Morris turns  from the hanger  Bay door...It  Depends.... The Dusties   tried to take over the Hermes and the Fleet, with  papers  from Ge-Fi... The Admiral took some Volunteers to clean out the Saladin.... if your ship would  head out to that orbiting  dock......

Karl nodded.  "What do you want done when I get there?" he asked, without hesitation.  Support-pilot habit took over...get the position and the mission and make things happen.

  Id the  Saladin's  engies  come on, knock  them out  or  cripple them... we can take a chance on them flying it into the Station, or  one of  our ships.....we have  6 fightrers out there as well.

Karl gave a quick nod.  "Roger that...on my way."  Without further deliberation, he double-timed it down the Hermes version of tarmac, to where his plane sat, largely ready.

"No time for a walkaround, Chief," he called out to the ground crew chief.  "I'm trusting you've got 'er ready to fly!"  He flashed a smile to show it was a jest, and climbed aboard, powering up and running pre-flight in combat-time.  He settled his flight helmet in place as the cockpit closed up...and as soon as Flight Control cleared him, he soared out through the static field.

To Space thread

Marcus does maintenance work on the Mechs as best he can given his leg. He wondered if everyone was okay, but could do little for them. To be of some use he made sure their gear was in order if needed.

  Morgan is Hobbling about , still feeling effects from the   training....well marcus?..see  yer  gettin' around  better.... Depends when Jump off  comes..we might be needed...even if its  just as  footsoldiers.

  while  most folks are  watching  with Vid screens or computers.  Morris is  on the  Docking arm, watching  with brim-fitted Binos.

 He says off handedly , to Beth.wouldn't that go easier if you were in SEC, with all your devices?

 She Looks  up towards the orbiting Dock, and snorts, then goes  back   to Typing away,Maybe... by i should be able to walk through a Dusty rig with my Vid-game player. let alone a Vidboard... besides..i fried one vid board..if something lie that pops  up again, i don't want to hurt the ships's  systems....but..something is wrong here...I mean?  Dusties  don't  build ships...even if they did?, they couldn't go further then..what?..Mars?..Jupitor? if they went that far  , they could deal with Olympus...so?..why come out here?..how  did they come out here....I mean, they are...not real smart

 One of the SEC troopers came  back with  another vidboard, Just in case.

   The Tender  ESN Ghoul Pulled along   side the Hermes.

   Ensign St James of  the Ghoul.... I am delivering a Pod  with an ESN crewman on board, It appears to be one of the shuttles   ejected her....

    Rivets  answers,Aye, Ensign.... send 'er  over  and   we'll see she talks  with the  Admiral...when he gets back....

 Even as he said this, CApt Morris was calling SEC to the Dec.


 The Retracting  arm brought   the Pod   closer to the Hermes, until it  extended  through the Static  field. The  recovery tech set it  down with  hardly a bump.

 when the  Ghoul, left to hunt  down more salvage or pods, Rivets began to  twist the blow-latches   and the   door  Hissed opened  and fell  to the side.

 Shoemaker and Robbins  stood their  with their   weapons ready.

What a great day it had been Xue thought to herself. With her first experence in combat she was not of much use and then was just forced into the escape pod. Looking out the view port she could see bits of the raging battle. Xue gripped her fist thinking that once more she was failing to live up to expectations.

The POD shook suddenly and she looked and realized the POD had been picked up and was being brought to the other ship. Xue fixed her appearence as best she could. She was a reprasentation of China after all and her nation was fighting for more respect after the short commings that had happened.

The POD door was soon opened and Xue exited slowly then turned to look at the two armed members. She held up her hands a bit and with a bit of an accent says "I am ESN Pilot Gao Xue Zi. Thank you for your assistance." trying to maintain a cool tone in her voice.

   Rivets looed  at Shoemaker, and Shoemaker looked at Robbins. The  Uniform was right... but the Red Flag with the Yellow star on her shoulder.

