*
Meanwhile, back among the Terrans, Mathew, Az, Kaz, Ludmilla, Nial, Sarah, Mohammed, Bert, Kelly, Ali Nedri and Pieter and Sally Easton were going over The Plan.
Mathew had the floor, “We have four planes. Enough to hold all of us. Az, have you sorted out the pilots?”
“Nial and Helene pilots, Mayling and Miyuki co-pilots, Navigators, Jolene and Akira. But all the pilots can fly these now.”
“Right. The Cats have sorted out flat paddocks to land in, north of the four target cities. Look for the lights. It will be an hour or so to walk. We sort out the perimeter of the scanners and send the four smallest children in first, with their string. They will then drag the blow guns along the ground, so they shouldn’t be detected, and hide. Once they are secure, the bigger kids go in the same way.
Ensure the kids understand they must not get caught. The blue toxin will take at least half an hour to work. The kids must target all they can but especially the Yakkidimux and Relogs. Radio silence. The communicators Helkmid and Kaz designed will be detectable. Speak only in English. Translators off. Communicate only when you are discovered. We will then attack together. The older kids, with the stunners, are to stun all who surrender. The red toxin is to be used exclusively by the adults until the attack starts in earnest. Then all can switch to the red toxin. Make sure every one understands that the toxins will kill them. Load only with gloves. No naked skin anywhere. No gloves, no loading. And be careful handling those balls!
It will take about 30 minutes for the blue toxin to start to kill depending on size, vulnerability and dose or numbers of hits. So quicker if there are multiple hits or the Aliens are smaller. But by 15 to 30 minutes Helkmid assures me they should be too sick to fight. We need to remain undiscovered for at least an hour in order to get the maximum kill. Longer if possible. We then attack. You have all been told where to lead your teams. Try to capture as many weapons as possible. Again thank God for Az and Kaz for their tuition in using them plus the weapons we got from the other survivors. Ali, Nial, Mohammed and Kaz, get me those armouries. All those weapons we got and so little ammunition that they were useless for this. But at least there was enough ammo that we all learnt to use them.
Helkmid thinks that if we take the cities and say we have the anti virals, they’ll surrender. Once we get them to land the ships, we’ll start moving the survivors to the nearest small islands the Priskya identified and the dead to the deeps. It will be one Hell of a job. We have less than 80 people fit enough for that. We will get extra planes though. Make sure you all know how to fill the tank and check the fuel gauges before you fly the planes. You must ensure you do your pre flight checks. All the pilots must fly. Except Kelly who will probably be needed. The kids can go on guard duty. Kelly will slaughter me if they find out how many are dead.
We start at 4 a.m. Get an early night. Any questions, comments, alterations?”
There were none. The Plan had been done to death. Everyone knew exactly what to do, where to go and what their targets were. They were impatient to get on with it. Many thanks to the Cats and the Priskya for their Intel.
The girls were waiting for Kaz and Az. They went off for an early tea, then to bed. It would be a long night. But imminent possibility of death changes one’s perspective on some things. As Li and Az got into their bag, dressed as usual, sleep was not on Az’s mind. Mindful of what he had overheard, Az thought he would try taking the lead.
He kissed Li very thoroughly, then his hands started to wander. Gently, he began to remove her clothing. He had seen the women in their bikinis, then borrowed a bra off the clothesline and figured out how to open it. He removed Li’s bra and cupped her breasts in his hands. Then he removed her shorts, discovering she was wearing a smaller pair under them. She did not stop him but she didn’t encourage him either. Careful. He figured she was inexperienced. This was a risk him taking the lead. If he hurt her, forced her, or she changed her mind, this could be a short relationship, Chosen or not. He could end up in jail. And he didn’t want to frighten her.
He removed his shorts then pulled her on top of him. He was still kissing her but in lots of interesting places. But something was troubling him. He was getting no guidelines from Li. What did she want? He stopped himself with a considerable effort.
Li was in turmoil. Her legs were tightly together! She wanted to, and had been expecting this, but she was getting frightened. She had never expected all these emotions. Li had never been kissed before Az came along. And never like this! She generally didn’t like boys in general. They were so childish. But this was too adult!
Sensing she seemed frightened Az cupped her chin in his hand and tilted her head up, “Are you OK with this? Do you want me to stop? Do you want me to go slower?”
“Stop.”
He reached over and handed her her shorts. She quickly put them on then reached for her bra. Az grabbed it, put it under him and said,
“I promise to behave and put my shorts on if you’ll leave it off.”
She held out her hand, he handed it over with a sigh. She finished dressing but she stayed with him!
“I’m sorry,” she said snuggling into his pelt.
“What for?”
“Chickening out.”
Az laughed, “I’m not complaining. That was fun. I didn’t think I’d get this far.”
Li punched him.
“Ouch, bully.”
“I am sorry though. But I’m not used to this.”
Az started to laugh again. Li punched him harder, “Stop laughing at me!”
“I’m not. I’m not used to this either. This is the furthest I’ve ever got.”
“What do you mean?” she looked up at him.
“It’s true. I’ve only been out with two girls and only kissed one.”
“How come?”
“Li there are six males to every female. Think about it. That’s why Kaz and I were mercenaries and trying to earn a ship. A ship is an income. It can also be a home, status and a lifestyle. Lots of girls would love to try it. Girls are taught by their parents to go out only with men with good jobs or prospects. My parents aren’t rich and I had no prospects! Neither did Kaz. That was until Kaz and I decided to go and fight for the Zeobani. The Nashi invaded one of their planets, Oberterk. But the Zeobani lost. The Nashi took over the planet and everything in it. Including all my savings and all Kaz’s savings. We nearly had enough to buy a spaceship. Another two or three months and we would have taken our money and left. But it all belongs to the Nashi now. And now, I have almost nothing.”
“Do the girls all obey their parents?”
“No. But they are very choosey. They can afford to be!”
“Oh.” She was silent a while. Then she started to laugh, “And I thought you knew what you were doing!”
“Well I know the theory. I know what goes where. The practical experience I lack. I’m real keen to learn. Don’t hit me again.” he ducked laughing. Li laughed too. A few minutes later she said smugly, “At least I’ve got further than Stella.”
They lay in silence for a while, then Az realised she was asleep. He yawned. Good idea. It only seemed a few minutes before there was a loud banging on the door. Li and Az scrambled out. They heard noise everywhere. Groaning, they headed for their respective bathrooms and then to the kitchen. As they got their breakfast, Az heard a loud argument between Sarah and Alan.
“I don’t care! We’re not having this conversation again! You’ve no puff, you can’t run, you baby-sit!”
“But I’m getting better. I’ll soon be younger than you woman. Ludmilla’s going and she’s 76.”
“Ludmilla has military experience. And she’s fit. She can run and she can shoot. And very accurately. You can’t run. You puff on walking far which we will have to do tomorrow. You can’t fight. You wont even be able to keep up!”
Sarah stalked away leaving Alan fuming.