Martial Law

By Annie Oakfield

Mars has become a dangerous world.

Too many have been lost; decisive action must be taken.

NASA faces a difficult choice. Leave Mars alone or risk more lives to figure out why so many crew have gone missing.

But what fate awaits the next mission? What is to prevent their demise, when the four previous missions have fallen silent?

Only the surviving Phyllis, Will, and Chloe know the answer.

READER ADVISORY: If you are easily offended by the previous story featuring six astronauts having frequent and messy sex with men, women, and transgenders . . . you’ll probably be offended by this one too . . . and so will your friends.

PUBLISHER NOTE: Contains erotic scenes — Voyeurism, MMF, F/F, M/M, transgender sex, and nudity. 43,000 words.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Luminosity Publishing LLP
• Release date: Nov 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005959005

Annie Oakfield

Annie Oakfield is a keen writer and has been penning naughty stories since the ‘old days.’ Most of her stories were simply erotic fantasies that she shared with only a few close, friends. But with time and years of life experience, Annie now writes stories inspired by her real-life experiences, and drawn from her fantasies.Annie grew up reading fantasy and science fiction and has applied her love of these genres to a new series of erotic short stories.Annie enjoys partying with her friends into the early hours, but she is just as content to relax with a nice hot bath.

Book preview

MARTIAL LAW

Shifting Moons, Book Three

ANNIE OAKFIELD

Mars has become a dangerous world.

Too many have been lost; decisive action must be taken.

NASA faces a difficult choice. Leave Mars alone or risk more lives to figure out why so many crew have gone missing.

But what fate awaits the next mission? What is to prevent their demise, when the four previous missions have fallen silent?

Only the surviving Phyllis, Will, and Chloe know the answer.

READER ADVISORY: If you are easily offended by the previous story featuring six astronauts having frequent and messy sex with men, women, and transgenders . . . you’ll probably be offended by this one too . . . and so will your friends.

PUBLISHER NOTE: Contains erotic scenes — Voyeurism, MMF, F/F, M/M, transgender sex, and nudity. 43,000 words.

MARTIAL LAW

Shifting Moons, Book Three

ANNIE OAKFIELD

booklogo

LUMINOSITY PUBLISHING LLP

MARTIAL LAW

Shifting Moons, Book Three

Copyright © NOVEMBER 2021 ANNIE OAKFIELD

Cover Art by Poppy Designs

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

No part of this literary work may be reproduced in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without the written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

TERRA MERIDIANI

CHAPTER ONE

I awoke in such a state of panic, I leaped out of bed, almost spilling poor Chloe onto the floor. Of course, she wouldn’t have hurt herself in the one-third gravity, but that wasn’t the point.

Will? Her eyes were wide with alarm. What’s wrong?

They’re here! I said, turning left and right as if the shadowy figures who’d filled my dreams were already with us.

"Who? Them?"

I shook my head. No, this feels . . . real. We’d grown accustomed to the presence of our departed crewmates, who still insisted on visiting us at least once a week, ostensibly to persuade us to join them in their ghastly archive.

"Another ship from Earth? But it’s only been four weeks since Diomedes entered orbit. The next conjunction won’t—"

I know. I chopped down with both hands. But . . . I stopped, wondering if I’d dreamed the whole thing. Earth could never have launched another mission so quickly.

Unless they anticipated failure, I muttered.

Come back to bed, Will. Please. She indicated my trembling body. Or put some clothes on. Minus eighty at night, remember?

I nodded and headed back to the bed, where Chloe was already straightening the thermal covers. Even with the heaters working, the habitat still became uncomfortably chilly at night. Once I was settled, she pressed her petite body against my side and stroked my bare chest. Her soft breast warmed my arm, and her relaxed member tickled my thigh.

Now, tell me about your dream.

It didn’t feel like a dream, I whispered as if I was afraid the shadowy shapes might hear and become real. "It was the same as last time when I felt Diomedes approaching."

A premonition, then?

Yeah, something like that.

When that happened, we had a few days’ warning. Go back to sleep and we’ll discuss it with Phyllis in the morning.

