Star Thrust ch. 6 Non-Standard Uniforms

Non-Standard Uniforms

Captain Hawke was sore.

Morning had arrived. He ran the shaver over his jaw one last time, checking his reflection in the mirror. Not bad, not bad. He was clean-shaven once more, with his hair combed and his uniform as crisp as the time he posed for a Star Force ad that broadcasted on one of Terra’s lunar colonies. Most importantly, he looked like a captain. 

He was a captain. He had the captain’s uniform now, after all, and a ship and crew of his own. It was every dream he’d had come true. Though, admittedly, he didn’t ever think his dream of captainhood would take this particular shape.

Because, yes, he felt like a captain, but he also felt like someone who'd had the best sex of his life with an alien less than eight hours ago and was now about to try very hard to act professional while giving her orders.

Here goes nothing. With that thought, he straightened his collar and headed for the bridge.

Two minutes later, the door to his bridge slid open and he stepped through, hands firmly at his sides. Upon his arrival, his bridge crew rose from their stations in unison, hands snapping to their foreheads in crisp salutes.

"Morning, crew. Captain on d—"

Hawke stopped mid-stride. His mouth lingered open but no words tumbled out. Some sounds did, but nothing as sophisticated as language.

Their uniforms were… Well, they were wearing new uniforms. Very new. Very non-standard. Very… Well, just very.

The white uniform slacks they’d all worn previously had been replaced with a pristine white one-piece uniform dress that ended a few short inches below the beltline, showing off a concerning amount of leg and buttcheek. The upper half of the uniform wasn't that much better. They were sleeveless, cut to emphasize their arms and shoulders, and featured a V-shaped window in the front that displayed a generous amount of cleavage. The fabric clung to their bodies in ways the standard uniform never had. With their arms raised high in salutes, he could see not only fully exposed armpits down to the bottom of their ribcages, but a preposterous portion of sideboob.

Galadria stood at attention in her modified uniform, her pale skin on full display. The tight, form-fitting attire hugged her skin so tightly that he immediately called to mind just how good she looked when naked. 

Meanwhile, Darla's green skin clashed a bit with the stark whites that made up the uniform’s primary color, but that was more than made up for by the fact that her curves were now on full display. He could see the outline of her nipples poking through the thin fabric, and she was clearly not put off by that fact.

Shayden's build was impeccable, really a classic sleeper build, She was a lot more petite than the average Horukar, but she possessed a lot of lean muscle, making her defined abs visible through the tight fabric, while also making him very conscious of the fact that she had a prodigious bust to contend with. Hell, even shy Moxie was wearing the revealing uniform. He felt a little bad for  the shy girl as he pegged her antennae drooping slightly as she stood there waiting for orders.

Hawke finally recovered perhaps two torturously long seconds after his moment of surprise, and muttered a gruff, "At ease." His voice came out quieter than he meant for it to, as well. Feeling suddenly very warm around the collar, he cleared his throat and folded his hands behind his back. "Commander Rem, what exactly is the meaning of this new attire?"

Galadria lowered her hand and clasped both behind her back in a posture that mirrored his. "Captain, given the importance and nature of our mission, I took the initiative to have our uniforms altered using the ship's fabricator. As first officer, matters related to uniform regulations fall under my purview. However, if you wish to override my decision, you are of course within your rights to do so."

He nodded like it made some kind of sense. "I see. Your logic for this shift in protocol being what exactly?"

She met his gaze head on, which he was still getting used to. "Captain, the intended purpose of the new uniform is to keep you sexually excited as often as possible and yearning for frequent release. I determined that designing a uniform which demonstrates the attractiveness of the bridge crew was a necessary step. I intend to further modify the uniform when the bridge crew has been properly socialized with you and one another. This is actually only step three of my fifteen-part plan."

Hawke blinked. "Fifteen parts, you say."

"Correct."

"Maybe you should run these steps by me going forward."

Her eyebrow raised, meaning she was low key peeved at him, he figured. "Captain, I formally request permission to keep the details of my plan to myself. Many of the steps are more effective if they are unexpected. Advance knowledge may reduce their impact and shorten their period of effectiveness."

He closed his eyes and furrowed his brow. “Okay. Well. Permission granted, I guess.” This was his life now. His first officer had a fifteen-part bridge crew breeding plan and wouldn't tell him what it entailed. Obviously he wasn’t super fucking mad about it, but it was definitely weird to adapt to. Then again, he wasn’t the only one adapting.

He turned his attention to the rest of his crew. "Before finalizing anything, actually, what do the rest of you think?" He looked at each of them in turn. "I want honest opinions. With respect to the my Number One and a nod to her devotion to our mission, I won’t require any of you to wear these uniforms if you're uncomfortable."

Darla was the first to speak. She leaned back against her station, completely at ease, so he didn’t think he’d get any fight from her. "Captain, my people find revealing and light attire comfortable. It doesn't bother me in the least. If anything, I prefer this to the stuffy Confederation standard. That collar always felt like it was choking me."

