The Admiral looks at the Clock,..LC?.. you have  about an hour   and 40 minutes to egt back here , if you are going to do  your breakfast thing... Unless you pass on that

 No?... always do that, besides  the  Stem kids look forward  to it as well, If worse  comes to worse, I'll come back early, we have  three  teams  down here. Wista can't  stay hiddened the whole time

 The Admiral thought for a Moment,I want all teams  back with in the hour, this gives you about   40 Minutes for the breakfast and  any   guests from my Condo that are early risers.

 Already done...what if  we can't  fins her...

 We have all day to look  for here.. some of  Elge's people and the drop  ship 'SEC" take look around, and Let us know  if/where she is  sighted..

 acknowledged see you in an hour, one way or the other. He waves  to the others  and pointed at the Vans, as he  rigged towards them

    Captain  Morris  spoke up,Admiral? You should go, get some sleep for tomorrow,  especially if you are going to help  The LC with breakfast...

  I'm Fine Wasjington, but thank you. We spread out people out a bit... i had looked  for some folks stepping up..but...we always know who we can count on...

 beth  added,..and  who we can't...

 Admiral Richards said,IU will need to  stay at your Condo tonight, people see me leaving, after the party was well over, might  not  believe  we were only going  over the Conferance, with SEC  and  Fire techs  all over the place

 Elge   opened his  personal COM, since  beth killed  his SEC COM. Body count is  coming in.., there are over 50  dead, or soon will be, from The LC's  target,  My people  are talking to Wallace's people..The Stem?  we'll never get a level count..

 So?  The LC doesn't take into account that there may be  some innocent  people at the places he  attacks...

 Roles  grins...first hand experience.. ...if they were innocent, they shouldn't be there..that stands, no matter if you are  running around  the EAST Side...or  Etna. SM's folks
 aren't talking prisoners either.

 Sam keeps working and will put out feelers and trackers to try to locate the last mark Wista. Sam could at least find out where she wasnt, Sam would work hard to try and track her down so the teams could come home.  Sam listened to the conversations and yes quite a few stood up, but Sam did notice a few people missing she thought should be here, one was Izzy. Sam just kept working hard to help the teams they had out there.

 Sam smiled at the Admirals and replied," I wish I could do more to help, but my skill set is better served in here then out there with the teams. Yes we have seen several step up, but also some missing a chance too prove themselves." Sam smiled and went back to work typing like a madwoman.

 Richards  answered  Sam....everyone has thier own  skill set Lt Robertson... everyone sues  what  they have, in the way they are able...

 Roles  adds,...some  folks can't  take the heat...others  don't have the  skills...

 ..and  some don't give  one damn... she  said it coldly, without loking up as  she and Sam  flickered  SEC  CAMS  from the  Stem, looking for a spot that could be Wista's

Sam smiles and nods and she still searches for Wista, she replied," Also some really enjoy it like the LC, Zob, Meari and others." As Sam pointed to vids of all three taking care of business in not so nice of a way. Sam also monitored how the SM's team was doing as well.

 Beth slides   a Vidboard over to Sam...we know  they are on the port side..somewhere..Wista is supposed to have   many bolt holes... you start on the uppers end,, i work from the lowers  end,,,Port side..no further then two blocks into the Middle

 Sam smiles at Beth and goes to work zooming in and looking for this last mark Wista. She sees a black market area, but then she sees a block up the  road, a hover car stop Pull two, what look like females from the car and hustled them into a smaller Compound. Sam quickly announces this and shows everyone the feedback," We might have something here guys, look at this." Sam shows everyone the feedback of what she saw live.

 Beth hears  Sam's words , looks  at the screen ..Then sends the COMs...

 Robertson found something..even if it isn't her, looks  like a bag-n-go... near the   Uppers,,,,lock?  15..somewhere in there.. couple smaller  , normal Black Market guys there...

 Got  It...Meari?  You guys  go in..call us if you need us...we'll be a block or  two away.

 Meari Replied, " Thank you Lock 15 we are on it, and Yes Sir if we need help we will call."

 a pair of suits  walked towards  Shadow's  Condo, Stee and Nok  sat  op , Burbling..

A very tired Mann said,Sorry , Sirs?.... you look like  you both are  ready to hit the sack, but it  won't be here.. Invites  only for  Shipmates

 The taller  man  said,My wife  saw  some ...kids...go in there...

