(( for when  we enter  Aqra  space...))

 Over the COMs  Col Cummings   asks,..LC.. I  beg Your Pardon....WC Shadow.. Me  Lads  and Lasses  would like  to  have the Music you use  for Begin the  Battle...play one of thier Favorites?....

 Of Course Col Cummings,  Beth.. feed it through COMs  2, 3 and 4.. have it play on a Loop  for then next 30 Minutes...

 ..all ready Donce, Col Cummings, LC....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwzl6aGfVKA

  Its  Not  long after the  song starts,  and the Hermes begins to peel back to deal More Damage to the Massive  Battle Ship... when    Cummings   opens  COM 1   to  All COM s   so the   ESN  forces  can hear the troops....   singing  along , clamping  or  stamping their boots to the drum beat..


 The woman  'in charge" of the  Gava's COMs,..The Gava's  Love it!..they  are  ..like..line dancing!

   the little  warriors  were  stomping on the  dec...  and  where    howling  along  with the  song...

...........

 On the shuttles   some of the   people  were clapping  along, a few  singing certain parts... 'No Mercy' one of the biggest lines....." Here it comes , here it comes"

  Larry Loked  around    a Larg smile  as he  thumped his tail

 ..............


 On Board the Battleships  COM offcier s   tried to   clock out the  Song, but.. when they didn that, they had  no COMs!... confusion reigned. Some of the    'Line  Began to  Move... Some began to turn.. some stayed  still... on the far   Port  end.. The  second to LAst  Ship, Rammed the Next  ship  as  it moved  'according to Line"  while the   other ship  tried to Pivot  twoards  Aqra... the resulting Crash,  set of explosions.. fires  and More  explosions.. it would be 15 minutes  , ebfore   Both  ships  shattered... and were pulled towards  the planet by the Hungry gravity...


 .................

  Shadow  Chuckled  ,he knew the fight  was just starting, but..the Fleet had  Numbers and FAster  ships...in the back of his Mind he hoped the losses  for    the Fleet would be low....But he looked around....Ok>.. head Hunters?....  we're Out here.. a few thousand of us.....  don't  see you  anywhere  around..Unless that whole 'head' thing..doesn'[t mean what i thought it means...might be alot of smiling Fish Guys though?

   Indeed, No Red Fighters  were  seen...yet... But  rising from the Planet were the  Vapor  and Mist   fighters...Ariv?..... The  Aqra  brag thier  fighters  are Better then Yours.. why don't you  lead the Feltites   Down, we'll be right behind you...

 ..Yes, that will be ..most  fun... she    screamed a  Feltite Battle cry and   all the felrites in the  Fleet  dove    down into the Atmo




...........

 The Assault  shuttles  followed ,, with   the Hermes Wing, athena's  wing and Odin's  wing provide  a  portective bubble.. while other  fighters    formed Up with teh transport troop shuttles.. Droppign  down  from the Atmp, right  behinf the  Battle line... the one place no  Aqra  thought the enemy could.....

Teela’s Dart screamed through the black with the rest of the fighters from the Hermes. She felt the thrilll of battle swelling inside her chest and  opened up on anything that dared get in their way. She spotted a corvette towards the tail end of the enemy fleet that could turn its guns on the fighters and shuttles. “LC, do you mind if I dance with that corvette? I want to take out their guns before they pull themselves together enough to fire on our ships heading for atmo.”

  ..be careful.. we don't know much about   their  weapons.. or armor... but remember.. we're here  for the troops.. get  into Atmo as soon as your  Done... Justin   is your wing. take him with  you...

.. the  Blues  and greens of the  planet below were beautiful..it wouldn't stay that way very long...unless   Aqra  just gave up... the LC snickered  at that  thought, and  kept lookign  for  fighters that  were Red.

 The felrites were  tangling  with, and destroying  the  Aqra  fighters.....a few of the  felrite   aircraft were smoking, but they continued  downwards... looking for  Fighters.. or Ground Forces...

“Copy that. Justin,, go high and cover me. I’m going to make one pass before heading for atmo.” She waited for his copy before breaking off at incredible speed, jinking to avoid any incoming fire and then she was less than two metres above the enemy ship’s hull. She opened up with lasers and 37mm fire in controlled bursts and shot gun emplacements, sensors, portholes, anything she could hit for maximum damage or to open sections to vacuum. As she screamed past their stern she slammed the fighter into a vector change so the front of the fighter faced the corvette whilst she still flew towards the planet. She put laser and cannon fire right up the skirt of the ship, targeting engines and cooling vanes before performing another 180 and hitting her afterburners to catch up to the other fighters.

She checked her rear display to see what kind of effect her run had on the corvette.

  the Aqra  Corvette ( or the class   WE assigned to it)  only had    forward  firing Batteries for ships  Guns, but.. auto fired  AA weapons  . two to each side.... the Belly  opened  to  emit  two Mist Fighters, one Broke left the other broke  right..

 Teela  Felt he r  fighte rshake   as the   Aft starbaord  gun  put    heavy pusle into her belly// light  turned   ornage  for her  coolant motor...

 As she   fired. she  did take out the  COM disk on the top  and the forwards, Starboard AA Gun.. saw she  Banked and Fired... at the    rear..  she felt  more impacts  from the  port  side  Fighter.. The starbaiord fighter  was chasing Justin..

 her   rounds   Hit the  thrusters  enough that one   flickered on and off...

Justin spotted several Corvette that were lingering at the rear of the Aqra fleet. Fighters from both forces were mixing things up, he'd had three short swift skirmishes with some of these when Teela commend the LC for permission to test out her skills against one of the Corvettes. Shadows affirmative reply prompted a Glory Hunter, grimace from him along with a shrug. Acknowledge 19 Over. he replied. Breaking off his pursuit of a Bogie, Justin altered course towards the Last Corvette, in the Enemy Fleets formation, accelerating in its direction. Closing in on Teela's position just as two fighters appeared to emerge from beneath it, either that or they swept in from its Port side passing under it to interpose themselves between it and the Corvette. Reacting to their appearance Justin quickly side slipped his Nova to Starboard and lined up on the first, squeezing two burst off in its direction seconds before the targeting com sounded. Quickly rolling the Nova over and jinking to Port Justin slipped the Nova's guncam's into an excellent targeting and filming solution on the second Bogie, firing three bursts at it in the process then in response to the LC's order broke contact caring nothing about the bogie fighters.

Sweeping forward he came about hard bringing the Nova alongside Teela Ready when you are 124 commend Justin, as she began her run. Going high as she suggested he manoeuvred to cover her 6 from on high. Once her run had finished Justin started his own, along the opposite side of the Corvette, mirroring Teela's attack. Sweeping across the Corvettes hull targeting gunports, turrets, portholes, sensor arrays and anything that appeared it may harm the ship firing controlled blaster and 37mm bursts in their direction. Seconds before reaching the rear of the Corvette Justin banked the Nova hard then tapped on the nose thrusters flipping it nose down, bringing his guns to bear on the facing the ship easing up considerably on his thrusters to allow the Fighters momentum to propel it towards the rear of the hapless Aqraian Ship, pumping bursts into it in the process.

Once clear of the rear Justin angled the Nova's nose towards the Corvettes engines applying additional thrust and bringing his fighter from its Starboard Engine to Port engine pumping four bursts into the engine Teela had. Executing a tight quick Immelmann, Justin tapped his thrust propelling the Nova away from the Corvette zig zagging as he did, he quickly joined B Flight, as the Wing made its way towards the Planet. Well that was different don’t you think Teela. he commed
This message was last edited by the player at 03:26, Sat 26 May 2018.

Teela accelerated and climbed, locking on to the fighter chasing Justin and fired sustained pulses from her lasers before letting off a controlled burst from her cannons once she had it lined up. She jinked to avoid the expanding debris cloud and looked for the other fighter.

“It’s been awhile since I Skin Danced an enemy ship so taking the opportunity when it’s presented is good. I didn’t want them firing on our shuttles so I gave them something else to think about.” She replied, switching over to her secondary cooling, still watching for enemy fighters.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 01:32, Fri 25 May 2018.

     The First Mist Pilot that Banked to the  (Justin's ) Poet side.. was   chewed up and broke  up.. the  37 MM and Heavy pulse Guns  seemed to  do the Jon o Aqra  Fighters...at lest the Mist  Class. Vapor class seemed a bit more robust.

 the  portside    AA guns  had  been knocked out by  Justin's pass  before  the  two fighters    banked

 The one that Broke  to   the  'attacker's "  starbaord, winged  around  and Got on  Justin's   six.. firing   weapons   into her  as she  fired into the Thrusters of the  Corvette.


  Justin,   wheeled  around at that Point...   and they  Pumped   rounds into the Corvette's thrusters... , peeling off    as    the thruster s   flickered  out...  and the corvette,  fell away  from the formation.

  the  Ride  was  Bumpy, the  Atmo thick  with  Moisture  and O2... this  could be   seen by the Growing flames  from the impact area of the  prisoner  shuttle.. and the  thing  smock  from smaller fires that   were too 'wet'... There didn't seem to be  any troops  yet, but...that would change. They just kicked the Ant  hill.


  Lyri called out,..weapon's  ready... helmets  and suits  set... fan out.. first step is to set up a perimeter.. when  the drop shuttles  come down.. we Move towards  that fire... The Capitol city is in that Lake.... we're Gonna make it   rubble..


    Morgan said to the Mechs.....we  move   to the   west..  help them set the perimeter ..if its not ESN or those little Gava things.. you kill it..

 Frans Voice  come over the COMs... looks like  Vehicles  comign up from the water... APVs?  Armor?..  we'll shoot  them up...

 The 'Wolves  song still played..it was back round for the ESN that still used COM 1... it was  'jamming'  to the  Aqra..

Roy barked out, "GEAR UP!  I want us out and on the ground in seconds, everyone better have everything they need when this bird touches down or you're gonna have my boot-print embossed on your backside!"  He did a last check of his armor, checked his assault rifle...one of the Barretts was still broken down in its gear bag, he'd set it up if the situation warranted.  He reached down and gave Larry a pat.

"Guess we'll find out if you like fish, Larry," he said, with a dangerous grin, before calling out, "Thirty seconds to ground!  Be ready!"

Henry checked that Mila was ready, and sat holding his shotgun. This wasn't how he liked to visit a new planet.

Garrat was ready to go, he looked like a pitiless machine in his visored helm but an evil chuckle ticked out on the com, “Why sgt-mgr, I didn’t know you could kick that high.”  He runs out and to the right as soon as the door is down.

    The  three  Shuttles    Touched    do In a  Tri=leaf  formation.. Some  Aqra   scouts, or  troops  were in the   trees and the Bubble  Guns  Opened Up.  trees and Bodies  were torn up  by the twin 50  Cal MGs..

 The  Mechs  Broke from thier  clamps on the shuttles, and began   to fan out towards the   Lake.  Duke  Came out of the Hold  with the   5 man  squad  of support  troops that followed the Mechs.. 3 rifle man..a COM man and a  rocket launcher. The Diamond  and the  Spade 's trioops  poured out  as they followed their leads..


 Stoly came on the COMs,Alright Folks?...  we  touched down a good  10 miles closer to the   Lake then we were supposed to...i gues that thick  Atmo made the  ride   a bit  rough...anyway..that Gives them Transport shuttles  and Big Uglies Lotsa  room behind  us  to Set up  As they looked  around   they notcied the  grass, Knee High was   very moist , as was the soil.

 they saw  red   Lines  as   the headed  noses  of   drop shuttles  Burned through the  air  to Land  Behind them,,Fighters, Like Flocks  of  Birds, Flew   over  and  around.. The Hermes Fighter  wing..   firing ahead of them heading towards the Lake.  An explosions that sent   large metal arms    Fling into the air,  Told the  Troops  that the   Fish folk had mechs.

  Will  said over the COMs,woooooieeeee.. this beats the 9 hells  out of walking down corridors...

    not to Far from the  Shuttles, the Gava transport touched  down... scores of Little  Humans  with  Blue  'capes' or  tiny blue  tunics  cahrged out... The Bounded through the   grass, like  rabbits .. Two   Aqra    tropers  were engulfed  and   torn to  bits , then the  Gavas  Moved on.... one Gava picked  Up a side  arm and  fired  it  rndomly into teh trees  in front.. Limbs breaking off as they were truned to ice.

   Larry      Lunged Out and Followed Roy... He Let out  a Long  Savage  Roar...

  The Roar wa sanswered    500 Yards  behind   them  as Nivaian  poured out of thier  transport  with  at least  6 more  Largs..

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

 behind  then.. the  drop  shuttles and Big  Uglies   landed.. Tanks  na d troops  flowing out   like  dark Blue water...  a wave  of them  Moved    topwards  the Moutnains/..EWSN  fighters  strafing the   slopes   to knock out    any  defesne.. the sky was  full of ESN  Metal fallign  from the sky.. some  100 miles  away the twisted burnign  front half of  a Burning Aqra Battleskim was falling..

  Naragrans    Came out of  their  Own Transport  one of them  still had  a flight  helmet webbed  to its  back.. then  began to  scuttle into the trees near the Gavas...

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

     when the    Duces  began to  touchdown, Shadow  snapped  orders,..Look for   things  on the  ground that aren't us.... look for things that might blow up.... when you reach the Lake... fire at any  Buildings   that are   sticking out of the water...or  close to the surface.... and Most of all... shoot up those landing Craft.... If  fighter s  show up... then You break off   if you flight  leader  agrees.. right now?>.  the folks on the  Ground are the  thing  we have to protect...

 the  Fighter   wing   flew over in two waves , except  for the Felrites that were still dancing with     figthers  , just above  the Atmo.

 An Odd lookign take.. shaped Like a Crab, with Legsa  instead of  tracks,  and  two independant  Pulse  cannons on the top  was  Blown to bit s  By shadow's   37 MM...  up and  down the    fighter wave  similar  fountains  of    water  rising  , or  fire  gouts.. as  37 MM rounds hit    the ground or the target

 Musette called,..theess ees much like crabbing... only... with  fighters...

 Gia   giggled,..we reach the beach.. we  will be  digging the Clams...

     Garrat wished she hadn't said that about clams.  Pill boxes would be a natural defense for aquatic people and they were damn had to find at times until they found you.

    He moved foreward looking for cover, trying to sefely reach the trees where his size would go from being a disadvantage to an advantage.

    His eyes were peeled and his big gun was ready.

 Over  ALL COMs  On COM 1...attention.. I  am goign to Free  up COM 4... we  will be  able to hear everything  from   their  side.. they will be able to hear everything from outside... if you must transmit ..Use COM 1  for  just fleet...unless.. you want them to hear...  Beth Out...

 within seconds  the Music  on COMs    4  'broke up"..though it  continued  on COM 3   and COM 2....Most...Empire forces  did not use  COM 1 , as they upgraded  over the  years.

 Cross  talk....

 "...Humans  Have  Gava with them!...… Large Bug Creatures  ..not Creshains... they are   eating and Killing My Men!..."


  " Nivarians!.. they Have  the Runnign beasts...  be careful..shot theem on sight!..."


  "...Mech  Two of the..( explosion..static)"


…….

  our  side...


 Gava"...AHHH!!!!!!  GRRRR!!!!!!.. ACK! ACK!.... HAHAHHAHAHAHA! "


  Naragrans,"... seek out.... destroy water people.."


……………………………..


 with this was added,...  the  howls of the  Hammer Vas  and Darts..... The Novas  were said not  to have the Howl, which bothered  some piltos, ebcause the sound  reminded  the Demon folks of their flying 'dragons".


 It wasn't   Until  the figthers Zipped towards  the Lake  and the Landing Craft comign up from below... that  the  High scream of the Nova  engines Cut through the   air  Like the 'nails-chalk board thing....though thepiltos   could barely  hear it..outside it was savage....  there  wouldn't be  any Novas  sneaking up on any one...anything  soon.


…………………..

  Lyri directed  her    people Forward..Ma-Ti had  her sniper  rifle   reasy  as she Moved to the tree line..they had  been very lucky... the  Aqra were  caught off  guard, never  thinking the Fleet would Invade  while the  Planet Defesne   fleet engaged them...Now?.. troops  were on the Ground, figthers  in the air..and more  coming down by the second...

 Meanwhile   the first 5 or so   Landing Craft comign up from the deep  were   Blown to Bits  my 37 MM  fire.. the  azure blue  of the lack.. darkening  around  the   dead machines  as bodies  bled out....


……………..


 on the east Coact… the  Aqra on that  side , in the ocean were ending larger   waves of landing craftmand figthers  emerged  from the water... The   APF forces  had  Installed  a  few  Guns on the  top of the Mountain.. and were trying to get more in.. those  Guns  fired..Hard ammo at the  shoreline... Landing craft  exploded...  and even misses, shredded  troops  that able  to   dismebarl the   Egg shaped , 6 legged  crafts...

 once they reach the shore  the Legs  deployed   and  Mouth Rams  came  down... The Aqra, had to take thier own beach!...


 meanwhile  fighters  from other Vangaurd ships tangled with the air support, or strafed  the  beach... the APF  wouldn't have  enough guns to stop them, they were  just  slowing the  flow....

  But, near the foot of the Mountains.. some 5 miles from beach … the  Ape Folk Landed... When the Commander   COmed that his people   had  disembarked.. the   shelling  was shifted  to  land in the water to damage or destroy the craft doing from the Deep ocean..


 the Dark Blue Line of Ape folk Moved through the trees..  as the Light Blue of the Aqra   surged  from thier  landing Craft.... fighter s still gave  aid to the Ape folk.....But the Aqra  ha d No clue what they were  about to run into...

---> Hangar Dec

Forming up on Waggles fighter, Harry concentrated flying the Bee so as keep swirl of emotions at bay, wondering how her life had become such a god awful mess in such a short space of time and there was absolutely nothing she could do about any of it! Though perhaps there was one ray of sunshine in all of this, her hand coming up to gently stroke Hamlet's head as new mascot stared out of her cockpit at the planet before her.

Glancing out the side of her cockpit she would watch as An'Teela and Justin made their attack run on one of the new corvettes; a trail of frozen liquid briefly pouring from the Angel's fuselage before the flow was cut off by one of the many safety measures within the fighter "Not bad...though it looks like one of those guns tagged you Teela" Harry commented as the Angel moved to rejoin them, with Harry meanwhile preparing to make her descent into the upper atmosphere.

Quickly adapting her flying style for the thick and humid atmosphere of Aqra, automatically making the required adjustments to her controls as she "buzzed" over the top of trefoil of landed shuttles to strafe the edge of the clearing with a barrage of pulse cannon shots so as to drive back any enemy lurking within trees, allowing the ground forces to exit their transports unmolested before ascending back into the sky to search for a target.

 The Aircreaft pounded the Landing craft    that seem to 'fly' under  the  Surface,  but once  hitting the shore..    6     Legs  Unfolded and the things   walked  about  30 yards  onto the sand and  short grass , Jaw Like   ramps in teh  front opened and   Aqar troops   poured out in their Light  Blue Uniforms.


  troops  seem to 'appear' on the shore.. streams of them... Until it was seen by over ehad  Fighters that the Uniforms blended perfectly with teh water..at elast..from up there.

 As B Flight  flew  Upards...havign  strafed  the  water  and the   Buidling  parts   sticking out of..or just under the surface,  Shadow Opened  His COMs,...  Hey...Headers?  I don't see  any  red aircraft.. Just  these  targets  the Aqra are sending up?..... Got alot of Flight leaders   down here..and 6 times more    Pilots  who would love to meet you... or?.. do you not  wanna get you're ass kicked?


   Frans  Called out,..Shadow?... a Flight  of  Aqra  to the  east... they may be covering troops.... get rid of them, we'll Harrass the Beach with  Fitz's flight.. Howe and Steele have the otherside of the LAke...He-La  is  covering our troops moving in.. the Cats...are playing with thier food   in the Black..


   Got it.. we'll be back after  we  take care of them.... B-Flight break off  .. Waggles  -Harry to port....Teela ,  Justin to the starboard... me  and  My sword Maidens up the Middle.. Fighters  first.. then the  ground troops.. if you see armor, or Mechs.. take them out..
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:08, Fri 25 May 2018.

Acknowledged 19, out replied Justin as he powered back on the thrusters allowing the flight to get ahead of him before he and rolled the Nova over moving from the Port to the Starboard side of the Flights formation. His eyes sweeping across the different coloured dots showing on his HUD  identifying Allied and Enemy targets. Locating the flight Starboard of B flight. 124 Do you want the fourth or fifth he asked, referring to the five bogies.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:26, Sat 26 May 2018.

"Lucky hit from one of the guns I didn't finish off. Hazards of the Dance, Harry." Teela said as she pounded some of the structures with her Pulse Cannons. She heard the orders being given and broke off her attack.

"Copy that, 124 out," she said and formed back up with Justin, copying his roll to move to the starboard side of the formation. "I'll start with the fourth and see if the fifth is still flying once I'm done."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:14, Sat 26 May 2018.

"Roger that, moving to engage" Harry responded as the Bee gracefully moved over to the Port side with Waggles before moving to intercept the incoming Fighters. Targeting the fighter furthest to port Harry would open fire with her pulse cannons, waiting until she was nice and close before opening up with her 37mm. Regardless of whether or not she dispatched her target or not she'd make a sharp turn to starboard. Twisting her fighter round to try and come in behind another target and firing her cannon once she'd lined up her shot.

  All around thier  region  Blue  Fighters  ( or  Gold and Blue with Nivarians  refusing to  cover the sacred sun color)  flew around, some danced   with   Aqra  fighters,  some    strafed  enemy troops and LAnding  Craft..    More  fighters   were  beign send over the Mountain to  help thin out the Thousands of  landing craft comign from  the Ocean to the  East of the Mountain.

 Aqra  Fighters  starting to get into the  air  Now, One surface  Base lost all its   aircraft   as two fights  from  the Atlas strafed  the 9 hells out of them, leaving the base   in flames and  scores  of   Bodies  on the ground

 Harry  and Waggles   flamed  two of the Mist  Fighters... Just as  Frans  Guessed, below  them was a column of   odd  lookign  tanks  walking  down the   round  with  some 100 troops.. they were double  timing to reach the  'beach  head" the  shuttles set up...some 5 miles to Go.


 Teela  and Justin  each flamed   a Vapor  that  were in the front of the   Troops... Shadow  , Flores   and  Kat  torched   3  of the   4 in the  Center.. the Flight   leader  trying to escape  with flashing  Light   telling  every one , who he was..

 Make  sure that Armor  doesn't survive... and chew  up as many troopers  as you can...

………….

  As  Harry and Waggle s  saw   Sahow  and his wings  shoot through..an Odd then   Happened in Harry's   cockpit...  Hamlet shifted, as if  he was looking  .. whether it  was the   hits she  was taken from Gun fire..or the turn she made.. her eyes  followed the  Haster's  eyes... out of  the Sun... 7  Blood  read  Hammers...new  Hammers... Hammer  VIIs....  and they were just hitting their power ons… before that.. screens just through them 'dead metal.."

In reply to An'teela (msg # 22):

Justin grimaced at Teela's comm. Should I quit the field now 124, and let you finish off the Battle yourself, or will you be letting me get a look in on this fight.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:28, Sat 26 May 2018.

  Shadow's  Voice  chuckled over the COMs,..ground  targets  are good.... they might not  be as flashy, but it will save trooper's  Lives..well..i mean..ours.. no worried  about thiers..

 Shadow , Kat  and  Flores   Came  across the  forest  road   firing the best they could Flores   Blew up a walking tank.. Kat  Killed  a few  Dozen troopers..  Shadow shot  a  samller  vechile that might have  been a COM  wagon or  Command  car.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:38, Sat 26 May 2018.

  The Battle  was something from an Aqra Horror  movie..Humans… Sanri, Occui.. other   Races  they have never  even  met were on their  planet!..and attacking!


 The Capital  city had  already taken some Damage, and  down south   things  were whistling down  from the  sky into the ocean to   explode  send   massive   shock waves that  Killed  those  two  Close  and   shattered  or  Damaged the  wonderful Building the Aqra  were so proud of.... teh ships that  attacked  the southern Hemisphere  did not let up.. round   after  round hit the shores  and the  water... drop ships  were landing on either  Short of the Southern Ocean,..and Gavas.. thousands  of Gavas,, some wearing Blue..Some  were native… but they were  fighting along  side the ESN.

 Aqra didn't  get any mercy from the Gavas... Humans  or Apefolk  fought with them, protecting them   from  armor   and such, while  the Gava swarmed troopers  tearing them apart,  Bow s were  being taken from Aqra  and used  against them.... films  would catch  Gavas  and  Ape folks   stealign a bite to eat now and then...



,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,


 Bck up  at the Landing Zone,   the Herme s assault  force reached the   tree  line... Not  far away     B flight was     chewing up somthing to the  north east...


  the small figure s of the   herme s wing  could be see   flying  back and  forth over  the Lake... Then.. for the first time.. they saw  each other... The 'lucky' troops that hit the beach  before the fighers got there  were  charging forward, only to come  eahd on  tot eh shuttle  forces the  whole way f down the    Line shout  so f  surpsie  and  anger   and the trops  clashed towgther..

 Larry shot  awad  Of Roy   tearing   fish folk aprt at the legs to maim them as he  ran around in a circle...

 The mechs  encounter   trooper    and   thier   weapons  let loose  Boddies  and  tres  alike began to  Fall..

  Just  down the Line  from them  a Nivarian  was    truned  white  By a Frost gun,  but the  Shooter   Died  as one of the Niavrian Largs   tore  its ehad off..

Teela growled at the tone and words Justin used. She took a deep breath before opening her comms. Her voice was strictly calm, cold, and professional with none of the humour and warmth it usually held. "Please forgive the error in communication on my part, 19. I'll take the fourth. 124 out."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:15, Sat 26 May 2018.

Roger that 124. 25 out Manoeuvring his Nova to Teela's Starboard, Justin positioned his kite for a better firing angle on the oncoming Bogies. 124 If you want to mess with the Aqrain Heads we can do a quick cross over. Over
This message was last edited by the player at 03:59, Sat 26 May 2018.

"Copy that, 25. Crossover on your mark," the Angel replied.

Sweeping towards the oncoming Mist's Justin quickly calculated distances, acceleration and time. Seconds before they were in targeting range Justin commend on 2...124,  1, 2. then rolling the Nova low switching position with Teela. Quickly bringing this bogie into his sites he squeezed off two bursts at what he hoped would be a befuddled Pilot.

Teela made the crossover with Justin at his mark and quickly lined up her target before firing controlled bursts from her 37mm cannons as well as pulses from her lasers, marking how the humidity in the air refracted the light, if it did so in any visible fashion.

  The two  managed  to  Burn the   Aqra  Fighters.. they both  felt the    shaking of thier  aircraft as pulse  gunners    on the walking Tanks  opened up on the   ESN figthers as they passed over  head.

"Huh...I guess he does like fish..." Roy mused aloud as he watched Larry taking limbs off Aqrians before racing on to the next target.  He smiled grimly, and gestured for the team to gather around, so he could call out instructions.

"Okay...Lirg, I want you and the Felrites to be our center.  Lt. Hirr, you're in charge of that group...keep Larry covered, try and keep up with him, and kill anyone he leaves alive.  Az-El, take the Scots with you and cover the right flank, we'll cover the left.  Any of you hit any stiff resistance, call for air support...the air is full of our fighters, Captain Nilsson's up there somewhere...help will be coming fast.  Don't be stupid and try to punch through if you hit determined resistance, but the faster we move, the more off-balance we keep them.  Let's move..."  He gestured for the ESN team to come with him as he deployed to the left of the line of advance that Larry was establishing.  Any Aqrian that became visible got a quick burst of fire sent downrange at them, as he hustled forward, trying to turn Larry's point of penetration into a broad wedge cutting into Aqrian domain.

In reply to J a T (msg # 33):

Sweeping through the Smoke which was what remained of the Bogie the Nova was buffeted by pulse rounds from the Aqraian Tanks, attempting to knock Teela and himself from the sky. Zig zagging to make targeting him more difficult Justin glanced over his shoulder at the attacker below. 124 Have you had much exposure to Close Ground Support? Over.

  Breaking off as  ordered  the   weapons began to  Fire Heavy weapons    fired  Behind Larry ( no one trusted them self  to  lead him as he ran about like  some demonic shepherd  dog.

 Will was firing  at Aqra he saw in small Groups  Next to him, Rolfe's  grenade Launcher  coughed  as it sent rounds  Behind  the   Aqra shredding   troops


 Teh Aqra  were  determined..  heat rounds    hitting  troops    burn through   armor and sometimes  sent  people ablaze.. cold  round   Turned folks   white  as the   fell to teh  rgound, dead, or clutching limbs that  looked  like  tree  branches after  a winter  rain.


