GAmma Quad  actions

   Scaffolding was going up. Beth was Directing  her   people as they set up Screens  and Feeds. and her  console  was slowly lighting up.

   Shade  and Orria were with her. He helped a bit ..Orria  held tools. The  Verian Pistol on her  Hip reminded everyone, that the little girl  had  Seen real action.

  Things  were a bit Diffe3rant this time around. Barricades , like those used in the streets of cities  hand been set up.. a line of them near the QMs, another Line of them across the Mech shop.. and  a  line  of them front the stage to  Morris's Office.

  Heavy Pulse guns were step  up all around. The 3rd  Duce that wasn't  going out  was parked, in such a way, as her  Bubble  guns covered the  Hanger Dec.

  In another Hour, the fleet would  cast off... and  another Hour after that.. The Pregame would begin.

  even at this early hour, some folks were settling down to wait...some Pilots   doing their last checks.

Henry turned up early, with everything he needed to explain the Bug Bombs, and Mila trotting at his heels. She was wearing her harness.

Roy lingered around the periphery, staying out of the way of the set-up crews.  He'd tried sitting in Security to flesh out boarding plans, but he felt the need to move and pacing in the Security offices just made everyone on duty nervous.  So, he went somewhere that would not make his pacing so noticeable.

On top of working out tactics for the boarding operations, he was also waiting for some kind of update on Clye.  Losing a security trooper right before taking off would be, to him, some kind of ill omen, even though he knew such things were a common risk.

    More and  more people  began to arrive.. Screens were showing the   names of ships... Beth had decided on  larger  screens  split into 4, to save  room. Even at that, there were  a lot of screens.. But one stood out among the others....

  It held the   Name of the Sally Ride Flagship of the  GAmma Fleet.. Earth...'Bug Leader" And  Attila, flag ship of the Alpha  Fleet.

   Stefi came  onto the  Flight  Dec , and Hunted down Roy. She  said to him under her breath,I recieved a COM from Shadow......I am woried  about him... first?... He has talked the Admiral into allowing  Penilli to fly in this  Jump off.... Second of all... that terrorist?... he  had me patch  the man's knees up, only to the point, that they would  heal... like the old days... no plast.. no foam?.. then... he had the  guy transferred to  the Brig under  'Unknown'.. the chief..well.. you know the  Chief  down there.. he'd  jump into the   Hermes foundry if Shadow asked him to. her eyes shifted,..he had me tag the  guy as DOA.....but i said i couldn't do that....his answer was.."..oh?  he's dead.. it just didn't take yet"... I....I.. went  along  with it.. I don't know  how far up that idea  came from... and.. i am not sure i want to..

 Then she grew  a bit  pensive,..your trooper Clye?... he'll be....all right, sort of He'll need an arm from the shoulder down... and his left leg from the knee down.. Once Pregame is over.. we're  shipping him to the  Sparrow

 As she  Talked , Roy saw  Penilli and   Jenns ( who should be off duty , but wasn't) standing  near Rivets and Morris.... A HAmmwer 3  Reserve  craft was  sitting   between at and B flight... it was painted with the  roundels  of Italy from WW1.. The aircraft had no Number  , but had a  giant 'A' on the fin.



  Shadow was  walking  towards the growing Crowd, a doughnut in hand and a soda. He stopped at the stage and  handed a Box  to   Shade  and Orria, and a  waitress  gave them each some chocolate milk... they both stopped what they were doing and  sat on the stage... innocently munching on the  powered sugar as if nothing was a miss.

  The LC sat on some crates.. a few  of the Pilots  gathered in close.  Gia   stood close.. but  was a bit wary of some of the other  Pilots...Urns  stayed away from  Gai. The 'newest' Blue max flier  seemed  nervous.

 The waitress fanned out  like troopers,  with trays of   doughnuts and  hover carts of  drinks.

 There were Murmurs as Hack, Si, and the rest of the board, including the   Ambassadors  came down the Ramps..  Captain For the  was with them.. For the left the group and continued on to meet up  with the Sanri officer who was commanding the Sanri Boarding  party, For the  would   take into the  Ewald's Hanger Dec.

 Hack Saw  Henry and  Motioned  for him to come up on stage...  Screens  were flickering to life.. Even as  The Board Mounted the   stage.

