Disclaimer: I own nothing
It's a long time coming but it is here
At 1950 they headed to her office to wait for the others to get there and by 2000 Elliot, Abbie, Serena, Casey, and Fin were present.
"Ok Fin, you asked for a confidential meeting"
"Yes, we found something when we explored LA, several something's in fact. I have brought back 2 of them. The men have been sworn to secrecy until you see it" Fin opened up the folder he was carrying "They're down there at the moment assembling one so you can have a look in person. All other staff have been told to leave their posts for the mean time while they do it. It should be ready by now" he then handed her a piece of paper "Let me introduce you to the Apache AH-64S Helicopter."
Olivia stared in amazement at the machinery on the page, it showed a picture of a machine that could fly. She'd seen and heard about planes before, never really understood them but this?
"We have one of these, downstairs?" she asked
"Yes ma'am" Fin grinned "And all the firepower that goes with it" he handed her another sheet showing all the rockets, guns, inside view of cockpit. "We located what you call a flight simulator. You can learn to fly one of them in a computer game style without killing yourself if you crash. Munch and a half dozen of the other men were learning to fly them when we left. A couple had managed to take off and land before we left."
"I want to see it" Olivia could barely keep the excitement out of her voice. With these they could really take the attack to the enemy with the added bonus of them not knowing it was coming. She could strike and destroy them way before they got near the borders. Especially with the added bonus of the howitzers and the mortars.
"Lets go then" Fin said and led her out. The others were confused, they had not seen the papers Olivia had and had no idea what this helicopter looked like. So when they walked into the basement and saw the menacing aircraft sitting there you could excuse the bug eyed look they gave it.
"Fucking Awesome" Abbie breathed in awe and received a hit from Serena. Alex stood stunned until Olivia grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the stairs. Alex had to hustle to keep up and couldn't prevent her grin on seeing Olivia as excited as a kid at Christmas.
Everyone else hurried after them to make sure they didn't miss out. Fin showed them how to gain access to the cockpit, showed them the instrument panels, the joysticks for steering. He let Olivia and Alex sit in it first, Olivia in the pilot's seat of course. They were awed. Elliot and Abbie went next then Serena and Casey. They spent a good half hour going over it, under it, around it and through it. Fin showed them the weaponry attached and they all whistled, that could do a lot of damage.
They soon returned to the office and the regular guards were allowed back in. One such guard was carrying his evening snack and cup of coffee. Upon seeing the aircraft in front of him he promptly dropped it in shock. Then he grinned, man he loved his job.
They returned to Olivia's office and Fin told them how they had found other helicopters, large ones which were troop carriers. There were also planes but they were impractical as they required large airstrips to land and had to be stored in hangers or tied down in inclement weather. The surrounding terrain prevented any airstrips. Olivia knew that some of the surrounding Warlords had vast open plains, especially to the south. Maybe seeing the helicopter flying around once air born would convince them to sign on permanently and she could have an air force. All in good time though.
"We need to make sure no one else enters these compounds and tries to take any of these. If that means we bring everything back to our territory and store it we do." Olivia told them "At the moment our only threat is Velez but there are others out there, other countries. We have led a too quiet life for so long. We can only hope once Velez is dealt with things will quieten down but" she shrugged and everyone nodded. She looked at her watch, it was 2100.
"Ok, that's enough for tonight, it's been a long day. It's only going to get busier, more people will arrive as the weeks pass, we still have truck loads to unpack, have to sweep Jorje's territory for weapons and possibly others. I want to train more recruits, it will be fast and intensive training. So for now, bed. Report back here at 0700 tomorrow and we will go over pans for the day"
She dismissed them and returned their salutes before taking her wife's hand and leading her back to their rooms. They had a shower together, Olivia teaching Alex that sharing could be fun before they adjourned to the bedroom to make love.
The next day Olivia and Alex left early to go out to the second camp with a couple of Hummers and a few civilian trucks full of medical aide, beds and bedding, tents, cooking stoves and pans and utensils. They also brought some toys, a playground and other activities for the kids. The others stayed back with the rest of the troops to try and gain some sort of normalcy in the camp.