  But, the Aqra  faced Horrors   as well... screaming Fighters   bring  death in forms of  Lazar, Pulse  and Hard ammo HE....Gavas  , Ape folk and Naragran, not only killing   them But  eating  them on the run..


   some of the transport troops fired the  weapon that scared the  Aqra  the Most... Streams of  Brining Liquid, that adhered  to thie r   bodies  and Burned... or started  Blazes when  sticking to certain  tress  and   brush.. the High O2 fed the  flames   even as the  think moisture  tried  to  squash  them.. leaving  Bright  flames and Heavy smoke  The   Stuart tanks     churned up swamp like  soil as they formed  Flanks   for the spear head.. the encounter s with   Crablike Tanks, went  to the  faster  little    tanks.. as  marked   But   bulb-like   explosions, sending   metals and Bodies  through the air...

 The Panzers  found they were too heavy  for this  battle  filed..  and set up as artillery.. Firing   Over the  ESN heads, towards the Lake and the Sides.


  Doc Henry and Mila followed the  wave   of   Dark or Royal  Blue..Mila did not seem happy Splashing around   in the muck... Henry  got the image of her     diving into the water, if  and when they reached  the shore.

 One thing  Henry noticed... Leeches , much like  earth leeches, were as big as hotdogs..  Mila Yiped  as One   attached   itself to her  left  Flank.. when he looked around he   saw them sliding off  armor of  his  comrades... But   swarming to the dead and   Filling Up on the blood.


 Roy Noticed  Officers in the  Aqra  had  small Blue Lights on their  helmets .. and Two of them were not  far from him  shouting orders into  COMs


 Garrat's  weapon    fired, opening  Big Holes  in Aqra Bodies.. Minnet was not far from him calmly   firing bursts   from her  Heavy Pulse into  groups of  fish folk..or  even.. moving  Brush, surprising Aqra who that they were being  sneaky

…………….

 The Mechs were making   a decent  dent in thier  end of the line.. some  of the  small tanks  to thier   left Tearing into  the   troops.. Aqra mechs  looked formidable , but thier  cockpit  glass shattered easy enough  with Minigun rounds... Mechs were no good, with dead pilots.

"Come here, Mila."

Henry gently detatched the leech from her flank, and popped it into a specimen jar.

"Don't worry about the mud, girl, you can have a good bath after."

Flying an evasive pattern to avoid the ground fire Teela rolled her eyes at the question sent to her. She had been fighting this war longer than the human had been alive. She kept the scorn she felt for the question out of her voice when she responded, however.

"That's affirmative, 25."

The Mist class fighter spiralled down to crash upon the beach trailing a column of thick black smoke as it did so. Conditions on Aqra were far from ideal with the thick, moisture filled atmosphere not only creating mist like conditions that cut down her visual range but also caused condensation to form upon her canopy, with her fighter's climate controls working over time just to keep it at bay. Not that it stopped her or the rest of B flight from shredding the Aqra fighter currently in the air.

She didn't know what made her glance in that direction, nor what had caused Hamlet, who had been securely wedged in place, to suddenly twist round to stare out the port side of her canopy but Harry's eyes would suddenly lock upon the formation of scarlet Hammer VII's that had just materialised out of the hazy glare of the sun to bear down upon them "LC, Red Hammer VII's eleven o'clock high!" Harry shouted down her comms as she violently wrenched her fighter round to face the rapidly approaching Head Hunters. It was then that she'd shift her comms to the open fourth channel so that any Imperial pilots who deigned to listen who hear as she shouted down her comms "Gods Damn you Sin! What the nine hell's do you think you're playing at!?"

In reply to An'teela (msg # 38):

Excellent. I take it that you'll have no problems with providing tutorage, in Angel techniques. Justin suggested. Hopefully she'd be willing to do so, it wouldn't bother him if she chose not to. Especially since the Demons and Angles had been warring with each other for eons; yet it had taken a race which by their standards is nothing more than a mere babe in the crib to advance this conflict as they have. Advancement which has brought about considerable reversal in the war by threatening the Strangle Hold which the Demons have enjoyed.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:12, Sat 26 May 2018.

  Mila whined  a bit, but happily licked henry's Face after he was  done... If there was  an Upside to the carnage.. most of  the Leeches  were   slithering towards the  dead  and Dying..only the slower or smaller   leeches   tried  to  launch themselves at the troops    splashing through the Muck.

 Henry Observes  a Few of the , shooting Upwards  about calf high, only to be  knocked back by boarding armor... Still the   Troops   Moved  on a Few  fighting HAnd  to hand  when an eager  ( foolish?) Aqra  charged   Forth.

 Will shore   One  In the Chest.. then  Ducked  a wicked sword,  before   a Reverse Stab with the  Unit's  favored  Trench knife...into the chest.. sending    water  and   light blue  Blood   gushing.

 Lippen was  wounde d By  Fought on waiting  for  a Med tech to reach her.

Henry patted Mila, then stood up with the shotgun looking for an opportunity to come to Lippen's aid.

  Shadow didn't  question   Harry's COM... it was enough that they were Red.....B-Flight..Scatter!... make sure None of those  red  fighters  Leave this  air space!

 They had Opened  Up  as   Harry  yelled..   Justin ,  Waggles and Shadow took  some Hits.. Not  terrible in Damage, but they  did  notice. The Head Hunters  had 37 MM rounds..and as the rounds  Missed , they  Killed Hapless   Aqra  troops below them

  The Novas  broke Upward   like Missles  ,the Hammer VII    Fanned Out  in 2s... a Dozen of them..all Blood red...

 ..How  the Hell   did this  second rate  jockeys get Hammer VIIs.. we Don't even  have them on the List yet....

 A  deep Voice  , sounded African,..You would  Be wise  to  Watch your  comments... Shadow...we still get alot of Credits for you Dead....

 ... Shadow   smiled  and   did the  'SHadow  screw"...    the pair closest to him dived  and Climbed to get out of the nut job's  way..   the diving  aircraft   took a  few  Rounds  Of Pulse ... the Climbing  One  took  a few rounds Of Pulse and a 37 MM  Just Behind the  Pilot...a female shriek was heard....


  Sindy's Vote shouted.....Lexi!..Get your  Bleedin' ass back to the  Carrier!....

 Shadow chuckled..she  Just Might be bleeding there....

  Lexi   turned her  Fighter skywards, ,  smoke  and  fluid  coming from the back... her   Fin Number   was 1B.... Sindy , with the flight leader bubble, was 1A

  Sindy Ignored Shadow as his flight  spread out, Not all seemed  worried  about B flight  as  Frans  and her People were closing in at the sight of the Red Birds.

 ...Harry?.. is that you?..  gods, about Bloody time.. you  know how many people  we had  to kill, to try to get a trail on you?

 she  huffed  a bit, like she was  waiting  for a late  underground,..cost me some  Creds, it  did.  If it wasn't  for those two Blokes  on the Hermes, we  wouldn't have known you were in this quad, don't ya know...

 ..But that's  all  done with Now, eh?  Help Us Knock   down these  Delta  heroes  and you can Come back with is... got  a shiny  Hammer VII , fit you like  one of those sleeve  you used to wear!


  There  was   a scream   of pain and a Hammer VII  Blew  Up..Frans  yelled  ..I Got One... Fin number  1D.. Morris better  count it!

   Shadow's  chuckle came across the  COMs,Now I understand.... I bet these are EDT made... like the Hammer V... before  the ESN  remade them to Hammer Va..

 As the others  Fanned Out,  and  Fran's  flight  moved In.. it  was  easy to see, the Head Hunters   had  some skill.... and?.. were smart enough to let Aqra  die  as  Bait for an ambush....But now?..everyone knew... were every one was.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:52, Sat 26 May 2018.

Scattering with the rest of the flight Harry would head for the nearest pair of Blood red fighters, leading the one nearest to her as she fired her 37mm. Hearing the familiar voice of Sindy on her comms Harry would sigh before responding in a patient voice "Sin...I am one of those Delta Heroes" she said as she continued to pursue her target, jinking from side to side to throw off any rounds coming her way "come on Sin, why are you flying for these ass holes? I mean... I know you have your issues but I never took you for a mug! Take my advice, get your people out of here and go mercenary the EDT will just get you killed or worse eaten!" she said whilst continuing to send 37mm rounds after the red Hammer VII that was currently trying to throw her off "...or better yet, put your lights on, come with me and I'll get you patched over and fighting for the winning team...please Sin...it's bad enough that they've gone after my family without them getting my best friend killed too!" she said, hoping that her friend would see sense and get the hell out of here before it was too late.

Teela was about to answer in the affirmative when the order came for B Flight to scatter and engage the red fighters. "Happily, 25, once these mercenaries are taught a lesson."

She rolled and turned into a sharp climb looking to hit one on the flank as she entered the dogfight that was rapidly shaping up in the skies above Aqra. Pulse and laser fire lanced out at her chosen target.

Justin's Nova lurched as rounds smacked into it, Grimacing at the sound he instinctively pivoted the sleek craft, slipping away from any direct line of fire. Watching a stream of both beam and tracer rounds zipped past the place the Nova had just been. Tapping on his thruster Justin wing upwards executing a rapid ascending nosed over. Snap shooting at two HVII's that crossed through the Nova's targeting zone, prompting sporadic beeps from its targeting sensor. Quickly scanning his HUD Justin noted the two to one ration and grinned ferally. They should have brought more he thought to himself, as B Flight fragmented and swept forward to engage this new threat.

Continuing his nose over Justin reversed the manoeuvre, mid execution, throwing the Nova back to the place it previously was, and into what was originally the kill zone of the Bogie VII. Squeezing off two bursts straight at the Head Hunter craft Justin continued the fighters roll over, as it chewed up distance between himself and the oncoming fighters. Dipping the Nova to starboard he acquired a better targeting angle on another VII and snapped off two quick bursts at it, then span away from the location.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:28, Sat 26 May 2018.

    Harry's weapons     Chewed up  1M,, bits of Plater   fell off the  middle of the craft  Before   It  Exploded, the Pod came out.. but the pilot  was  banging on the   Glass as a fire  raged in the cockpit... he fell  like  a  rock towards the trees..

  Sindy  was On  Kat's Tail  chewing Up  Wings  with Pulse  But couldn't  get the  37 MM  to land... Flores     Zipped   between them, Taking  a coupe  Pulse   Round s But forcing Sindy to break Off...

 ..Kat?... Go to the Beachhead.. Cover the landings, Until you see  how your Bird  Holds...

 ..But ,,LC..I...

 NOW...LT!...   Kat  Broke  off   going low she  took her anger out  on the  Tanks on  the  road, Blowing  Up another  one.. only  two of the walking tanks remained... most of the troops  littered the  road

 Sindy    swore  as  Flores   saved Kat..lookit you now? All Patriotic? When did this happen? I though sure ,you would be  eager ta  join us luv?.. I had to send  some people around, to ask your Family were you were.. they said they didn't Know?  But the Boss lady found about  about   your Family's  Creds.. so she took over. Nice LAdy   , LAdy V.  She rewards her people, more then fair... ye  just don't want to cross her... she is a bit  off now, since a lot of her favs  died  On Etna...  Better  Come  with  us   Luv..Before  one  of  my gang nails you...

 There  was another Scream  as  Eckles  shouted ,..They Got me..I'm going down.....

 ..ECK!!!!! Frans   screamed...... I'll Come and....

 ..No  I Got her.. stay In command Up Here....

  A russian  Voice  said,..I will finish her, so not to trouble  You Eh Sha........  the  Russians  red   Hammer   Vanished  in a  hail of  37 MM  fire   and Shadow Dove  after   Eckles...

 Betty?  Listen  To me....  Keep your Nose   Up...DON'T   Pod Out..  Head  for  the  Line of our  troops...when You get out...  you    shoot your flare Gun into  your  Power cell and  run like hell.. Grab you kit  from the  container.... I'll follow you  if    there  are  too many Fish around, I'll Land    and you  can get in my Back seat...

 Flores  chuckles,..how many times  has  Eckles  wish he had said that to her... then  peeled of  after a Red Bird.

  Eckles   Nova was shot up pretty Badly, flames  Licked the Bottom  and    smoke poured  out of  holes on both sides of her  aircraft...


 Shadow  Zig Zagged  and  fired  at Light  blue troops to thin the herd and   Give Eckles  a   chance...

 Sindy said,well..Thank You Mr  Shadow....... She  Rolled over twice  and Dived  down.. trying to   keep the wiggling    Nova in her  sights...

  Justin's  Move  gave him a good   mark on  1K.. the    craft   shattered  and the    pod   fell away, the  inside of the pod was  coated in  red..

 The African Voice  said ,..number  25.. I think I will claim you for myself...      Pulse   rounds  Slammed into   Justin's Port  wing..it  was  shaking a bit.

 A voice like honey came on the COMs,well Looks  Like  its  me  and you then Hon?... Give little  ole Dixie some sugar....     rounds  Slammed into   Teela's   aircraft..causing  her  ornage lights   to Blink  Red...
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:39, Sat 26 May 2018.

  with the Chaos On the  Ground  the  sound sof  Fighter s was almost a  Back round  sound...  a Nova    From B  flight  flew over # 48   as   it    shot up some thing and the  woods  then flew   over towards the  Shuttles.. smoke     was  thick, from its belly.

 A Nva  from A  flight  was  In trouble   Flames   Licking away  as   hit  came  clsoer  and clsoer to the Ground  , another   Noav  was   behind it.. side slipping  and  firing into the Back of the Advancing Aqra.

 Coming down behind   the  2nd Nova , was a Blood  red 'newer' lookign Hammer..

 Will, who was sporting  a wpund  in his shoulder Pointed,..That frist one's gonna  come down , right in that school of fish...

 Shoey  was Gunning away with  his  grease Gun..school.... of  fish?

 yeah? that's  what you call a Bunch of fist..right?

Teela cursed before bringing her Dart around in a complex roll and dive, diverting back to her main cooling system as her secondary seemed to have taken a bad hit. "Give you some sugar? I have something even sweeter for you."

She kept up the unpredictable corkscrews and evasive manoeuvers before going into a tight wingover and hitting the throttle and air brakes to suddenly change her vector so that the nose of her bird was facing the Hammer on her tail. She opened up with a stream of 37mm fire, pulse fire and her lasers as she hit the afterburners to chew up air between them, firing all the while.

Gritting his jaw Justin compensated for the hits to his port wing, as he completed another nose over.  Banking tightly he span and weaved the Nova in the process, nodding approvingly at the Kites nice tight turning arc. Flanking two blood Red Hammers Justin angled the Nova towards the leading bogie, pumping two leading bursts at it as he swept between it and the trailing VII, giving any bandits on his six something to think about.

 With  each     Turn a  pulse round  would hit  Her   Dart.. her port  wing  started    to   vibrate a bit.

  ..Bless your Little  angel heart.......The Head Hunter   zipped  forward  as  well   37 MMs  and Pulse round    streaming   Both Aircraft took a    pounding, Teela's  Port  wing  began to separate..  he r Cock pit  started  to spider,  as the   Meta Glass  took Hits Red  Light s all over her  console  lit up and  smoke  Filed her   cockpit..

 Dixies  Hammer  didn't   fair    any Better,   starboard  wing lost it s  tip,  a sKid  was  Gone  and  her  Cock pit  shattered.


 The  cripped  fighters  flew    right at  each other, abrely   50 yards  away..Black  Smoke  and Fire    and   Dixe  Podded out....see  you again..sugar..if  you get out in   time...

 Teela's  Left    wing snapped    tuening  her  over...  with  30 yards  aand  closing...

……………………………………………………..

  The African's  voice  was   very bass  as he chuckled..., Justin  nicked  Up One of the   Headhunters  ahead of him as  soon as the   rounds    hit , they Broke off, One    Port high...  the one  Justin hit, Starboard low... the  African  stayed on Justin  firing away... one 37 MM  was lucky enough to  hit the Tail of  Justin's  Nova,  making it  want to make  a right hand  , downward  Turn, which put more  stress on the left  will.. it  began to flap a bit.

 we were trained to be Hunters....25.... we have seen  films....we are not  you  demon  aces....

"124 is going down. I'm podding and hitting my rescue beacon." She said, voice calm as she used her remaining wing to change her attitude of attack so that she was in a corkscrew turn and used manoeuvering thrusters to right herself before hitting the control to pod out of her fatally wounded fighter.

"Next time, Dixie. See you next time."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:46, Sat 26 May 2018.

    frans   was s swearing,..Dammit, Waggles!.. get to Teela's  Pod  were  still on their  side of this  fight.

 The  TRwo aricraft  Hit  together  with a shattering  Boom, raining  fire  and Metal over   some 500 yards  of  area.

 ..I almost have  this one that's  trying to escape!

 ..Let Her  Go!..Get Teela!

 .. Alright... already Done....  his    aircraft tipped   Ove r and  Dove  Dow  to  track Teela's  Pod.....I'm Coming Down....    Head to the North and east..  the   Fish are to the  south and west...

  Flores   Turned  around  and.. the three  Hunter  Justin mixed  with  were   co-ordinating..  His   crippled  aircraft  was  about  a half Mile from   the surging   ESN Line.


 .. Justin?....  Im' coing  down from the Sun.. Veer   to the port... I knw..I can see your  wing  from here.. But there  are less fish over there.. I'll take out, or scare off the  portside  Hunter.... You'll Never  make it  to starboard  or   straight  ahead!

 She was  coming down... her   hands  on the  trigger waiting to sqeeze.... even if the  port side   fighter  swung in, she  should be able to mess up the formation.

In reply to in the air (msg # 53):

Acknowledged Flores Justin commed, angling the Nova as directed to the Port and climbing after the bogie which flew that way. Closing the distance between him and it and firing burst after burst at the bandit.

      Justin, Hit the   Hunter on the Port..   Flores  awaited  Until the last moment  to  fire   and finished it off...

  Keep Goign to the  northeast.. Look for Waggles  he's  hunting Teela's Pod...

 ..HerPods  Hitting  Now.... she is  about  1/4 mlie  North  of Justin...

    When Justin Goe s down.. try to get them on your Skids and  Fly them to  rear.  they can catch a ride to the Hermes   can see if they can get another Ride.

Teela wasted no time once her pod touched down. She grabbed her bag of gear and quickly assembled her sniper rifle and placed her weapons in their appropriate sheaths and positions on her person.

She stepped out of the pod quickly and did a sweep of the area, leading with her rifle. As she did so the slits in her armour opened and her wings unfolded with soft cracking noises that made her moan slightly. She triggered her comms as she looked for cover and Aqra troops.

"This is 124, my pod is at these coordinates. So far there's no sign of Aqra personnel. I'm moving to seek cover but will have the pod in sight for rescue. 124 out."

  Waggles  COMed,Alright  Teela.. Make Your way North east..if you see  a Clearing   I'll drop  down and You can Grab my skids.... watch for Justin.. he   his  about to lose  a wing.

  Flores  Is  trying to lead  the Other  Two Hunters  away... we get this  cleaned up.. we  can  get  you to  the Hermes  for New Rides...

"Acknowledged, Waggles. Heading north-east and keeping an eye out for 25. A new ride sounds nice as I'm in this battle to the end. 125 out."

Teela began heading NE as indicated by Waggles, moving as quietly as she was able, eyes and rifle acting as one and sweeping the area for enemy troops.

 As she  Moves   she  can hear the   fighting , small explosions .. the   sounds   of the Panzer  shells   chucking towards the  Beach.i
  Screams  from Both  Sides as  troops  doed   or were wounded...and the Bone chilling  Howl of  Largs.

 Up in the  air , the sky was  criss  crossed  with Fighters,  Mostly  ESN.. she  heard  some Voices, she  saw three  Aqra  troopers    trying to COM the  Unit... most like, from the  column they  had  strafted.. One  was against a  tree, looked badly wounded,, the other  looked  around  , while the Third  Talked on the COMs

 Waggle s stayed a bit  High, as  to not give  away what he was  doing

  To the east, the  Apefolk  that retreated,   were  airlifted  by thier   shuttle s to the  Top of the Mountain... There were 6 , heavy   Guns  using Hard  Ammo  to shell the Beach, and the  water   some 100 Yards  into the water...

 the darkening of the water   marked  Landing craft that   did not make the beach head.

 Fighters  still flew up and down the Beach  cutting  down  Troops  and   destroying Armor or Mechs.

 But  Shear Numbers  , from what was two  major  Cities under the water, had  allowed Hundreds  to  reach the treelines… the  Battle  with the Apefolks was  Savage, 5  Fish folk fell for every  Apefolk trooper,, but  the were ordered to retreat by The Admiral when he saw the numbers  that were crossing the Beach

 Now, with no  Allied  below.. the   Guns  cracked   thie r barrels  downward and fired  frag and HE.

…………………………………………………………..

  Roy And  Lyri  had their units  spread,   but  some back row  people to spell , or portect the   people Up  front..Runners  were  comign with HArd Ammo  Betles for Loaders.. and Passing out power Cells.

 Foster  COMed In,Admiral...SM.... the Lake  sure is thinning out... Steel  has the far   shore almost all clean, they didn't  send much that way... but they won't be recalling any!......


 Hack Answered,All right     Get the armor  that  can handle  the Muck  and    try to  force the troops Back to the Lake... they   can escape  easy enough.. but the City is a  sitting  Duck..and? that's what we  want .. the  Target  Clear for the Cap ships,...

 ..The  Gava, Naragrans  and Apefolks   to your  south west are etarign into the line pretty well.... The  Nivarians  and thier  Largs  have nade a  Dent  too.

 Larry  was Bounding around, Sometimes  Pouncing on a single trooper   and   tearing  it up,  Or    Crushing the  the helmeted head with   his Jaw...


   Eckles  was Gettign   Loower  the  Fighter  was  havign   problems   keeping its  Nose Up...  Shadow  was now using , only Pusle  weaposn to try to  hit  Fishfolk, with out over shooting and hitting  friendlies.. the red  Fighter  was   Closing In from behind.

Teela had been an Operator with the Angel Elite so three troopers were of no concern to her. She dropped down in the high brush near some trees so she had cover before sighting her rifle in at the one keeping watch, aiming for his head. She took a deep breath in and let half of it out, keeping the rest in before gently squeezing the trigger.

She immediately changed targets to the one on the Comms and aimed for center mass, squeezing the trigger again, counting on him being shocked to see his comrade's head suddenly vapourised.

The wounded one against the tree was her final target and whilst a prisoner would have been nice the method of her exfil didn't allow for one. One more gentle squeeze of the trigger to end his suffering and then she was scanning the area for movement and making sure all three were down.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:48, Sun 27 May 2018.

Roy didn't bother assembling the Barrett...spying the tell-tale blue lights of the officers' comm gear, he raised his assault rifle, sighting carefully on one and firing off a burst.  "Hey, Lyri?  These guys don't seem too accustomed to sniper combat.  Officers have blue lights on their gear...makes it easy to disrupt command and control..."  He swung his sights carefully around to line up crosshairs on the second one he'd seen, sending another burst downrange.

"Keep moving, people!  The larg's doing a great job of softening their formations, let's make the most of it!"

The air war had degenerated into a chaotic mess as fighters swirled around each other in a maelstrom of pulse weapons and hard ammo, throughout which Harry was having what was almost a pleasant chat with an old friend "Screw patriotism! I needed to hide and you'd abandoned me! The ESN was my best and only hope of living a normal life and Delta fleet has not let me down"  she responded watching as her cannon shattered the red painted Hammer with the pilot ejected mere seconds too late "...oh and news flash darling I was the one that killed all her favourites so it would appear you taught me a little too well...and if you've hurt may family in any way I'm going to find your kid brother and personally cut off his head and send it to you in a box!" she snarled in a feral voice as she descended upon the pair of fighters that were pursuing Flores, firing her 37mm down at the one closest to her friend in an attempt to cut it's canopy in two with a barrage of hard ammo "Sindy if you'd come to me about a month ago I'd have leapt at the chance, but I'm Delta now and they treat me far better than anyone ever has so I'm going to say this one last time...you're on the losing side Sin so either join us or get the hell out of our way!"

     ..Just a Mo, Luv?... I'm about to get rich... They told   me  he was a Boy scout.... too bloody easy....

  The Fighter  Near Sin    shattered, the    Pod went out , but   all that was   in it  was shattered  Meta Glass  and  intestings...


     Eckles ..  trying to   Keep her  Nose   Up    Crashed 'softer'.. the    Burning  Aircraft..,, Her    Pod  Op0ened, she  couldn't  even get to  her  compartment.. She       stubbled  a   few  feet away  drawing he r side  arm and  shooting  two  Aqra that had Been knocked  down..Lazars   Flew  Over  Head  as shadow  tried to kill/chase  away..  Shadow  had

 ..ECK!.. Grab  MY  skids.. we  Only Have about  300 Yards to  get  to our  side of the Line...

  Sin  smiled,..oh... dear boy.... You'll never get that Chance....

Eckels  was  screaming pointing Up Behind  Him...

 the Round s from  Sins  Pulse  Guns   Slammed   into  the Nova, the cockpit design Saved  Shadow  for the Moment, but   Both  wings  were chewed Up...

 Sins   flew  By swearing   as she  climbed to Come  back around.... Shadow  was  as close to beign on the deck  as he could be.... Eckles  Have    screaming in anger, Half in fright... as  she  Lept  and  Grabbed the skids..

 Shadow  did his...very bad... English accent,..I say..you bloody Doxie... should have used  Hard Ammo.. You won't get a second chance...

 ..gawds  that's awful!.... If You can shoot  me  down  from there?.. I deserve it.... I wanted your body for proof... they'll have to settle for Gun Cams... Shadow  Just went   about His Business .. as if he hadn't a care in the world..or..maybe a little care?

 Will and Shoey   Moved in the  direction as the saw  Shadow  rise   a few  feet in the  Air.. Eckles, for her part  was  firing her  side  are  at anything movign Behind them.


   the  Head Hunters that were left  we're Peeling Out... calling  for Sin  to Follow... But  she  was  just grinning as  she   did the , 'flip over'   and  dove  down on the  battered Nova....

Several options sifted through his thoughts, quickly Justin chose to powered down. Dropping the Nova like a stone away from the pursuing VII. As it passed over his position He angled the Nova upwards firing a sustained burst that streamed into the path of bogie following him. Justin then dropped the nose and thrust forward headed for the Forward Field Command. Struggling to keep the Nova flying as he did. To achieve this he tipped the craft onto its side using the damaged wing as kind of a dorsal fin and using thrusters for changes in direction manoeuvring was difficult but not impossible. Manoeuvring this was chewed up the Kite's power fast. Contacting the Forward Command of his approach Justin requesting a landing spot to head for.

The canopy shattered leaving nothing but a bloody mess within with the pilot's death seemingly being the signal for the remaining fighters depart. Harry however wasn't interested in them. She was only interested in the only fighter foolish enough to carry on fighting Damn it Sin, you never did know when to give up! Harry wryly thought to herself as she began her run. Had Sin not been so hell bent on taking out Shadow as he taunted her in that god awful British accent then she would have seen the incoming Bee but as it was Harry simply lined up her shot and prayed that her plan would work "No Sin, he's not going to shoot you down...he's merely distracting you so I can, now be a good little girl and pod out" Harry calmly spoke as she depressed her guns and fired a stream of pulse rounds; aiming for HVII's engines in order to give her friend a fighting chance of podding out, deciding that she owed her that much...besides she wanted her alive so that she could answer some questions.

Roy swore fluidly as he saw Shadow's fighter get strafed.  "If you don't have a target on the ground, shoot at that redbird coming in on Shadow!" he barked into the comms.  Small arms fire wasn't likely to do much...but a bunch of bullets rattling off the fuselage and canopy could be a distraction.  And they might get lucky...

He raised his rifle, flipping the fire select to full auto, and did his best impersonation of an anti-aircraft emplacement.

     Battles  turn for Differant reasons,,The shot in the arm the  Aqra got  from driving the  Ape  folk up the Mountain was   erased  by the  shelling from above  and the    freedom of   Fighters to chew  up the beachhead, without  killing thier allies.    Water  was Bubbling Up  from  separate  areas  of the Eastern Ocean, spewing   smoke into the air, from the Damage  done to the Cities, that were believed  to be safe from  attack... The Aqra  were  Digging in..AA fire  was   taking it s Toll...


  Off to teh South.. easy to  see from Most  of the Invasion areas..  A Aqra  Battle Ship was  falling   Stern  First  as   Flames Licked  Up its   sides  and  holes  blow outwards  as the massive ship died from within... Tiny bodies, most of them on fire  fell from the   ship...At this  Time,  none of the  field of Battle could tell how  far away the Monster was..  But it  Hit, in a Mountain range that separated  the  North Hemisphere from the South( eastern side)..  A Massive   bloom of  Fire and  smoke  rising  into the air..flattening out like an anvil.


