced at her wife, and by her smirk, knew Joon figured something out.

Joon raised her hand to interrupt, "Sar-major," She started.

Boggs interrupted her, "Please, call me Ira."

She smirked harder, "Ira... I was under the impression you were Int Ops, but you're not, are you?"

Boggs' eyes grew huge.

Joon didn't relent gazing at him with grass-green eyes, "No, I think, you've been Naval Intelligence for years, haven't you?"

Boggs just stared at Joon, "My god, you're as sharp as.."

"Penelope?" Joon finished his sentence, "I have a feeling you've really let you're guard down over the past few days, but it does show you're really enjoying life without the stress."

Boggs' staring eyes teared a bit, but then he slowly went back over to the whiskey bottle, "Top-up?"

"I'm fine... Uncle." Joon watched him closely.

Boggs slowly turned, took a huge cleansing breath and told them his story. He was approached by Sutton's people just after his wife Penelope had passed. Fortunately he had already been recruited by the TFNI division by Admiral Pierce a year previous and he had been groomed for just this kind of opportunity. So of course he went along, right into the belly of the beast. Sutton was a corrupt, inhumane, thoroughly manipulative Fleet Admiral; not very different from the standard, unfortunately.

Boggs quietly leaked intel to TFNI for decades. Then Galon Prime happened and Buckingham played the game hard: Boggs was told to help him... and he did.

"So you knew exactly who I was when I was vetted for Int Ops." Max affirmed.

"I did... but worse, so did they." Boggs looked at Max, "I couldn't warn you off they would have become suspicious of me."

"You were a very talented prospect," Boggs assessed, "luckily you also had no apparent psychoses. Weber wanted personnel who had a stunted or limited humanity on his personal projects: Oxbow being the more professional teams." Irasmus sighed. "We did hear rumors of course."

"Then overnight the rules changed, projects long dead and buried were back in the queue. Whispers began about the Lion and how he was making a lot of people nervous." Boggs shook his head. I didn't understand it myself. He was a marine; one of us." Boggs stared at the wall, "Then Weber claimed that John Blake was an alien threat."

"It all went to hell after that: Buckingham was killed and Weber sent out the sanitize order and everyone left or was killed; everyone disappearing into the shadows. So, I contacted the only person who had my TFNI dossier: Admiral Garbert-Smythe inherited it from his predecessor Admiral Pierce. I told him my status, and put all Oxbow Int Ops data on a silver platter for him. "

"Then you came back. Well, I thought you were Yance: he was an ambitious twit." Boggs finished his whiskey. "Weber had thrown that mission at him and he jumped into it immediately, I didn't even get a look at it."

Max grimaced.

"That bad eh?" Boggs nodded, "Honestly, there were no 'good' ones."

"So I informed Garbert-Smythe I had an intact Int Ops operative, that I could vouch for."

"But he just went on about the Minor Empires problem."

"So, do you want to gather Intelligence for the Terran Federation?"

"No assassinations, no abductions, just gather data and send it home."

Max pursed her lips in thought, then looked at Joon.

Joon looked at Boggs and demanded, "Full TFNI rank and benefits for the crew."

Max blinked.

Joon continued, "The ship will be ours, in our name, and you pay for upgrades and maintenance.

Boggs briefly held a grumpy face and then nodded with a smirk. "Lets get some paperwork sorted, like your ownership of a decommissioned TFN corvette."

Fifteen minutes passed with furious tapping and DNA prints, crafting ownership papers that, for the positions they were now going to be holding, were legitimate. Boggs looked up from the coms desk at Max, "I'm going to need a name for the ship registry."

Joon immediately answered instead, "The Deirdre."

Max blinked at her, smiled, and nodded.

Joon nodded back, "Best name I can think of: she was a an amazing woman."

All of their files were added to the TFNI database, including DNA and cover IDs.

Agatha and Una were given profiles and the last name of O'Neira, despite the information being identical other than names.

The crew of Deirdre were now listed as Agents, though Max still carried rank in the TFMC.

"Max..." Boggs said her given name for the first time, "Do you have any possessions from your previous unit?

Max nodded, "We do."

"Can I get you to move them onto my shuttle?" Boggs briefly looked just like he used to, miserable.

"It would be my honor." Max said.

Agatha handed the sidearm she had taken earlier back to Boggs as he passed by her on his way out of the office. He stopped and took it, putting it back at the small of his back, then thanked her; she nodded. Reading his emotions was like a great saga of tragedy that only held triumph in the last chapter.

Agatha whispered in Max's and Joon's earwigs, "I really like Boggs."

It took thirty minutes of work to get four cryopods and thirteen go bags sequestered aboard Boggs' shuttle. Boggs looked up into Max's soft-brown eyes, "They did the job we asked them to do."

Max nodded, "For most of us, that's all we can do: sometimes we find ways of doing more."

Max saluted the body of her old commander.

Yance's go bag was sitting on his cryopod: it held everything he had brought with him, including his sidearm.

"Sar-major." Max looked at Boggs. "Can I pick up a few things from my bay?"

"Anders..." Boggs gave her a smirk and a wink, "You can have anything and everything you want from this base."

Max's eyebrows rose in surprise

"Go to Olympus when your done, tell them you have an appointment with Admiral Garbert-Smythe." With that, Boggs closed the hatch on his stealth shuttle and was departing within minutes.

Max watched Boggs leave Oxbow and she glanced at her service com watch, noting the time as she said softly to herself: "Copy that, Sar-major, copy that."

---

Oxbow was only a small section of the old mining colony and following TFN doctrine it had vast stores of all manner of equipment and resources used by a division.

Max gave Joon and Agatha a tour.

Max grabbed a grav sled and started pushing it down the cold sterile corridors, her first stop was at the armory and after tapping her ID pass codes and providing her DNA scan she found she was still able to access it.

There was more TFN ordnance and munitions in this armory than she could possibly fit in her ship.

Max thought to herself "My ship... The Deirdre."

Max smiled.

Joon was walking by row after row of ammunition and weapons as her eyes slowly grew larger and larger.

Agatha was still fully geared in her own arsenal; but she also was very impressed with the hardware on display.

"Max?" Agatha asked, "Should all of me come help with... um, shopping?"

"I'd like to have one of you on The Deirdre at all times if possible." Max answered.

Joon smiled at Max with her referring to their corvette with it's new moniker. Agatha stopped at five large cases neatly stacked by a score of ammunition canisters.

Joon saw her stop and looked at the cases, "What's a XLR120, Max?"

Max walked over, "That's a heavy sniper rifle, almost field artillery."

Joon opened the case to look at it, "Oh shit, that's bad ass."

Max lifted it out of the case and Agatha held her XR75 assault rifle next to it for comparison. With a bull-pup configuration very similar to the XR75, the XLR120 was heavier, much longer, and boasted a higher caliber: it also had an advanced optics package.

"How many do we want?" Joon beamed.

Max blinked, "Uh, I thought we were going to be collecting data?"

Joon shrugged, "Never know what we're going to need, it's good to be prepared!"

"As many as you want then, my love." Max smiled.

Joon directed Agatha to help her put three of the cases on the grav sled, along with twelve ammunition canisters.

The tour continued with a stop by dry stores. The warehouse sized area was awash with shelving and crates.

"All the TFN apparel and BDU's available." Max nodded, "I plan on stocking up."

With three Agatha now in attendance, Max and Joon found crates holding their sizes. Joon even picked up a black body sleeve that would fit her. Agatha moved a large crate onto the grav sled, then proceeded to fill it. Easily spending two hours in Oxbow's dry stores, the crate was very close to completely full, Agatha was stocking up also.

The tour continued and they passed a pass code and DNA locked room.

Joon squinted, "Um, what's in here Max?"

Max looked at the door, "I'm not sure, I don't think I've ever been in there." She used her ID and thumb to open it.

The inside lights came up as they entered and it showed yet another room covered in shelving with a myriad of cases and small crates.

Going over to the first crate she saw, Max opened it. It held a strange little robotic remote device. "I'm not sure what this is." Max stated honestly, looking closer at it. It had repulsers and what she assumed was some kind of sensor array.

Joon gasped, "This room is full of spy tech!"

When Max looked at what Joon was referring to, she held up a small case full of tiny dots spread out in sequence on the soft lining. Agatha split up and began looking at every case in turn. "I think Joon is correct, everything here is some manner of surveillance equipment.

Joon's eyes danced at Max.

"Please, help yourself, sweetheart." Max giggled at the look of excitement in Joon's reaction. Agatha had to fetch another grav sled for just the gathered equipment from that room. Joon found a case full of stylish eye visors, she picked one up and began looking closely at it.

