The last  gun base was  frantic.. troops   either running towards the base, or away from it... vehicles and  equipment  broke down  from the Ion  Dust.. and some red lights ( the ones that still worked)  were flashing.

  Nivar seemed to be a paper Tiger. But there still could be some  Bite.

His last two ion rounds were spent...one down the gun, the other air-burst five hundred feet above the base, scattering the dust farther than any of the previous attacks.  "Ed, targets of opportunity...any tactically significant targets that are in our fire arc, let them have it...HE for structures, frags for infantry and vehicles."  With the AI laying down fire, he pulled the plane into a climb.

"Hermes, this is Morningstar...packages have been delivered and we're in break-away mode.  Strategic withdrawal...LC, get your most vulnerable fighters leading the way back to Hermes, let's not lose anyone after the fact."

   Shadow heard the COM call,..Alright.... You heard the COM call!... No  heroes here.. every on  form up on the Ironwood... any one who is hit bad enough, not  to leave Atmo...   contact the  Ironwood and let them know.... if your aircraft is too badly damaged to take up room... sets some charges and d drop them like  bombs to make room for others..


 McKeon came on the COMs, we are launching  our two shuttles and our fighters will stay in the air.. we can take up to eight fighters Home....

 ..Dammit..now she tells me! Eckles   said  as her fighter was flying  in a slight  dive towards  a small town in the distance.. though  two sundrops broke off to chase it...

 Harv  finally..painfully made it back up to the Ironwood  , as the Corvette began to Climb.. His   aircraft was  set with charges  and  set out to  crash..north..somewhere...


 OK , Boys and Girls... check yuour   panels for Atmo leaks.... we have about  3 minutes of climbing to reach The Black.... Foster!... what are you guys doing!

Foster  came on the COMs,....  Didn't lose  any Hermes  Pilots...but  we have a bunch of shot up aircraft..The Felrites  had a damn field day...looked  like  cats in a box full of mice!

 His Voice did  drop,...we did lose 6 aircraft from the   Remus... ..I think 5 or 6 of the Sundrops  bugged out...not bad, numbers wise..but...

 ..Understood, Foster.... even losing one isn't a 'good  day'... .

 There are two remus  fighters that can't go to The Black...

 Escort them towards the Ironwood.. they can hitch a ride there...</

 Aye..already done....

...............

 Karl heard the chatter.. if he looked hard  enough he could see the  dot that was the ironwood, rising to the East... time to go home.

..........

 The Charon  finished pounding the base..the  airfield now  looked like a gravel pit, Building  Burned.. there were a few dots of  vehicles    sending  plumes of  dirt and grass into the air  as they tries to escape through filed, or headed to thick forest. A few more Rounds  as the Charon   nosed into the air ..., more for  flash, then effect.

 the rounds   hit near some of the targets, causing them to die or crash.. some missed, causing the drivers to  veer off a bit in another direction...

 The once  quiet beauty of Nivar, was now  scared by plumes of smoke, fires and burning holes in the Ground...The capitol  was   burning from the  Northern..'high class' district in ,towards the Middle.. the Middle itself  was  burning, towers   crumbled or laying against other Building that would soon fall... lines of  people  trying to escape the City were easy to see from  CAMs
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:23, Sat 27 May 2017.

The 25 along with all other ESN Fighters had numerous tell tale signs of many close calls, its wings and chassis bore dozens of nicks, scratches and indents, where fragments of Sundrop bounced off its frame; scorch marks from beams or the fireballs of exploding bandits he'd passed through during the battle. Sifting through the chatter,  of ESN pilots co-ordinating action against the Nivirans, Justin picked up that Eckles was hit and trying to make her way to a village, when she learnt that the Ironwood could accommodate a handful of impaired fighters, she was able to turn about and make it safely there.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:16, Sat 27 May 2017.

  The Ironwood broke  Atmo and felt the  dark Embrace of The BLack.   The crippled  fights   followed along , 1  Harvester fighter and two Hermes  fighters  were save... Harv's  fighter, Eckles  fighters  and Kat's  fighter  were send  down as 'bombs' to hit..wherever  they hit.

