for    threads.

   There  were   2 Guards  as  each door.   as the various  Groups  entered one of the guards     led  them to  a broken down transport .. The Transport showed    signs of  Heavy pulse  impacts, but..  was repaired.... but not  by the likes  of Rivets  crew.

 Below  the transport was a static filed, that was   hidden   by station plates. The Ramp was   down,  two other    people , dressed  in mixmatched  armor  and Uniforms

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


 Shoey looked around as they  walked,what... the  ..9 ..hells.....    Az-el and Jo-wa..  came....  Garret and His people... Harry and her  People

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

  Hemsly was  waving  a Hand,..what i'm saying, if   yer gonna  say' I take you for pie.." there should be pie?

 Willy Grinned,..Maybe  that place we're supposed to attack has  a  pie  factory in it..
.................

 Karson , Lirg  and  McNiel came  from another Direction..

........

 Supe, Duke  and Tucker  from the same direction as  Shoey came from.

   With    almost every one accounted for, One   Woman who looked like  she was  In charge  cane  down the Ramp. She was sleek Her  envirosuit had it s sleeves   cut off. Her dark Blue  hair, spoke of Angel backround her  skin color  spoke of Human Blood lines.

 A  Human  .45 was  strapped to on thigh, and  Angels  Blade on the  other. a shoulder  holster , that accented her Breasts as the strap separated them held  an  Angel Steel 'serpent ' pistol . A rare  weapon. her   bent  had  another    Blde on the  left him and  two grenades on the right.

  Her Voice  had  the Music of the Angels...but  an undertone of  cold, like a Human,..Welcome to the Last Hope. I am Captain  SH-Ba... we wil enter, for what will be  a  briefing, then, once    you all decide   you want to   continue... we will.... But first, there are some of your  firneds on the way down.. two  are wounded.. on has an  Aqra   arrow in him.. we will await  them.. so  any one you  amy help.

    The Same Door  that HArry   entered,  Henry , Mila , Nagy  and  Hawkes entered.

    Supe  moved  quickly as soon   as he saw the  metal arrow  and Bloody Leg Of Nagy. he  Picked Up  the  , rather large  Nagy, with Little Effort.

    Sh-Ba says,..there is one other group of your epopel out there . Aimee  says they are  ....dealing.. with some of  the Oppressors  of the Station, and  will be along, shouyld they survive..... Please  Follow   Me....

 as they walked up the Ramp  Sh-Ba  said into her  COM,..we have t wo  wounded Humans... have a Med Tech in the Hold.... one has a   Aqra  Arrow in him.

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

  Walking up the Ramp. The Last Hope was Seagreen in Color.  but held the MArkings of  in  ESN  warship, rather then a transport.. there  was an Odd structure  over the   engines, but  two Burners   could  be seen, as with  Most  transports.

  The Ramp lead  directly into the Hold it was  at 1/4th the size of the Hermes Hanger Dec.. Three fighters  ( also  seagreen).. they had the   markings of and Upraised arm holding a Godlen sword...they also had ESN markings... two of them  were Hammer IIIs.. the other one  was a LArgran fighter.

  The Med Tech arrived  a skinny woman with glasses and  another   male Tech..  they  Got  Supe to  put Nagy on the  Hover Cart, cutting away  the   leg of the uniform , spraying it with  Numbing agent... When  she was  done   she   pressed the slide    . Nagy winced and she  Pulled it  out.. Sh-Ba  took the Bloody arrow   and Held it up for the Hermites to see.

  ..This is   a Aqra  Hunting Arrow... its  made to  be reused , as long as the shaft isn't  too bent of broken... she flicks the blood  and Bits of  Nagy's flesh off the  tip the  walks to the nearest fighter, she    Jabs the head   against the    plates   and the  Treble Razors   come out.

 ..the impact of the ehad.. opens the    tri-razors.... any movement causes  the  razors to  cut  more   flesh, doing more  damage.. you do not 'pull them out'.. because the  razors  will cut  deeper..on the way out.. You must push it in slightly,  retract the heads   but  sliding  this   spring lever... she  shows  how the   heads  retract.

 ..for most Humaniods..  a  belly or chest wound is a  killing  blow... But this is not the worst of their  arrows...when  Aqra do Hunts on thier homeworld..or fight  Battles.. they have  an Arrow  , Just like this, that snaps out  treble  hooks.. the only way to remove them, is to   Cut a plug of flesh out..or?..hope you have strong enough  clippers   to Cut through the Aqra  Steele Hooks  and take them out..piece  by piece... needless to say... it isn't  something that can be done in battle...My advice?.... if you see an Aqra  with a bow?..kill it.

