Hack stood up so  the Screens  could see him, and that he would be able to Look over the   room. Gai  had  slipped in and stood in the back.

  ..Before  we  start, LC?  I received in the housekeeping mail, That the Charon,  durning the time of thier intervention with us, had ..no working  Engines. The Verians  has  wired  in   Shuttle   powercells to get a bit of  power, and used thrusters.  In Lilit's  words "... we have made  a fine choice in our Captain, and several of the crew have received promotions in their respective areas of  expertise .."

 ..Now..for the  brief of the  op.... we have two places  for  safe houses..Shadow's   Condo , which will be on the roof  next to mine, as last time......There will be the  Toy Store.. it has a  basement  that leads to  the service tunnels..as  always.. the  Hits will all be  going off  at the same time, to  confuse  the enemy, and cut off   where they can said aid to...You cannot take  these ops as a  'walk in the park'...we have had people die on ops.. we have had  the marks  get away...each on  we eliminate, makes our cause stronger..everyone that gets away..well..Makes Lady V  stronger...

 ..Now ..I will turn it over   to Elge...

  Elge flicks through some Pics...

  depending on where you were during the last Ball.... This picture is Giovanni Marko.. he ..was.. the Chairman of Sevente's Board.. he will be at the party to try and Lobby for   his palce  back, or at lest a place  at the table...he runs the  Underground on Etna...and  he is most ruthless...

 ..This is Andar Olanni... he is making   transports load of crds in the Asteroid  Blet.. the same Belt , that  Lady V is hiding in... we  are most concerned, he was also transporting  slaves..


 ..This is Lucci De Grande ..her transport  company is  somewhere in the top 3... with only  Ms Emmie's Transport Company ahead of her...again?.. slaves, weapons and Tech being sent to either EDT groups, or..The Empire itself.

 ..Last of the  big 4.. Micca Florine..  her  factories  on  Etna  provide  80% of the weapons to the  Etna  troopers ... her  Factories on Earth provide 90 % of the miliary arms..however That's  th Lt Morrow?... we have  found that some of her Creds  are makign thier  way to Olympus  and the EDT.


   Elge  leans  forward,..there  are some..... people... that we need to take care of , in the Stem.....

 Richard  speaks up,we also must be careful... the  SEC we trust will be  around the HQ   for the Ball..needless to say , most of you will be there... , but the focus on the ball, will help keep the Media away from what you need to do.....We will have  another set of Names delivered to Shadow's Condo... as always...  your activities  will be finalized there, thus?  no one  can know, unless they were in the room, which..will narrow  down on who will need to be silenced.

Roy nodded as Elge gave his rundown, and when things paused, he turned to Hack.  "We setting up one of Gresh's people to take over Marko's operations when he's gone?  Or just letting the power vacuum fill in on its own?"  He semmed utterly unconcerned with the prospect of eliminating the individuals involved.

  ..That depends. Black Market is one thing... sometimes  it makes the station a better place.but  not when it involves  slaves  or sending aid to our  Enemies...I think?.. for now.. we cleanse the place..and we'll see what happens  after that.

  ..when you  reach  Shadow's Condo, the packets  will  be  be opened there.. and  The SM and Shadow  will  finalize  the ops...some of you will  , of course  have to  do most of your work in the Stem.. others will have to use you skills as well as your wiles .

 Shadow raises his hand  and speaks ( after  swallowing  a bit of powered doughnut ),..So?.. the BAll is the BIg thing...how are we to set up?

    Hack Looked through his  Vid board...We are  starting off  with the Ball, we made sure the Media knows its  coming, and  Admiral Richards   is going through the Motions to set it up...

  In Keeping with the change of of the Guard,   The Male Military offciers  will were   Dress Blues... with award Pins rather then the Medals... Female Military will report to  the Commander's Quarters  for  Angel silk   Dresses.. the style, the ladies  wear, will be up to you...The point here, is to  get the  Gamma troops and Media to  be watching  you....The Ball..I am hoping..should go smoother then last time, but it  will also serve to   get our people a good look at our targets..

