for goings on, on Nivar.

   The Fighters began to sort themselves out.. frans when Ahead towards the furthest 'gun site'...

  Howe  Broke off  , diving and curling back  towards the  south the that Gun site.

.. Shadow's Flight  Veered off to the  east towards the Capitol

 Ravens  Flight  veer  southeast, towards that Gun site

  the Morningstar was left in  the middle to choose.. The Ironwood veered towards the Capitol


 Flicking on all COMs   Shadow said,...Foster?.. things get hairy..or you thin they are getting hairy, come down and  start making a mess.. Fighters  first.. keep them off the  heavy hitters....Torpedo ships.. drop your eggs when you're  ready, then go reload...., by then the others  will be coming too...

 Foster comes on....others?

 ..Yeah... Admiral is putting   every torpedo ship  in the fleet in the air.. half  are following Bornberry, the other half are going to rain  the 9 hells on Nivar....should  be a good time...!

 9 hells  LC... when  did this happen...

 about a minute  after he threw the discs out the static field.....Now?..Beth?.. Lets  have   some entry Music?

Already done LC... its flooding the COMs and thier Vid stations.... we're  feeding Gun cams into thier feeds too, so they can see how much fun you guys  are having...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31AGv-hToE0

 a second or so  After  the Music  came on, the Vids   over 90% of Nivar were hacked with  vids...of their own doom...

 Frans flight swooped down  shooting upt the AA  Guns on the    approach to the first Gun site.... The site was  immense  a 'barrel' of sorts about  a halfmile  wide , but fixed into the Ground.. powers  stations ringed  the   'weapon'

  NIvarians  died   without ever knowing what hit them, vehicles   exploded..  AA guns were  silent, and why wouldn't they be..this was nivar?..who would dare attack?

 Shadow's Flight   came up on the City.. large ,  and sprawling. perhaps like New York or LA, if  Nature had been allowed to be a part of it... Shadow opened up of   a Tall skyscraper  that had a  sign in Nivairan...whether it was a  Business building, or   hotel, or an fancy apartment..shadow didn't  even thing ..he just fired.... Flores  and Kat opened up as well , windows  Burst Metal flew off,and a few bodies that were two close to the Holes fell  a few 100 feet down.....alright? B-flight?..break off.. shoot anything that looks rich.. if you want to test yur skills?   try fling the 'canyons' of the Building... just..watch for AA and fighters.....

 Howe's  group was just approaching his  Site.. there were  military vehicles on the  road... and they dove  done in a line..shooting up the road on the way to the Gun Site.. yellow  figures   were trying to scatter, but   the 37 MMs and  energy weaposn were carving up a wide  swath .

 Raven could see the tall building lighting up, even as  her flight  dove  for her target... again, the   Nivaians had  no thought, they would be attacked.. as  the harvester's fighters  tore into the AA  sites and Buildings.

 Only the Gun site to the west was not being attacked... because of the change in plans.

Karl watched the fighters fan out and start laying into the ground stations on Nivar.  Absolute chaos reigned...the Nivarians hadn't seen them coming, had no one in any position to resist...it was prime shooting time.  "If only there could've been four of me," he sighed aloud.  Hitting all the gun emplacements at the same time would have been ideal...but not possible.

"Okay, Ed...set fuses on the first ion round...detonation for dispersal at fifty feet altitude."  He rolled into a firing approach on the west gun...he had concerns that hitting any of the others would leave the ion dust in the air...and that would be bad news for the fighters.  "Target...here."  He highlighted a point above the center of the muzzle for the gun...the air-burst should sprwad the powder across the whole gun, he figured.  And if it didn't, he had at least one more round to try something else.

The targetting reticle flashed, then went solid red as the AI locked on.  "Send it..." Karl said quietly, as much a prayer for success as an acknowledgment he was firing.  The howitzer roared, spitting the highly-specialized round at the target kilometers away from the plane's current position...and Karl held his breath, waiting to see the results.

Justin acknowledges Shadows directive, then started firing at towers.

   Frans' flight Circled the Gun site.  they   peppered anything they even , remotely looked, like a AA gun... and  anything moving on the ground was  hit, if they could.. the giant Maw of the   barrel Looked like a small black lake.


   Howe's team  came up towards the  base..a whole column  laid in ruins , bodies and parts of bodies  scattered.. fires  starting  in the   brush,..a few brave   Niavrains  were firing small arms  at the  fighters , with no hope of hitting the  fast aircraft

 Raven's   people  wee lighting up the base  where she was there was a column of  troops  headed there as well...and?  Like Howes'..none of them  were going to make it...Damn Shadow? this is like cheating!