  The  wounded fighters   were transferred ..   Harv and the other  Harvester Pilot  would be taken over to their ship.

  As the Fighters  Landed... Shadow  Jumped out  and looked over his battered   fighter. He shook his head at the scorch marks  near the  head protection of the canopy.

   Rivets   looked at him  and frowned ,..looks like you had  some bloody , near  misses , Boyo...

 Mix and Burke  carried   Eckles towards the Med tech.... the small shuttle was on the  Hanger Dec as well..Edna was already in Med Tech with  Hawkeye and Stefi.

 ..if they had  better guns?....  they would have cleared the skies of us....

  Raven came over,..Thanks for the Help with Harv... I'm gonna see  about  reporting  in.. I catch you guys   later tonight on the Rec dec.

   She  smiled at Rivets as she  went towards  her  fighter to go back and report to Roles, as well as get her  fighter and  harv  back to their ship.

Landing on the Hangar deck Justin collected his gun-cam disk joined the line to deliver this to Captain Morris then found a corner out of the way of the Flight Crew Tec's where he waited for either orders to stand down or whatever other duty directed to carry out.

Nivar speech from beach))

  ..greetings  People of Nivar. As i am  sure, that you are aware. The ESN/APF  has attacked your planet. The Machines that hold your world together.. have been disabled... we have brought the war to the front door of the capitol, so they would know the taste of fear and death, as anyone they have send your people to attack.

  I know most of the folks  down there won't  want to listen to me..alot more  are too damn scared..or dead to listen to me.... That., People of Nivar, is not my problem.

 ..I gave your people the chocie of war..or not war..they chose, to snub us, and attack us... I normally, do not give  second chances..but this will be your last  offer..., When I finish with this Vid, You will see a loop of  the Hilltites 3 worlds, and Hyria..i could show you more, but there is no use in that... you'll see what you wish to see..and I understand that...What your  people have to understand, is your planet is on the brink of Catastrophe ..and.. I really do not  care.... if you become APF folks  we will help you, the best we are able....If you want to be neutral, we will help a bit, but crush you like an eggshell, if you stand against us...

 ..we will be coming to invade, shortly...more to wipe out  what factories  and warmachine syou have, they any other  reason....It is  time, Niavrains.. to find your way to  your battered Capitol and  Tell your High Coucil what it is you wish..... either way... we await your choice.. I am not known for waiting too long... so?..don't  take too long.

  Legee  had her COMs opened  , her   officers and others  were sending out COMs and COM text urging all BLUE Nivarians to   leave the  cities  , as fast or far as they could.

  The first flashes   from the North  came.. flickering lights...  but nothing else..vehicles   were taking  kids  and older folks away..the rest came down to Luck, or skills of thr ESN Gunners.

  The   Rebel Nivarians   where on their walls  shooting at the Blue Nivarians  as they fled...some were gunned  down... very few fired  back as Legee  kept shouting the orders....it took 20 minutes for  the Fleet to start..perhaps   Hack was giving the Blues  achance to clear...perhaps..he was giving the  rebels a chance to fill the cities  Then Legee could see the  turned  body of the Hermes..like a ghost it barely  skimmed the Atmo, and the  Guns  fired..Shells as Big as air cars screamed out of the  barrels.. the ground shook as  the  city, some 50 miles away went up... Some of the Blue Nivarians  cheered..some cried...

 ................

 Horit was  on top the Palace  ..perhaps? this would be his place..after all  he defied the 'great Admiral'... after this  shelling was over.. he would send word to his troops to  leave the cities  and hunt down the traitors..Then...

   two screaming  shells    hit the North end of the  city..  Pulse blast, bigger then anything  he has ever  seen hit  closer... things flew through the  air..not brinks or stones.. But   towers, tops of buildings....

  He didn't get to  wonder, much  Logger  as  a screaming shell hit  5 yards  away. Explodign nas it shattered the whole of the tower.. then...Horit became aprt of the Universe,  being balsted to atoms, when the shell went off.

............