 ..Frans, Eckles  and the Commander  will also aid those who need , or wish  touch up on make up and such.. Ladies?..  You do not need to wear your award pins..but if you earned a Blue  Max, you will wear the   ribbon and medal..  Elge?

 ..Yes, Comrade  Admiral, the  BAll  should end close to Mid night.. no one should leave before  10:00.... by then, our  trusted people  will be in place..Somewhere  close to  11... My friend, Shadow.. will decide he is not having   fun and announce that he is heading to his  Condo for his famous..'after parties'... that will give all of you... and the support people a reason to leave... once at the Condo.. the party  Noise and such  will cover your planning as you see what Ops there will be...again..at that Point the SGT Maj..and to some extent.. The LC will take over...I will issue   this warning... Our trusted  people  will be spread thin..  they will be in pairs..NONE..will be in the  stem. There will be  2 or 3 teams in the Uppers...and 3 in the  Lowers, Not counting  the   SEC at the Ball....

 Lydia  speaks up,we have reinforced the  Toy  Store.. and Have  a pair of our SEC  near there... and of course, you have your people on the inside.

 All right... to wrap this  up.. this is what you will need.... Dress blues, or  a Dress from the Commander..... you will need a Bag with  streetclothes  and  some black Op clothing..and whatever   weapons you chose  to use..SGT MAj and Lyri, should make sure they have a  choice of a sniper  rifle.  he put his  board  down  and leans on the  desk,..when all the Ops  are done...no matter how they turn out.... You  all end up back at Shadow's Condo.. relax..party..whatever... the next day will be  yours as far as shore leave, since we have a bunch of ships  that are going to be getting repaired...

 He is quiet for a second, then adds,..last time we were here, we lost a rookie..couldn't have been  with us  for 48 hours. Not only was he waxed by his target, he failed  to get the information..and, of course, failed to take out the target..That.. will have  ramifications down the road... another  mark fled... and  Sevente's wife  has gone  dark

 ..However.. Hemlsy Converted one of the people in the group he took out...Elge came over to our side.. and Lydia is now in the Mix.... Gia seems to have found a home here as well. Now?  Before  we dismiss...are there any Questions?

Justin, sipped from the mug of Java and remained silent, any question he had were sure to change when the teams got their assignment.

As Roy asked whether or not they should install somebody to take over from Marko or simply let the vacuum he left fill naturally Harry would give a quick shake of her head before offering her advice "personally I'd find somebody to fill those shoes, the last thing Admiral Richards wants is a turf war breaking out as they tend to be very messy and cause a lot of collateral damage...also if we choose now we won't have to come back in a few weeks time to deal with a dangerous psychopath" she said in way of advice. After all surely her background was part of the reason she was getting this gig?

Sitting quietly as the briefing began Harry would listen to the bare bones of the plan that was being proposed for the op, wincing when she was told that she'd be wearing an Angel Silk dress for the ball. Why a dress? Why can't I wear a dress uniform like the men? she quietly lamented, pitying the poor woman that had to try and make her look glamorous.

After delivering a word of caution concerning a former rookie, the Admiral then asked if there were any questions as was traditional in these situations "sir...am I to assume that there are to be no witnesses?" Harry cautiously asked, unsure as to whether this was simply her past life kicking in or a dumb rookie question. All the same she wanted to avoid any confusion once things got underway.

Roy cleared his throat, looking at the Admiral, and said, "He only missed the target and any intel, but that target...and anyone he talked to...know about us.  How much he knows is uncertain...but he took our man's comm and called to let us know he evaded the hit.  So, don't rely too heavily on the 'nobody knows we're coming' factor."  He grimaced and shook his head.

"Unless told otherwise, it's more important that these targets are eliminated than it is to get intel about them.  If we knock down our targets, there are good chances that we can gather intel later.  But the last thing we need is to tip them off and lose any more of our people in the process."

He looked at Harry and answered, "If you have witnesses, they should not be able to identify who did the deed.  If you can pass yourself off as a street-punk and make it look like the target was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, that's fine.  But we don't want the trail leading back to the Fleet."