Joon put them on, tapping the side with a finger, "Oh... we are taking all of these with us."

"Agatha!" Joon beckoned her girlfriend over; she was holding another visor.

Agatha looked curious, "Eye protection?"

Joon smirked, "In this room, it's the least this thing is for." Joon handed it to Agatha.

Agatha put them on and tapped the right side gently. "Oh my!"

Max helped Agatha stack dozens of cases and small crates onto the second grav sled.

Joon handed Max a visor, Max wordlessly put it on.

"Tap the right side." Joon smiled at Max.

So she did... Max had to stop and absorb the menu now on display in front of her.

"Is this?" Max started.

"Visual input interface... among a number of other things." Joon smiled at her towering wife.

"This is not Terran tech, is it?" Max looked at Joon.

Joon shook her head, "I don't think so, in fact, I bet there is a lot of alien tech in these cases."

Max nodded, then smirked as they finished going over everything in the "Spy tech" room.

"So... does anyone want to see the range?" Max, of course, already knew the answer.

"Yes!" was the resounding and unanimous reply.

Oxbow base was fortunate to have the room for a truly extensive shooting range.

Max powered up the perfectly level, three kilometer tunnel's bright lighting system which immediately showed twenty lanes and holocams recessed at each target at different ranges. Her crew reacted with "Oooo's and aaah's." Max then carried a XLR120 case and one of the ammo canisters down to the last lane. The four members of her crew represented watched with rapt attention as Max set up and explained every aspect of the impressive weapon. Max then squeezed off five shots at the 500m range the holovid showed the target and a slow motion playback of the five rounds which just widened the same hole.

"Your turn, Ags." Max got up and stood next to Joon: then watched her girlfriend handle the heavy sniper rifle as she sat herself on one of the observer benches and leaned back with Joon who was now sitting next to her.

Max delighted to see the visor conveying technical data from everything around her. "These things are better than my helmet HUD, well done, my love." pointing at her visor and smiling at Joon.

Joon beamed, "We did good, huh?"

Max smiled and sagely nodded her head, "Oh yea."

Joon glanced at Max, biting her lower lip provocatively.

Max gave her a look of promise.

Max and Joon turned their attention back to Agatha... and watched her drop rounds in on target at two kilometers with such accuracy that the holes interlaced. Max watched with interest, knowing she couldn't do that. Agatha didn't make any attempts beyond that... because there weren't any targets set further away.

"Do you think you've gotten it down?" Max smiled at Agatha.

Agatha beamed, "Oh yes, it's a really accurate weapon."

"Can anyone think of anything else we might want or need?" Max asked her family.

Agatha nodded, "Perhaps we can stock up on nanoweave, in case what we have becomes damaged?"

Joon turned to Max, " Items that would help us in a public setting."

Max nodded to both of them, "Lets go look in the armory again."

They walked back to the armory, eventually finding closets worth of nanoweave in the far corner.

Joon discovered several uncut bolts of the high-tech optical camouflage cloth.

"Why have so much nanoweave like this?" Joon peered at Max.

Max explained how sometimes equipment would have their own sleeves made out of nanoweave, she gave the example of the rigs that were used with her high explosives.

"We should take these then, better to have it and not need it." Joon recommend.

"Oh hey!" Agatha smiled, opening a cabinet, pulling out a very familiar looking shape; but in black.

"Pressy!" Joon saw the exact same purse shaped folding SMG.

"There are about a dozen of them in here, they seem slightly taller though." Agatha reported.

Joon held out her hands, and Agatha delivered one to her. With expert handling Joon discovered why it seemed taller, "Whoa, huge magazine."

Max watched Joon closely inspect the weapon's magazine.

"two hundred rounds." Joon hefted the chunky brick of a clip.

Agatha loaded the cart with ten of the weapons and a number of extra magazines before loading the cart with three crates of the 5mm ammunition.

Joon glanced at Max, "I think we're good now, sweetheart."

Max nodded, "I want to pick up gear and my dress greys from my bay, then we can depart."

Max, Joon, and Agatha off loaded the two full grav sleds inside the cargo hold and then left them at the docks.

The Deirdre powered up and slid out of Oxbow as she headed directly for the hyper velocity limit; skirting the edge of the asteroid belt.

It would take hours to get all the new gear squared away. Agatha was excited to have so many sets of clothing. Joon was experimenting with her visor and showing Agatha how to tint the visor and even the color variables. Joon noted Agatha looked stunning and very intimidating with a black tinted visor.

"Where to next... Captain?" Joon straddled one of Max's legs hiking up her skirt, eyeing her wife with a predatory look.

"Mmmm..." Responded Max, "Olympus."

Joon's eyes widened, "Really?"

Max nodded, "Yup, I got it from Boggs himself, before he left."

Joon curled up on Max's lap as she began to ponder what might happen to them on Olympus: The primary Naval shipyard of the Terran Federation.

Travel to Alpha Centauri was a very short trip: barely ten minutes by hyper-warp. For the first time, The Deirdre entered a system without engaging it's sensor baffle suite. Agatha peered back over her shoulder at her Captain, a look of anxiety on her exotic features.

"We'll be okay, Ags." Max reassured her girlfriend who smiled as she was fully aware of exactly how nervous Max felt about the situation.

Upon approach of the absolutely colossal space station, they were hailed by ATC. "Incoming corvette, please identify yourself and your business at Olympus," a military communications officer politely requested.

"Max Anders on The Deirdre to see Admiral Garbert-Smythe," She replied with a neutral tone.

There followed a drawn out pause before the officer replied. "Please approach docking bay 47 Captain Anders. Sergeant Major Boggs will meet you there."

Max nodded to Agatha who now looked more relaxed.

As the Deirdre flew closer, they could see sections of the station that had been blackened by plasma bolts only a couple of days previous. Joon focused on the many large green ships moored off one of the arms of the titanic station, she knew them to be the Kintark carriers that had surrendered to the Lion during the siege of Olympus.

A slow sedate pace eventually led the Deirdre to docking bay 47. Max could see the tiny figure of Boggs there.

"I guess I should talk with him," Max muttered as Joon hopped up off her lap. "Joon, you have the con." Max smiled watching her reaction. Joon squealed as she jumped back onto the command couch. Max giggled, then loudly whispered to Agatha, "Don't let her blow anything up."

Agatha nodded with a playful glint in her eye, as Joon feigned a pout and muttered, "Well that's no fun!"

Max headed down to the cargo bay.

She didn't wait for the ramp to fully deploy; she just dropped off to the side and walked over to Boggs.

Max greeted Boggs with a nod.

Boggs' weathered face reacted with an uncharacteristic smile.

"How does it look, Sar-major?" Max asked cautiously.

"Not too terrible, Anders." Boggs continued, "I'd like you to stay put until the morning."

"I managed to talk your new boss into temporarily designating this bay with a classified status so there are a couple of friendly marines posted on the other side of this door. They are good lads, so don't kill them," Boggs smirked this time. "They are there to keep nosy types out, not to keep you in. Tomorrow morning at zero eight hundred you and I will be in our best greys waiting to have our first official interview. I understand he is a real stickler for protocol: so unless he asks you a direct question, let me do the talking."

"I will be right where I am standing now at zero seven thirty, and we'll go up together." Boggs paused to breathe and Max jumped in with a question. "What about Joon? She's going to demand to go along."

Boggs blinked, "Jooniper will be able to wait in reception if she really wants to come along; but the interview is strictly a Navy matter and until she outranks you, you're it."

Max nodded in understanding.

"We've got one shot to make this work." Boggs reached up to put a hand on Max's tall shoulder, "So let's not fuck it up." Before Boggs departed he introduced the two marines to Max so they understood who she was.

"No pressure..." Boggs narrowed his eyes, "You still have the best timing, Anders." Boggs departed and Max walked back to The Deirdre while glancing down at her service com watch. Max walked up the cargo ramp and spotted two Agathas deep in the bay: they were holding XR75's.

"Everything okay, sweetheart?" Max asked, a little concerned.

"Yes, honey, I was just prepped and ready if you needed back up." Agatha smiled.

Max gazed at Agatha, "I couldn't ask for a better girlfriend."

Max thumbed the DNA lock on the cargo door and it began to close.

"I'll tell you everything, but I want to brief Joon as well." Max watched the Agathas go in different directions as she walked up to the bridge. Joon slid out of the command chair as Max stepped onto the bridge and let Max sit before she climbed into her lap. Agatha stood up from navigation and came to stand next to the command station.

Max glanced at her, "What else are you doing, right now?"

Agatha replied in her soft clear voice, "Monitoring sensors in the FCQ, cleaning a XLR120, and making some dinner for the crew."