 ...yeah? well keep hammering them..sooner or later the sundrops are going to wake up...

 even as he  said this  wrapped  around the  smoking   Tower, but  shot a few power rounds   into the neighboring buildings .. Then he saw what he though he wanted, to the east of the   tower we hit.. abiut..5 Miles?...  that  walled palace  with  the smaller towers.... Let;s  hit that... shoot up the city on the way through... have fun...

 The Music  was still playing  as the ripped though the City.. By Now the Ironwood was closing  in.. the  two torpedo plans   peeled  off... firing their   weapons    to be used for tracers as they launched their  torpedoes ... the  12 foot  log missiles    hissed towards   the large tower... the Impact shook the Building.. the second   Impact  had it shudder... fire  was Blowing through windows sending  debris  and Bodies to the  streets below... as the Hermes  torpedo craft  banked and rose towards  the sky... some  25 others  were  just    screaming  down on their approach... 25 more torpedoes   fell from the   sky  shattering  Towers,  or Homes.. or  Blowing  Holes in the  streets...  that group peeled off as well, so they  could reload...

  fires  began to   Burn in the city.. smoke was rising from the ..once  beautiful city....

Still there was no   response as yet, from the  Nivrian fighters...

 Fran chimed in...anyone see an air base..let us know... be alot of  fun to  torch those  tincans  on the ground!


  Karl watched..  the agonizing slow fall of the  weapon,  there was a blue-red  flash as the  Dust blossomed  over the    Barrel..... he could  see some tower lights   blinking and going out as the wind spread the  dangerous dust.

Karl nodded with satisfaction.  "Ed, take ten seconds to check energy readings...see if we shut them down, or just turned off the lights."  He grinned fiercely, and added, "Either way, we've got two rounds per big gun, no sense being stingy.  After you done the energy scan, set another shell to detonate in impact...and send it to the bottom of the barrel-shaft."  Even if the aerial burst hadn't disabled the weapon, a whole cloud of that ion dust in the barrel of an energy weapon would create allkinds of problems for the operators, he figured.

The AI scanned, and even as it was processing the information, the barrel angle shifted slightly, and the howitzer roared out again, the whole plane dancing sideways from the recoil.  Karl watched the projectile arcing down, the computer highlighting its path and the course all the way into the barrel.  Karl banked slightly, maintaining distance and setting up a new course, to the next gun, as he waited to see the results of his secong round.

  the second  round reached the bareel, though slightly to the east of center, and  dropped  down.... there was a very long wait.... how deep was the barrel?


  the enegry reading  before the shot showed  systems  'shorting out' and otherwise  not working..including   their COM station.

  with  the Music  blasting through the COMs  Shadow's  smile grew.. Nivarian Flags  all over the place.. , outside the agtes were  troops running around  trying to secure the gates, not know  there were no  troops...yet... the Capitol behind them was  still blowing up as the last few torpedoes  fell to the ground...

 one  Lucky hit, Split on of the thinner towers, like   chopping a cap piece of  wood.. the t wo sections fell away, leaving    a burning  stub in the  middles, and causing even more Damage as the slammed into  smaller  building below.

  Shadow  said,Alright, B-Flight.. split up..no wingmen..everyone  find targets and shoot them up..watch for the fighters... then he  dove towards  the court yard of the massive Complex, the screaming  dart chewing up   ground, guards and  paperpushers  alike,  when he  pulled back on the stick, his  weapons stitched  a row of holes and blasted  Glass up the   Biggest tower, shadow's   skids  Caught one of the flags and it  wrapped  around .

 .................

 Frans  COMed.... there is a wave of something coming  from the  east Shadow..has to be fighters...

  Foster?.. you catch that?

 ..you bet LC..  well  come from the Sun....


 B-flight?.. keep chewing things  up with Power   weapons, cave your cannon rounds  for when the   Sundrops   get here...until then, chew this place up...


  Howe called,..hey?... Nilsson? This   gun site here?..looks  quiet.. but... all the power isstill one, cept for some of the Buildings we chewed up.... you maigh wnat to swing by here?

 Raven COMed......i thing  we killed   every one of the bananas  in the column that was ehaded to  the Gun site here... working on chewing  up the building  now...

Justin acknowledges Kray's directive. Separating from the Flight he wove a path of destruction through the city. Targetting the lower levels of the larger structures, pulse rounds pumped into these wrecking havoc with the building's foyers starting fires; smashing lifts and in several instances destroying the buildings power generator.

"Roger that, Howe...on my way..."  Short of flying directly over the barrel, there was no way to know how far the shell he'd fired needed to drop before hitting bottom...and, equally, no way to know what the precise reaction was, if it was deep enough.  It was an insurance shot, basically...the necessary systems had been disrupted on the surface, so they weren't actually reliant on the shot down the barrel.

