War and Peace

By

Jacquimac

Part One

As usual for the twentieth century we were once again embroiled in a war thousands of miles from home, losses were very low within the taskforce and nil in our unit.

I was a Sergeant in Dressing station at the time and we were in the process of evacuating our casualties when a local woman from one of the nearby settlements asked for medical help for one of they`re people.

I was given the task of going with the woman and dealing with the situation and hopefully get back before the next influx of wounded.

I grabbed a medical kit and off we went, the settlement was a couple of miles away and the going was slow with the thick mud and raid but we eventually arrived almost an hour later.

although the settlement was behind our lines the only access road went through ground that the enemy held in force, so the road was out, the helicopters were being used to move our casualties to the hospital ship.

I discovered the patient to be a young woman in labour with her second child, there was no doctor or nurse on call at these settlements and they usually relied on a flying doctor service, which had been stopped due to the fighting.

I examined the woman and could see it was going to be a difficult birth from which neither the mother or child might not survive, I was out of contact with my unit so I couldn`t ask for advice from one the Medical Officers, I was on my own and a life and death condition was evident.

The Child was the wrong way round and had the umbilical cord round it`s neck, a caesarian would be needed with this birth, and although I had seen the proceedure several times didn`t have enough IV solution .

I had tried to free the cord and turn the child but failed, the mother lapsed into unconsciousnessand was bleeing badly, I spoke to the settlement elders and told then of the situation.

I could perform the caesarian and save the child but the mother would die, or do nothing and they would both die.

The elders told me to do what I could to save the child. I gave the woman a sedative and opened the skin to gain access to the womb,It didn`t take long but I managed to save the child but sadly the mother died.

Before I left the settlement I dealt with about a dozen minor injuries from other women and left the rest of medical supplies I had brought with them.

I was being led back to my unit when we spotted a large force of soldiers skylined ahead of us, I dragged my guide down into the meagre cover available and waited, it didn`t take long to discover that they were the enemy.

Luck would have it they didn`t spot us in the growing darkness and after a while we headed back to the settlement, our lines had been over run and my unit would certainly have been captured.

We went back to the settlement and told them the situation of course they offered to hide me but as I told them that could cause problems if I was discovered.

Other women arrived and informed us that the enemy soldiers were all around the area and that the Dressing station as I feared was now under enemy control.

Medics have an unofficial motto " in with troops and last out" the Geneva Conventions would protect the Dressing Station and the casualties. I could have given myself up, but rejected that idea. I had to try and get back to our lines where ever they are now.

When the enemy had invaded all the menfolk had been rounded up and those that weren`t killed due to resisting were now in camps.

If I was discovered hiding in the settlement the enemy troops would no doubt punish the women and children, We hadn`t heard of any reprisals against any of the settlements but I didn`t want to risk it.

The council of elders had held a meeting while I scouted the terrain around the settlement, when I returned they politely told me I had three options,

1) Give myself up.
2) Try and survive on my own and with winter upon us I wouldn`t last more than a couple of days in Arctic conditions
3) Do as they say and eventually get back to our lines.

It would seem I didn`t have much of a choice, I would have to do what they wanted,

We doubted that enemy patrols would stay away from the settlement until at least first light and luck was with us this night.

The paln was revealed I would have to dress in civilian clothing and my uniform amd gun buried, I would have to appear as one of the occupants of the settlement.

I pointed out that all the remaining people were women and I was a man and they said "So what ?"

I was taken to the house were my patient had died and the women proceeded to dress me as one of them, once they had finished and I saw myself in a mirror I was astonished, this might just work.

The body had been removed and laid out in the church with the funeral taking place the next day, I was to take the poor woman`s identity, her home and all her possessions for the duration of my stay.

I was shown a photograph of the woman and was amazed at how much alike we looked.

I didn`t mind having to dress as a woman but when I had to play mother to her children I started to panic, I was told that the other women would help and the baby would live with another woman who was breast feeding her own new born child.

That still left me stuck with a two year old boy and I had no experience with children, never mind how to be a mother.

War and Peace

By

Jacquimac

Part Two

So for the seeable future I have to live as a woman and a mother until I can get get back behind our own lines, wherever they are now.

It was almost two weeks before any enemy troops entered the settlement as they were too busy clearing out pockets of resistance and clearing minefields.

It was a ten man patrol that first entered the village under the command of a Junior NCO, they were polite enough and thoroughly searched every building and out house in the area.

I was sure I was going to be discovered and was still wearing my dog tags out of sight, but lady luck was still with me and they left after taking the names of all the settlements occupants.

Over the next few days all the sheep and cattle in the surrounding area were brought from the outlying pastures to penned areas nearer the settlement, the livestock wouldn`t be able to graze during the winter months and it would be easier to dump bales of fodder in the pens.

Nothing was arriving in the form of food, clothing or anything else, the war and the weather stopped all movement non military supplies, but the settlement was well prepared.

Food was plentiful, vegatables had been stockpiled and the livestock could be killed and butchered as needed, they had roll upon roll of cloth of different types and the women had always made their own clothing.

Movement was permitted between settlements as long as you stayed within on of two opposing areas and well away from the fighting. Not that anyone in their right mind would travel far in winter I had been here before the war and knew how winter storms could could surprise you with they`re sudden appearance and ferocity.

Two days after the first patrol visit us a second much larger force entered the settlement led by a Captain, again the searched the buildings.

The Captain asked us to go to the meeting room and 35 women ( myself included) and 20 children made they`re way inside.

Once there he addressed us and informed us that we would be left alone to carry on with our lives and that any soldier interfering with a woman against her will would be put to death.

It appeared that the enemy respected the rights of the local population and would protect them, we were told that the menfolk were well and wouldn`t be released until the end of the war.

An administration camp was being set up centraly to a number of settlements of which we were the closest any enquiries and complaints would be dealt with there and we would all be given new ID cards.

Not long after the troops left the first of winter storms hit, the houses had looked fragile and now it seemed the weather could throw everything at them and they would survive, I developed a great respect for these people and their simple way of live.

I met that evening with the settlement leaders and we discussed my problem, there was now way of escaping during the winter so I would have to continue the masquerade at least until the spring thaw.

I suggested that everyone double up for mutual protection and to help each other during the next few months, It would be the first time that no menfolk were around and the long nights would be lonely for everyone.