 Morris looks at her and steps up before Rivets or the others  can say anything.Welcome aboard the ESN 351 Hermes... You will forgive us  if  we await the Outcome of  an impromptu op?... Seems like the Oil Lords managed to  send a ship out here... and..well..quite frankly, wanted to take over the fleet....In Ge-Fi's  Name.... Admiral HAck and some volunteers are over at the ship now....um... explaining to them, what a mistake they made

 Please , Captain Rivets,  get a chair  for the Ensign?.. You will understand  if  we keep you underguard  until we  find out  what you were in a Pod  jettisoned from an Oil Lord shuttle?
,
  Morris  mOtions  her up towards  the first  Bay doors Rivets  returns  with a  metal chair,would you care for something to drink?  coffee..tea..hot chocolate..soda? Maybe a pastry?

 Though the older Black man is showing great manners, he is also  not hiding his concern for the battle going on at one of the orbiting  Docks... The Saladin's  hold  doors  were open, fire  and smoke  could be seen.

 Otherwise, The Black was quiet, only a pair of  fighters hovered around the dock, and   The Everet's  Admiral's Shuttle  hung of  a few miles.. a mere  dot in the  sky. Event the orbiting  docks were like  golfballs compared the little  bit of the  Everest's Uppers  she could see.

Gao looked to Morris.  As he tells her where she is and references the on going battle Gao looks about taking in the ship around her. Her eyes then turn back to Morris. " I was captured in a previous battle where my fighter was disabled. I believe they were about to trade me." The disappointment at being captured leaked through a bit in her voice."The battle did give me a chance to escape so when the opportunity presented it'self I got into the Pod and ejected."

Gao did seem a bit anxious as Rivet returned with the chair. "I am not thirsty or hungry. Thank you for the offer...but I would like to be doing something and not just sitting here. Is there anything I can help with? Even if I must be escorted?" She said with a look to the others.

  Morris gives Gao a sad, and a bit, distracted, smile.At this Moment? There is not  Much  neither you ...or we... can do. YOur Skills  lend themselves top be a fighter pilot, we do have an unassigned  airceaft, but  you would  not be recognized by the few aircraft we have  in the Black. When Admiral Gets back.... we will have to attend to your situation...

  Turning to  Shoemaker,..SGT?  Please be so kind  to Tell Commander Si of  out guest, and If  she  would  care to  Meet her...here... on the HAnger Dec.

 ShoweMaker  Nods,Aye, Captain Morris...already done.... He stpes away  and talks  softly on the COMs.

  The Barrel chested man in the orange Jumpsuit of the Grounds crew, adds,I'm  Capt   O'Rielly , They Call me Rivets. Me and Mine see ta the  Aircaft an'  Hanger Dec... Commander  Si is   In Command of the Hermes,  Admiral Hack  turned  that over to her  as  he became Fleet Admiral..so? She'll have a lot of Input inta what happens  to ya...

 Morris adds , as he looks  out the Static field,We have  done alot of  Work   outside the Sol System, Ensign Zi... and we have had  to do it , fighting our  own, as much as the Empire. So you will understand the our caution when dealing  with your  people... you add to it, that  you came  from a Dusty Ship...that...quite frankly..no one ever thought they would be able to build. much less sail...

 Shoemaker steps Up and Clears his  throat.

 Yes?  SGT?

 The  Commander will  be  down Directly...she is...um...Concerned  with the events on the  Saladin..

 Understood...and Thank you SGt Shoemaker.... a glance  at Gao,Well?...You'll be  getting  an interview of sorts, sooner that i expected.

 as  Gao looked around, down the access ramp, next to the bay door they looked out,  she  saw a team of   Hermes SEC around a  young woman  with  Blue and pink stands of hair  mixed with her Brunette Natural hair, she was  wearing a  short robe, that covered a shirt Nightshirt as  she furiously  worked  with  two Vid Boards..another Vid board, laid on the  Dock platform, smoking and sparking.

Gao looked over at the fighter craft and then back to Morris. She nodded slowly. "Yes you are right. I do hate to admit it though. I do not wish to make things worse." She said wish a glance away.

Gao's attention was turned to Rivets. She Bowed lightly "A pleasure to meet you Captain O'Rilley. Pilots depend on a well trained and disciplined ground crew to be able to fly. I look forward to meeting Commander Si."

Looking back to Morris " You had a few hostile encounters with other ESN ships?" She said tilting her head lightly. She certainly knew everyone in the ESN did not get along but did not expect that any open hostilities would happen. "As for my people... we think caution would be wise. Like you said about the Dusty ship and their capabilities." She said in defense of her nation.