Go back to sleep? Easy for you to say.

I know a way to help you relax. Her hand slid down to my groin and cupped my balls. Her own member twitched and warmed at the thought of sex.

You’re such a sweetheart. I kissed her lips and her eyes fluttered closed. But making love would probably wake me up even more. Besides, I dropped my voice to a whisper, "we don’t want to risk them getting into our heads again."

"They won’t get into my head," she assured me.

I know. I stroked her nose with a fingertip, and her cheeks dimpled adorably. She is so beautiful, I thought. It is hard to imagine how she would have looked when she was still a guy.

Don’t look at me that way. She dropped her chin.

Like what? Dammit, how does she always pick up on that?

You know exactly what. If you want to sleep with a guy, why did you pick me?

I fell in love with you.

Hmm. Go back to sleep before you have any more weird thoughts.

"Sleep gives me weird thoughts."

There’s only one cure for that. She curled her fingers around my growing shaft, licking her lips at the same time.

Chloe, I’d love to, but— I shifted my eyes to the opposite side of the dome, where an indistinct figure hovered.

Oh, for fuck’s sake! Chloe spat. "What are you doing here?"

William’s senses are not mistaken. Sabine’s eyes were unblinking pools of darkness, yet I could still feel them on me.

Chloe shook her head. Drop the spooky shit, Sabine. What are you talking about?

We have also detected a hostile presence.

Wait! I raised a finger. I didn’t say they were hostile.

And yet the fact remains, Sabine replied. The newcomers wish harm upon us all.

What newcomers? Chloe asked. Has Earth launched another ship?

Indeed.

But Mars is in the wrong position for—

Their course was optimized.

Whatever that means, I muttered.

Their calculations enabled them to traverse the additional—

Dammit, stop talking like a computer!

"She is a computer, Chloe reminded me. Or at least, she’s stored inside one."

I miss the old Sabine. Sure, we’d fought sometimes, but she’d been a damn good pilot.

Sensing my hostility, Sabine changed tack. Would you prefer to converse with Sven?

No, he’s just a ghost in the same machine!

Will, please try to stay calm, Chloe implored. She—they—know something about what’s coming. We need to learn as much as we can and be ready for them, however they got here.

Okay, okay. I turned to the computer-generated apparition. Sabine, what’s the newcomer’s ETA? When will they arrive?

Sabine cocked her head as if listening to another voice, before addressing us.

They will arrive . . . now.

The habitat exploded with noise. Air hissed, speakers crackled with snappy voices, and equipment slammed into the ground. Multiple feet shuffled across the decking, a sure sign that our intruders were unaccustomed to Martian gravity.

"No, shit! This is impossible!" I leaped out of bed, buck naked, and was in the process of reaching for my jumpsuit, when the ugly black shape of a hand-held weapon appeared in the doorway, closely followed by a figure in a black spacesuit. The weapon swung to point at my head, and I froze, not even daring to raise my hands.

Contact, contact! the figure yelled. From another room, somebody else yelled contact, but once. After that, the only word they used was clear. Their accents, as much as I could tell via the speakers, were a mixture of American and Spanish.

Don’t move! the black-suited figure yelled when Chloe pulled the covers against her body. The weapon swung rapidly back and forth between us.

Do as he says, I implored. Chloe nodded minutely, and we waited for the figure to instruct us further. Another black-suited soldier appeared beside the first, and both were able to train their guns on each of us without dividing their attention.

Who are you people? I asked, but I was ordered to shut up. Instead of speaking, I studied the armored suits, looking for any kind of logo, but they were bereft of insignia.

Report! a third figure appeared behind the pair, also in black, but with a red band around his upper arm.

Sir! Two occupants, one male, one female. The male is unarmed. The female is concealed. Request permission to check.

Denied. Edwards! Get your ass in here.

Sir! A smaller figure squeezed past the armed pair.

Check the female for concealed ordnance.

She doesn’t have any— I began, but a black barrel ordered my silence. Edwards moved closer to Chloe, and I stiffened.

It’s okay, Will, she said in a hoarse voice. Her fingers released the thermal blanket, and she drew both knees to her chest and hugged them tightly as Edwards stripped the bed of its covers.

