Ving moved her racer away from the airship, watching an annoyed-looking Hannah grow smaller as the distance increased. She knew why and refused to apologize for it.

“So, what happened?” Laurel asked as she lashed her rifle to the sling in the door.

“I said something I shouldn't have. Apparently,” Ving replied, unwilling to volunteer any more info than that.

Ving slid the sights into place in the forward window so she could aim the cannon mounted next to her. She had had little practice with it but felt confident she could do the job in one or two passes. The plan, at least her part in it, was easy and safe enough not to be any more worried about it than her conversation with Hannah when she got back.

****

Sergeant Grey didn't usually get to command the full company, but when you have a Queen who orders it, protocol gets tossed out. As company First Sergeant, it wasn't much of a leap since he would do it if the officers got killed anyway. The plan seemed fine, but he knew how long plans lasted.

The men were less than enthusiastic about the ride but Grey appreciated the level of subterfuge it provided. A utility haulier would be less out of place arriving at the tunnel that was supposedly filled with debris. It also had the benefit of heavy metal plating compared to the wooden hull of most troop transports that flew. The real unknown, as always, was how smart or stupid the enemy was.

****

“They are shooting at the transport.” Ving sighed.

“Unless Grey opened the doors, they are jumping the gun.” Laurel crawled up to look out the front window. “Nope, just giving away their secret without thinking. Unless enemy reinforcements are in the tunnel, they shouldn't be giving civies a reason to call a mayday.”

“Good news is that I can see all their gun flashes. Not all of them are marked with construction signs.”

Ving hit the throttle to take the racer out of hover mode.

“Two passes, then set me up,” Laurel reminded.

Ving acknowledged and lined up her shots. Each targeting reticle in front of her was set to a different range. The moment the first round was coughed out of the cannon, she started lining up the second in time to fire the next shot. Each round sped down towards the men in the rocks over the tunnel and detonated with a concussive thump. Once she was over the tunnel entrance, she pulled back into the sky to make another run.

****

Grey heard the signal at the same time as the explosions, their spotter on the bridge being somewhat unnecessary. He ordered men out the doors and they flooded out the sides of the ship as quickly as possible, dispersing into the ditches on either side of the road they had parked on. The road ran perpendicular to the tunnel, and the ditches offered cover for them to advance toward the guns. By the time the racer came back to lay more rounds into the enemy positions that had already felled a number of his men, the rest were laying in the ditches that may have well-been trenches.

“Idiots,” he hissed as he peered over the edge to see if anyone was left shooting at him. “You would think covert forces would have made better use of the terrain.”

“Maybe they didn't expect to be attacked? They just took the high ground to cover the fields,” Sergeant Mull offered.

“Some high ground sure, but if you have trenches pre-dug, put people in them. But I suppose I can't complain about this being too easy.” Grey hadn't heard a shot since the end of the second pass from above. “Radio! Call in the next group. Get our wounded onto the ship before it withdraws.”

They heard the snap of a high-powered rifle.

****

“Got one,” Laurel said as she chambered another round. “But I don't see anyone else.”

Ving fired the flare gun out her side window. “I’m sure they can handle whoever else might still be breathing. We need to catch up with the ship.”

“We wait until they send their signal. It’s not like we can't catch up to them,” Laurel replied, still scanning the hillside for any targets who might have survived.

“Understood.” Ving wasn't in any hurry to have the dreaded conversation with Hannah.

****

Hannah was relieved to hear over the radio from Grey that everything had gone better than expected. They had the tunnel and would be moving through it immediately. The range would be too great to get any more updates as they headed south at flank speed.

“So what happened?” Liddy asked, handling the controls while Hannah logged off the radio.

“You heard as well as I did,” Hannah replied, trying to leave the bridge before Liddy corrected her question.

“I meant about you and Ving! The two of you left to meet your parents, and ever since you got back I hadn't seen you even speak to her.”

“Things got said, now we need to deal with it.” Hannah wasn't in any more of a mood to share than Ving was.

