Cat  worked on Henning on the Felrite   Shuttle... Cookie had BAle on  Stoly's...

   Alright Admirla  we're ready to Go... soon  is that big piece of   junk you are in  rises..

  Dammit Stoly... GHet in the Air..That's an Order...

  ...sorry Admirla...c an't hear real good  with all this   shooting an all?.. Maybe..once your   shuttle  gets in the air...  i'll be able to understand...

  Yes.... the hearing, you tell us to  leave..is not   the  clear talk..we have to wait ..so you can  talk..more..from the air....

 even as he fired his cannon. he laughed   as Nura.. felrites  were damn fun people!

   Hackl  frowns, but its because he is fighting a Grin,....lets get the 9 hells out of her... Roy, ....  we're comign back...in the Hermes....

  The   ramp closed  Up.. as   Garrat,  and  berzerk  little Shade entered..   the Little verian Pounded on the   doors  as the slammed... , then he cast  red  eyes in the direction of  the council and Roussians..

 Shoemaker   sat on the  floor near Orria.. the Naragrans   made a formidable wall between the  commander  and Milea...  Shoemaker looked at his left arm.. his own blood   showed in several places on his  left sleeve... The he says to orria,..you did good. Ambassador  aide?... come see me in SEC in 12 more  years and  we'll see about a career in the  SEC!

 Hack  turned and limped slowly towards the   front of the  Big Ugly where the   'ambassadors' sat.. zip tied..  the  Niavrians looked   pleased.. the roussians looked crushed... except MC-1 how glared with hate.

    Garrat retrieved his throwing knife.  He turns it over in his hand then returns it to his boot.

    He then finds Shade, and puts out his hand, "You gonna give me my weapon back or am I gonna have to wrestle you for it?"  Garrat says with the barest twitch of a smile.

Roy backed up the ramp as Hack and the others went on board, weapon still firing until the hatch closed and blocked his field of fire.  He ejected the magazine, noting with a grunt that there were only two rounds left in it, and slotted in his last mag, slapping it home.

"I hope all your people have some way to get off the planet in a hurry...because there's not going to be much livable real estate left by the time we're done."  He shook his head at the Nivarians, then looked over at the Cavet.

"Well, Juil...looks like you just managed a promotion, without even trying.  If these morons are lucky, they might lead a prison revolt that ends in a group execution.  I don't think they'll even get that far.  That makes you THE boss Nivarian, now, I guess..."  He shrugged.

More than anything, he felt disgust...there were a lot of Nivarians down there who were going to die brutal deaths that never had to come...but their leaders were too corrupt to see any other way, and there was no time to sort out those who supported the old regime from those who didn't, aside from the knowledge that the Green Moon Nivarians had been, by and large, political dissidents or business rivals of some sort.

He sat down, angrily, holding his rifle with the butt against the deck, pointed up at the roof of the Big Ugly, leaning slightly forward and looking down at the deck as he shook his head.

In reply to the alamo (msg # 341):

---ORRIA---

Orria blushes a little embarrassed at the compliment, "thank you." she says shyly glancing over at Shade who's still holding Garrats weapon.  She notices Shoeys arm and goes and grabs a small personal first aid kit and offers it to him not sure what else to do with it or how to use it. "You need bandaid?" she asks.  She glares at the Roussians and Nivarians for a moment.

--- MELIA---

Melia has her helmet off finally and sets to work on Si. She looks ready to tell the Admiral to sit down and not injure his leg but decided to wait until Si had been treated, one battle at a time.

She sets to work binding the foam.  Commander I'm going to set you up on a saline IV to prevent you from going into shock. She says as she administers a morphine syrete. Your kidney was damaged. It's going to need a look from Hawkeye before we can seal you up to ensure there's no lasting. She explains setting up the IV and unfolding the litter off her pack clicking it's latches into place,"SGT MAJ I need someone to assist me in putting Commander Si on the stretcher,  can I borrow you for a moment?" getting ready to carefully move Si to the stretcher.  Once Si is stable on the stretcher she turns her attention to Hack.  "Admiral I'm going to need you to sit down so I can treat you. That wound looks deep and if there is damage to the circulatory system or nervous system you could risk losing your leg. " she explains doubting the Admiral will listen.