  Massive  Horns  Sounded.. echoing through the    Ship.. Those  closes the  Ramp door  here  dozens of  Horns  like that... or  heard them from the speakers of the Screens ,  as ships slipped the Docks... to head out , into the BLAck.. All But  two Alpha  Caps ships   were a bit  ahead of the Delta Fleet... 2 Delta  CAps ships that were still getting plates repaired would stay behind   to help guard   Everest... as well as all of the  Alpha Fleets destroyers.

  Hack looked at the clock, it had been  set to 6:00:00... He  Called into the Mic,..Alright.... please  bear with  me..... We are going to have Doc Henry explain the use of the 'bug bombs'... all boarding folks  should  pay attention...all ships  Commanders.. , make certain your relay this information... After  Doc Henry's   information is   dealt out... we  will bring  Alpha Fleet and Gamma  Fleet into the pregame.... Now... before  we  start...   the Jump off clock needs to be set..... On My Mark...

 He  held up his own COM to  match with the  Clock as he said,....3.....2.......1....MARK!...  the  Count down started...5:56:26...and running.

 Also?.. after the Pregame... The LC will have a meeting by the   Hanger Dec   doors for all pilots...Thank you... Doc?..You'er up!
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:19, Fri 10 Nov 2017.

Henry saw Hack's gesture and came up onto the stage, finding somewhere at the back. Not for long, as he was called forwards to explain the Bug Bombs.

He stepped up front and centre, and held one up.

"This is a new weapon which is real nasty. It can hurt you as much as the enemy, so care must be taken when deploying them. Keep your armour sealed even if you are in atmosphere, and shower down before you take it off and you ought to be fine."

He continued explained what it did and how to operate it, demonstrating with the one he was holding (which was, of course, deactivated!). Then he showed the demo vid he'd been sent.

"We have limited supplies which will be distributed amongst the boarding teams, but if they are effective we will go into production big time. Any questions?"

  The first part of the Pregame..all the screens were lit Up.    Gi-Fi appeared on Earth's  Screen...  Commander  Si did not seem to pleased to see her father.

  Sevente on his  Flagship... A Lower Admiral ( Admiral   Haki Onson ) was on the  Sally Ride.

  Finally   A Humanoid  Buck sat in a chair...to most humanoids she would disgusting.. Long greenish  hair from a  'helm-head  carpace ..  a pair of eyes   that were  wide, but had  'eyeballs'..of sorts.

 the face was angular..a 'nose  rifge'  was in the center of her  face..three 'nostral holes' on each side of that  ridge.

 she stood   to stare  at the screns, in a bot of  a surprised  as the  jagged mouth opened when  HAck appeared on the  screen.

 Her body was much like a human woman, though she  was encased in Boarding Armor.. the 'normal' attached , egg sack had  been removed. a sign that  she was a warrior.. or  has chosen to not breed anymore.

  Hack  gave a thin Liped  Smile,..I will only waste a moment of your time..and  you may save  the time for your Techs.... you won't be able to shut me off..until i want to go..

 ..Speak..Unclean creature....

 Right.... I am giving you this   ..ONE... chance to withdraw your   people from Matterhorn space.... should  you fail to agree.. I am ..quite afraid, we will have to  wipe you out.....I will mention.. Our  Apefolk are hoping you don't.. they are looking forward to fresh eggs..

 ..posture as you wish..animal...you and your people do not  frighten us...

 well?.. see? That's is going to be  your  downfall... We'll have to make sure  we capture a ship or two of yours... to store all the  food the Apefolk are hoping to get.

  .. You will be crushed  like a larva our boots...

  ..Right.. well.. Nice Talking to you  Admiral Gletis ... make sure you look me up when the  fire  starts to fly.. I'm on the Hermes...If  you can't  find me?.. I'll make Damn sure  , I find you...Damn shame for your people.. how many generations  are you going to lose.. because you tried to take out one  generation of humans?

  Hack Nods  to Beth who cuts off  the Bug Leader's feed.

  Hack  looked  to Ge_fi,..Ge_fi.... we have a ..situation in Gamma  Quad. YOu'll be able to see the  Media Vids... but, unless you are sending any ships out this way..  You will have no say in what goes on. This is  just , me being nice.

 ..You know  we cannot  send ships..we must protect the Sol system...

  ..so?.. even with the Paradise  System free?.. Angels   will not  help?

  Renegades from the Moons... and some malcontents  on  Paradise have been  going to  Astra and  Fuji Space.... the rest are keeping  the Paradise system safe..