 APF Troops Cheered , Aqra  Troops  began  to  retreat... many Died  where they stood  as  riddle mean and  Heavy Gunner chewed through thier ranks

……………………………………………..

  Lyri, Mi-Ta, and  Lirg began to search for the   helmet beacon.. a  few had thier  Head Vanish.. some    Just   jerked as a heavy sniper  round Hit them, and they Fell..Chaos    reigned  again.. Gavas  , flat out didn't  care... Mixing with  natives  the Blue   'coated' Gavas   'showed them the way"...  Wrk was  as savage  as  an Demon, and there was no thought of Mercy to the Fish  folk..  it came to the Point , were  wounded   Aqra shot themselves  rather then be torn to  bIts   by the savage  Gava



 Naragrans  stroke through the    battle  Taking some Hits, Losing a few of their own.. Aqra  we repulsed and   frightened   as  Naragans would  stab a  trooper  and  Flip  him into the   Jaw  pouch,  spitting  out  armor and  such as they continued to fight

  Largs  ran free  tearing Limbs off  Aqra..Stopping  only  for a brief  rest, Before  Howling and continuing... The Nivarian  troops  came with 6.. they were  down to  4.. but teh  four  Kept  going.

 Garrat and Others  Maintained thier  fire on the   Light  Blue  troops , Holding thier  Line     the Fighter s neared the Ground

  The  figthers    coming in the North east

       Shadows   Nova  was  Done , if  he tried to  Climb,  he'll Nose   down...  and  still  Had  another 150 Yards to  Go to reach the    closest  Dark Blue  trooper..


  ......  Roy, Lyri..Garrat.. anyone..... Eckles is On mY  Skids, I  am Going to Go a Bit Lower  and Have her  Jump off..Make sure she  Makes it...

 Eckles  frowned as she fired her  side arm.. she managed  to hit  an Aqra In the chest  dropping Him ….POD OUT THEN!

 ..can't..not  just yet..  My  fighter  will hit   APF  troops.. don't  worry...  once  I figure out what to do with it..

 Roy  Will, Shoey..Minnet and a few  dozen others fired  Up at the  Red  Hammer VII   Heavy  Pulse   and other   rounds   twinkled of the Plates  and the metaglass…

 ..Bloody Insects... you're all next after....  she  pulled her  trigger  the  same  time   Harry pulled hers...


 Eckels   Jumped .. close to 100 Yards  away from the  Blue  Line of ESN...  Hemsly   tossed  a  few BISKETs  at the Light  Blue Line, and Hit his   trigger  sending Up  fountains  of    Muck and Light Blue Blood...

 Az-el     grabbed   Eckles   and  took  two  round  as she   Pushed Eckels  towards    the ESN Lines   and tried to  Hobble  back.. firing the  whole  way...

 A roar was  Heard  down the Line.. Supe and Hodden  with their heavy  weapons  and Rolfe  pumping out grenades...  were now ...somehow..leading     half the assault  force up the Line...

 The reserve Apefolks   saw the Gap... and  Charged   up  screaming    and roaring.... into that Gap at the astonished Aqra..


  But  , Sindy's  rounds  Broke  the Back Of Shadow's  Fighter  , He   jerked the    Nose up  , and with a grit of his teeth  Hit the Pod Out  handle....

  His PoD    flew  sideways   into   some  Aqra who were turning to   shoot at AZ-el.. and  crushed them  on Impact.. the    Pilot   hit  the  glass  and     tried to reach his   compartment,, but  Couldn't  so he drew his trench knife  and  Sanri Blaster   and fired  from there,  The  Front  Half for Shadow's  Aircaft, Lost its  Wings   and the fuselage  fell  onto the Aqra ,  before  exploding.. Fish  Folk were trying to Come around Shadow  Pod, but the Sanri Blaster turned  helmets and  chests  Into   mush.

 For Her Part Sindy smiled as the  Rounds Hit , Just behind the Pilot..  then  she   heard  what   Harry  said    and Felt the Impacts  before  she  could  ever look   Back,  the  Engines    fractured  and  Blew...,  she  turned her  aircraft to the  North and Podded out.. her Pod  sailing towards  the Back rows of the  Aqra  troops.....what was left of her Aircaft  Crashed  near Shadow's   Killing  a few dozen More Aqra...

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


  Justin's  aircraft  cleared the trees , when the  Beach Master saw the Craft his signal man waved    Justin    to an area   Just to the north of the  Main lading area.. there  were a few other  battered  fighters there.

 Kat's  fighter   was there  and she  sat with a few other  Pilots  waiting  for the trip upstairs...


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

    From Teela  Vantage Point  she  could  see the   'on watch' trooper  Look Up in the Air   as Waggles  zoomed  By.. Aagain..waggles shot   at left overs on the Road..the Last Tank had made it to the   thick trees  and was  now walking its  way towards  the BAttle.

  The first  Round  entered the  Helmet, Blowing the front part of the  Guard's  face  and Face Mask forward,  The  Other   Trooper   tried to turn, and his  chest was  hit  with a Thump, as his BAck  spread out behind him...

 The wounded   Aqra  Just   sat there ... his death   was least  decorative , as the  tree caught most of the blow out.


.. she could hear the BAttle raging  and  the Thump of the ground  as  Fighters  Hit..

 She  could hear the cross  talk on the COMs....

 .................

 Frans  shouted into the  COMs.. they are  retreating.. tear them Up...

 ..what about Shadow?.... there's  still fish  down there....

 ..The Assault  folks  are  Down there... he'll be Fine....

 Waggles came on...I'm   staying On over watch  until I can pick up Teela, or she makes it to our lines..

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

  In the Mass Of Aqra,  some of the Fish folks  helped   Sindy out of her Pod..mechs were near By   aiming at   fighters  trying to bring them down, or chase them away.

 Sindy   Looked  out  over the  few 100 yards that separated  Her Pod  from Shadows... the Blasts of a Sanri, and rag doll  Aqra, told  her he was alive...

 As Harry Flew Over,  Sindy COMed,..you Bloody  Bitch!.. I had him , I did.... You know  how many pilots had a chance  to kill him.. I would  have been a Bloody Queen!

 again..with the Hideous Accent,quite  right.m'lady.. but  ye didn't get the Job  down.. did ya?   Why don't  ye pop around to me Pod?

 Flores  says,..yeah?..Shadow?.. don't do that no more.... stick with your  southern Guy thing... didn't you win over some upperclass  chick with  that...

 ..only until Roles told her  I was from The Battery.. then she left...
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:38, Sun 27 May 2018.

Teela got up and slung her rifle, moving carefully to the three she had dropped, making sure they were dead before she grabbed the comm unit he had been using and began to quickly and carefully make her way to her extraction point. Every now and then she would stop and take a shot at one of the fish but for the most part she concentrated on getting to the clearing.

"Almost at the extract point, Waggles. I had a few fish to fry before I could get there."

  Waggle s came On.....One..maybe  to clicks... I'll  come  down   there to  pick you Up...  Looks Like  Justin  is   landing.... Shadow went  down, but he's talking, so that means  he's ok...

    Dropping   down  so  his    nose  was  facing   south west.. he  waited  to see  Teela  ready to empty what was left of his 37MM  into  any oncoming troops.

 ... Just grabbed the skid s like   Emergency Pick up...  we're  only about  1/2  mile from  out lines...

"Copy that - one to two clicks. Making my way there and keeping an eye out for enemy troops." She said in a low voice.

Following the Beach Masters directions Justin managed to bring the Nova in landing heavily it skidded across the field throwing up dirt and dust as he hit the reverse thruster. Pieces fell from the damage impacting into the ground or bouncing along some distance. Then the Nova stopped, gingerly Justin moved it as directed off the strip to join what was left of several other incapacitated Fighters. Powering down and popping the canopy Justin collected the guncam disk as he assessed the condition of his own then the other crippled Nova. Walking across the field he helped ground crew retrieve pieces of the Nova and stack them near the 25.

Joining the other Pilots he half grinned at Kat and the others thumbing in the direction of the Hulks I guess Captain O'Reilly's going to have quite a few choice words to deliver about the condition of that lot... he half joked. Taking a seat on an crate he glanced skyward taking in the scene of the Air fight. Watching it for several minutes before changing view to the Surface Battle. Ground pounders, of all races in the APF rushed about spewing out death, destruction and mayhem into the Defending Locals. Giving a shrug at the scene Justin crossed to a makeshift table holding Hot Beverages and some Food grabbing a mug and something to eat he returned to the Wingless Pilots and sat silently sipping on the brew.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:26, Sun 27 May 2018.

  Kat Nodded  , she was not  in a good  mood,we will be hearing Captain Rivets  , soon.. da? When we go up to get new  rides....  Those   damned  red bird , beat us  up... I do not like that....  I will be looking for them.. they got  jump?  Da.. come  down from sky.. that will not happen  again..

 Waggles   waited , his  Dart  hanging in the air  a few feet off the rgound  waiting for Teela.

 The Clearing  was  preetyy  quiet, but  Waggles  watched over the    area he knew the  enemy to be...

Teela stopped at the edge of the clearing and took a look around, her augmented eyes searching for enemy troops. When she was confident her way across was clear she moved at speed and in a crouch for the hovering Dart before jumping on the skids and hanging on. She gave Waggles a thumbs up to let him know she was ready.

 Waggles     when  Up  Banking to the   Northeast to make  sure they wouldn't  get hit from pot shots  from  any ground  troops.


  The  BeachMaster  saw Waggles  was in  pretty Good   Shape , and Had Him  settle d down, low  enough  for Teela  to   Get off,  then Waggles  took  off  for teh front  to find  what was left of B flight.

  The Signal Man said   to Teela  , as   Waggles screamed away,Ma'Ma... there  are Pilot s over ther e where the  salvage  Pile  is.. there is  soem food and  drink there as well... we are waiting  for  word from  either the LC, or..whomever  replaces  him, to  have   Pilots taken up for new  rides.

"Thank you for the ride, Waggles." Teela called over comms before turning to the Signal Man.

"No one is replacing the LC. He made it out and will be here shortly, copy that?" She asked, an edge of anger in her voice before she strode over to where the other pilots were to grab some food and water.

Hearing that pilots are having a hard time  Garrat ceases his carnage and looks for where the planes are coming down.  He switches to duel wield his Occui mills and starts carving a pathway to them at haste calling nearby comrades to join him.

  Teela  arrived  in the 'holding area' . Churned up Muck  and   Ground  from Fighters  that made it  back, but  looked like write offs.

 A Sullen Kat  waved  at her. Justin was  there..some Other flight  JAckets  from the Hermes... But  a few mixed  pilots  from other ships.

  ..I  hear the LC  and  Eckles  went  down... I thought I heard  Flores making joke with  LC, so he should be good?  Da?

  Will  and Shoey  were coming in from the  south..

 Garrat,Kviv ( who was  covered in Light Blue blood) and  Ma-Ti moved towards the wreckage .. the   Aqra must have know something was special here,  as   the  troops kept rushing around the pod.    Aqra  Bodies  were  Piled  around the  Pilot. His  trench  Knife  and arm was  pure  Light  Blue  as  was the  front of the  flight jacket..Az-el sat in the   Muck  with her  wounded leg bent.. Shooting at , which ever  direction that Shadow wasn't  Looking.


  some Brave Aqra tried to go over the Top , only to lost thier ehads  from Az-el's   Rifle. Shadow couldn't  run without leaving Az-el..Az-el  could  crawl away, but she  wouldn't  Leave Shadow... Eckles   was   Dragged Back  By Hemsly as she   struggled  to get into the fight,

 ..Beggin' yer  Problem  Ma'am..but this  ain't yer  Kinda  Fight... Get Back to the beach head..so's  ya get bet  a new  ride...

 Eckles  could only watch the Bright  Flashes  of the Sanri  and the   quick  Blinks  of   the Angelsteel sniper   rifle.

 She  Looked  ay Hemsly who  winked   and   jerked his head to the  staging area,... then she ran..hard..

…………………………..

 Garrat , the Cat  and Ma-ti  starting   thinning out the ranks   from thier side...The Growing darkness..may have aided  the APF, The flashes of Gunfire lighting up the  night was unknown to them, on thier  homeworld...

The Angel waved at the other pilots who had lost their fighters and took a seat. "Last I heard the LC made it down as did Eckles. I'm sure rescue ops are being mounted even now and they'll join us shortly."

Garrat drew his sword and started slashing through the ranks like a reaper in a field of grain.  At this density the Aqra were not using firearms anymore or they would be killing each other, but few would be able to wield anything with the reach of Garrat’s blade as he rips through their numbers without concern about bladed weapons piercing him custom heavy armor.

  Garrat  is  soon  covered  by   Light  Blue Blood.  Ma-Ti  reached  Az_el  , Kneeling By her  firing Off   rounds at those who tried  to   break around the  Edges...  from the    surge from the   South Supe and Hodden were  Pushing   the   Fish folk  back, to the  Point  many  were breaking and  running.


  Gavas  Had  taken to  riding On the Naragrans, and   Jumping off  when   Aqra  tried to get in close, to tear the  attackers  apart.., Many of the Gava  were armed Now, with   Aqra Bldes  and   side arms... sadly.. the side  arms  may have killed some of thier own people , but they were getting the hang of it.. Thier  Maniacal  laughter  echoing through the darkening night.

 Kviv  was shot once in the  Size , he fell to his  kness, and began shooting   with his sidearm.

With Az-el safe Garrat continues to tear through the Aqra like a columbine till he reaches Shadow. (Accidentally dropping a few Aqra body parts into the pod.) “Respectfully sir, next time you want to join us ground pounders you might wish to start from behind the front lines not beyond them.  Though it was nice of you to drop in.”

   Garrat switches back to a Occui pistol handing the other to Shadow.  “Let’s stroll back to the ladies shall we?”
This message was last edited by the player at 04:58, Mon 28 May 2018.

 With the  Forces   closing in  from the Sort, and  Garrat's  fireteam,  what was let for the Aqra, started to  retreat from the Pod  Area.

   Shadow twisted his  trench Knife   before Puling It Out  of the  Latest Aqra. He  wiped   his Nos e  with the  Back  of  his  left hand,  smearing  the Light Blue  Blood on  his  face...yeah.. well..you know me.. anyone   can strafe with a fighter... takes a damn good  Pilot  to  strafe with a trench knife...

 The  right hand  that Held His  sanri   Just waved off the Occui,..Thanks.. but.. I'll stay with the Sanri.... … Kviv was  trying to walk towards  Az-el and Ma-Ti.

  ..shotdown , by some  english tart... I'[m going to be a bit  out of  sorts for a while... he  reaches in the Pod  and gets  his  Disc, then  climbs up and opens   the compartment, Grabbing  the   Kit, Greasegun , 2 grenades  and  two spare Mags

  ..here..  You toss one, and  I'll toss  one..give them an extra Boost home....  he  pulls the Pin and  tosses the grenade after  two  quick  steps... it   explodes  down range about   40yards  or  so.. there  are some cries  of  surprise.

 They  begin to  walk back to thier  Lines , In was getting Darker, and  engineers   were running with Metelposts and   coied    fence  wire. With them  were Burna  archers, dressed in very dark Blue   enviro suits... either  to  Hunt  down aqra, oe to stand  Guar as the  Engineers  set up the 'walls"

Az-el said,..you are a Madman..  you almost got us Killed...

 Shadow grins and  Keeps  walking as  he  sees  Ma-Ti has  Az-el,says the Lady who was sitting  in marsh land  shooting Fish for the last  20 minutes.

Joseph slides down from the Naragran who was carrying him and helps Kviv.  “Hold still lad.”   Joseph picks up the little human and carefully carries him the rest of the way.  Setting him down gingerly Joseph looks around “First aid kit?”

Garrat throws the proffered grenade but doesn’t quite make two thirds Shadows’ distance.  “Some day your going to have to show me how you throw like that.”

Garrat walks back with shadow.  When he sees Joseph with Kvivhe gets a concerned look on his face “I’m sure we can muster something up.” He says dropping his pack and pulling out the first aid kit.  Garrat examines the wound.   How bad is it?

Spiralling up out of the reach of the Mech's currently firing at anything that was flying, Sin's angry tirade would be met with a gale of laughter from the other Brit "aww now that's not very nice, I just did you a favour...now are you sure I can't tempt you? I think you'd look really hot in one of these sexy blue uniforms" Harry teased, fully expecting a firm refusal from her friend "...now Sin while I've got your attention, those guys that told you I was in this quad...they weren't perchance making hooch were they?" she asked, wanting to put the final nail in a certain pilot's coffin.

   Kviv, the Felrite,  Nodded at  Joe Mac  as he   tried to work on him,..thee  Aqra.. they are not the good shots. The..however.. can hurt you by accident !

 Shadow waved his  Kit,..Take this  as well...I just didn't want to leave   anything in the Pod...


 to Garrat he says,..its  all in   momentumn  and  arm speed, and release Point.. to high.. it won't go as far, too low  and   it  will bounce along the  Ground... you let it  go around 45 degrees, with a bit of  a running  Start... You'll get the best you can out  of it... I might have  got another  5 feet if i could mhave took a few more steps...but i'd  hate to have been shot by an Aqra   sniper  aftter all this..

 As they walked   Shadow  waved to  Roy and Lyri as he stopped and waited for them to come over...

     Sindy  Walked back with Aqra  troopers She   had he r  face shield Up but her  helmet on to use COM with out opening her.

   There was a Giggle,..Barmy, you are ,if the  ESN  could even accidently, find out  everything I've been about?.. they  will make me take  the long  walk...

 she added,..and You know, Luv..I look sexy no matter what i wear...or...don't  wear...

……………….

 The Darkness  was  spreading  as the  Sun Dipped  over the Mountain range..Flashes of Light  could be seen at the top as the   Big Guns   rained Death on the   Aqra trying to scale their own Mountain.

 ESN/APF  Mountaineers  were  covering the Mountain with  Booby traps  and   trapping any caves  or   opening they  found.
…………….

....Hooch?.... Yeah?.. Bloody  genius  at first. They Got two of  My ladies  to go along  with them. The One Bloke?..A real Todger he is...couldn't  find his feet to put his boots on... The Other   bloke.. he's got a mind he has..Made  some  Nice cred giv'in us  the   where are, for you....gotta  hand it  to that Aussie, he  had me  fooled, Thought he was a right wanker?, but... he did  his  Job..Havn't  heard  from them for a Bit, so I guess they got  caught, maybe buggered off?

 ..anyway, Luv?.. You Tell Shadow  I got  credit  for shooting Him down... I'm gonna  collect on that bounty, I am...sooner or later.... Good  bet we'll  all be in the Air tomorrow.. see you then Luv...
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:56, Mon 28 May 2018.

    Eckles came  running Past the   Duces, The signal man saw her  uniform and Jacket and Pointed her to the     gathering  batch of  Pilots.

 She    Came in, Muddy  with a  bit of Light  Blue splashed on her, she took off her  Head gear and carriered it.

  Kat waved her over to the   Hermes  group...that was...crazy.... How the 9 hells do tropers  do that.. i was  frightened out of  my mind!

 .. What about the LC?

  they  made me  leave... Last I saw him he was by his Pod  blasing   fish with that  Pulse gun he  carried  and  stabbing  others... Az-el was there   trying to help?.. I think she was hurt...The assault teams were Movign in.. so a have to  believe  he's ok...

 ..have food, drink... we go home to get  new rides...bring payback  tomorrow.

"oh yeah because I was a complete saint!" Harry responded with a derisive snort before giggling at Sin's comment about looking sexy "Yeah, I know...we were both sexy AF...and bloody dangerous to boot, so come on...ditch those losers, we always worked so much better together!" she said making one last attempt at convincing her that she was on the wrong side.

When the conversation turned to that of the pair of traitors that had informed Sindy of her whereabouts would give a single sigh of despair as she finally connected the dots and felt an even bigger idiot than she had before "thanks for the heads up Sin, it would appear I have a pair of bodies to drop" she said with a weary sigh as she continued to circle the clearing; watching as an assault team managed to break through to Shadow's pod "Oh don't you worry Sin, I'll be sure to let him know, and for the record I'm claiming your bird as well, Have a nice walk" she said with a giggle before signing off and switching back to Comms frequency one "This is Ensign Lynch, all remaining B Flight fighters to form up on me...lets give them something to remember us by before the light goes" Harry said as she banked her Bee round to make a run on one of the mechs that had fired upon her.

 Flores  and Waggles were the Only  two B flight  aircraft in the  air.   They came  around, Wagles  said, I'm dry on  37 MM... i'll have to use  power weapons..

 Flores   signed,..don't have much on my belts. may as well empty them...

 Frans came on the COMs,..OK Boys  and girls, One  Pass, then we head up  to the Hermes to  rearm and get  some food... we'll be coming back down in the Morning.... this ball of mud isn't outs  yet...

  The mechs   were taking shots   at the Gavas  , now that thier VIPs  were away.. there still were stragglers  trying to reach the water and some of the  Naragran Riding Gava's   were   trying to range out ,  ...but  not  too far From the Metals  fences  being Put up

   Shadow  watched   as an engineer  held the a post in place,  and  another   one    it a trigger    popping an Explosive that sent  the  Pipe point  down into the  Soil.. they shook it  a bit as another support trooper   with a  Flamthrower-like , back pack   shot some    paste  into the  base  that   hardened   quickly....

  the  fence  handling troopers    hooked  up the  'chain link' and   unrolled it   to the  next one, were it  Hooked into the next  Pipe. meanwhile,  with Shadow's Pod as a cover,  troopers   set up a  powersource...a  'toaster' lookign  thing   with  4 slots.. two slots had   Vid-Machine  sized power  cells in it.


 The  Sgt in charged   yelled down the line.. there  were  4 posts up so far and  linked... other engineers   Kept planting  Pipes,CLEAR!!!

 Troops near the   linked posts Stepped   back, one of them Called  Back..."Clear!"

 TEST!

   Two Troopers grabbed  a Dead  Aqra and tossed it  at the  chain Link... there  was a Flash of Blue... the Body  Smoked... the SGT  Frowned... He Added  another    PowerCell, TEST!

  Once More  they grabbed  an Aqra, it seemed to  be  almost dead as hit  moaned a Bit.. they tossed it  and  the   White Flash Lasted longer and the Body Burst into Flames, before  falling off...

 The  Sgt looked satisfied, but added the   4th powercell  anyway, then shut the  power  off.....CLEAR!.... CONTINUE!
 and the Fence  began to  grow.

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

 walking  abck with the Others  Shadow Pointed  to the  Big Uglies whose  ready Light  were On...Get our  wounded on there.. Lyri ,  Roy  are suppsoed to come up..... Garrat?  You Shoey and Hemsly   make sure   those who stay down  get fed and rest....

 Shoey Nodded to Will,  You  get  Lippen  on board,  Rolfe is going up with you..get patched Up, come back down with the SM.. Lippen  can't come, if Stefi doesn't release her..

 Lippen  frowed  as     will  half-carrier, half supported her.

 the Felrite, Kviv was  carried  to the   shuttle along  with  Az-el.

 So-ln  and  angel  Private was  loaded aboard in a black bag. The Felrite, Merg was in a Bag as well...

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

 Shadow   reached  the  staging area  for the Pilots. Kat smiled,There is  LC!

 he smiled  as he did a head count...Lets Go, time  to board the shuttle  to see what they have for us to fly

 Kat  frowned,..You are covered in Light Blue....

 yeah...... he looks at his jacket  , pants and   arms,..turns out   Fish squirt Blood  out  when you stab them

 There were son 11  other Pilots there,..Hey?..LC what about us....

 he looked at  all the differant   flight  jackets,..come with us, I guess... if  we  can't give you rides, we'll send you over to Forge Ships... once you get a ride, you  can  report to your ship.... each of you get on your COM  , now..and tell your ship you are goign with  me, so yuou aren't listed  as dead or  awol..

 the group then, walked towards  the   Big Ugly gettign ready to take off.

Teela walked over to the LC and smiled, "Good to see you, sir. Look what I found on my way back here." She held out the Aqra comm unit.

'At last'Justin thought; pleased to see the LC was still around, now they can get back to the Hermes and rejoin this Battle. Noting the com unit Teela's had retrieved  Well done Teela.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:59, Mon 28 May 2018.

"Roger that Lt, OK guys lets make this count" Harry responded with a grin as she brought her fighter round in a wide arc before descending upon one of the mech's and emptying what was left of her 37mm ammunition at it, figuring that if nothing else that it would be one less mech for the ground pounders to deal with in the morning.

With her attack run completed, Harry would wait until Flores and Waggles had done there's, keeping an eye out for any enemy fighters lurking within the area, before then heading back to the Hermes for a much needed break.

---> Hangar Dec

  Shadow   Looked  at the COM, he  turned it over in his Blueish hands , and Hit  His Own COM, beachMaster?  This  is LC Shadow. when your  cash slashers go out?.. tell them to recover COMs  from the  Aqra as well.... Hold them in the rear  area  Until you hear from  The Admiral  or  Lt Morrow....

 Aye Sir, Already Done.. we   gather what we can from  the enemy, so we'll have them and thier weapons.

 ..Thank You Beach Master....Shadow  out...


 he  Gives it  back to Teela,..You got it... You present it to Beth  when we get home.

 Eckles  Looked at  Shadow   and then Just GAve Him a Hug,..Thanks.. I thought i was goign to  die on the ground....

 Shadow laughed   as  he  steered  her to the Ramp,..Hermes  Pilots  Die in the Air...

 Larry Padded  after Roy, Lyri walked  with her  hand on her trigger housing  and the  Barrel over her shoulder,..Damn, Shadow... you look like  the 9 hells....

 Kat snorted,..Comrade Shadow  , always looks like that...'cept now..he is  Light Blue..

  Shoey watched the   Big Ugly take off...well?   whadda  we  do now?...  Ground  troops   are setting the Fences,  we  got  armor  at  either end.. got a Mountain  behind us, and  its  covered with our people..'least on this side.

 The Gava were being show,  NOT to touch the fence.  but  throwing   more aqra bodies  at it... Sadly, the gava started throwing  more Aqra at it..They had to stop  and get Wrk to try and explain to them..which he did in  his own  way..

  the  Gava  roamed the Battle  filed  with the  cash slashers.. some of them taking Blades  some  Just to take a few Bites from the bodies.

 Not far away, was the smoking remains of the  dock/city, that  the  shuttle  crashed.  The  Ape folks  were stacking Aqra  Bodies, or what was left of some, and setting them on fire  with flame throwers...clearing teh battled  field  and sending a message.

"Copy that, LC." She replied before stepping up the ramp to board the shuttle. She saw Larry and gave his head a rub. "Hi Larry, how did you fare down here on the ground? Kill a lot of the Aqra I gather?"

   Garrat went throught he camp making sure everyone was taken care of.  Food, drink, rest.

   He arranges som drills and training area to Give the Gava some basic training in their new weaponry.  He is impressed abot how fast they pick things up. "The Aqra must have worked pretty hard to keep them in the dark,"  He confided to some of the supply team "their social structure and Language don't seem to develope quickly but their ability to pick up skills when they want to is astounding."

   Garrat was taking a rest when he looked across the wasteland at some Aqra mechs that lay on their sides with little more than some bullet holes walked across the Canopy.  "I wonder if anyone would be interested in some mech parts."  He thought looking over to where the ESN mechs were parked.  He strolled over to talk with them.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:59, Tue 29 May 2018.

Henry started in on his real trade, that of xenobiologist. He began to study local vegetation and looked for what wildlife hadn't been scared off by all the noise.

He also let Mila have a run around. The Farm on the Hermes was nice, but nothing beat a real planet under your paws!

  Henry... Looked  about. The Noticed the  Leeches   were   , more or less, dormant during the night. But light   or Blood  would activate them... He  saw some  shelled  creatures  that    were burrowing into the Muck, apparently looking for  leeches  and  the like to eat.

 He  saw   small , Rat like,  creatured  pop out of holes  were   stone poked out of the Muck..they whisltled   when   he or Mila   came   by and   dozesn of whistle   aroudn them answered, and there woud be scrambling  as the  things   moved into holes.

  He  saw  some  Flyig insects, that seemed  to be hunting  other flying incects... al of them had  some for  or 'armor' on the front of thier  bodies.


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

 Garrat... after  working with the Gava, Garrat would notice  the  Three mechs, they looked  Battered, the   arms  were covered in  Light Blue Blood. The small support team they had, were laoding weapons, as Morgan Cooked  for the Piltos  and their  Support  troops....

 Gavas    brought pver   some long   furred  creatures.. and Pointed  at the fire.. than made  eating  gestures... it was noted, these Gava   did not  have  Blue  tokens on.