   "Our green angels are going to love those."  Garrat pulls out a med kit and helps "yeah I was bummed about the pie too Hemsly, I asked them to see if they could have some for us after the battle."  He looks up and smiles, "Hows that for incentive."

   To the assault team.  "I came in light.  Do you have demolition charges to spare?"

   Teh Med Tech as slight  as she is, waved  Garrat away from  Hawkes and  Nagy...

 Captain Sh-Ba   smiles a bit  awkwardly,..I am sure, those who survive...will be welcomes to all the ...pie.. you can handle.

 Hemsly    shrugs  as she looks  from Garrat to  Harry,...least they  could , bloody well do.. aye?

 There  people sat  playing   EDT Std  , near the  fighters.. One had a  Tobbaco stick he was  chewing on, a woman with her Flight suit   half way  off  and a 'wife beater' T-shirt on, and..what looked like..a Hillite who had   a Can of..Anzio Beer.

In reply to hope (msg # 6):

    Garrat stows his gear and goes over his equipment one last time. "Not the most important thing here."  He smiles "But if the station is no longer known for raising humanoid snacks it might be good to have a quaint specialty."  He grins as he cocks his really big riffle.  "Let's get this done, we have empire forces to decimate after this."

---> Anzio

"...And all I'm saying is that at no point was actual pie mentioned" Harry responded, having had this argument for most of the journey to the Last Hope. Upon sighting all of the other Delta night groups entering at roughly the same time Harry would roll her eyes and sigh "I do hope this isn't a trap else we're all going to look pretty silly" she said as she moved to join the others as, what she assumed to be, a half-Angel by the name Sh-Ba welcomed them to the station. It would also be Sh-Ba that would demonstrate how to remove the rather vicious looking arrows the Aqra used before then agreeing to supply Hemsley and Garrat with Burian pie once the fight had been won "oh Jayzuz Gar, not you too!" she groaned at the large warrior whilst burying her head in her hands.

Deciding she'd better move the topic of conversation along before questions of whether the pie would be served with cream or custard Harry would address the attractive Half-angel captain "So what exactly are we dealing with here? I mean you must have some idea as to what to expect?"

   Garrat shrugs and grins at her "Hey, the way to a Man's heart and all..."  He checks the balance of the demon sword, frowns and resheaths it, "We're just looking for a reason to keep Anzio in our hearts like these people have already done." He grows more serious. "The station has a lot of spirit. I don't want it to be between Hack and the  Empire. Hack has shown whats left of his human heart when he ordered us down here.  We succeed here, we help him in more than one ways.  Dr. Henry, have you been off having fun without us again?"

  Hemsly  shrugs,..well.. i like  pie....

   Shoemaker    looked over the     few dozen resistance  Fighters , his   eye  checking on the weapons  and  how  well they were  Kept.

 Supe   came back  to claim his  rifle     and stood  By Tucker  and Duke

 Lirg looked  around , some  folks   gave him looks of  hate, some, didn't seem to care.

 Sh-Ba  Nodded to  HArry,  as she   stood  on a Crate...a  Kid..( seemed like a kid)  had  Bright Yellow   hair and   hexagon  dark glasses,  had  Set up a  Vid  Board, the  images  showed on the  inside wall of The Last Hope.

    You will see as Lexoff points out the  areas.. what   we   will have to do... we will get One shot.. and we need to do it, sooner , rather then later..... Here  is what we Know of your  People.. there  are  squads scattered all over the  Damn station.. there are fire fights... most times, the fleet is coming out on top.. but not alwats..Aimee says a group from the Nemesis was  wiped out...

 .... On your ship right  now, are Admiral  White...Fluss   and the Occui  piece of offal...Mock... Fluss must have thought  thier  'cure' for the  Fish Lure would not be tested... it speaks  well of your  Admiral, that it was checked.. and  made 'better'

 ..The Lizard  and the  Verian are dead... we know that much for certain.... The Bug is supposed to take   its  shot, we do not  know who is with her.... so?.. if  even she kills  your last group?  we will still be  in good shape, because they will keep her  Busy, until they die.

 Supe  and a few of the Others  Laugh at  that.

 ..did I say something   Funny? she glared  at them,

 ..No offense Ma'am... but that  group?... I be more concerned of them Blowing a section of the station into The Black..  Supe  grinned.

 her eyebrows  narrowed,..I have  heard   many people  boasted   about.. i have seen  few, that come close to measuring Up...