But Karl liked to be thorough...

Still, there were three other large targets he had to hit.  And, fast as the Morningstar might be, to travel in space, it still took time to cover distance.  Time he couldn't afford to spend circling over a single target in hopes of a really satisfactory light show...because that was time that an intrepid fighter pilot could spend locating and zeroing in on him.  But he wanted to know...

"Ed, keep a camera and sensor array focused on this thing until we're halfway to our next target.  If it goes up, I want to know."  That was probably the best he could hope for...he banked the plane and took up a new course, heading for Howe's location.

   Karl....

  The  explosion inside the  BArrel was  far down.. maybe?  a half mile  or so... there  seemed  be some  sparking Below...

 he did  notcie  some   people  running out of a Block house.. one of them was pointing in the  air.

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

  Frans... COMed  everyone,..Shadow?  Confirmed... there are least... as far as i can tell 80 some  Sundrops heading towards us....

 Eckles chimed in,.. I'm a bit  further   North? there is   another Cloud  heading this way too?... if they have an Air  Base.. that's  where it is...

 ..how Long Until Contact?

 ..for us ?.. 8 minutes..give or take... Eckles.. get back and  form up!

 Shadow thought  for a moment......listen Up... all fighters...  Climb , get some  altitude on them... All Strafing    Flights.. Form Up at fran's  Location.. we want  Nilsson to have his  fun...Undistrubed....

 ..Foster.. stay  just above  atmo.. then  try to  Come  down on the  First cloud, like you planned...

 Ironwood?....  Pound a few more Building, then Get into the Black.. and  head   to the   planet side where the Clouds  are coming from... if there is a base there.. try to level it ..it may be too late ...but   we'll stop them from repair and rearming..

 Any torpedo ships  that are returning...  drop your weapons on teh Capitol, then get the  9 hells back to your ships... ..any other fighters in the air Up there.. Now's the Time to Follow foster's  lead... DON'T... go past the area oif  engagement we set up... we are here to stop them from reaching  Nilsson.. God luck..Good Hunting...

  Shadow  chewed up  two more  Buildings  before rising into the  sky, heading  towards fran's  flight..  Flores  and Kat weren't  far behind...

 The Ironwood Pounded the Compound as she  flew  But.. her  attacks , much more devastating , then the figther's   weapons . On of the  towers  of the  Palce  collapsed.  Burned in many of the   areas  the Ironwood  hit... then she was off to The Black..

Justin gave a shrug, he wasn't here to think, as pointed out to him time after time, he was here to fight. Forming up he waited with the other fighters waiting to be given whatever directive he would be given.

   There  was  Cross talk  coming from subchannels, The High Council  started out    with Curses and threats... but the more attacks high.. the more desperate the Calls  Got..

 Begging , pleading..screams of  sudden surprise and pain, as  well  a muffed sounds of  explosions

  Most of the Pilot s switched   the subchannels off.... Shadw  simply smiled and  kept his on

   they could see the glimmer of  gold  of the Sundrops wings.  Frans Opened  the  COMs and  said,..Shadow? You want to   make the Offer...or  should  I?

 go ahead frans....

 ..Approaching  Nivairan  Fighters....  this  will be your   only warning... turn back   and  land  your fighters.. or your  will be  wiped from the sky....

 ..Cowardly  Earther!.. You attack without  warning..you...

 uh ah...not  true goldy... you see?   My Admiral  warned your people....we always...warn people... but what do they do?..they take it as a weakness?   I duuno.... but i do know this?  One of your Pilots  violated  the distressed Pilot code.... so?.. you will  get ..NO MERCY..

 the last two words were  shouted  with almost as much hate, as  one would level at a demon itself.

 ..and.. you have  what? 20 some  fighters.... to Take  on  Two full airforce Units of  the  Golden Planet?

 ..yeah... you'er  right.. i should send Half of them back?... But hey? They desevre to ring Up Kills too...

 ..you will not live through this...it is a pity... I would love to meet you. before  we turned you over to the Empire...

 ..Alright Goldy ....bring it.... Just...listen to your Sub Channels... your great Council? they are begging   for us to stop the attacks?..why?.. because we are blowing up, thier home, thier families....things are a bit different when they have to suffer.....but..that's  fine?..go ahead  and die for them.... I'm sure they will take care of your families...

 Then he switched COMs to the  ESN  COM,..right folks..... remeber.. they can Out turn us.. and   run us  down.. we can chew them to ribbons,, and out dive them..if your  are too damaged to fight.. head back home....good luck....good  hunting....