Female appears not to be female, sir!

Any concealed weapons?

Only the one she was born with, sir.

Chloe dropped her forehead onto her knees, morphing from the confident transgender woman I’d fallen in love with, to a pitiful and defenseless ball.

Isolate them both.

Yes, sir! Edwards seized Chloe’s arm and dragged her from the bed none too gently.

Leave her alone! I yelled, stepping forward. Soldier One leaped toward me, his weapon still raised, but he misjudged the effort required in low gravity. I sidestepped him easily and spun around, heading straight for Edwards and the wailing Chloe. Soldier Two threw himself into my path, almost overshooting, but his effort was enough to impede me. I tripped over a trailing leg and crashed straight into the officer blocking the doorway. His thick gloves seized my arms, and he lifted my feet clear of the floor.

Try that again, mister, and I’ll break every bone in your murdering body, understand?

Where are you taking her? I snarled.

You should be more worried about where we’re taking you. It’s cold outside, isn’t it? His helmet dipped as he scrutinized my naked body. Not exactly dressed for a walk among the dunes, are you?

His meaning was crystal clear. Cooperate or risk the airlock. Defeated, I nodded once, and he lowered me to the floor, handing me over to the understandably angry Soldier One. I was frog-marched roughly away from the door. A chair was kicked toward me—too hard—and I was forced to fend it off.

Sit. Down! Soldier One ordered.

Cover the door, the officer instructed the stumbling Soldier Two, and then left, presumably to supervise the isolation of Chloe.

What the hell is this? I asked, but flinched when the black muzzle jabbed my chest.

Be quiet.

Who are you? I persisted.

Are we allowed to break bones? One asked Two.

Maximum of ten, they said.

Good. One leaned closer to me until his vizor was an inch from my nose. Which one should we start with? When I stayed silent, the faceplate slammed against my nose, shattering the cartilage. I screamed, coughing and choking when blood filled my mouth.

That wasn’t technically a bone, Two called.

You mean I still have ten left to break? Good.

No, please, I begged. I’ll be quiet.

You better.

Can I put on my jumpsuit at least?

I thought you said you’d be quiet.

I only asked—

How much can I break each bone? One asked, moving closer again.

Snap but don’t shatter, Two replied.

I’m sorry. Silence it is. I threw up defensive hands, which would have been useless against the armored suit.

That was your last warning, smart guy. When I nodded, he straightened up but kept his weapon pointing at my chest. Small streaks of blood marred his visor, which he wiped away with a gloved hand.

Chloe? I sent the thought with everything I had, hoping she’d hear me somehow. Sabine, Sven?

Hello, William. Moving carefully, I scanned the room for any visible sign of the computer phantoms, but they’d chosen to mute their visual forms.

Is Chloe okay? What about Phyllis?

Both are incarcerated in separate domes, William.

Why didn’t you warn us this was about to happen?

The intruders employed stealth for their entire journey. We are only beginning to retrace their movements since they launched from Earth.

Much good it’ll do us now.

We will endeavor to assist you in any way possible, William.

Why so generous?

The ejection of these intruders is in our mutual interest.

I guess it is. Please, can you tell Chloe I’m okay?

You are not okay, William. You are injured.

Don’t tell her that. She’s frightened enough as it is.

Very well. We will reassure her that you remain largely unharmed.

And guys?

William?

If you can get into their brains and influence them somehow, be my guest.

Indeed, we will.

CHAPTER TWO

I was hunched over and shivering violently by the time the officer returned.

What’s wrong with him? he demanded.

Don’t know, sir.

He’s freezing to death, you moron! Get him a jumpsuit and some boots. Now!

They’re on the other bed, sir.

Don’t stand there like a prize idiot, throw them over to him. Help him dress if he can’t manage— He stopped so suddenly, I was forced to look up. One of you better have a damn good reason for him to be covered in blood.

Wouldn’t cooperate, sir, One answered quickly. Refused to be quiet.

If we weren’t already two men down, I’d throw you in the brig—if we had one.

"Yes,