Upon arriving at the camp Olivia was happy to see people milling around talking to each other, cooking on fires or caring to animals. They were greeted with friendly waves and shouts which drew out Jorje who came over when they parked up near the tents that were set up a couple of days ago. Olivia was surprised to see a 6 foot wire fence running the length of his boundary, possibly starting from the river to the North of his property to as far as the eye could see to the south. Olivia looked at Jorje who shrugged
"I've had the wire for years, stored it up. Now I don't have anything but blades to defend my territory I felt I needed something else"
"But I told you I would defend your property" Olivia frowned
"It takes you three hours to get to my border. Half my people would be dead" he told her seriously and she realised he cared about the villagers, more than just words "It is a good defence, it can assist you in the future"
"What if the warlord to the east of you signs my treaty, I then have a fence running through the territory I need to protect"
"He has told me he will not sign. It was that loudmouth from the meeting. He told me he would not bow to a woman and couldn't wait to um" he paused and looked at Alex who visibly blanched. Olivia growled
"Did he now, so why come to the meeting?" she asked next and Jorje looked nervous "Jorje I want to know, I won't get angry, with you anyway"
"Oh, he said he wanted to see the great General Benson in person and wondered why people were so afraid of you. He said he now had some great jerking off visuals or could picture Alex's face while he's um doing other women"
"Raping you mean, as if any woman would willingly sleep with that" Alex snorted and Olivia grinned at her wife. Jorje chuckled
"True Alex, the man is a pig, I would like nothing more than to declare war on him but his army is too big unfortunately"
"If he joins Velez I will destroy him. His people need to be freed." Olivia stated "Come we have much to offer the refugees."
They handed out the toys to curious children first who ran off and played to the delight of their families. Olivia inspected the large building the locals had made and found several families crammed in. It was not ideal. Alex had brought the registration sheets so as they worked to erect the tents in rows she slowly presented a family with a tent each and recorded the tent number on their registration forms. They managed to erect 50 tents through the day and they all became filled. Olivia promised those still living in caravans that she had more supplies coming. They erected some of the playground too, much to the children's delight.
Alex had caught up with several people through the course of the day, an older lady by the name of Liz Donnelly who she said was her mentor and encouraged her to become a lawyer and a man Olivia did not like called Trevor Langan. He was way too familiar with her wife and she was furious. He kept hanging around and Alex reassured her several times that he was just a guy in her class . They challenged each other to become the best but he liked to defend and she definitely liked to prosecute.
Olivia had been reassured until 1500 right up to when they were about to leave and she saw Trevor grab Alex and spin her around then put his arm around her. She watched Alex struggling to break free and she saw red. She ran hard and fast, flying over the ground. Jorje saw her running, saw where she was going, swore and took off after her.
Trevor was so intent on having his piece of the pie he never saw Olivia coming. He had heard all the stories from the guys Alex had dated saying she was an easy lay, would even do 2 at once. He was surprised that she was struggling so hard, he'd thought she'd want him. He knew she was married, she'd told him but that had never stopped her before, some of the men that talked were married.
So intent was he on getting his kiss that he didn't see the General until she spun him around and knocked him flat. He was in the process of getting up to return the favour when she shoved the business end of her gun under his chin. He looked up into furious brown eyes as she spat
"Tell me Langan, why shouldn't I blow your head off?"
"Because she was begging for it" he told her "I have heard so many rumours about Alex and how she likes it that I knew that she would want it. Hell General, you probably want some yourself"
Olivia stared at the young man and thought he had to be the world's densest idiot.
"I don't know what rumours you've heard but I bet you it is from rich preppy idiots like yourself. Idiots that have no idea how to treat a lady. Besides that you have just assaulted an officer in my army which is punishable by a month in the brig, thirdly you did such assault while on Jorje's land. Jorje, what's the punishment for sex assault in your territory?" she asked still holding the gun under Langan's chin.
"For assault, they get 10 lashes with the whip. For rape they get to become a eunuch" he stated and they watched the young man blanche.
"Oh I forgot, what do they get for Assaulting the Generals wife?" she asked next and watched Langan's eyes dart from her to Alex and back "That's right Trevor, you just assaulted my wife" she grinned and he let out a squeak
"You get to deliver the lashes General" Jorje told her Olivia grinned
"I'll think about it while young Trevor here enjoys a stay in the brig" Olivia looked up at a couple of waiting soldiers "Arrest him for assault on an officer" she told them and then leant down and told Trevor "Just so you know Trev, I was the first, and I intend to be the last and only one to make love to my wife. Your friends lied to you. I suggest you pick your friends more carefully in the future" then she stood and let the two soldiers take over. As they bound his wrists behind him he declared his right to a fair trial. Olivia told him to shut it and the soldiers led him off still yelling.
"Always trouble around you Benson" Jorje chuckled and clapped her on the back, she scowled at him which made him laugh harder. "Go home and ravish your wife. I will be doing the same shortly"
"You are married?" Alex asked
"Yes ma'am, 5 years, 2 kids and before you ask yes, totally monogamous" he grinned and whistling walked off towards the new camp ground.
Olivia took her wife's hand and led her over to a Hummer. They sat in the back and got driven back to the compound. It was a jarring ride and she wished she could make it smoother. That night at dinner she made the comment to everyone that she wished the trails were in better condition, it would make the trips a lot faster. Fin took note and decided to keep his eye out when he returned to the old Las Angeles.