   Big Ugly...

    Hack stood  near the    prisoners......do you know what you ahve done?.. either  group?

   The High Council  said  with a  sniff, like he would have been at a country club, back on earth,..we stoped you..from taking over our planet.... you failed....

   Shade was  stomping up behind.. Blaring out sounds and   clenching his  fists.

  ..shut that Gods be-damned thing up!  TX-5 shouted... And  Shade  launched himself  at her. Pummeling the the    Prisoner  with  semi metal fists.

 Lyri was close by...but  didn't even Move, she calmly looked a beth who had a bloody rag around her right arm.....yeah...That's Shadow's kid....

 Beth saw the fists land  repeatedly  Until Hack  Pulled him off by the Collar, he   still swung a few   times  until he realized.. he wasn't  hitting  anything... Hack Put him Gently on the Dec,..go make sure your Aide is  ok...Ambassador...

 MC-1   snorted..   , and shade brought up his weapon finger..., But    Lyri   tapped him on the head,..go see   Orria...  you can toast him later...

 Shade stomped  back, his eyes  black as he made deep grinding noises....

 Shoemaker   smiles at Orria, as he takes the   pack with a nod of thanks, and proceeds to try  and open his  armor to get the pack were it needs to go
.............................

 Stoyl's

   Bale  Nodded his thanks to Cookie,well.. that's  more  excitement then i have  had in a while....

 Minnet shook her head as she looked at her  left arm... her    armor  was steaming from the heat of the heavy pulse gun.. Hodden was showing her   the  'rut' that had been melted into her's over the course of the missions she was on.


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

 The felrites  were a been quiet as one of theirs  ,w as dean..  a d few others  had wounds.. and Cat worked on Henings  arm, that didn't look like he was going to lose it..but it would be a while  before  he fired  anything that took two  arms to use.

   Stoly cam over the COMS,..hey?  LC... we're lifting off .....nobody left  down there that is ours...alive..anyway..... You wan Keep the  Fighters off us... that would be great... my gunners  are on thier last belts....

 we too.. do not have the belts....  there  is  not much to fire  from out  guns...

  Right then?.. You ehar that....  the table have  turned...... Captain Nilsson.. You and the Iron wood see if you can knock those   bombes out of the air.. just for the 9 hells of it.....

 Everyone else... follow  fran's  orders... except  we get to surpise them with   Howe and  I joining the party....

  Frans  said,contact with lead elemets..in..30 seconds....Good Hunting...

Henry stood at the bottom of the Big Ugly's ramp until the last minute, continuing to fire his shotgun. He sent Mila aboard, telling her to find a corner and curl up. When Hack was hit, he was beside the Admiral offering a shoulder to help him get aboard ready to leave.

Once the Big Ugly took off, he went to find Mila and sat on the floor beside the dog, one arm around her.

In reply to in the air (msg # 346):

Justin swept over the countryside responding to both Kray's directives and the changes in conditions. The approach of seven heavy bombers along with the addition of 30 bandit targets was no surprise, rather he'd anticipated much more and was grateful that the Fleet managed to inflict the losses on the hostile flotilla that they did'; the less Capital Ships that survived meant there would be far less fighters to contend with. Responding to Shadows last directive Come on the Waggle you too Striker, lets see what damage we can do first to the bomber on the far left then to the incoming bogies. Striker; Waggle and I will be on your four and eight. Keep in tight, lets have at'em

    Garrat leaned quietly over to Shade, "Always use your most effective weapon on an Enemy unless your conserving munitions or are ordered not to.  Anger can give you strength and speed, but you can do more damage by controlling it than letting it run it's course."  He thinks a brief moment.  "I'll wager your mother's memories might have some tricks about how she controlled her anger."

  The Big Ugly rose in the  air it normally would have been well behind the others.. But the troop transports flanked her.. and the stolys were under her.

  Admiral?  This is LT Hummin? Looking on My screen , its going to be  a damn close thing if those  fighters   reach us.....

  Stoly Broke in,..I won't lie to you Admiral...  my top Bubble  is on its last belt  from the stores... the side Bubbles..don't have too much more... I have 2  rounds left in My Nose Cannon...