The other  Guy  nodded, they were both in fancy  robes with slippers  and such.

 That's  right..Stem kids who are part of the Hermes  Civie  section, and One who is a  Cadet...now?  head  back to your Ladies... I'm trying to be real nice here? But its been along day..

 do you know who we are?

 ..Don't  care , Sir.. you are so  above my paygrade, that i just don't gibe on damn...Now?  This place..Has  an LC, a SM, bunch of LTs  and EGTs, that i do give a damn about...and These Largs?... They eat you so fast , you'll be able to watch yourself go down thier throat... you wanna  complain,  Complain to the Admiral...

 we...don't know where he is, there aren't many people still up , and have gone to bed..

 ..Look ? The Admiral is a damn busy man... and His  Wife  Is Captain Si?.... now..between us 3?..where do you think the Admiral is?

The two Men lokd at each other   , a bit sheepish  and moved  back towards the Admirals  Condo.

Stee  still Burbled.

Mila raised her head, careful not to disturb Can, and watched until the men left, then put her head down again.

  those around the screens  didn't move, as they watched. The Kid oepned  the doors and fell against  the Hall looking up.

 Beth snorted,..he's lucky.  The LC would have  just blown him away and then blew the   pass box...

 Sneak looked...he would have?

 LC's  Bottle is  full, i think?...too many times getting slapped back after  giving folks chances?...The  screw up on Everest...that's  not ever going  away

 Hack spoke a bit softly,aye, he's  on edge, and he's looking to  to punish the  empire and  anyone he perceives  is helping them...directly, or indirectly... i am not inclined to stop him.

As the van returned to the condos, Roy grunted at Shoemaker's question.  "Thing is, I suspect the conference is going to produce a whole new list.  If these people were still around, there's just be that many more bodies to have to remove, and greater odds that we lose someone through the cracks."

He gave a dissatisfied grimace and added, "But I expected better actionable intel from Elge.  A guy with his reputation should know enough to get some details about daily routines, habits, stuff like that, so we didn't have to have Beth pirating station Security systems to get us information on where to find our targets."  With a shrug, he continued, "But then again, I'm used to running on minimal intel, and no time to scout for more.  Kinda been the defining trait of covert ops since I joined the Hermes."

  Roy and the others  would be ushered through the   door closest to the freight elevator.

There were already  Peole from the  Etna  stacking  Boxes of Bacon and pallets of  eggs, and  boxers of bread,  for the LC's breakfast making.

,,,,,,,,,

 reaching the 'war room' walking past the sleeping kids   ( and adults who crashed on the  couch ) They would hear  the the exchange from Hemsly  and Shadow's follow up..

  Beth  pointed to something for   Sam. Elge started to  look through his  COM access, and beths finger   flew over the  keyboard of her    'free' vidboard.

   The Admiral looked  at those who came in...Get what sleep you are able.  Including Larry, he's comign  to the  conference as well..so have his   Tunic  ready.... Roy?  You may stay if you feel like..

 Lyri  worked her way around  to sit in the back  corner  , behind  Beth and Sam as she watched the screens.

 Sam looked at what Beth pointed too and it was about Frederick Maris. Sam read the report and then said over all comms," Younger brother of Ens. O'Conner's Father, an Lt. in the ESN Marines, until he left for the EDT, sometime before Captain Maris had Ens. O'Conner's B-day party. He was passable as a pilot, but  was mostly used for boarding operations. His combat list incudes, close to 30 boarding actions. Most of them transports and included 4 Cruise ships and 1 med tech vessel call ' The Angel Of The Black"

 The Angel of the Black had been carrying  wounded back from Aqra, to Fuji, to get  new limbs and such. All aboard  were made to take the 'long' walk home, and the ship seized to add to the Vicrock Navy. That is all I could find on him this quickly." Sam then waited for reactions from the room and a few out on missions Like Lizzy.

  There was  an angry frown as  the Admiral said,Beth?

 Right  Vicrock.... searching now...

 Look to  Lady V's  Holdings.... Elge  said...I have heard this  name, only a few times. It is ..very often associated  with pirates and such.

  It took a  good   10 Minutes  , and   long  streams of  curses  as  Beth shuffled  from link to link, letting Sam Handle the  OP feed.