 Raven says.....I Got this one...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RFeIj-xwEM

  There was  an Honest Chuckle  from Shadow... I hope they  get to hear  this  before they die!

 The   Golden Fighter  formed  up.. 85 strong. two layers  of  40 or so... Behind them was another 80 or so...Some of the Nivarians  grinned... these fools  dared to enter the Golden Planet..now they would pay!.... But others were Unnerved... the   ESN figthers  did not waver.. the  were streaming fast , and hard towards them... some recounted  the Vids  from the Battle of the moons...

 None of them would know the  Ironwood was about to drop down behind them and 'visit' their base...none   new  that the   sky above  was  being darken  by the rest of the  Hermes  Fighters, Followed  by 4 more Cap ships worth of  fighters...

 meanwhile.. the  torpedo craft had  returned.. firing weapons that would  be  used on  mile long  Cap chips, at  simple    sky scrapers. and , of  course the Palace...

 while this  went on..Karl was    flying towards his next target

"Okay, Ed...keep a wary eye out for Nivarian fighters.  If they send an interceptor after us, I want time to call for help and make a run for it..."  Actually, he'd probably turn the assault cannon and minigun on them, while he was running...the benefit of turret-mounted weapons...but he was desirous of avoiding any air-to-air engagements, period.

He dropped the plane low to the ground and shoved the throttle as far as it would go for atmospheric flying...below him on the ground, the impact of bombs was joined with the very different 'boom' of the sound barrier being broken, and the wake of turbulence off the Morningstar snapped small trees and broke windows in buildings that he screamed over.

Justin listened to the chatter, a predatory grin on his face. Giving his head a shake at the way these races pleaded for mercy, when they were under threat and suffering loss, yet for goodness knows how long they races chose to inflict injury suffering and death on others.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:26, Fri 19 May 2017.

     the  space  was Closing up in a constant measure, Shadow    Came on the COMs...

   Alright....   This  is   one of  our last surprises... after this? its going to  be Pilot to pilot....... I will count to 3.... when  i reach Three... everyone  excelerate  to full speed.. fire  everything you   have... take out what you can....with Luck we will come out the otherside , before they can make thier  first turns..... remember.. these  are Pilots... we have to assume they are trained.... don't  take anything for granted...

 Watching the Numbers   going  down to first contact......ONE........TWO....... THREE!!!

 Those who followed the Order  shot   forward... almost twice  as  fast as their   original approach ... weapons   flashed  and Sundrops died....  One tried to  climb, shadow   tapped the  stick  a little to raise his  Nose.. , the Sundrop Vanished  in a cloud of  Yellow and Orange... the fighter above that one ,Lost  part of its  wing.. he     went into a death spiral...  But shadow  couldn't watch as he  almost  slammed into another  one... and then he was   on the other side of the Formation

 almost every  aircraft   tagged a Sundrop on this charge..., But the Sundrops   were turning faster then  Shadow  thought...

 But he still grinned....

 Foster   could be haard  shouting,..Thank's LC!

 As  the rest of the Hermes Fighters  diving, appear in the sky along with the Remus fighters  and Ares...    rounds  rained  down,  like an unholy storm,  Blowing  away Sundrops.. and even Causing  a few  to slam into each other...

 ..My Group?... head towards that second wave...

 Already, behind them. the  sky  was a mass of  fighters twisting and turning.. flashes  as   ariccraft on both  sides were turned to shards...

..........

 The Ironwood    was Now  Pounding the Base.. it was   veru Large... massive Hangers   lined the  perimeter .. many..many more  Sundrops were on the Ground...  The Ironwood LAunched its  fighters  to try and Knock  down  single aircraft  that were   flying as soon as a  pilot  could reach the ship....Meanwhile the fighters  disappeared by the 2's and three's  as Ironwood  Pounded the airfield.

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


 Karl saw his next target..the scene here was different  from his last one.. the Fighters hand  beat the place up... fires and smoke  where all over.. bodies and  Vehicles littered the main road.. some  little fighters could be seen struggling to reach the   damaged    base...
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:58, Thu 18 May 2017.

Kray counts to Three and Justin taps his thrusters pushing the Dart to full speed ahead. This was why he was here, since graduating from the Academy top of his year, it was basically his bread and butter. Justin's finger hovered anxiously over the trigger, waiting for the first of these bandits to come into range. Glancing at his Hud Justin identified two possible targets, to engage at long range, selecting the one which provided him the best chance at lining up on the bogies wingman. When the Sundrops were in range Justin tapped his trigger, firing two three round burst at the one he selected, quickly side slipping the dart he lined up on the second and engaged. Matching B Flights descent the Darts punched a hole through the oncoming Squadron as fighters disintegrated or broke off trailing smoke as they spiralled away.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:22, Fri 19 May 2017.

