As the Vid played, Tulliun tried to not act too unsettled by the sight of the bugs and the volume of firepower it took to bring them down. He tried his best to ask pertinent questions while the Vid played, to show that he was trying, and that he wanted to do the most good he could. Not wanting to miss the opportunity for knowledge that he now saw could save his life.
Isn't the logical place to go for whatever counts for a head? He asked as he pointed on the screen to one that was riddled with holes all over.
They don't seem to have much of a uniform build to them, like each one is just a random jumble of limbs sticking out from it.
As the Vid ended, he took a moment to gather himself and let the gravity of the scene sink in.
Well Sgt, it looks like I need to make sure my pistol is ready for this.  Do you know when we will be getting there? I don't want to be caught unprepared.

  Scarlet  said  , while she was looking at  her files, stampign some, shredding others, and  downloading others into  the   PC  files...

  Doc Henry would know alot more?.. I'm just interested in killing them...we need a galactic  sized  boots to step on the whole damn planet.

 Meari watched Tulliun's expressions as he watched the UE vids. He was unsettled but he hung through like a trooper. Meari responded," Yes that is a good place too start or remove their locomotion capabilities, remove their limbs with guns or with melee weapons. Unless you are exceptional at melee I would not engage UE's in it, shoot from a distance the bigger the gun the better. Yes thats why I was a little upset at the decision to stop a potential weapon from disrupting the UE's, Like Scarlet said they need too be stomped out, what was that line from a human movie, nuke the planet from orbit the only way to be sure, I think it is how it goes. I apologize I am still learning the ins and outs of human language."

 Meari ended the vids and when it was all over she smiled and said," What do you have for personnel weapons Tulliun?"

I can hold my own against most of the people who bother me in a fight, but those things are not people, so I'll be doing like you said and letting my gun do the work. I don't have much knowledge to make an educated decision, but I'm going to agree with you ladies, those should just be wiped out, monstrous things that they are. As for my gun, It's an old earth gun that was fixed to fire modern rounds too. The model number is P90, it's a SMG with a very high rate of fire. I usually keep it in the rack behind my seat on the Meadowlark. He stood and lifted the side of his shirt to show the worn grip of a standard issue ESN sidearm tucked in a battered holster hanging from his belt. And then I got this, earned it from an old man when I finished one of my first off-planet deliveries. I know it looks like hell, but it still fires every time I need it to.

He lowered his shirt and put his foot on the seat of the chair he was just in. He then lifts up his pant leg and exposes the hilt to a dull and again, well worn, vampic dagger. Got this from a collector a couple years ago, I can't get the sharpness quite like it was when he gave it to me. But, it still cuts better than most other blades I've had.

He pulled his pant leg back down, put his foot down and dusted off the seat, as a formality. So, you work in here? He tried to sound nonchalant, having had his fill of running around the ship.

Scarlett looks  up as Tullian replies we have  found out , through the course of  this war, that  Hard Ammo , can hurt anything. Pulse  rounds,VS  Lizard and Bug  Cap ships, Armor  and fighters, are repulsed by thier   energy fields?..but if you hit them enough, the energy fields over load..... Bugs  and Lizads   CAp Ships  have hanger bay doors  on  both sides of the Hull...every one else only has them on the Port side...

 Beth walked in,  the other Ladies Saluted, Beth waved it off  and  sat down at her desk....look through the  Vids , or talk to  folks  about the LC  fluing through the  Hanger Decs....twice.... she looked up at  Tullian,That trick earned him a slap across the Face from Captain Si,,the last time were were here....

 As  i was  saying, Hard Ammo is the best, but you need a Pulse backup..90% of the folks use powercell Pulse...but some people use   encapsulated  Pulse rounds..it  helps  with penetration...but? its still limited.

 Meari smiled and replied," Yes I have my shotgun, hard ammo pistol, pulse rifle, capsulated pistol and of course my melee weapons. Having an assortment of weapons at your disposal will make fighting them easier."

 Meari liked Tulliun's assortment of weapons but he was in need of an upgrade in her eyes. Meari then added," You can always go to the QM and request more firepower for a battle, and store the weapon there after combat."