Garrat told the camp crew to thank them and make them feel welcome and checked in with Morgan.

   "Thanks for he suport out there, how are you guys holding up?" 

 Duke  was Quite  as he    helped   stir  the 'stew' from the  sealed  meals.

 Morgan shrugged,..good  to get  on the groaund again, Fish folk dont' seem to know how  to fight?... guess they   had power for so long, they didn't worry about it..now they have to  fight  an Invasion!... Their  Machines  look to have Only Pulse  Guns

  "The Mechs seem well built enough, though the domes are simple glass.  I think they use them for other things and just strap weapons on for this job."  He jerks his thumb over his shoulder, "I think you could walk some off the battle feild right know after scrapping the remains of the previous pilots out of the seats."

   "By the way, thanks for helping us with the pick up on those Largran mechs.  I heard tell the transport helped keep the LG during the demon ambush.  Maybe ol' missy would like some of these."

Henry was in his element taking pictures, making notes, and capturing specimens.

  Henry  and  Mila  roam  around the  Darkness. Above them is  a   Half   greenish  Moon, sending  down some Light  throw the  ever cloudy skies. Looking Like , half  a greenish softball...


 Much further  away, a whiteish  moon, also  in Half  stage, looked  looked like the size of a Tennis ball.


  Two troopers  from The Washington Carver, walked    near  Henry  and the Prancing Dog, but not  near enough to disturb  his  findings.

  At One point, the  SGT of the pair  said,..Doc Christie? Your  Offcie    Called. When Admiral Hack  comes  down with the others, in the Morning, they are bringing a few of your Techs  and   items  used to gather speicmens...

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

  Garrat.... Morgan  Pointed  to the 'stew"..You're welcome to join us... Found  some  Tubers here.. tested them,  be like  Yams?  Anyway We  can take a look at them after  we  eat... Its gonna be hot  and Humid  tomorrow..but..i guess  its that way all the time?

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

  Off to the west on the Other side of the Lake a Thundestome  broke out... rain coming  down hard, but only there... It also appeared to  be rainign on the Mountaintop mto the east.

"That's very useful, Sergeant, thank you," said Henry.

Being interrupted, he suddenly realised that he was both hungry and tired. Feelings amplified because Mila was also in need of sustenance and rest.

"Come on, girl. Time for a break."

Man and dog went over to the encampment.

  "Actually I would enjoy that."  Garrat said, "If I get the okay from headquarters I might sneak out and do some hunting later myself.  The Fish don't personally have night vision, and our night systems might allow for some fun and games.  It would be great to put a few well placed bullets into some of that expensive equipment they are no doubt setting up tonight."

 Duke  is quiet,  Clark   is telling stories   and laughing  at  the  Big eyes of the fish folk get a lot bigger   when your about to  drop a Mech foot on thier chest.


 Morgan is  more subdued, we did  well....surprsied the 9 hells out of them.. I bet they thought they had  a few days , until we deal with that  Battle wall up there..... But  sending us  right past that wall, and dropping  troops..that had  to  screw them up...

 He Looked up at the  semi-dark sky.or  people knocked  down  everything in the sky, Until those   bright  red  aircraft showed up..that could be a game  changer  if they take back the sky.....

 pointing over his shoudler  at the  Panzers    that were   sitting  on rocky outcrops  or   engineer  made  platforms...those   Big  tanks?.. are  just cannons  now,  they'll have to  be  airlifted to the beaches   or  somewhere  that isn't  muck?... The smaller  tanks   churn through the stuff  pretty good... mut thier  main weapon  isn't  any differant  then the   Fighters?..I have to believe   they have  Bases under water... and if  they are any kind of army?..they have to have  heavy weapons.. Mechs..Armor....

  Garrat nods, “this would be great terrain for something with 4 or more legs and a heavy tank turret mounted on a flat body.  Big enough for heavy armor with som flake cannons to give the fly boys some grey hair.”  Garrat laughs “Don’t think any empire species would be sharp enough to think that strategically though”

  Garrat.... Morgan  nods  as he Dishes out the stew, and hands  Garrat a meatal bowl full. ..well?.. from  what i could see thier    Landing Craft look like  Fat alligators and they have legs... and there  are  Tanks, with Legs... fighter  guys  Knocked   a bunch off on the Road  that leads  further North  and   west

 Clark shakes his head,..I should  been a pilot... here  we are, in this  humid  Muck, eating out of  Kit bowls...and the flybots  are  on the rec Dec   pickign what they want, after  a good shower...

 Duke seemed to remain quiet.

……………………………………..


 For   henry, as they  saw  and  rested, getting some food, and drink.. there was  some fuss   to the   south  of him,  when  Wrk came into view with  some  20  females    and  twice that many Little ones... He points  to Henry,..him...leader... make  safe.. little ones...

 Henry saw there  were 4  Blue  wearing warriors, but the  females and little ones  were  natives.
 The quartmaster  LT looked at Henry,..Sir?...  we can't have all these  noncombatants here?... But the  Guy witht he Homemade  weapon  inisited on seeing you.

  The stoy's  said  with  barely any power on.. the Ramps and door  were opened   and   Stoly  had each  craft post a guard in the top  Bubble to be switched out, every 4 hours..


 Everyone  else  was free to relax.. a  few fires were set up to  dry out  boots  and socks.


 The  supply folks    had containers of  Cold  drinks  and would  drop  a fresh container off  every  2 hours, taking the empty container back to recharge.

 There were no other  guards  posted,  as  Burian archers  were out there in the night.

 Supe  and Hodden, and Tucker  and Minnet  were already sleeping  , leaning  back to back, weapons   in thie rlaps.

 Shory  saw  By the fire  waiting for his socks  and boot s to dry

Henry jumped up and came over.

"Hello everyone. What may I do for you?"

He nodded to the quartermaster, muttering "I understand. Let's see what they need, then they hopefully can be sent on their way."

  Wrk tried to explain, another   Gava  would explain what he said to native Gava...these people...live here... no safe....place.... Herny..keep them safe?

Henry nodded.

"Would they like to be taken elsewhere on the planet, where there is no fighting going on?"

  Wrk  gave his   head  an over shake ( trying to get sued to the way Humans did things),..most times.... our   women fight  too... young  females, take   pups   under grond  to hide  from   Aqra..... but.. we   not be able to do that..... too much  blowing up... might  flood caves..need   pups  and young females  safe?

 Henry also noticed the Gava  kids lookign  , longingly, at the  food  being cooked around them

"So, higher ground, perhaps? I'll have to look at our maps to see if there's somewhere suitable. Or an island... it can just be temporary until we have dealt with the fish-folk, of course."

Henry caught the looks, and turned to the quartermaster.

"Lieutenant, can we spare some food for the younglings, please?"

  The  LT nodded,..Of  Course  Dr Christie. we'll have  extra  supplies   comign down  with  the Admiral  tomorrow  morning...

Getting On his  COMs, In a  few Moments   some  cooks   arrived  with   tall pots  of stew,  and metal bowls


  The   Chief Cook had water   and Milk to offer them. and  another   member of the Mess Tents were carving   bread  The  females    looked at Wrk who  talked to them in thier   'language' . after  about  15v Minutes, mthey were  sitting in a  circle  and the females  were goign back and  forth witht eh bowls  and   cupsof milk.

 The  Cheif  smiled,at least someone likes  out food!

Mila wagged her tail.

Henry laughed.

"You have another fan... and I like it too. You work wonders under field conditions, Chef."

  Wrk steps over to   the Chief  and offers his  small hand, in very broken voice  he says,..Thank you..now... we  fight harder..knowing.. little ones  safe from aqra stringers.

Henry pulled up a map of the planet on his vid-board in an attempt to find a suitable location to keep the youngsters safe.

  As  Henry Looks, he would most likely need to speak/Tell an officer. There  maybe  some  caves and such in the mountains  behind them, but they also   we be having  a 'siege' of  sorts  as the  Aqra  try to retake the Mountain.

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

   The mech riders   eat and Talk with Garrat. Ma-Ti finds  her  way over and  sits Next to Him... they do not know if Az-el will be able to return tomorrow, we wil have to have a new  #2  for our  group.


 Morgan  is nearing the end of his meal,..looks   like they put up scatter lights?  they flash and hold for a  second to see if there are  any Aqra  running about.

  "Are they all the way to the waters edge?"

 Morgan points the Bino near his head gear,those  assault shuttles are  about  200 yards  from that fence they put up... the  Beach is  another?.. 500 yards  from there...they can't come  at us  from the  northwest  because there is   only one  road, and   the Hermes  fighters chewed the  9 hells of  of the  people they sent  there  before... to the  South west.. we can only send the Gavas, Naragrans  and Apefolk,  the   Humans  and Sanri get Bogged  down, and the Occui only sent us  commando troops  in small  fire times  of  3.... its  goign to be a Bloody ..old  school.. battle  for 500 yards.  we have a Mountain behind  us...but  there are fish folk on the other side..... they have that  Lake, that's Big and Deep..but there will be APF   forces on the far  side....

Garrat shrugs “With a thin front we take a page from your Julius Caesar’s play book.  Divide and conquer.  We know they are waiting for us to hit in the morning, so we divide with a decisive strike about 0300 hours when they are getting their gear ready to go.  They will be unprepared for a concentrated attack up the middle.  Any armor they have brought on shore won’t be settled in place.  Is the black watch here with us?”

 Morgan  shrugged, there are a few scattered  around.. not many of them left...I know the Admiral's  comign  down  about  0600   and the Fighter  wing will be in the air  again.

 Clark  snorts,.. damn  fighters?... how are they gonna  do  anythign  different  then they did  today?

Henry called the Gava leader over.

"There are some caves in the mountains behind us. Your youngsters ought to be safe there for the time being, but the Aqra might try to retake them. We will be doing our best to stop them, of course. Will that do?"

  Wrk  Nods, he  speaks   quickly to , what looks to  be one of the oldest  females, and Points to Henry.

  Then he turns,..i..say... you  take  them, when   done with food. they follow... This one..is  Nki..she is charge of these Gava.. she tell you when, they  done.

Henry nodded, looking a bit surprised.

"You want me to take them? All right, provided Mila and I are not needed elsewhere."

 about  an Hour Later The  Female  came  Up to Henry and  made the Motion that they were ready to go.

 The Mess  folks  packed  up 'leftovers' and bottles of  water, and  would follow  them so they could have  somethign to eat while any battle raged.

   a Muddy lookign MArine SGT from the  Clara BArton come over,..Ok, Doc?..  we'll lead  yo and your peoplr  to the   caves  we cleared out..there were  some ... snake  like things..had head on like  deep sea Angler  Fish.. they seem  safe  now

 we have  about  10 troopers  who are wounded that didn't go up to get Med Teched... so were making them  stand watch  back here, incase  we lose the top of the  Mountain..

"Thank you, Sergeant. Most appreciated... C'mon, Mila. Sheepdog time!"

Henry got ready to go.

  The Gava  got into line, the wee little s were carried.. other s  held  hands  as they followed  along, the  wounded troopers lookn bummed out, but it was thier  fault  , for skipping out on Med Tech.

   once they enter the Middle  Cave, the Mess  folks   put the  eats  and Drinks in the Middle  and left.. the  troopers  setting up away from the Gava  to give them some peace.

  The troops were waiting.. off in the distance they could  see   the  water splash now and then..

 Supe   tried to see what was going on,..my dad would say, its gonna be good  fishing to day.... damn good thing there's no Kreel Limit!

 The COMs  started to chatter  as Shadow  and Sindy had their chat5.. and when   Beth played the Music  the Omincom  folks on the Ground pumped it through  speakers    that were  with the  spotlights..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJniq9KuDAQ

 it s started out slow.. a few Voice  here  and there.. then More.. then   almost all the Ground   Troops began to sing/shout  along with the Music..

 The Gava  went Nuts..  waving   spears,, knives  and  side arms.. Teh Ape Folk   were   over  roused  roaring along.. the Naragran seemed   stoic..  Nivaraim  where    clapping along witht eh  drumbeats.... Largs  Roared  along, as if they knew they were  supposed to.


……………………..


 The forward observers   would laugh as they watched the  Aqra who were starting to rise from the  water , lookign at  each other, as the Music   seemed to  grow louder… then the   thunder  and cracking sound of   Aircraft breaking through  the Atmo added more to the abck round.

 Ma-ti.. was   swaying to the  music, though she  did not  sing...

 felrites  sat  on Tanks   or   behind   stumps , thier  tails   twitching.... eager  for the fight to start.    engines began to come to life as the Stuart tanks   made  ready  for thier  charges  around the Flanks of the Fish folk.

  Lirg was up by Shadow's  Pod  with Hemsly.. they saw the   big blobs of the Big   Uglies and the bright  dots of the figthers

   the  assault  would start once    the   Big Uglie s  set  down, and  the Admiral and   troops    Joined the rest.


  Meanwhile   Hemsly was lookign  through a Bino,..are  right  ya big Hound ... try this one...501 yards, to teh left.. but the  tnak that  is still Burning.. one Blue  light helmet...

 Lirg snorted.. he tweaked his  rifle,as it rested on the battered Pod.. then it  jerked, ever so slightly , as the weapon  Coughed...

  a few seconds  Later  the  Glass shattered on the Officer's  helmet  shattered , and the side of the  headgear blew outwards, the Body  fell.

 Damn!..well.. that's  2  steaks i owe ya.... Try this one....497 yards... to the left.. Green light on a helmet.. crawlin' toward   a smokin' tank?

  Lirg snorted,.. going to  be hard....

  the time spent, gave the   Aqra  a  chance to   reach the  Tank, it  grabbed the   edge  to pull itself Up, and the rifle  Coughed .. this  time the   Hyrian  round   Hit the  Fish Folk's neck tearing the ehad  from  the Body.. the  Body  fell against the  tank  while the head  rolled  to the next  Aqra that    Pushed itself  from  the Ground.. the rifle coughed again and  that Aqra's  chest ws hit, its back  scattering out behind it..

 Ok.. Three Bloody steaks.. that last one don'[t  count for a steak...

 Lirg looked back with a wolf grin,..I know.. that one ...was  for  fun..

<<<<<<<<<  From Space

 Hack watched the  screens in the  Crowded  Hold, He looked at  Roy and said,..when   we  touch down... head to the assault  craft  , rally our  people, We'll  start the assault  ith ..roughly  30  minutes  after touch down, to make sure  everyone has the Ammo they Need...

  The Admiral  and I will be heading  to the  CP  and  direct  the attack from  there..

 Hack   Flicked   His COMs   to COM 1.....LC?... Take  your   Gays and Gals  and shoot me  up some  beach.. we'll be  fine  from here  on down...

  Pardon Me  Admiral Hack.. this is   Commander  Commons  from the ESN  341 Vulcan... LC Shadow?..   My wing is comign   down  Just a Bit behind you..  we will take the  south Shore  and  west shot,  You can take the East and the North?

 ..Aye , Sounds Good Commander Commons... thank you  for the  head s up.... make sure any of your   support craft know this as well..

 ..Hermes Wing.. set up in your  flights... keep your  wingman close  with the  muck we  fly through, we won't see them until they get close...

 Steele  LAughs,..if they get close.... they know  are hands  won't  be tied  as tight this time around

 now?    I don't know how  CApt Morris is counting Ground targets this time around... so?.. don't  worry about the count.. Just Blow  any thing up , that's not us.. Right then.... In a Line  tweo flights  across... A  and  B  frist... C and  D... E and M... and  G and F.. G and F..overwcth for  enemey fighters... Until you run, then we'll have it.... I want us to get at least three passes   at the  Beaches, before the   artillary opens up.... Here  we go!!!

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

 the Mist and  Fogs  and clouds   parting   beforre the  divign  fighters... at  300 YArds above the Deck.. they saw the beach.... from this side, they could see the water,. almost Balck with  armor  and troops . even  as  troops began to crawl from the water.

 The  scream of   the ESN   fighters  hearlded  the attack... Pulse  and Lazars fired from about..  Connon fired  reservef d for the first pass..

  Bodies   were  Cut apart or  Vanised  in Light  Blue Blobs of  mist.. a mech   fell  backwards , into the water, A flight was closer  to the shore,  more and More  Bodies  were  tore up.. turning the clear  water, Light  Blue   as  Blood flowed freely...

 spider and Crablike  machines     tried to rise out of the water... Heavy  pulse trying to  fire  at the passing  flight...

  only to be torn up   But the next flight  coming..  the  battle hadn't even started yet.. and armor  was being destroyed,  and dead   was Piling up...
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:35, Mon 04 June 2018.

   The  Big Uglies  Touched down in the landing  are the Beach Master  has  set up for them.


  as the  Ramps  came  down.. QM people and   Mess staff  as well as Med techs   ran for the  Machines to get  what supplies  were needed


    the QMs  began to set up lines... powercells.. hard  ammo..and grenades, for  people to line   up.. the troops were to trade in whatever  powercells they were suing  , to get recharged...and runners   ran back  to Plug in those cells.

  as Will, Rolfe and the others  , followed the Admirals  and Roy  ...and Larry!... There was a shout of  Surprise..

 Shade CAme   stomping down the Ramp to catch up to them

 what the  9 Hells! Lyri  stopped  as the two Admiral turned to look.


 There was some  Bleeping  and   reddish eyes  as he Pointed  towards  the  Fighters, then himself   then to the Admiral

Roy shrugged, and looked at Hack.  "I'm guessing at his point...but it's valid.  If you can come down and be part of the fight, there's no reason he can't..."  He was armed similarly to yesterday...but today, the assault rifle was slung across his back, and he shouldered the Barrett.  He walked over to Shade.

"Okay, Ambassador, you're on the ground.  But since you're very nearly as important to the Fleet as the Admiral, I can't put you at any greater risk.  Your assignment is to make sure he survives to get back to the Hermes."  He knes, with Shade being Shadow's child, that the assignment wouldn't go over well...but he was also sure it would be done.

In reply to fighters (msg # 138):

Justin send an acknowledged reply to Krays directives. Being the first two flights off the rank A and B swept across the battlefield leaving a sample of the devastation that would be inflincted on the beachfront. Comming in low Justin added burst after butst at ground targets in his flight path. Once their first sweep was made A and B Flights banked upward comming about and replacing F & G in Overwatch.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:27, Sun 03 June 2018.

Teela followed Justin in, weapons blazing and causing a trail of destruction on the ground as they made their pass then roared into the sky to set up overwatch so F and G Flights could take their position in line. She kept watch on sensors and her augmented vision watched the sky for anything that didn't look right.

   Shade's  eyes  were  grey as He nodded to Roy and   Gave  him a  less-then-enthusiastic thumbs up.

 He     walked Up to   The Admirals, Hack sorta  eyed him  down... But  Shade  Never  wavered...  and he followed  the  two  admirals to the CP  with his  rifle.

…………………..

 As  the  fighters    flew up  the shore, from South to North, then Banked  slightly   to  take on the troops that   thought the North ned Of the Lake   might  be a better   Jump of  point for  their  armor and troops...…

 Meanwhile the Vulcan's fighters    did the  same, Flying  from  North to south... again, it  seems that both ends of the LAke were staging areas.. while the   east and West shore s were being  used, for   Troops  and support armor.

………………

   When they reached the CP , Hack and Hennings   Talked  with the Colonel  who commanded the CP..Looking at the Vids   after they talked it over a Bit, Hack  went  On ALL COMs...


 ..Fighters  at the Capitol Lake... Break Off..... artillery  and Panzers  begin the  rolling Barrage ....... Troops... when the    shells   start hitting the water.. advance...... we  expect heavy's  from   the north and  the south Flanks... The east and   west will be mopstly   ground forces.....what will be left of them...


 Captain Nilsson.... The North  is out most Vulnerable .. see what you can do about armor   of there...

..you may now  start......


……………………..


  The panzers    started   first with the  Cannons  on the  Mountain  switching s side s  as  More  aircraft    harassed the Fish   invasion on the   East beaches   over the  Mountain.

 Hemsly and Lirg  ran  Back to the Duces  with thier  weapons   ready as a  part of the  defensive front...

 The Hermes  Mechs  Mover  to the right , to be closer to the North Flank.. they  would   help shore  up  that end  as the  Hermes and  Two transports  worth of  Troopers   moved  twoards the  beach.

 Gouts    Muck and  left over  Bodies    flew  into the  Air  as the   rounds  creeped  ever  closer.. HE   rounds  sent    battered    wreckage  in   the air  as well... The Troops that had    managed  to escape the two passes the fighters  made...were being chewed  up  but the  artillary.


  Whistles  Blew   for   the  ground troops  to to form up  as the  fences were turned off  and   Sally ports opens  every so often.. Heavy  Pulse    Gunbs  were  set up at  each opening, so   those  who needed to  return, new  where to go.. the rest of the fences  wouls still be live.

...........

 Larry Looked Up   at  Roy , then at the other s around him.. he seemed  excited...

In reply to An'teela (msg # 142):

Listening to the cross chatter Justin scrutinized the onboard surveylance screen noting the various blue and red signatures that danced across it identifing friend from foe.   Glancing starboard towards Teela's Hammer he noted the extra kill decals on its tail.Congrads on the tally. I suspect you'll add 3-4 more to it before the days out. At least those Red heads won't be able to lie in wait for any of us to pass by before they decide to ambush us.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:01, Mon 04 June 2018.

   Shadow  didn't like it.. there  were No fighters in the air?    alright.. .. in a few Moments, or  troops  will be going across that line..not  Just the Delta Folks..Apefolks..Naragrans ..and Niavrians..or even the Gava.... But Hermes folks.. that you see  everyday... our Job is to keep anything we can...whether its  fighters.. armor.. or a big  Wad Of  troops.. from reaching them..Don't  get caught up in tagging Red Birds.... if you  are in a  fight, and can't get out when a call comes in.. get out  as soon as you can

 Through the Mists  and  clouds... there were some   Vapors  and Mists  flying in formation... about  500 feet below them..

 ..Frans?

 ..I see them....

  Take  all the flights  down  except  for B flight and M flight... we'll cover.... I think they are  bait...

 Eckles    giggles,Bait or not?  A Kill is a Kill...

  The   Aqra   Light blue  fighters...  would have been  hard to see over the  color of the lake... But the Flash of the   barrage  glinted off their  Canopies

  as  turn about  is fair  Play... The Hermes fighters  Dove  down on the hapless   flights  of  Aqra... to the South, the Vulcan fighters  were  already dog fighting .

  frans  and her  people opened  Up  Tearing through the VApors  and Mists Like  tin Foil...

.......

Then  a Voice  broke  through the COMs,...by all the bloody gods, Shadow?  How did you ever live this long....


  Blood red   Hammer  VIIs   flew   right past the Cloud  Hidden...SIG hidden  fighters... as they began to Open up on the other  Hermes fighters.. On COM  1  Shadow said.... ..here  they come.. B  flight and M   flight are  diving on them as they are Diving On you..... pick one  Target.... try to bring it  down... if you miss?.. just shoot  anything Red...

 then, silently, the  HAmmer IV   dropped out of the Clouds  with Foster   taking  his  people a bit  to the port... Shadow  grinned at  Sindy's  Bubble  flashing... she had hadn't noticed frans   bubble was   Blue  for #2...

  he didn't  give her  a warning... he didn't  even fire tracers, His  rounds  were clip fed, not  belt  fed.. with one   round  pushed into the bottom as  the one on top fired.. But.. for him.. it was like  riding a Bike... Three   37 MM Rounds   fired  as  he   jerked  Back the   lever   each time he  pulled the  Trigger..    the  first   Hit Sin's  port wing Tip, the   second  one hit just  aft  of the Pilot .. the   Third  Hit in the  Middle of the  Starboard  wing...  She  started  to swear  as  he  Machine  began  to   act sluggish... the   starboard  wing weapons    were gone..

 That's  when she  saw  the   Hammer   IV  Fly  By   and   down with a    Climbing turn   to  head for the very next Red Bird..


  Sindy Shouted,..THAT's LADY!..... LADY V SAID SHE WAS DEAD... YOU KILLED BLU, WESS, NICKERSON...BECAUSE OF THAT!

 Shadow laughed,.. I wanted to kill Blu  anyway.. the others were just icing...just like you will be!

 They said You scrapped her!

 ..Yeah.. don't  fly the old   Hammer IV very often anymore.... But  since there was EDT around..Evols?... I thought it should have some fun as well...

 Sin Looked at  her  screens Red  Lights..yellow lights.. her    flight  was being chased  by  Hermes    fighters.. the Damn Cats were there.. One of them Just torched  Conrad.. and  His   Pod  was sailing towards  the advancing  ESN troops.. what was  left of  his Hammer VII   crshed into the  edge of the beach.. Killing even more   Fish Folk

 ..How does It  feel Sindy?... To Know you'er about to die? I never had that feeling myself...

 Kat Zipped past  stitching   some heavy Pule  along  her  port side  , before breaking off to  go after  another one...

 In the  waters of the Lake. there were  explosions  from  Aqra  fighters    crashing and burning... Not  one of   the 12  Aqra  made it to the   Easter  shore...

  6 red  Fighters   Danced   with     the   whole fighter  wing of the Hermes....  One of the Hermes  DVas,  shattered..   the Pod   flew  off  towards the  Northern wooded  area , close to where Teela got picked up..

  Shadow's  Fighter shook a Bit   as  some hevay Pule   Hit the fuselage  on his port side... Urns  Voice said....Comon' LC..  we all Know Lady was  cut up....That's Just a pool aircraft...

 As   Urns  Zipped By   Shadow's    Lazars and Pulse   chewed Up his tail fin a bit.....now?.. Tommy?... you have to remember   how  big a dumbass you are?.....did you see what happened.. after we  Cut her Up?.. have you ever Been in the BLack Hanger...

 urns  reply was......what?????

  There was  a bit of  Moisture in his  eyes  as  Shadow mouthed the words..'sorry".. and   clicked    the Device   Beth had  Given him...


 ..This  is Nice...Kray..to...be..in the...air...again.... with you....

  Sindy said,NOOO.. that's not  real... that's  ...that's  a Voice tag...

 ... well Sindy.. let me  shoot you  up... let you bleed out a little.. then chop you up.. then   have some techs  who never worked on you before..try to put you back together...see how well you  talk....Maybe the Warlord  can  help me with that...

 grit  Got  On Waggle's  Tail  and    was shooting the   aircraft Up.. Waggles was  a very good pilot.. but his   tail surfaces  were hindering him.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:35, Mon 04 June 2018.

"Copy that, we both will. They won't try the same trick again which, sad to say, is all they have. Tricks and ambushes." Teela replied as she looked at sensors and suddenly all hell was breaking loose.

Teela dove at the LC's order and picked a target and opened up as she came down on top of it from above, pulse cannons and 37mm sending a deadly barrage its way.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:05, Mon 04 June 2018.

The appearance of the enemy wing was expected. When the red heads put in an appearance Justin grinned ferally as he waited for Kray's prompt to engage. Following Shadow's lead B Flight pounced on the Hunters. Justil lined up on the bandit in his opposing fligjt slot, sweeping towards it, sending measured telling bursts into it.

Teela cursed as she saw her shots miss as the enemy fighter evaded fire and she ended up roaring between groups of fighters but, as she looked up she saw Grit shooting at Waggles and doing some damage. She brought her craft into a steep climb and came at Grit from below, her gatling cannon and pulse cannons opening up, followed by sustained shots from her lasers, right into the bottom of his craft. She kept up fire until she was too close and had to veer away.

  Grit's   Aircraft   Began  to  shake  and  shutter.. Red  Lights    Flashed all over his  boards.

  The     Bottom  began to  warm ,as  Plating  was   shot  away, and  Smoke   Filled the Pod.

  He   Hammered   at the  Ejection lever.. but the  Hydro Lines were Cut  and there was no pressure  to  shoot the Pod out.. He  saw   Teela's   Aircraft  Zip  By as he fell off to the  east.. Smoke  and Fire   started  to fill the  Pod.. He  wanted to hit the trees.. to slow  down the  crash.. But he  Couldn't  see...


 The thruster feed  Broke  and the   Hammer  VII  was in free   fall... Smoke and Fire  coming from the  bottom of the  aircraft... Grit's  screams    tearing through  the  COMs...

  The aircraft fell , end over  end.. like   a piece of   cast off   metal...  the explosion the  Impact made a  crater  some 30 feet in Diameter.. with  Bits  of  red    metal.. and torn body parts..
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:33, Mon 04 June 2018.

"Scratch one traitor. Grit is down and did not get the chance to pod," Teela said over comms before looking for another red target to engage.