Hannah left the bridge and ignored any further questions. She went up on deck to wait for Ving so they could settle things between them. The wind blew hard as their speed coupled with their altitude to get over the mountains made it almost impossible to even be on the deck. When their ship slowed suddenly, Hannah knew it was because Ving was close and ready to dock. She helped tie the racer down and turned to go back inside before even seeing Ving emerge from her racer.

Down in the lounge everyone was gathered, and waiting to find out what was going on between Hannah and Ving. When Hannah walked in, Vile had already moved behind her to keep her from leaving when she realised what was going on. The ship changed course slightly and accelerated a few minutes before Liddy came in, shoving Ving into the room.

“Now, explain!” Liddy ordered once Hannah and Ving were face to face.

Neither wanted to say anything and Liddy knew her glare wouldn't work on Hannah, so she turned it on Ving as she walked around her.

“I don't want to say,” Ving let out with a huff.

“Of course! Now you want to keep your mouth shut!” Hannah blurted out angrily.

“Enough!” Inky yelled, getting to her feet. “We are about to go attack a hostile city with little more than our tits! So whatever the problem is, I want it out in the open, now!”

“Her mother,” Ving started. “She has amazing tits.” Ving let it hang for a moment. “And I may have implied wanting a sexual liaison with her so I could compare.”

Everyone was silent. Some tried to understand how that could be upsetting, while others tried to imagine what Hannah’s mother looked like.

“Is this because you two were annoyed that you hadn't had makeup sex yet?” Leira asked from the fountain.

Hannah and Ving both perked up, having completely forgotten about that conversation and realising they finally had the chance. Ving took Hannah by the hand as she ran past her and followed.

“Who has the artefact?!” Hannah yelled.

“We used it last!” called Easy as she held Mari close. “So it’s in Liddy's room!”

Liddy slumped her shoulders.

“Obviously!” Hannah called back. “Inky, I am going to borrow your riding crop!”

“Didn't you already steal one for yourself?!” Inky asked, wondering if Hannah could hear her after going down the stairs.

“I'm going to need both!” Hannah shouted before rushing into and out of rooms after shoving Ving into their bed.

“Those two…” Liddy shook her head. “And the rest of you!” She perked up. “Stop fucking in my bed if I'm not involved! Seriously! It’s not any more comfortable than your own!”

****

Hannah returned to find Ving naked on her knees at the foot of the bed with her clothing strewn about. She set her own items aside and stripped out of her dress to stand naked over Ving.

“You want to apologize to this?” Hannah thrust her hips so Ving could almost taste the already wet womanhood in front of her.

“Yes, ma’am.” Ving nodded eagerly.

“Too bad. You are going to have to wait.” Hannah backed away and took out the artefact and put the hooks inside her. “You are going to get this first.”

Ving watched the metal rod turn into a hard shaft of manhood. She opened her mouth to speak but Hannah grabbed her by the hair and yanked her forward to take it down her throat without preparation. Ving choked and gagged at first as her hair was used to work her over the flesh in her throat and mouth, amazed how it still tasted like Hannah. Drool was already falling from her mouth and onto her breasts as she struggled to breathe in the short moments when Hannah withdrew to wipe the shaft along her face.

“Keep your eyes on these tits. They are the only ones you are going to love. Forget about the rest. They, like you, are mine!”

Ving's reply was choked off by Hannah shoving down her throat again, and she started to whimper at the savage motions on her head.

“Don't even think of getting off yet!” Hannah demanded as she looked down her breasts at Ving, who was trying to look up past her green hair that was a mess all over her face. “I’m first!” To illustrate the point, Hannah let her load burst the moment she pulled out so Ving's face and hair would be covered with her seed.

Ving had to close one eye as fluid was pumped onto her face but kept staring at Hannah's breasts, enjoying how her lover's red hair stuck to them as her skin began to sweat. Her hands kept working along the shaft until it finally turned back into metal and fell out of Hannah.

Hannah grabbed the riding crops and Ving by the throat, pulling her to her feet and kissed her through the messy hair. She pressed her breasts against Ving’s as she used them to push her to the bed and climb on top. After breaking the kiss, she held her breasts over Ving yet not letting her get close enough to lick them.