 Legee saw the Capitol being  turned to rubble ..and the ghosts of  2 more ships  followed    the Hermes  Southward......by the Sun and the Stars.....it would take the Hermes and the two ships behind her...10 minutes to be out of sight...But the Line of  smoke and flame behind that was getting brighter, as Night  came..

...All ships...report.... Hack said  looked  down at the  bright lines of  fire. from his spot he could see two other 'meridans' very one... and one  flickered  in the clouds and distance...Scan for life forms..mostly masses of people...make sure  no lays rounds in the masses , moving away from the targets.

 Hack  looked at Shade,..well, Ambassador Shadow? you are the only Board Member here  right now what do you think?

 Shade's eyes  were grey as he  sipped  from his chocolate Milk... he gave a thumbs up and  Bleeped a few  times, tossed his head back and forth.

 Hack nodded...got to hope, things work out down there.... but  stopping a civil war?...at least we  are making  sure alot of the bad guys  are eliminated...

 They were getting closer to the South Pole...it was white, Hack assumed it was snow...

  The Ships  align themselves  to make the return trip...before they do , HAck Contacts Legee.

  ..Captain?... we will wait 1hour..before making the return trip to the Northern pole..ge You COM Techs to  raise  any of the rebels  they can...lay it out cold and clean... they surrender now... or  we  bring the rain again....I want any, who use the  parlay to attack. to  be made examples of.. the  days of Nivarians killing folks who are trying to help, are over....

  Yes , Admiral we are  doing that now... we will  Contact you  once we have heard from...who we will hear from...

  while the Fleet was   fixing aircraft, and people. And taking some down time, there were  small battles  being waged.

  Legee was  smart, when the call to escape the Cities came She sent  hover vans and Trucks to The Alamo. There, they fought through the  remaining  zealots that wondered  around....

 a forest fire  was Burning to the northwest..but it seemed  to be dying down...

 But the weapons... Thousands of Nivarian golden Lazar  rifles  and  sidearms were there  for the taking...along with  Demon , largran and Hillite weapons

  The trade off was good. The loss of a 50 or so Blue Nivarian's .. and the Gain of thousands of  weapons.. Powercells from armor that didn't get blown up. they even captured a dozen or so  hovertanks.. from there.. they turned back to the Capital  As  Legee called for the surrender of the rebels.

  With Horit dead, and most of His Commander.. there   'red' Nivarians   were surrendering in droves... It looked like Legee was going to win her first war as a Blue Nivarian Commander.

  The Next Morning..Legee and her trusted Leade3rs Med  with , what was left  of the Old regime.

   The Cavet and the Naragrans  sat in on the Meeting from Vid screens.

   The meeting lasted a while... Hack and Si attended  from  His quarters  using the Vid screens.... Hennings  with an arm in a  Sling... and Bale in a hover chair , where on the Hanger  Dec  with The Cavet.

 The Meeting went on for  3 hours..in the end..Two of the  old regime tried to Kill Legee and he people.. they were  gunned down...and  all thoughts of compromise were gone...

 Legee and her  People were  taking over... Those who did not want the rule of the APF could travel to the south Pole...Those who wanted to work to save their planet... were welcomed.

  In the end.. there  would  be  Legee and her two  best advisors... and 2 Advisors from the old regime... Lania would soon be  now to serve as the head of the Council... while the Cavet ruled the planet and the two moons , from her place on the green Moon.

  The building of ships would commence  right away..half the resources would be used to  reclaim the  Damaged cities... while the other half  went into Cap ships.

 The ESNF008 Lyssa, Captain by  Ken Liles , would lead a task force that included...The ESN Waxwing  Med Tech... The ESN Bradbury transport Base...The ESN PIne  abd  ESN CD Cobblestone for accouting... The  Occui OESN 101 Returned Favor...and the newest Captured   Nivarian Vessel, renamed  ESN AC-9 Sunray.

 Any Nivarian ships  made would  be  added to the Home defense  fleet... Once there were enough of the Nivarian made Vessels.. then the squadron could  chase down the Delta fleet to rejoin,

 The  transports from  the green Moon were already on their  was  down as well as fresh Volunteer troops who would make the Alamo their new Home.