Shayden crossed her arms over her chest. The movement made her biceps flex. "I feel more agile without the sleeves. I'm not ashamed of my body. I worked hard for it." She paused, then shrugged. "The short skirt isn't really ideal, to be honest. Horukar military uniforms are designed for function, not... this. But in the interest of our mission and showing respect to the Commander, I'll happily go along with it."

Moxie pulled one of her braids behind her sharp, alien ear, her antennae twitching nervously. "I feel kind of naked in this uniform," she sheepishly muttered. "But I know I need to get used to being really, actually naked in front of you eventually, sir. So I can't think of a good reason to refuse."

"You don't need a good reason," Hawke said gently. "If you want to go back to the old uniform, you can. That's an order if it needs to be."

Galadria's eyebrow raised a bit higher. The movement was subtle, but he was definitely risking offending her—or perhaps just compromising her timeline. Either way, he hoped to remain on good terms with her, so he prayed the next thing out of the Tribb’s mouth would be a positive note.

Sure enough, Moxie shook her head, her antennae drooping further. "No, sir. I'll try to get used to it. I don't want Commander Rem's hard work to go to waste. And we all know what we signed up for, so this sort of thing is honestly to be expected."

"Fair appraisal. Then it is settled." Hawke moved to his chair and sat. The view from here was... growing very distracting. Four beautiful women in revealing uniforms, all looking at him with varying degrees of expectation. "But we still have to function as normal officers. Commander Rem, see to it that when we use the transporter, the crew is beamed down in regulation uniforms. If we go onscreen with other ships, use our computer’s reimaging array to make sure we appear to be in standard uniforms even if we're wearing... something else."

"Or nothing at all," Darla added with a playful wink.

His penis punched the lip of his pants at the implied promise behind those words, but he kept his eyes on Galadria.

Galadira’s face hadn’t changed whatsoever, but her posture had tightened. She cleared her throat before speaking, and it was the first time he’d ever seen her do that. "Captain, for the record, I feel somewhat insulted." Her tone was perfectly neutral, but her posture had stiffened. "I thought it would be obvious that I had already implemented those exact protocols without needing to be ordered."

"Of course you did." He scratched his chin, sighing. "I apologize, Commander. It wasn’t my intention to insult or reprimand. I should have known you'd think of that."

"Frankly, yes. You should have."

He smirked at her stern face, unable to help himself. "Guess that's why you're my number one."

She straightened slightly, and satisfaction flickered across her features. The Vultarian turned to her station, maybe trying  to hide her reddening cheeks, and suddenly looking just a bit more superior. "Naturally," she said as she attended to her console.

Darla and Shayden muffled a laugh, and Hawke did the same.

"Lieutenant Yeshka," Hawke went on, now that he had regained control of the situation. "Status report. Have we arrived at our first assignment?"

Darla and Shayden tapped her console, all business again. "Yes sir. The planet Norad III in the Nakamura System is within transporter range. Bringing it onscreen now."

The viewscreen shifted, displaying a blue-green planet with white cloud cover. Two small moons orbited in the distance. It looked peaceful. Uninhabited, if you didn't look closer.

"Commander Rem, brief me on Norad III."

Galadria stood and moved to stand beside his chair. "Norad III is an inhabited planet with a pre-industrial civilization. Population approximately fourteen million, concentrated in seven major population centers. Technological development is roughly equivalent to Earth's medieval period. They are uncontacted and must remain as such as per the First Directive."

"Very well. Since this is the first bridge assignment for Lieutenant Moxani, recite for me the precise parameters of the First Directive, Commander."

"Affirmative, captain. Contacted civilizations must possess at minimum a functional space program and a stable power source in wide use. Civilizations below this threshold are to be observed but not interfered with. However, for anthropological and scientific purposes, we are permitted to collect data on such civilizations and report our findings to Star Force."

Hawke nodded. "What are our options?"

"Three primary approaches. One, we could transport to the surface in period-appropriate disguise and collect artifacts and observational data directly. Two, we could deploy cloaked drones to gather similar data with reduced risk. Three, we could conduct surface scans from orbit. All three approaches are acceptable under current regulations."

"Recommendations?" He looked around the bridge. "I have my own preference, but I want to hear what you all think first."

Shayden spoke up from her tactical station, eyes meeting his. "I say we do an initial scan from orbit. Let’s get the lay of the land before committing to anything else. Going in blind is unnecessary and foolhardy in most cases."

"I agree with Lieutenant Karra’s assessment," Darla said. "After the scan, drones are the safest option if we wish to pursue further. Beaming down to the surface is reckless unless you have specific reasons to do so. Too many variables."

Moxie's antennae swayed as she studied her sensor readings. "The drones would notably allow me to collect atmospheric samples and biological data without risking contamination. It's the most scientifically sound approach."

Hawke nodded, pleased with what he was hearing. But there was one opinion left. "Commander Rem?"