“Mouth shut,” Hannah demanded before she pressed her breasts down against Ving's face.

Ving moaned in frustration as the breasts slid along her wet face, unable to open her mouth and enjoy them. When Hannah got up and turned around to sit on her face, she expected an order to open up but never got it.

“Keep it shut, you little whore,” Hannah smirked as she set her

wetness down on Ving and slid it over her face.

Ving ached, moving her hips in the air, trying to get any attention to them while she moaned at her inability to open her mouth. Suddenly, she was forced to scream into her sealed lips as one of the crops was slammed hard between her legs. Then she felt it slide over her, gently tapping her womanhood before it withdrew to come down again and get another scream. Fighting to keep her mouth shut, she wasn't expecting her breasts to suddenly suffer the same fate. At any moment she didn't know when either of her breasts would get hit or teased any more than she did between her legs. It only stopped when Hannah leant forward and hooked the artefact into her and suddenly she felt her throbbing shaft swaying with the motion of her hips.

“I can't help but recall you wondering how anyone with a cock could stand not having it inside my mother. You never said that about me. Tell me, how does it feel? Not having anything to put it in?” She paused long enough for Ving to start trying to moan a response. “Oh silly me, you can't open up to reply.”

Ving felt her new shaft being teased by the riding crop and screamed in anticipation. It was only after she felt it landing on her belly that she realised she had climaxed without permission.

“Oh my, seems like someone can't keep her seed inside her.” Hannah yanked out the rod and put it back within herself. “Seems like you need more experience.” Hannah flipped Ving over and spread her bum wide before ramming herself in.

Ving screamed hard into the pillow.

“Yes, this is mine as well.” Hannah yanked Ving by the hair to pull her head up and hear her failed attempts to scream with her mouth closed. “Tell me you deserve this.”

“I deserve thi-” Ving was cut off by the riding crop that was forced into her mouth like a bit on a horse.

Hannah held both sides of the crop as she continued to thrust into Ving, forcing her to endure the uncomfortable position. “Wail for me, bitch!”

Ving let out a desperate wail and heard Hannah grunt in response as she deposited her seed inside her bum.

“Now you can keep that inside you where it belongs.” Hannah flipped Ving over yet again and lifted her leg so she could entwine hers. “Now this is better.”

Ving kept biting on the crop in her mouth even though Hannah wasn't holding it anymore. She watched Hannah's breasts as her body worked to grind their hips together. It felt good for them both to have their lady parts back and rubbing against each other, but just as she was about to finish, Hannah pulled away. A moment later, the shaft was hooked inside Ving again.

Hannah knelt over Ving's hips and kissed the shaft coming up to greet her, then pressed her breasts against it and used her hands to hold them tight. “Fuck them like you mean it.”

Ving worked her hips hard at the command and watched as her shaft moved between the breasts of her lover. “I'm sorry. Nothing can be better than your breasts. They are all that I love and I will spend the rest of my life loving them.”

Hannah paused in surprise while Ving kept working her hips to slide the shaft between her breasts. “Did you just agree to marry me?”

Ving burst her seed the moment the question was asked, covering Hannah's breasts. “Yes?”

Hannah rushed to get her face to Ving’s and kiss her deeply, kicking away the artefact so she could make love to her betrothed. “Then you will be my wife. You are forgiven, my love.”

“Can I say I still need to forgive you? I kinda wanna fuck your ass in revenge now,” Ving replied with a smirk.

“Of course,” Hannah replied. “Can't be my wife if I won't let you use me like a bitch as I do you.”

“Good, but first I need to get my lady parts off finally, so eat me like you want to marry me, Queen whore,” Ving demanded.

“Yes, ma’am,” Hannah replied just before putting her mouth to work between Ving's legs as she wiggled her bum in the air.

****

“Well, that was a hard ass fucking…”

Grey had to agree with his comrade. “I believe that was what our new queen wanted.”