  ..and I am Quite sure   that Olympus is  a bulwark for the protection of the Sol system?

 .. Ambassador Frans is working hard to  stop  the  steady flow of deaths, that you seem only too happy to  continue...

 ..when you send  tribute  to the Empire.. that counts as a 'flow of lives' he  looks    at the Angel  Fleet Marshal ,... i will stop that.... but i have other  things on my plate  right now.... YOu can tell  Frans... his  time is  nearing its  end.....and perhaps... it may be time to Free EArth as well... something, Ge-Fi.. for you to think on...

 The Feed to Ge-Fi was Cut.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:22, Fri 10 Nov 2017.

There was  just Sevente and  Onson were now the Focus.

..Admirals. I am going to lay this out, so it is understood...there is  not to be  any Variance in these  orders...to do so, could  turn something bad..into something that is far worse...and..if that happens... This could be the tipping point, for the  Empire....something.. i do not want to see.. is this Understood?

 Both Admirals nodded and  said  'aye'

 ..Admiral Onson, Since you are on the Flagship, i must deduce That Admiral Richards  is on the Matterhorn?

 ..Aye, Admiral Hack. She his  keeping the  defenses in the Uppers alive..and sending out fighter sorties..it...is bad...Admiral Hack.

 Indeed. But  we are going to change that. Models  show, the best way to  send the bugs  packing is to destroy the Matterhorn... I..Don't want to do this. To lose a carrierstation at this point would be devastating ..and the lose of   AP  lives... too great. But?... that option is  still on the table, should things go South.... Admiral Onson, and Admiral Sevente?.... DO NOT...let things go south. he held their gaze until they nodded.

  Haki? You will relay my Orders to Admiral Richards.. her  troops  and fighters  are to start   attacking  and destroy  the parasite  shuttles.. we have to stop the bleeding... I suggest  she break her   troopers    down to 2 out of every three teams destorying shuttles.. the other   team hunting down eggs and UEs..   Your Fleet should do the same... sue  fighters to clean off parasites, and keep new ones from getting  locked on...

 ..But  Admiral?  we have ships...

 Hack held up a hand...I understand.... I also Understand, we need to clean  MAtterhorn space out.. you may..lose some ships.. but  it should have never reached this point... The Delta, Fleet is  coming,  Onson... you have to help prepare the way...or?.. we lose the Gamma Quad, and the  Alpha Quad..is this understood...

 ..aye, Sir.

 ..Now?  Admiral  Sevente?... You are going to plow through the   Bugs and Lizards until you are pn the far side of the Matterhorn.... from there.. The  Delta  Fleet is going to come in from this  side... and  we should crush. most of the enemy... hopefully , the rest run..or this is going to be a very...very long   battle.

 Sevente looked shocked,..and?  if  my fleet does not make it to the other side of  Matterhorn?

 ..Then?    others  will have  learned  what happens  when   ESN Fleets do not aid  each other in times of great need...

 ...we will be swarmed.....

 ..that is ..indeed..what could happen.  :Lets hope you  fighter  pilots   and  torpedo craft are good at what they do...

 there is a pause  as he looks down at the Dec, then back up at the Admirals,...The Bugs  and Lizards will see the fleet coming.... they will  gear up to meet your threat... hopefully.. they don't see us until its  too late...

 If  either you fail to carry out  your Orders.. Matterhorn will, indeed have to be destoryed...and Etna will be swallowed in the  wave of  enemies, that should have never had the foothold that they have.  You...and your people have to pay for these sins... but?  if you  follow your orders... we can turn this  thing around..

 Onson  stood,..It is  Understood.... You can Count on the GAmma Fleet...  she saluted.

 Sevente saw her on his  screens and stood..ASi!... we will do as we are told... we cannot let this  terror spread.

 ..Very good..Now?.. I must co-ordinate my people..as you should  yours... Good Luck..good hunting...

 the  screens  winked out...

Throughout the broadcast Justin sat outside Captain Morrises shed. His face as impassive as the metal wall he rested his head against. When the last screen went blank he gave a slight shrug of one shoulder, the only sign of any reaction from him. He would wait for expected com to attend the Squadron briefing.

  HAck  waited to make sure the other feeds were secure, and   stepped   back a bit, so those on the Flight Dec  and the screens  could see him clearly.

  ..Ladies and Gentlemen of the  Hermes and the delta Fleet.. We are about to enter in, to the most hopeless action, In  ESN History.....