" Well I hope I am able to do well in the interview." She looked more at the woman with  the pink hair strands. Something so distracting would not be allowed in the Chinese Military.

  Morris  showed  no coloring of  his words, merely stating facts as he knew them to be,... I am not sure  how your people handled the Vids that The Admiral made sure was broadcast on all ESN and APF  channels...he never   sent  highlights.... the battles were fought, good or bad... so people back..'home'...where ever home  may be..saw the true colors of the war... I am certain, you may have a chance to prove, that your country, does not follow   Demonic Empire  Doctrine.....

 Rivets spoke up,..There have  been ESN folks  who  follow  the EDT.... The EVOLs  were the latest to flat out  declare, that  they were siding with them. The  Bloody EDT also has people   deep in the Angel Elite...we had  our run ins  with them as well...but  we gave  them a  big bloody nose, when we saved   The Angel's  system from the blockade that they lived  with, for? who knows  how many years...

 ..Scholars have  figured  the time of  Angels and Demons active on our planet,was  limited  about the time they stopped  recording Multiple gods...as the Human race ..'grew up'... they began seeing   these types of beings  as  aliens..  Morris  shrugged,In short?.. we are learning alot out here....but one thing the Admiral is trying to teach the other races....

  Rivets  snorted,we humans  come ta play, and we don't quit....

 ..Inddedd.. CApt O' Rielly...Capt  Morris.... I think Oliver could  not have said it better....  The Commander  was  still him her  long Robe, adding  only her side arm as she approached them,  she smiled  a bit at Morris,Lt Miller Has  the Con, as i visite  with our new friend....

 the Angel's eyes  shifted towards  Gao,Welcome   aboard the  Hermes.  I am Commander  Nil Si.... I must ask you, as  part of Protocol ...what was  your last ship?

" Transmissions are screened usually." She says shortly to Morris. "China will do what is best for the human race. The Demons are not." Gao was surprised how far the Demon influence was seemingly spreading. Gao remained silent as the others talked a bit more about he Demons. Then a new voice was added.

Gao looked to Commander Si and saluted. "I am Ensign Zi. My last ship was the Tibet . I was on a patrol when we were ambushed. My ship was disabled and I was captured. "

  T with a raised eyebrow that was already arched, the Commander nodded as a slight smile appeared, though the smile seemed   sad.

  seemingly , out of now where, an orderly appeared with a  well used serving tray, there  were  4  coffee Cups with the Hermes insignia on them.

  The orderly set the tray down on a metal crate near  Flight  B's flightline ( closest to the 1st hanger Doors, on the  Bow-side of the  hanger Dec.)

 Please... come this  way. This....'action'...was not planned, and many of us  are still worn from ....training..exercises we had on Everest.

 She  flourishes with a strong  , but delicate hand to the  Cups, there  is a  pot of Coffee and a pot of Tea. on the  tray is a bowl of  sugar, a container of honey, and one of milks.

   Later  when  my  Mate, The Admiral returns, we will entertain you in the Officer's Club, for  right now, you must  be content with these  small offerings,... looking up she adds Please, Gentlemen, do not  stand on ceremony, help yourself.... then to the  orderly,... Please get two more Cups  for  Mr Shoemaker  and Mr  Robbins?


  The Orderly salutes  and  scurries  towards   Morris's shed.

  As she  fixed her own Cup, she said,we... cannot  trust...information sources, outside the ESN/APF  framework net. But...if the Demoic Empire is telling the truth,  , The Tibet is long  gone.... We had Beth searching  for evidence of it being destroyed, or captured, but  have  come up with nothing..... The  best case...in terms of the Fleet, is  The Tibet was destroyed... the worst case, it was captured and is now  part of the Demonic Fleet.... If  so? we should see her sometimes in the next few months...

 As she mentioned Beth, her  arm sweeps towards the Bottom of the entrance  ramp, where the  disheveled woman with  blue-pink-black  hair  was   typing  and shifting cables on the Vid Boards, now and then her voice  could be heard  in a random curse, that managed  to carry up the ramp way.

Gao glanced at the tray of drinks and then followed Si over to them. " Most actions are not planned it seems." She said as she followed suit and fixed herself a cup of tea. Gao shook her head lightly. "This is very fine. I thank you for your hospitality."

