"What do you think will work best for your fellow Vampics?" asked Henry.

"Will they be more inclined to listen to you speaking alone, or if you are accompanied by someone else, of a different species?"

"Those who are ready for change will see the sight of another race standing next to me as a sign that the change we seek is now. I would be honoured to have you stand next to me, Doctor." She looked at him and nodded.

"Then I shall."

Henry took his place to the side behind her.

"Thank you, Doctor. It means more to me than you can know." Mortica told him as she stood before the camera, hands behind her back. "I'm ready whenever you are."

  Beth walked In  with them. She was  still a Bit 'cold' to the  Vampic, but she  did her job.

  we use this   angle lense  in the   War room, especially when we  set up on the Hanger Dec, This   catches a wider  area, for people to  Respond to

 She  spins a Console  around.....when you are  Ready..  YOu  hit  the 'Enter Button'... and wait.. The Vampic    cannot Jam the signal.. but they don't have to Answer?... They will know, by the SIG.. that its the Hermes

 ..there is a  20 second Timer....it will shut down the SIG if no one answers.. YOu get 3 Shots.. If   no one answers    before the third SIG  shuts  down?... there will not be a fourth

 She Looks  at   Henry  and to Mortica.....and that's not the Admiral saying that..its me.. I won't risk the Hermes for a hostile race.

….

  She  takes  a  red  sticker  and   Places  it on 'Escape".....when your  message is over..or  you want to cut the feed.. hit  the  Red  sticker...and that will be that...

 she places  a Blue sticker  on  the 'F'  Button..... There  are 3 vid clips.. You hit   'F'.. and it will show the Vampics  opening  fire on the cages.... 'F' and  the number 2 ..at the same  time... and You will get  footage from the  HQ feed  of  Shadow    taking out the  2  Vampics,   as  well as the shuttle pilot  and  Shade... 'F'  and 3  at teh same time..  there will be  the  Downfall of the 2nd Vampic  Cap ship, that Shadow, JUstin, Shade  and Spencer   crippled, before the Troops came in... it not only shows  a coupel guys in an airvan, and what they did?.. but there is also the Drop ship troopers, of   2 differant  races.. Humans and Apefolk.. finishing off the capture

 ..Now?.. if you want to  voice over the  Vids... Hitting  those keys , as instructed... will show the Vids  instead of you?.. If you want  to be seen  speaking, as well as the  Vids.. then  Hit these two  yellow  stickers  .. Ctrl-enter.. the  screen will split.... now?..once you start the Vids.. they will keep playing in a loop..1...2..3.. until you hit  'F' by itself, then the vids  shut  down

 Beth Nods to them both and   clip clops out  with her heels.. She Points  at   Will who sticks on a Headset, and has his Monitor  opened  to see what what  HAck and the others  will see if/when.. the Vampics open thier end of the Feed.

   Hack   walks in and looks at them both... make no ,mistake, as I do not lie when it coems to things like this... I  do not make threats.. i make  promises, or state  facts.... If they slap you down..  and slap this... small measure.. of a peace offering, out of your hands.. trying to posture.. to  threaten?... its over.. in more ways then one.... should you see me  walk out  of SEC before You are finished talking... You will be permitted  to  warn them,  to prepare for the end... and they'll have roughly  one Galactic  week..before   The Hermes  comes with the Fleet, to change the landscape of  your planet... It may seem harsh, to make other  races  pay, for what some  other RAce has done to us over the eyars...but... its  damn foolish  of me,  to allow it to ..EVER..happen again.. Good  Luck , LT.... to posture

 he gives   Henry a  sad smile  and  walks  out to watch through the   Door , it shuts..   a red Blinking  light  comes on the Cam.. Beth's  Voice    enters the intercom..

 ..You should be seeing a Blinking Red light.... that means   are feeds  and CAm are  ready......  when/if the  Vampic Connect.. the  light  will remain..a steady red.... if the  red light goes out..it means they have  cut the feed on their  end.... you will know, when i cut the feed.... start up when ready....

 The Commander , HAck and  Lyri watch though the window..Lyri is   near the door with her  side arm loose .


