some  troopers   peered out the  doors  across the  , slightly twisted, cat walk..

 The two  snipers    were   trying to get off the ground,  the Man was Blinking hard, having trouble seeing from the blast through his  optics. The female  had a Bloody face  from  the rifle slamming  into her  when the Blowback came.

  Two med techs where Pushing their way down the stairs...  One stopped at the snipers.. the other  went to the  battered  trooper on the ground.

 ..This ones  dead..... the Medtech said as he finished  using a hand scanner...

 Lirg watched the Goings on. peering around the corner,..it is good that the walk way was double  sized.. single  sized,,would  be  gone....

 one of the troops   tested the  catwalk, it   shook a bit and  was  humped on the sides.. but ..still worked.....man!.. the doors  are..gone... Unless they fell ionto the hole?..there ain't nothing here!

 Cummings   came on the COMs,..Mister Garrat..  report please.... Cove's team just blasted a set of  doors as well..they are headed  a bit north, i think.

  "Lost a man to a trap.  I have two snipers injured.  Am proceeding forward."

  Garrat looks at the rest. "Okay, we cross one at a time and take up position on the other side.  I'm going next.  We bring one team across to hold position and then the snippers if they can do their jobs."

   The Snipers  are a little worse  for  wear.. but  continue on.. The dead trooper is being passed up through the units , up the stairs.

  Garrat  crosses  over  followed by Lirg.. the walk way is a bit shakey, bot no too concerning.

 The tunnel way is Burned, and scorched ... thee is no sign of  the doors... the ground looks   like  wavey glass.

 they ae , 10 yards into the tunnel... and can only see darkenss..

   "Time to end this part of the game."  Garrat growls as he again unslings the plasma rifle and goes down on one knee.

   The ESN plasma rifle may produce rather than hold the plasma so it doesn't explode in flesh eating globs but it is very dangerous and over heats easily even with the liquid helium cooling system.

   Short bursts are best.  Even though it projects a very narrow beam and not a glob like the demon ones.  "Five second sweep."  Garrat says silently to himself, "Fast on the sides, slow in the center."

   "Okay,"  he says over his whisper mike. "This is going to be very bright.  Don't look at the beam, it will blind you like the sun.  It should provide some...ambient light afterward though, and cut through any soft bodies it hits."

   Garrat makes his sweep.

   Garrat looses the   experimental weapon.. the  Beam  sways down the Tunnel  in a semi Rigid  beam... the wall  light up and a serious of  white  hot esplosions are set off and  Plasma Glods      Drip from the  ceiling, or sides, or even the Floor...

 There is also  the Brief flash of  Figures, but they are consumed  violently and Quickly

  as he   fires.. he notices  a red light  flashing faster and faster on his rifle!

After making notes and pictures, Henry captures the greeka... it will make a fine addition to the collection.

"Fascinating, Giol."

   Gathering the Preeka, ( the little beast is  feisty , as  it s  'hands ' try to grab at  the collector and the long  neck , twists and turns to  snap.

   Giol looks to the Lake. There  are boats and small assault craft on the water using   filtered machines to clean the water from the sludge and such from the Vessel.

  The part that anchored to the bed of the lake was checked out  , striped of anything  that might be of use and sealed... even bow , divers  would adding another layer of the damaged  plates  and  welding, or Melding them  to the base. Two submersibles  were scanning the  bed , looking for anything else that may be a threat ( out side of water beasties.

 They did see a cavern that lead to the south... it is assumed it was a water  way to the sea.  creatures  were swimming and out  with Little concern for the little subs.

  The golden fellow looked at Henry,..Things  are going to change down here.. that is for certain!

In reply to Garrt's group (msg # 909):

  "Banshee!", Garrat roars "Get down!!!!"  and throws the gun far forward into the inferno he just created.  He dives int the ground pulling down anyone who is near him.  The detonation is increased by the super heated heluim blowing out of its container but that is far away from his people and like said earlier, the rifle doesn't send any globs of plasma their way.

   When it is over he looks up, "looks like I'm going to have to fall back on my demon plasma rifle from here out."

     No one is  harmed  from the   Plasma  Globs for the  trap, even when the   weapon  goes off.