 Meari then replied to Tulliun," Yes I am a member of SEC, we handle security of the ship, we do patrols, and if we are boarded we take the front lines."

Tulliun listened to Scarlett's assessment with intention, so as to absorb the information better.

Tulliun offered a polite chuckle at the story about Shadow pulling some ACE flying maneuvers, and a short guffaw when he heard the Captain slapped him.

It sounds like I should go and get some hard ammo at the very least. I don't want to take good armament from someone who can make the best use of it. I'll just do what I can with what I've got and try not to get anyone killed...on our side. He then turned to leave.

He turned back around at the door, looks at each of the women in turn, Beth, Scarlett, then Meari, Thanks again for this.

----->>>>>to Hanger Dec
This message was last edited by the player at 22:24, Sat 06 Nov 2021.

 Meari smiled at Tulliun and then replied," I think you will do fine, and again welcome to the Hermes."  Meari then got up from the station and said," Welcome back Lt. Morrow, do any of you need my assistance anymore I might go down to the gym and work out a bit."

——> Hangar Dec

Pausing within the door way to SEC in order to check a message she’d just received, it would be clear by the love struck look on Izzy’s face as to who the message was from. It was then that she would recall where she was and would look suitably embarrassed as she entered the room After a quick look around Izzy would walk over to Beth ” Hey Beth we just intercepted this and…well…I didn’t want the enemy to know we had this so thought I’d better bring it to you personally” She said fishing the data stick from out of her pocket and placing it upon the desk ”…it contains a direct communication between the PSN and Olympus…problem is it’s encrypted, I tried cracking it but it’s like one of those Russian Dolls, every time I did anything to the outer layer the inner layers would change so I thought I’d better get you to take a look at it” Izzy explained.

The moment Beth put the drive into her machine she would hear the comms message between governor Frans and the ZU-IS before the encrypted file appeared on screen.

   Beth  waved her over to the  'isolated'  Machine, , there she stuck the  data  stick into the Machine  after a  few tries  and  alot of swearing , the  stick lit  green, and the information began to  release...

  It wasn't a minute into the  info  she stopped it and COMed the Admiral,..Admiral  Hack..... Ensign Sakura  arrived  with  some information between  The  PSN and Olympus... i think you need to hear this

 ,,on my way....

while  waiting  for  The admiral, Maygin  had her head propped up by two hands  with  her elbows on the desk, watching her  screens.

 Scarlet nodded to   Izzy,..how's it going out there?...., if you need to go back, grab  a box of tea  and coffee  for  you guys...

  Meanwhile  Beth was  tapping out   things  on another Machine, screens poppign up  from all over  with confused faces,

Izzy watched as Beth fed the data into an isolated machine and within the space of a few minutes managed to break the encryption ”You’re going to have to teach me how to do that sometime” Izzy quietly said moments before Beth commed the admiral leading Izzy to suspect that she had been right about how important the intel was.

With Beth busy for the time being Izzy would wander over to where Scarlett was, considering her question for a few minutes before replying ”It’s quiet for the most part, you know, it’s just the four of us we all get along, and we’re mainly busy performing our duties…though the quiet seems to have done Harry some good she seems a lot calmer also I think she’s taken a bit of shine to one of the rookies” she replied with a mischievous grin before continuing ”…I’ll probably nip down to the rec dec and pick some stuff up, we’re running low on a few things…maybe even pick up a little treat for us all” she said hoping that a couple of packs of tea would make up for leaving Harry on her own, with her already imagining the teasing she would get upon her return.

 Scarlet snickers a bit,as long as those  rookies  don't  come back broken...we have  enough problems  with transfers  lately.

 Maybin watched the   screens, talking in a  bored  Voice,The LC  and SM  ran  the PSN transfers  through the grinder  in the tunnel runs....in the  end, all the Vicrock folks, and  all the pardise   angels were sent Back to thier Fleet..The Delta Fleet only  kept the Monn Angels...