Joon commented, "Best girlfriend ever."

Max smiled at Joon, "Okay, Boggs and I have a meeting in the morning with an Admiral Garbert-Smythe who is in command of TFNI.

"I'm going too," Joon immediately chimed in.

Max gave a slightly pained expression.

"Why not?"Joon asked looking hurt.

"I really wish it wasn't, but I'm afraid this meeting is strictly Navy personnel," Max explained.

"Boggs said you could wait in reception while he and I attended, apparently this Admiral is very strict about protocols."

Joon took that explanation well enough, and just nodded.

"Are you going in your greys?" Joon inquired.

Max nodded, "Yea, most personnel on Olympus live in them, so it's expected.

Joon gave a funny look, "I will wait in reception like a good girl."

Max knew that look, and peered curiously into her wife's eyes, "What are you planning?"

"You have to wear that stuffy costume, but I don't, " Joon grinned mischievously, "I'm going to be dressed to the nines."

Max had no doubt it was going to be spectacular.

"Dinner's ready," Agatha softly noted.

Max, Joon and four Agatha were seated around the galley table, Agatha had made a light dinner of Garlic-Ginger Pork Lettuce Wraps and Sheet-Pan Greens and Feta Frittata.

Max and Joon complimented Agatha on the meal saying it was just enough; but not too much and the flavors were excellent.

Max told her crew about the temporary classified status of docking bay 47 and the two marine guards at the access point were assigned to keep out the curious. All of Agatha looked into thin air for a brief moment, then she said, "They are both bored, not under any stress, I will 'keep an eye' on them, in a manner of speaking."

Joon decided she was going to have Agatha 'bodyguard' tomorrow, and she wanted to get the look just right, so Joon and two Agatha went to the FCQ to refine the desired effect.

Max wanted a hot shower but she checked her 'greys' first to be sure they were in order.

In an odd sort of way she wished she could just wear BDU's: her tac boots didn't have a noticeable heel where as the shiny black boots of her dress uniform were two inches high, and she felt too tall already. Her 'greys' were in fine shape: she would look appropriate and correct come morning.

By the time Max stepped under the hot water her tiny wife was right there beside her with Agatha as additional support.

Joon knew Max was nervous, and of course Agatha felt it.

After the relaxing hot shower and a soft towel dry, Max stretched out on the blessedly long bed with Joon and Agatha in their usual places. Max tried to let all the stress go but found it difficult.

Joon whispered, "Your not relaxed at all, so I'm pulling the wife card." Joon flung back the duvet and bullied her way between Max's thighs. Agatha helped her tiny girlfriend by comfortably arranging Max's long limbs.

Joon started with gentle kisses along inner thighs and vulva while Agatha copied the technique on abs and breasts. Max closed her eyes and just let go, allowing the sensations to build with a slowly increasing warmth. She had a feeling Agatha was helping the process a little, but it didn't feel forced and was very subtle.

As the heat spread from her tummy to more accessible places, Joon's cunnilingus brought the desired lubrication. A pair of skilled fingers found their way inside Max, gently rubbing the ridges deep and up inside her and in moments Max crested the wave and felt the flood of release. Max didn't pass out; but she felt immensely better.

"Thank you, my loves," Max said a little breathless, "I really needed that."

"Any time sweetheart," Joon's face was being licked by Agatha's helpful tongue.

As Joon and Agatha cuddled up again with Max, they both snuggled in with the duvet around them. Max slipped into unconsciousness.

---

The alarm started softly then grew slowly louder, eventually waking the occupants of the room.

Agatha turned off the alarm and got up. She walked around the bed and stuck her nose behind Joon's left ear and began sniffing rapidly moving her nose into Joon's hair in a seemingly random manner.

Joon giggled and turned to kiss her girlfriend.

Max watched the interplay half asleep, but understood the technique and reached out and grabbed Agatha pulling her forward, she made a purrmeow as her breasts went into Joon's face. Joon quickly helped herself to a nipple. Max kissed Agatha soundly as everyone was waking up nicely.

Max checked the time... 0635: There was not a lot of time before her meeting so she got up and went to the bathroom, followed by Agatha and Joon.

"Kata?" Joon inquired.

"Yea, I need it this morning." Max responded.

"Nude with door open?" Joon smirked at her own question.

Max stuck out her tongue, "No free shows."

Joon giggled maniacally.

In the cargo hold the six women performed their daily ritual and by the third rotation Max was feeling better and more positive. Hot showers were thorough but brief, not having the time to linger or become distracted. Max suggested breakfast first then dressing so that is what they did, all of them wearing minimal clothing to cook and eat in.

With less than thirty minutes, they proceeded to dress up.

Agatha went to assist Max with her 'greys' as only two of the four Agatha were going to be leaving the Deirdre. Max was fully dressed and ready in ten minutes, looking very formal with her campaign ribbons properly displayed.

Joon took a bit longer, and after twenty minutes Max was feeling anxious.

Then two Agatha stepped out of the FCQ with a single long thick braid, chunky boots, knee-high socks, belted pleated skirts just above knee-length, undershirts and tucked blouses, long arm warmers, each carried a 'purse' over the left shoulder, making it easily accessible for a right hand grab. Of course everything was in black; and to top off their ensemble, blackened visors cut a wicked style to the look.

Max was very impressed.

Then Joon walked out between them.

Max just stared, never having seen her look so completely gorgeous.

She wore a knee-length, long sleeved, iridescent green dress with an ivy-vine pattern in the material and which was tailored to accentuate her 40e bust. She sported hunter-green leather clad, three-inch high heeled gladiators and her strawberry-blonde hair was in an immaculate french braid. Understated cosmetics were perfect; just enough to showcase her elfin features.

"You haven't looked at me like that in a while! I'm glad you approve." Joon beamed at her towering wife, "time to scoot."

Agatha opened the cargo bay door remotely so that the troop didn't even slow down their purposeful stride.

Boggs was standing at the docking bay access with a glower that immediately melted away at seeing Joon.

"Good god, girl!" He stood gawking at the display.

Joon beamed and walked right past him, "Good morning, Ira."

Boggs stepped in next to Max as they followed a dynamic Joon and the exotic twins.

Max had never seen Boggs in dress greys before and immediately noticed the time in service stripes on his sleeve, Max had just earned her first red chevron for ten years, Boggs had seven of them.

The marine sentries who had admitted Boggs just moments earlier were caught completely unprepared for what just strolled pass them and they were obviously enjoying the view...with wide staring eyes and open mouths.

Max could tell Joon's 'game was on' and she was in rare form. The close proximity of the station transit with the black and grey background allowed her to stand out even more. Boggs led them to the appropriate offices and the five of them found themselves in a large reception area for a collection of offices deep in the central spire of Olympus station.

Joon claimed a single armchair set slightly away from the general seating. She eased into the seat with the grace of a monarch, crossing her ankles with legs together set slightly at an angle. Joon gave no indication of notice to the myriad of looks and stares from the office area denizens.

Agatha took standing positions to each side and slightly behind Joon: they stood at parade rest and slowly scanned the area.

Agatha's mannerisms screamed professional bodyguard, regardless of the unconventional apparel she were wearing. Boggs cleared his throat as the lieutenant behind the reception desk was one of Joon's appreciative observers. He immediately signed in Boggs and Max and forwarded the request to the appropriate office. Max and Boggs waited at the desk and in just a few minutes a pretty Lieutenant Commander came out of an unmarked office and led them back to the door. She glanced at Joon a few times on the return to her office but Joon seemed quite oblivious; reading a data pad, perched on the edge of her claimed armchair.

After entering the well furnished outer office, the Lieutenant Commander closed the door behind them and offered Boggs and Max a seat. She then sat at her desk and began tapping an update. A few minutes later she tapped again and said, "The Admiral will see you now."

Boggs and Max promptly stood and walked briskly to the door. Boggs knocked once and opened the door. They both entered the opulent office and Max closed the door behind her. They approached the antique desk and Boggs and Max came to attention and both saluted.

"Sergeant Major Boggs, Sergeant Anders, reporting as ordered, Sir." Boggs rattled off in perfect cadence.

The Admiral behind the desk stood and returned the salute. He was a handsome man in his mid-forties. He nodded in greeting and said in a cultured, well-spoken voice, "Sergeant Major Boggs, the Terran Federation owes you a massive debt."

"Your selfless service as the single greatest intelligence asset during the Sutton and Buckingham administrations with both broad and specific details of the Int Ops "ghost" division of the TFN has not gone unnoticed. My predecessor, Admiral Pierce, and I have received over thirty years of documentation from you detailing volumes of illegal and immoral activity by those who abused the power and trust of the Terran Federation."