 ...What the  Lt Stoly is being saying... i have not the 37  MM rounds...  out side bubbles  are  empty.. and top bubble, has less then one belt left...

 ..then?..we'll have to hope our pilots  are as god  as everyone says they are...won't  we... Increase  your speed..all of you.. even if the   Big Ugly overloads... we can get towed in by a Tender.

 aye sir, already done!...  a heart beat  later the Big Ugly shook and its nose  , rose  another few degrees  as she  tried to climb faster...

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

  Tx-5 was battered.. large welts  were balled up fists hit like  small hammers  , dotted her  face, some Bruises had  been smashed open, dark purple blood  dripped  down her face.

  MC-1 wriggled  to get free,... you are brave.. are you not..attacked  helpless prsioners...

 Hack  and turned  to walk  back and  check on Si. He stopped,..that little fellow, has put up with much, from you people..including ,  treachery..and getting him, and those he cares for Killed... quite frankly?.. I should have  let him beat her to death...but... I have questions to ask you...

 ..what makes you think..we will tell you anything?

  Hack chuckles,..you will tell me things..you don't even know...you know yet..besides.. you failed.. you will not be welcomed in  the Gamma Quad...... Beth?

 beth Limped  a bit forwards  and  turned on her Vidboard... replaying the  Gun Cams  and  ESN Feeds of the Roussians getting destroyed... NC-37's  Face  turned a lighter Purple as she saw a Cap ship split in Half....

 what's the matter... NC?... Don't like the sight of a Naval Battle?

 ..That was her  Oldest Issue!

 ..Really?.... Beth clucked her  tongue,..Just think, NC? You killed him..and  all those other 'issues' out there.... must make you feel proud... I am sure the Empire..or?Lady V will reward you well..hmmmm?

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

  hack made it back to  where  Si was he  Pushed her  hair  off her face Gently,..what is the first rule?...don't  get shot!

 Si's  eyes were half opened as she  tried to  smile..  tapping his leg, lightly,..you should talk... My love.

 Hack  frowned  at the throbbing wound,..alright... next time  we'll go down in fighters...

 she  chuckled and winced as she did.

 Lyri kept an eye on the  prisoners.. the Naragrans   had Moved closer to the  Nivarians they were frightened of the  large creatures. ..so?..Admiral..were we really Bait?

 Hack   shrugged... he nodded  , then shook his head.... depends on  how you look at it , MAster Chief. The NAragrans had Conveyed, the best  that they were able, that they did not trust the  Roussians....oddly enough, they seemed to trust the  Cavet... and most of her people... but they showed signs of not caring for the Council...

 He looked down the  cargo bay at the Roussians  as Si rested her head on his lap, while Melia  worked on them. .. I do not know..just how 'old' the Roussians  are...as far as  space travel  or war.... but? I know probes when i see them... They kept testing  Bornberry's   task force... to see  what they could get away with.... when we left for the signings.. i guess they figured there was 'no one minding the store.'

 There was a chuckle,..if i would die...right now? The delta Fleet would still be the darkest force the Empire , or any one else will have to face... you are not  Fighting, The Oliver Hacks.... you are fighting the Human Race, along with the APF  and all the races who join us...

 The  Female  Naragrans  waves her   spindle arms at this.

  Then he  turns back to Lyri,..so?  we rolled the dice.... if they didn't do anything stupid..then we had another new colony world... but?  they chose to be stupid... so now..we will have a new colony world..governed solely by APF races

  Once we reach the Hermes... the entire  fleet is going to sail over Nivar,  from Pole to pole.. we car going to pound it to boxwood with hard ammo and   giant Pulse Cannons....Then?  we will  wait.. to see what happens  with your machines.. one way or the other.. we'll be sending  down Colonists...again.. This  time, More Naragrans..as well as the Ape folks from the Delta  planets....  we will have advisors  from the green Moon  Nivarians as well as  the Naragran   leaders....and.... It would Appear the SGT Major is  right... The Cavet  and   Naragran leaders will now be  in charge of the Nivar system Colonies....

 ..I...I am Unsure?  I will have to enlist aid..... make a council...
 she seemed unsure.

 ..You have  time...Juil.. but you will have a council  made up of  Humans, Greenmoon  Nivarians, Naragrans and Apefolk..and? no matter  the council, you will be the   ruling factor... the council..is  just that.. to give you thier take on things...and from there.. you make your decisons..good or ill...