Karl looked at the scene and nodded, decisively.  "Changing it up, Ed...first round goes down the throat, I want the second round to air-burst at 100 feet...get more dispersion and maybe take down some of those fighters that are limping in.  Rack 'em up and fire them off, fast as you can...anything that looks viable after the second round, drop an HE round on it."

The vibration of the plane shifted subtly as the loading gear settled rounds into the howitzer and the barrel adjusted to its target...it roared, and a single ion round took off, destined to impact somewhere deep down the barrel of the massive gun.  It roared again only moments later, another ion round dropping toward the base...only to explode some thirty meters above the ground, creating a massive cloud of the ion dust that slowly settled across the area, and caught any low-flying craft in its embrace.

    As Before , The  round dropped   deep into the Hole... deep enough that  the flash couldn't even be seen.

  The  Second  round Cause the  Cloud to   flaot to the east... a  hover-car of sorts dropped to the    ground , rolled over  and caught  fire.


..lights  began to flicker out  and the HE  rounds  came in  The  Bigger Block  building  was Hit,  and, what passed for concrete on this  world,  crumbled  and flew... a COM Tower that  also bore the Nivarian  flag  tilted  slowly  and  Fell, snapping  in half as it hit  the edge of the block house, the Upper half   pinwheeling into the maw of the  weapon.

  The Second  wave had  seen what happened to the First,   the  Cloud  broke up into   4 parts...  some 20 headed straight  for  Shadow and the  Mission flights...  about 20 on each side peeled  away  to keep the invaders , in the area of  engagement , and  20 some   Climbed, Just in case  more   ESN craft came from the  sky...

 ...Shadow?  they are  trapping  us!

 ..no Frans... they Just helped us....

 .. Just Like before.... go Max  speed...  fire your  way through the Middle... make the others  chase us  towards the base....

 we're going..TOWARDS thier base!!!

 ..see what i have to put up with Raven?

 ..ok...shut up... The Ironwood  should be there..the  first wave  got chewed up pretty well... if  we can get them to chase us to the base, we'll take the  heat off  Foster and the rest...

 Flores came on,..Shadow?.. I'll fallow  you striaght  down the chimney to the deepest of the 9 hells...but..who' is going to  take the Head off us?

 ..right now?  It doesn't  matter... but we'll be pretty damn far to the  south-west?

 ..and that means?

 nothing  yet..... but.. we'll see.. Just start  peeling bananas...

  Kat   said in a cold voice,,,Da...already done, Comrade...

    the fighters  shot forwards again.. the   Nivarians  patted themselves on the back , Until   the  ESN fighters opened up... Blossoms of  yellow and ornage flashed   as  Nivarians  died.. the  flanking    Sundrops    Pivoted  in the  air ..and Top cover to prevent any more    ambushes from the  sky.


  at least a dozen  of the 'middle  sundrops  died... a few   More  spun out towards the trees  below..but?.. the Humans?  they didn't  stop.. they were  heading for..THE BASE!

 one  of Ravens   Hammers  was  trailing smoke.....i'm hit... but i'm not  going anywhere...  I'll stay with you guys  as long  as i can..

Maintaining position on the left point B Flight pushed through the remains of sundrops that had been shredded by accurate fire. Justin scanned the disbursement of bandit squadrons, as he attempted to assess their tactics.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:52, Sat 20 May 2017.

    The ESN   aircraft where   now  cruising towards  the Base.. the  scattered formation, that thought to  cut off the   Humans from swarming to attack.. now  had to regroup and chase them.

  Meanwhile, the 1st wave of Sundrops were is a savage  Battle, one  unkwon for them, Was Felrite  Fighters, that were  just is good,if not a wee bit  better  then their Sundrops...what really tilted the  field, is these felrites have been fighter  real battles, rather then carving up Merchant escorts and such.


Frans , Take everyone  to that Base  and From Up in from of the  Ironwood.. try to hide her  as long as you can...not that they won't see her... but they shouldn't be expecting  Her...

 ..alright?  what are  you doing....


dropping back to make sure Raven's  Pilot  can get to the Ironwood.

   Doing a roll out and Climb he   turned to see the   Harvester pilot's  aircraft, trailing thick grey Smoke, Harvester 25... what's your  Name... you'er tailing  grey smoke... that means  your  Hyro lines   have been cut  and they are leaking into your powerplant...

 ..I know that LV....my name's HArv....if i can get to The Black....

 ..no...keep  flying ,,push her  until she redlines.... then  gear back until she reaches  Yellow...and dom it again... we'll get the Ironwood to take you in...