"It is my distinct honor to promote you the rank of Command Sergeant Major under this office and to award you a Stellar Cluster for your stalwart duty above and beyond the call. I understand you have refused a commission, I also understand why. Unfortunately, I cannot award you or promote you in a public ceremony due to the nature of your service."

"So tell me Command Sergeant Major, what can I do for you?" asked the Admiral who was still standing.

"Thank you for your consideration Admiral Garbert-Smythe, you continue the great legacy of this office," Boggs replied.

"Please be seated." Garbert-Smythe responded smiling.

Everyone sat, and Boggs produced a data fob and said, "Sir, if you would allow me to submit this proposal."

Garbert-Smythe's eyebrow arched, "Alright Boggs, I think that should be easy enough."

He accepted the fob and placed it into the com on his desk, Boggs' proposal was outlined in exquisite detail.

Admiral Garbert-Smythe read through the proposal once.

Then again more slowly, occasionally stopping and looking at both Max and Boggs several times.

He finished reading and shifted his gaze to Boggs', "This operation... is a magnificent proposal: it's just what we need."

Garbert-Smythe peered at Boggs, "How soon can this operation begin?"

"Immediately, Sir." Boggs responded.

Garbert-Smythe looked thoughtful, "If I may offer a suggestion?"

Boggs respectfully replied. "Of course, Sir."

"Allow me to inquire about getting..." He broke away momentarily looking at the proposal, "The Deirdre... the latest ship upgrades to ensure the highest success and survivability of the operation?"

Boggs' eyebrows raised, "That would indeed be a most welcome boon, Sir."

Garbert-Smythe nodded, turned to his com device and tapped a few things as he pulled up a call.

"Admiral Harris?" Garbert-Smythe inquired.

"Well hello there, Garbert-Smythe, isn't it?" Admiral Harris replied.

"Yes, indeed... I know our paths don't cross much, but I have a bit of a delicate issue and I'd like your advice." Garbert-Smythe's cultured tones rolled out in a very impassioned plea.

"Please, call me Charles." Admiral Harris replied.

"Thank you, Charles, I am Hamilton." Admiral Garbert-Smythe responded.

Boggs stole a glance at Max, who looked mystified at the proceedings.

"So, Charles, I have this boat in docking bay 47." Admiral Garbert-Smythe began.

"It's the essential part of an operation that I really need to get underway, do you think it's possible you might be able to slip it into the front of the queue for a complete refit?"

Admiral Harris listened, "How classified is this boat, Hamilton?"

"Class four, I'm afraid." Admiral Garbert-Smythe responded, "I may have stepped on your toes by putting a lock on that bay, my apologies.

"Civilian Captain Max Anders, corvette Deirdre?" Admiral Harris looked up from his com.

Admiral Garbert-Smythe nodded, "She's one of mine."

Admiral Harris nodded in understanding, then tapped out a few more times on his com.

"I'll have a vetted Voss tech rep and my highest security work party over there in a couple of hours, will that help you out, Hamilton?" Admiral Harris smiled.

"I owe you one, Charles, thank you." Smiling back, Admiral Garbert-Smythe waited for his fellow Admiral to end the call.

Garbert-Smythe tapped rapidly for a few seconds at his com device and said, "Now... I have one problem with operation: Melinoe." Admiral Garbert-Smythe looked at Boggs, "I can't allow a Sergeant, no matter how skilled or talented, to command an operation of this significance."

Max's heart crumpled, as Admiral Garbert-Smythe shifted his expressionless gaze to her.

"So I'm afraid you'll need to be bumped up... Congratulations, Lieutenant Commander Anders." Admiral Garbert-Smythe smiled a bit, as Max's jaw dropped.

"I need to cut this short as I have another meeting to attend so I'll walk you out." Garbert-Smythe kindly stated.

Boggs and Max immediately stood and Max opened the door out of the office.

The pretty Lieutenant Commander stood up at her desk as the Admiral walked by; opening the outer door and walking out. He took ten steps and stopped cold.

Admiral Garbert-Smythe was looking at Joon from across the reception area. He walked right up to her at a sedate pace and stopped. The Agathas moved slightly into a defensive posture and gave the Admiral their undivided attention. Boggs and Max could only watch as this impossible to avoid mid-air collision occurred in front of them.

"Pardon me," Garbert-Smythe addressed the exquisite woman in iridescent green, "Lady Jooniper Smith, I presume?"

Joon looked up from her data pad with a broad smile, "Yes, I am." She confirmed, slowly standing.

"I am a devotee of yours. I adore your rendition of Zeralyst Fuge; it's my favorite." Garbert-Smythe confessed.

Joon nodded, "I love it, too: it's so much fun to play."

In a cultured voice he said, "I am so sorry, where are my manners? I'm Admiral Garbert-Smythe; but please call me Hamilton."

"Enchantée, Hamilton." Joon gracefully offered her hand. Garbert-Smythe accepted it, bending over the offered hand in a courtly manner.

The Admiral just now noticed the black clad twins flanking the virtuoso, Jooniper Smith, "My apologies Maestro, are you waiting here for someone? Perhaps I can be of assistance?"

"I am waiting for my wife to conclude with her meeting," Joon smiled in understanding.

"Oh... your wife... I must meet the woman who has captured your heart." Garbert-Smythe smiled with genuine esteem for his favorite artist.

"I believe... you already have." Joon looked at Max who was standing halfway between Boggs and the Admiral; her face enveloped in concern for the present circumstance.

The Admiral followed Jooniper Smiths eyes and something goes click in his brain.

His gaze shifts back to the diminutive musician, "You're on the Deirdre."

"I am the medical officer," Joon smiled.

"And these two lovely ladies are also crew aboard the Deirdre," indicating with both of her hands.

Agatha curtsied simultaneously

Garbert-Smythe was momentarily lost in thought, then he said, "How marvelous, I want to be the first to welcome you to the TFNI! I look forward to hearing from you very soon."

Max watched her wife with a hopeful but confused look on her face.

"I fear... I really must depart as I have another engagement. It was truly exhilarating meeting you in person, Maestro Jooniper Smith." Admiral Garbert-Smythe bowed his head to her then turned and walked right away and down a hallway deeper into the offices.

Max and Boggs slowly walked over and Boggs quietly asked, "What just happened?"

"I think your Admiral... is a Jooniper Smith fan." Max muttered.

"He's your Admiral now too... Lieutenant Commander." Boggs actually chuckled.

Joon stared at Max, "What did Uncle Goat just call you?"

Boggs hissed, "Uncle Goat?"

Agatha softly giggled.

"Seriously Max, what did he just call you?" Joon quietly asked, trying hard not to make a scene.

"Um... A lot happened in the meeting." Max looked into Joon's eyes.

Joon peered at her wife, "What is a lot, Lieutenant Commander?"

"Um, yea, we have to get back to the Deirdre: we're about to get some... upgrades." Max pursed her lips in thought.

Boggs said he had some errands to run, and he would drop by bay 47 in the afternoon.

Max, Joon, and Agatha departed the TFNI offices, taking the same route back to the Deirdre.

---

As they approached the docking bay the marine sentries waved them through.

When Max, Joon, and Agatha walked into the cargo hold, Max thumbed the huge door closed.

Max turned to her wife and girlfriend, "Okay, we're about to be swamped with techs, engineers and mechanics."

Joon's and Agatha's eyes grew large.

"So we need to make a list of every change we want and at the same time make a safe room for Agatha so no one suspects she is more than twins."

Joon nodded enthusiastically, "We can get things set up just the way we want it."

"Would the armory be a good safe room?" Agatha inquired.

Max nodded to both of them, "Okay, lets get to work, we have a lot of prep to do and a short time in which to get it done."

Max quickly dressed down to her BDUs, while Joon put on her mahogany skirt, hunter-green jumper and chunky trainers.

Agatha didn't change, she was very comfortable in her 'bodyguard' apparel.

The FCQ was cleaned out then loaded into the armory which was definitely reaching critical mass for occupancy with all the gear and two Agatha hiding out in it.

Joon made a full list of all the repairs and changes she, Max and Agatha could think of.

Forty five minutes passed then Agatha looked into thin air, "A group of people have arrived."

Two Agatha went to the armory and locked themselves in. Max, Joon, Agatha, and 'Una' went to the cargo bay. As the cargo bay door opened they could see a group at the entrance and the sentries were not letting them enter the bay. Max, Joon, and Agathas walked to the entrance where an attractive woman in a dark blue business attire skirt suit with neck-length straight platinum-blonde hair was carrying a portfolio data pad.

