Some joker had thought to assemble the whole crew in a briefing room, where they were packed shoulder to shoulder, sardines to a man. Yet they parted to permit me through to the raised dais.
“Woohoo! The captain sent us a stripper!” The man pumping his fist in the air became my first target.
I drew, faster than his disbelief said I should. “Guess again.” I held a large laser pistol in each hand and both gaped at him.
“Now, miss, that’s silly, we’re all armed here. This is the SpaceCorps.” A condescending man in the men’s uniform for a Lieutenant Commander ascended the dais beside me, a small service pistol in hand. “Maybe you should go back to Dodge City and get the next transport back home.”
“Dodge this,” I replied, bringing the muzzles to face him as he approached closer. One step, two step, one more…He was so busy watching my pistols he didn’t see the kick before he felt it connect with his groin. “It’s not miss, Lieutenant.”
“Wh-what happened to Captain Kirk?” he wheezed, doubled over.
I smiled. “It’s funny you should ask about him. He was arrested trying to smuggle strippers onto the base. I’m your new commander. Commander Jamie Church. You will salute now.”
“Commander, ma’am.” The chorus swept around the room, sweeter than any song.
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Curvaceous Kevlar and other inspired tales
Short StoryCurvaceous Kevlar: Commander Jamie Church, first woman commander in the SpaceCorps, on her first day on the job. New uniform, new crew and a new ship. She's dressed to impress and you don't want to stand in her way. Curvaceous Kevlar and Luscious Le...