 Will and  Beth  have head Phones on as they  watch the screens

 Mann  is standing By the Inside  door, incase  some one enters, so they6 stay  quiet.

  Garrat watches and waits for events to pass before asking his question.

Mortica nodded as she was given the instructions. "I understand. I'm ready." She took a deep breath and pressed the button.

"This is Lt. Mortica Blackthorne of the IFC speaking now to all of the Vampic People from the ESN Hermes where I have been after a disastrous First Contact orchestrated by Brother Forrest and his supporters. I will preface my comments by again repeating that 'Chrysalis' is in effect and will reveal what that means for those who are wondering.

For a very long time there have been those who felt our actions - raiding other races for food or breeding stock were reprehensible. The actions of scavengers or Demons and not proud warriors. In fact it turns out we who have been fiercely independent had begun responding to the overtures of the Demons and were becoming their lackeys, lickspittles who took and offered tribute in the hopes we would be saved if they turned their eyes towards Vampra. We were forgetting ourselves and losing the spirit of our people which, to be honest, was already tarnished. By accepting overtures from the Demons we left in tatters that which we had tarnished."

She pressed the buttons that showed the Vampic soldiers firing on the cage and let it play twice before inserting herself into the image to talk whilst the feed continued.

"This was part of what the races of the ESN/APF saw from us in our First Contact. Tribute given to us from the Demons that Brother Forrest refused to surrender to the ESN. Instead he ordered they be fired upon which resulted in the death of nearly two dozen, five of which were children. Have we forgotten how precious we hold children to be since we breed so slowly? Have we forgotten or simply never considered that the other races of the galaxy would hold their own children in the same regard? Consider the parents who received the news that their sons and daughters were dead in prisoner cages in transports headed to Vampic space to be used as slaves, food, and breeding stock."

She changed the feed to show the death of the Vampics at the ball as well as the assault on the capital ships. "This was the result."

She let the images play. "The ESN responded and thousands of our people died."

She stopped the feeds on the image of dead children before letting it fade so only she was shown again.

"Chrysalis is the protocol that was put in place once the right catalyst had occurred which it has. Not the threat of annihilation from the ESN but the threat of annihilation from ourselves, from our own actions. From consorting with the Demons to feeling that murdering prisoners was acceptable. The continued thought that even taking other sentients as food and breeding stock was acceptable. We have cast our eyes towards the galaxy and taken what we will for thousand upon thousands of years.

The galaxy is now looking back. With disgust, with rage, with righteous anger. And they are coming. They are coming to end us as surely as they are coming to end the Demons - a race whose name Vampic has become synonymous with. This is not who we are but it is who we have become. We chose Chrysalis because it is the act of change, of becoming something new and that...is something we must do. The old ways of raiding and taking slaves have always been reprehensible and must end. We must learn news ways. We must change and adapt to the changing galaxy we find ourselves in."

Before, her voice had been firm but more matter of fact. Now it was filled with passion as she continued.

"I am lighting a torch in the Black. It can either be the light that leads us to a new day for the Vampic people or it can be the flame that lights our funeral pyre. Make no mistakes that these are the only two options for they are. There is no third. It is time for us to become true galactic citizens, to stop raiding, stop taking slaves for food. It is time for us to change from raiders and slavers and become the proud warriors we think ourselves to be.

Take a good hard look inside yourselves and ask the very hard question: do I like what I see? I hope that you, like me, say 'No, I do not' and realize the time to change is now.

To that end all Vampic military forces are invited to leave the Void and meet the ESN fleets. You will come with surrender lights on. Any ship that uses the surrender lights as a false pretext to approach and open fire will be destroyed and that single act from a single ship will doom our race to destruction so know that one ship, one Captain, can mean the difference between the change we need or utter annihilation. The practice of taking slaves, of raiding for food and breeding stock ends now We will learn new ways to feed our people, to continue our race. It will not be easy but we will learn. We will cease overtures towards the Demons and refuse handouts from them. We will become the proud warriors we have thought ourselves to be and one day, we will stand tall before our children and tell them "I was there the day it changed and we saved the souls of our people because one of us lit a fire in the night and led us out of the darkness.