 The Door  Opened    , The Admirals, Hack, Hennings  and Roles  entered along with Bale  and Captain Si...

  Hack gave    Izzy a look and said,well done, this  might be  what we were looking for... the  he nodded to beth.

 I had to wash it through two Race filters? it might be sketchy, but  we'll get the Gist....

......The  PSN is  to  set up to attack   Olympus and the Colonies on the Jovian moons...we will  fire on the Colonies for 2 minutes or  so...That is  when you, Ambassador , will call out   to ask for a treaty, which the PSN  will, indeed embark on...in the end, the treaty will be  signed  with Olympus  and  The Sol System being considered  allies  to  Tha Paradise  system...and Thus, with the Empire....that would keep Paradise  from  attacking  any Empire allies, so we do not  breech the treaty...

 The rest  was  small talk  about , 'entertaining ' the Admiral with  the  women he is able to   gather up.

 Hennings looked at  Hack   Hack had  an arm around his  waits,  the  other  arm's elbow  rest  on the  arm as the hand  held   The Admiral's  chin.

  well?  That about tears  it, doesn't  it..... Beth? release the hounds....

 ..Now?.....Sir?

  Might  as well... send  the  Pups  out first, then call in the Big Dogs...

   SM Spencer...LC  Shadow, MC  Lyri, please report to  SEC....now.....

  Beth looked at Izzy  as  she moved  to  her Main Computers, and  began to  open up screens on other stations...
  alright, Izzy. a text will come  across the screen when i prompt it.... you will be talking   on 'all COMs' to the Transfers we  sent back...Just the  Angels...no humans will be on that feed..... You are to tell them,  this  'LIGHT THEM UP"

 she points  to   the Enter tab....you'll type ..3..5..1..enter.

  Lyri  walks  into the SEC  first, , Followed  By   Shadow   who was  at a  fast Jog...and then  Roy...

  before  we start the Show?.. Listen to that  Coded  message   ensign Sakura  brought back...

 ...all the gods be damned , I should have offed  him when  i had all those  chances...


 Lyri snorted, the  watched  the   Big screen,  Beth's hands   Moved over her  Main controls   zeroing in on the PSN......something's going to happen.....

 Hennings   smiles   as he watched the screen.... we never make  threats, Master Chief.... we only make promises...

 Roles smiled a bit darkly,..People are going to look back on this  and  say, 'this is  where the war got  crazy"

Shadow frowned,..You know what's going on?

 Hack gave  Shadow and  Amused  smile,ADMIRAL  Roles  is  in on a great many things  , LC...

 there were some   chuckles... they waited for  beth  to get things set.

 Meari was about too leave when Izzy showed she smiled at her and was going too talk too her when Izzy went to Beth and had a data stick for Beth. Meari let everything go down first. She waited and then all the Admirals and Captain Si showed up, Meari listened to the message and wanted to kill all the Paradise Angels.

 After Meari said to Admiral Hack," Admiral Sir I am available if you need me Sir those Paradise Angels need to be taught a lesson."

 Captain Si, raised an eyebrow, as she  said to Meari......Paradise  Angels...and   Ambassador  Frans  are about to ...pay the  fiddler.

 Piper..Ma'am..pay the piper.....

 she looked hard  at  Shadow  who  just shrugged.

Roy listened to the message, and shrugged.  "Pretty sure it was made indelibly clear that the APF will not ally with anyone who claims any sort of allegiance to the Empire.  Zu-Is is throwing his entire homeworld into harm's way with this."

He shook his head, and added, "Be interesting to see if Paradise disavows the PSN once APF forces arrive on the front doorstep..."

   Admiral Hack smiled  a Dark smile  as he looked at Roy,Paradise  is about  to  have no control over what it does... If  ZU-IS is   thinking of his Home system, the PSN  will have to take action. If  ZU-IS is in this for  power or glory, of some sort. He'll stay in  The Sol System...and..depending  on how this  all works out, Beth is about  to plant seeds of distrust, and  we will water that with blood.

 Captain Si clears her throat, her  Brow is furrowed, more in worry, then in anger.Oliver?  if  we do this, there is not  turning back...