 Raven  Peeled back.....He's  My Pilot Shadow... I'll  stay with him....

 As  WC.. you'er all ..MY...Pilots.. so , send  the other s  ahead to form Up with  frans... you and    I will  flank him.. any get close enough.."l'll peel back  first... then..if  needs  be..You...

 ..Raven?  I'm certain they will over take us..... Just let me go....

 ..you can damn well bet, there's  a Banana out there who wants an easy kill... we torch a couple of them, it  might make the others rethink..or slow down....



 Meanwhile frans  Issued  orders to  the remainder of   the strafe mission  aircraft...alright... we hold here.. Until  we can see the  Sundrops with our eyes... then   we fly  Highter then Shadow, Raven and Harv..... Ironwood... what ever  you can do for us?

 Lt Frans?..This  is Guns..on the  Ironwood.. we   got some NAsty  pulse weapons here... and the Commander sent out  two fighters to Join you...she says  to tell the  damaged Harvester.. the Hanger  dec is waiting...

 frans  thought  for a Moment,..Ironwood?  countermand  the  last orders....   Rise  above   and  Fire your weapons into the  on coming Wave...as soon as they are in effective range

  Captain  Agrees.. should be  quite the surprise...

Justin along with B Flight, opened up on bogies that crossed his path, as the Flight punched through the second line of Bandits, clearing a path through the 20 foolhardy sundrops, assigned to meet the ESN Flights head. The ESN Flights pushed trough and headed towards the Nivarian base. Lining up by lead and wingman across the field punching holes in anything and everything in the area. Fragmenting ground craft, blowing holes in buildings and churning up ground elements, vehicles and earth as they swept the base.

  what was left of the fighters, that were sent  to meet/scare off   Shadow's  strafe group,  formed up with the rest of the wing as they started  to chase the  ESN Fighters...

   Frans  had everyone else Lined up  , with the Covette in the back.. three ESN  fighters  were   still trying to reach the BAse... the one that trailed  smoke   would  spped up, then have to back  down.. then speed up  again.

 One    Sundrop Broke from the Pack to dive  down on the  escaping prey... Shadow  Broke  Off  To Climb and  Meet the diving aircraft... Shadow  fired  a lot further away the  the Sundrop did, It shuttered  and  Broke up as it fell towards the trees...


   Another one broke  towards  the  wounded aircraft, and RAven  climbed  in a turn to   fire energy rounds  at the craft... This was Broke off.. smoke  trailing  and   the  light of  a Fire under its  nose  at is  dove away to the west...  Shadow  started to circle   as Raven  came  Back to HArv.... they were  about  1 mile from the Line of  ESN  fighters...


  the  wing of  Nivarians were about 8 Miles  behind Harv.

Karl nodded with satisfaction at the results.  "Morningstar is moving on..."  He laid out a course that kept him well clear of the fighter engagement, and several kilometers above the ground to discourage ground observers from being able to pick him up.

"Okay, Ed...same firing sequence.  Slot up the ion round, send it as soon as the gun comes into range..."

   it would take KArl about 10 minutes  to reach the  next target... the one that Raven's  flight hit.

    this one had a bit more time to react. the damage The HArvester's fighters  did, was worse then it looked, as they also chewed up the Column  that was going in, But tried to make sure they concentrated on building  with any kind of  tower....

  another  column was  coming up the road now... 4  armored  Units and 6 hover trucks and what looked like  100 troopers on  foot begin them...

    Shadow and Raven regrouped  a bit above Harv.... the   Sundrops were getting into at tighter  formation....behind them, Off in the disatcne.. winks of Lights and Black clouds of spoke, with twisting tendrils that reached for the ground, told the storythat the battles was still in progress.

  Attention..Wing  Commander of Sundrop  aircraft.... If  You  Pod our  now, will will allow your pods to land  safely.... should you continue on your course to engage..we will wipe yo out to the  tinfoil craft you have...

 ..you boast too much..Human.... we will finish you, then go back  and wipe the rest of your scum from our skies....

 ...you won't be getting  any more help from your base.... what few  planes are still standing, either have dead pilots, or pilots who are to afraid to make a  run for thier aircraft...

 no matter what happened... Harv wasn't going to reach the Line of ESN fighters, before the  Nivarians  over took him.....Harv?.. this is  an Oder.. you screw this up... you might cost alot of  lives... NO MATTER  WAHT HAPPENS.. YOU STAY BELOW  OUR FIGHTERS, AND REACH THE  IRONWOOD...