 Really?  Vicrock, The Name  of her home world is  Victoria's Rock..shortened to Vicrock  for her military, Is this a gods be damned  joke!

Captain Morris  cleared his throat, beth was tired  and  things were wearing on her. Lady V applied for system status for her  2  planets and several Moons they have settled and Built up, inside her  asteroid  armor. The limitless resources  have given them some trade power, and they have been actively 'patrolling' the  caravan corridors   and intercepting  enemy vessels, The  Empire , The Sol System, and the Paradise Angels  have recognized them as a system and  a power....The Angels did that, about a month before they left Paradise. The APF has not recognized them, nor have they put forth the papers to  be recognized..

 Hennings  and Richards  shook thier heads,That means? any actions  we take against Lady  V's   'system' can be defended  by  the Empire  and the Sol System  as well as the Paradise  Angels

 And  we have  30 tp 40 Paradise   warships  parked outside  the shell of the Delta  fleet

 Tapping the  table with a coffee  cup , that has long  since, been emptied.which section is  outside  the  shell...

 Delta #4..they were in dock while we  were at the funnel... they moved out to give us access  for  repairs.... Captain Caroline Spikes is  in your Condo's guest quarters...

 He Looks around,  nods to Lyri...Go get her.... bring her here through  My  wing, and into Shadow's   through the Op's door..and?  Master Chief..don't waste any time. But be
 sneaky about it.

 Lyri   Levered herself over the  table,Already done, Admiral... the MC vanished into the  semidarkness of the , mostly , quiet  condo..

 You need, My ships, Oliver? Richards  asked.

 I hope the 9 hells  not...but if this   turns into a damn  ambush,  I want your ships  to protect your station first... My people might be  beat up, but we out number  them...in the end?  we  may not have to do a damned thing...I also have one damn big Ace up my sleeve, but if i play  it? the whole damn game changes.

Roy's grin was dark.  "Well, that would explain the surprise that the Paradise Angels thought they had in store for us.  That's gonna blow up in their faces...first time they make a bid for being in command, we can point out that they've already not only signed treaties with avowed enemies of the APF, they are actively collaborating with the enemy...pretty much nullify any other arguments they care to make outside of an open declaration of war."

He snorted softly, and added, "I would LOVE to see that.  I think it would take the collective backbones of the entire contingent to even consider the possibility."

He glanced over at Hack. "It might be worth it, Admiral, to deploy some of the smaller craft and ships from the docked sections of the Fleet...while Etna's sensors can read our transponders, I'm guessing that anyone new coming in would be blind.  Unless they actually see the departures, Paradise forces would have no idea we had a bunch of guns in the middle of their formations unless they turned and looked for them.  If they're looking to ambush us, they're not likely to be watching the spaces between their own ships."

Captain Caroline Spikes  had shoulder length , Dark hair, she wore a robe, and looked a bit  put Out..

 Lyri gave the  Admiral a 'knuckle salute' and went back  to the corner behind the techs.

 Caroline?.. sorry to wake you..You Know   Admirals Richards Roles,  Hennings, Captain Morris... SEC head Elge and  Commerce Co=Ordinator gresh,,,Sorry to wake you, but i have
 a task for your section....and it has to be done quickly and without much  fanfare..

 Captain Spikes looked at Lyri , then  to The Admiral...Saddly? I wasn't  sleeping.... What needs to be done?

 the other men turned a bit, embarrassed,..well..i shan't  keep you long.... You section is out side the Delta fleet shell of ..we need you to set  your ships around the Paradise  Fleet, in such away, they you could strike, should it be needed..

Spikes brushed her hair  back,we have a problem?

 Lady V's  flavor of the EDT has turned her hidey hole into a 'system'..it has been recognized by The Empire, The Sol System and the Paradise  system. they'll be at the Conference tomorrow, begging for  some scraps  from the table.

  we should just let the Sol System burn...

 there is a good bet, we  won't have  much choice.....if one...just one..Paradise  Vessel takes a shot at the station or a ESN/APF  ship..then we're taking the  whole fleet out..Admiral Richards will have her vessels  moving in such a  way to help screen the station... The Delta Fleet will do the punching..

 ..Right then..I will make COM  calls as soon as i get back to the  Condo

 ..there is no hurry, Tell you commanders to have thier ships  ready, the Captain can make thier way back in bits and pieces, but  i need them on thier Brisges by 10:00 station time.