 Hennings, Bale  and Roles all turned  to Hack  who gave an downturned  smile, as he pointed to the   screens...I know... But the Moons of Paradise  have  stood by us  since  we  freed them....if we do not  do this, now that we have  evidence., The Paradise   Angels would
 just  invade the Moons.. not only do we need   the Moons resources  and   people, but  we cannot  afford  the Paradise  systems  resources  to  cross the line into the  Empire. Our
 History is full of enemies who banned together to defeat  another enemy...we cannot have the Angels  and demons , both..at out throats..its..in our  History...

 ..and those   who do not learn from History, are doomed to repeat it.

 Captain  Si looked  at Shadow,why...Kray?.. that is very astute!

 Shadow  smiled and pointed to a  recruiting poster on the wall.....it sorta  says it  right there!

 some folks groaned... Lyri patted his back,..don't worry Shadow, you're still pretty....

   The Admiral gave a chuckle, Beth?..Blow the whistle..its  time to kick this off...

  Beth Nodded  to   Izzy...here it comes.... sound  desperate...while at the same time...like you are a hard ass giving  orders...

 The   Screens     flickerd  a bit..one had the heading ' PSN".. the other  heading  nad  man shifting screens that said  'Olympus'

 and  One More   showed  an Angel  Vid show. that was being broadcast  in the Home system.

Izzy would giggle at Scarlett’s comment as she replied ”Oh don’t worry she plays nicely with her toys” Izzy joked knowing that despite her infatuation that Harry was taking her duties as an SEC officer surprisingly seriously. It was then that things became rather chaotic with the arrival of Admiral Hack and several other members of the board who would listen to the message before setting their revenge in motion.

Quickly taking position at the station Beth had indicated, Izzy would listen to what she was to do with her self-consciously running her fingers through her raven black hair as she does so. When it came time to deliver her message to the PSN and Olympus she would do her best to portray the emotion and attitude asked of her, though she didn’t feel that she was all that convincing, delivering her message in the clear and precise voice of someone that was used speaking in front of a camera ”Too long have we lived within the shadow of the boot heel of those that would oppress us because they mistakenly believe themselves to be our betters, too long have we been sold out by own kind as they grasp for yet more power at the expense of those they are supposed to protect…well we are the flames that will dispel the darkness and it is time for all traitors to die…Light them up!” with her message delivered she would anxiously turn to look at the others to see how she had done.

  Beth,  listened Hack and the Board   watched, Shadow sipped on a coffee  next to  Roy and Lyri.

 Hack's eyes  Moved to  Beth and  she said to   Izzy....3..5..1..send....

at that same  time her  fingers hovered over her own keyboard, waiting  for  Izzy to send the trigger  code.

There was a brief look of embarrassment as it was pointed out that she’d forgotten to send the trigger code ”oh sorry” Izzy replied as she quickly typed in 3…5…1 and then hit enter with her then waiting to see what would happen next.

 The  screens that focused on the  PSN, were simple enough, some where   hacked  by  Beth through the buoys in the system...some were feeds of the Colony  vids, that were, more or less, opened  to everyone.

 small flashes  of  light were  seen on some ships,, mostly close to the hanger dec areas  some areas  lit up more, as they must have been more then one transfer in that area...

  Shadow watched,That's not  ther Merc shuttles  blowing up.... he stated, more then asked.

   hack watched  with Grim satisfaction.....no, the  word  was  sent to all the SEC heads, Shory took care if oursleves, since  you and the   SM  were 'enetertaining' our guests.... each  Duffle  back had 10 lbs of C-10 with a COM   wired to it, at the ver  bottom of the Duffle....when the signal was sent, they all went off...unless there was a Malfuntion.

 Bale   said,we would have rather , uncouth to  wire the shuttles of the mercs...

 might have been better, the  shuttles  would have went up  and , might have  taken out a few cap ships

  So... beth and  Sakura let lose the Pups of war... there  wis damage on board the vessels, and alot of  dead  and wounded....damage control is going to be working hard, and  people are going to be trusting each other , over there.