After much discussion it was agreed that all the families would double up and that one of empty homes be used as a central point of contact.

As I was the only one with any medical background I was designated the settlement nurse and blow me down with a wet feather if someone didn`t produce several nurses uniforms.

The meeting hall was set up as play area and school room for the children, lunch would be a communial affair were problems and ideas could be talked over.

A rota for the various duties such as child care, cooking, feeding livestock etc was organised and I was to be exempted so i could look after any sick or injured.

I disagreed saying it would look odd to any outsider and wouldn`t be fair on the rest of the community and several women agreed with me. So I was put on the rota like everyone else but wasn`t allowed to help feed the livestock.

At the end of each day when we went to our homes I was given lessons in femininity, walking, sitting, talking etc. I was also taught to sew, knit ,crotchet and do embroidery the lessons helped passed the hours and funnily enough I became a good seamstress.

War and Peace

By

Jacquimac

Part Three

Winter arrived with a vengence, the first night we had a blizzard and woke to find the snow at least six feet deep.

We took the best part of a week clearing the snow to get to the livestock pens, meeting hall and homes with everyone pitching in.

As luck had it i managed to scrounge some medicines from the medical centre at the new administration centre before the bad weather hit us and with the supplies I had brought when I first arrived figured we would have enough to see us though.

It would be at least three months before the thaw set in and access to and from the settlement even by helicopter was not possible, this would give me at least that long to get used to my new and temporary role in the settlement.

The first couple of weeks were the busiest with clearing the snow and getting better organised especially were the children were concerned.

Before the war the men folk did all the manual labour but since they were now in captivity it was left to the women and with that and having to look after their families it took a lot out of them, I did as much as possible to make the manual tasks easier for them.

Eventually we settled into a routine that suited everyone, I was kept busy in the evenings learning to behave like a female and was gradually finding it easier although I was having trouble getting used to young Adrian calling me mummy.

The baby was being looked after by another of the young mothers in the settlement although during the day I had to spend a few hours with her.

Before the winter hit us I had uncovered my SMG and applied a heavy coat of grease to prevent it from rusting solid before burying it again, my uniform I noticed was missing and was told it had been destroyed in case it was accidently found.

That meant I was stuck in dresses and skirts no matter what happened until I either managed to get to our own lines or the war ended. I was starting to feel trapped.

War and Peace

By

Jacquimac

Part Four

Adrian was a bit of handful especially when it was time for him to go to bed, he seemed to get livelier but I managed in the end to get him bathed and in bed before seven o`clock each night.

Then it be time for either sewing, knitting embroidery or some other lessons in femininity, well we had a long winter ti face and it definately wouldn`t be boring.

I could already do basic sewing like a lot of squaddies as we had to keep our uniforms in some sort of good repair when in the field, so it wasn`t long before the had me doing my first attempt at a skirt.

The amount of different stitches amazed me but I got the hang of them in the end and it wasn`t long before I had made a decent skirt, Oh it wasn`t good enough to wear to a social event but it was good enough was working in.

Before the end second month I had made a couple of dresses and skirts and a couple of tops, nothing fancy but the women who were teaching me were pleased with the results.

Knitting came to be second nature after a while and I was soon knitting like the best of them and holding conversations at the same time and had knitted a whole load of jumpers and cardigans for the children.

Embroidery now that needed a lot of concentration for meagain there was lot of different stitches and with different colours being added to the designs and they seemed to pretty intricate some time too intricate.

I also had lesson in make-up, what to wear and when , I never realised what a woman went through to look her best or how much time it took it took them.

Cooking I was good at and spent a lot of my time cooking with the other women, damn it I was starting to think as a woman of the settlement.

I was starting to enjoy living here the friendship with these women, no having to compete everytime I did something like with guys in the unit.

As time went on I got used to called "mummy" by Adrian and could even look after the baby who was called Joanne after her dead mother.

I had managed to fashion a pair or waterproof trousers out of an old ground sheet and at least once went and scouted around the area, of course I couldn`t get far because of the snowdrifts but far enough to check that no patrols were in the area. I considered it my responsibility to ensure these women and children were safe.

It was one thing for some Admin Officer to say they would be safe from agression by troops but another to trust them and I didn`t the enemy especially since they had removed all the menfolk from the settlements.

OK we hadn`t heard of any mistreatment by the enemy troops of civilian personnel but there is always a first time, I wasn`t sure if the enemy like us had signed the Geneva conventions.

Each time I return from my scouting it would be back into skirts and live would continue as if nothing had happened.

The children started going down with the usual problems that children get, colds , measles. chickenpox etc so I set up separate isolation units for each ailment and set about nursing them with the medicines I had at my disposal.

I had many a sleepless night dealing with the odd child that wasn`t responding too well but eventually the crisis passed and all the children were returned to their mothers, the worst ones to deal with the were the babies.

The Adimistration was about 10 miles away and I set of on my own at around 7am and arrived there sometime in the afternoon, after an argument with the guards I was allowed to speak to an officer.

I told them our problem and they arranged for paedatric medicine to flown that night, I was given a room for the night and left at first light the next day.

It would seen the lessons on womanhood had been successful and so far they hadn`t suspected that I was an enemy soldier in hiding.

When I arrived back at the settlement I set about dosing all the sick children before I did anything else, I showed the women who were helping me the various dosages and went home, I was exhausted, cold, tired and hungry and dirty after my trek.

I slept until around noon the next day after having a good bath getting dressed and having a meal went to check on the patients but they seemed to be doing well. Now we childrens medicines I was back on safe ground unless surgery was ever needed.

There were no working radios or telephones in the settlement and it seems that during the winter months the people were on their own when the snow was as deep as it is this year.

I just hoped I wouldn`t have to visit the Admin Centre again, it was a hard going through all that snow.

War and Peace

By

Jacquimac

Part Five

Winter was coming to an end and the thaw was starting and still the settlement was inaccessable but we knew it wouldn`t be long till that was no longer the case.

Now we were getting things ready for planting, we were going to have a problem as a couple of the horses needed shoeing and there was no blacksmith available.

The livestock for the main part was fit and healthy and some of ewes had already given birth, there were no natural predators so the lambs would flourish in safety.

It was like living a hundred years ago no tractors or cars the only automotive I had seen since we arrived was military vehicles.

Ploughing was done by horse, as most other agricultural task, fortunately a couple of women knew how to plough a field so they were given the job for when the ground was dry enough.