 Already Donne  Admiral...i have alot of COMs  to make...

 ..Carry On , Caroline

she saluted and went on her way, the same way she came in..

 Hack  loked at the screens...we need to start stepping a bit harder on our enemies, they seem to think we aren't serious?

Roy shook his head with a look that was somewhere between disgust and amusement.  "Not sure how much harder we can step on some of 'em.  The Verians got gutterstomped...we step much harder than that, we're gonna break our own foot."  He shrugged, and added, "Some people are just too damned stupid to realize they got lucky once."

15 minutes later the Vans  Pulled into the  HotelFlores  swung wat out and  came from  deep within the lowers

 Stefi  watched them as they came in..she made  Shadow go into the   'med tech' room, to make sure his patch job  was ok.

 Hack waited for the Prisoner.. beth?  Sam?.. shut  down your machines  saved the  footage to discs, and get some sleep... Good Job out there everyone,

he said  as  Meari's  team  followed  in  with Arnie's

 Larry   Nudged  Shadow and Shade as they came in, Both gave him  attention, then Larry   went  to sit  down at the  entry way hall.

 Hack called out to the  rest,There are  two  truncks in  the LC's  room , amrked with  Hermes  foot, and a small broken Light Bulb.. put your  goodie bags in there, we have to break down the  Creds and Info , for sharing with  The Etna

Zob was quiet as he headed back to the room to drop of the goods from the 2 ops, once that was done he went back to the bedroom to take a shower and change before finally deciding to just pass out in the recliner chair in the corner of the room, coffee will be well needed for sure.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:29, Fri 20 Aug 2021.

  Shadow went to  the Master bedroom, it was full of trunks and cases for the opts, and   separate  trunks  for ops goods.

 Sorting through his  bags  took something  out  and placed  the  two bags from the ops into the truck, his  Greasegun  placed in the  gear that would be returned to his aircraft  after  the QM's  folks   cleaned and serviced it.

   then he  went into  the  'guest' bedroom  to take a shower.

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

 Flores looked tired, she   gave a  salute to the officers,..gotta get some sleep... a couple hours from now the place  will smell of bacon and eggs...

 Beth  shut  down  her Vidmachines.. she  gave Sam a  pat on the shoulder.....nice working  with you Sam... I don't think  Orria  could have stayed up long enough. and  we didn't have  any techs  we could  count on...Now?.. I'm headed for a shower and bed...  She  followed  after Flores  to Shadow's  room, Flores   put her  seapons away, extra  careful with her bow... and they entered the Shadow's guest room..

 Richard's eyebrows  went up and  she sorta  pointed to  hall...Are they....

 Roles spoke up.....good  friends with Shadow...you bet.... sometimes its  better to be a guy you can trust, then a  Predator  ...

 Richards's mouth  twisted in a slight  smile...wonder he has  any energy left to fight...

 I have known him since he  and Roles were 16?....i have  never  seen him..NOT..have the energy to fight..

 Richards  gives a short  laugh and  moved  with  The Admiral to sneak back to  the Admiral's  condo., Roles  follows  as well as  Morris  and Hennings, though Morris, who was seen going into Shadow's  , came out the  front  door  and ehaded to The Admirals, drawing  the attention of a couple suits  who were smoking cigars  on benches while  wearing Robes..

 Hey There Captain?... didn't think you would be much for   that Playboy's parties?

 hmmm?  Quite?  But one must look  after   that lot, make certain nothing  happens that would  be....less-then- representative he gave  tired smile and entered the  Building, the suits  followed him and went to thier wing..

 Sam smiled at Beth and said," My pleasure too help out and need to get some sleep I am the Burian member of the Council." Sam closed up her boards as well and then turned to Admiral Hack," Admiral sir I assume it is full dress uniform for the Meeting ?"

  The Admiral gave a tried  pinch of his nose  and nodded as he did,..full dress, followed by Beach wear  after..peopel wonder why i like goign to  the beach?...You don't have to wear full dress!

=----->>>>>>>> From ETNA OPS

 Lizzy pulled into the garage of the Condo, she pulled into their spot and they unloaded everything. Lizzy headed up stairs and got out of her gear, she waved at the Admirals as she went by and she headed for her shared quarters with Izzy. Lizzy got undressed stowed her armor and weapons and then got into bed with Izzy and set her alarm before breakfast.