They stepped over the corpses of the mercenary troops who had guarded the outside opening of the eastern tunnel. The sceptre guard had made short work of them. Grey had sent them in first carrying heavy steel plates as shields. The enemy had opened fire, their guns pointing down the tunnel, yet they had done little damage. Even when they deliberately aimed at the walls and floors to cause ricochet, it didn't do them much good when their enemy was armoured and didn't feel pain.

“What now?” A pause. “Sir.”

Grey laughed. “Relax, Mull. I'm only in command for this one mission. And, to answer your question, we need to clean up and make it look like the way is still open.”

“Shouldn't we seal both ends and retreat?” Mull ordered the bodies cleaned up and hidden as he asked his question.

“The other end should already be blocked off. But if we leave, or seal this site, the enemy will go elsewhere. Since we don't know what their plan is, or their contingencies, we are to dig in here and make it look like it’s still open. This way the enemy stays where we expect them to be and the forces from the south can swing up and get them in the rear.”

“So, we are defending a fake objective without a line of retreat or supply by ourselves.” Mull kept his voice low.

“Backup is coming over the mountains. Once the fleet units load up they will come over and drop them here. That brings me to my next point. We need more open space for them to land.” Grey gestured to the road through the forest before them. “We have some elevation here but that is a lot of cover that is well within range. I don't think they are going to stick to the road once the shooting starts.”

“Is that why you had us bring all the guns and supplies we could find on the poor sods guarding the inside tunnel?”

Grey smiled. “Indeed, it is. Get an inventory done on what these poor bastards had and see if any uniforms are salvageable.” He clenched the sceptre and turned to one of the sceptre guards who had a bullet hole in his cheek but ignored it. “We are going to be using enemy uniforms on our troops. You understand not to kill them, right?”

“Understood, Master,” came the cold voice that bothered even the veteran soldiers.

“Right.” Grey turned back to Mull. “I want only a handful visible guarding this place. The rest either hide in here or get into covered foxholes. I want our real numbers invisible. If we can get a good ambush on the lead elements of whatever comes our way, we stand a better chance at holding on until relieved.”

Mull thought about the tall order and just saluted in response before going to get it done.

****

Easy liked being outside the ship while it was in the air, previous disasters notwithstanding, as it gave her a chance to feel like she was flying farther and faster than she realistically could. Her wings helped keep her stable as she braved the cold winds above the mountains to change the colours they were flying once they were out of the city.

She could see dozens of warships flying in the skies over the city and more taking off all the time. They were getting into formation. However, those ships weren't wooden merchant vessels but metal warships that radiated danger. Easy wondered just what a battle involving them would look like and hoped that she wouldn't be finding it out first hand.

Her job done, she gave a tug on her safety line and Mari started to bring in the slack as she got closer. Climbing down the hatch, she saw Vile also on the line, just in case extra muscle was needed. She noticed some tension between the two.

“You got upset because she insisted on being the primary on the line, didn't you?” Easy kissed Mari before she could answer, feeling their breasts crushed together made her wings flutter.

“Yes,” Mari grumbled.

“That's my girl.” Easy let out a giggle and pulled Mari into Liddy’s bedroom.

Vile was about to warn them but sighed, knowing to keep her mouth shut and because it was already too late.

“Seriously!” Liddy shouted. “I am trying to sleep! Can you not be doing this in here?!”

Vile went down the stairs to see what Inky might be doing.

****

Foxy wasn't thrilled at the prospect of wearing the gasmask again but Inky had a point.

“Not just you, but all the Emberborn need to be hidden one way or another,” Inky elaborated and gave a weary smile to Vile as she came down. “We don't know how you would be treated and it's best if we don't give them any reason to distrust us. Only Emma gets to walk openly because ears are easy to hide. Leira is getting chained to the fountain, Easy is hiding in Ving's racer with Ela, and Tonna will be with Vile in the engine room.”

Foxy sighed. “I suppose it will be for the last time. One way or another.”

“And be sure to cover the fur on your legs,” Inky added before dismissing Foxy to brood over the situation.

Vile took Inky in a warm embrace meant to hug out all the stress. “We all know what needs to be done and why it is so. Believe me, we will go to far greater lengths to see this done.”