  Cummings   calls  down,..I say...Mister Garrat?.. there is   some  rumbling and a lot of Bloody light  coming from down there...  is your Unit   safe?

 The tunnel  goes on for  100 yards or so..at the end  is a badly melted set of doors.. only one  body can be seen. A charred  Nivarian  that is tucked against the   right side  corner of the door... there is smoke  coming of the  ruined body, so it is  unclear, if the  nivarain was alive before the blast.

  Ming Gets up, Helping a SGT..... do you have any more illegal  weapons?? Sgt  Garrat?

Jesse carefully navigated the room, examining anything and everything as a possibly threat.  Keeping her back to a wall so as to protect herself from being spotted or shot at erroneiously.

   Jesse  looked over the  doors , the appeared to be rigged...  Jese loked at  the  rigging, it appeared to be old... didn't appear to be, to tought for her to..'undo'

   The HC looked at  HAck... his own wounds were starting to bother   him as she sat..and thought.

  ..I have said such things  before, High Council... But the fear and the panic you felt as yo punded on your Vid screen, trying to get my attention?.... Imagine, being a young  mother on her  way to a colony of Carrier station to meet her  husband... when the alarms go off and  the merchants troops  ready weapons.... when the Hull is breached, and  Hyrians, Demons or...Nivarians  step on board.. killing people who resist.. then taking  women and children to be locked in shipping containers.. the terror you were feeling..is nothing , compared to that...

 ..what do you want form us...Admirla Hack.... he sounded, bitter..and he sounded hopeless.

 ..First and formost.. your  ships  will be recalled to the planet. They will only be allowed to defesne the planet from Empire attacks.... you may send one or two ships with Merchants, to protect them. Should they  fire on anyone who is not a pirate or an Empire ship... we will send some on to destroy them...

 ... My  people will pick an area on your planet to colonize....  That will be your first step in being accepted into the APF... and Frezit.. there isn't  enough gods in creation, to stop me from leveling that planet, if your  people harm , my people...on the other hand?.. your people work well with our , then you might find out, just home much Creds you can make, without thousands of your people being turned to charcoal

 ..it..it  seems we have no choice.

 Oh... Frezit..you have a choice... you can be the big made Nivarians you pretend to be..and fight us..and see what  happens.... or you can become  citizens of  the APF, and a new , safe future  for  your people and ours.

 oh?..and Frezit.... My people are still...very unhappy about  pilots  who pretend to be in distress, then attack some one trying to aid them..so?..for your planet's sake.. tell your incoming ships, not  to fake the  surrender signal....

 what about the   machines...they will need  repaired?

 That depends on you and the Roussians.. shoudl you both Join, we will allow them to aid you.... should you  not join, we will   NOT allow them to aid you...

 we will contact you shortly... and his screens went out.

In reply to Spencer's team (msg # 915):

Jesse took her time with the rigged gear.  The last thing she wanted was a big kablooey.  Not that Irina would have minded, but, she had others to think about.

  Jesse hear a click,, there is a slight sound of something bumping against the door(south door)

  To the north door, she wiggles the device... only to  hear a '''floom''''  Supe  shouts   Down!

 Melia Pulls  Jesse  away.. in seconds.. the white hot, hungry blob eats away at the door..it takes   3 minutes or so, before all that is leaft  is  hissing stone... to the North there is a tunnel about 200 yards deep, with a faint light at the end

In reply to Garrt's group (msg # 913):

   To cummings: We're good, just setting off traps.  I had a weapons overload but no one was hurt this time."

  "Illegal? That plasma Rifle was produced on the Hermes as a field proto type, though they fell into disrepair when the Tec that made them left.  I have a certain knowledge of the tech and was able to keep mine running rather nicely.  Most be something in the atmosphere here that interfers with the cooling system."  Garrat shrugs, ":Worked excellently until now and could be used as a cutting tool."

   Garrat thinks a moment. "If by illegal you mean non standard issue, all my gear is altered for my use but none of the actual firing mechanisms are outside the specks for the race for whom it was originally made."

   Garrat looks down the hall. "Lets  keep moving.  We will use flares thrown forward to light the way."

  NC-37 looks at Admiral Hack,..so?  are you going to  mandate the rules , under which  we will enter the APF.

