After the Parade

The weather was surprisingly nice for the parade, the foul English weather of the Endless War had taken the day off and let the public have a day of peace for once. Of course as soon as one of her Troopers mentioned this everyone groaned saying that meant for sure they were sleeping in the top bunks of bomb shelters tonight with heavy rain from nature and the axis. Penny had decided to ward off the evil with a bit of sacrifice, namely a firm swat on the trooper’s bottom with her riding crop.

Each stage of the parade went off perfectly, the wrens of the military band were playing much better than they had in a long time. Penny guessed the high command had banned troops from interrupting their practice with ‘requests for morale’ and declared their practice as a Critical Military Operation. Penny noticed that there were many lust filled eyes on her, some from men, some from women. She kept her military bearing and her chin up.

“Second Lef-tenant,” a man called from end of the parade.

Penny looked over at the man in a suit and tie with a government ministry pin on it’s lapel.

“Yes Sir?” Penny asked handing the reigns over to a sergeant, “Can I help you?”

“I have a message for you and your Troop Lef-tenant,” the man held out an envelope, “Complements of the Colonel-in-Chief.”

That caused everyone to perk their ears up. Every Regiment had some office or hereditary post as their patron or Colonel-in-Chief and the Lancer’s Colonel-in-Chief was the sitting monarch of the House of Windsor itself! Penny went over and took the envelope with a curtsy and opened it. It specified her troop and informed her that they had been selected as the best of the Regiment and Best unit of the formation! What’s more the Troop was to receive two Squadron’s Ration of rum at their barracks tonight for them to use and share as they see fit!

“Thank You Sir,” Penny said, “Please thank the Colonel-in-Chief and let it be known we are extremely grateful and entirely at the Colonel’s disposal.”

“I will Second Lef-tenant,” the man saluted her with his prosthetic right hand.

Penny waited for the man to leave before turning back to her unit.

“Troops, please read this and pass it along,” Penny ordered handing the letter to the closest Lancer a Welsh Mare with corporal’s stripes, “I am proud of you and have responded to the Colonel-in-Chief that we are entirely at their service so don’t ruin your uniforms just yet! Now let’s take care of our steeds and kit right sharp.”

*

Penny smiled to herself, the Troop was getting extra rations of rum and while the Colonel-in-chief and the rest of the royal family had invited other ladies up to the palace tonight Captain Churchill had still decided to have the letter framed and posted in the barracks to let everyone know that they had reason to be proud and motivation to keep it up. Most of her Troops had found young men to entertain them as soon as they finished taking care of their things. Penny being the proper officer saw to the needs of her troops before her own. And that was why she was walking down this cobblestone alley listening to the echoing clops of her hoofed boots. At the end of the alley there was a group of soldiers in combat dress, they all looked eighteen and green as grass. As she walked up three of them pushed one towards her and rushed off. The boy nearly tripped before gaining his feet and finding himself starring right at Penny’s crotch. Slowly he straightened out and looked up at her and gave a salute. Penny put her riding crop in her left hand and returned the salute. Penny looked him up and down. He was maybe five eight, lean, fair skin, freckles, close cropped brown hair and pretty brown eyes. Penny smiled at him when she noticed the flash on his beret and shoulder.

“Good afternoon Trooper,” Penny smiled down at him.

“Good Afternoon Ma’am,” the Trooper stuttered.

Penny knew that between the platform of her hoofed boots and ceremonial helmet she was a foot and a half taller. Normally he would be about two inches taller than her really.

“Tell me trooper,” Penny took her crop and pointed at his shoulder, “Did you recently turn out?”

“Yesterday Ma’am,” the boy said shaking.

“Whats your name?” Penny asked.

“Brian Lee, Trooper 17th Royal Lancers, Ma’am,” the boy said.

“Well Lee,” Penny smiled, “I am Lef-tenant Churchill. I have 3rd troop in the Mare Squadron as it were.”

“Yes Ma’am,” Lee said, “I saw you in the parade.”

“Tell me Lee are your parents proud that of you?” Penny asked, “We belong to a very prestigious regiment.”

“Ma’am,” Lee stuttered, “I wouldn’t know… I was raised by the Charity of the Crown.”

Penny recognized the euphemism for the state orphanages, she too had spent time in them.

“I know the feeling,” Penny said, “I owe the Charity of the Crown as well. Tell me have you received orders?”

“As of now Ma’am,” Lee breathed nervously, “I am unassigned. The rumor is we will draw kit and go straight to the front next week to reinforce the Regiment as needed.”

“So you have nothing to do and no curfew?” Penny asked.

“Ma’am?” Lee stuttered.

“Don’t you know about the traditional ride for good luck?” Penny asked.

“Something about riding a horse before deploying,” Lee arched an eyebrow.

“Normally when troopers turn out, a squadron is sent back to garrison to rest, rearm, refit, retrain and then sent back to the front with the new troopers… Before they go off they are expected to spend a night in the company of a member of the Mare Company. It is one of our duties as members of the company to look after the needs of the Regiment and help contribute to the war effort.”

A light in Lee’s mind flickered on.

“Trooper,” Penny held out an arm, “I command you to escort me back to base, and entertain me until dinner, join my troop for dinner and spend the night on a ride.”

“Yes Ma’am!” Lee saluted and took her offered arm.

The pair walked down the alley to the barracks and passed by the trooper’s fellow graduates. Penny relished their slack jaws at the sight of the nervous boy with the Second Lieutenant. As they walked by Penny had the naughty idea of putting the trooper’s hand on her latex clad ass, just to play with his so mates.