My departure from the UK was very subdued.
If I had expected a goodbye party, I would have been disappointed as no one came to see me off, not even Colonel Henry Stanton, which was a complete relief. Left all alone I simply looked around the camp one last time before loading my bags onto the transport that would take me on the 3-hour drive to Brize Norton.
Taking off from the aerodrome in Oxfordshire the second leg of my journey was a five-hour flight by an Airbus A400 transport plane out to Cyprus. My few companions on the trip were of absolutely no interest to me, or me to them, so, remaining my usual distant and aloof self, I spent the time reading rather than engaging anyone in conversation.
Once we reached the Mediterranean, I had a boring six hour lay-over at the RAF base at Akrotiri waiting for my next flight. Grabbing something to eat from the mess I had little else to do other than rebuff the overtures from a Flight-Lieutenant who was interested in getting my number.
For the final leg, I took a second plane out to my destination in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
As expected, the Hercules C130 aircraft was fully loaded but as well as several tons of supplies there was also, to my surprise, a small number of troops.
Paying perfunctory attention to them I boarded and took a seat alone, away from the soldiers, before strapping myself in.
I was sitting quietly minding my own business when he dropped into the seat across from me. Immediately the disturbance caused me to glance up, our gaze meeting, and I found myself barely able to breathe as I stared, mesmerised, into a pair of hypnotic grey-blue eyes.
"Morning ma'am." He smiled at me and I found my pulse rate jump alarmingly.
"S.... Sergeant." I could feel the colour rising to my cheeks before, taking a deep breath, I replied as calmly as my flustered mind would let me.
Not bothering to introduce himself further he tipped his head back and closed his eyes as he, apparently, started to doze off leaving me free to discretely study him.
Around 6' or so he was broad shouldered with untidy brown hair and captivating eyes. Deciding he was undoubtedly cute, what I found most disconcerting was my reaction to him. I had never met anyone who could set my heart pounding like a jackhammer with just a smile.
It was impossible to tear my attention away from him, as he sat there unconcernedly napping, and I found my mind wandering as I let my imagination run riot about him. I was still staring when he opened his eyes and looked straight at me, his face breaking into a sexy lop-sided grin which sent shivers of excitement down my spine.
Unable to stop myself I felt my cheeks turn a brilliant shade of scarlet as he winked at me.
"Everything ok.... ma'am?" he didn't stop staring directly into my eyes as he spoke.
"Err... yes... I...err yes fine... thank you." I stammered trying to think of something else to say.
"That's good. If I were you though, I'd get some sleep? It's a six-hour flight." He smiled disarmingly before closing his eyes again.
'For god's sake stop it girl. What's wrong with you?'
I thought to myself as I looked away and tried to get my heart rate under control.
The flight was indeed several hours in duration, just as he had said, and despite my perplexing interest in the mysterious soldier I eventually did as he suggested and dropped off to sleep, like the rest of the passengers.
It was a long and tiring 22 hours after departing the UK that I finally stood on the tarmac at camp Bastion in Helmand province watching as my travelling companions, the Sergeant included, collected their kit and marched off into the base.
"Captain Upson-Marsh?" a Corporal saluted and enquired if I was the passenger he sought.
I returned his salute "Yes, that's me Corporal."
"I've orders to show you to your quarters ma'am and then to the Brigadier's office."
Already perspiring in the heat and humidity I stowed my bags in the back of the land rover before climbing in beside him for the short drive to my billet.
The Corporal was particularly uncommunicative and, apart from what he had already said, simply told me that Brigadier Hyde would be waiting for me in his office once I had had a chance to clean myself up.
My room was basic, just a bed, a desk and some storage but it did have the luxury of a tiny private bathroom, courtesy of my new rank. After looking around, which took all of a minute, I dumped my bags on the bed and just took out a change of uniform with the necessary toiletries before stripping off to take a, much needed, shower.
Thirty minutes later, still feeling tired but a lot cleaner and slightly refreshed, I headed across to the base offices that the Corporal had pointed out to me earlier.
"I'm Captain Upson-Marsh, here to see the Brigadier." I announced myself to the soldier sitting at the front desk.
"Oh yes ma'am." He jumped to his feet and saluted, "I'll let him know you're here."
I took a deep breath and waited pensively to meet the next man who's bed I would likely be sharing.
'What would he expect from me?'
I wondered as I stood there.
"He'll see you now ma'am." The young private smiled knowingly, interrupting my thoughts, and held the door open for me.