It was time to start getting organised for the spring planting and as soon as gardens were dry enough the vegetable patches were dug over and manure added. Seed was sorted as was what was left of the potatoes.

As soon a snow was gone we started to see military patrols passing the settlement, not once did a patrol enter the settlement and life just continued,the children were now allowed outside to play seeing as the temperature had risen enough for them to do so.

During the winter I had been doing the various crafts that women do and had become quite good at them, and was now so used to being treated as woman I had stopped worrying about being caught and didn`t even think about the war. Life might be hard but it was peaceful and I found the clothing comfortable and more suited for daily life around the settlement.

The baby Joanne had stopped breast feeding and was now bottle fed, and she was handed me to look after, when the soldiers had taken the names of everyone, the elders had registered Adrian and Joanne as my children, oh joy.

I still the daily sick to deal with but didn`t mind that after all they were hiding me and I was a Army Nurse anyway, as luck had it I didn`t have to make second trek to the Admin Centre during the winter.

The snow finally disappeared and eventually the rivers and streams returned to they`re natural levels, the ground was now dry enough to dig or plough live stock was returned to the pastures and the barns and sheds were in the process of being cleaned out.

I dug over our garden and manured it and we ready for planting, Mabel the other woman who lived in the house with her children had done the same with the front flower garden, this year very few if any flowers would be planted. with nothing coming to the country we were going to make sure that there was plenty of food for next winter.

I had a feeling the war wasn`t going to go away anytime soon so all the settlements would have to be self reliant.

Ethel the head woman in our settlement told me that there would usually be a meeting of all the surrounding settlement leaders, and asked if there was anyway we could ensure that the meeting still took place.

That meant another trek to the Admin Centre but this time it would only take an hour or two to get there. The next day the pair of went and asked to see the Commandant, we were taken to hut and given a hot drink while we waited for an answer.

A short time later we led to what appeared to be the main building and shown into an unoccupied room where a few minutes later we met Colonel Diseart.

The Colonel looked to me to be a very cruel man, something about him bothered me, but we had our meeting with him and told him we would like the annual settlement meeting to go ahead as usual.

He looked at us with some suspicion until we told him it was the only way that the settlements could keep in contact with each other and that since the menfolk were all in captivity we would like to ensure there were no problems in any of the settlements.

He informed us that he would have to clear it with the Commanding Generals office and would let us know as soon as possible, we thanked him and left to return home/

Home ? did I say that? well I suppose it is the best description as ot would be my home for the forseeable future.

Twice now I been up close and talked to enemy troops and officers and hadn`t been twigged, was lady luck still helping me or was I now so feminine that people took me as who I appeared to be?

I had been hoping to get away and rejoin our forces once the planting was done, but at the Admin Centre I had heard of huge numbers of reinforcements along the front line and borders so I knew I would be stuck here for a while longer.

Another visit would be required to the Admin Centre after the annual meeting if it was allowed to go ahead, if the war was going to continue medical aid, food and clothing were going to a priority.

A week later we were informed that the meeting would go ahead and the Admin Centre would be the venue. A vehicle would be sent to each settlement and pickup two delegates from each in one weeks time.

War and Peace

By

Jacquimac

Part six

The next week life went on as usual, we held a couple of meetings to find out what we needed to try and trade for and what we had to trade with, I was amazed at what was available it seems that during the winter everyone had been busy with whatever skill they had.

As promised a vehicle arrived around nine am to toke us to the Admin centre for the meeting, what we didn`t know that there was to be a miltary representative in attendance.

Ethel knew the other women at the meeting and introduced me to them, before the Military rep turned up. She didn`t tell the settlement leaders my real identity or that I was male.

The meeting was started and the captain who turned up introduced herself, Captain Julia Delgado was a tall woman and had been assigned as liason between the settlements and the Military.

The meeting was very productive for all the settlements with the military agreeing to provide what we couldn`t get anymore such as medical supplies, cloth, and some grains like corn, wheat and barley. We however had to provide services such as laundry, sewing etc which would be done in the settlements.

After Julia left the women looked at each other and asked why the military being so helpful I expalined that it was they`re attempts at trying to keep the peace so they didn`t have to waste troops putting guards in the settlements.

On our way out to our transport we were handed a folder each which contained contacts in the military and details how we could request what we needed. They also told us that a radio would be installed in each settlement and a medical team would visit the settlements on a weekly basis.

On our return to the settlement everyone wanted to know how we got on, we told them that there would be a meeting at seven pm were everything would be told.

I went to the hose I was using as a mini hospital just to check what supplies we had available and there wasn`t a lot. After which I returned home .

I had really got into my role playing and I don`t think any of the other women who attended the meeting suspected that I wasn`t what I appeared. Although the area come under one goverment each settlement was autonomous and only interacted with each other when the need arose.

Adrian was a real handful and it would be his third birthday in a few days time, as there were a couple of other children having their birthday that week it was decided that we held one party for for the all.

I still needed to find a present for him , alright I had made him some clothes but he needed toys as well, something that would challenge him but what?.

The next day as promised a radio was installed and a couple of the younger women were taught how to use it, I stayed away from it as with my knowledge of militart radios I would have given it away that I was in the Military.

Also delivered was a load of medical supplies and foodstuffs and everyone was kept busy potting it all into the place we used as a central store and the medical supplies into the makeshift hospital. Everyone was happy that we had a good supply of tea and coffee and fruit juice for the children.

It had been almost six months since I started living in the settlement and It was as if i had always lived there as one of women the way I was treated.

They were missing their husbands but their attidudes were almost victorian as regards marriage and i didn`t bother them at no time did sex enter the equation, survival and safety was the main concern and I for one knew how war could destroy lives and communities.

These women were lot different than I was used to, they` weren`t vain and pretentious like the majority of modern women, these women put their families ahead of everything else and worked hard when they needed to. This was their way of life and I had to fit in not the other way round.

They accepted me as an equal and no concessions were going to be made for me. as far as everyone was concerned I was a woman and the mothe r of two young children and was expected to act as such. They wouldn`t betray me, the only way I would be found out was if I stepped out of character.

They did make a few allowances and helped me when I needed it, I respected these women and knew they could be harshly punished if It was found out they were hiding me. I could be shot as a spy as I was no longer in uniform so I interacted with the military as little as possible.