Gao froze for a bit as Si told her that the Tibet was reported lost. It did make sense with her own flight being ambushed. She had not been assigned to the Tibet long but ha started to make friends. All that was seemingly gone now.

She took a breath and then sipped some tea. "If the Demons are using the Tibet I will do my best to make sure she is liberated or destroyed if we encounter her.

 Rivets  puts his  Cup down and begins to shout to the grounds  Crew.... Med techs  are already running down the traffic area of the Hanger  dec  with a Hover cart.

  Frans  and  Kat peel off from the Saladin to Flank  the sand-brown fighter as he wobbled its  way towards the Hermes.

  it  came in hot, but  true as Si watched the fighter  Get Closer, frans  and Kat peeled  off to head back to the Saladin....    The    Engines  cut and thrusters  fired  back as the fighter entered the static  field at the  3rd  hanger bay ...  it  touched  down with only a bit of a Wobble.

  the   Med techs  ran towards the   fighter, Shadow handed Lyri down Gently and Pulled her  rifle from the back. The Med techs were off, and Shadow handed Lyri's weapon to  a crewman to take to the  SEC.

 He walked  Towards  the others   Tossing the  Dusty Helmet in anger towards the  fighter.

 Rivets  fell in Line  with   Shadow as they Approached , Si took a drink of her coffee and said to Gao,It appears you will be meeting  the LC.....

 Shadow saluted   Si and Morris, Morris   held Up  the Coffee pot, shadow  nodded, the orderly took of, once more, this time returns with 6 more cups.

 LC Shadow?  This is Ensign  Gao  Xue Zi..she was rescued  from a pod  of one of the shuttles that were destroyed....and?.. you are hurt?

 The LC Nodded to Gao, his eyes   took in the flag on her shoulder, Hello Ensign Zi? Are you an Orphan then?

 then he   turned to  Si,a few nicks.. nothing Dermaplast can't handle.... don't think anyone  doesn't have some nicks...

Si took a sip again, trying to hide concern..The Admiral?....

 Aye  , Ma'am... one nasty one on the right him, he's  still moving... looks like a few on his arms and such, mostly from shooting around corners....

 She Nodded  with a nervous smile,Thank you for that... do we need to send  any more people?

 Shadow  took a  sip the ragged  edge of his  left shoulder  still smoking a bit, If it were me?.. I'd  send one drop ship from the  Clara Barton in.. right up the bottom hold ramp?, that's where they last of them are.... But? The Admiral feels  they can finish it off.... bad news on that ship though, they are using living Dusty Women, draped in some  weird  Sand Colored Robes.. all of them  are carring babies...they are using them as shields, and flat out killing them...not to say, we didn't kill any..but? well?...our folks  come first...Hodden and Minnet are hurt... Omin's taking care of them  on the shuttle... and there are 5? women  we saved?..other then that, the only other ones who are going to  still be  alive, are the bodies in the tubes...

 Si Nodded and turned her   eyes to the saladin. Shadow   Looked at Gao,so?... Pilot? what did you fly?

Gao looked up sharply as the rushing of ground crew's feet was met with the familiar sound of engines roaring. Gao stood up as the fighter came in and landed. The fighter landed with no trouble it seemed there was nothing to worry about. Si then informed her that this was the LC Shadow. She looked him over as he approached with some others in tow.

When Shadow was introduced to her She bowed. "Yes I do suppose I am." She said with a glance away.

Gao stood quietly as Si and Shadow conversed about the status of the situation. In response to his question she nodded "Yes I am a pilot. I flew a Hammer from the Tibet "
This message was last edited by the player at 17:16, Thu 08 Sept 2016.

  Si gave Shadow and Gao a bit of a nervous ( for her, anyway) glance.... perhaps..you will would to Show the Ensign our Fighters...i..would like to keep an eye on the proceedings with the Saladin.

 Aye, Ma'am, of  course...but if we send  anyone else  from  The Hermes  back there... I'm going  back too...  making another  Cup of Coffee, he  Motions  down   the line behind them.

 My Flight is B  flight... I am also the WC, for the Ship and the fleet....A Flight... he motions to his  right as they   head towards his fighter...Is  lead  by Lt Carole Frans....she is  aslo 2nd to me in both stations....she is, flying   cover    right now at the Saladin...