Banking to Port Justin spotted 1C on his Port heading towards Howe. Alerting Howe to the threat Justin adjust his vector hoping to line up the Red Head before they could target the 12,  Squeezing off three quick burste at the bogiewith the intention of at best fragging it or at least distracting sufficiently to spoil its plan.

Roy moved forward with the ground troops, leap-frogging fire teams across the terrain in staggered order so that any enemy troops that opened fire would get more in return.  "Stay fifty yards back from the trailing edge of the barrage...you see any survivors poke their heads up, put a bullet between their eyes."  As his fire team set position, he swept the field ahead with the optics of the Barrett, looking for officers, comm troopers, or any other likely prospects to sow chaos in the enemy ranks.

He spared a look at the battle overhead, and fought the temptation to take potshots at the EDT planes...they were high enough that the constant haze in the air made them hard to see as more than vague shapes, and even if he could pick out EDT fighters, the air fight was fluid enough that a Hermes plane could easily cross his line of fire after his shot was away.  He decided to wait...

"Hey, Shadow...if you decide to lead anyone down this way, give me a heads-up...the right round in this thing could make ground fire a serious threat, but after yesterday, I don't think they'd expect it..."  The specialized Raufoss rounds Shadow had scored for him, carefully rationed out over time, could do damage comparable to the larger standard cannon rounds which the planes were firing...and Roy was guessing the EDT Hammers weren't particularly armored against ground fire.

In the meantime, however, he kept his weapon on the terrain ahead, firing if targets of opportunity made the mistake of letting themselves be seen.

Karl rolled the Morningstar into an orbit over the target area that Admiral Hack had pointed out, more than a little nervous.  He knew EDT pilots would be in the air...and while the Morningstar was far from helpless, it was a relatively easy target.  "Okay, Ed...start targeting non-Delta Fleet targets in the lake," he said, grimly.

"Already done, Captain.  I've also established a sensor sweep pattern that should keep us aware of all craft in proximity, even if we may not register their comm sigs.  Gatling gun turret is powered up and cannons are loaded and ready for air-to-air engagement, sir."

Karl scowled slightly.  The vocal quality was different...which could easily be nothing more than changed components adjusting the audio modulation...but the AI had also used the first-person pronoun...and that was NOT part of its programming...

"Targets rising in the water...commencing fire..."  The howitzer barked, sending the first of many HE rounds toward the surface, and Karl found himself with more to worry about than vocal quirks in the AI...

 Shadow was   sweeping through the maelstrom looking for Red Targets. He wanted to  torch Sindy, but red  was red.... as he  made  himself   easy to see in the  fight.. he  would  fire off   Heavy Pulse,  lookign for a Target, that he wanted...

  He  did  Hit a Red  Bird  1G in the  Tails  section,  some fluids were   sifting  out.. But the Pilot    Climbed into the Mist, Shadow     kept  'herding'  red Birds. towards or  away from his people with    pulse and Lazar


 ..Roy?....  I don't  know  if any of  this  group will go down to the Deck.... but COM  us  if you see   Aqra  Fighters....And?... watch for Pods..I don't care which side they are from... if  its ours, send them back to the Beachmaster  so they can get another ride.... if  its  an EDT.....save them for me....

 ……………

 Justin..... The  Rounds he  fired  at  1C,  hit  the Red Aircraft where the  wingroot met the fuselage on the starboard side of the   airtcraft.. Plates   Broke  Off  and  Flew exposing the 'normal' armor of  an standard  aircraft.

 Unable   to see Justin , Just yet, the Aircraft  Made a Tight Climbing turn to  his   left.....

 Home    COMed Thanks  and then sent a message,..My flight?...  dive with me... i see landing Craft   rising   in the Middle of the Lake.... Time to  Do our  Jobs!... D flight  Dove   Down.. a pair of them were trailing Vapor streams from damage... But the  two Novas and  4 Darts screamed     down  from the sky..firing off  Pulse and Lazars  to distract the  Landing craft  drivers... and to  Help target the craft , so thier  37MM  Rounds  could Count.

   the North end of the lake   had  armor crawling from the    water.. landing  Craft were    rising  to the surface, ready to deploy thier legs … like some  odd  vid-machine game.

  there were  some   Blasted    craft already from the Hermes  fighter passes.. but   troops were starting to  form up.. as    Noncoms  tried to   get  troops together...

  HE  round s started to   explode  around the   shore, in the water, and on the sand, Bodies  began to   fall or fly,  some of the rinsing LAnding Craft  Blew up in the  water, sending   spray of Metal and Bodies.

   Karl could see   12  Stuart tanks  in three tank formations   tearing     down from the North east..  thier  own Cannons  firing,  driving some of the Aqra  Back, while other s     ran for  Cover...

  a Line of  dark Blue   troopers  were Moving with the tanks.. twinling of weapons  fire  as they targeted  scattering Fish folk.

 From Karl' vantage  point, he could see the  water  Dark below him  and  More  Landing craft were  rusing  from the deep... even now , a few   that made the Beach  opened thier Jaws and  to send  troops  out    to join the battle

In reply to in the air (msg # 154):

Justin shook his head at 1C's change in direction, which was further into his kill zone, without hesitation he took advantage of this to pump two additional bursts into the bogie as it climbed, exposing its full upper surface.

  To the   South of Roy , The Gavas  Moved   like a savage  wave, Dark Blue  Cloaks, or   homemade Tunics, marking them as   'Blue Gavas'.. it  was plain to see the    native Gavas that Joined  as they merely had  a  section on cloth   that they poked thier heads through,  or  wore ESN Blue   watch  caps  or  BAll caps.


 The  wave of vengeful  Gavas     rolled over Aqra like  a highspeed film of  army ants,   Gavas  would fall  as   Heavy weapons  opened, but the swarm would  tear the  Gunners to  pieces... some of the more...enterprising Gava.. would turn the weapons  towards the Beach  and fire them   Until the Barrels  turned bright  red..


 Naragrans   stayed  closer to the   trees...looking like  animals versions of the  Aqra  Tanks.. Spindle  arms    stabbing and slicing ..  Maw Pouches  getting  filled  with   Bodies,  and  spitting out  equipment. So Gava  rode them,  jumping off to attack pockets of Aqra, then scrambling back on  until the  next batch was spotted...


  somethign that   was added to the attack force, were  Burian archers .. The green Mix of  Angels...Half angels  and   smaller Burians  added some despair  to the Aqra... The   Great wooden bows the  Burains used.. would send   metal shafted   arrows  through light   armor    and   penetrate   Medium armor for  wounds, or kills......what  caused  more concern, were the Burians that were   'testing' Aqra Bow and arrows...


 seeing thier  own people  fall to the nasty   arrows   they used  for Hunting Gava, caused  many of the  Aqra  to    turn and run.. only to  be forced  forward  by angry officers  and Non Coms.

 The Apefolk and Nivarians  worked  well together, after  working   together on Matterhorn, of  all the groups, the Ape  folk seemed to be losing the least amount of  people... were as  all other  Units  had  Heavy weapons for support, The Apefolk  used heavy weapons as their  Main weapons, with the smaller of thier kind  using    rifles to   support them... what made  them  even more scary to foes, was when they  entered close  quarters combat, savagely tearing      Fish folk apart,   or hacking  with  Big heavy Blades

…………………..

For Roy    The Middle surged  Garrat   pumping out    heavy rounds.. Supe , Hodden and Minnet laying  down  heavy weapons  with  Tucker  scrambling along  firing  shots  at    troopers he  woulkd  see on the  flanks...

  Rolfe  , Will , Shoey and the rest    used  their  rifle man skills. targeting  Aqra... mostly center  mass hits to  kill or knock down

 The felrites  were   in thier Glory,  they grouped together  with  Hirr and  Bounded over the   muck and mire like they were Humans on the Moon. Most had the  Felrite  SMGs  , spitting out  fire as  they leaped..  drawing blades   when in close   quarters, then   doing it all over  again...

  Larry was  tearing   through the Muck.. Covered in Light Blue  Blood, slick black Mud, and  brown from the 'dry Mud'... he looked like a camo design from  WWI german lozenge paint schemes...

 Lirg     had  Hemsly Near Him.. the Scot  was throwing Biskets  and  triggering them,  sending   spouts of Mud  and Bodies... Lirg  would  step forward.. stop  and    fire.. dropping   Aqra  and after Aqra,  he took some hits of his own, but  his heavy armor   saved him from most hits, though  it was clear the Hound was wounded.


 Lyri    followed    along  with Roy.. he r sniper  rifle  gleaning   red, Blue  and green Helmet beacons from the field. her  right thigh pat3es were missing  from a few  rounds she took, but  was other wise unharmed

  Landing   behind the  surge of troops, a shuttle just a bit  smaller then  a Big Ugly, landed. It faced  forward  and its  top  Bubble  gun sent heavy weapons  down range towards the beach, well over the ehads  of the ESN troops,  rams on  both sides    Came  Down and  the Metallic  scream of Verian Troopers charged out...  they formed up in  two  wedges  of  50  troops with  One Officer on the point, and   noncoms in the middle and edges...

  they  ran through the Muck..a little slower then humans , because of thier  weight...  the  Wedges  ran  past Roy and the  others   as  one   officer   jogged  with  a Verian  Pulse  rifle.. The Verian  lifted his Visor.......Captain Merk ..of the  1st  Blue Verian Assault  BVA..if you please.... sorry we are late?.. our transports   just arrive,  with  the  aircraft and  troopers  such as us..... Admiral HAck said You  would  Tell us  where you need us?..though..it  seems  my people are  a bit over  eager?

 about that time..  the crack of  sonic booms  were heard  as  Howe's  Flight  dovbe from the   clouds  and began to  fire at somethign in the Middle of the lake.

  Ogen's    Aircraft shuttered  Under the  Burst from  Justin....  the starboard   wing shook a Bit More as Plates   broke off  and    Vapor  began to stream.


  ..You... might  be  hitting me  Now.. little   man.... But.. Once i Get you in my sights....

  The  African was turnign to  try  and  Get around on Justin.. he fired at Steele as  the   Hermes Pilto  went past.. nicking  up Steele  a bit, as he tried to use  Steel  for  Cover  Until he could try  and  fix himself on Justin

Henry sat at the mouth of the cave, keeping an eye on what was going on below. Mila curled up beside him, dozing but not properly asleep. Behind him, the Gava younglings ate, played or slept.

   A fellow in a Hermes  Tech Uniform, with just the chest plate of  boarding armor on, Came through, he had  a bit of a smile on his face as he carried  a Pulse   rifle and saluted Henry.

 ..Hello, Doc  Christie?   I'm tech SGT Abe  Holken?  The Admiral sent  me , to have you go to the  Gig Ugly  that brought him down?  we have  4 Techs..not  counting me, and some  of your  specimen  cases as well as  nets and the like? Anyway...

 he fishes  out  his  COM  , finds the COM  text and  shows it to Henry.

 "....Doc  Christie... i ahve send a team down for you to  gather speicmens as we wil need to know more  about this planet that we   wil be colonizing, with...or with out  Aqra permission...  The second Point, is   we will need you  once   we   push the Aqra  Back into the Lake... I want to know  what we can...and Cannot do  to the water...Our  goal is to  pound the Aqra  until  they surrender..or..  there are so few of them, that the APF  folks who colonize   will not need to fear too much...but.. do not put yourself in danger, we will have need of your expertise.. Admiral Hack.

 As  he read the COM Text.. Henry would see the Verian   Shuttle  Landing,  the   Verians  pouring out, some  900 yards from him.

"Right, Sergeant Holken... that's me told. Come on, Mila, duty calls," said Henry getting up. One last look to check the Gava were settled and as safe as possible, then he headed off down as instructed.

Teela was firing at any target that presented itself but was paying special attention for Dixie or Urns. She triggered her comms as she fired several bursts from her pulse cannons at a red fighter.

“LC, I’ve been studying Earth music and believe I have found something that fits. May I play it?”
This message was last edited by the player at 16:38, Mon 04 June 2018.

"Welcome to the fight, Captain.  We're working our way to the lake's edge, going to try and bottle up the Aqra forces before they can even get out of the water.  They've got forces deployed, our fighters have been chewing them up from overhead whenever they cluster thick enough to be noticed, or anytime their armor makes it ashore.  Sounds like the big hotspot is going to be the north end of the kake, but the plan is to move in and scour the shoreline clean, then sweep north.  That said, if you move your troops up to the north flank, that's where the fighting is consistently hardest and the extra firepower will help."  Roy spoke as he continued moving firward, taking advantage of the surge induced by the arrival of the eager Verians.

"If you've got snipers, their officers have blue lights on their helmets, and they lack the discipline to function effectively without officers present.  There's also green and red lights, haven't puzzled out what specific function those troopers serve, but we've been shhoting them, too, and it seems to be amplifying the disruption to their Command and Communications abilities.  Do what you will with that info..."  He noticed a blue light, vaguely visible in the distance, and was just starting to raise his rifle when Lyri's rifle barked sharply, and the light vanished in a spray of light blue.

"Also, the Nivarians brought largs to the fight...please don't shoot them..."

---> Space

Harry hadn't been long in the planets cloud like atmosphere when things escalated at a pace that she hadn't been anticipating. By the time she realised that the Red Hammers were present and had moved to face them upon completing her strafing run, Grit was already dead. His fighter crashing into the jungle to explode before he even had chance to pod out, or so Teela had informed them.

Cursing the fact that she was already late to this particular dance having spent far too long on her ground attack run, Harry would ascend towards the nearest Red fighter hoping that her relatively low altitude would allow her to catch it unawares. Having heard Grit's screams coming across her comms she wanted Urns dead more than ever for everything he'd done to her, nine hell's would Grit even have been with the EDT if it hadn't been for... NO! leave it, it's over, move on her mind snarled before she could fall down that particular rabbit hole.

Having closed in on her target Harry would fire a pair of quick targeting shots with her lasers before firing her 37mm at it's underbelly so as to make the most of her current advantage.

  Garrat hung back slightly of would move foreward to cover so he could target enemy vehicles with his gun.  Mechs and vehicles with obvious cockpits would get their canopies punched full of holes.  Legs joints on walkers that didn't have other obvious weaknesses would get pounded till they froze or fell apart.  Garra would use his thermal visor and knowledge of mechanics to find and target weakspots.  The experience for future operations was almost more valueable than the machines he brought down this time around.

Karl noted the troops deploying.  "Lay down a blanket of pulse rounds on those troops..."  He'd barely finished the words before the target locks activated and the pulse cannon spat round after round down at the beach, while the howitzer continued to rain HE shells among the craft that were rising from the depths of the lake.  The pilot raised an eyebrow...whatever had happened in the repairs of the AI core had enabled or accelerated processes beyond their previous capability.

"Multiple aircraft registering on sensors.  All appear to be focused on aerial engagements several kilometers south-east of our present location, beyond effective targeting range...but I will track them and warn you if they move to engage..."

Karl gaped at the controls for a moment...was Ed actually anticipating his directions?  or had the AI started taking personal initiative?  It wasn't programmed for either option, although the learning subroutines in its base program did make such options theoretically possible...  A particularly bright flash from below demanded his attention, as one of the HE rounds found the main magazine of one of the Aqra armored vessels and initiated massive secondary explosions.

  Hearing Teela's  request, Shadow  said,go ahead..  pipe it  to  Beth and she  will feed it through COMs  2,3, and 4

………..

  Shadow  Found Sindy, Her  Hammer  VII wasn't  making the   Truns  as   quick as she was used to,  and the   starboard side  Guns  were Gone,  She  Tried to  Make   a Run  at Shadow, but he  Just corkscrew  Under  her, and  BAcked   Hard to  come  around  her  starboard Side...Wow?.. Sindy?.. I mean.. a Hammer  VII  and You can't  keep up with  My  old  Hammer IV....

 Her Voice  was  tight,..I don't Have an AI  helping me  either...

 funny you should say that... Maybe   The EVOLs  shouldn't  have  sent  Blu and his  pack of losers  to try to stop us?....  Lady  V is only alive, through dumb luck..... Now?.. she's Gonna  pay.. she can't last forever.. ..but i do so enjoy  bathering Free Creds  from her...'late' supporters..

 ..now?... I'm be gredy here.. there are so many enemies  who demand  some of my attention?... So...Sindy?... I'm asking you  this, For Harry...cause if it was  me.. you were  dead 10 minutes ago.... Your choice.... you fly that   Hammer VII into that Mountain..POD  out  over the North East...

 ..or....

 ..or.. I send you to the  9  hells  now.... You'll  be  one of the few  today   were Killed By a Ghost Machine...

……..

 Ogen  was  trying to dance  Dance  with  Justin, but  he was losing plating

……..

 Harry … As she  Fired  at the Aircraft that  Vainishe dinto the  Mists and  Payhs  of   other Hermes  Fighters,Harry  Noticed the Red  Birds  were  thinning out...  Then , through the Haze  over the Lake she   Saw one of the Hermes  DVa's  Vanish in a   Cloud of  Fire... The  Hammer  VII that torched the    New  Pilot had 1N  on its  Fin...  That's  right.... Damn rookie?  You think you could  take My Place?

  The  DVa  that died, showed  no  POD... Just   Bits of  burning metal   dropping  like remains of  a giant firework..

………

   Another    Hammer  VII was chewing Up  Mussete's  aircraft.. when Flores  came out of the  clouds  in he  patched up  Nova... gods be damned!..Finaly!...  her  weapons  opened    up on  a sideslip..  leading   the  1G Hammer... the pilot 'flew into the    37 MM round, with three of them   Blowing away the  Cockpit and the Pilto in it... Flores    screamed.....GOT IT..GOOD BYE 1G....

……

 Teela was  surprised to  Feel the Impacts  of     Heavy Pulse on he port side    as    somethign   Red   flew   inches  over  her  cock pit and Climbed I the direction of her  6...

 ..hey there  sugar?..  I 'm back seems  you'er  prtty little ole  machine is leaking  some Hyro Fluid!..Maybe I oughtta    put the  poor   little thang outta its  Misery?
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:17, Mon 04 June 2018.

  Te Verian    COMed his   troops and the   V formations  Moved  North , Up the Beach,  the  front   V firing a cross fire  head of them

 The Back V firing   Behind., Aqra were   crushed when they  Tried to    enter into  Hand to hand, as Helmets shattered and Limbs  broke..

  The   Verians Lost a   few trooper s  was they made thier  way up the  Much of the   Grasses   some 100  yards  from where the Sand  started.   The Hermes  troops  closed  In, to try  to be a Unit, Unto themselves .. except  for the   felrites  that scampered  around

 Larry    padded over to Roy to check in, and was  lapping at  some water in a muddle   Hole left  but  trooper's boots.


  Lyri called out... 10:00... coming out of the water.....What the 9 hells is that!

 It  had a Red Bubble  on its  head..  behind that Red Bubble was an Aqra with a  Helmet  with   red  beacons.. the 'dragon-like' lead  was at least as Big  as a Dinner  table... It roared    its  snakelike  neck , at least  10  feet long..... Comign out of the  water.. were at least two more  , with Riders..they slowly Moved thier  Bulky Bodies  towards the  shore

 Lyri stood her ground  and   sighted  at  where the  chest met the  Neck..and fired....  the  round   traveled  for a good  2-3 seconds  before  slamming into the creature with 'Squish".. It Roared Like  crazy, as   Dark Blue  Blood leaked  from its  wound..

 She looked at   Roy,..Hard  Ammo will hurt it


………………….


 Henry.... was  at the   Big Uglies.. when he hear the odd Roar, and Watched the First of   the great beasts  rising from the water.

In reply to fighters (msg # 167):

Justin locked onto 1C's 6, mirrowing its turns weaves spins and rotations while taking snap shots at it when it was in his cross hairs. Pieces of its armor plating flew off as HEAP rounds punched through them igniting beneath them. Changing position from high to low he was able to prevent or respond to sudden changes in speed and elevation 1C would make.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:33, Mon 04 June 2018.

"Copy that LC," Teela replied as she changed her comms to the channel the LT would hear her on. "Playing this through your channel, LT per the LC's instructions. Here it comes!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg9aQvjMS60

Teela felt the impacts and saw the Hammer VII fly right over her and knew it was Dixie before she spoke to her. "Dixie! I was wondering when you'd show. Shall we continue our dance from yesterday?" She said and immediately matched her vector to prevent her from getting on her six. She started jinking as she tried to get Dixie's six and a lock on her.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:57, Mon 04 June 2018.

Finally sighting her target Harry would bring her fighter round in a long sweeping arc so as to intercept Tommy Urns as he gloated. She'd always enjoyed taking apart people like him and would take special pleasure in destroying him.

It was as she was bringing her fighter round to in preparation for her attack run that she would hear the cross chatter between Shadow and Sindy and his offer to let her walk away "Please take the deal Sin, Pod out and find yourself a mercenary group, the money is better and unlike the EDT they won't get you killed for no reason" she quietly said as she lined up her guns on Tommy's canopy. Targeting the pilot as opposed to the aircraft was generally looked down upon by most pilots, however for a heap of filth like Tommy Urns she was willing to make an exception "Hey Tommy! Whose the bitch now?" Harry called down her comms mere moments before pulling the trigger to her 37mm Gatling in the hope of turning him into so much pink mist.

   She  Closed  In, Urns Seemed to  Admire   His work and  dipped his nose  a bit, perhaps thinking  about pouncing on Howes  team that   was shooting  up   the  new wave of  Landing Craft headed to the  east.


 Flickers  of  Red Light   could  be  seen  getting   brighter  below the surface.

  Tommy's  image  could  be seen Looking around, as the 37MM rounds Pounded into the Midsection of the Fighter..  More  Plates  shredded ,the port wing Cracked  and the  Metaglass  exploded...

 the    Hammer VII's  Nose  went down   like dropping a clothespin into a milk bottle...   Harry felt a   Thump. on her starboard  wing  was Urns's right  arm, still holding the   trigger stick..  it slowly slid off  into the air...

 Hamlet sat there.. and  smiled his hamster smile.

  Harry  Could  hear Sindy and   Shadow.


  you'll kill me if i surrender...  her  voice  was    coming  fast  as her Breathing    quickened.. The  Mountain was  close to  a Mile away.. But she couldn't  climb... Shadow  was  above and behind her in that  devil  machine..

 ..clock's   ticking  , bitchlette, I'll   kill you for  sure, if you don't  pod out....People Like You , killed alot of my friends.... Lady  included....so?.. i don't   give one  damn if you hit the  ejector.. but at yur rate of speed and yor loss  of  altitude.. you got  1 Minute... I won't let you land... You have to POD out, or die...

  Sindy was  shedding tears of  frustration, She  tried  to Veer  a bit  to her  starbaord   side, to see if she  Could get  angle to   the sea...  two 37Mm Round   zipped  pass her...while   lazars   nibbled at the  damaged  starbaord  wing...

 ..you bad  little girl?... I have been doing this  alot  longer...and better then you....

 Sindy  grinned  for a moment as she  said,..you bloody wanker.... then  I guess you know..Lexi   has You in her  sights....

 ..Yeah.. she's  there.. but she  won't  touch Me...

 .. You think you'er  that Bloody Good.....

 ..I'm way better... but then.. so Is Kat....

 the scene Played Out... the  Damage dFlight leader of the  Head Hunters   trailing Smoke from her  starboard  wing.. getting closer  and closer to the Mountains... Begind her  was    the Hammer IV with Lady's  colors  and  Nose  are.. the  19 on the tail Fin... closing on hism was  another Red  Fighter already  firing Pulse    but  unable to get a decent  shot  on the  waggling  HAmmer IV.... then out of the clouds a  Hammer   DvA 48 came down   firing    37  MMs     and  Knocking of Plates..


  Sindy screamed In frustration  as  Lexi was  screaming in surprise..  Kat's   russian accented LAughter   , only adding to the horror  of the whole encounter.


 ..Times  Up.....

 ..Nooo!...

    the Hammer  IV's   semi auto  fire  of the 37MM, seemed a bit  quicker  as  Shadow   Kicked his  rudder  a few times  to   kep the  HUD sight on  the  rear of the cockpit.. Three rounds... three   hits.. the  first   shattered the spine of the tail section, and severed   any  feed  for thrust..Hyrdros .. and Lube... the   second one  hit the  Cockpit    and  shattered it.... maybe Sindy was dead By then..  bit one  more into the cockpit,  Shadow Pulled up  as what was left of the   Hammer VII  slammed into the  Mountain...  both of his  wings had  Taked  hits from Havy Pulse.. but they seemed alright...., Menwhile, Lexi Podded out,   her   POd  Landing  and  skiddign  across the Muck  to  50 yards  from Garrat  and  what was left of the angel squad...Lexi's  machine  crashed Into the  foor of the Mountain...  Kat Puled Up  as well and they  both  did  a  'Victory Loop'.. as they leveled out they dropped low  and  tore up the beach one more   time.

 It ws at this time.. the  creature  arose
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:14, Mon 04 June 2018.

  Dixie   lead  Teela  away from the rest of the Hermes Fighters. when they came out of   a Bank of clouds, they saw  the Mountain.. and to thier Right..Sindy's  aircraft Die, Followed  by  Lexi, podding and her  aircraft crashing.


 ..well..  that's a  fine  kettle of fish.... she  giggled  at her own joke,... i don't believe there's  another one of my people  left?

 she  Clined  to  get  higher then the Mountain, as she climbed she said,..I am at a complete loss of  what to do, Sugar? I mean..  if i shoot you down?.. where am I gonna go? The   EDT..well.. they don't take kindly to those who fail?..And?  somehow.. they would balme it on me, if iwas  to go back bay my lonely litle self

 Ogen was getting   worried, the wat his machine jerked  around showed  there was no 'smooth handling' every  bit  , Justin chipped off his  aircraft  caused him to  try and  More..

 through the   chase...as it were... They heard Grit die.... Harry  say somethign to  Urns...and urns  never  responded... some cross talk with  Sindy and Shadow , before  seeing two   explosions as aircraft  hit into the mountain...
 Ogen  Finally    Gave Up  and Dove towards the Beach, trying to Head  south  as  fast as his battered   aircraft   would  take him...

 ..you will not get me.. i will survive.. and i will hunt you down...

"Then let me give you another option, one that doesn't involve you being eaten by Demons whilst you're still alive. You fly by my side and land behind our lines and turn yourself in. I give you my word that I will speak on your behalf and tell the Admiral you acted honourably. You earn our trust and there may even be a place for you in our ranks. I'd rather have you flying beside me than against me. What do you say, Dixie? Live to fight and fly another day? You're a good pilot and you dying here would be a loss."

Teela waited for Dixie to speak or act in response.

In reply to Justin (msg # 174):

Justin response to 1C's comment was two controlled bursts into the underside of the VII mid fighter shredding more plates and punching through the frame shredding the upper plates on the opposite side flying. The cross negotiations between Sindy and Kray then An'teela and Dixie turned his stomach. Traitors to humanity were just that they chose the path they were on and deserved to die.

   Dixie    looked over  the Mountain  range.. She  was sure  she could out Fly Teela enough to  get to the beach.. but then what?  No Humans  to speak of on Aqra.....

  ..I have to Tell you, Sugar.. I don't  know   if your   Fleet  is  going to want me....  I've been flying   EDT for  2 years now?..got  me 16 kills, But?.. I don't  rightly have a chocie that i can see.... where  do we go...


……………….


 Justin's  weapons  tore into the  airframe,  Hitting the ship proper,  smoke  and  fire  Burned on the inside..  Ogen  tried to Pod  Out...but like the others  the  Hydro  lines    were ruptured .. and  with no pressure to push the Pod..it wasn't goign  anywhere..

 It became a  Moot  point  when one of  Justin's  Last rounds   entered the  cockpit  from below  and  blew the  inside   to bits..  the machine broke into  4  sections,   dropping down  towards the  Lake..., Justin would see the  creatures  rising from the lake. Shadow and Kat were turning outwards  after an extra  run at the beach...

 Howe  and His  flight   kept  harassing the  landing craft.. the creatures  some  300 Yards  behind them

"We will...walk that bridge when we get to it, that is the expression, yes? Fly beside me whilst I contact the LC and let him know I'm escorting you in. Put your surrender lights on so no one gets the wrong idea."

She changed to fleet comms only. "LC, the last surviving Headhunter has surrendered to me. Where do you want me to escort her?"

In reply to J and T (msg # 177):

Justin grimaced ferally as he rolled away from the fragmenting VII, heading back towards the beach to continue the Flights assigned task of providing Close Air Support.
Can anyone else see that thing? Or am I suffering the effects of battle fatigue.

Roy grunted an affirmative at Lyri's observation.  "Aim for the eyes," he suggested, raising his own rifle.

"Or the riders..." he muttered, as he setlled crosshairs just below the red glow of the helmet.  Letting out his breath, hesqueezed the trigger at that moment of near-perfect stillness, between heartbeats and breaths.

