He gives her the thumbs up and heads to the QM

After the battle Zaria made her way to the Rec Dec, to relax and get something to eat. Making rounds of the Stalls to see what they offered a hungry woman, deciding on Steak, Eggs and Greek Salad. Perching on a counter stool she also ordered a Beer to sip on while she waited for her meal to be cooked.

    Other Pilots  where  streaming in as well  most had the 'happy go lucky' look, Some felt Sommes' death... newer Pilots   didn't seem to draw as many friends, until they been out on a couple sorties, because the vets were used to the loss.

Justin headed to the Rec Deck and joined the other pilots who were there. Taking a seat at the communal table he gave Zarina a wave.

  Waggles  was   more  quiet the normal , as he pushed his  beer, back and forth between his hands.

 Macen too it a bit harder, as there wasn't Much difference, in their  Hermes service time.

 Steele  and Foster  were Laughing   about some that as Steele man  movements with his  hands, for   falling figures.

 Kat and Flores  sat  down, neither  celebrating, nor mourning. Kat looks at Macen.. you should  not be sad.... Sommes  went out in battle.... it is the way of things.

Flores  took  a big sip of her Fujibeach Icetea,..seen lots of   folks come and Go... Kase?.. you been  here a while?

[Private to Zarina Striker: In reply to Rec Dec (msg # 962):

Justin looked across at Flores and swallowed. Yes, I've found the losses of comrades doesn't get easier. This is why I don't think of them as lost but moved to a different state. Its like when your growing up you make friends then either you or they move away.]

Waving back at Justin, Zarina motioned for him to join her. Taking a swig from her beer she looked about the gathering Pilots. Resting her arms on the table she leaned towards it. Sorry about the loss of Sommes, did you know them well? She asked unsure how the others would take her presence, and hoped it wouldn't be why wasn't it you or one of the other newbe's who's number came up, instead of Sommes.

  Flores shakes her  head...talked to him a few times...he Flew with us a bit...but..he didn't really join us  until after the  Battle  outside  Everest...

 Kat  nodded   grinly as  she  loked at her bowl of  pasta and began to eat,

  Waggles speaks up,... LC said, those  guys who flew back in WW1?... they used to  have a 2 week life span, when a new  guy came in.... if yo made it past the  two weeks?.. your odds at surviving went up..... here?... we don't have everyday sorties and such.. so it comes  down to how many battles you take part in...

In reply to Rec Dec (msg # 962):
In reply to Zarina Striker (msg # 963):

Justin looked across at Flores and swallowed. Yes, I've found the losses of comrades doesn't get easier. This is why I don't think of them as lost but moved to a different Planet, Country or State. Its like when your growing up you make friends then either you or they move away.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:24, Mon 07 Aug 2017.

Glancing across to Waggles her brow wrinkled at the thought Your saying I've thirteen more missions to survive before things start getting safer. Brother That's encouraging. Zarina wondered if the man was being earnest or this was part of the hazing that comes with being a Newbie. Looking at Justin she considered the fellows statement, it is as good a way of dealing with the losses, this war creates as any, thought Zarina. Taking a sip on her beer, just as her order arrived. This conversation had taken the edge off her appetite but she ordered it and it wouldn't be right to let it go to waste. She stared down at it for trying to decide what to do with it.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:36, Mon 07 Aug 2017.

 Waggles  shrugged.....something  like that... I started   going into the achives.. those WW11 pilots  flew  almost everyday..either scouting...escort..all that... they got a break  unless an offesnive was on..or   there was confirmed sightings of enemy planes..... The WW1 guys?..went up two times  a day.. the  big ace  fighters  would do more then that, on thier own..looking for planes to shoot down...

  ..but one thing that doesn't  change?... experiance. I came here with 72  SIM hours  and  35 in a Hammer  III.... Some of these  pilots only have sim hours... some? barely a hand  full in a Hammer..hardly any  have time in a dart.... so?  that's what happens... folks  come out  with these book learned ideas... a few hours duting off drones.....but? yu get in a fight for real?... there is  no 'restart'... no 'i'll do better next time'...because..there is no next time...

In reply to Rec Dec (msg # 967):

Flabbergasted by Waggles comment Zaria stared blankly at him, for several seconds, as sh assimilated the seriousness of this situation. That's appalling! Is the war that bad that they need to throw people with so little training into it.

  Waggles takes a  sip of his beer,well?... Earth isn't sending  any more people. The only academy  grads  we get is Volunteers who jump of EMS transports.. ..all the  Carrier stations have  academies  now....but Olympus keeps  all hers for 'home defense'.... Fuji, etna  and Everest.. try to spread  grads around   their fleets... Delta fleet still gets the most Volunteers  though. LC said, if  we ever  get the chance... the vetys will escort some fledglings  out to hunt  down enemy scouts or  transports..but.. i don't see us getting  much down time

In reply to Rec Dec (msg # 969):

Justin gave a dry smile, at the thought that Olympus kept their own. Which enabled them to get considerably more Flight time, and higher survivability.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:54, Tue 08 Aug 2017.