"The crew's assessment is logical, Captain. I, too, recommend an initial scan, followed by drone deployment if needed. Surface infiltration should be reserved for situations where other methods prove insufficient, or perhaps if there are surface anomalies detected that drones cannot approach safely."

"My thoughts exactly." Hawke leaned back in his chair. "Lieutenant Moxani, begin a full planetary scan. How long will that take?"

"Approximately twenty minutes, sir."

"Good. Begin when ready."

Moxie's fingers flew across her console. "Scan initiated, Captain."

Hawke stood. "In that case, I'm going to the fabricator for coffee. Anyone want anything?"

"Tea," Galadria said immediately. "Any Terran blend, hot, no additions."

"Juice," Darla said without looking up from her console. "Surprise me with the flavor. Thank you, Captain."

"Water," Shayden grunted. "Cold is fine."

Moxie hesitated. "Um. Hot chocolate? If that's not too much trouble, sir."

"Not at all, Lieutenant." He made his way to the fabricator station at the back of the bridge and began inputting orders. The machine hummed softly as it produced each drink in turn. He carried them back one by one, delivering them to their stations, and gripping his own coffee in one hand.

When everyone had their beverages, he returned to his chair and opened the ship-wide comm. It was time for him to address the entire crew. He’d hoped to meet everyone in person at least once before doing so, but things had been pretty… eventful.

"Attention. This is Captain Hawke speaking to all crew. I wanted to update you on our current status. We've arrived at our first elective assignment, to perform a routine survey of Norad III in the Nakamura System. We'll be conducting a planetary scan and possibly deploying observation drones. Standard procedure, all very low risk." He paused, then continued. "I also wanted to apologize for not taking the time to meet you all personally yet. I know you're working hard in engineering and maintenance, and I want you to know I appreciate it. Also, I know that many of you are nervous about not having a medical officer on board, but I wanted to offer my assurance to you that we will be picking her up shortly. I look forward to getting to know each of you personally in the coming days. Hawke out."

He closed the channel. Silence fell on the bridge.

Galadria raised one finger. "Captain, permission to speak?"

"Granted." Now, where was this going to lead, he wondered.

"Captain, I believe it would be unwise for you to fraternize with the other crew members too often." Her tone was measured, but there was something underneath it, something slight and subtle in her body language that told him a different story. "Your primary focus should be the bridge crew—me, primarily, since we have already initiated sexual contact and must maintain momentum to maximize the efficacy of your serum. I understand that some of the other personnel aboard are also hoping to participate in the biological aspects of our mission, and while that would be ideal for Star Force's research goals, it would be… unfair if your attention and energy were too divided."

Hawke stared at her, trying to see more beyond the words themselves. Was she... jealous?

"Commander, I was planning to introduce myself and learn their names. That's what any good captain does. I have no intention of neglecting the bridge crew or our primary mission objectives, and I assure you, I will keep momentum with you to the best of my ability."

Her posture relaxed slightly. "I see. That is all, Captain. Thank you for the clarification."

Darla was grinning, making side-eye contact with Moxani, who was snickering under her breath as well. "Wow. I guess Vultarians get really clingy after their first time. Of course, given how it went down, it makes some sense."

Hawke whipped his head around to look at her. "What exactly do you know?"

Galadria answered before Darla could. "Captain, it was logical to inform the other bridge officers of my progress with you. This serves multiple purposes. It creates social pressure for the other bridge officers to advance their own relationships with you on a shorter timeline. It also assuages any potential concerns about your sexual performance by providing assurance that your penis and technique are capable of bringing a partner to multiple climaxes. Furthermore, the sharing of intimate details is a common habit among young women that can facilitate a sense of camaraderie."

His brows knitted together. "Commander, that's—"

"Factual information that is relevant to our mission parameters, sir."

He looked around the bridge. The other girls were mostly trying not to laugh. It felt as much like the academy cafeteria as it did a starship bridge at the moment.

"Captain, you appear to be experiencing embarrassment," Galadria observed. "This is illogical. I have only repeatedly praised you and your penis, therefore you have no reason to be uncomfortable. Furthermore, we are all informed adults who have agreed to engage in sexual activity with you. Discussion of such matters should not cause significant discomfort. It is the central part of our mission."

"It's not the discussion, Commander. It's the... level of detail."

"Would you prefer I had been vague?"

"I would prefer you had asked me first."

Her head tilted slightly. "Your preference is noted, Captain. I should have consulted you before sharing information about our encounter. I apologize."

"Apology accepted. No harm done either way." He took a long drink of his coffee. "How's that scan coming along, Lieutenant Moxani?"

"Still fifteen minutes remaining, sir."

He sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Wonderful."

Galadria returned to her station, hands clasped behind her back, looking perfectly composed while the other girls on the bridge did their own jobs, dismissing their amused faces at last. Hawke sipped his coffee and wondered, not for the first time, what the hell he'd gotten himself into.

But as he looked around the bridge at his crew, he had to admit things could be worse than having his Vultarian first officer brag about her multiple orgasms to the other women on deck.

A lot worse.