  The LC  Came back...

  ..My first thoughts  are  to  the 9 hells..... I'll send Rivets a  call.. take her to the Hermes.. she does  one little thing   wrong, you torch her...

    Moment s later , Morris   cultured voice  came over the COMs,En Teela?... You will folow  her Up  and escort her  into the Hanger Dec... we wil have SEC waiting for her... when you land, we will top off your   37MM  ammo.


   As  Justin  saw the thing as asked his questions,  Shadow  had  a laugh,..isn't that just like the spoiled kids on the Block?  there wer eare with   our cute little largs runnign about , frolicing  in the mugs.. and these folks  have  to show of thier  over  sized Geckos?...... best see  if  we can hurt them

"Copy that, sirs. I shall escort her to the Hermes," she replied before switching to comms that Dixie could hear.

"Dixie, I'm your escort to the Hermes. I'll take you up there and we can meet in person. Match my vector and v, copy?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:38, Tue 05 June 2018.

   Lyri looked at Roy,..go for the eyes?... if you tell me  you have a Hamster Named Boo.. i'm gonna lose it  right here...

  She  Knelt  dow  as  some  round  Hit  around them from the stragglers  who managed to make it to the beach.. fish folk or now,  crawling out  of a shattered  walking   landing craft in  full pack isn't easy, under 20 feet or more of water.

  Lyri next  shot   hit   the  creature  In the Nose, It  roared and jerked  about.

 Roy's   shot   should have hit the rifer  near the ehad, but impacted   in the rider's  Chest, Throwing the  fellow off  and  it  fellw the  15v odd  feet into the water... another   fish folk  scrambled up  to teh  top  , he too, wore the red Helmet.

  Lirg  came over  towards   Roy and lyri  his  left leg  dragging a bit..... You shoot  fine.. but... water  rises  and falls.....

 he loaded a round in his   rifle, and  raised the   Hyrian weapon.....the waves.... like  shoting  a running person.. have to aim on top..or on bottom...

 Lyri stood there watching, not even flinching as a  pulse   round  hit a dead aqra next to her.
  ..you watch... your scopes... I  want hit  big red thing on  lizard...so..... i...  want to hit..on way down..that way.. i hit on way up...

 The   rifle  recoiled   but   Lirg hardly  twitched...  throughthe  sights  they was the  ..metaglass? ..in the front  Crack and  break...  the  Light  started to flash out of rythum  and the  creatured  Roared  as they saw thre front  claws for the first time.. the   nails were  as long  as thier  rifles...but the creature  was not happy..

..........

 Garrat     and   Ma-ti  had to Duck  as   Lexi's  Rod   hit the   Muck as  slid  to a halt.. she started    to  pop the  Glass, when se   saw all the Blue uniforms  around her.

   ..ya'll lead on Sugar..  We have always heard of the Delta Fleet.. never  did i have a chance to  fly against  , ya'll 'til now?.... never expected  to end up seein' the Hermes  though

>>>>>>>>>  Teela Hanger Dec.

In reply to in the air (msg # 181):

Acknowledged. Targetting large Geco over. Commed Justin as he brought th V about lining up a low run that ensured any rounds before and after it targetted hostile ground forces. Making his run Justin fired a streaming burst, chewing up ground pounders in front of into the beast and trailing after it into the area beyond, in a all too familiar  fore-aft attack run.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:18, Tue 05 June 2018.

Roy gave a grim chuckle.  "I just figured something that large, that close to shore, wouldn't be bobbing much with the water..."  He chambered a Raufoss round, and raised his rifle, looking for an angle on the creature's ocular organs...even if it meant puching through a lower lid or possibly even a cheekbone.

As he settled his crosshairs on target, he muttered into his comm, "Shadow?  The Aqrans brought their pets to play...a little air support would not go amiss right now..."  When he got an angle that he was satisfied wouldn't get much better, he fired, hoping to rupture its eyeball...

 As  Justin    came   head on  and  up the  flank,   Shadow  and Kat came in from the side...

  The   creature  seemd to   be in  pain already   when  Justins  rounds    tore into it...

  Ka's 37 Gatling     Tore  scales  and Chunks out  of it s Flanks.. shadow  opened  up with all power  weapons, and  fired  his   37 MM,   in his  'slower' rate...


 the Lazars didn't seem to effect teh creature if it hit  area's  with scales... the  Pulse weapons..  also Dispersed ..but the   hard ammo tore  chucks   and sent  scales  Flying..

 ..This is  LC  Shadow.. the  things sales    resist  power  weapons..hard   ammo tears it up...

 ..This  is MaJor  Pert, of the   combined  Armor  forces.. get you   craft out of the way... lets see  what  the  panzers can do..... you have .  5 seconds....

 two more heads with Riders  ,w ere rising from the   water.. the waves     they created    sloshed over thier own troops, and   over  turned  some of the   Crab-like  Landing craft.

  The Shells  chugged over  top of the troops  three tanks firing at a time through 12  Panzers...the 88's hit  short at first,  but still climbed  some hapless troops  caught in the waves of the moving monsters.

 then  the first three  Hit, the creature  was  hurt bad   enough by Justin and the others... but the   88  rounds sent meat and scales   flying 100's of feet.. the   creature   screamed     and the   rider    fell  Hitting the  water     just before it   did...

 the Other  Two  Creatures Kept  Coming..  the southern  Stuarts  came   around the  Flank.. a few of them looked   battered.. one sat at the end of the woods  on fire.. then sent 37 MM's towards them from thier   angle...  the panzers  kep  firing thier 88s..


 Roy  had to switch targets  as the  first creature  fell,, he turned  his   weapon on the  right most creature... the  round  hissed  towards the   creature, hitting  the  eye just below the   lower Lid.  Bloody Mock  and flesh  Blow  out  from the Wound, and again the   wounded  beast   splashed  around..

 Lirg  frowned,..Now  you ,make it harder to hit!

  Shadow , Kat  and Justin Flew  above the  beasties waiting to see if they needed   another  run or two..

Roy snorted.  "I don't care if it's harder to hit...if it can't see what it's doing, it's gonna be harder for it to do anything against ground troops."  He shrugged, and added with a grin, "I figure if it's dancing in place from being half-blinded, the Panzers have a pretty easy shot at its center of mass...and the jackass on its back is too busy trying to keep his seat to really give it any direction..."

  Lyri  just watched ..look  how  big those  are... and they had  three of them in this lake..what the 9  hells do they have in the oceans... moving some hair   out of her  eyes   was   the little bit of wind causes  strands to  get in her way,

 Shoey  is  walking over, his  rifle  ready,..don't matter.. we're never attacking underwater..Admiral said....this might have bene thier planet at one time... but... they'll have to fight us  on land, if they want to toss  us off.

  the    rounds  rained  down  on the Beach , armor was    over turned  or hit.. some  slid back into the water ..whether  damaged  or  retreating , one could not say. by this time, the  Stuarts from this  flank   had set and began a run  at the   clusters   of troops..37   MM main  guns  firing   50 cal MGs …  and..of course,  Running over    Fish folk   in a metal box that  runs on Hammer IV engines.

 the troops on this  end were all ESN  marine/sailors   and   moved in fire  teams  to support the tanks...

 Morgan, Clark and   Duke  reached  the  beach  and  were   gunning  down   Fish folk, the  only Two Fish Mechs that made it out of the  water  were destroyed.. Morgan  was  wading into   troops , his 'human  hand  crushing  ones that his   minigun hand didn't kill

"Okay, Ed...looks like our people have the beach...doesn't seem to be any enemy craft in the sky...what's your assessment?"  Even a few months ago, he would have directed the AI to make a batllefield assessment, not asked for it...the semantic nuance of a request versus a directive was small, to be sure, but Ed hadn't been programmed to react in the same way.

"Two courses of action appear viable.  We may either remain on station and continue shelling targets as they surface, or...the infantry forces to the southwest have encountered several large creatures, we could attempt to engage.  Comm chatter indicates the creature are susceptible to physical projectiles, which make up the majority of our arsenal."

Karl pondered the report for a moment.  "The fighters appear to be holding their own against those creatures...we're uniquely positioned to hit the Aqra vessels as they approach the surface.  I think we're better used here..."

"I concur," Ed replied...with a hint of disappointment?!  Karl made a mental note to have words with the ground crew about just which components were substituted in the core rebuild...the AI was certainly as capable as ever, maybe even faster...but its behavior was beyond what had been programmed.  "Adjusting barrel angle on pulse cannon so we can utilize it against water targets, as well...adjusting howitzer to maximize compression damage from rounds detonating in the water."  The Morningstar wavered for a moment before adjusting the circular flight path it maintained over the lake's north end, raining heavy fire down on the decreasing stream of craft trying to safely make it to the surface...

Henry was fascinated by the new creatures rising out of the water, and took lots of photographs.

Much as it pained him to do so, he passed the word that hard ammo was most effective, and that fire should be directed to where the head joined the neck, especially at the front or 'throat' part of the animal.

 The  first creature  that fell was slowly   slipping deeper  and deeper into the lake that spawned it.

  The second one was   raging   as   it  was Hit,  and soon   Tilted over  crashing into the   deep water, sinking    quickly.

 The Third  one was  wounded.. 88 rounds were Hitting it  or landing close,  the Bottom half  of the  Beast  was leaking the purplish blood but it had  reached the beach..  trooper fried on the  Bronto-like beast, the tail, now free  of the  water  lashed out  Sending a dozen or  so Ape  Folk flying…

  The native  Gava's were on thier  knees  Bowing to the Beast thier heads  touching the   sand.. the 'blue  Gavas  ' from Anzio.. were  Hurling spears, that did  little  more the bounce off the scales.

 Supe , Hodden and Minnet  moved  up , firing their   heavy weapons, even though they ladies' Pulse rounds   didn't have much effect Unless they happen to hit a place devoid of scales.

The  88s  stopped firing, for  fear of hitting friendlies...

 The fighters  opened up  from behind..37 MM hitting the  back of the   creature  as it roared in  pain,  Claws digging deeply into the sand..

 Lyri, Roy  and  Lirg  all fired at the Head.. the twitsing, roaring  beast   made it  a hard  target.. Lyri   hit  Lunger the Jaw  as the   head pointed upwards to roar, when the  head Came back down to looke in thier  direction, Lirg it , just behind the  Left  ear hole.. Roy thought he had  the  Rider, but the twists  had him hit the rider's  left arm, sending it   flying   off and the rider  tumblign  down the creature's Back into the water.


 Stuart  fired    from the south as they churned up the beach... Shadow had the  fighters form Up and Flights, and Dive at the creature, aimed at the Back for no other reason then  to get hits, and maybe have it die of attrition ..


   as the   creature's Back legs   reached the  Beach...  the toll was finally take, and it fell crushing some  15 aqra that were rising from the water  near it.. the tail   whipped about a few times, before it  stopped.. Its   head looking  straight  at  Roy...through sightless  eyes.. about  100 yards away...


 word got out   around the fleet, on what would kill the beasts...  Captain Board  berry said there  were  20 or so trying to assault their  beach head, but  naplam  was taking  care of them as well.

  the  remainder of the aqra  were fighting, some of the 'praying Gavas' were killed  by automatic  weapons, though the  Stuart Tanks   would make the  Aqra   pay for that by getting   ground under treads.

  There  were sounds from behind them  as Hack  ,Hennings  Shade  and some troopers     running, the aqra  that were charging  were    being  shot at By HAck  and Hennings   Shade  fired at some, but he was More interested in watching "Lady'  fly over   as the figthers  looked  for  pockets of Aqra they could   shot  without hitting thier own.




 On the Bodies of dead  Aqra, and those  of the livings.. 'horns' blared 3  times, and   what few officers  were left   began to shout to the living   as they  ran back towards the   water... Hack and Henngings     got close  enough to engage in some    Hang to hand  with   rifle butts  and  a crossdraw of a Trench  Knife... One Aqra  Jumped On   Shade  and tried to  Bring  a wavy Blade  Down on the  , now muddy, ambassador.. His Left arm  caught the Aqra's   and held  it..  the  right    hand  grabbed the Aqra's throat, and the fish folk laughed, knocking his throat armor would   protect him from  being choked.. he   never  saw the  top part of the  right  finger  pop op.. but the 'fire  round" Burned through and set the  Aqra's  face on fire  inside the Helmet.


   an Angry shade through the screaming  creature  off him, and sat in the Much..looking at himself and shaking his head.

  As the  ESN troops   chased  the aqra into the water.. grenades  and   Hemsly's  biskets followed.. killing or  wounding a few  from the  concussion..or a lucky  'shot' landing next to them

  Hack  got on his COMs,...Doc Henry?... we  got a speciemen for you here ..better  get to it before  scavangers  do.


  Lexi was gettign out of the POD near  Garrat... Garrat Had mandage  tp take out the front two legs   of  two landing craft and the Troopers   abandoned it to fight..most will killed...

  The  shelling continued... He could here on the cross  talk..


 ..Captain  Merk of the BVA... we  are entering  conflict area...

 two V's  of   blue clad   troopers   were    rounding the  beach and   waves of  fire  as they would    run..fire  and then run again  stop and fire...

 Light blue  bodies  were droping like  wheat...  KArl's  shelling   had all but stopped   the  'fresh' troops  from Getting to the Beach..., and it looked like the aqra  were pulling back as they  dove    or  ran into the water...


 to the west, that beach was  , more or less clear... but  closer to the  south ere were a lot of  Fires  and  broken  vehicles.

Henry came running over, eager not to miss the chance to see an 'Aqra-saur' close up.

Teela took the time to get a good aerial view of the battle as she broke atmo and banked to head to the lake. “LC, 125 has broken atmo and is almost on deck. Where do you need me?” She asked as the lake grew larger. She kept an eye out for high level Aqra fighters as she headed for the AO.

Karl scanned the scene for a moment.  The Aqra had all but abandoned any attempts at coming ashore on the north beach, and the Verian infantry troops brought plenty of fresh firepower...

"Morningstar is expanding our orbit over target...checking the whole lake..."  He adjusted the bank of his turn so the plane started a slow curcle of the entire lake, looking for any signs of enemy activity.  He would end up swinging up around the north end again, of course...

"Call out if any enemy troops are spotted trying to get clear of the water..."  With the range of the artillery pieces mounted to his plane, any area of the lake was potentially a target within a few seconds...

  ..LC..  gather  Your  People and   take a trip over the Mountain,  see if they need  any more strafe  runs over there, they have been at it since  0600...

  Aye Sir, Already done.... anyone has a  ride that beat up..go home, get fixed up... sound off  if you'er  going up...

 Steele  Called  out  and Waggles   Mussete was going  down to  Pick  up  one of the pool pilots  who podded out... his  machine  was    chewed up a  bit.


 there were a few  missing  fighters, no one  seem to want to say  anything  about them..yet

 Steele  took Commanded of the wounded Birds  , they   hovered  around the  beachhead Until the  Pilot was picked up  and they headed  up to the Hermes

  As they flew over the mountain range, they saw  the shells of the   cannons  hang in the air at thier apex, the  fall towards the Ground..below  , smoke  rose  from the shore  where    Vehicles burned  .. 100s...1000s? of Aqra lay on the beach or  floating in the   water... slow  fires  Burned  in the trees  leading  up to the Mountain... aqra 'mountaineers ' we    climbing the   face,  and using trails , but  were   dyign by the handfuls  as  snipers  picked them off. Flame thrower  teams  waited   at spots, to  surprise   them , if they ever got in range...


 to the south   there  were   masses of   armor  crawling  across the    land  to try to sweep around the   southern in, while the Same   was happening to the North... The Bodies   of two of the great beasts  lay  on the Beach.. a  third  one was  making its  way to the foot of the Mountain..


 ..LC  Shadow here.....  I  have  the  battle-able  remains of  my   fighter  wing, we are going to sweep up North and see if about that Armor there./..

 ..Glad  to have  you Shadow. This  Is    Captain Multain od the  Apollo.. I'll call of  My  Fighters  there, and have them Help tpo the South... let me know  when you leave  we'll have Artemis send  down her  Fighter  wing..

 ..Got it..... Shadow  Out...

 to the   Hermes Fighters.....alright.. we do this  by the Numbers   From   Up... My flight  first, then frans.. then each flight  in order... try to torch teh armor, if ytou see  troops, torch them first, these   crab-tanks  aren't going  anywhere.. the more troopers   we kill , the less chance they have  to  ralley  I honestly don't think they are a threat?.. but  we  don't know what they  have   at the Northen tip to link up with...

 Captain Nilsson?..if you  don't  have  anythign  to shell.. fly North, by east... there   is   a bunch opf armor  moving up...  and  by the color of the area.. alot of  troopers..

 .... here we go!   B  flight   dove   down first....  with  Fran's wing waiting  for them to open  fire , before  she dove... and so on down the line.

   the  Tanks  turned thier   turrets  and swiveled heavy Pulse  as they   tried to hit the   FAst moving aircraft.. they managed  a  few  hits on almost every  aircraft... but  armor  was  Dying  with  each flight  that came  down... Katy veered off   just a   Bit   as she  used power  weapons to  chew  Up a clump of  troops...

Urns was toast. His canopy shattering under the impact of her cannon rounds as the Hammer nose dived into the lake below. Feeling the heavy on her starboard side Harry half expected to see a gaping hole in her wing but instead got a close up view of Tommy's arm still clutching the joystick sliding down her wing and leaving a snail trail of blood upon the paintwork before tumbling off to join the rest of him in the lake below. With Urns dead and no targets within the immediate area Harry was able to turn her attention back the the cross talk between Sindy and Shadow including it's fatal conclusion.

A pained whimper was the only sound she made in reaction to her friends death with the blonde pilot proceeding to shut down comms channels until she only had the bare minimum of chatter. A numbing emptiness seemed to slowly envelope her as she slowly circled round trying to make sense of it all as she struggled to process the fact that her friend was gone for good.

With the sky seemingly devoid of fighters only the drudge work remained which she silently performed with a clockwork precision that lacked any of her usual flare and finesse. Though even in her current state she had to admit that she was quietly impressed by the "dragon's" hauling themselves out onto the beach, though not even these Godzilla style monstrosities seemed to make any real impact on the battle as the ESN forces down on the beach opened fire upon them with devastating effect.

When called upon by Shadow to make a pass with the rest of her flight Harry would silently form up and follow Waggles in, firing her Gatling cannon as she came into range whilst keeping a close eye on the things legs and tail. She'd seen enough monster movies to know what happened to the annoying, little aircraft when they got too close. By the way the thing roared and thrashed she supposed her guns must be hurting the thing though it was kind of hard to believe from where she was sitting.

Soon enough however the creatures were dead and the Aqra ground forces from what she could make out were retreating back into the water. Leaving Harry to slowly circle the lake with the rest of her flight as she awaited fresh orders and more importantly tried to keep it together.

   If no one beats him to it, Garrat ends  Lexi...
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:35, Wed 06 June 2018.

   Admiral Hack  and Admiral Hennings, could hardly be told  apart from  other  troopers because of the Muck  and Blue Blood  covering them. They  both looked  pretty happy.

   Herny and some    tech looked  at the  Bronto  sided  beast..  taking  'shield' sized  scales   for  thier  Container,  and    jars of blood samples.

    Supe , Hodden  and  Minnet sat on a  paw, while tucker  kneeled  by the claw, for some Vids  by the embedded  New  folks.

  Shade was Gettign up from the Muck as he watched  Shadow and 'Lady' fly over the Mountain.


……..

  Beth   sent  down a COM...Admiral... a Vid from the  Capitol  city for you?

  Patch it to Admiral Henning's  Omni-com operator...

 the  woman set  up the drop down legs  and   pulled up the screen...

 The    Ape Folk Commander  and Wrk of the Gava were  walking through the  sand, followed by the Nivarian  Commander... there was  fighting    to the North, but  from where they stood, the  fight was being pushed back into the water.


..Admiral  Hack?.. I am  Vessis.... I am  #2 in the  Aqra  ruling class.

 ..you must be very proud, what do you want...

 She  scowled  at  his terse  comment, but continued,... our  grandest Cities    are being   destroyed... 100s, of 1000s  are  dying in the streets and the outlaying   villages..Admiral, they are Not  warriors..They have  offspring.. they are famers....

 Please, Vessis.. get to the part where   i am supposed to care?

 Her   wide  eyes  narrowed,...how can you do this!

 with theses..... he points to   his rifle....and  these... he tilts  the  Cam  up to see the  last of the figthers going over the Mountain.....but, most of all.. These.... and he panned the  Camera  around to see  troops  of  many APF  races... The  brought the Camera  around on Himself  and a Grinning Hennings.

 ..are you as heartless  as the Empire?

 ..not  each.. so far  we havn't  forced  breeding,  eaten prisoners, or served  babies to our leaders?..  we must  not have  evolved that far yet?

 ..You make    sport.. while my people  die..My planet...

 Its  Not your Planet, any longer The Gava  will represent   Aqra in  the  offices  of APF, they are  learning  fast,  and   we have already started to  chip the NAtive Gava here....

 ..You can't just take a Planet!

 I'm thinking  we  are very close... another  day or  two... we already have Colonies   setting up thier  perimeters ... The Gava  , of Course  will have free range... this is their place..many  are  being taught   by tutors, so they can teach others....

 The Aqra  will fight you every  step of the way.... You'll never  drive us from the seas..

 ..you are right?... and  we aren't even going  to try. Some of the LAkes  we will  wipe out  any Aqra, so  the APF  will have   plenty  of water, The rivers    we  will patrol, of  course...  but the  oceans  will be  your Holding Pens

 the realization just struck her....you ..will make us prisoners ... on our own world?

 ..yeah?... I know its  not  as  great as using  you essence  to  subjugate  other races.... and Hunt  down and Kill humanoids  for   sport and food..... But?.. Aqra  will be on the 'shoot on sight' list So?..while  we  will have   water, and will clean  out  lakes  and smaller  rivers, anything you need from the land, you better hope you can get from the Islands  in the oceans... because... you are considered  #2 behind the demons, on the shoot to kill list..

..so?  what are terms  for  surrender?

 Hack laughed,..there  aren't  any As long  as the  APF is  here. your kind  will be hunted down and Killed...there is nothing, in what you have  done, that earn you the  right to mercy.. and that is just the little  we  found out  so far.....

 and?  if   we drive you from this planet by  sheer force of  Numbers...

 ..i don't know how fast your breed...and how  fast you grow... but i will tell you this.... when the Delta Fleet leaves.. there isn't going to be much of an Aqra  threat

  there was a COM  on   Hack's  COM, he opened it..

   Begging your PArdon Admiral , this  is Major Goalsworth of the  Tesla. .. we have  soem 500 Aqra that surrendered...

 well done, but you should have  no Prisoners...

 ..Understood , Admiral..but they  were...begging....

 Begging, Major?..Like the people  put  on feeder  cages  for Avains to   tear chunks off?... or  Begging  Like  woman strapped  to  tables   after  being force to mate.... or..maybe Begging    as some  Kind being taken into an EMpire officer's Mess?

 Vessis  looked appalled  at what  Hack was leading  into.

 ..Hyrians suffered for thier  ways.... but  fought  like   warriors... Now.. we have them on our side..... Nivarians. perhaps   weren't  as   noble, but have  stepped up... Apefolk  have   been seen to be  very Noble, now that they are chipped.. the  Gava's are the very definition of 'underdogs'....  The Aqra have showed  that care not  for the suffering of  others.. and  the Vids  of the Core on Anzio should be  enough to harden the softest heart....

 he   looked at his COM......find whatever , not  functioning   Tank or landing  craft  You have...  jam them with you prisoners... and   Sent them with Scottish Biskets .. and  Have   you shuttles   drop them  over the Capitol  sent the  timers  for  3  Minutes.... weld the doors  such..

 ..I Sir... already Done....

 ..and  Major? In the future.. if they wish to  withdraw into the water..that's  find.... but there will be no more aqra prisoners.

   The Major  salutes  and   HAck looked  at Vessis..where  is  your #1....

 ..He   was  down South  he was preparing to   fly up the Battleships , to over  see the battle, But you chose  to    invade...

 Hack grinned,..yeah..that was pretty neat , Huh?..Like    throwing deep over  a Defensive line that things  they  have you stopped...  Um?.. By the way?  You don't have  any Battleships left.. we have  three.. the rest are destroyed,  we did send  your people  down  wtih some of the Hulks...

 ..They all died.. when the  ships  hit the cities... killign thousands  More...

 ..get  used to it.. this is only Day 2 of the invasion.. as long as we  can see aqra....  we wil shoot, Aqra...
 he reached over  and     shut the vid off himself

"Roger that, LC.  There's not much coming out of the lake, and plenty of armor to shell it to oblivion if it does.  Proceeding north-east..."  The Morningstar peeled smoothly into a looping arc, banking around to give the plane a good field of fire as it came around the northern shoulder of the mountain.

"Ed, I want frag raining on those troopers...target the armor units with the heavy pulse.  Lay it down thick..."  He hadn't even stopped speaking before the pulse cannon opened up, the howitzer delayed a moment by the change to a different magazine.  The thicker atmosphere of Aqra actually lent stability to the Morningstar, providing more resistance against the recoil of the weapons, and the AI adjusted the rate of fire accordingly, although the howitzer was still limited by the process of loading each round.  But the forest below erupted with pulse impacts, and air-burst fragmentation rounds that hailed high-velocity metal fragments on the massed Aqra troopers.  Karl took a look at the Aqra climbing the mountain, assessing whether the defending troops needed additional firepower.

(OOC: Huh...apparently I've missed a post)

It would take Harry several moments to register Shadow's order for those still in air worthy fighters to relocate north and engage enemy armour within area "roger that...heading north" Harry responded in a distracted voice as she moved back into formation and headed for the designated AO.

Once in position she would await B Flights turn to attack before sending her fighter down into a dive and firing her pulse cannons at the enemy infantry on the beach, saving her 37mm for the tank at the end of her run, after which she'd ascend so as to be safely out of small arms range and make ready for her next run.

  Aqra tried to push ahead... when  Karl appeared, Trees    and Bodies  were  Cut down...

 From behind them the  neverending Loop of  fighters  were Strafing  the  harried  Fish Folk... It appreared that the   Division would be  wiped out, but  Missles flew from the  water  of the  battered, near by  city, Blueish Mist  erupted   to spread over the    area... Hiding  the battered Remains of the   Troops.. the Mist Spread,  but covered   from the edge of   Karl's  barrage  to teh Sea.


  Alright Folks.....   On  our  way back.. just strafe the Could.. stay away from it... I imagine its  to cover  a retreat.... One   run, then Head back over the Mountain to  See what the Admiral wants  next..

  Gia  took the   time  to fire  along the    face of the Moutnain that the Aqra  were  trying to scale... Dozens  fell..knocking   dozens more... there is a good  bet she  kill  a lot of troopers, with out hitting one!

  Shadow  would lead the  Fighters  over the ridge  back to the Beach Head...

 ..Shadow, send your people up to the Ship, relod  and rearm... try to get rest..0600 again tomorrow.. if  we need you, will hit the recall... I  think Lyssa's  fighters  HAve  Night over  watch

 O?..and  come pick up a PAckage..Shade's  down here.. he stowed away , when Admiral Hennigns  and I came  down with the   troops and supplies.

Karl growled under his breath at the appearance of the missiles.  "Ed, if you can get a fix, drop HE on the launchers for those missiles..."  He checked screens, himself, looking for some sign of missile launchers at or near the surface, as he muttered, "They're gonna learn that the only way to survive is to keep their heads down and mind their own business..."

 Shadow  frowned   but   chuckled,..Frans?... Take them Up..Tell  Rivets to fix the easy one  first  then work his  way down.. we need Number,  so..easy fixes go first....  he     slowed  and Banked  to   aim for the   Duces..


 ..I'll be up as soon as I Grab  Shade...

  The fighter  came down slowly   and   light thrusters .

  Shadow  Got out , saluting  some  trooper s who  watched Him get out... From the 'holding area , where  Pod Piltos  waited,   two  techs came over....

  ..LC?..  Begging your  Pardon?... But is ...that Lady?

 Shadow  smile d a  sad  smile,..no  PO?  Its  a Hammer  IV  with her  colors....I thought it  would shake them up...


 they   both looked  disappointed... But the  other  PO  held up a Tail  fin Number,we  found this?.. thought you  might  want it...

 a scotched   Red  painted  1A..

 ..Thank you guys.....   afix it to the Skids.. I put it  right  next to Jonny Blu's..

 They grinned  and  went to  work.

  Shadow walked towards the  beach  with his Blaster out, Just in case... a trooper   went  with him to 'show him the way"..

   The   Techs  had   Set up working lights  for Henry and his techs.. Two Burian archers   sat on tope the beast watching the waters.. It was  about that time there were Muffed  Explosion to the South..  plumes of  water  rose from where the Capital rested...