 Then he finishes  for Lyri,..so?  we drew them out.. as  we planned. But i did not forsee thousands of whack jobs kiling themselevs.. to kill us?... Best laid plans...and all that...

   The   Fighters , indeed, broke off,  they were acting  as if the Bomb run was going to continue, even with the   transports  rising into the air.

  fran's COMs  came through.......Going in...   her flight  came from above... they didn't worry about the Bombers now.. they had to make sure no fighters got through to the transports.

   They began to  chew up  fighters, but the Sundrops  were still fast and agile... One that flew through the   first wave    veered straight into n Sommes Fighter, Blowing them both to Bits...

  Shadow snapped.....they are going to kill themselevs,,if it means killign us.... evade..shoot them down..and ignore any surrender lights!  Sundrops  were Vanishing here and there  as the  first wave of  figthers met them.

  Musset  chew up  up as  Howe's flight came up under the   Nivarians, it blew up, never knowing  Mussette was there....  One fighter tried to Ram Kat, who  spun on her axis  and fired her power weapons in a continued stream, sending it to the 9 hells

 Shadow   fired his  Cannons at one coming head on, then flew through the debris . He was coming  head on the lead Bomber... having hardly used any 37 mMM for strafing..he  pulled thr trigger, letting the belt  fed gatling cannon spray round after round into the front of the large aircraft... Bits of armor Flew off, the   cockpit for the   Pilots  shattered,, one of the  right  wing engine Pods exploded, snapping off the  Wing and the giant aircraft nosed down  trailing smoke and fire   it would  hit  somewhere near the  armor  moving up the  valley towards the North  gate of The Alamo..
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:14, Wed 02 Aug 2017.

 Sarah watched the shuttles and transports dust of as the Nivarian fighters streaked in.  As soon as the last transport came off the ground she started snapping orders.  "Helm hard to port I want us in between those enemy fighters and our transports, give us a 2 revolution per minute roll to give all our guns a chance to fire.  I don't care if our engines irradiate the surface. Engineering prepare to take damage,  medlab standby.   We can take more of a beating than the shuttles.  Guns I want those enemy fighters  down now! Nav plot a course to keep us in between the transports and fighters as we exfil." She calls out.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:18, Wed 02 Aug 2017.

   Karl's  weapons   hit where the armor was coming from.. he could  see,,on the  screens'colder areas' that would signal Tunnels ..  Some aromor  wnr into the air.. some caused other  near them to explode...

 It appears.. the armor  came, from the  same source as the  crazed suicide attackers....

..........

 The Ironwood  slid into the space between the Stolys and the  Big Ugly.. Two fighters  managed to  make their  way through the Hermes  wing..  Flores  was on their tail.. both of them  were shooting at the  ironwood  with their  Golden Lazars..   the Corvette was taking hits, for now it was negligible ... but one thing   was certain... the  fighters  weren't  trying to get out of Ironwood's  way.  Flores    fired.. trying  not to Miss and hit Ironwood.. she nicked up one  fighter,, but the pilot levels off to head   for  the nearest bit of  Ironwood it could hit.

"All sections brace for impact!" Sarah announces crisply over the ship comm. As she quickly clipped her crash harness.  LT Termaine was calling out firing pattern and writing and rewriting targeting solutions as quickly as he could type and think.  "Engineering I want more power to defensive systems." Sarah calls out, as LC Harrington brings the warships fire suppression systems from passive to active mode. Through out the ship crew members that hadn't already, mostly the medtechs and a handful of engineers,  quickly donned and sealed their helmets in order to protect themselves from a loss of pressure.

   Garrat was listening to the com chatter.  "Sounds like we get to clear some ships when we get back."

   Flores   piled on the thrusters.. trying to catch the  two fighters.. the one she  hit was awkward.. but  focused..

  The Ironwood weapons fired   the 'heathy' fighter  Blew up , in an explosion  Much bigger then the ' tin foil' fighter should have,    Flores had  to Pull  Up and away to avoid  colliding with  the  corvette.

 The  wounded on took a shot from the AA guns   but  rammed into the Corvetter, just under the Hanger dec..