War and Peace

By

Jacquimac

Part seven

Life carried on as usual it was if the war had passed us by on was happening on another planet.

The day of the big birthday party arrived and we set everything up in the meeting hall ready for lunch time and the kids were eager to start the day, we started with the usual party games then went to eat, each of birthday kids had their own cakes and we brought them in one at time.

The kids loved the day but didn`t get their presents till they got home, yes it was good day for everyone.

Each morning on the pretext of taking a walk I had a good look around the area, and never saw any patrols near the settlement.

The weekly visits by the medical teams happened as promised and everyone was in good health.

Meeting were held every two weeks at the Admin Centre and I always went along with Ethel, while there I always kept my eyes and ears open , I never managed to get hold of any real information that may of been of any use.

There as always was Julie in her role as military rep, when she was around we talked about what the settements needs but other than that not a lot was said.

As the summer was here we tended to walk to from the settlements and were free to talk more openly once we were away from the military.

Oue settlement had a lot more pigs than we could comfortably hold and offered the excess to any settlements that needed them, it seemed that all the other settlements were trying to build up they`re livestock so we made a deal for any extra Vegetables and fodder they had extra off.

Ethel had taken one of younger women with her when she went around the settlements a few weeks earlier and while there told them who I was and that I needed to get back to my own side as soon as possible and tried to enlist their help.

Once the crops were in, cleaned and stored we could all relax until it was time to start rounding up the livestock ready for winter coming.

Now we could ensure that all the maintainance needed round the settlement was carried out and have fun with the children.

Eventually we had done all that needed doing and decided to have a party, I had been told that the settlement usually had a summer dance but with the menfolk away this year they held a big party so everyone could let their hair down.

The weeks went by and everyone was relaxed and happy but soon it was time to start gathering the livestock before the start of winter.

I had been living in the settlement for almost a year, it hadn`t been easy to begin with at first the women were a bit wary of me, but eventually I was acxcepted as one of them.

We were expeeting the snow to arrive in the next couple of weeks and hoping it wouldn`t be as deep as last year.

I was putting away the last of the medical supplies when a convoy of military vehicles arrived in the village, we all told to line up and I joined the line carrying the baby with Adrian holding my hand.

The officer in charge slowly walked up down the line a couple of times then pointed at me and the troops to arrest me which they did. I didn`t offer any resistance and tried to hand the children over to Mabel who was in line next to me.

I was bundled into a the back of a truck and the children were passed up to me, I said they should be left in the village but the officer in charged sarcasticly said no they didn`t want to split up a happy little family.

We were taken to the Admin Center and locked in a room with guards outside, the children were restless and I had to calm them down.

A short while I was taken to the commandants office with the children still in tow. That was were he told me I had been betrayed by one of the settlers.

It didn`t surprise me as I had been expecting to be caught a long time ago, but I didn`t hold it against whoever betrayed me. with their husbands in captivity it was easy to put pressure on the women.

Two nurses came in and took the children away, then the interrogation began. I gave them my name rank and number and refused to answer any other question.

When they over ran what remained of my unit they found my pack so they knew my unit and that I had gone to one of settlements to help someone who sick and hadn`t returned to the unit.

They had searched the area and that left the settlements were I could be, the other settlements had been searched and it only left the one I had been living in.

The Commandant admitted that I hadn`t been suspected at first and it had taken a betrayal to find me out.

I was given a drink of what he called herbal tea, It tasted funny but I hadn`t drank herbal tea before so I thought it was the normal taste, I didn`t realise it was drugged.

I was taken to cell and lay down, I felt tired and soon fell asleep.

War and Peace

By

Jacquimac

Part Eight

When I awoke I was lying in a hospital bed, that wouldn`t have been so bad but I couldn`t move I had been strapped down onto the bed.

What the hell was going on? why was I here? I hadn`t been sick or injured so what was going on. I could only move my head slightly from to side to side and noticed a drip that appeared to inserted into my body. I had no feeling anywhere the only sesations I had was sight, sound and smell.

A short while later a nurse came looked and looked at me and then left, a couple of minutes later a doctor appeared accompanied by the Commandant.

I tried to talk but nothing came out, the two men laughed. "Don`t worry" the doctor said we`ll soon have you out and back to the settlement.

I felt the bed tilt, not the top half but the whole bed, seconds later I was upright as if I was standing. The covers fell away and the two of them stood facing me.

" You do good work doctor" the Commandant said

" This is a proceedure we`ve never tried before " said the doctor

The Commandant looked me in the face and told me that I had been found guilty of being a spy, I expected him to tell me I was to be shot or hung.

The Commandant continued " The sentence for for spying is usually death by firing squad but in your case an exception has been made, We wouldn`t like to see those two children suffer and they seem to have bonded with you. So you are going to carry on being their mother and living in the settlement.

At this point the doctor continued " To that end we`ve surically altered your body, in other words you have been given sex reassignment surgery, your body is that of a woman ,breast, vagina, the works. Oh you can`t pregnant as you don`t have the right internal anatomy. we also made slight changes to your facial features."

They moved to one side and I could myself in a mirror, something was sprayed onto my throat and a few seconds later I managed to speak.

"Why ?" I asked.

"Those children have already lost thier mother once and we felt it would serve a better purpose for you to continue as their mother, we`re not completely without feelings you know" the Commandant continued and they left

The bed was put back into its horizontal position by one of nurses that entered, I was freed from the restraints and the drip diconnected.

The nurses never spoke as I was put into a nightgown, I was then put into a wheelchair and taken to a salon in the hospital were my hair was permed and styled.

I spent the next two weeks in physiotherapy getting back my muscular strength, I had been in the hospital for two months during the trial and surgery.

I still couldn`t believe what they had done to me but at laest I was still alive, what I didn`t realise that my old was gone forever nobody,my own side or family was going to believe what had happened to me.

A shrink saw me daily to help me adjust to what has happened, he was appalled that experimental surgery had been carried out without my permission. I didn`t know until he told me the Commandant and Doctor were sadistic and that they loved mistreating prisoners.

At the end of the two weeks I was given new clothing and told to get dressed after which I was taken to the Commandants office.

"Well your body now matches your new life, you`ll be returned to your home today" he said

That afternoon I was the settlement and after the military left everyone wanted to know what had happened so I told them.

They were aghast at what had happened but welcomed me back, I was reunited with the children and went home with Mabel to feed them, bathed and put to bed.