Will you come forward, out of the darkness or will you doom our people to destruction. I hope all of us choose to come forward and become a new people. A people we can all be proud of, and true citizens of the galaxy. Will you take the hand of Dr. Henry Christie, a Terran who has spoken with passion and eloquence and given me the chance to make this entreaty to you? This is a man who has every reason to hate us yet has done nothing but offer the hand of friendship.

The torch is lit. The beacon is before you. I await you.

I hope you will join me.

This is Mortica Blackthorne, Vampic, signing off."

She bowed her head and ended the transmission. When it was over she swayed just a bit and took several deep breaths. "I need to sit down."

  Hack  watched her  as  did the Commander.. Lyri watched he hands  more then her speech.

  ..Lt Blackthorne...  I... feel.. yhou have   done all you were able... it comes down, to what people you ahve there.. and what will become of those...

 he added,/..Vampics  that attack us, clearly.. will be destoyred of  course.... but it will not doom your people.  one false  flag.. will

 ..you ahve  two chocie  now.. LT.  You may enlist as  a Blue   Vampic.. or.. we  wil find a  spare   shuttle from the LG,  and you may fly it to Vampra....    I hope you  Broadcast was worth it...

 he clicked the Intercom  off,  and left, Followed  by a  very intense lookign   Commander.

 Lyri's   mouth hung open..   Will  just ran  a hand through his  hair  as he    and Beth  scheked to see if the Broadcast Inspired  any COM   traffic.

Mortica stood straight before the Admiral left. "Admiral-there was a time I felt pride in this uniform and what it meant. That time has passed and now I want it off because the touch brings me feelings of loathing. If I may take my oath and stand with the ESN and the APF I would do so now."

  Hack stopped,  and turned...You have a Bit of a Choice, LT?... You may go down to Captain Morris's  shed... there  you will enlist. most like..keep your  rank.... You will then choose the ESN.. or the APF..If you choose the ESN, as Did  SGT Lirg... you will  wear ESN  Blue.... if you chose the APF.. you will wear  the color of your  home  world, except for   the   ESN Blue sleeves.. Thus..we have  the terms., Blue   Hyrians, Blue Verians ..ect ect.

"Ah, I understand. Very well Admiral. I will go to Captain Morris's shed and take my oath o the APF. I think it might go easier for those Vampic I encounter if I don't appear to have cast aside all things of my people though I may well have. I will go down in history as the one who saved us or the one who damned us but in truth, we damned ourselves a long time ago. Thank you for this opportunity, sir. I will not let you down."

She looked at her detail. "If you would please lead me to Cpt Morris?"

  Lyri looks at the others,..Stand  Down.. I'll take her...

  She   has he r  weapon in he r holsdter But grabs  and SMG  off the rack as  they leave.

 ..Follow  me...ma'am... the last word  had a bit of Distain

 Henry would know he could come along  if he wished.

 Mortica  to   Morris's shed...>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"Well spoken," said Henry, supporting Mortica when she felt a bit unsteady.

"I will accompany you to Morris' shed, if I may, and witness your enlistment."

Walking beside her, Mila trotting along behind him, he went off...

    Garrat watched with interest, "Hacks right about doing what you could do for direct contact, but know that this IS just the beginning.  You must now prepare for those who come to us."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:54, Wed 07 Nov 2018.

[Flex]

"Would you come and watch me take the Oath, Sgt? I would be honoured to have you there as well?" Mortica asked as she was led out of the room.

   "One moment," Garrat turns to whoever was running the security side of things at the time. "Ma-Ti and I were at a party where we picked up some information about missing colonists.  We sent it here, I just wanted to make sure it was recieved and processed."

  Beth     looked at her    COM traffic  and  Pulled it Up......geez?.. MAry Celetse? don't thay know about bad  luck and all that?  Thanks SGT.. I  go through the   information  and if it is confirmed,   we'll see what the Admiral wants to do about it.

  "Thanks.  You folks really are increadible.  Thanks for being there for the fleet."  Garrat continues to morris' shed.======>

<=== From Officers Quarters

She was just getting off the lift to head for SEC and MED

<<<<<<<<<  after   2nd  Delta Night

 Lyri was     burning the info on a  disc  for the techs... while she  did that, she  entered the Info into  Roy's  'SEC'  files    that went through  Beth's  Encryption  system.