 Under  stood  WC... i don't like it..but  understood.

 the Sundrops seemed to accelerate , seemingly , turning the tables on the ESN.... Until Frans  said,..Shadow...Raven Drop down..400 feet....Ironwood... Your show now...  the two pilots never  questioned  and  just dropped like  laed weights.. the Iron wood  rose  and   pushed  forward... and her  Guns opened up...

 the prototype  weapons  flashed... never meant for use  against fighters.. but a wad like this?..who could miss...

 Three  Volleys  from the  Big Guns seared through the sky and into the   Sundrops.. at least 5 Sundrops  Vanished  with each Volley... several that will cose  By    spun down towards the  trees... on fire or  smoking..  The Panic in the Sundrop formation was  clear  as they  all seemed to want the veer away..peeling off to the left or  right, some Climbing

 iron wood  did not  stop , cruising    at a slower pace  for its AA guns  to take  shots.. and let loose  one  more  Volley into some   aircraft that were trying to regroup

 Shadow  chuckled into the COMs,well... 9 hells..that's better then  what i was going to do!

 ..great job Ironwood....ok  fighters...  have fun.... try  to not let any get away...but  don't  get too far away from the Ironwood...
 Meanwhile..Harv was a bit  put out..., so he  dove  down to  shoot up any sundrops that were still on the ground..

Responding to Shadow's com B Flight split up fighters persued sundrops that were frantically trying to climb away from the Ironwood. Justin zipped in behind a sundrop, mimicking its manoevers until he's targetting sounded. Squeezing off two quick bursts he sent four rounds at the bandit.

Karl looked at what was happening on the ground.  "Change of plans, Ed.  First ion round is aerial burst, one hundred feet above the lead element of that column..."  The dust cloud from that round would likely engulf the whole column, as well as the edge of the base.  "Drop HE on the tail end, and lay some frag rounds along the rest of the column, spaced for best effect."  The AI would analyze the column after each shot, looking for the densest pockets of troops or vehicles, and make the thickest crowd the target.

"Then put the second ion round down the pipe, and send some HE into the buildings...fire for effect."  As he called out each sequence of rounds, projected target points popped up on the display, the frag rounds on the column adjusting as the Nivarians advanced.  The first target blinked orange, then green, as the plane closed the distance.  Then it went solid red, as the Morningstar came into range.

"Commence fire..."

    Karl's approach is seen at the last Minute.. troops look up..confused or  surprised...maybe , thinking this was  what was  responsible for the damage..

 The Burst of Ion  Dust,  didn't take  effect  for a few Moments after   the shelling shredded  troops  and  vehicles from the back.  the two armored   vehicles      slowly  stopped... the hover  trucks  tried  to go around them, but  the   impuse jets  gane out  and the  trucks   either nosed into the  grass and brush on the sides of the  road, or  fell over to one side and rood a bit of the  way.. as the Morningstar  flew over, the Ion round  went  down the 'pipe'.

  then.. buildings began to explodes...  what few people were in the   base were  trying to run out, while  troops that were scattered about, tried to run in...

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

    Justin's  Luck held out as he  flamed a Sundrop in front of him,  the next rounds   chewed off a  wing of another,  and it   banked into a steep  dive to get away... it wobbles  as it  did, with 1/2 of its   left wing  gone and  tried to avoid the trees below, looking for a spot to land.

  The rest of the  'strafe  mission' fighters  were  trying to  do their best against the Agile  Sundrops..Smarter  pilots    would  flu towards the  Ironwood, were her AA  guns  would take out, or chase off  the pursuit .  Other   tried to fly into a spot were two or more sundrops were, hoping they  would find it harder to  target the  Humans

 Musette  flamed a fighter that had  found Raven's  tail.. he seemed to be getting used to the 'fighting  thing'

 Harv... disgruntled of not  openly , being out of the fight, but missing   the   ride on the Ironwood, took it out on the   Nivarian base.. send   rounds into Hangers and strafing with power weapons

 The ironwood  fired  its  Big guns  once  more    into another  group of Sundrops that were trying to form up.. only one 'died'.. but the others  scattered.. two broke off  to the east...

 ..LT Frans... Guns here  from the Ironwood... were in the  mix now.. won't be able to use the Bigguns  again, unless we  can catch them forming Up...we'll stay stationary. to allow your fighters to use us for  AA fire...

 ..Thank You Ironwood....

 Shadow was having  fun, but he was concerned as well... on his  screen, fran's  Howes' and ravens.. the   red lights  showing warning for a lot of their  fighters became more and more evident.