Once we were alone Mabel handed me a large package that was address to me ,it had arrived yesterday. I opened it and started to unpack it. it really enforced what my new life would be like.

War and Peace

By

Jacquimac

Part Nine

The package contained scanty lingerie, babydoll night sets, a vibrator and dildo as well as other female products.

Mabel had been looking at me for a while and suddenly said " God you could be Abigail`s twin, they really did a job on you"

She showed me a picture of the childrens mother and I saw what she meant, before my capture the resemblance was there put not like now after they had done surgery on me.

We talked for a while before going to bed and as we shared a bedroom she saw the surgical alterations and exclaimed " So they did turn you into a woman ?"

The next morning after I was dressed I got the children ready for their day at the creche, fed them and took them to the meeting hall for the day before I weny to our makeshift hospital.

Ethel came to see me and we talked for while, she asked about how I felt and to be honest I was as mad as hell with the doctor that had changed my body yet I felt relaxed at the same time, maybe living as a woman for well over a year had done something to me.

Later that day a couple of officers with a guard arrived at the settlement and informed us that as soon as winter weather stopped they were going to do a complete rebuild of the settlement and put in proper metaled roads, that cheered the women up no end.

All the buildings were definately well past their sell by date and only the hard work of the people in the settlements made them liveable. I asked if all the settlements were getting the same treatment was told that the ones in this command were and that it was up to the various regional commanders how the dealt with the settlements.

Let me explain a little about the area, the area was settled some 200 yrs ago and there was only one major town in this little country, the terrain was such that without heavy machinery and lots of money everything roads, buildings etc were basically ranshackle.

The only decent buildings were the in the main down because they had a port, access the outlying regions was pretty bad but the settlements didn`t mind as they governed themselves for the most part.

The only thing they produced was meat,wool and livestock, mainly sheep and cattle, so as a country they were pretty poor even by 3rd world standards. They never asked for or recieved aid from outside nations and were content with their lot.

They were born and died in the area they lived in for the most part and it wasn`t until the war they realised that they could have better lives but at a price. Each family was wealthy in they`re own rights. Not in hard cash or money in the bank but in livestock as they owned huge herds and flocks.

Just about everything else was imported but at a cost, they paid a percentage of they`re earning each year to a central fund to the Central Committee as they called they`re government. It wasn`t an elected body as in most countries but a member from each of the settlements usually the elders who met several times a year to make decisions for everyone.

It seemed to work well from what I could tell form listening to people, any major decisions were put to the settlers before being acted upon. It seemed to work better than what we civilised nations called Democracy, as everyone was deciding what their little
community did instead of a bunch of corrupt politicians.

A simple nation with simple needs, except that war had arrived on their doorstep and thing would change, whether for the better or not only time would tell and after living with these simple folk I hoped for the better.

Before I was sugically changed I had been accepted by these woman and now I was one of them I learned a few of the things they had kept hidden from me.

The creche was run by four young girls about 16 yrs of age or so I thought, apparently all males over the age of 14 were rounded up and sent into captivity with the rest of men, but these 4 were dressed and now lived as young women, they were being trained in the traditional female skills and kept hidden, fortunately the other settlements didn`t know about this.

I had been back about a month when a delegation from one of nearby settlements arrived, they had a middle aged woman with them who had her hand tied. It turned out that this was person that had betrayed my presence and they wanted me to deal with her.

Questioning her we found out that that she had only betrayed me to save her son and husband form being shot after they had fought and seriously injured some guards were they confined.

I told them to let her go and forget it ever happened, she did it to protect her family as would any wife and mother and I didn`t hold her responsible for the cruelty of enemy troops or their leaders.

I would hate to have had the blood of an innocent on my hands and after all I was still alive, it made me wonder how the other settlements had found out about my punishment and return though but I suspect the settlement had they`re own ways of keeping each informed on what was going on.

As soon as winter passed a unit of engineers came to the settlement and surveyed the area, they told us where they would start and that we should empty the first buildings they were clearing away which we did.

The land was cleared and prefabricated houses were erected on concrete foundations, as they moved through demolishing and building metaled road were laid and after around six months a new settlement had been built and occupied, there were six properties that were empty and we were told that new women would be arriving soon.

All the houses were newly furnished and now had gas and electric, catalogues were given to the women to get new clothes for themselves and their children and anything else they wanted. They even built small well equipped clinic new barns a schoolroom and a new meeting hall.

War and Peace

By

Jacquimac

Part Ten

The occupying forces were spending to keep the locals pacified and it was working for the greatest part, I hadn`t know before but information was being sent to our troops about enemy forces, numbers and strong points.

I kew the fighting was going on to the west and it was sporadic with neither force being able to gain an advantage, but I suspected that our forces were building up with more troops and equipment for a big push but didn`t know when it would happen but when it did all hell would break loose.

It was diabolical that our allies refused to help us because it outside alliance territory yet at the same time were selling guns, missiles and other military equipment to the enemy.

A couple of weeks after the work on the rebuilding of settlement was finished we received six new people for the empty houses, when they arrived I was in the clinic working when one of the women came rushing in and told me I was needed outside.

The Commandant had got the doctor to change them from men to women, when I got to them I found that the rest of medical team that had remained behind with our wounded had been the latest subjects.

One of them told me that the Commandant had them operated on as in their army only women nursed the sick and injured, and seeing as they were carrying out womens duties they would become women.The only exception they made was for doctors.

We got them installed into the empty houses and some of settlement women stayed with them while I talked to each of them individually.

They hadn`t recognised me and I told them what had happened to me, I was still the senior rank amongst them and had them known them all for a couple of years.

Over the next few weeks we helped them adjust to their new lives, but we all knew there would be problems if and when the enemy were finally defeated.

They told me that the majority of the Dressing Station had packed up leaving the minimum equipment behind as was usual in the circumstances and that only the six of them and one doctor was left behind waiting for the last patients to be medivaced when the enemy captured them.

They knew I had gone to the aid of the settlement and had kept quiet about me even though my pack had been found.

It was almost three years since we were overrun, I had adapted to life in the settlement and now had to make sure that these new additions adapted and it wouldn`t be easy as they all had murder in mind if they got hold of the Commandant and his tame doctor.

Just before the summer ended a new Commanding General took command and was visiting his troops along the front line, by sheer chance his driver got lost and they arrived in the settlement instead.