 Hack smiles at the dig, and sips  from his fresh drink...your  entrance into the APF, will be talked about on The Hermes...but? if  Nivar surrender..or  joins..or both? you will be permitted to aid them... if they do not  join, you will not...

 Mc-1  takes a fresh drink from a server,...and?  Admiral Hack.... if we would deem in  neccessary to aid them, without your leave?

 Then. MC-1.... you'er  people  will be short a few ships. Make no mistake.. when we  attack a planet....it it is because  we need them out of the way..either..on our side...no incapable of aiding the other side...it is not a hard concept.

  Carry on then?  Coves  Unit  is  finding  some bloody traps as well..rather unsporting and all that...

 Ming sent  two scouts  forward,  with sidearms and  spotlights..., Ming , Lirg  and garret moved forward.

 ..I was just coming out of the acadamy, when word came back about Demons using plasma... there was an incident with  one of your boarding parties, that caused the death of a  trooper with some misfire or somthing.. i was  never  clear... The Admiral himself restricted the use of plasma weapons, because of the  unstable power,...

 she laughed a bit,..there was a rant Capt O'Rielly made  when you folks visited the Cat planet?.... some green horn almost got some folks killed....no thanks.. i'll stay away from that stuff... looks what its  been doing here...

   Garrat nods breifly [it seems he does a lot of that] "it is very dangerous but very effective.  We use energy field technology to contain a similar substance into shapes in Asgard making energy bayonets and blades..."  Garrat sniggers "Much like your sci-fi light sabers work, but the process is to complex for me to bring the technology to your people and still has some unstable aspects."

  Garrat looks back at the wreckage.  With this much noise, keeping quiet was probably mute. "The Quarl use plasma a great deal, I hope to find a live one and ask it why."  Garrat manages to keep a straight face when he says, "We did ask one why the anal probing but they didn't seem to know why their superiors request it.  Indeed, they confided that all they learned from that in the last few centuries is that 1 in 5 specimens actually enjoyed it."

Jesse looks up as soon as the coast appears to be clear and takes atock of the scene.

Well, thats was unexpected,she comments.  She looks around to make sure everyone is safe.

Ahe than gets up and dusts herself off and gathers her things.  She takes a lok around before she heads to the door and repositions her gear lettng her weapon return to her main hand.  She holds it ready to fire if need bee and keeping the same stance as before.

"Yes, Giol, that is the way of things..." Henry said, a bit sadly.

"But the act of observing a thing can change that thing, you know that."

 Giol watches  for a bit More,well..its  going on a bit  past Mid day? You think we should give the  folks a rest... we  can try and  walk some paths if you wish.... i do not think there will be much in the way of  speicmens  near the  three  settlements ... It is wise of them to leave most of the Western shore  open, so that creatures   may still use the lake.

 They See Morgan near the  Shuttle, one of the felrite crew man is Helping him clean dead flying  snakes off his machine.

Henry nodded.

"All right, I think we have plenty to study for now. You will be a great help. Let us see about getting all the specimens loaded up."

 The  walk towards  the   Club, with Simms  trailing them, his  rifle is powered on as he looks about the area.

  Most of the specimens   had been loaded and secured . The  Amnmails and Insects were being loaded on now .

  One Tech had a bandaged hand , she had a tall plasti-glass container  with about a foot of dirt in, the  other 2 feet were taken up by a  oval shaped pod.. not and the , the pod  would snap at the glass.

 ..Damn thing  bite me!...  Giol looked and noted there were three such containers.

 ..we call them Virck... they  eat animals..insects.. they  live in groups we call pods? they hide in the thicker grasses, or at the feet of  fruit trees, they  are inactivie at night.... on Nivar, they can grow as big as  the shuttle!..out in the deepest forests.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:46, Sun 28 May 2017.

"Make sure you get the hand checked out when you get back," said Henry.

   Moving  down the tunnel the  scouts  will call out spots they saw, whent he plasma Brenads  'fell , popped up.. of shot at' from.

  They reached the doors,  , the   nivarian body was still smoking, the Door was in a bad way..some of  it melted.. a few holes shown through.

 Scout call back,..door's beaten up!.. we need to blow it..or beat it up!