  Listen Up.... screens  show  we have alot of folks hurting... we can take a lot of damage..but  pretty soon we might start losing people... we have to keep thiese fighters here...at least until Captain Nilsson tells us he's done.... fly smart.. try to help each other out  even as he said this.. he   lowered his  nose  and   dove  in the Oppostite directin that  Eckles was climbing  and   shattered a Sundrop with a cannon burst...

Karl pulled up off his attack on the base.  He'd hit three...if the Nivarians had realized the pattern, this would be the dangerous one.  "Eyes open, Ed...if you see anything non-APF lining up on us, I want to hear about it."

To do what he could to minimize his risk, he set a longer approach...something that banked out and around to approach the last base from a different angle.  He rose to ten km altitude, and kept an eye on his targeting screens...at this point, he was after targets of opportunity, something to sow a little more chaos.  HE rounds dropping from miles overhead and off at an angle would be plenty of cause for panic...but he kept his attention limited to military or government targets.

   the Last  Target was to the North, where Frans Had  hit... from his vantage  point  his  screens  showed two 'reddish' encounter zones, where  the Fighters  battles  were taking place.

 the  targets he had  hit showed orange....

    he was  , to the west of the Capitol, that Shadow had chosen to bring war to the politicians and their  families .

  The Maw of the Last  gun was seen off in the distance... he did not see any  aircraft...yet...

  With the  Admiral's orders  given, The  Verians   reacted  with cold dedicated  actions.

   the  nose of the  charon was  angled to break enough of the atmo, as to  clear the Guns, but   enough to keep gravity  from stopping the   massive ship's  escape.4 flights of  6 fighters each, took off from the  Charon's hanger Dec, longer   thin fighters  of Verian make, though they all were  wearing the Colors of the ESN and Flagged as verians.

  A few  fighters  on the   ground were starting to take off... then the Guns of the Charon fired.

  In a few seconds,  large blasts  from Pulse guns  and  Hard ammo rounds  hit into the base... fighters   were tossed around like  toys.. Hangers  were being  hit...meanwhile the    Verian fighters  dived down.. and began to chew up the startled  Nivarians.. the  Nivarians had expected no opposition  until the reached  the   gigantic dog fight... and Now.. they were dying!

 The Gun captains of the  Charon asked how long they shout  fire...  The  General's answer was,...when the  airfield is leveled..and nothing else moves...
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:26, Wed 24 May 2017.

Sundrops were like fireflies darting about taking pot shots at any Dart or Hammer in front of them. Experienced ESN Pilots ducked and wove as they hoped to avoid getting brassed up, and inturn snap shot at Sundrops which swept past the ESN fighters. Justin jinked weaved, climbed and dove, throwing his dart about like a marble in a jar being shaken up by a child; snap shooting at least a score or more Sundrops, that swept past him. G-forces pulled at Justin, compelling him to grit his teeth quite a few times. Fortunately the number of Bandits was dwindling albeit they inturn were impacting on the ESN Flights.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:09, Thu 25 May 2017.

  Howe came on the COMs,..LC?  This  is getting  hairy right now...  there are alot  of   orange lights turning red on my panel...


 ..on mine as well LC...

  I know... But  we just have to  hold out a bit longer until Nilisson is  done... we  can't let the  fighters go hunting...

 In the Mass of aircraft , Justin  would see  blossums  of  Fire,  , even he couldn't tell, most of the time , whether it was from  his guns, a  fighter's Guns, or the Ironwood's AA  guns... Morris would  have his work cut out for him this  time...


   One Sundrop  camp up  under the Ironwood ..firing  from300 yards  away, and  Kept  fireing into  the Ironwood's  Belly as it Got closer...

 Shadow's Left wing  was red on his console .. some  was  drifting  from it, and his left lazar and Pulse  were   out... he  only had a fee cannon rounds left... that would leave him with this right  wing power weapons..

 He fired one of his precious  37mm shell ahead of a sundrop that was  divingtowards the Ironwood's bridge... the shell and   aircraft met  , turning the Sundrop into a  small version of  a  meteorite  as it burned all the way  to the forest below, were  a bigger fire  bloom, set trees afire.

   Eckles   screamed into the  COMs.....Damn Banana got me!... broke  through my  cockpit.. my left leg is hurt...

 ..Eckles.... get to the Ironwood....

 ..but i can...

 ..you can get to the Ironwood...NOW!

 ..Shadow to Ironwood.....  fighters wil start landing when they can';t   go to the Black... if you need room, Put  C-10 in the fighter and push it out of your hanger to be used as  damn big bomb!


  Commander  McKeon Here... we will save what we  can...bump the rest...

 There  were  about 20-25 Sundrops left... but the ESN fighters  were Battered... one of Raven's  fighters    was limping back to the ironwood, staying on top to act as noting more  then a detached AA gun...

  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...