Marching straight into the office I stood at attention and saluted "Captain Upson-Marsh sir."
"Ah yes, yes Natasha isn't it." he waved to the chair in front of his desk, "Please, take a seat. It's lovely to finally meet you in person. How was your journey?"
"Err... fine thank you sir. Long and tiring but otherwise fine." I sat down and, putting my hands in my lap, studied the man opposite me.
I guessed Brigadier Hyde to be in his late forties or early fifties, a short dapper little man with closely cropped grey hair and a thin grey moustache. Looking every inch a senior officer in his pristine fatigues he took the opportunity to do likewise and look me over as I sat in front of him.
"I've heard a lot about you Captain." he gave me a knowing smirk, "I believe you know an old friend of mine, Colonel Henry Stanton?"
"Yes, I do, sir." My heart sank at the mention of my former CO's name and I didn't take a lot of imagination to guess exactly what he had said about me.
"But I imagine you're tired from your journey so I won't keep you now. I just wanted say hello and let you know you'll be reporting to Colonel Moresby at FOB Arnhem tomorrow. She'll be allocating you your regular duties."
'Her!'
His use of the female gender came as a surprise to me, as was the fact that I was being posted off base. I had envisioned myself spending most of my time at camp Bastion fending off the Brigadier's unwanted attentions.
"Moresby?" I opened my eyes in surprise at the name.
"Yes Jane Moresby. Do you know here?"
"I'm not sure sir. I might know a relation of hers."
"Whatever, I suggest you get some sleep. Your transport leaves at oh seven hundred sharp Captain. I'll have someone collect your bags in the morning." He concluded, effectively dismissing me.
"I will sir, thank you." I got up to leave, relieved to have escaped my first meeting with him unscathed.
"Hopefully we can get to know each other a lot better in the near future... Natasha." He added as I saluted and turned towards the door.
"Errrm... yes of course, sir." Trying hard not to sound repulsed by his suggestion I gave him an ineffectual smile.
"Perhaps later we could chat some more over dinner in my quarters? Say at eight this evening?" his eyes ranged up and down my body as he spoke, obviously undressing me in his mind.
"I'll have to see. I'm very tired from the journey sir." Groaning inwardly, I realised that he did have plans for me that evening after all.
"Of course, Captain. I hate to insist so you do what you think best. Later I could possibly arrange for transport back one week-end for you as well, then we could have time for a proper evening together." His leering smile made it completely transparent why he would be inviting me.
"I guess that will depend on how busy I am sir." His tone had made it plain his suggestion to have dinner wasn't negotiable.
"Yes, yes but I can always speak to Colonel Moresby. I'm sure you can be released from your other duties for a day or two." His salacious gaze clearly defining his designs on me.
Stifling another groan, I shuddered with revulsion as I made my exit and closed the door behind me. The Brigadier had already made his intentions for me blatantly obvious and I knew, sooner or later, he was going to want to fuck me.
For a moment I thought about the cute Sergeant on the plane and felt a tingle run down my spine as I considered ignoring Brigadier Hyde's suggestion to visit in him in his quarters later. There was no way I could press for another promotion this quickly and if I gave in to his demands so soon, I would be spending a lot of time in his bed.
Resignedly I walked back to my temporary quarters. I had a couple of hours before my dinner with the Brigadier and I intended to take a short nap.
Clearing a space on the bed I lay down and closed my eyes letting myself drift off to sleep as I thought yet again about the soldier on the plane.
It was later that evening just after 8 o'clock when I nervously rapped on Stephen Hyde's door. I had showered and, reluctantly, tidied myself up after sleeping for two hours before heading to the Brigadier's billet.
"Natasha, I'm glad you could make it. Come in, come in." opening the door wide he ushered me inside.
While his rooms were certainly grander than mine, they were still rather plain; a living/office space, a bedroom and a bathroom. Looking around I shuddered with disgust for what I was doing. I had started out with the simple intention of sleeping my way to promotion and it had all seemed so straightforward back then. Now, with the reality of what I was allowing to happen to me, I was left with a feeling of self-loathing and revulsion.
"I hope you don't mind Captain but took the liberty of ordering from the mess. It's simple fare but quite tasty." He indicated to the covered plates on the table.
"That's fine sir, I'm actually quite famished." I tried to sound grateful as, despite the feelings of nausea filling me, I had genuinely meant what I had said about being ravenous.