We couldn`t attack them as his escort was armed but he did look round the settlement and ask if there was any problems, this my chance.

I explained to him what had happened to men and myself but he was sceptical until we told him the name of the doctor then he listened carefully.

War and Peace

By

Jacquimac

Part Eleven

The General promised to look into our predicament and after getting directions to the Admin Center left with his escort.

Our forces took complaints seriously and dealt harshly with the guilty, usually a long jail sentence after being dismissed from the services and losing any pension rights etc.

We could only hope the enemy force cmmander would hold an investigation before things escalated out of control, illegal medical experimentation was illegal under the Geneva Conventions and was classed as a War Crime.

Whatever the outcome was in the end it would it would cause us problems, Although we could prove our identity with witness statements, DNA tseting was also available but whether our side would agree to to it was another matter.

A few days later we heard that the Commandant, doctor and several others had been arrested and an investigation into their actvities was in progress.

Several officers arrived at the settlement and took statements, I had to uncover my SMG and other equipment and surrender it all as evidence which I did.

As far as I could find out the doctor was carrying out some rather bizarre experiments and sugical proceedures. It appeared that he was recruited by the Commandant and was being blackmailed into turning certain types of criminals into Female prostitutes and that had been curtailed when they had been sent to war.

The doctor was allowed to carry out his sugical experiments on subjects provided by the Commandant, the victims were soldiers in their own army that were guilty of "Cowardice in the face of the enemy" and had been sentenced to be shot.

Unlike our own forces the death penalty was still carried by some armies it would seem.

They only got caught because we had talked to the Commanding General and recognised the doctors name as someone who was wanted in their own country.

Our own medical officer had been working the main hospital since the last of wounded recovered and had been kept separate from the team, he hadn`t known what was was going on as he was escorted to from his place of work and lived on the side of compound.

He came to the settlement accompanied with a couple of shrinks, while the new girls were being assessed by the shrinks he and I talked for a while I told him what had happened to me since their capture right up till the new additions to the settlement.

With a lot of help from myself and the settlements women the rest of girls appeared to adapt to their situation reasonably well, for two of them it was going to be difficult when the war ended as they were or had been married men with children. but as we had no idea how long the conflict would last there wasn`t a lot anyone could do.

Except for given help and support to our victims life went on as usual in the settlement, the investigators got all their statements and left so peace and quiet reigned once again.

The days past and soon it was time to get ready to get ready for winter setting in. Time to round up the livestock and clear the rest of fields of what we grown to supplement our and the livestocks food supplies.

As long as we kept our people busy there was no time to brood on our own problems, we knew that there would problems enough in the coming months.

Rumour had it that our forces to going to start a big push as soon as the snow cleared so all we could do was wait and hope that they would be successful.

We had just managed to clear the fields and get all the livestock rounded rounded up when the snow hit with a vengence it had been a couple of years since it had been this bad and three days before we could get out to start clearing paths and feeding the animals.

The engineering unit at the Admin center were sent out with bulldozers to clear the worst of the deep snow of the roads and that made our task a bit easier especially when the cleared round the animal shed and barns, that would give us better access for feeding them.

As usual we sewed or knitted in the evenings, funny enough I never missed Television at all and enjoyed keeping busy and we certainly did that along with playing with the children.

As a man I had always been in competition with the rest of guys but as a woman I didn`t have to compete anymore , I had finally accepted that I could no longer return to my former life as a male but I was worried that the rest of team might not be able to adjust no matter what help they were given.

Winter lasted a bit longer than we expected this year, but we managed to stretch what resources we had, it was a good thing that we planted extra so food hadn`t been a problem. The main problem had been feed for the livestock so we had cut back slightly on what we usually fed them except for animals that had given birth.

War and Peace

By

Jacquimac

Part Twelve

We`ve heard the fighting has started again somewhere in the west, how long it will last we don`t know , it all depends on whatever troops and resources each side will commit.

When we first started this conflict we had limited resources due to the length of our supply lines, as usual our allies will not support us but will supply the enemy with weapoms and ammunition.

There wasn`t much we could do except wait for the outcome one way or another this little country will see peace again and be able to continue with their simple lives.

We did have to report to the Admin Center were they informed us that the Commandant and his cronies had been found guilty of misconduct and breaching the Geneva Convention and had been sent home under guard for punishment.

Our status as Military personnel was restored but we were under parole to remain in the settlement until the conflict was decided one way or another or an alternative peaceful settlement was reached.

The weeks went by and we heard conflicting rumours our troops were being pushed further back. the occupying forces were being pushed back. The usual rumoursthat no one was able to confirm one way or the other.

A steady stream of troops and equipment could be seen heading for the front almost everyday, but it didn`t mean much only that the fighting was building up.

At the moment the settlements were being left alone and hopefully the war would go around them, going off previous wars I had little hope of this happening and set everyone to building deep shelters and barrackades as solid as we could make them.
Of course they only made from wood and earth but it was all we had, one good artillery barrage or an armoured assault would destroy them but we had to try.

Artillery shells don`t care who they kill or what they destroy and I had the damage a stray round could do, I had seen war at it`s worst and would do all I could to try and save these people.

Of course the business of day to day living had to carry on and we made one last a trip to the Admin center to get extra medical supplies if they would release them.

As we left the settlement we notice the engineers putting up signs with warnings that these areas anly contained civilian women and children, it would seem the Commanding General was trying to limit civilian casualties as much as possible.

We arrived at the Admin center and were told that extra supplies of food warm clothing and medical supplies would start being sent to every settlement the next day, we were given a few extra things to take back with us.

The following day the supplies arrived as promised and I personaly thanked the officer and asked him to convey the thanks of the settlers to his superiors.

Over the next few days a few off the Older women would go out to the pastures every morning and bring the herds and flocks closer to the settlement.

I was being used as a sort of military advisor and what ever task I set were done with no complaints although at the end each day we were all exhausted, I gave half the settlement light tasks one day and heavy tasks the next. The older children were left to look after the younger children. The elders were kept in the settlement doing tasks like cooking and sewing bags together.

Myself and the medical team were split so that one of us was each group so we didn`t have to keep repeatedly go round checking that things were being done right.

I had never been any good on a horse but I soon learned and took a horse round the neighbouring settlements and started them doing what we were doing, I promised that if time allowed we would come and help them.