 Shoey Grins,..Just..Continue..please, Ma'am...


well?...  Once there  were  4   launch openings...  it was   made that way to launch a full compliment of fighters.....later?.. as fighter s  were  destroyed.. it began   oepning for    the Station, the Empire, the Aqra, and the  'independants '.. then.. the other  three   walled of  the Hanger  deck.. leaving ther ESN  with   room   for  2 flights of fighters.... They  have ...1 flight... so?.. what  we pland  to do.. is  Fly the  LAst Hope  over to the  ESN Hanger Bay doors... Blockade the   entrance  as  we    send in  you people.... You will have   2 Missions... One, will be eliminate any one who stops  us  from breaching the walls into the rest of the HAnger  Bay..  and     help that is sent to try to  aid the HAnger,  will....either  come from the  other  entrances..  if we breach the walls, it won't matter.... Anything  Comign from the  ESN side, the  Last Hope, will deal with.

"Oh so is that where I'm going wrong?" Harry asked with a smirk as Garrat pointed out that food was the way to a man's heart "well I'll tell you what, when we get back I'll talk to Gia and get her to teach me how to make cookies for the boys" she said with a laugh before turning her attention back to Sh-Ba.

The plan was fairly simple. They would be dropped off on the ESN side of the Hangar Dec and then would breach the dividing wall so as to eliminate whatever was on the other side with the Last Hope acting as a rear guard "How thick is the wall? I mean do we have enough explosives to take it out without sucking us all out into the Black?" Harry asked. Killing whatever guards the enemy had wouldn't prove too difficult as they were packed to the gills with small arms and they were all more than proficient in their use. Blowing down the dividing wall however could prove problematic...then again if there were any fighters actually in the ESN side of the hangar then she supposed that they could always use their heavy pulse cannons to cut a hole through to the other side. Assuming of course that they loaded that is.

   Sh-ba  Nodded to Harry as she Looked  at the  images that Lexoff  pointed out...we have   three  things in our  Advantage... the    First, is  that The Last Hop is Viewed as a privateer.. they see  us  coming and Going all the time... everyone leaves us alone, sicne they don't know  who we may have made a contract with.

 ..the  2nd thing, is they  thing we are just a   Junher transport with a  few fighters  aboard.. But, this  is  a  full capable  ESN sloop with a Modified   Hold...  we hid andother pair of thrusters   hidden in the Back.. and  we have one heavy, fleet class  pusle  gun per side... we also have  4  AA guns per  side..but they have to be manned...because of out ..ESN.. designation, our  flight  path to  and from   this   abandoned  dcok.. must go past teh ESN  Hangerbay Doors... we'll just be getting closer then  we normally do.

 ..the third  thing?   Only the Sation Corvette  can  fit inside the outer sphere.. we  can take on the corvette, if that would happen.. The Corvette called  'The Blood Runner is a Human Irishman... and a Pirtate.. but.. he is   an ESN CAptain, by the grace of  Admiral White... were plan to  attack the  other  three doors  with   The LAst Hope.. with any luck we won't need to...

 ..now?  Because the Empire and thier friends.. demanded thier  'own space".. everythign  the ESN  needs  to run thier shuttles  and figthers is  in the Hanger Bay.. I'm sure  people like you  can come up with some ideas how to blow the  walls?

Teela listens to the briefing, picturing the scenario in her mind before speaking up. "How big is the hangar? How many levels, how many metres to the top part and are there walkways there that can be used for shooting positions?"

  ..I have Only  saw the Inside of  one Hanger Dec, other  then this one..It was  on the ESN Odin when we  made a pick up of supplies. she  began,..it is  rouhgly..60  feet  High.. a  good 400  yards  wide, and...  maybe... 200 yards  Deep... it should  be 800 yards  deep... Just like  any other   military  hanger  it  ha s    sets of  over  head   Cranes... there is walk   ways   for the  Maintenance  people... even the crane  are hampered by the walls....

She nodded and looked at Garrat. "Perfect. I'll take the high ground and set up for sniping, moving from point to point so I can cover the assault teams.

   Garrat had his helm cam sending information back to SEC so hack can see the whole breifing.  "An'teela, be careful.  This isn't a city scape.  Once you shoot your location is compromised.  If you get pinned against that ceiling, there may be nothing we can do to help you."

  To the man, "Do we have an Idea how thick the wall is?"

"Fire and move. That's what I'll do and if I get in trouble I'll drop down or do something they're not expecting like take off and drop a grenade on top of them. Besides, I'll have you and Ma-ti there to make sure I don't get pinned." She said, smiling grimly.