“The part that really bugs me is that we were finally able to just ignore what people thought and let you all live like normal people. If nowhere else then at least on this ship. Now, we are going back on it. If it grates this much for me, I can't imagine how bothersome it will be for you and her or any of the others.”

“Made worse by the feeling that this is it. Make it or break it. Tensions are running high and we still have almost a day of detour before we can approach the city safely. Hannah resolved her tensions with sex, Easy just took an annoyed Mari to Liddy’s bed. Can I sex your stress away as well? Or maybe I should fuck Liddy. It sounds like she's upset, too.”

“Actually, I had an idea. Something I have wanted to see for a while.” Inky smirked at an intrigued Vile. “Hope is getting the metal shaft hook from Hannah. I want to see you use it on her. Fuck the holy girl with demon cock

and make her scream for me. Can you do that?” Inky stood on the tips of her toes and puffed out her chest.

Vile stared down and the dark-skinned breasts and couldn't wait to see them again. “Oh yes, for you, I will do anything.”

****

Juno didn't care that the bra didn't fit. It normally contained Inky’s breasts, and feeling it on her own while Paje rubbed her through Inky’s underwear was intoxicating. It was always a risk to be in Inky’s room and wearing her clothing as she got herself off, but it was impossible to stop. She was thankful that Paje was willing to join her and cover if they were ever discovered. They were on the chair crammed into the corner of the room to avoid messing up the immaculate bed that took up most of the space. She knew Inky would notice if it had been disrupted. The only other furniture that wasn't bolted to the ceiling was the standing closet in the other corner.

“Oh, Inky,” Juno moaned desperately. “Fuck me like you love me.”

Paje slid her fingers around the panties and into Juno, who almost wept in her tightly closed eyes. She knew the deal and didn't do anything to disrupt the fantasy. Kneeling on the chair over Juno she kept her breasts close for Juno to lick and tease. It was hardly a chore to entertain the fantasy. Paje knew it was always the most emotionally intense sex and got a lot of pleasure from Juno. Though she knew it probably wasn't healthy for Juno, she would keep doing it as long as she had to since some things just need to run their course rather than be challenged and stopped. Unless, of course, they heard something.

“Hooves!” Paje hissed.

Juno opened her eyes and got up with help from Paje before they quickly gathered their things.

****

Inky pushed Hope hard against the door and kissed her. The sight of the priestess in her silk surcoat and nothing else was too much to resist. They backed off with the help of Vile, who fought against their passion long enough to get the door open. Inside, Inky pushed Hope right onto the bed and watched her writhe with anticipation as Vile came in to stand facing Hope. She made a display of slowly unwrapping her demon lover until she had a bundle of silk robes in her arms. Without taking her eyes off Vile, who was squeezing her massive breasts and teasing her own nipples with her tails, she tossed the robes into the closet.

Hope was momentarily distracted by the sight of two mostly naked women hiding in the closet until it closed. Her breaths deepened as she realised they could see through the slats on the door and would be able to watch everything. Not that the encounter was going to be any less intense without it. She watched Inky slide the hook into Vile, and suddenly a throbbing shaft was in her hands as she displayed it to Hope.

“It’s going to be a tight fit. I am going to enjoy seeing you trying to manage it.” Inky walked over to the chair and sat down with her legs splayed over the arms so she could enjoy the sight.

Paje and Juno were terrified that Hope would have said something but realised that she would be keeping their presence hidden. As Paje watched the bed, Juno watched Inky.

Hope crawled forward and licked Vile along her shaft while she marvelled at the shape. It tasted like it was really a part of her and wondered if it would fit. Not one to hold back, she opened wide and took a deep breath that signalled to Vile she was ready. Inky had wanted a rough violation and Hope wasn't caught off guard as Vile took her head in her giant hands and pulled it hard to ram deep down her throat.

Inky watched as the holy girl spilt drool onto the bed because she wasn't given a chance to swallow as her head was worked harshly back and forth. They had listened to Hannah and Ving have a rough encounter earlier and had craved the same thing. Her hand slid between her legs; already wet, her hands slid over her flesh quickly. She tasted her fingers before using them to rub her breasts after unclasping her bra. Inky liked wearing her combat uniform during sex. She held off on penetrating herself until she saw Vile wrap her tails around the breasts hanging from the kneeling priestess as they shook from the motions being forced onto them.