 ..now...its  Time  for the Dogs of war... he nodded to Beth...

beth punched up a  'voice only  screen... This is LT Beth Morrow of the ESN  351 Hermes...the pups   have drawn Blood...loose the hounds....

 there was a think accident, with a  bit of a 'hiss' to it. Thank you LT Morrow, Tell the Admiral  we  shall see him when he comes back this way...

 Beth points  to  the  Paradise  system  screen. The  system  was quiet, Paradise  itself a beautiful, Green , blue  and  yellow... P-2 was  almost all green in the distance  and  P-3 could barley be  scene...

 it stayed like that for  1 minute or two, when the flashing  of light, heralded  Jump Drives.. Skith  Cap ships  appeared... there  weapons  opening up on the   Home  fleet, while  Admiral MU   demanded them to surrender or  Die...


 Two  Paradise Cap ship Vanished  into debris, with in seconds of the   Skith arriving...

 you....brought in the Skith?..what about the Qarl   ?

 The Qarl have been   losing alot of  ground,, Skith are a dead match for thier Jump drives.  and the hard ammo weapons   we  have them the tech for. rip big holes in Qarl ships....plasma, doesn't  take  kindly to hard  ammo shattering   thier containment....and explosions  , just make it worse....The Skith have claimed  about 1/4 of the  qarl  boarder line empire..and have been pushing them back....

 Captain Si looked shaken.My people and the Skith have never been friends.... it took Oliver to bring the Skith into the   APF....now, the recognize the Angel Moons  as Sovreign ..and  now they get to run free in the Paradise system....none saw this... i did not see it, until  Oliver mentioned it at a meeting  dinner  last night. The Skith do not  eat Angels, they will indeed  take prisoners, and mate with them....but there  attacks  will not  be 'bought off' as the  Empire  was.

 Hennings   added  as they sw in the distance, the death of  another vessel...The Empire  will see/hear this  with in the hour.... Skith  knocking on thier back door, while we walk down the front walk?...That is going to cause some worry.

  Hack smiled,Open the newfeeds.. i want to hear them all , tape  anything  you can get from the  PSN  Fleet, or  from the  Home system

  Coming up...... all screens  will have feeds taped, i'll edit out  what don't  want , later.

 CE-Va  came in, have  smilign, have worried   as she had her shoulder CAM  set.....what do you need, Admiral....

  ..you will Contact  ZU-IS  now...... Beth will take over the feeds, to make sure everyone hears....everything...

 CE-VA looked perplexed....what are you going to tell them?

 He winked....The truth.....

 CE-VA worked on getting ZU-IS on screen...he  came on, there  were weapons going off  behind him, he appeared to be  on the Hanger Dec,

 YOU!!!  this is your doing...

 Hack smiled  as  CE-VA  focused on him so the split  screen showed  both leaders.....did I  or did i not, warn you....

 You sent the grand  fleet to clean up a small  system!

 The Same  system that has been kicking the Empire's ass for the  last 5 + years... you failed...

 ..why..why would you do this!

  Hack  held up a recording device..it was a dummy of course,  Beth  funneled the real thing  through the   feeds...This is your talk with Ambassador frans..., for all that was said, you were going to sacrifice a few Human colonies, to make you look like a leader, and frans  as a savior.....but? someone from my side, got your inside feeds.... and  you didn't even know.... and  i warned you...i did...you scoffed, like all our enemies scoff...and now...we come to collect..

 but...my people , how did you trun them against  me!

 They were Loyal to the PSN, and it appears, they returned  and things changed?....all your loyal folks returned ZU-IS..the  ones who stayed  in the fleet, joined us...

 an Angel was gunned down by a Staff SGT  angel was he tried to attack  ZU-IS...ZU-IS looked ready tp weep...I don't understand.....

 Listen......you can get a Naragran to  study my vids, to know what i am saying is true.....We sent back your Loyal people...sometimes there are things  greater, then being loyal to  one person.... we sent this message...