  Hack waited  for Roy to give his answer,..now there is a good question..sadly, it  can only be answered on site.  Hemsly  saved a   woman who, seemed to have  been swept up in events, I think she is in Bura now... Shadow, Himself , brought in  Elge...but, to be sure, that was because Elge  made the first move....Emmie had  been brought   in, when Shadow  questioned  why  she  would have been marked..but...well...blew up a who  resort and   those in in.

 .. to be   fair, Sir... I set a bomb  that was emant for me, in the bathroom of a Mark... thier own bomb set off  the fire..that..um..set off the gasses and powercell...

 .Son?.. Did you set that Bomb....

 ..well..Yeah..but...

 Then you blew it  up, and some  dozen high rollers  with it..

 ..its the whole omelette -egg thing again, Admiral , Sir..

  Hack gave  Shadow a  shake of his  head as he  looked at him, then turned back to HArry,..if?  tghere  are  people about . you try to  get rid of them.. or  take  care of you op  with the least amount of eyes  possibe...But..they they can make you...and they aren't friendies.. then...

 Then you make omelettes ....

Harry would nod her head in understanding over the instruction that under no circumstances was anyone to trace the hit back to the fleet, with Shadow, if she understood correctly, inferring that eliminating such witnesses was a possibility "Oh Roy, honey I am a street punk!" Harry spoke with a short laugh before continuing "...consequently I think I'd better wear sleeves for this Op, I...um... have a lot of identifying marks on my arm" she said whilst unconsciously running her hand down the arm in question. All the same it would be better to avoid being seen, and even better if the hits were made to look like accidents or the work of someone else entirely.

With no further questions of her own Harry would wait to see if anyone else would speak.

  The Admiral loked over the room, he would answer  any other  questions, those  if there  weren't  any More, he would dismiss the group...

    Shade Grabbed  another Powder   Dough Nut.....Alight?..is that More then 2?

 Shade   shook his head...

 ..then why is your  face all white?

   He  whirled  and  Bleeped.

  ,,because  it stuck to the jelly.....why do you want another one?

  He  waved his  arms a bit and  he whirled.

 ..no..no you do not  take  1 doughnut.... take that  unopened box of  6... and   don't stay there all Night.. Melia  needs rest..

 Shade Puts  the  ...some what crunched  doughnut into  Shadow's hand  , grabs the Box  and makes off  to the Civie section.

 Shadow looked  at the  squashed   doughnut  and shakes his head,..well.. his heart is in the right place...

 Shadow Hanger Deck>>>>>>>>>>>>

Roy grinned at Harry, as the meeting broke up.  "No...you WERE a street punk.  You're a Hermes pilot, now."  He gave her a nod.  "Pretty sure Commander Si has a few long-sleeved options in her gown collection...you're right, it would be smart to keep street ink covered up, at least for the ball.  Plenty of pilots with tats, but they're mostly military ink and anything you've got that doesn't match that will attract focus and get people asking questions."

He shrugged, and added, "When it's time to dress for the ball, you can ask about options...might even be something with one long sleeve and the other arm bare, which might fit the overall theme better.  Ask Commander Si and Lt. Frans for suggestions...between the two of them, you'll end up dressed to kill and likely your own mother wouldn't recognize you if you never played dress-up as a teen..."  While he didn't feel the years, he was aware that there was a strong likelihood that Harry had been nothing more than a toddler when he was her age, and he had to consciously adjust his wording to avoid sounding like he was highlighting the age differential.

Henry sat quietly with Mila listening to all that was said. He wasn't quite sure if the pair of them were to be involved - they were intelligence gatherers, not assassins. He waited to find out what they might want the pair of them to do.

Mila seemed to sense his unease and nudged her head under his hand.

  As  Hack  rose to leave, the  screens went out. Stopping  by  Henry,The Admiral says,..I won't  say much  more then this,It seems you may have ...unfinished Business, on the Mountain, at Etna... There is a good Bet you'll need your full team for this....

 Giving a grim nod, Hack continued   out the door and down the hall to  The SEC  main office.

Ah! Henry brightened up. That was a bit more up his street.

"Understood, Admiral. Do you need Mila and I to attend the ball?"