Vile had a wonderful view of tear-filled eyes looking up at her as the blonde hair slid through her fingers as she gripped Hope by the head. It was almost impossible to see as her breasts were in the way most of the time, except when she was giving her a literal moment to breathe. Otherwise, she had a nice view of the fair-skinned bum that shook with each thrust and admired how it stuck up into the air even though she was on her knees. As she squeezed the holy tits with her tails, she made sure to avoid the nipples. She knew they would rub on her surcoat and drive her wild. Letting go of the skull she was fucking, Vile got to enjoy the sight of Hope catching her breath while using her tongue to tease her tip. The feeling was a strange one, she wasn't used to having those parts, let alone teased.

Paje could hear Juno moaning quietly as she watched Inky pleasing herself in the chair -- much like they had been doing earlier. However, she was more interested in the bed as Vile pulled Hope up to suck on her demon breasts. With Vile standing on the floor at the foot of the bed, and Hope standing on the bed itself, she saw the priestess working her hips over the shaft and rubbing herself against it. Teasing without penetration was amazing to watch and she wondered how much Hope could take.

Hope could barely stand the feeling of Vile sliding between her legs but not inside her. She kept her thighs tightly locked around the hard shaft but her wetness made it easy for Vile to keep it sliding between them. Having her mouth on the massive breasts was insane to her. She liked being able to squeeze a pair together and tease both nipples quickly and easily but it simply wasn't possible with Vile. The tails wrapped around hers made them more sensitive to the silk that slid between her and the solid muscle of Vile’s abbs. She heard a loud slap, and looked to see Inky had used her riding crop that she had gotten back from Hannah to strike between her own legs.

Inky massaged herself with the crop after the strike. It worked best when she let herself recover and let the sensitivity return. She watched Vile pick Hope up by the hips, let her body fall back with only the support of the tails around her breasts. Seeing the demon shaft resting on Hope’s belly, and knowing just how deep it was going to go inside her made Inky moan before she struck herself again. She rubbed herself slowly, watching as Vile lifted Hope like a ragdoll into position and pushed the tip into the priestess. Hope moaned helplessly as the rest forced itself inside in one hard motion.

To Vile, it felt like using both of her hands to work a toy over a man's shaft except the toy was a woman and the shaft was hers. The legs couldn't hope to wrap around her and the hands simply couldn't hold her wrists with that kind of movement. She looked to watch Inky using the handle of her crop inside her and working it hard as she watched.

“Pray for me, bitch!” Vile shouted. “Pray for my seed inside you!”

“Oh, great demon Queen!” Hope managed when she wasn't flailing too hard to speak. “Grant me your seed so I can carry your demon spawn! I pledge my body to your use!” A moment later Hope screamed in orgasm. She knew that what others would see as blasphemy was just play between friends, and that the divine she served and worshipped cared purely for what was in one's heart.

“Spin her about!” Inky demanded. “And put her face here!”

Juno was instantly jealous when she saw Hope, still impaled on Vile, spun to face downwards as she was shoved between Inky’s legs. She watched in spite as Hope had those dark powerful legs wrap around her to assist her in experiencing the privilege of tasting Inky. As much as she hated Hope at that moment, she already decided she was going to kiss Inky at some point. She knew Hope had kept her presence a secret and wondered if she could use her like Paje.

Paje watched Vile fuck Hope into Inky hard and appreciated that they were on an angle that afforded them a perfect view. Her hands worked inside Juno and herself as Juno held her breasts while pressing her own into her back. She felt the heavy breathing on her neck, and knew Juno was angry from the way her breasts were caught in the vice-like grip. It took a real effort to keep her own climax quiet.