 Big Uglies were on the Beach loading up...  Transports were barely visable above the Green moon's  sky

  Joe MAc worked, Talking to one of the  LArger  Naragrans, Via Vidboard.

In reply to main colony (msg # 48):

   "What's the news on the big ugly."  He signals on the vid board.

  The NAragran moves its  claw over the  board to 'write' "..... almost ready ..last Shuttle..almost full...time is short..."

 medium sized NAragrans  were  walking into the shuttle, other   Big Uglies  have already lifted off.

  Joseph nods and picks up his duffle bag.  Weeks of working with the Gator-spiders and he had hammered out a decent means of communication, but there was something more he was missing.  His software and the writing system the Laragran had developed was enough for anyone to have basic communication with them but in battle Joe's experience at trying to crack their culture would be benifitial.  Joseph stepped on board and turned to look at the colony.  How many had he visited in his time with the watchdogs and returned to find them burned to the ground.  A single Occui stood on the outer wall watching them leave.  He waved.  She just smiled sadly and turned to leave.

  the   Big Uglies drifted into  the Holds of the transports.  The NAragrans walked  about  some looking out of the static  Fields, as they  moved  off from Nivar and the Green Moon.

  None were the massive 'elders'.  But one  of the younger  males, that had a battered Flight helmet, wedded to its  back shell stood the closes to the  filed.. its  black eyes watching with interest.

    "Alright freinds."  Joseph says to the creatures "Turn on your comunication boards.  I'm sending you footage of the Creshians.  hese creatures have little respect for any species that doesn't give them the leg up...er that doesn't help them dominate the universe.  I have never faught them myself but the vids show their tactics and working ESN tactics against them.  Also I heard from a big hairy freind they are very tasty BBQed with a garlic Ginger glaze."

  one of the smaller   naragrans scratch out something on  the boards and sends..

 .... they will taste just fine..much like  beetles on home...

   Well there is going to be a lot of them.  Fight smart.  Don't rush in alone.  Your help is needed but we can't aford to lose anymore of you than necessary. The big ones will try to rush you and the smaller ones will try to take you enexpectedly while you are ocupied with the big ones.
   I don't see them climbing high in the videos.  Perhaps bottling them up and attacking the tops of buildings will increase your kill rate.  Your ability to generate wbbing will give you a great advantage there.

one of the others  scratches something and sends.. there are  tweeting sounds  from some of the others.

........if they taste good.. we can bring some home to treat our famlies!

   "I HAVE heard of creshains prisoners being exchanged to other species for consumption as spoils of war, though humans find the eating of intelligent creatures to be ...ditasteful.  I wouldn't discuss it too much with them."

   "Note that anyone allied with the AP is to be considered off the menu and to be treated with an acceptable amount of respect.  If, in time, some Creshains chose to join the AP they, fall under this catagory.  That said"  Joseph grins a little, "By all means feed, we don't want you going hungry especially when there is so much meat available."

   Joseph thinks a moment, "As we will be less than a weeks flight from your home, you might be able to send the bodies of enemies killed home on transports and it will help us clean up the station, there may even be enoughmeat to use to attempt negotiations with those 4 legged apes.  Nothing says "We can work together" like a full belly."

 The Captain of the transport that held  Nivairan troops   called over to all COMs.

 According to Juil.. we are not supposed to COM the Delta Fleet until we are in approach to the MAtter horn... we have the correct transponders.. so?   we should  beable to do out  Job...

 we have  1 hour  before  we reach the  station at full speed.... do what you need to do...

 The transports  were   running hot... they had Limited  AA Guns, but that normally didn't matter.. They were never expected to fight Cap ships.

Joseph goes to the head and makes sure his gear is in good order.

   The transports  are closing in....

   The  wave of of the Detla  fleet  is Blasting  through the   ships at the edge of  'The Field"...

   The   Caprain of the Transport Fleet says to his people,...20 minutes..  I will  COM the MAtter horn...  We'll see  about Docking on this side of the MAtterhorn, away from the main Battle

 Depending on  The Admiral's Answer's , you will all get your orders.....CAptain out...