We are  Converting to Darts... The top  pilots..Vet  pilots..get Darts.... others  are Issued  Hammer Va s that are made on Fuji..... he shrugs  as they stop at his  aircraft,  The Chain-mailed Bikini  woman has  an angry face, with the word 'Vengeance' under it....Once you get 5 kills, you can add nose art to  your fighter...

 I'm sure, you have seen or heard  about the DArts? We thought they were the fastest..they are not... we thought they were the most maneuverable , but they are not...we thought they could take  more Punishment, then enemy fighters..but we were wrong..

 Thee is a shrug as he pats the Nose,..but we have been lukcy..nothing we  faced, is all three... the good pilots, find away to use  what we can do , to win the fights... the not so good  pilots..well....

  Moving  down the flight line going up the second  flight line, he shows  GAo the Hammer Va ...then  goes  to the last flight line and shows her the Felrite Hunters. The Felrite Fighters  are  faster, and dance  around  the Black..but?.. a few hard ammo  rounds, or some solid Heavy pulse?....  he shrugs  and takes  another Sip.

Gao nods to Si as she and Shadow depart to look at the flight line. Gao leaves her cup behind and walks along with Shadow. " An impressive accomplishment being the WC for the fleet."

She looks at the nose art of Shadow's fighter and reaches out to touch it lightly. Five kills she nodded lightly to herself. Gao turned to Shadow "Yes I have heard of them but not seen one in action yet. Each fighter has it's pluses and minuses. You just have to fly your craft an become close to it. Being lucky like you said also helps."


Gao smiles lightly at the Felrite fighters "Sounds like my kind of craft. I like to have a super maneuverable ship"  She says musingly.

  Shadow looked at the Hunters, he  looked  less then impressed with them but  said, in an explanatory way,..The Admiral wanted  more, the Felrites    send as a repalcement when we lose one...which...means we also lost  a Felrite. If I were to fly a mission that  i needed to , say?  drop of an agent, or pick up, or  drop off information , i wouldn't mind  flying them..but in a  real BAttle, I stay with ESN fighters...

 He Points to the   Boards  a bit above  Morris's shed. CAptain Morris's  big board, has the Flights listed... If you chose to stay with us, you'll be added to a flight...The Kill board gets  up dated  as soon as   Capt  Morris  views the Gun Cams...not all kills  are confirmed...and?..before you ask... I have had  111 unconfirmed kills... it happens... I just kill more  to make up for it...

  Pointing  to an area  where the shuttles  lined  up, a small area   with  some Mech armor stood out, against the   order of Rivets' hanger dec... along that wall were  2 torpedo craft, and some extra  craft that  crew man worked on, under the watchful eye of one of Rivets' Chiefs.Those  are the pool aircraft, a couple darts, a couple  vas...and one HAmmer IV

Gao considered for a moment then nodded. "You have way more experience and are probably right. That just seemed the type of space craft I wanted to fly. " She says with a light smile. " But there is more then just maneuverability that is needed in a battle." Gao grips her fist a bit. She was being a stupid child once more she thought to herself. Taking a breath she regarded Shadow once more.

She forces a small smile as Shadow talks of his kills. " That sounds like the prefect way to do it. Keep at them and your number will catch up. I would like to stay here. It seems the Hermes is striking out hard against the demons." She said thinking that this would be a good opportunity for her.

Gao looked at the pool aircraft that was available. They seemed more advanced then what she had used before. "I do hope I can fly with your flights. I do not like being a by standard."

   Shadow smiled, almost every   race we have  fought against, brings something to the table...but? they alos los e something? Except for the Largran, all Demoic Empire  forces rely on Pulse , Lazars  and Plasma... Plasma is  a dangerous beast though...it is outlawed by the ESN.

 The Qarl use plasma...and nothing else...they have paid for that mistake...we are lucky the Skith are facing them alone, for the most part...

 the Triad is nothing more the smuggler worlds..who are backed by the Empire.... The Hyrians are a tough bunch though...heavy armored fighters and ships

Gao listens closely as he tells her about the other races they had encountered. "I have not had much contact or run in with other races really. I'll have to try and pick up on your experience." She Smiles slightly.

"Those races sound tough. I guess we will just have to be tougher. My people are pretty good at that. I think all the human race could be."