Inky watched Vile’s breasts bounce as she felt Hope being thrust into her. The powerful legs controlling the thrusts bulged with their efforts, and it was as Inky appreciated them that she felt her body suddenly shake with pleasure. Hearing Vile grunt hard in her climax kept her body shaking in pleasure as Hope was filled with demon seed. Once they were both finished, they let Hope fall to the floor. Rising up, Inky pushed Vile to the bed so she could taste the womanhood that returned as the artefact fell out. She didn't know but her own dripped with pleasure -- in full view of Juno, who bit Paje in the shoulder to keep quiet as she climaxed.

Not wanting an exposed woman to go to waste, Hope pulled the artefact out of herself and turned it around to hook into her. She felt it turn to flesh and slid into Inky as Vile wrapped it with her tails to pull her in. The contrast of her fair skin, the deep red of the tails, sliding into the dark skin of Inky was mesmerizing. Not used to the sensations, it was only a few minutes before she felt her seed flow out. It burst in a stream as she pulled out and landed along the dark-skinned back before her as well as onto the red belly of Vile.

“That was impressive.” Vile smiled. “It takes getting used to. Try again to get some practice. I don't mind being covered by the climax of a priestess.”

“Then you should visit a priestess more often,” Hope replied, fixing herself for another go.

****

“We should have made a priest come,” Mull commented, still unhappy with there being no retreat line.

“A priest coming along wouldn't make anyone happy… least of all you.” Grey retorted

with a tone telling Mull to drop it. “Our new queen wouldn't have sent us out here to die. I think she was a bit put out that she couldn't join us.”

“You mean the whore half the company got to fuck before I got assigned?” Mull snorted in annoyance, either because he didn't think much of Hannah or because he didn't get to have her himself.

Grey eyed Mull. “I mean the woman who survived a flyer crash landing in no man's land, who seeing we needed help, assumed command. She not only helped us repel an enemy raid, but in the middle of that fight, she led a successful counter raid on the enemy trenches, and ended their raid by killing a giant mechanical spider solo. That counter raid brought back vital intel for our side. Then to top it off, her actions got us recalled so we could get medals, so that by the time we were set to go back, the fighting was over. You were there for that last part, right?”

Mull grumbled and walked away, but only got a few steps before he saw movement on the road.

Grey had seen it the moment he saw Mull stop. “Easy boys, they are friends until we hear a gunshot. Don't be the first to fire.”

Most of the men were hiding in the tunnel, the rest in hidden foxholes they had prepped. The sceptre guard were also in the tunnel, being entirely impossible to hide. The visible few were wearing captured uniforms but in some cases, the men stripped to the waist since there weren't enough jackets without blood. To the approaching troops, they looked like a bunch of mercs bored out of their skulls.

The small scout car had a man driving, one manning the machine gun next to him, and one in the back with a radio in the fourth seat. They waved, Grey waved back, and their radioman sent a signal. Everything seemed normal as more engines signalled the arrival of additional troops.

The heavy car pulled off to the side and the driver got out. He wore what looked like pig-iron plate but Grey could tell the difference between the decoration and the flack jacket it hung on. Train wheels and pistons featured heavily on the black uniform, and their helmets looking slightly comical being in the shape of a steam whistle.

“Think those blow smoke when they get angry?” Mull mumbled to Grey.

Grey turned his smirk into a welcoming grin as he greeted the soldiers of the enemy. “Well met, brothers.”

“Well met,” came the reply that felt lacking in its enthusiasm. “Report.”

“Both tunnels secure. A local regiment is passing by the inner opening moving south. Far enough away to not notice anything unless we pour troops through. Our inner team will radio when it is clear to move.”

The curt nod from the soldier made Grey wonder how the helmet didn't fall off with the motion. He returned to his radioman and sent a message.

A few minutes later, when the trucks started to arrive, a full company of soldiers started to make camp while the officers collected and came towards Grey. It didn't seem like they were upset; he knew how most officers marched when they were. Two pairs of grunts followed them with each pair sharing the load of a heavy chest.

“Any news?” The man, Grey pegged as a colonel, asked.

Grey was used to repeating himself for every rank of officer who didn't like listening to reports instead. He looked at his own radio man who shook his head, confused and lost as to what was going on, and turned back. He knew they wouldn't be getting any signals from anyone with a mountain in the way. “Nothing new sir.”