 She  sipped her  Coffee, in a rather  foul mood  at missing all the  fun  at the  beach. Maxon was  finishing some  papers  that were sent up as they checked  for   information and Coding.

 ..I'm Taking this  down to  Tech Lab..call me if something comes up...

 she took out the  finished Disc, slipped it in a   case, and  got  up slowly  as she  walked  out, heading towards the Tech lab

from Hangar Deck------->

Roy led Shadow and Shade into the Security area, his face brightening a little with a relieved smile when he saw Lyri up and about.  It was one thing to be told she was okay...8t was another, entirely, to see it with his own eyes.  "What's the word, Master Chief?" he asked as they walked into the room.  "What did the tech-lab boys say about my little project?" He waved Shadow and Shade to a couple of chairs, as he leaned back against a counter.

  She gave a winsome  smile that said she was gald to see them, but knew  damn well she missed party time.

  .. They have three portotypes that shoudl be ready in about 4 hours, to test... where the 9 hells you are goign to test is ? i haven't a clue....If they  work, they can send the Specs  to Fuji and the rest of the fleet... he believes  they could turn out out, maybe  10 a day on a cap ship... Fuji could  crank them out  by the case load...

 Shadow had  Grabbed Ellen  by her  vest and Puled her into  SEC....Tell the lady what you found...

 Ellan loked sheepish and excited, and  rattled off  the same  thing she told   the others.

 ..why the 9 hells would yu keep  the COM ?  I eman..I could see your  SSN  COM, but  why the Etna COM...

 Ellen  shrugged, the SSN?... it wasn't..good?... Etna wasn't great, but ... to stay on the Hermes.. was alot better...

 ..why didn't you report the Fiest COM?

 ..I didn't know?... it wasn't until i saw it lights on?.. I mean?..it was shut off?... but it came on itself..like..he ..HAD..to show that message?

"We'll have to see if we can find a shuttle or something that we can sacrifice.  I don't want them going into mass production, yet...and as dangerous as they are going to be, if they work according to plan, I don't know if I want them being bulk-produced.  If we make them a few at a time here on the Hermes, the risk of industrial espionage getting the design out to the EDT is pretty much non-existent...and I know I don't want any of these winding up in EDT hands.." He shrugged.  "We'll worry about testing it after we get away from Etna...too many spying eyes around this corner of space."

He looked at Ellen, then back to Lyri.  "</blue>I can think of plenty of reasons why she might keep her old comm.  For now, I'm just happy to have another line on the EDT.  I'd be more suspicious if she jadn't quoted the message I saw on the first boat, word-for-word.  That's enough to convince me she's telling the truth, even if how she got it may be problematic.</blue>" He looked back at Ellen and shrugged.

"For now, we need to contact Elge and let him know the Etna SEC comm channels are compromised.  If you'll help the LC with that, I've got to send a message to Gresh and see if he's got any personnel that can facilitate Elge's operations."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:02, Tue 12 Feb 2019.

  Shadow  just   opned up his COm, and sent Elge  A COM,..hey? Ruskie? I'm thinking it would be a good idea   For yo to fFly over here  for  out Little send off?... bring your own shuttle, You'll have to fFly back on your own..what?.. Yeah.. Most of the ships will have some sendofs... Pilots who got it from the Knights....Troopers who died in that battle in the  Stem.. Yeah?.. we're  Casting off  at1800... alright, see you then..

 Ellen looked at  Shadow,..you didn't  say anything to him?

 Lyri frowned,..ok Blondie?  Why do you think that is?



 she thought a Moment, her eyes got big,..so no one knows   why he's realy coming...

 Lyri nodded....very good..now..go guard something..

 ..I'm supposed to be guarding this door...

 Lyri held her  arms out...

 Oh!..Right!...

 and she ehaded out the door

In reply to sec (msg # 954):

Justin strolled into the Brig taking the occupants in with a quick glance. Hearing the exchange from them. Seeing the LC was there he moved over to him and ask Kray if he could get his opinion on a proposal he'd be presenting to General Bale.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:48, Tue 12 Feb 2019.