She waited with a calm neutral expression, but her body language said she was put out. The one sentry saw Max and a look of relief appeared on his face. The woman turned and saw Max and her entourage and her eyes widened. "Are any of you Captain Anders?"

Max nodded to her, "I'm Anders, what can I do for you?"

The woman was about five foot eight with high cheekbones and almond shaped lavender eyes. Her bust was as small as Max's. "My name is Astrid Komatzu, I am your Voss Technologies Corporation representative."

Max offered her a handshake and she took it. "Nice to meet you Ms. Komatzu."

The Voss rep seemed lost for a moment, "I have a full work crew and a complete upgrade package ordered by Admiral Harris."

Max smiled, and nodded to the sentries, "Very good, Ms. Komatzu, please proceed."

Ms. Komatzu smiled slightly and nodded, then turned to three technicians and gave them the go ahead. Eight grav lorries came through the entrance and dozens of personnel immediately began work. Max, Joon, and Agatha glanced at each other and just stared at the small army. Astrid Komatzu stood near them and watched her work crew like a hawk.

"Ms. Komatzu?" Max began.

The Voss rep turned to Max, "Yes?"

"May I introduce Jooniper Smith, my... Executive Officer." Max quickly improvised.

"How can I help you Ms. Smith?" Astrid asked courteously.

Joon smiled, "Would you be able to replace or upgrade interiors as well?"

Astrid nodded, "Absolutely, we can reconfigure many interior systems and layouts, I just need a list of what you'd like altered, and then I can craft a work order."

Joon pulled out her data pad and showed Astrid what she had in mind.

Max stood back with Agatha, splitting her attention between listening to Joon and watching the work crews who were already replacing the subspace engines.

The engineers had actually already begun procedures for replacing the power core as well.

Joon and Astrid went walking around the Deirdre together, talking for twenty minutes; then they both laughed over something. Astrid went over to one of her engineers and Joon stood next to Max who looked at her with curiosity. Joon looked up at her towering wife, giving her a wink, "Astrid's okay, she just wants everything to go smoothly."

Max nodded, "Good, she seems very competent."

"Executive officer huh?" Joon beamed at her wife, "is that a promotion?"

Max smirked, "Oh, I guess you could think of it as a promotion, sweetheart."

They both giggled.

"Oh... there's a back-up power source in the armory," Agatha reported.

Max watched the work crew; they looked competent, too.

"I'm hungry." Joon announced, "Lets go get some lunch."

Joon slipped her hand in Max's and dragged her out of the docking bay with both Agatha in tow.

Max asked the sentries if they'd planned for lunch yet: they hadn't, so Max told them she would bring something for them.

"I think they like you, sweetheart." Joon smiled up at her.

Max shrugged, "I've stood my own post as sentry a few times."

The four of them took the transit to the trade plaza. Max felt Joon steering her to someplace that caught her fancy. The four of them entered a old Earth regional themed restaurant. A hostess seated them in the corner booth: it was starting to get busy for lunch. Their waiter was prompt; less than five minutes after they started looking at the menu. Joon ordered Chicken Quesadillas with a Queso Blanco Sauce, Agatha ordered Nachos Supreme and Una ordered Spiced Pork Tacos with Avocado Crema and Peach Salsa. Max ordered a Shredded Beef Chimichanga with Sour Cream and Guacamole.

Max put in two additional orders of the Chimichanga and four bottles of juice for take away. The waiter nodded in understanding. Joon beamed at her family. "This is delightful! I love being with you guys."

The waiter brought them their drinks.

Max was starting to relax a little after a rather hectic morning which had actually been quite instructive on how things could move very quickly in the TFN when the proper levers were pulled. Joon studied her wife for a few minutes, "So how does it feel to be an officer, my love?"

Max blinked then responded with a crooked grin, "I have no idea."

"I guess you're going to have to get some new insignia," Joon looked at Max's BDU's

Max looked around and noticed only a very few TFN personnel not in greys. Agatha was looking at the stucco walls and weathered wood timbers of the interior.

"So how many things did you change on the Deirdre's interior?" Max asked Joon.

Joon assumed an innocent look.

"Oh, my..." Max looked worried, "That much?"

The waiter arrived just in time with a huge grav tray in tow. Dishes were placed and drinks refilled. Max thanked the waiter for the food which looked delicious.

The crew of the Deirdre enjoyed a very delicious and filling meal.

Max looked up and clenched a strangled surprise. Joon stared at her then looked to where Max was focused and her eyes grew huge.

The highest ranking officer and leader of the Terran Federation, Fleet Admiral Lynette Devereux, walked into the restaurant.

Joon whispered, "Holy shit!"

Max kept her head down but watched the Fleet Admiral who was escorted by another Admiral--one she saw just this morning on a holocall in her meeting with her new boss.

Agatha blinked at the Admiral's entrance and grinned, she then whispered, "Who is she is with?"

'Una' glanced at the Admirals.

Max responded, "That's Admiral Charles Harris, he commands Olympus.

Joon stared at Max, "How do you know that?"

"He's the one who authorized the upgrades for the Deirdre." Max whispered.

"Should we thank him?" Agatha asked innocently.

"No sweetheart, it was a favor for Admiral Garbert-Smythe, not us." Max smiled at Agatha.

Agatha nodded, everyone kept eating and during the meal 'Una' would occasionally glance at the Admirals on the other side of the restaurant.

Max peered at Agatha, "Whats going on?"

Agatha tilted her head at the question.

"You keep looking over at them." Max whispered.

"Oh, yeah," Agatha whispered, "The Fleet Admiral must really like Admiral Harris."

"What does she feel like?" Max asked whispering.

Agatha smirked, then whispered. "Oh, she's all over the place, and very strong; I think she's in love."

Max and Joon gawked at Agatha.

With that in mind, they finished their lunch.

The waiter asked if everything was satisfactory as he dropped off the take away. They all thanked the waiter for the experience and Max took care of the bill, leaving a generous tip. As they were walking out another Admiral was walking in. She was a statuesque redhead with an impressive sashay. Joon muttered "Just how many Admirals work on Olympus anyway?"

Max's shrug displayed her ignorance.

They walked around the trade plaza for a a bit while slowly working their way back to the transit. Agatha and 'Una' watched over their family in passive 'bodyguard' mode. Max felt it was a little dramatic, but Joon delighted in it, so Max accepted it without complaint.

Joon was Max's Elven Princess; and every Princess, she reasoned, needs loyal bodyguards.

Joon stopped window shopping and gazed lovingly in Max's eyes.

Max tilted her head looking curiously at Joon. "What?"

"Oh, a little birdy told me you were feeling all lovey for me right now." Joon winked.

Max glared at the two bodyguards, they both looked away and tried to act innocent.

Joon wrapped her arms around her wife, her breasts flattened against Max's abs, "Don't worry my love, I'm willing to share my minions... for a price."

Max smirked, "Pray tell, fair Lady, what is the going rate for minions this fine day?"

"Only two orgasms for the pair, my handsome Dame," Joon's eyes danced.

Max's eyes dilated, "A bargain at twice the price, my lovely Princess.

Max leaned down to kiss her lovely wife, and Joon's data pad beeped.

"Timing." Giggled Joon, pulling out her data pad

"Oh!... It's Astrid." Joon hit the accept, And the Voss tech rep appeared in the holo.

"Hi Astrid!," Joon waved, "Whats up?"

Astrid Komatzu blinked, "I was calling to let you know we should be done within the next thirty minutes, and I'd like to do a walk through with you when we are finished."

Joon beamed, "That's sounds great, we'll see you then!"

Astrid smiled in response to Joon's enthusiasm, "See you soon."

Joon ended the call and put her data pad away, "I like her, she's super efficient."

Max nodded in agreement.

Joon pulled Max down into a kiss, "We can negotiate later, my handsome Dame."

Max, Joon, Agatha, and 'Una' stepped onto the transit and were whisked away, stepping off at the docks.

They could see Boggs talking to the sentries, there was a small case next to him. Walking up to the sentries, Max handed them the take away, and received hearty thanks.

Boggs smirked, "I didn't think you had to babysit your sentries."

"Just taking care of the people taking care of us." Max smiled at Boggs, noticing his Sergeant Major stripes had a starburst now.

Max eyed the stripes and Boggs smirked as he reached into his long coat pocket and pulled out a small case, tossing it to Max.

Max caught the case one handed: Joon, Agatha and 'Una' stepped up to see.

Max opened the case, inside was a set of silver hawks, the insignia of a Lieutenant Commander.

"Boggs..." Max started.

"Save it," Boggs interrupted, "Get out there, and keep us informed."