 The explosion shook the Corvette... red lights  and horns went off through the ship... two hanger dec Crewman were killed, from the shrapnel that  burst through the floor

 Flores came on the COMs......I am sorry!..I couldn't catch them!

 She  Peeled back to head towards  the   Large   aircraft and the Melee  in the air.


 Shadow's  Bomber  was just Hitting the   ground  now... the explosion sent   Soil , rock and  Bodies ,from the back of the wave.. 200 feet in the  air.. trees  were   flattened ....

  Howe came on the COMs..those  big bastards?  they won't  catch the transports...but they could catch the Big Ugly....

  Shade  Plopped  down  By Garrat,  near orria  and Shoemaker.   His hands  still had  Purple  Blood on them.. there was a burn mark on  the Back of his uniform.

  ..his eyes  were slolwy changing towards  Blue  again

    Beth  hacked the Big Uglys  Vid  screens  and showed the  fighters  and bombers.. she got the  screen up, just as the ironwood took the impact from the fighter.

.. the explosion for the  Bombers was Massive... Hack shook his head,..they were never going to bomb anything... they were going to crash right into us...

  Tell me... because i am really interested..why, in the 9 hells would you side with the Empire..throw your lives  away..meaninglessly against  the ESN/APF ?

  ..The  demons allowed us  to live our own lives.... all we had to do is provide  tribute and  ships  when they needed it... any raid we did against your people would get us  bonus creds... much like you do with the Tortugans.....

 The Cavet said, Sharply ,.... that is to say.. you  gave over women and children to the Empire  for   what ever fate awaited them....While the Council and the Merchant Kings raked in the creds...

  The woman of the high council spoke.....you have to  forgive  Juil.. she wanted to  be in the  2nd Layer of gold?  but she had a problem..... she couldn't understand, that some people were meant to serve others.... she caused  some problems  when the Machines were being build..demanding  creds  for worker  families, who were killed in the installation.. we had to send her to  the green Moon... sentenced to be in charge, until the time we saw fit to allow her to return..

    "Sounds like she is a better leader than you'll ever be

Sarah's face was a stony mask devoid of emotion. The Ironwood buckled under the impact, alarms started going off as various damage lights and control systems lit up like a Christmas tree. "Helm keep us between the big ugly and the bombers. Guns prioritize those slow heavy bombers.  Engineering damage report." Around the ship three various components and teams that had been standing by leapt to action diagnosing damage seeking out casualties doing their jobs with an efficiency that had been finely honed by the command team.

   It did not take long for the   news to come in... 2 dead..one had a leg that needed a cap ship  med tech..or a trip to a  Med tech Ship.

  Damage  control here... damn Big whole in the Bottom Ma'am.. we can close  it  so we can break Atmo... we shut off  Melder pipes, so they won't blow.... Static  filed is flickers.. we have  techs on that..

  The Council merely  sneered at Garrat's words...The  High Council said,... it is for those who have  the creds.. to lead those  who do not have creds.... it is a fact of life.. wegive  enough creds  to them, to  make them work.... The Cities  keep  the   upper classes  safe and happy..and  the factories, farms and Mines  keep the   workers  happy....

 The  fellow in darker  robes of the  Military spoke up...Why do you think all those  people  charged, with ouyt fear of death?  The Sun would take them to her  heart.. and those who survived would be granted  the 2nd  ring up...allowed to live in the outskirts of the cities.. and get a  healthy  amount  creds every month.. maybe enough to start a business..and move up?...

 Hack looked around at this,..so?.. all the  Upper classes live in the cities... the others  are forces out to the outskirts and  wilderness?

  The HC nodded  and shrugged.,..it is simply, but  effective.. the lesser people  protect the important people?

   Hack waved  beth over.....  I want the Fleet..the whole damn fleet... to begin to mass at Nivar.... I want this order sent to very ship that has a gun....  The Hermes  will lead the fleet..in a  net..over the   planet, starting from the north pole.. we will  go from Pole to pole.. ships  taking meridians  and searching  for cities... you will  shell those  cities to  rubble.. you will continue that until we  meet at the south pole....

 ..you are worse then any demon....!