We finished the defences in our settlement and a bunch of went to help the other settlements, we were greated at each settlement over the next few days with smiles and eagerness. The settlement elders could see the neccessity of what I suggested but didn`t know were or how to start.

It took around three weeks but eventually all the settlements were prepared for fo the possible onslaught as best we could manage, and all the time we working everyone was all smiles and singing.

I think they realised we cared about their survival as our own, once we were finished I road to the Admin center to try and find out if the area was under immediate danger I told the commandant that the settlements would like to get together in a central location for what possibly could be the last time before the fighting came our way.

He made a few telephone calls and informed us that the area would be safe for the seeable future and suggested we have our get together within the next 72 hours, I thanked him and left to let each settlement know that we would get together the day after tomorrow.

War and Peace

By

Jacquimac

Part Thirteen

The day of the settlements meeting arrived and plnety of food and drink was loaded on to carts along with the younger children, we were hoping that everyone would have a good time seeing it might be last time these people had a real get together for some time.

The next day we saw aircraft fying overhead but they were too high to tell which side they belonged to. As long they bombing the area it wouldn`t matter, it could be that were that were carrying out aerial reconnaisance, we had marked the roofs of the houses so hopefully if it was photo recon flight they would see the markings.

Day after day reinforcements were heading for the front, it looked like the occupying forces were getting a good pounding, I reckoned that the most we field would be around ten thousand men with our troops being scattered round the world.

Days became weeks and the fighting was getting closer, eventually both armies ground to a halt and dug in. Peace negotiations were started so the waiting game continued. A ceasefire was announced while the negotiation teams met and I presume that both sides used the time to reinforce their postitions.

Within the settlement we kept the children near our makeshift bunkers and the barricades erected, the livestock had now to fend for themselves although a few of us would go out and check on them now and again.

Being as young as they were the children didn`t quite understand what was going on around them Abigail was now four and Adrian six. To them I was still their mother as they had memory of the woman that gave them birth.

Although the adults were slightly on edge they appeared to coping well enough as long as they were kept busy, the children well like kids anywhere they adapted very well and were full of questions, usually questions we couldn`t answer.

Several weeks passed and we were told a peace compromise had been reached between the two armies, whether it suited the settlers we wouldn`t know until the details were announced.

A committee was formed and I elected as main spokesperson for the settlements a position I tried to refuse but when it was pointed out that I had lived almost four years in the settlements and knew of other places i was the best person.

The meeting was held in the Admin center and went on for days, at first the occupying forces objected to me attending but after the settler committee told them I was their main spokesperson they agreed.

The Allied forces deputation didn`t know why the objection had been made as they hadn`t as yet been informed of who I actually was.

Before the meeting got underway properly I demanded the release of all the detainees before we discussed anything, this took both sides by surprise they didn`t expect any initial demands at this stage.

The chairman started going on about protocol and I said "Protocol be damned we want all the detainees returned to their loved ones now" and we walked out.

We must have waited around two hours outside and no matter how hard they tried we refused to reconvene the meeting, it wouldn`t have been so bad but it was raining hard. and it was cold but we wouldn`t give in.

Late into the aftenoon we decided to home and started to leave the compound with the guards trying to stop us but we just brushed passed them, as we passed the gaurd hut we told them that we return when the detainees were returned and not before and went back to our settlements.

Two days later several trucks arrived and the men from our settlement got out and rushed to the arms of their loved ones.

They were told about what happened in the settlement since they went into captivity and after thanking me tried to take over, but the women refused to acknowledge their right to take charge. After all they had run the place doing all the work the men did plus their own work of raising a family for four years

The next day an officer came to the settlement and asked that talks now be resumed, I told him I would have to contact the rest of the committee first.
He told me that he was to accompany me to see the the others and had a car at our disposal.

I went around and spoke to the other members and they agreed to meet at Admin center the next day, once we had contacted everyone the officer happily dropped me off at the settlement and went to inform his superiors.

On my return to the settlement there was a meeting in the hall, the men were informed about what was happening and demande to know why I was their main spokesperson.

Ethel being the Village elder told them that I had refused and had only accepted under duress, that I knew how these other thought and how to get our demands.

Of course the men still complained till it was pointed out that I was the one responsible for getting them released and that nothing else had been discussed till they were home, that shut them up but they weren`t happy to say the least.

War and Peace

By

Jacquimac

Part Fourteen

The talks restarted and everyone was telling the settlers what was going to happen, this got me angry how dare they lay down the law to these people.

What infuriated me the most was our forces, they were asked for help which they gave in the so called name of freedom. OK some died and a lot got injured but we shouldn`t be forcing people to do what we want. These people had helped in during WW2 by providing a safe harbour for our ships.

I stood up and halted the meeting again the two opposing forces were upset.

I told them that they don`t make demands or lay down rules to these people, it was their country and way of life that had been turned into a nightmare. Eventually it led to us once again walking out but this time we only got as far as the gate before they asked us to return.

These lands hadn't as yet been exploited and it suspected that there was abundant natural resouces for the taking both on and offshore, of course that would mean the country got very little while the big multinational corporations made a fortune not to mention the pollution they would create and the crime that occur when they brought in their own workers.

We started the meeting again and this time they asked what the people wanted, now we were getting somewhere, I let Ethel and the others deal with that and sat back listening and making notes.. At the end of day we stayed in the camp at least they had provided accommodation rather than going back forth every day.

once we had settled in we were taken to a central dining area, all the camp personnel had already eaten so we could use it as long as we wanted. After we ate and cleared the debris away we started talking about what was on offer and what the two wanted. to be honest they had offered quite a bit electricity to all settlements, Television, a telephone network etc.

All the modern conveniences you could ask for, but did the people want them ? they had along without them OK. I told them they should be looking at the practicle things like trade, getting a better deal for transportation for goods that had to be shipped in by sea ( they didn`t have an real airport).

There was cove that had a cliff face that looked like solid Quartz, there was a market that, the ecomony of the counrty was based on the large flocks and herds of livestock so I told them to hold out for a better trade deal. If they wanted to have miltary bases in the country, rent them the land for a limited period which could be renewed or refused as the country decided.

Ask for a Modern state of the art hospital to be built.these are thing they should be looking for, things that would help the country and it's people. schools should be asked for. then the negotations for drilling and mining rights could be dealt with.