In reply to Rec Dec (msg # 969):

Waggles reply wasn't one that instilled confidence in those back on Earth. Learning that the different areas were attempting to compensate for this massive shortcommings was commendable, yet she felt it was an uphill struggle.Would you know if the different Academies been interracting with each other.

 Waggles  took a deep pull on his beer,... I'm sure that at least Etna, Fuji and Everest interact....but we have  an awaful lot of piltos going out an getting killed... we don't even Know what Etna is  doing out there...and  MAtterhorn?.... they don't even show up on the News  Vids.

>>>>>>>From Med Dec (Flextime)

 Exhausted after the long day and the time spent in the Med Dec she came into the rec dec ready for a quick meal, a drink, and to let her hair down. She walked through greeting those she knew, on her way to find table. When the waitress came by she ordered Supreme pizza with extra mushrooms, a large soda and breadsticks with spicy cheese sauce.

 "Hi Justin."
 "Hi Zaria."

 She looked around to see if Shade was about to offer him some pizza bt didn't see him. She sighed and wondered how he and Orria was doing.


((nearing 1000 post warning))

In reply to Cookie Baker (msg # 973):

Justin wiggled a fork in Cookies direction. Hi Cookie. he replied noticing how tired she looked. Busy shift?

 "It was an eventful day to say the least. How about your day? Anything exciting happen for you?"
 She took a drink then picked up a slice of pizza stuffed with 3 kinds of mushrooms, olives, onions, green peppers, red peppers, pepperoni, sausage and 3 kinds of cheese. Supporting the slice, she took a big bite and fought the strings of cheese as she pulled the rest of the slice away.

 "Mmmmmm. Goot" She grabbed up a napkin and wiped her chin, laughing softly.

"I've been waiting for that all day."

Returning Cookies greetings with a distracyed smile. Zarina was puzzled by the apparent lack of cohesive direction, that was evident. Then again she was New on the scene and the way things operated were this way for a reason. Sipping her beer she dismissed this subject and nibbled at her meal.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:13, Thu 10 Aug 2017.

In reply to Cookie Baker (msg # 975):

Justin gave Cookie a half shrug The usual stuff, Fly out try not to get killed while whittling away at the Demon's lackeys. Lucky those l ground pounders are such good shots else I wouldn't be here.

 ..Yeah, its always going to be like that... we can't get them all..someone has to pick up the slack..or  people will die...right?  Finishing his beer, he waves the empty Mug and a server sees him and answers with a wave.

 ..Think one of those  could have  brought the Big Ugly down?

 Flores  speaks  up sipping on  her Fuji Beach Ice tea,..well? with thier  weapons..they would have had to shoot it up prettyt bad... but the closer  range they got..the more damage they were doing... then she puts the glass down,..if they rammed it... well.. be like a torpedo..

   Appearing on the Rec Dec, some folks cheered  others  just waved some were still deep in thought.

   Shadow went over to the  Vidbox, to use the  mic....This...action cost us a few people.. Transport troops and Colonists  suffered losses as well.... being we are  still in the state of conflict.. we cannot have our normal send off.. though officers on the Hanger dec will allow some sort of  private  send off, for those who wish.... We will call this, the After Party, as the Cap ships finish what we started.. drinks..east..on me....we'l have the toast, shortly

Justin the others who were getting ready for the Send Off; asking for a ice chocolate which he'd toss back when the Tribute was called.

Roused from her thoughts, Zarina picked at her meal slowly eating it as she listened to the others chat about their day. When Kray arrived she joined the others cheer, then continued with her meal. Glancing up as he slipped into a seat with the rest of the Pilots she raised her bottle in salute. Unsure about his statement she looked about the Pilots, hoping one of them would explain what Shadow meant by an After Party and Toast.

  Hemsly comes on the  Rec Dec to the cheers of  the 5tj and some of the others... He  Comes over to the  table  by the Vid MAchine.

   Supe Yells Over........Hey!   Hemsly..sing that Song you like!


 Hemsely   chuckles,..I'll sing the Bugger, If  The LC here   joins  Me....

   pilots  started  banging their  mugs and cups on the tables... Shadow laughed as he frowned,... alight..but first..the Toast...

 He held up  shot glass that McNeil placed in his hand......TO THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US.....

 DON"T WAIT FOR US!

   Shadow made a  face  as he handed McNeil the glass back.....That's  the real Scotch, Boyo...

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpLnwoG72pk

 Hemsly  starts  signing the  first part, his mouth moving fast.. jabbing  Shadow in the chest as first words, and Looked  around  at the crowd  at others...

 McNeil and Minnet  sign the refrain...

 The Shadow   'sings' the words of the second bit..trying to say it as  fast and smooth as Hemsly... he gets into it..'the sky's his home'....' its part of the Journey and its part of the Game...'...   he   smiles at some of the Pilots  as he  sings the rest of the words..

 Then the 4 of them sing the last of it together.

    when they are  Done Hemsly gives Him  a whack on the BAck, grinning at the others on the rec dec... Shadow tosses his Mike to McNeil   as he makes his way to his table.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:10, Fri 11 Aug 2017.