  I certainly hope so..... there are thousands dead down there.. and   its not over yet...perahps.. we can Balence the scales a bit.. but  killing   thousands of  the 'upper class'..hmmm?... too bad, they won't know what's  coming.

 beth Gets a Bleep..Its  Commander bronberry Sir..she wants to know....

 ..Tell her to get her task force back here.. we won't start without her.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:24, Wed 02 Aug 2017.

   Garrat shakes his head, "What did you fools think was going to happen.  We'd let you use tricks on us that Hack has been using from the beginning?"  He shakes his head, "First rule of combat, know yourself and know your enemy.  That's universal."

Thrusting towards the oncoming targets Zarina moved so they would sweep past them allowing the BB's nose gun at full angle of 22.5 degrees to send a sustained burst along it. Firing the rounds streamed across the distance smacking across the length of the lumbering bomber tearing up its canopy and passing into whatever was below. Flashes of light and flames sprang forth as the HE rounds exploded adding further destruction. The incoming Fighters allowed them only enough time for the one pass at the Bombers. Justin and Waggle lets see how well we fare against the Fighters.

The BB shuddered from the impact of teturn fire from the Bombers tail gunner. Glancing at first at the orange light then to the source on the BB's left, spotting smoke trailing from the side. Leafing left and right Zarina quickly extinguished any flames then checked her Baby Bee's handling. Fortunatly the hit wasn't that serious and hadn't hit anything vital. Tapping on the flashing orange button just as it went green.

Compensating for the effect of the Bombers beam, she quickly caught up with Kase and Waggle, as they headed towards the enemy fighters hearing the chatter from the other Flights. Damnable Kamikaze's exclaimed Zarina as two fighters, an ESN and one of there's, disappeared. Opening fire at two targeted enemy craft, one directly in front and one to her left 10 degrees off her axis. BB rounds and beams chewed up the Sundrops punching holes into the targeted, which disintegrate in nearly simultaneous flashes of light. The only way that could happen is if they were. The Sundrops are packed with Explosives. alerted Zarina.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:54, Thu 03 Aug 2017.

   Zarina's   weapons  were performing  well... the  bomber took   the weapon damage.. its  Nose, dropped  as smoke  and fire bellowed  from the  seam stitched across the  side and back.

  It  was going to hit  the Ground  soon..  and the   thousands of  people, still  heading towards the base... didn't  care to look up.. the few that did  Cheered as they saw the Bomber, not knowing why is was getting  closer.

   Zarinia  felt  a shutter  as Golden lazars hit  the underside  of the Bee.. the Tail gunner of  the Bomber.. was firing the   whole way down, at any ESN craft he  could  find... an ornage light lit up on Zarinia's  console ...

    The  first wave of Hermes fighters   had nocked down  11   Sundrops with Zarinia  and a few others, there were  ouls 13 left..... they were now  climbing  as well  trying to reach the stoly's  and the Big Ugly

 Frans   shouted into the COMs,...forget the Bombers for now... try and Cut off the fighters  from reaching the shuttles!!!

 The   Bombers    shifted formation, so their  guns  could help cover each other...7 fighters  were streaking up wards.. while 6 others   flew cover for the bombers .. they would   lash out  at   the ESN fighters who  drew near... many of the ESN fighters  were trailing white  vapor, or even black smoke.

  Shadow and his people  began to Climb... trying hard to Ignore the massive  Bombers that seemed like their  climb rate,was a bit faster then the Big Ugly

 About that time.. Zarinia's  Bomber  plowed into the  ground, another  massive   explosion,  wiping out Hundreds of Massed  attackers...... and still they surged to the base.. some  few. who were faster ha d  reach the Base carrying homemade flags....

  But Vanished  in orange-yellow   blood as claymores were set off.

Justin's Dart cruised along in Strikers 8, rounds from the Bee streaked out peppering the Heavy Bomber which quickly dropped out of its formation smashing into the moon. Split up and stear clear of any Bogey's prompted Justin as he lined up on one headed his way, pumping two bursts into it. Quickly rolling away he nodded in satisfaction as solid rounds shredded the thin sundrop sending fragments everywhere. Banking hard to starboard he scanned the area for threats, before he lined up on a bogey attempting to lock onto Waggle's tail; sweeping forward and pumping rounds into it.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:14, Thu 03 Aug 2017.