  Hennings  , HAck  and  Shade  sat by a  hot pot, with some kind of  food  cooking.

 Lyri , Roy and others  were around there.  Shadow saluted,  Hack pointed to  a pot of coffee on the Hot Pot.

  Shadow poured it  and broke open packets of sugar and  'milk'... he sat down, and Looked at Shadow, who was covered in Mud  and  some  aqra blood......well?

 Shade  pointed  at  the Admiral  then  at Shadow. The LC  shook his head,..its my fault, he says I told him to watch over the Admirals.....


   Fighters  to  Hanger Dec>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  Shadow looked  at his COM....Admiral HAck?..Teela  wishes to claim the  Hammer  VII

  ..You'er the   WC?... You want it?

 Shadow sips his Coffee.. Shade   is  sitting  on  Poncho that some one gave him, he  ha dthe Hood over his ehad  as the rain started.

 ..not  mine?..I didn't  Bring it  In...

 Hennings  smiles  at Shadow    and nodded his Head.


   Hack  took a bite of   bread that he  dipped in the stew., and  opened his COM,..Captain Morris?..  The LC and  I talked... Give the   Hammer VI to  Teela... its her  kill.....

  Shadow winked  at  The Admiral   as he  sipped his Coffee..now and there  there  were Muzzle  flashed or  grenade  flashes, as   troopers  found   scouts or  snipers    trying to  slip out of the   water

Roy grinned at Shadow.  "I think he had more than that in mind when he got down here...he didn't look all that pleased when I formally assigned him guard duty on Admiral Hack."  He gave Shade a chuckle and a nod, and added, "But he took the assignment and gave it his all.  Can't ask for more than that."

He'd broken down the Barrett and stowed it aboard Stoly's Duce, but he still carried his assault rifle with a ready hand.  "Kinda wish I'd seen the expression on the face of any Aqra troopers that tangled with him...that's a whole lotta trouble for a package that size."

Henry came over.

"It seems that this 'Aqra-saur' is a throwback creature, a relic of earlier days that has survived in the seas, and has been somewhat tamed by the current Aqra. It's probably a bit more intelligent than a cow, probably not quite as much as a dog."

    Admiral Hack Looked over  his shoulder  at the Beast,..I won't lie, I was shocked when it came out of the water....  we must  be hurting them badly, for them to   try to use  these things.

 Admiral Hennings,... Thos e Red   light things on thier  heads?... I guess that has  somethign to  do with them..... Bornberry  said they had  some attack in the South, and  reports say there are some dead  one on the other side of the Mountain?

 Hack Looked at  Henry,do you think this has  somehting to do with  Animal Control?

…………

 Shade   Just Looked at Roy  with green eyes, then went  back to  trying to eat stew... he    made so low  whirls.

 Sorry Shade,No pizzas shops  down here... This is  what  ground folks have to do all the time...

  Shadow finished  his  Coffee, tossing the   wee  bit left into the darkness, Larry   plodded over, he was soak and wet, but clean from rooming in the  water.. he   settled   down between Roy and Shade.

 ..Lets go Buddy, got to get up there be for they stick me  with an Eindecker or something..

 Shade  shook his head  and Pointed to the others, rattling off some   sounds.

 Stopping Shadow turned around and Looked at the Admirals,..he  says he wants to stay and help... that he will go back, when the Admirals go back...

"It's possible, Admiral. Unfortunately the best way to bring them down is to shoot at their heads, so I'm not sure if any devices survived. I'll see what I can find."

He went off and soon was splashing around in the shallows, Mila as ever at his heels.

Screaming down towards the sand, the Bees guns chattered away, chewing any Aqra infantry unfortunate to get in her path. With the amount of devastation the fighters were causing she supposed a joke along the lines of "this is like shooting fish in a barrel" would have been appropriate but to be honest she seriously wasn't feeling it at the moment and so remained silent as she brought up and around into a loop in order to descend another group of unfortunates, completely uncaring of the pitter-patter of small arms firing bouncing off of her armour.

Luckily for the remaining Aqra troops someone had the bright idea of launching a salvo of "smoke" rockets from out of the water that concealed them from view. Why they hadn't simply fired upon the fighters was beyond her as there would have been little they could have done about it this close to the ground. She was also kind of surprised that for an aquatic race that the ocean's weren't littered with ships and submarines with which to bombard the ESN ground forces. Then again having been the dominant species for so long perhaps they hadn't seen the need for a wet navy? Though considering their current situation she suspected they would be rapidly re-thinking this concept as they moved their people to deeper waters where they would be safe from the reign of terror coming from the black.

All the same her job was done for the day and after throwing the cloud a single contemptuous glare Harry would make her ascent back into the black and head for home.

---> Hangar Dec

Mila set up a yapping as she ran out of the water and stood over the head end of one of the Aqra-saurs lying there. Splashing after her, Henry saw that she'd spotted an undamaged head-mounted device, so settled down to examine it closely.

"Good girl, Mila!"

 The    'beacon' on the  Aqrasaur was  as  bi , around, as  wastebarrel.. but   only 2  feet  High..  it had   bolts   on  either  end of the creature's  head.. and  a  cylinder  that went some   10 inches into the creatures'  brain it was  sealed with a  thin Metaglass  cone.

 The Techs    stood  on the  wet sand, or ankle deep water   waiting  for Henry's  orders.

Henry considered the problem from all angles.

"Right... given that the aqra-saur is already dead we cannot hurt it... Can we basically chop the thing's head off and take it back to the lab. You did bring a hoverjack, didn't you?"

 Two of the Tech  ran back to the   Big Ugly to  get a Hoverjack ( they didn't  bring one, but big Uglies   had to have them!)

   As Henry waited  for  the   Jacks  to   Come Back he measured  the   head...

   a little over  3  Feet from jaw bone  to  Jawbone .

   about   5 foot  high  from the bottom of the back  Jaw to the  top of the  forehead.

   6 feet  long  from the tip of the nose  to the  back of the   head...

  Two rows  of teeth.... Sharp , jagged   'alligator'-like teeth.. with a   row  if   Needle - like  teeth   an inch or  so behind  for 'holding'.


  the Eyes  were  2 feet  across, and almost three feet high, with a clear lid, and a  scaled lid.


 It turns out that   Admiral hack as  right to call Henry over,   schools  of  fish, about a foot lonf    were tearing into the carcass  , that was in the water... and  small  football sized   , Crab like creatures   were   starting to come out of the water to   tear into  the   aqua saurs  and    dead aqra.

Henry was beside himself, trying to get pictures and notes of the scavengers as well as attend to the aqra-saur head he'd decided to take.

Garrat walks up to the fire. His big rifle is over his shoulder and he is covered head to foot with blue blood.  His armor is pick- marked but still usable“Good to see you in the muck Abmiral,  I trust you had a an enjoyable morning?”

    Tucker Picked up one of the  Crab-like things.  They have  soft shells,   two , claws  with Blade like  pincers on the   top of the shell, and  two,  'spoon' like  claws  for   digging into carcasses ,  the   mouth was  like that  of a eel.. and  8  walking   legs   carried  the body.... Shrimp like  Tails on the   back.


  ..I wonder if  we  could eat these..Like soft Shell crabs on Earth..or those  small armored   rabbit-things on Astra?

 Supe  shrugged,.. I  don't know if...

 Lirg Grabbed the  think from Tucker   , his maw bit  off the last 2/3s  of the Creatures..it let out a  Squeal  as  brackish  Blood  and such squirted out...

 ..yes..you can  eat them....

 Hack Chuckled     , Hennings  shook his head,..  Aye, SGT Garrat, been a while  since i got to  pull a trigger on the ground.....Still trying to find  a way  to  MAke the Board...and...Commander SI, let me in  the cockpit again...

 Another    set of  Metal fences  were  going   up.. every other post had  a  blue light on.. when the power  would be one, it would turn Red.

 Hennings  laughed,..you'd have to be  In The Black so we wouldn't lose  your Pod...

 Hack raised  an Eyebrow,..you think some one  could shoot me  down?

 ..we should try that.. have a charity thing for   people who lost folks in the war... they can bet  on you or all  comers...  with the winners  getting a small purse, the  the loosing  funds  go to the charity...

 we  might  just do that... when  we get  back to  Fuji
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:56, Thu 07 June 2018.

Roy gave Shadow a nod.  "I told Shade, and Admiral Hack, that we couldn't justify keeping him out of the fight as 'too valuable' when the head of the Delta Fleet was also on the ground."  He shrugged.  "Let him stay.  The fight's pretty much over, but both you and I instructed him to keep watch in the Admiral, and as long as Hack's on the ground, that assignment is still active.  We could reassign it, of course...but I know I like to see a job through to its conclusion."

He looked at Shadow and chuckled grimly.  "And I'd say it runs in the family.  I mean, who was it that decided to go back out on Etna and tangle with a pair of Sanri, after having handled their initial assignment?"  He gave Larry an appreciative thump, as that had been the night that brought the larg to the Hermes, and nodded to Shade.

    Shadow  smiled at Roy,..yeah.. I suppose.. but we were a  bit short on Volunteers  that night...

   crouching  by Shade  he  said, ..You take  care  of them, Commander Si  will   use  us   for  ground target testing  if you don't...

 LAryy Thumped  His Tail.....YOu  watch  after  the  Assault team!...

  The LArg Gave a  Short Howl...

  Shadow   walked through  Camp to  the  Hammer IV.... Will and  a  few other s  stopped him, he talked to them a Bit sharing  a bowl of Stew   , as if he was  really Hunger , he traded  tails  of the  Dog fights  with thier tails of ground  Action,  Then Gave  them a wave .. a few Moments he was    rising into the Air.


  Shadw watching the Hammer  IV  with purple  eyes.

   Garrat shrugs, "It's your job to asses and examine the troops right? you should take time to help Shadow sweat inthe new pilots. And then there are the new fighters that could really use some examination."   Garrat looks out over the battle feild. "These guys built some nice machines themselves if you don't count the unarmored cockpits."

 out of the Shadows  came  two, very dirty, tired lookign Occui...

 ..whether you did it on purpose. Or  Just Blind  Luck. You hit them, where they can  be hurt.

 ..I am  Osk.. this is  my  Mate, and Teammate... Venna he Pointed to the Stew  and  Henning s Nodded  and  made a sweeping gesture to the pot.

 .... you are one of the Coast Watcher  Teams?

 Venna    smiled  sadly  as  Osk handed her  a  tin  and  she  eagerly   dove in...Thank you..i am , so Tired..of eating  fish and  those  Sand-scampers.

 Osk pointed at Lirg ,ya know?...  you'er supposed to boil them in water  for  about  5 minutes...

 Lirg looked over , his Mouth half  full of a  Snad scamper.. two more   and his  hands, as he said   , with a mouthful,..Boil them?...Why? and continued to crunch.


 Osk sat down  and Pointed to the Admirals,one of you  is Hack..right?... I mean.. what other  Admiral  would be on  a hostile  planet?

 Admiral HAck shook his hand, Admiral  Hennings  introduced him self  and pointed  out all teh  assault folks within  range.

  Osk Looks at Garrat,..you got some Toggan in ya?.. the   Giant folk on the othe r end of the Hel system?..... You think fightin' the  Empire is tough?... wait to you fight them...

 Hack waved to Henry to get his  attention ( if possible )... Toggan?

 ..Big Guys..  Red  Haired... Yellow Haired... they believe in some  war gods... They  take planets..lose them, and  take them back again... the good thing?   The  die easy enough.. ships  like Nivar has.. Golden with   stripes of  red... they have   Massive  Metal points.. they  try to ram ships, amidships..  they Fire   the  two , nose  Moutned, hard  ammo  weapons,  and they board..., any ships the Captaur?  they send  back to  thier  home  world  to be studied and sued  For Home defense.. thay have alot of ships there..... we were stationed out that way, Until the Delta Fleet  took Astra.. then   our  people pulled us back to help with Aqra... there were 6 teams.. we are the last ones...

 Venna  slowed  down as  the food   caught  up with her Hunger..The Aqra.. have Never been invaded... they have never... invaded.  They  send out thier people to seduce and Brainwash enemies..  and they become thiers..... so?  the Aqra  Fleet  was  the  24 or so, Battleships  they  had  above... is more for defense... The Bugs   got  crushed  2  times... the LArgran Once.... The demons  set a few  ships  with Avain  support, all were turned aside.... and in the doing? aqra  Captured  1000s of  troops... some were sued  for  breeding..Bugs were Killed  outright... Birds were eaten..Some say  the Demons that went back were in Aqra  control...

 Osk  takes a few  quick  Bites  and  talks  around the dfood  as  Tucker HAnds  them  some Cold soda.

 ..You guys?..  You   just sailed  right Past them.. and  invaded..... How many ships you lose?

 Some  Cap Ships  were damaged, but   thier  picket  ships  were tore to bits.. and they didn't have anything to Flank us  with....  we  split them, Like Nelson at trafugar .. it wasn't even fair..but that's tough...

 ..yeah?.. well ya see?  we  watched  then  beat up them Empire Types...  they tried to stand off, trade off   broadsides?.. them hot and cold weapons  crack the 9  hells out  of  armor if they hit the same place...which? is what they want.. you   landed on the planet?


 ..they have  never  fought a  real battle?   thier wars have   always been below  water.... with rival  nations?... Land was only used to   port troops over,,,, The few Humans that were  kept alive served  as   cannon fodder, but  they have trouble  keeping  humans here.. too many hunters.....

 ....well?   they  are out of luck now..  Humans and Every other APF  race are setting up[ fortifications  for  Colonies.... The Aqra that  survive?.. can Have thier Oceans and some of the LArger lakes.. the rivers  and smaller lakes  will be our, and the  Gava's.. with shoot to Kill on   any Aqra  they see....

   Osk Looked  at Garrat,..those   walking landers  and Tanks?.. Damn good machines... Under  weaponed though..

Roy noticed Shade's gaze, and looked up to note the departing fighter.  He gave Shade a hand clasped on a shoulder and nodded, a little sadly.  "We all miss her.  It's kind of like watching a ghost fly over the field..."

He eyed the approaching Occui warily for a moment, until they were identified...and still didn't totally relax, even after that, but listened attentively to what they were saying, giving a slight nod as they commented on something that he'd either assumed or observed in his limited dealings with the Aqra.

"You think the survivors will pose any sort of serious threat to colonists?" he asked.  The colonies were, no doubt, being planned with an eye toward repulsing attacks, but the chance that the Aqra might mount a serious attack could necessitate more reinforced positions around the bodies of water that hadn't been cleared.

  Shade  just let a  slight  Bleep...

  Osk  nodded to Roy,..You can bet on it. Theya re used to roaming anywhere they want.. The Humans  they  tried to  seed here could never  start real colonies?  The Gaca  are  Just rodents to them... They'll live well enough in the seas... almost any thign the swims  in the water  can me eaten... just a  tip?..if it looks like  a  snake...legs or no legs..kill it...Moblie Toxin machines is what they are..

 Venna  looked at  Tucker  and held out her Cup, he  quickly  filled it  with more stew, and HAnded them both some bread...they will fight.. there wil be raids, both to kill and  'grab food"..The   education you are giving the GAvas will shock the Aqra...But the Aqra  will adjust.. they have   factories under the ocean... some in caverns of the deep sea Mountains...

 Indeed..that is  wht we  asked  for these...

  Osk looked at the   Vid Board...aye?  Admiral. I wondered  about that? You said you would not invade the water?

 no? Us going into the Water would be  like Hitler Going  into stalgrad, or  Napolean .... no?  water this  their  realm..Air..land  and Black is ours...

 ..Then why ask  for currant flows  and such?... if you'er not sailing...

 ..That.. You will  see, around 0800 tomorrow... Hack grinned.

Roy nodded and gave Larry another pat.  "We should see if the Nivarians will spare a few largs for security animals.  Larry's been an unholy terror out there on the battlefield, especially when the Aqra were in areas where there was enough undergrowth to hide him moving.  If shoreside colonies have a few of these on patrol, the Aqra won't be able to send any infantry troops in without suffering massive losses.  If we get some elevated artillery positions strategically placed, they won't have much luck bringing any craft ashore, either...a few guns on top of that mountain can keep a pretty broad stretch of shoreline very hostile to attacking forces, could probably also cover at least one side of the lake from up there."

He shrugged, adding, "Fixed positions will always be vulnerable...but if you're using them as a backup, rather than the primary defense, they're a lot less vulnerable."  He grimaced slightly, and added, "Of course, Admiral Hack may have plenty of other surprises left for the Aqra before we leave any colonies to their own protective measures.  And given the tactical value of Aqra's location, we should probably plan on plenty of additional military presence, beyond the scope of colonial protection."  He paused, then continued, "Not that I think the Demons will ever get a solid chance to try and take Aqra...but they're not the only hostile force out there, and someone new may come along or someone old may decide they're feeling unimportant and it's time to reassert their seniority in the galaxy."

   Admiral  Hack Looked  up  at the  mountain top, some, 1500 feet  high or so. Already the   lights of   Electric  Fences   could be seen going on as  engineers planted them.

  we were  damn Lucky the Aqra  never had  to fight land  battles? Thier  air Corp makes the Nivairan Sundrops  look like panzer tanks.... there  are No installations   on  ant of the targeted Moutnain tops and  we have Guns on them all.....  Comander  Si  said, a view of  the  eastern face of this Mountain  showes  bodies and equipment  laying on the Beach, and the  forst leadign up to the slope  itself  is littered... Lily... and yo have to understahndn Lily's Mind.... she ..'guesses'  some  5000 troops, just in what was in  the Vid... she  flat out said, she  can't be sure how many more, because   they are spread up and down the coast  as they trrie dto Flank the Mountain.

 ..The Naragrans.... Hennings  added,...    if they decide  to have Colonists here.. will be devistating to  the Aqra.... we saw what they were like on that small Green Moon Mountain?.. imagie    roaming the  the swamps and such, looking for Aqra..., or Dropping down, the Mountain on troops trying to scale  it?

 ..Good Point, we'll have to   contact  Mr  Mac, and see  what thier thoughts  are....

 The Nivarian Captain, who stayed  away from the group for the Most part. Capt  Mieo  spoke up...we  may be able to send you as  Many LArgs   as  you wish... Lorts if you wish.... This is  a fine planet. My  People  would flourish here, we do not do well in water?...  but  we need  it as most  species  do... I will Contact the Home world when I left  here to night.

 Hack  smiles  again,..What about the Ape Folk?

 Are   Black  furred Ape   with  dozens of  scars on his  furred  arms, His   enviro  suit  opened to the waist, Lt Divar nodded,I know the APF will frown on us  eating Aqra? but they are a Good  food  source... out  Med techs, have discovered this... we would be Amendable  to  eating only those  who  attack or encrouch  on our  lands?.. The Gava... too..they seem to  enjoy them as well.. but that may be Just, revenge?

 Hennings looked at  Henry who was  having  a good time...and? Lirg who also seemed to be havign a good  time...What are Your  thoughts, Doc?

"Sorry?" said a somewhat distracted Henry.

"What did you want my thoughts on?"

   The Admirals  chuckled,..The  Thoughts    of the Ape  Folk who settle  here, have the right to  eat  any Aqra who attack them or thier   lands that they will stake out

 One of the  Ape-man Halfbreeds   spoke up, though her  voice  was  Husky, it still carried a feminine  tone.

 ..once  LAnds  ar  stakes?... I feel we  should divert the  Mellon Trees exports  , goign to earth.. to here.. as  well as the   Purple fruit  from the  Green Moon of Nivar?   they will help  suck  the moisture from the swamp lands, and  add to the food stuffs  the APF  Colonists can count on... she had  grasses  that had   three Stems   one that went over the  center of her  ehad,  and  two that went  around, since  the  smaller ears  would not work for  'normal' glasses.

"Ah yes, sorry Admiral. Do we class Aqra as sentient beings? That's really our yardstick for whether or not a species may be eaten by other sentient races. We need to decide our ethical stance, or else we cannot go around preaching that Demons or Avians are wrong for eating other sentient races..."

Henry sounded concerned. To his mind, the APF should be taking the moral high ground.

 LT Divar Loos  at Henry,...But if they attack us..and we  Kill them .. can we  eat them then?.... They wil be dead..but still good to eat?

  His  'tech' looked at him and shook her  head,I feel.. that it will be hard to stop, if  squads are in the field?... but at least there  would be no  birthing chambers...

 Venna   clears he r throat, and Looks at Henry,as a Xeno-bio?...  I understand    what  Doc Henry is saying........ The APF  could lessen the impact.. by having     a council session with those  who setttle here?.. but... to be fair..it won't stop the Aqra from grbbaing  and  eating   any of out people who settle here.

    Garrat looks at his com. "That Piggy tech who runs the LG forge ship wants to bring the captured transport down and kidnap some samples of aqra rech.  Maybe she can find a way to usurp their production and build somethiing we can use out of these things.  Are there any transports going up that way?"

  Hennings   pointed with his  coffee ..Big  Uglies  are  comign and Going  every  30 minutes or  so?..  they are  going to supply ships for food  and  ammo....and...Med tech supplies?cup towards  the CP.

   Garrat nods, "If I'm not needed here, I'll use those to get close then call for a lift from a tender or something."  He heads to a big ugly headed for a med ship.  Those were close to the forge ships.

Henry returned Divar's gaze.

"Would you consider it acceptable if Demons confined themselves to eating dead members of your species that hadn't been killed for the pot?"

  Divar's   heavy  brows rose up and down a few times,... If Hunted for  food?..no.... If  they were killed in battle, we have little to say?

 The  Tech,  SGT  Wella, spoke up,  pushing the   center of the thick glasses  back...what my   LT is saying... i think... We cannot  stop them from eating our  Dead.... even trying to stop them from eating   living  people is  not going  well? We  kill those  and end their operations , But tribute is still being sent out  by shiploads, from worlds  and colonies ... I Should thing  an Apefolk Stick of troopers from drop shuttle.. run into a squad of Aqra  and a Battle  ensues , can we deny them the right to spoils of  war?... After  my people were  chipped, we have ceased  raids on the Colonies on  The Delta planests..and  we do not harm  folk on the Bura or Astra?.

 she smiles  a bit  at Henry.. her canines showing ...You will see..Gava  will be alot  like us?  they will not raid  colonies... but..Aqra should pray to thier gods for mercy, not the Gavas  are understanding and learning...1000s of years being prey?... and now they have the  chance to   fight back....

 Hack nods   and says,..Doc  Henry wants thinking people, not to eat.....thinking people. That is  the  Nutshell we   shoved the Gava in, that aided in our  attack on the   inner workings of Anzio....For  SGT Wella's Case?... The Naragran would not be the  savage Hammer  we  weild, if our Enimes  didn't see thier  fellow  disolve before thier eyes?

 Capt   Mieo of the Nivar  chuckles his golden eye  glimmering in the  camp  fire,we have learned to  fear the NAragran fron birht!.... never knowing  when one may drop down.. and  stab you with those   dark spindle  arms, or  web you down..or  Just  snatch you into thier   Pouches?.... We have never  recovered one of out peope from a pouch.. but the sounds we hear, tell us that the death is ...most painful...for us?... the  fact  they have  become ..'people'...allows  us   to have sleep come eaier at night?

 So?.. what is it you are saying, Captain ?

 ..I am saying, perhaps ..spoils of war... are different, that out  right murder and consuming?... and once the  enemy stops  thier   attacks....then more..strict  rules could be laid  down...As a Nivarian?  Not many people  feared us, unless it was in the  space lanes as we  attacked Convoys?..The demons  and  all of the other Empire races..at elast those we know  so far?..have the threat of  forced breeding.. and being foodstuffs...hanging over  their enemies. They are  only now? Learning to fear humans...and that is almost solely the Delta Fleet and its Holdings...But they are rapidly  beginning to fear the Naragran and the Apefolk.   The Sanri have  even Climbed the ladder, now that they have the  ESN/APF  at thier back...Sanri  drop ships, have sent many enemies into retreat? Nivar  has learned to fear  Humans...Aqra, is  just now learning that..while APF races    are heaping respect on  Humans... as represented , By the Delta fleet...

 The  was  soft Thumps in the  Ground as   a muck covered, Blue covered  Verian and  a LT  arrived,..Verians have learned to respect Humans. or fear them, if they are not  ....Blue Verians.

 ..This is  my #2   Lt Cile.. we were told the CP was   here.. so we came to see what   orders  we have  for the Morrow?

 LT Cile  smiled the   'Verian' smile.

 Across the LAke  there were a few flashes of Blue light, as  somethign  tried to  go ashore.. flashes from hard ammo  and  Pulse  rifle light  up  some of  shore..be fore  everything was  quiet again.

around  20:00 hours , ship's time. the rains  came... There   were flashes of  Lighting and thunderous booms.. made  louder  was  the  seemed to be held in the air... by the thick air.


 The  rain was  warm, and  as  the  water  began to Puddle.. , 6 legged 'salamanders' began to  emerge from the   muck.. and eager   hunt  down leeches , and   worms  and such.. from what most  folsk saw , the ranged  from 3 inches  to 9 inches longs.

 Walls  were  set up Near  Henry's  aqra-saur  then Covered   with  Dark Blue  tarp  The Sand was  still damp, but it wasn't  as  bad as setting up in the  muck. a pair of   heavy Pulse guns  were set up at other  end, but the  hot-pots   began to warm and dry the enclosed  area.

 some of the troopers stayed with teh Admiral, some of the assault  force  went back to the Duces

 In addition. a pair of stuart Tanks  set up on either end as both  windbreaks  and   extra  defense.

 Hack frowned  as he  looked over the Vidboard...the germans and the french both made the mistake of attacking in winter... Russia's  winter beat them..not the russians..... we are in the same  state with this much.... The Heavy Panzers can only use the  drylands  or  rocky areas...

 ..to that end, tomorrow's attacks  will help  ensure  our victory..once thst is  done we can set about the Colonies forts  and Power.. I want them to use   solar..wind  and water..but.. to make sure.. we  will be building some  damns...

 Hennings  looked up,..that will  lower  alot of the   water levels  on the bigger  rivers>

 Aye to that, and expose  a few of thier river  cities.. thus, making them retreat to the oceans.. or?..  be forced  to live a life of  being watched  by  the new owners of the planet

Henry and Mila did their best to stay dry, although Henry got soaked darting out to nab a six-legged salamander for his collection!

The Largran Transport comes Streaking into the atmosphere with its fight her escort. Garrat keeps a steady even hand so that the fighters are secure that he isn’t leaving formation. Decent is a bit shaky and till he remembers to close forward to gun parts for the two naval cannons.  Maintaining Formation until specifically dismissed by the fighter pilots he lines up for the landing.

 Alright SGT ... You'er on you own.. i wouldn't  leave  Atmo , with out a n escort....

 the Fighters  Peel Off , takign a    flyover the  broken spires  of the  City, that still ha s smoke  coming  from it...

    another Big UGly came  down from the Support ships.. a few new  troopers  Got Off, Waiting in the rain was  a  fellow with a  Herme s Flight  Jacket  and  ball camp on, the Back of  his  Jacket  had  the Hermes  Winged  Foot.. but his  shoudle3 r  patch had  an Ace of Spades..

 .. Hey!... You must be the New  shuttle jock?... I am LT Stolyarev… you can call me Stoly..... We had a Felrite Pilot  for  the   Diamond what she took some stay rounds  while we  were on the ground... You'll be  flying  that Duce...Lets Go meet the Admiral and ..about half the assault  team.. the other half  is  by the  Duces. you can meet them  when you check out your ride...

"Yes Sir.  Assignments just came in for me"  she stated as she came to attention, and quick salutes.  Her voice obviously female and thick with rough southern drawl.  "Ensign Rutledge, Nicole.  I'll fix it, I'll fly it." she glanced to the one he pointed at, with the gathering group about it.  Then falling in line behind him as being led to the Admiral.  She rechecked her weapons readiness as they walked.

    As the  walked against teh rain,  past  trefoil  of Duces, she could see  some   troops in side  staying  dry, coking things in  'hotpots'..

  ..Normally? You  would have reported to  The Hermes, Seen   Captain Morris and  such..but  we needed  another    shuttle Jock, and the  Admiral  Has  some plans  for the Assault  teams  tomorrow..

  he points to the  Muck.. 6  legged salamanders were in death fight s with  Leeches that looked  like  Hot dogs with  dozens of legs..


  they Approached the Jury Rigged   command  post, the  beach felt   a bit more  solid the   the rest pf the grass land.