"This..." Boggs slid over the case, "Is every scrap of research we have on the minor empires."

"A good chunk of data, but with lots of holes."

"When your ship is ready, you're good to go, only G-S and I have your full file, you're cover is in the case."

"If you need to chat, I'll be in dark corners, breakfast and dinner."

With that Boggs spun on a heel and stalked off. Max stood there blinking, looking at the open case, and the silver hawk insignia. Agatha picked up the case with the data and the four crew of the Dierdre entered bay 47. Avoiding the departures of most of the grav lorries, Max, Joon, and Agatha looked at the Deirdre.

Max couldn't really see a difference, until she saw the sub-light engines, which were twice the size of the previous set.

"Whoooa," Max and Joon said together.

Max had no idea what the improvement in velocity would be, but it certainly looked promising. Astrid walked down the cargo ramp and approached them.

"Hello again, Ms. Komatzu," Max greeted her.

Astrid smiled, glanced at Joon, and replied, "Hello, Captain Anders."

"Please call me Max." Joon's towering wife requested.

The Voss tech rep responded, "I will, if you call me Astrid."

"These engines look amazing, Astrid, how many systems were upgraded?" Max inquired, her eyes focused on her almond-shaped lavender orbs.

Astrid swallowed, then pulled open her data pad, "You have been fitted with state of the art, military grade Trankaran engines, a state of the art military grade Ashanath power core and tachyon drive." "Also highly improved military grade Kintark heat sinks." Astrid smiled.

"That's really incredible, thank you so much for your hard work," Max smiled softly.

Astrid glanced at Joon, "The last checks should be through, let me confer with my engineers then I can give you a walk through on the interior."

Joon beamed at Astrid, "That would be excellent! We'll wait right here."

Max watched Astrid who walked with a dancer's grace around to the front of the Dierdre; she definitely was attractive.

Joon walked over to Agatha and nodded. Just a few minutes later Astrid walked back as the last grav lorries departed.

"Ladies, if you would please follow me." Astrid requested.

Walking up into the cargo hold, Max immediately noticed her steps felt muted, and she looked down.

Astrid immediately stopped and began the tour, "You have already noticed the shock lite flooring; it's an indoor-outdoor absorption covering and is as easy to maintain as titanium and much easier to walk on."

"Your entire ship's decking is now thermally insulated with this material." Astrid continued to walk into the troop compartment.

Max walked into the troop compartment and was stunned: it was like a giant single bedroom. Astrid walked to the center of the sizable living space.

"All of the individual bunks were stripped out and replaced with a multi-sectional system to fit the area." Astrid spoke concisely describing the massive sleeping platform.

There was a full sized automatic clothes washer/dryer and the entire right side of the room was closet space. She walked into the troop bathroom and Max followed.

The four toilets remained; but the urinals were removed and the showers were enlarged and had hand rails strategically placed as well as a pair of corner shower benches. All eight of the shower heads were now detachable, each with six foot reinforced hosing. Max marveled at Astrid who smiled and continued the tour. She walked out of the troop compartment and past the armory and up to the quarter deck.

Max expected her to go to the bridge, but she went to the FCQ.

Max peered into the FCQ and was shocked again: it was completely different.

Astrid stood in the middle of the space, "This is your communications hub."

"There are six fully functional com stations in this room. There is a greatly resized area here with only the two toilets and two sinks which is now just a lavatory."

Astrid walked out of the coms hub and went right into the bridge. Max wasn't sure what she was expecting, so seeing the replaced stations was not surprising at this point. The command station now had a couch large enough for three, maybe more.

"This arrangement should offer the best comfort for... long watches," Astrid blushed.

Joon nodded at her and she seemed to hesitate, but then turned around and headed off the bridge so Max followed.

Astrid went into the command cabin and stood in the middle of the room.

Max followed her in... then the door closed and an audible click was heard.

Max turned around and looked at the door with a confused expression.

"This cabin has been redesigned as guest quarters, but can be utilized as a brig if necessary."

Max looked at her: Astrid was blushing and she was watching Max's eyes, her own beautiful lavender orbs were dilated.

"I need you to know, this wasn't my idea." Astrid confessed.

Max peered at Astrid, "Joon put you up to this?"

Astrid blushed harder, her beautiful fair skin was flush, "It was her plan; but I happily went along with it."

Max's eyes widened in surprise, "So, what was her plan?"

Astrid looked nervous, "I think first, I need to tell you what happened."

Max nodded, "Okay, would you like to sit down?"

Astrid sat, her long beautiful legs crossed at the ankles as she sat on the edge of the bed.

Max leaned up against the wall.

"When I saw you this morning... I was taken completely unawares." Astrid confessed.

"Somehow, your executive officer knew, I mean, she just stated matter-of-factly that I found you attractive."

Astrid gazed at Max, "She was completely correct, I've never seen anyone like you."

"Astrid, Joon is my wife, and I think she's playing a prank; though she's never done anything like this before," Max sighed.

Astrid shook her head, "I know she's your wife, we spoke for quite a while."

"What did you talk about?" Max listened to the beautiful platinum-blonde.

Astrid told Max her story, obsession with ballet as a child, working very hard in school, earning an engineering and business double major. With her hard work she never found the time for a relationship. She then had a three month engagement to a man she barely knew and she eventually found him with his secretary: that was eight years ago.

She knew she found some women attractive; but today her heart came alive when she saw Captain Anders... Max.

"I think I understand, at least I hope I do." Max pushed away from the wall, sitting next to Astrid on the bed.

"Joon must think very highly of you, and I do trust her with my life." Max told the tech angel.

"She wouldn't have locked us in here, if she didn't want us to..."

"I think you're an amazing woman," Astrid whispered, "but I've never done this before."

Max nodded in understanding and gave Astrid a soft smile, "For as long as you like, I will do whatever you want, you're in complete control... this is my gift to you, to help you expand your horizons."

Astrid's eyes grew large. Then half lidded in desire, she tentatively reached out with a delicate hand, gripping a handful of Max's BDU and pulled it to her. Max went with it, moving slowly to Astrid until they were face to face. The smaller woman gazed deeply into Max's soft brown eyes, leaning into a gentle kiss. They both closed their eyes, letting the sensations of the soft touch of lips envelop them.

Astrid very slowly put a gentle tongue into Max's mouth; and was welcomed. The kiss slowly deepened and Astrid's breathing became increasingly heavier. The platinum-blonde released her hand from it's tight grip; reaching around to the back of Max's neck, the gentle hand exploring, rubbing... caressing.

Astrid pulled back from the kiss, her mouth still open, her breathing heavy. She looked at Max's BDU and started removing the top, fumbling with the closures. Astrid stopped, then smiled, "I want you to take off your clothes," She gasped, "Slowly."

Max softly smiled at Astrid and slowly stood up from the edge of the long bed. Taking her time, Max slowly remove the BDU top; revealing her dark grey undershirt. Max knelt down and unfastened her tac boots and slowly stepped out of them.

Astrid was staring at her, unmoving, watching every little movement while biting her lower lip. Max continued to remove clothing until she was down to her grey sports-bra and boy-shorts panties.

Astrid suddenly said, "Stop, don't move." Astrid stood, and kicked off her dark-blue office pumps and then stepped closer to Max. She looked very closely at Max, examining her long well-toned physique. Astrid then knelt down next to Max and began to kiss her body, deeply smelling her scent.

Max looked down at her: Astrid's eyes were so dilated the delicate lavender irises were difficult to perceive. Astrid started rubbing her cheek on Max's thigh, then a hand started caressing her leg. Soon Max felt both of Astrid's hands across her body. Astrid moved slowly around her on her knees, rubbing her face all over her lower body breathing in Max's scent.

Max was really enjoying the sensual attractive woman exploring her. Her soft caresses were doing a number on the temperature of her sex. Then before Max knew it, Astrid had buried her nose in Max's crotch, and stayed there, inhaling Max's musky aroma over and over.

The blonde was in quite a state: she trembled while holding both of Max's muscular cheeks in her hand's, pulling her own face into Max. Astrid opened her eyes and while looking up at Max's face, she kissed Max's pussy through her panties. She moved back a little, "Please remove your underwear, and lay on the bed."

Max smiled and nodded.

Astrid stood up and watched her, stripping off her business attire with a great deal of alacrity. Max watched Astrid quickly undress as she stepped over to the bed and laid down in the nude. She stretched out; her arms laid out to either side and her legs comfortably spread.

Astrid's body was trim but not shapely, she had long legs and waist. Her breasts were small but pert, with erect nipples on rose colored areola. Astrid stood staring next to the bed and Max saw her golden halo of soft blonde pubic hair. Astrid took in all of Max lying on the bed: the smile on her face was unconsciously honest.