“Right, we camp here then. Keep the animals in the woods.” The colonel returned his attention to Grey. “Payment for services rendered.”

The two chests were set down just a few meters from the hidden machine gun nest that would have collapsed if it had tried to support one of them. Inside were gold coins and Grey pulled one out. One side had a locomotive and the other, a man's face. He hoped Hannah wouldn't be entertaining him if he was half as ugly as he looked on his coinage.

“Looks about right,” Grey responded and watched as the officers left.

“No shooting?” Mull whispered.

“Our orders are to delay. If we can do that with lies and bullshit then I’ll take it.” Grey looked at the gold again and nodded approvingly at what may have been the best-case scenario for a combat mission not going to plan. Other than a redhead falling from the sky.

****

“I don't want to fall off the airship again,” Hannah stated as she looked at the object in her hands.

“That was the last ship. You haven't fallen off this one yet,” Ving replied as she took it back and gave it to Emma.

“It’s a good thing I can use my spectral hand for this. I don't think either of you should be anywhere near an opening as long as you are both walking funny like that.” Emma smirked as she took it. “What’s it for anyway?”

Ving pointed. “This end goes into the cannon and this end is pointy to make it look something like you would find on a racer. If anyone asks, it's an aerodynamic stabilizer and you just don't know anything about racers to explain how it helps.”

“Right. We don't want people knowing we have weapons of any kind. You two watch from a window. I’m opening the door.”

They watched as an invisible hand placed the plug into the cannon from the safety of a window. They hard to hurry so slowing down to install it wasn't an option. Neither of them sat during its placement.

“Smoke on the horizon!” Liddy called from the bridge.

With rushing being a bit much to ask at the moment, they walked as best they could to the bridge and saw Liddy looking out with a spyglass. Hannah borrowed it and then passed it to Ving.

“Can't see what it’s coming from, but we are talking about a moving city -- so that explains why we can see it from so far out.” Ving had the best eye out of all of them for such things. “I can adjust our course so we approach correctly now that I know exactly where it is.”

“Keep it casual,” Liddy instructed. “I know we are far out and smaller than a city but if they have outriders I don't want them wondering why we altered our route so oddly.”

“I can keep us on course and then alter it like we just spotted the city and went in for a closer look?” Ving had her hands hovering over the controls.

“Do that. It might not matter, but I don't want to take chances if we have a choice.” Liddy sighed, knowing the stress was only just beginning. “At least we are waving the flag of the one nation without troops at Crater Peak yet.”

“Waving? That makes us under the waves?” Hannah snorted with a smile while Liddy glared. “Because it’s the flag of the city… under the waves?”

“What is it about that place that makes you pun?” Ving asked as she shook her head, trying not to laugh and annoy Liddy more.

“I don't even remember what it was actually named,” Hannah admitted.

“Lakebottom,” Liddy stated, trying to keep from rolling her eyes. “Just like almost every other city named by an unimaginative idiot.” She turned to Ving. “When do you think we will arrive?”

“Dawn... ish? I never plotted an intercept with a city while it was moving before. I don't even know how fast it’s going.” Ving looked through the spyglass again. “I will keep an eye on it.”

Hannah got on the topic. “I think the ease of our arrival will depend on if the shooting has started at the tunnel.”

“Aren't they moving troops from the south?” Blaze asked, never being far from Liddy.

“Mobilizing troops is difficult on a good day. Throw dozens of armies that have been fighting each other at one time or another together, then try and move them with ships not authorized for the airspace until today around a mountain range under a fleet that doesn't want them in the sky, and it becomes a minor miracle we moved a single company in time.” Hannah, knowing a lot more about military logistics than Blaze, tried to sound like she was teaching rather than annoyed at the situation.

Harriot came in almost naked save for her panties. “We ditching the uniforms yet?”

Liddy eyed her up. “Yes, yes you are. Blaze and I can help you.”

The three of them left Hannah and Ving staring at each other.

Hannah suddenly shouted, “Remember not to fuck in Liddy’s bed! She hates that!”