 Some of the ship Commander's ehad jerked  up mat this.. many of the  folks on the Dec stopped   talking and looked up.

   We have  One chance.. and  really, only one chane to save  the MAtterhorn, and what people may still live on her.  The only way we can save  Matterhorn Space is  By surprise....

  One of the  Coammnders..Captain  Will O'Kennal  from the  ESN Freya asked..Sir?.. how can there be a surprise, with  the Alpha Fleet going in ahead of us?

 Hack's Voice was tense,..because.. in 30 minutes The  signal buoys are going to  come on line..... But?  the Delta  fleet  and her  aircraft are the only ones   tuned into those buoys...So?  The  Bugs and Lizards  can only see the Alpha Fleet coming.... and the GAmma fleet that is already there...

 There was silence  as  Hack let that sink in.

  Rivets, spoke up from the Floor,..But..Admiral?.. won't that make Sevente.. the main target? I mean.. if  then don't see  anyone  but  his fleet  shooting through.. they'll be swarmed....

 Hack Nodded,.. They  should.. try to eliminate the threat.... They should... indeed..swarm Sevente.. models show 50% loss of the  Alpha Fleet... less, if they are better then we give the  credit for...

  people looked around, some shocked.. some   listening intently.

 ..This...was the only thing i could come up with, that gave us the slightest chance at saving Matterhorn. My only excuse is this.... Had  the Alpha Fleet and GAmma fleet worked together...We would have  only had to make  our  normal  shore leave stops..but this...gods only know what would have happened, had we  went after the Roussians  first....

  Sevente  and Richards will not know we are hidden from scans. We can only hope , that anything  that sees the forward Elements of the Delta Fleet, will think we are really tail end Charlies  for the Alpha fleet..... IF.... this works... we can destroy or Cripple a good portion of the enemy fleet... and set up  rescuing   whatever CAp ships have been taken by the Bugs.

 Morris  takes a  sip from his tea,...and if it doesn't work?

 ..Then?.. we  will fight the ebst we can.... try to save  as many people from MAtterhorn as we can get...but we'll have to destroy her... then Limp back to  Etna, to make a stand.

 people  were quiet.. the Commanders  on the screens  looked  worried, perhaps even shaken... a smaller fleet, was about to be fed to the enemy, so  a carrier station and  its  people could be saved... the  other choice was unthinkable... pulling out of   Matterhorn space after destroying the   Station , and everyone  on it.

 In the quiet, there was a slow bit Of Laughter.. it started   to get a bit louder  Until Shadow stood up...Ok?... so..this is what i understand?... we  got bugs  and lizards out there.. but?  the Bugs are sorta in charge, cause  we don't have reports of lizards  trying  to take The station.. The BUgs want this place.. the lizards are  just thier  bodyguards?

 Urns  speaks up,..I'm waiting   for the Joke, that has you laughing...

    The LC  sends  a dark sidelong  look at Urns, before  turning  back to the stage,... if  we look over the  course of  our  tour of duty?.. we should have  been Demon food, or puppy chow a few times over... yet?.. here we are?....And this Matterhorn thing?  Yeah..sure..its  bad.. heck.. there's folks being eaten, and  breeding  as we talk?... but ask yourself why?.....

 Captain Lilly Van Ros of the Athena,..LC  SHadow. You have the respect of  most....if..not all of the delta Fleet... but what is your point?

 many heads nodded  on screens or around him...Yeah?..sure  this  is a giant hairball?... but why?.. because  Etna  didn't  give a good  goddamn  and  Matterhorn was too afraid to say they needed help...

 Van Ross looked at bit angry,..your Point?  LC?

 Shadow laughed,..they got this far, because  two fleets couldn't get the  crap together?.... now?..  there  will be three fleets  fighting  towards the same cause? And.. well.. the whole  screen cloaking thing...

 Hack  looked at Shadow a slow  smile   on his face , grew with the nod of his head.

  Shadow took a few steps up the  mobile  ladder as he looked  around  at the  screens and  his shipmates,..folks are gonna die.. that's a fact... just like it was a fact on Bura..Astra... The Battle of the Black.. the nest ships... and the  Damn Black fleet of the hounds?.. we buzz sawed through the Hillites  and  Bananas like they weren't even there.....