(( he plays Izzy's  voice over ))

 when they received the message...all the explosives they had carried with them, went off..

 they are fighting, on almost, if not all ships, the    Jovian Moons are firing on our ships   well the Home fleet of  Olympus  is sailign to engage us....

 I warned you.... we should have just gunned  down your whole leadership on Etna, as soon as we saw your were  in bed  with lady V...and ZU-IS?  did you see the Feeds from Paradise?

 what?.. no..what..what  could you have possibly done , you're on  the  other side of The Black!

 Allow  me... LT...if you please,,,

 Already Done, Admiral....  and  a  third  screen popped  up, beth  spliced it into the  PSN Grand  Fleet...

  the look of horror appeared   aon any angel with in screen  view.... the impact of the   feed, all but stopped the fighting of Angel on Angel.... The feeds, , with  Beth zooming in  on the squirls  and stripes  of the   Skith  Cap ships....Cap ships that  had   ESN Hard Ammo   cannons  to go with thier  heavy Pulse... surrender lights  were on  many Angel  Cap ships, a few other s  were broken and floating, smoke  drifting into the Black , while fires  ranged  inside.

 what have you done.... our greatest enemy....

 The Skith have been an  Allie, since we  first found  out about Qarl... The  do not take tribute   from you to eat, and experiment on. though, i do here that  they are eager to have   some Angel's  as mates...

 The Empire , should have been you biggest enemy..instead,  you got on your  knees  for them...and  all the gods be damned.. i warned you...i warned you many times..but? Humans   don't get the  respect from our enemies, that we do from our friends.

 There were Angels on thier  knees crying  as the  skith began  to  form up, to  invade the planets....Paradise  Prime  would  be saved for last... The   Blue and red Mon were already capturing vessels  , or destroying those that tried to flee the system.

 Now? all you in the Sol System...you heard the talks with GE-FI..you heard the Talks with Frans.... for the time being, those  Angels we sent  back with explosives, have saved some of your colonies....now..its up  to all of you...you fight  for   earth..or you join the Empire...

 CE-VA  cut the feeds.

 MAygin raised a Hand,Admiral..you made it sound  as if those Angels  you sent  back worked for  us?

 a few months from now, after they   questioned  any  that might still be alive, they will understand , that i told the truth, yet, the  misunderstood, using the actions to color the words...at no time , did  I lie..... I allowed them to  understand  what they would.

 Shadow  chuckled,man there's alot of Angels over there killing each other, and the Vicrock folks. gotta wondering what they are doing

 Admirtal Van Ros  will be here in a few hours   for   the set up of our  counteratack on the    Bugs and Lizards.... Any one  have  any   dcomments or questions...

 Meari watched and listened and when the vids of the Skith attacking the Paradise system put a big smile on her face. She watched as the Angels fought each other, and then ZU-IS was wining and crying like the coward he was. Meari was very happy with this, she smiled and nodded to Admiral Hack.

 Meari loved the fact that the Admiral didnt lie but made it seem those sent back knew they where carrying explosives. Meari loved this and she wanted to kill some Empire bastards as well.

Roy's face didn't appear pleased...but neither did he look dissatisfied with the results.  "I'd wondered where the Skith and Qarl had taken their fight...still don't know, I guess, but it was not somewhere that the Qarl were going to win..."  He'd nodded grimly as Hack talked about the Skith using hard ammo rounds to disrupt the plasma containment of the Qarl...it was exactly the reason he had discouraged anyone operating with him from 'acquiring' any of the Qarl weapons they'd had the chance to recover.  That plasma was powerful stuff, yes...but it was ridiculously unstable and as much or more of a threat to the user as the target, if the target knew what to shoot at.

And the Skith were very good gunners.

"Not going to hold my breath...but there may be some Angels in the PSN who decide this is a good time to take a stand, and realize it's more important to stand for the Angels, as a race, than for the corrupt leadership that's had control of Paradise for so long."  He shrugged, and added, "We can hope.  Like I said, I don't expect it to happen...but opportunism seems to be a very popular trait among the Angels, and this is an opportunity for those frustrated with the status quo to make a change."