"This is better than any fantasy I've ever had: I want to do so much..."

"Just enjoy yourself, Astrid," Max closed her eyes, trusting her. "Take your time, I'm not going anywhere."

The trembling blonde took a deep breath, reaching out with a loving caress along Max's long muscled thigh. Astrid moaned softly, leaning down and kissing Max's thigh. She climbed on to the bed as Max spread her legs wider. Astrid laid out on her stomach, her face inches from Max's vulva. Gently leaning in, her mouth moved to the soft flesh and she began feeling the warmth of Max's sex on her lips and cheeks.

She breathed Max in, relishing her first time with a woman. Astrid had watched lesbian pornography of course; but she had no idea what it would be like in reality. Astrid opened her mouth and tasted another woman for the first time.

Max felt the tentative first steps of Astrid's intimate education with the fairer sex. Enjoying the gentle probing tongue and soft kisses, Max crossed her arms and began pinching her own nipples. The long session between Max's legs had really gotten Astrid wet and her own fingers had been teasing her throbbing clit nearly the entire time.

Astrid suddenly remembered, Max was married to Joon, she must know exactly how to please a woman.

"Max..." She started, "I want you to make me cum with your mouth, show me how it should be done."

Astrid was panting again, her anticipation of unknown pleasures pulling at her heart. Max sat up and pulled Astrid into a hug; her legs threading around the long legs of her new lover. Astrid lost herself in Max's soft-brown eyes as she was drawn into a deep, wet kiss; the tart juices covering her face being licked clean.

Max easily lifted the woman into her lap and then gently laid her down while still embracing her. Astrid was completely taken by Max's gentle strength and loving demeanor. Max gently kissed her on the lips, then a cheek, then her neck. She kissed the platinum-blonde's shoulder as she moved to her throat on her way down to lick a pink nipple.

And Astrid gasped.

The kisses continued all over her chest where Max sucked her other nipple into her mouth, gently flicking the hard tip with her tongue.

Astrid moaned softly.

Max placed kisses on Astrid's soft tummy; her cute belly button also receiving tender attention. Max found the bony edges of her hips and kissed them very slowly.

Astrid's panting increased, her moans more frequent.

Finally Max laid soft kisses across the delicate woman's waist and hips, stopping to smell the top edge of her pubis. Lifting the long legs, Max slowly kissed back and forth across her inner thighs, working her way to Astrid's warm, wet sex.

Astrid was in a completely aroused state and on display were the glistening lips of her labia minora. Unlike Max, Astrid's pussy wasn't trimmed in any way and her delicate folds were surrounded in a light blonde nimbus. Max felt honored, seeing this attractive woman in such a natural state.

Kissing her hood gently, Max could feel her react to the touch. Astrid gasped as her body spasmed at the electric pulse it sent through her body. Max began with a long slow lick, trusting in her wife's training, and hoping Astrid reacted the same way to the stimulation. Max's tongue techniques were completely geared to her wife's preferences: Agatha didn't seem to mind them; but a more informed lover would be aware of what buttons to push and when. Following her training, Max licked and sucked in variety, and when Astrid wrapped her legs around Max's head and screamed through an orgasm just minutes later, Max felt fulfilled.

Gasping Astrid asked, "Can we... do that... again?"

Max gave her a soft smile, "Of course... there are a few other things we can do, too."

Max cuddled Astrid and cradled her in her arms as she recovered. The platinum-blonde's almond-shaped lavender eyes stared into her soul.

Astrid smiled in relief and elation.

There was a knock at the door and a muffled "Can I come in?" could be heard through the portal.

Astrid's eyes widened. Max pulled the duvet over Astrid who nodded.

"Come in." Max projected.

The door opened and Joon walked in, looking down and walking slowly.

"There is my sweet, darling, manipulative wife." Max said with a humorous lilt,

Joon bit her lip, "I know I was bad, but it was for a good cause."

"Astrid, did you have a problem with my wife manipulating the situation ending in you and I having sex?" Max inquired the beautiful woman in her arms.

Astrid's lips twisted in contemplation, "I was worried before, but now, not in the least."

The smell of delicious food, now wafted through the open door.

Astrid's stomach growled loudly, "Oh my gosh, I am so sorry!" she said with a blush forming on her cheeks.

"That isn't your fault, Agatha is making a really nice dinner for all of us." Joon smiled.

Max coaxed Joon over and kissed her deeply... Astrid stared at the kiss.

"I really like the way you two are with each other, I am so envious." Astrid smiled weakly.

Joon turned to Astrid and kissed her, too, lingering a bit with tongues swirling.

The kiss had Astrid staring wide eyed at Joon.

Joon sat on the bed and held Astrid's hand, "Anytime we are together, you can have fun with Max."

Astrid glanced at Max, then looked at Joon, "What about you, Joon, can you have fun too?"

Joon looked at her wife, tilting her head a little.

Max smirked at Joon, "I'm pretty sure your wife wouldn't have any problem with that."

"But you might also want to get the okay from our girlfriend."

Astrid blinked, "Who is your girlfriend?"

Joon and Max both replied, "Agatha."

Joon skipped out of the command cabin.

Astrid inquired, "Is her sister being left out?"

"It's not as big an issue as you might think." Max smiled at Astrid.

Max and Astrid dressed and they both went down to the galley. Astrid stood there at the door of the galley, staring... at four identical women. An Agatha walked up to her without a visor and smiled a greeting at her. Lavender met steel-grey gilded in silver as eyes met close up. "Your eyes are so pretty," Astrid murmured, "What species are you?"

Agatha responded happily, "I'm Oneiran."

Astrid studied Agatha's facial structure, "I've never heard of that species."

Agatha posed her hands under her chin.

"Are you Agatha?" Astrid asked.

Agatha nodded, "Yup."

"Do you mind if I am... Intimate with Max and Joon?" Astrid asked hopefully.

Agatha giggled, "Not at all, fuck their brains out."

Astrid blinked as all of the identical girls giggled and stopped in unison. Everyone was seated around a beautifully set table... Spring Pasta with Salmon, Peas, Dill and Peach also Basil Salad with Fresh Mozzarella.

Astrid was given a pair of bowls and utensils to help herself.

From Astrid's perspective, the conversations were oddly different than she had ever heard before. Agatha's name was brought up several times, but neither Joon nor Max even looked at Agatha, the girl sitting next to Astrid. Max asked Agatha's sister a question, Astrid wondered what her name was, maybe that one was Una. Then Joon mentioned Agatha by name, and every identical girl looked up and smiled. Astrid froze... she slowly turned her head to look at the girl next to her.

The girl glanced at her, a sly smile appeared on her face.

"Are... You really Agatha?" Astrid whispered quietly.

Agatha swallowed her mouthful of salad, and leaned in close and whispered in Astrid's ear, "We all are, honey."

Astrid stared off in thin air, her pretty face expressionless.

Joon pouted, "Agatha, did you break our guest?"

"I'm sorry, but she asked; did you want me to lie to a new friend?" Agatha asked Joon with a hopeful expression.

Joon shook her head gently, "Of course not, but I don't want her to be scared either."

"I promise not to scare her, she is very nice: cute too." Agatha smiled at Astrid.

Astrid kept eating, her face blank while her mind was processing the evidence her eyes and ears had collected. After the meal finished everyone was still talking while Agatha collected, washed, and put away all the dishes and utensils.

Agatha said out loud, "looks like I gauged that perfectly, no leftovers.

"Well done sweetheart." Max winked at her.

Astrid slowly surfaced out of her processing haze as she listened to Agatha's initial report on the Minor Empires data Boggs had given them and some positive efficiency feedback on the new coms hub.

Astrid immediately responded to the feedback, "So all of you can utilized them simultaneously. That's inspired, and it totally makes sense now.

Joon beamed at Astrid.

Astrid continued, "I assume you all share a common... processing point?"

An Agatha clarified for their new guest, "There isn't an 'all', there's just me."

"Think of every one of my bodies as another hand on one person, I use them all in concert or on separate tasks." Agatha smiled at Astrid.

"Ooooh." Astrid stared at Agatha at length, then blinked. "I apologize, I don't mean to be rude."

The Agatha next to her put her arm around the blonde, "It's ok, I kind of like it."

Astrid turned and gazed at her beautiful Cat-like eyes, "Are Max and Joon intimate with all of you?"

Agatha tapped her chin and thought about it, "Mostly, but we didn't have a large enough place to try it safely; but thanks to you we do now."

Astrid blinked, "A..a..an o-or-gy?" she asked nervously.