 ..now?  you can worry.. and sweat it out....but that ain't gonna change anything... instead?.. load your  ammo.. check your suits, and get ready to lick some  bug asses....because.. the only reason we have to do this, is because of   two big gods be damned mistakes.... and?..  The delta Fleet don't make mistakes...

 He looked up at the screens.....DO THEY!!!

 the  captains began to smiles,  and shouted ... NO!!!

 Then he rose his hands and looked at his shipmates......DO THEY????

   Those who were  Caught up  shouted... "....NO!!!!!.."

 Hack Chuckled  and  said,..Thank you for that LC... THis breifing is Over..everyone  get with your   section leaders and Prepare...... LC will see the Pilots  and there will be a  Feed to the WCs of each ship.... Thank you all... rig for action,. and have  anti-boarding teams ready.


 the crew started to break  up and go to their leaders...

 HAck Grabbed  Shadow's Collar,  and he grinned,..nice  save?.. how much of that you  believe?

 All of it, Admiral?

 ..you'er  a very poor Liar , Shadow...

 ..Now ya  know i don't lie , Admiral...

 Si smiled.. Hack   patted his back,..go get the pilots  sorted.

  Shade  was     bleeping    with green eyes and gave Shadow a thumbs up, before going back to help Beth set up her  end of the operations.

   Garrat was close by when Hack grabbed shadow's collar.  He stepped up, Don't matter if he believes or not Sir, just s long as everyone else does.  We fight like we know we can win or we lose."  An image seems to haunt his eye's, "And I for one REALLY hate to lose."  He nods to them and moves off to get his gear ready.

  Shadow Grins at GArrat...yeah?.. If I wanted to lose  I would join the  EDT!

 he  waves  and heads to the meeting area with his piltos

Henry and Mila stood quietly at the back of the stage out of the way and watching proceedings.

Roy offered no input through the whole briefing...not that any was needed, really.  Was it cold-hearted to use the Alpha Fleet as a lure?  Perhaps, but Sevente's disinclination to risk personnel when Matterhorn called for aid had, in large part, led to the current state of things...so the move countered Sevente's earlier inaction by making him the focus of Creshian attention.  Likewise, Matterhorn's failure to report the true state of affairs created the heightened risk, and warning them of plans could change how they fought against the Creshians...potentially warning the enemy.

He was, however, certain this mission would cost lives...and he was focused on how to keep that cost as low as possible.  When Hack dismissed everyone, he spoke up.  "Boarding teams, meet me on the Hangar Deck by the Deuces...there are some tactical shirts I need to talk through before you requisition gear from QM."  His voice was tight and controlled...and lacked the ease that normally filled it when giving such orders.

((.. Hack on the stage  as the alpha's  COMNs  were played))

    Hack wacthed the  Gun cam feeds.. he  shook his head, at the sheer mass of  fighters and  Parasties

  As Sevente's  shout  came through, Beth flicked switches and  toggles like a madwomen, until she  Found The Siegfried's feed...

  Sevente's COMs  ended.. they could hear other  Commanders   creaming out orders.. or....just screaming..

 But Hack  only saw the Hive....

 He called out  to  his people on the Hanger Dec...We were right!..... The Hive!...

  Striding over to the end of the Stage.. calling down to the  Boarding teams...

  ..SGT Major?   when you have control of the bridge... I want you to COM me, and we  are sending over  Big Uglies  to  take off,, any humans we can... Once You have  control.. you tell the engine rom, Full  power towards the Hive..... we are going to destroy.. the creshian's  futures...

    Hack then Turned to the screens.. ..Full speeds  ahead... when the  Time  Comes  I want 2 more ships to Come with the  Hermes  as we   take the Ewald in....

 Captain Roles   said.....you know the HArvester is coming.....

 ..Athena here.. can we come?

 ..No?  you need to stay in charge if i  go down....

 ..In  that case...  the Achilles  will Come...I did not want to step on  Van Ros's toes...  Captain   Cole  Norsen said...

 Alright.... now that we know where the  Hive is... the rest of the  Delta  fleet..  just pound  enemy vessels... try to gang up on them.. it is going to take them a while to figure out  what's going on... we have to make them pay for each second.... Transport Bases..DO NOT  board  Creshian vessels.. just pound them to box wood.... if you thing=k you can take a ship.. board the  largrans.... If we succeed  in destroy they Hive... we'll swig back in to  join the rest......Lets go!

 Shadow  Called out  load  and Clear.....Lasies  and gentleman... start your  engines...