They had finally got peace but they should now exert their rights as a country in their own right. there was planty they could offer in deals, but they had to force their wants and needs on the others. I got up and went back to room I had been assigned and left them to talk things out, I knew they would come looking for me when they needed advice.

Out off all the countries I had been to this little country was special, no politicians, no corruption,no armed forces, hell they didn`t even have a police force crime wasn`t known here. Oh they had disputes of various things but in the end these were settled amicably by both parties and rarely outside each settlement.

I had come to love this little country and it`s people, I knew I could never go back to my old life and to be honest didn`t want to, I was content here and with the life I know had.and the little family I had. I had been accepted by these people as one of their own and now I didn`t want to see their lives destroyed by so called modernisation.

True to form the committee came looking for me after a couple of hours later, they hande me a list and item by item we talked it out.

They knew what they wanted, Television didn`t want, electricity was a yes, a radio network instead of telephones, a good hospital and schools etc, what they asked for would help them live better and easier lives. They weren`t sure about mining, drilling and land rental, I wasn`t either but I told them to get the United Nations to help. I did tell them that quartz was marketable as were fishing rights.

At last they had a working plan for their demands and the next day we ready for what ever they could throw at us.

The meeting didn`t start too well the next day especially when I revealed my true Identity, the Allied forces started ranting about War crimes, then started calling me and my team traitors. The enemy commandant told them what had happened and that the guilty were being punished.

Then they objected to me speaking for the settlers until an irate Ethel stood up and told them that they had asked me to represent them and if it caused a problem then all talks were over. The Allied representatives stormed out saying they need to talk to their superiors before they could go any further. for a peace conferance it wasn`t very peaceable. So we left for our settlements leaving word that when the other parties were ready we come back.

The next day a couple staff cars arrived in the settlement one from each of the two factions, they wanted to meet with and the rest of the medical team.

War and Peace
By
Jacquimac

Part Fifteen

We may with high ranking officers from both sides, the findings of the investigation were revealed to the allied forces and we were once again subjected to a full physical examination. Statements were taken from the relevant people and everything was sent back home by courier, we couldn`t do anything now but wait.

The peace talks were a success for the country they got everything they wanted plus 10 billion Dollars from each side with which to boost their economy. The UN sent a team of negotiators and beaurocrats to aid in negotiations over troops being stationed here,trade agreements etc,

The country had won the Peace and life was getting back to some form of normality, and the people were happy again. Of course there were areas that were still out of bounds but that was due to minefields and other dangers from the military.
The children were kept pretty close to the settlements until the engineers and other specialists cleared these area.

For us survivors it was a different matter the Old Commandant had informed the authorities that we were dead "Killed in Action" and our families had been informed. Our own military no longer wanted us to them we would be classed as sexual deviantes which meant a long jail term, it didn`t matter that it was forced on us. Any form of sexual deviancy was military offence.

In the end a compromise was made we were never to return to our own country and would each recieved a large sum of money with which to start a new life. The two who were married and had children had been told that their wives were married again, I had thought we were going to have a problem but they accepted the fact there was no going back and we were all young enough to start new lives.

The Commanding General of the Old enemy forces had been in touch with his government and they had offered us full citizenship as part of a compensation package. We had time to think things over and after talking about everything we finally accepted the offer made by by both countries.

I had a slight problem, I knew I needed to start afresh and away from this place but I had become attatched to the children, the settlers came up with the solution. I would take the children with me and continue as their mother, they had no living relatives in any of the settlements so that wouldn`t be a problem.

Once everything had finally settled down, the elders of the various settlements came to see me, they thanked me for all the help and advice during the negotiations, for all the help I had given the nearby settlements during the fighting. They hoped that someday I would return and live among them again. I thanked them in return and stated that I too would like to return here to live, that I had fallen in love with little country and it`s people.

About a month later seven women and two children boarded a seaplane that would take them on the first leg of their lives, Hundreds of the settlers from all over came to see them off and wish them luck.

Three days later we arrived at a large country estate were we were to stay while being processed, we were shown to our rooms and had free run of the grounds. The house had a big staff of servants who attended to our every need, there was a couple of maids that appeared to look familiar but I just shook the idea of.

The following morning we in a meeting being told what was going to happen, the two maids I saw the day before entered the room carrying trays of refreshments. Behind them was the General who said that we might recognise the maids, we looked a lot closer and was surprised to see the Old Commandant and the Doctor.

They had been found guilty and had been given a punishment that was appropriate, they were given partial sex changes retaining a much shorter penis. and retrained as maids. At night they were forced to sleep with any man that wanted them, their names were now Murial and Rose two middle aged spinsters.The uniforms were made in a way that made them look sluttish. Everthing they owned and their wealth had been confiscated and to make matters worse for them a couple of farmers wanted to marry them.

It took about a month for us all to be processed, we all to be located reasonable near each other so that we would have friends nearby.

As years passed we all met our future husbands and settled down, the children went to school and eventually college and eventually got married themselves.

My husband and I after he handed the business over to our son went back and lived in the settlement that had taken me in, a few of the older people had died and I had attended a few funerals over the years. We were welcomed back by friend Mabel and taken to our old house which was again was now home, I felt I come a complete circle.

As we toured the various settlements we could see that the prosperity hadn`t gone to their heads, the whole country was doing well and everyone was happy. The foreign workers had been told to stay away from the settlements which they did, crime was kept to a minimum and only in the capitol. Anyone found guilty was deported straight away.

Everywhere we went I was made welcome, even by the children who I had never met. It appeared that I was now a part of the countries history. One thing saddened me that troops were now stationed here, not UN troops but troops from my old country. When I asked why I was told they had a 99 yr lease on the land the occupied from just after the war, I went into the land office and studied the lease carefully.

Someone had conned the settlers into believing that the lease was for 99 yrs, what it actually said was 9yrs with options for renewal to a maximum of 99 yrs. Straight away I contacted a friend who managed to get the UN involved and eventually the troops left and the land restored. I had warned the Central Council not to be conned and to get advice from the UN if they weren`t sure of anything.

My husband David and I worked with the council for 5yrs, not as members but in an advisory capacity and eventually a new charter was drawn up and signed by the central committee and settlement leaders for ruling the little nation.

Now we could at last settle down and grow old together, the children came and visited a few times a year, David would go off and help with the flocks and herds, and I as the woman of house did the cleaning, cooking, mending that any other would do. We were happy and content, we had friends around us, time to relax and our love for each other.

THE END