   Sh-Ba  looked around as the banter   among the Hermites  continued,..we do not have  much in the way of  armor.. we have  ammo.... we have power cells.. so if you need a breast plate, or maybe  a Helmet.  see if  one  fits you

  ..I must make a confession as well... we set teams out, to ehlp the other   ESN  squads around the  Sation... I cannot  spare  any other  folks  for your landing.... So it will be a  full Hermes   operatoion... except  for  Two  insiders we have on the grounds  crew.. when they see The LAst Hope.. they  will   Cover thier Ornge  with Breen Tunics....you may have  to shoot   ESN   crew, if they try to stop us....But this has to end, before  the others can send  troops in, and the station becomes a Battle  ground..

 McNeil speaks up,..I see your  Great LC is no where to be seen?.... Nor  the SM... So..  I will lead the Mission and...

 ..that's not Going to Happen, LT.... I'll lead   it first...


 Hemsly    Holds up his COM.....Ma'am.. ye   should be listin' ta   this...

 Hacks  Voice  was  Cold.. and HArd,..Lt   McNeil? I  allowed you to   go on this Op, because  Capotain McCloud is still  a bit ...out of sorts... If..and When.... The SM gets there.. he will take Charge...  if he...cannot.. the  SHadow..if they Both Fall... Then Garrta... Then Shoemaker... You do not have the Ops  backround ..ON MY SHIP... to lead anything  i do not ask you too?.. Is that..Understood...

 McNeil looked   a bit peeved,..Aye  , Sir...sorry...Sir...

 Hemsly  Cut  the COM,..Bloody trator you are?... reportin' me  to the Admiral like  i was in school again?

 ..Ma'am...  I'd  follow  ye up the steepish Moutnain   they have in The Black.. but i've seen  these  blokes  work... so 'ave you... just   settle in and  we can do out bloody job.


 Karson   spoke up,..speaking of  which...  Me and Hemsly  have  some C-10.. if  we can fins  , to setal a power  cell or  two from thier shuttles of Fighters..  we can blow a hole.. might blow   the whole damn wall... but  we'll need  time?

    "Karson, I've got a better idea."  Garrat says pulling outhis McGuyver pack.  "I have some C-10 rolls of what earthlinngs call duct tape, detonators and wire.  Can we rig some bombs before our boots hit the deck and slap them on quicker?  Then all we have to do is wait till the ants come swarming back to prtect the nest and pick them off rather than fighting through them."

    Garrat is not afraid to listen to advise, "Do you think you can do that? "

   He raises an eye to McNeil "Volunteer like that again without Hacks orders and I'll demote you down to shoulder height."

 Karson  and Hemsly  nodded,..we  kin do thjat, right enough.... but the whole thin'  comes down ta blowin' the walls... even if  we have ta leave... we'll  know what they have  goin' on... and might be able  ta  end it... and?  Ifin it  is just fighter craft.. well?  we'll snag some   aircraft fer the station  to use thier own self?

 ..No matter...  , we'll still need to set  them..maybe  some of us   can be runners...  stick them where  we need them, save  soem time...

 ..I'm Fast enough...

 Tucker...Lippen  and  Cora  all put up thier hands.

   another Hatch way opens,  Roy, Flore s, Shadow  and a Larg  with all kinds of colors of Blood on his  snout, are led towards the Ramp.

  ..You can't bring that thing  In here?

 Shadow   chuckled,..that's  funny?.. thelast couple peopel that said  that to him,  I let  Larry discuss it with them..you know..chew  the fat?

 Flores  flutters her   eye lashes  and smiles  sweetly.

Roy chuckled slightly at Shadow's response.  "The larg is part of the Hermes crew.  He goes where we go.  And, trust me, you don't want him to prove his loyalty to the Hermes.  Somewhere out near the Creshian section, there's a chewed up arm laying next to a mangled pistol that's pretty solid evidence.  Now, some little girl...I'm guessing some kind of holo projection, since she's apparently able to travel the station alone faster than we can in a vehicle...she told us to come here, and she didn't say anything about leaving the larg behind.  So, you decide...we're going in, he's coming with us...is it gonna be over what's left of your dead body?"  His expression was open and frank...stating facts, not making threats.

   Garrat raises an eye at Spencer's and Shadow's comments, "Be nice Sirs, the station people aren't quite used to Hermes units yet."

    To the man who made the comment: "Larry is our new favorite team mate.  He has a high level of empathy and an even higher loyalty towards pack members."