 Two  smaller tanks , build to look like   Stuarts  saw on  wither  end.. electric   fences   and been set up  a few  yards  from the water.

  entering the    Canvas, and steel  shelter, Stoly  stood  at Attention and Saluted. Admiral  HAck and  Admiral Hennings   Just waved him off...At Ease, Stoly..  grab some Coffee of tea?... Stew if you want its Hot...

 Then His eyes   went to Nikki..

 Stoly  nodded and reached  for  a Cup and Looked to   Niki to see  if she  care for wither..or both?..Our DUCE  pilot  for the Diamond .. The Felrite  tooks some stray rounds.. she's  up  on Hermes Med tech..

Have a  seat.. grabs somthing, and Tell us about yourself.....

  A Big armed fellow   waved,..I'm Supe..."

 an equally  big armed  woman   waved,..Hodden...

a shorter , but Musckled up  woman,.. Minnet..

 A skinny smalle r  guy by them,..Tucker...

 It went   aroudn to the Gum Chewing  'Shory"...a  young dark  hair SEC trooper   " Will"

 A MAster Chief with SEC and Sniper patches,..Lyri...

A Largran transport had settled onto the beach with AP colors carefully marked on the bow and stern.

A large hairy soldier in heavy armor walks through the doorway “I’m Garrat”

 as  Garrat entered  and introduced himself,  Admiral Hennings  gave  Garrat they, 'what's up' nod    about the  Transport.

 Admiral  Hack was  loking  a  Vids  from the  water currants of Aqra.

 The  two Occui who  were   guests, Nodded to the new woman, and to Garrat on his  return

In reply to aqra (msg # 245):

 Gareth stepped over next to Admiral Hennings and spoke quietly.  “We had a mechanic at the LG had me help her pick it up for some Max and one of the recent battles, they Want to use it to pick up extra equipment and ships To help their bottom line. But I think it can be used in battle with some of our Mac type equipment for quick on and off loads, And then return to the LG to help them with their tasks. It has already helped to repair several attacks from the side of the mothership  with six anti-aircraft cannons per side.“

 Hennings  looked thoughtful,..Aye  then. But make sure you back  by 0600...we have  some  life changing surprises  for the Aqra... and I'm assuming they won't like it.

.......
 Outisde  the  LG Techs  , under the watchful  eye of  Smythe , began to look at the   Junk that was  scattered  about.. lookign  for somethign that might be, mor eor less intact..or even better... abandoned

In reply to Garrat ect (msg # 247):

“I intend to be.  The transport Is built to be amphibious  if that can be of any help.” He pauses “Do you know if I can bar Larry for a little bit, There’s something I want to check out, supplies have gone missing on the transport.”

  Admiral Hennigns shrugged,..I supose?.. But... he  comes  right back here..he is not to leave the planet unless the SM  or Shadow is  with him?... He has proved...rather... Valuable.. The Nivarians are sending more, along with  some Lorts  to  see  what kind of  Havoc  we can  raise  when we  board. or land...

 The    Big Lizard-dog-thing Thimped its  tail up and down,   it  moved to sit up.. causing Shade  to  thump back onto the Shade.. The Little ..Half Verian Looekd  around with dark eyes  as he awoke.

  Captain Merk of the Verian BVA smirked....the Halfbreed  needs  sleep?... It shows  weakness.....

 Shade's eyes    shifted  to Merk as a string of  sounds   came from his mouth  and his eyes flashed  red... Both Merk and His LT seemed  offended  by want he said.

Henry came in dripping wet, with a damp Mila beside him.

"You didn't have to come bug hunting, girl. No shaking in here. Go over there by the tanks."

Looking slightly surprised, the dog trotted off to shake herself well away from everyone else.

"Hi, I'm Henry. Xenobiologist."

Get shakes his head “you are incorrect Captain Mark, shade is evolving to the precise instructions of his mother, it takes much longer to build a custom computer then to buy one of the shelves.  This is what you variance have been doing for centuries when you stamp mature  form on a  new frame.  Shade growing  more powerful every day.  Soon enough he will be stronger than even his grandmother and she knows it.”

Jared heads back to the transport

  Larry  follows Garrat, giving a look  back...

  Merk  and Veran jsut Look at  each other.. the females  still seems  a bit insulted, by whatever it was ,  Shade rattled off.

 The two Occui, Osk and  Venna looked  at Hennings  as  Hack coninues to   move  pics  around his Vidboard,..Admirals?... we would like to ...leave this planet..perhaps  find a spot in the fleet?.... we have been here too long

Garrat pats the Larg on the side and jogs towards the Transport.  He has Larry sniff an afirst aid box they found cleaned out.  “ Hunt but don’t attack “ he tells the creature firmly.

 The Larg  looks   back  at  Garrat,  its  Eyebrows  move  up and down... it begins, to move about.

 about   10 minuyes..  it   growls  savagely as  it    leaps   up at the   ceilign plates.,

In reply to Garrat ect (msg # 254):

“Larry” Garrats Voice cracks like a whip “lie down”

When Larry complies, Garrat kneels next to him and feeds him a piece of leftover meat minding that he doesn’t lose any fingers.  The old soldier looks up at the ceiling.  “Come on down, he won’t disobey orders. I’d hate to have to hunt you down And kill you later. But Larry here is never wrong so I know you’re up there.”

 it is  quiet for a space. Then a Plate    Moves. A  Largran with a wounded  Arm Loos down  at Garrat and Larry.

 A Bubbling   growl  is  heard from  the LArg's  throat.

 ..I...I am...wounded.... I ..cannot   fight... two of  my...comrades.. have  left.. they  are tryign ..to reach the trees...

Roy gave a greeting nod to Nikki when she walked in and was introduced, but otherwise remained silent, content to observe and listen.  When Larry turned to look back, he made a 'go on' gesture.  He had no doubts of he larg being able to take care of itself, and certainly no question that Garrat would watch out for Larry, as well.

He just grinned and shook his head at the exchange between Shade and the Verians.  Plenty of comments came to mind...but not knowing what, exactly, Shade had said, he wasn't sure what to say...he didn't want to minimize Shade's chances to speak for himself, especially against the prejudice of the Verians.

Instead, he turned to the Occui.  "Certainly, with a few colonies spread across the planet, there would be relatively little need for coast-watchers...though the colonists may appreciate having some experience on hand until they get more accustomed to their new homes..."  He looked askance at Admiral Hack.

  Hack   lowered the  Vid Board as Roy spoke up,..I agree, Osk, Venna... if you could teach some of the folks  about ..what is good to eat..what not?.. the  way the  Aqra Hunt... it  would  save alot of Lives?... You can   stay  at a colony.. you don't have to   hide in the hills   any longer... once you get the program  running?..  we can easily, find a place  for you in teh fleet.

 Osk  Nooded, he was a  bit  bummed out, but he  understood.. Venna  looked  sad.

  Shade,,with No  Larg to lean against, just sat there  playing with  a one scoop , fresh cup of stew.

  The    Lady Occui say  by him and Joined him.

  The verians  took the coffee, but   turned thier nose up at the stew,..though we can process it , its not very ...tasty for us...

In reply to Garrat ect (msg # 256):

  “They will die.” Garrett says simply.  He Stands and holds out his arms “ jump, if I meant you harm I would’ve already killed you . We may be able to save them yet.”

  The Largran  rolled out of its hidey Hold,  the  arm was  wounded  from  a Pulse blast.. there  were spells  of  rotted   food and such comign from the Hidey Hole...

 ..we  can  hide, very well is  swamps.... and in forests...The Aqra , out  ..our  allies.

She followed Stoly to the command tent, making note of what was where along the way.  Entering the tent and seeing the Admiral there was rather a shock.  At her rank normally she'd be dealing with a Major, Lt Commander, or lower.  Still times as they were, She'd deal.  As Stoly saluted so did she until recognized.  She passed on the coffee and stew, atleast for now, leaving it for those who have been fighting and needed the energy more than she did.  When asked she spoke directly "Ensign Nicole Rutledge.  Many call me Nikki, though I have picked up the nickname 'Wrench'.  Graduate from OCS, Mechanics School, and Air Support Piloting" she began, an obvious southern drawl.  "From Tennessee hill country.  I can fix it, I can fly it.  This is my first combat mission, Sir.  Anything else you want to know seems to me can wait.  I'd rather deal with the mission at hand Sir. Sows I can live long enough to be a pain in the ass to a few people."  To her having the Admiral know she was one of 8 kids was less important than knowing where on the map grid she needed to the assault ship to.  She also knew it was not him she needed to impress...it was gonna be those in the assault ship she was moving she needed to impress.

As others came and went from the tent she was quiet, observing and figuring alternatives for about every point in her mission, if such was needed

  Admiral Hack Nodded  as Nikki spoke, Then he checked the Time on  his CON  unit.

  Well , at 0600 we'll be having the fighter  wing  come  down, as well as  a whole lot of  Big Uglies from the support ships.. they'll be  bringing  down the last  part of the invasion. If  it doesn't  work like  we hope?... then  we'll have to Shell the   oceans   back to , whatever stone age, fish have

   Stoly Spoke up,  well, Sir. I Promised her a chance to get  to look over her  ride , before she needs to  sack out?

 ..Carry On the , LT, Ensign.... we'll see you in a  few  hours when we have pregame.

 Aye Sir, Already done... he saluted     and left the tent will Nikki.

 The rest of the  assault  crews  inside the shuttles, Tarps   Had  been set Up between the  three to try and Keep folks  dry, but the  muck and mire they sat in  just got worse   by the hour.

 Stoly called out  to them as they Stood Under the  tarps,..Alright   .. Listen up.. this  is Ensign Nicole  Rutledge... she  goign to pilot the Diamond  .. he pointed  out the troops  that were  there  By name, they waved or nodded...

 he led  her into the Diamond   showing her the three  Bubble  Gun staions two of the gunners  were sleeping, the top  bubble gunner was swearing at her gun  rings,  it   kept   catching, and   sticking.....damn thing... how  am i supposed to track  anything if the  damn thing  won't  move!

"Understood, Sir" She saluted and followed Stoly out of the tent and back to the Diamond.  She nodded to the troopers there.

Once there she looked over the ones going in her ship.  She did a quick walk around before going in, noting damage marks and if any were in a critical area.  Then going in she began checking all the internals.  In a bit she'd check it a bit more in depth.  She could hear the top gunners turret making a scraping and catching noise, then the swearing that often followed.

"Did you check the outer O-ring of the main swivel joint?  This being a swamp area it might have salt, silt, and gukk build up under the ring as well.  Pop it totally out and use a sharp edge to scrape it all the way around.  Follow it with a greased rag.  Then wipe the ring clean and pop it back in.  Take about 5 minutes" she suggested.  Not unheard of for grainy sands and fine particles to get under the ring and not just on the outside "Iffen it's still not  working..we'll strip it down to its bolts to find the problem" she looked up at the gun and turret, as well as the gunner.

  The woman  Popped her   head  down,..PO1 Mindy NAce... the  other guys checked theirs  a bit  ago?.. i should have checked  mine then too....  They  get to  stand in thier  Bubbles.. just go side   to side  and Up and down...  I have to do 360  and  Up and  down.. I'll try  Cleaning the rings  again, Ma'am.. he r head  went  Back up.

  we took  some pounding when we kanded.. and  this mornign were  were flat out, defensive   guns..they have a few  Heavy Pust  set up around... but   nothing  shocks the hell out of alines, then being chewed up by hard ammo..

 he  lead her  to the Cockpit, and   showed her  the controls... and the  Firing  trigger on  the  right of her seat.....the  37 MM  will  fire as you pull the  trigger.. it  is  set up like the old Hammer IVs of the  fighter breed?... rumors  coming  down the pike , say  the next gen assault  craft will have  Gating  Cannons  like the  newer  figthers  do..all your  Ammo is topped off.

She followed what he spoke of after shaking the one gunners hand.  "Looks a bit more ..rustic than the simulators they had us work with, how it goes with constant upgrading.  Luckily I can make do." She checked her other gauges. "Okay, ammo, fuel, target systems .." She turned them on to the testing position and ran the quick test "Looks like we can get good locks.  VTOL baffles look good, inertial dampeners good.  Oxygen flow compensating for PSI conditions in the green.  Looks like most of the basics are in working order.  Unless something more critical than a stuck turret bubble comes up we should be good to go. she stated looking over the rest of the panels.  "So we go at 0600.  I assume there is a pilot meeting before hand at 0500, or is there a selected time for pre assault briefing?"

 Stoly  smiles  slightly,.. Mess  at 0400... pregame  at 0500.. the   jump off  from the fleet is  at 0600... we'll know what we  need to know then

 ..Get yourself   rest and be  ready...

She nodded and looked at her own com "We are auto synced, right?" never hurt to check and recheck time.  "Unless there is anything else more critical I'll check with PO Nace and try and get a bit of shut eye.  Shuttle here to Hermes was long and got some sleep, but a bit more won't hurt." She started setting her alarm for 0345.

In reply to Garrat ect (msg # 260):

Missy comes in, “Sgt Garrat, we need you in the Mech.  We have to drag...”

She stares at the Largran “well that explains a lot”

   Troops  assembled in the muck and  Light  rain.  The  Duce  teams  were set up, according  to thier  shuttles

  Had  Had the OminCOM 's  light  up... and  all over the Fleet, the image  flicker on for the pregame.

  ..Greetings, Fellow  shipmates of the Delta Fleet... Today  is the 3rd... and Hopefully..Final date of the Inavsion. Evan as  I spesk, fortifided  Colonies  are being set up around Aqra... for  right now.. they  are Race specfic .  Oucci... Sanri, Nivarians, all have 2.... Hyrians  Have   3.... HUamns  have  4...Ape Folks  have  3..and  the Gava and Naragran will have the run of the planet


 he Looks  around    at the   impacts   artillery is making some centered on the   City..others   seem to  randomly  hit in the water.

 Once  we  get  air traffic goign , the Colonie s  may  mix  and MAtch as they will..This  will not  be a clean victory.. APF  folks will always have to fight Aqra...But..... we are about  to  flip the tables on  the Aqra.....

  Nodding to  the Omnicom and  all channels  opened up...The Aqra  can  now hear everything  I say. Please?  do not think, this is  me asking  for your  surrender... I don't  care..if you  surrender  But...No matte r what  happens in the  next  5 hour s or so.... The Aqra  are Goign to be punished.... and they are going to  die  by the  1000s... The Aqra's  biggest asset, was the ability  to use  thier mating scent, as a way to lure, or brainwash other species... well?.... we cured that.... it  won't  work on  the Delta  Fleet..or  people from the Gamma  and Alpha  Quads... Production  is  well  on the way to  spreading this  to all of out  allies... Even.. the Hillites

 Looking coldly at the screen,..Thanks  to a center   Scientist   we have  found  away to  end the use of your scent... now?.. we are not  quite sure  what  will happen to you as  a result.. I am sure, some  Fish Folk will die to reaction..some  will get sick, of have nasty  side  effects... but ..when it is over... the Aqra will no longer.. have the 'scent"..... some question came up, about  this  putting an end  to your mating?.. Maybe?.. I really don't care.... maybe? You'll have to build  alot of singles  bars, and find   mates the old fashion way..I was  warned... the  substance  may.... make your  race   barren?.... They are not  sure?  and ..its  a chance  i'm willing to take..perhaps..it would be good Karma, that your  race  should   die out from lack of  mating, when   you used  that very tool, to make yourself ..'a power"

 ..So?.. its  Coming..very shortly..maybe 10 years or so from now.. there will be so few  Aqra, that   there can be a peace on this planet.. but   until then..its open season  on Aqra, with no creel Limit.Aqra? That are listening....some of you are gearing  up for your last fight.... even  as a speak, there are places  getting pounded... You will kill some of my people..that..is a  fact of war...but... by the  end of  today's action.. your race  will  be hurting....if i were you..i would spend   time with  my loved ones...or try to hide them in a safe palce... in the end...Its over for Aqra.....

 he motioned for  Beth and the Omincon to cut the outside  channels.....Alight   ...32 more minutes.... The Big Uglies   are Coming  down  with 100 % pure , Anti Aqra  Juice.... They will be loaded onto  the Duces... and You will  deliver them  as  Nodded on the Vid Board you Assult  team leader  will have.. to  cover the deploy of this  weapon.. the  torpedo ships  will be  dropping clauster Bombs set as  depth charges..osme places  on the  Glode  , destroys  are goign to enter  Atmo  and   found the  sea with the Big guns....

 But? That's not  the real Killer...... with those  drums.. are  being delivered  drums  of  Ion Dust. They will be deployed     at  the same points  as the  Anti-Aqra Jucie...  as well as dropped over the major  cities.....its going to kill alot of thier power sources...and.. for better or  worse.. we won't be able to  stop either of these weapons...Aqra... is going back to the stone age..and..when we are  done.. there will be a whole lot less of them...


 Lyri asked,..but?  Admiral.. bagging you pardon Sir?... You just told them to hide.....granted  alot   won't... but...

 ..Indeed, Master Chief...   Now.. Looked  at  slide... 23.... a slide showed up   showing  a flat map of Aqra...even though   the   AAJ won't  hurt  any of our races.... we are  only targeting   the  seas, oceans  and Very large rivers and LAkes..... The Ion dust is  being  dropped  over, or  near  effective   areas of   cities  and such.....

 Supe raised his hands,..but?.. the whole hiding thing?

Ride  PO.... Lets  say you ran into a cave.. took some  Civies form the Hermes in there...what would hapen if the fish folk used  some kinds of gas?

 ..I guess?... it would find us?... maybe be thinned out a bit  as  it   went into the CAve...

 well?..PO.. thier caves  are  ful of water.... they need  water  to  breath  and live... the AAJ, is going to  follow them  right into where ever  they go...

 LT Hirr  spoke up,..how is  this  to be  done?

 ... lok at  slide  24..... thise  red  lines  are  the Major  currents of the  oceans, seas.. rivers   ect ect.... thier  won water.. is going to  do the Job for us...and   ocne  the Ion  dust   sinks   and   settles in on machines... they won't be  able to clean  anythin  in the water....and if they come  out of the water... they get gunned down...and   not  one MArine , or sailor , has to  step into the water to fight.

In flex

Garrat catches the Largran and sets him down gently
(To missy)
   Yep, it does.
(To the Largran)
   This is Missy Jagger, she may smell like bacon but she can sing like an angel, fix things like an evil genius, and out think anyone I’ve met in your alliance.  Hurt her and I’ll have to hurt you For a very long time. Work with her and you will find white EAP is strong enough to sweep all the defenses on Aqra side.  The planet has fallen And the fishhook have retreated to deep water Our orbital ships continue to pound the lakes and seas Destroying everything they have achieved in the history of their civilization. Those woods your friends are running to belong to us, and we have more friends like Larry here to hunt them down.  Personally I have worked with rebels of your kind before and enjoyed it.  I’m probably the only person  on this planet they will run into that does not want to kill them.   What can I tell them to make them come back with me if I find them?”

Moving to LG
This message was last edited by the player at 15:34, Tue 12 June 2018.

 The Club  had  its   cargo, and Took off for the City.. The Hermes   Fighters  circling  around   as the Bombardments stopped( for now).

 Only in  the few places that weren't being  seeded,was  the 9 hells   raining from above.  The Cannons  on the Mountain started  to   fire to the east, which meant the fish were trying to  attack  again... the Big  Uglies  and   Duces  from the Squadron on that side were  just beginning their  runs.


  Lyri Pounded on the wall for Mikki to take the Diamond up...we're  ready!


  Stoly waited for the OK  for the Spade.

 HAck stayed  near the Beach with Hennings  and Shade.. Larry   leaping  aboard  the Spade.

   The Hermes  wing  circled  around the   CP  and waited.. as the  Club took off..  The felrites  and  G  flight  followed them.

   M Flight  and  Fe  Flight   followed  after   The Diamond, that would    be  hovering over the  City...

  B flight  and   C  flight would go off  with The Spade

  A and E  flight   when  to top cover.

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

 Howe  COMed,..Lots of Dark hsapes down there.... looks  like    Troop carrier s and Armorm  settign  up to   attck the Beaches to the  north  , north west and North East of the City...


 Shadow      banked a Bit too look  down,..or?.. those  are  fighters    waiting to take off..

Teela enjoyed getting the feel of a Nova again as it had been some time since her sim and actual flight training. When the LC asked if those were fighters waiting to take off she banked to the side and looked down with her augmented, predator's eyes to see what they were.

  Though the  water  was  clear, by Most standards, it was not the  crystal  water  they had  seen before Bombs   fellw  and fish folk died.

  The  shadows  down below   were not   Rocks  or  fish , for certain.. they were    in  rows  and squares.

  The LC watched  His  screens  and  looked to the  horizons. Trusting Frans    and her people  to   keep a solid  top  cover.

……………………………………………………

  Bornberry  broke though the COMs,Captain Bornberry here.... the  AAJ  is  being  the Deployed, the other Ahents  we  are  drowing  are   having effects.. we can see light s  flickering Below  and  going out?... Unless they are  trying to hide thie r Cities  from us?.... but  we shelled them  2  days in a row?.. they have to know.. we  know where they are...

.. From the   North Western Hemisphere  Captain Esterbrook of the Aries.. its  still Night  over here...  they are sending troops out of the water..  they aren't  making much Head way.. got  some  20,000 Gava   armed  with  long blades and captured Pulse   pistols.... The Sanri shock  troops are   beating   some sections  back to the beaches...It will be  daylight   here in another  4  hours or so... Fighters are starting  to  take to the air...

--->Hangar Dec

Entering the planets atmosphere, Harry would form up around the Spade transport as instructed though after the pounding they'd given them the previous days the Aqran's couldn't have much of an Air force left.

Hearing mention of dark shapes in the water below, she would shift her position slightly in order to get a glimpse of the regimented rows within the water "or it's something new they've just decided to spring on us" Harry said in a pessimistic voice knowing that the her week was going it would be just her luck to encounter the only SAM battery on the entire planet.

   Shadow  watched the   Duces   deploy..Green BArrels of AAJ, dropping out of the  ramps...  followed  by the   rust red barrels of  Ion Dust.


   Fitizs  came on the COMs,..good of you to   let by  kids  fly with yours... Got a Bunch of  new ones  here.

    Nothing of the kind  Fitz..... They are Hermes  Pilot s now... I just spread soem of the  Vets around a bit  to make sure the shuttles  are  protected.

  He  circled  as well... Lookign down at the  are  shaped..Hermes?... I am sending a Tag   down, over ..about the Middle  of some kind of formations ....set  a Torpedo with a timer  for as long  as you can  set it.. and pack it  with  cluster....

 ..Commander  Si here.. One   Double  cluster.. in  5 minutyes.. clear  the   air...

 dipping the nose, he  fired off the tag,,  they called  everyone  to  stay  to the shores..

 6 Minutes later.....should  be breaking Atmo  now... stay safe...


  a few minutes  of   free fall the  massive  weapon hit the  water,  only about  20 yards  off of Shadows  Tag.... and they waited... Once    More  the    ground  shook as Waves   rose  Up, and   rolled towards the Shores.. Shadow  Zipped in  and Looked  down... the batter  was  Black with  silt  and  whatever  else  was being churned.


..   the  waves   were  Rolling over the    sands, pushing  troops backwards  to the Muck and Mire.. Then... towards the   Edges of  the darkness,  Shadow Called into the COMs...


 .. Admiral?... we have     forces Moving   to all shores......

 ..Understtod  LC.. Panzers.. shell the water Until we see  troops  rise ... LC?  Your  People take over   Once you can see them...

 Aye Sir, Already Done!.... Shuttle s  stay on Mission... Fighters   go  above the  Lake ,  we'll   strafe once they begin to rise.

  The  rain of  shells  came from the Panzers  and M3 Staurts  the water  was taking a beating. Bodies  were  tossed into the  air.. extra  explosions

    fighting against the HAil  of HE  and  streams  of  hard ammo, an Impressive.. yet , Pitiful sight  emerged.... Aqra in Battle  armor, and aqra  in Civies... soem carried   only bows.. some giant, sword-like  knives...  Landing  craft  were  coming out of the water.. right next to  civie  Vans...

  The   ground troops  near the Admiral, just shook their ehads, and opened Up... Gavas and Apefolks  attacked savagely.. to the North.. The Verians  calmly   gunned  down anything Aqra.

  A wailing Voice  came on the All COMs,..Admiral Hack!!! Please!..We  did not  know your kind  was  so Formidable !.. Please show us Mercy!...

  HAck   stood next the Hennings, with shade  next to him, they were firing  and  the  shouting   Aqra that charged up on the Beach, even as the Hermes fighters  Dove  down.


 ..but?..had  we  proved  easy to beat?.. it would have been alright  for you to continue to HArvest people?

 ..you do not understand... we  were the stronger.. so  we preyed on them..as  in nature....

 ....really... think about  what you just said.... Goodbye... if you are still alive  at  2000 hours.. COM me  again...

  it looke d bad at firest..  the  Aqra  rose  like ants  from the water, regadless of the Bodies that floated  or  sunk behind them...  the first  fens e Kills scores     and  then scores  more  as they  tried to  tear the fences  down.. a   Troopm carrier  with only 4 legs left  crashed into the  fence.. and the Aqra  surged...


  thee.. the   high pitched  Whine of Novas  came... Sand  Began to   fly  up as Shadow  lead the  First pass .. Fighters  streched  out   on either  shore  Moving North..., They would  back    and Cross over  as they shot up the north  shore, Before   passign   southward  down the   opposite  Beach..

 Lorts  and LArgs  waile d  for them  Aqra  to  approach the second  Fence
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:31, Tue 12 June 2018.

After eating, mission briefing, and loading up, Nikki went quickly ran down the check list and started the Diamond for take off. On coms she tagged the gunners "All gunners, check weapons for rotation." even as she checked the ones she had control of as there was a signal pounding for take off.  Making sure she did not just run rampant over the other ships she called for clearance and began to take the ship up and out to her assigned duty

      after Dumping  some of their Cargo  over the City  they wathed    the  water growing darker  below.. Nikki and Stoly  then followed thier  PAth to the rocky  spring that fed its   way into the Caver , that  served  as the  City's 'back wall"

  As the  shuttle s  dropped    down  facing   north and   south.. with the  lake to the  east.. and  tress  and  such to  the west...

   Lyri Jumped out and COMed,..between us  two.. we have to   pour the AAJ into the   stream as it feeds into  cliff top... AAJ  First... then Ion Dust... every last  drop goes in...

 Ma-Ti  pointed to the  west... a Long Blue Line of  troops slowly makign thier  way across the plain...

 ..alright....  the  Burners  will pour the barrels.. everyone esle    get ready for a Fight.... Shuttles...  we're Gonna need your  Guns...
.. even with a slight  shift.. with Both Noses  poitned towards the   marching  troops.. only the  37 mmm pilot  cannows , the bubble Guns.. and  the port side  Gun on the Diamond... and the starboard on the Spade could  come to bear... It would  take them about  8 minutes to get into   Puls e ridle  range...

 Lyri  laid e  down.. with her  sniper  rifle.. Supe , Minnet and Hodden set up  thier  Heavey  weapons.. Lirg  Stood  with his  sniper  rifle... as  Did Ma-ti.. the  coupe other   smipers    laid  down.. while every one waited.... Lyir  and the Snipers..  fired  quickly.. Lyri was  cold ,  but a smile was on her face with each pulls of the trigger..with  the rising  sun in the  marchign aqra's faces.. they could only guess there was  some troops there, that was  helpign the Big Ugly that  still flaoted above the  city...in 5 more Minutes, they would understand.


  the Brunign  Crews   were    Dumpign AAJ into the  2  foot  wid e stream that fed into the back of the City

Teela let loose a mocking laugh at the ridiculous statement from the Aqra trying to beg for mercy, "If you believe in the strong preying on the weak being the natural order than what is happening now should feel completely normal to you."

She punctuated her statement with multiple blasts from her pulse cannons and lasers, the energy weapons wreaking havoc and causing horrendous burns on the moist flesh of the Aqra.

"Shame your Demon allies hold you all in such low regard but they too believe in the strong praying on the weak so you will find no aid from that quarter."

Her Nova roared overhead and climbed back up for her flight's next pass.

Justin's Nova streak across the battlefield his controlled bursts adding to the death and devistation being wrought by B Flight against the Aqrain formations. Bodies were shredded by both hard rounds and energy pulse that sprang from the Fighters wings; slicing through hundereds of the thousands of attackers who  surged from the water.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:49, Wed 13 June 2018.

Once with in range with the Diamond Nikki opened fire as instructed.  Yes, she heard the pleas of the natives wanting to surrender, but she also heard the Admiral.  Adept at multi-tasking she kept the ship flying as needed and the guns in position.  Until ordered she kept doing her duty.  For the crews outside the shuttle she kept up the cover fire, she wanted to make sure all her crew would make it back.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:38, Wed 13 June 2018.