 Hack  thought  about it  for a Moment,.,.This Ball.. is more  for Looks  then it is for standard form. Anytime we  dock at a station, it assumed   Officers  and such  would be invited, with The Flagship getting the Most of the  Invites.

 ..Now?  It  Richards had not be thrust into this, as anyone else, she would have had a lower Key  Ball... but we needed to have, ay el;ast...Dsress Blues  for now. So?   Get you  Fancy  suit.. add on your pins..though?.. I am quite uncertain if the Commander has a Gown that will fit Mila..  he smiles.

"I think Mila will best be served by a good brushing... and maybe a bow on her collar."

Henry stroked the dog's ears.

"I'm not quite sure what civilians do to indicate medals when they don't wish to actually wear them. You military folks have the ribbon bars... In historical times, people sometimes put a small piece of ribbon on their lapel, or a metal pin. I shall have to do some research on that."

  Hack  shrugs,..I am sure the Pins that  came with the  awards , will sever   well enough?..This isn't Sevente's  Party. This is a Party  thrown by a warrior  admiral...but   showing  you were part of the action

 Then  he smiles ,..not that anyone in a toy store, or who watches  the Vids, wouldn't know.

Muri listened to the briefing.

She found herself captivated by the whole thing.

She certainly understood the what and why.  She found herself looking forward to getting her assignment.

She didn't have any real questions of the moment.  She would save those for her assignment.

For the time being, she slipped into observation mode.  Watching and observing those around her.

"That was the plan, though apparently they want the street punk as well" Harry responded to Roy's comment before listening as he suggested she talk to Frans and the other women about a style of dress that would conceal the street ink on her arm, which she had to admit was a rather sensible idea. When the subject of not being recognised by her own mother came up Harry would shift uncomfortably before speaking in a rather subdued voice "Yeah...I guess she wouldn't" the memory of the last time her mother had actually seen her wasn't a particularly nice one and had happened so long ago she didn't even know where to start with getting back in touch with her, not until I'm something she can be proud of, something they can both be proud of! she silently promised before forcing a smile back onto her face "well I'd better leave you to it...might see if I can get my hands on a pair of those training blades that Shadow had, and a victim...I mean partner!...and brush up on my skills" she said in a voice that still sounded more than a little awkward.

   Garrat had slipped in earlier...with a big cup of coffee ...looking disheveled.  He didn't have much to say as he seemed to be getting his bearings.

   He was listening.  "Well I don't exactly have an ESN dress uniform as I'm considered a part of attached forces myself but I have managed to have a Einherjar dress uniform made as I still hold rank in that military.  Will this be acceptable?"

  Hang on Harriet, I'd like to give those blades a try myself.

   Hack  Just Nodded to GArrat,..As long  as  yo have the  ESN/APF devices on.. it will do... The Burians  still wear there Greens with our Insignia .. just..you know.. stay away from Red...


The Russian troops in teh ESN have  changed thier  tunics  to Crimson... the EVOLs   still wear red...

   Garrat looks across between satisfied and uncomfortable.  "As you say sir.  I'm afraid the cut isn't standard but it shouldn't offend anyone."

"Harriet?...Now that sounds like fighting talk" Harry said with a laugh with Garrat's offer to spar with her visibly lifting her mood. Truth be told, despite the rather drastic size and weight difference between them she was kind of looking forward to taking him on, after all if she could best Garrat then she could probably beat anyone. Unfortunately before she was able to speak anymore on the subject she would receive Commander Si's invitation for all of the women going to the ball to join her in her quarters for a fitting.

After several moments of desperately searching for a way to get out of going Harry would offer Garrat a deflated look as she spoke "Can I get a rain check Gar?...I need to pick a...um...dress...for the ball" she said in an embarrassed voice, sticking around long enough to hear any reply Garrat may make before walking out the room with the look of someone who had a date with a firing squad.

---> Commander Si's Quarters

In reply to Harriet Lynch (msg # 851):

    Garrat chuckles, "I've seen women that commander Si has worked with before.  Don't worry, she'll find a way to let you keep your fire.  She's good at it.  I'll look forward to your schooling me latter."