Max adopted a naughty expression while Joon just stared off into the distance and sighed.

Agatha leaned forward, "I'd like to invite you to join us this evening."

Astrid's eyes slowly went half lidded and a smile crept onto her lips. "This day keeps getting better and better." Max and all of Agatha got up and went to the coms hub to look at data.

Joon held Astrid back and they both sat at the galley table.

Joon adopted a serious look as she explained Agatha to the platinum-blonde tech rep. Astrid was now part of a very exclusive group and if Agatha herself had not fully vetted her, none of today's events would have occurred.

"That's how you knew," Astrid blinked, "Agatha 'felt' or 'tasted' me?"

Joon nodded, pulling the tiny spy-tech earbud out and showing it off to Astrid, she immediately replaced it.

"I told her to actively feel, or taste, everyone we come in contact with, and tell me the results."

Astrid nodded in understanding, "But, why me?"

Joon nodded, "Two reasons."

"Agatha said, 'You were on fire as soon as you saw Max... And that you were so alone and lonely; you had no friends in your life.'"

Astrid gasped and tears started rolling down her cheeks, "That is a completely accurate assessment."

"Oh sweetie, come here." Joon wrapped Astrid in a hug, "It's ok."

"This entire crew is willing to be your best friends as long as you want us."

Astrid wiped away her tears.

"Oh..." Astrid started, "I understand you're leaving; so I may never see you again."

Joon pursed her lips in thought, "I will make sure you can always send a message to us."

"But... I just found you... " Astrid looked worried.

Joon's face saddened, "It is so unfair, but we can't ask you to leave your job and home."

"Why not?" Astrid retorted.

Joon blinked. "I just assumed you'd never want to do that."

"I may be very good at my job, but it doesn't bring me any joy." Astrid sniffed.

"These feelings... Since meeting all of you, have been the best I've ever experienced in my life."

Joon held up her finger to pause the conversation, her mind raced for a few seconds.

She stood, pulled Astrid to her feet, and walked to the coms hub dragging Astrid with her.

"Max?" Joon almost shouted.

Max heard and knew that shout and while leaned over a com station said, "Uh oh."

Joon walked in through the doorway, "Max, what's the policy for adding crew members?"

Max blinked, "I don't know, we don't have one yet."

"I propose hiring Astrid as our chief engineer." Joon stood with her legs spread apart, her arms crossed under her massive bust, the green jumper straining.

Max knew what that stance meant, she was both passionate and stubborn on the subject.

So Max said the only thing the commander of an ultra-secret intelligence gathering platform would say to adding a beautiful, brilliant technician to her crew.

"Okay."

Astrid gasped.

Joon turned and faced her new crew mate, "What do you need to be ready to leave?"

After thinking about it, Astrid said she would need to go to her flat on the station and collect her possessions. She wanted to resign from the Voss Corporation on good terms so she would send Abigail a message.

"Max, I want you and Agatha to go with her, help her with her stuff." Joon nodded.

Max smirked, "Of course my love... does this mean she's our new girlfriend?"

Astrid stared at Max, cheeks bright red.

Agatha giggled.

Joon's brain chewed on that for a few seconds.

"Right now she is chief engineer, until I've had my way with her... I mean assess her, then she and I will determine the relationship status."

Joon winked at Astrid, who smiled so hard she covered her mouth with both hands and closed her eyes for a few seconds.

Five minutes later Max, Astrid, and two Agatha geared up and walked down the lowering cargo ramp. They walked past the sentries who nodded to them and the transit took them to a stop in one of the many hab sections; it's was clean, but not pretty.

Astrid thumbed her way inside. It was a small flat and it looked barely lived in.

Pulling out three cases Astrid started filling them, one was large enough for dresses to be laid out in. Astrid Komatzu did not own a single dress. However, she had ten business skirt suits in various dark colors, four pair of office pumps...none of her clothes were utilitarian or social.

She did favor lacy underwear and had quite a variety.

She also had a couple of somethings in a cloth bag that she looked like she was going to put in the corner of the one of her cases, but she stopped.

"I don't know if you are okay with toys, but I have lived alone with them for eight years." Astrid explained.

Max nodded, and smiled softly, "You're welcome to bring anything you want, Astrid."

She looked relieved, "Thank you."

Astrid was completely packed in less than ten minutes.

"How long have you been on Olympus?" Max asked.

Astrid responded, "Only a couple of weeks. I used to work for Orbital-Galactica, but then overnight I was working for Voss, he just bought them outright.

"Every level nine Tech in every company Mr. Voss purchased were sent here, to upgrade the TFN, we have been going non-stop in triple shifts, My crew has upgraded scores of ships.

"Won't you be missed?" Max asked seeing pain in Astrid's face.

She shook her head, "I am just a cog in a big machine here, there are many cogs just like me."

Max pulled Astrid to her, gently wrapping her arms around her newest crew woman, "There's no one like you."

Astrid looked up, her almond-shaped lavender eyes gazing into Max's soft-brown ones.

"Do you need anything else?" Max held the fragile tech close again.

She sighed happily, "Not anymore."

Agatha leaned into Max as well, purring.

The trip back to bay 47 was just as expedient. One of the sentry's eyebrows raised at the luggage but he remained silent. They walked across the bay and Astrid looked at the Deirdre and stopped.

Max stopped next to her also looking at the Deirdre, waving Agatha to continue inside.

"She's so tiny," Astrid muttered after a few minutes.

"Hey, no size shaming." Max smirked.

Astrid glanced at Max with wide eyes and a smile, "I meant, her small size was good."

"Oh, ok," Max nodded.

"You know, I bet..." Astrid stopped and thought, "How would you feel about a new coat of paint?"

"Whats wrong with charcoal grey?" Max inquired.

Astrid shook her head, "Nothing at all, and if you like it, you can keep it."

Max peered at Astrid, "So why do we need new paint again?"

Astrid smiled, "So you can have any color or pattern of colors you want."

Max blinked, "What?"

"Something my department was working on for T-Fed ground forces." Astrid nodded.

"I bet it could be used for this little girl, you can program the colors from inside to blend into where ever you are, or be as loud and bright as you want."

Max looked back at the Deidre, "Is it expensive?"

Astrid actually giggled, "You just upgraded your ship with many millions of credits worth of tech."

Max looked a bit embarrassed, "Yeah, but new paint wasn't on the budget. I would have to go through channels again."

"Hey... My treat." Astrid smirked.

Max blinked, "Really?"

Astrid nodded, "Yeah, I haven't spent money on anyone in years, including myself."

"Well, I guess that calls for a celebration." Max smooched Astrid and headed for the Cargo ramp.

Astrid put her fingers where Max had smooched her, she beamed and ran after her tall lover.

---

Everyone welcomed their newest crew member in the new crew quarters. The new CQ was very well received by everyone and Astrid was thanked many times. The huge amount of closet space for the entire crew was very welcome.

Agatha was thrilled out of her mind over the massive pallet beds, all three side by side lined one wall and with just the single wall com and clothes washer/dryer there was actually room for additional crew.

The new paint idea was discussed and everyone agreed it was worthwhile to pursue so Astrid used the wall com and made the appointment on Terra. Joon had decided to keep the command cabin for guests and as a possible room for patients. The coms hub would be instrumental for operation: Melinoe.

Max put a hold on further recruitment, at least for a while, and the showers were amazing: all seven of the crew could be in there at the same time; and that's exactly what they did. Astrid was in some kind of nirvana as four Agatha gently but thoroughly washed her.

Max sat on the bench snogging her wife while she stood between her legs.

After the long hot shower a bright pink Astrid stretched out on the massive bed, nude and happy with her new crew. Still unable to explain how she arrived there, but happy none the less.

Then Max kissed Joon. Joon then crawled over to Astrid and kissed her, Agatha started kissing Max.

In a few minutes limbs started wrapping around bodies and multiple gasps and moans could be heard. At one point Max, Joon, and Astrid were all laying on their backs with their heads to the middle of the massive bed; each with an Agatha between their legs whose long tongues were deeply buried. At another point every mouth of the crew found a hot wet vagina to please. Joon did find an oppertunity to interview the new chief engineer. Astrid explored Joon's petite body discovering an emerald jeweled butt plug installed in her Executive Officer, while deeply kissing her between her thighs. After worshiping Joon's breasts, Astrid was given 'girlfriend' status and the celebration continued.

The long crew member Indoctrination, because that's what the executive officer decided to call it, came to a happy and exhausted conclusion. One by one they slowly dropped off to sleep. One by one, they were pulled into one shared dream...and the bonding continued all night, in docking bay 47, Olympus station.