One of the stable hands brought Snowball to Sam, she was beautiful and very well taken care of. Sam saw what Madison was doing and she walked up to Snowball, let her smell her hand then pet Snowball on her nose. Snowball seemed to really like Sam. Sam called out," I am going to need one of those stools as well please."

Anxiously biting her lower lip Izzy would cautiously approach Bluebell, watching as Maddy gently stroked her cheek and mane as she spoke to her, with it clear that the rider was more skittish than the horse ”H-hey there Bluebell do…do you want to be friends?” Izzy softly asked as she gingerly reached out to stroke Bluebells cheek. When it became obvious that Bluebell wasn’t going to bite her and really was as friendly as described, Izzy would relax a little as she continued to give the mare some attention ”I’ve never been this close to a horse before…in fact yesterday was the first time I’d seen one in the flesh” Izzy quietly confessed to Maddy before turning her attention back to Bluebell and adding ”…she is lovely though…and not as scary as I first thought” quietly giggling when an equally diminutive Sam likewise pointed out that she would need help getting into the saddle.

 Lizzy saw the handlers get her horse out of the stables as well, Lizzy went up to Lady Red and let her sniff her and then introduced herself to the lovely horse. Lizzy and Lady Red hit off right away and Lizzy was so happy.  Lizzy then got up on her horse with no help and was quite amazed she did. She sat on Lady Red, rubbed her neck and talked to her as they waited for the others.

After Izzy and Sam acquainted themselves with their Bluebell and Snowball, Madison helped Izzy, get into the saddle. She hel the stool steady for Izzy then explained how it was done. "Okay, so grab the saddlehorn here with your left hand. Good. put your left foot in the stirrup. Now, in one big pull and lift, swing your right foot over top." She knew that it took more effort than people usually expected, so when Izzy didn't get at first, Madison was there with the assist. She made sure Izzy was stable, then went over to Sam with the stool.

"Here you go Sam. Same thing. Left hand on the saddlehorn, left foot in the stirrup, then pull and lift with a big leg swing."

Lizzy managed to get herself mounted up, which was great.

Once they were all settled, Madison went over to Skywind, introduced herself, then swung up into the saddle. She could feel the pinto's power between her legs. There was no way this horse was only used to trail riding, but she would be able to keep him under control.

"Okay, we're ready." She called out to the Nivarian. "I can lead if you want."

With the cowbow's assent, Madison walked her horse to the front of the line and followed the dirt track in the corral. As expected, the other three horses followed right in line. "Okay ladies. So with the reins, tug on the right side to turn right, likewise for left. Pull both back to stop. Because this is follow the leader, you really won't have to do anything, so just hold the reins loosely. Avoid pulling them hard and don't slap them. Just enjoy the tour. If you guys want to get fancy later, we'll go back to the rancher and se what we can do."

With that, Madison led them all around the trail several laps so they could get a feel for the horses under them

Roy nodded wordlessly at Shadow's comment, adjusting his approach to come in from a slightly different angle.  Years of training, preceded by more years of spending time out on the land and getting by on his own abilities for extended periods, came to the fore as he barely made more noise than the gentle breeze that was blowing, carefully rolling along the tread of his boots to avoid placing weight down too suddenly and breaking a branch or crushing something that might make a warning noise.  Any animal noises whose absence might have tipped off the Sanri--if they even had the awareness to listen for such things--had gone quiet when the vans pulled into the area.

Roy was looking to come up right on the personnel from the second van, who carried themselves with the cocky assurance that they had control of the whole situation and nothing could possibly go wrong.  It was an attitude that was about to get a sudden, brutal adjustment...

In the same low, non-carrying voice, he growled into his comm, "Flores, when I give the call, go ahead and shoot.  Drop them if you can, hurt them really bad if you can't.  Larry and Stee will make sure they never touch you."  Knowing Shadow could hear the comm message, he glanced over at the LC, to make sure they were both in position.

  Shadow  said...I'm ready.. i got the far van, that has the people in it..say the word

   Larry and Stee  lifted   up, an inch or so off the  forest floor.backs as  flat as a coffee table

 Flores reached into the car, grabbing his bow, the  quiver  stood up in the  seat as she nocked an arrow.

 ...foolish  earth Girl? You think you're  flying sticks  and bring down a snari..

 flores  held the  bow  down, and  smiled,I can hit you  in places  where this  barbed head will do the  Most good.. try me?

 ..i think we have established, that we  will...  and they rushed the   car...its  seems like they waited for a lull in foot traffic  on the 'tree tunnel road.

As soon as the Sanri said, "we will," Roy said, "Do it."  Larry and Stee had orders, they'd go on the visual of the Sanri making any aggressive move.  As Shadow hit the van with the abducted personnel, Roy stepped out from behind the other van, mere feet away from the group there.

The machine pistol chattered out its angry call, sending rounds flying at about mid-thigh height into the crowd, as Roy held the Verian pistol ready to drop anyone who attempted to bring a weapon to bear on any of the Hermes personnel.

 Flores first shaft went straight to the Leader's  right thigh, He Howled in pain as the  Barbed  head, tore into the  flesh of the inner thigh

 Mara   rreached  into the  seat  , Pulign out the  pulse rifle  send ing a  round into the  same Sanri's right top shoulder.

 By  this  time, the Second  leader  had a   shaft in his   left Thigh..You can jerk thsoe out, but i wouldn't  recommend it.

........

 It was  not an Improtant   Thought, as the Largs, who were in their element..  Larry Slammed into the  leader,  tearign off   most of the Left Top arm.

 Stee  slammed into the other   leader, his lower  left  leg separated  at the Knee... the horro-surprised  filled  screams leader  where Joined  with   Roy's  Machine pistol.

  SHadow   Jumped on the Back of the Sanri   Guard/driver , as his  Trneche d   knife  slammed into  the  fellow's throat...

 the  Next Sanri looked    as his comrade   fell gurgling  light blue  Blood, the front of shandow's uniform was  covered. in it, as he   Grinned at the  the other Sanri...Big?..Tall...4 arms? you still only have one neck..
 An Occui turned to shot  at  Shadow, Shadow's  Sanri  Blasted , blew  him to much.

another  Occui pointed at Shadow ...Its  Him!..the pilot  who kills sanri  with knives!

 This  made the  3  Occui who were left   run towards  where the leaders   were getting   torn up.

 The  4 Sanri who were left, from the  First  Van were  getting chewed up   By  roy, teo fellow to the ground grabbing  at  thighs and backs,  while    two other   Dove  Off to the side, as they were Hit, trying to Turn  and    fire at Roy.

The two Sanir left, as the Occui ran away, turned on  Shadow..  Drawing   thier  'daggers'  with Crossdraw's  from the lower  arms.

 This  will  be...Much  Pleasure

awww..give me a break!... they started  to  chase after him  and Shadow    ran, looking  for   some tree were thier size  would be against them.

   Roy  wasn't  sure  which  one   to shoot,  Until  , Freddie   appeared out of the  brush   and began to maul the   right hand side  , Sanri,, ripping into  arms, and  Middle  claws  Shredding  its  waist.


   Homer    hit the three Occui , Like a  Torpedo . the first one  was   being   swallowed if  as he  turned to bite  the Second, The Third was under  the  angry  Larg, getting   crushed  and  clawed.

  Roy would  be the only on to see a pair of green eyes in the Brush, that the  two Male  Largs came  from.

 That left Roy with one wounded  Sanri firing at him... and Shadow with two   blood -kill  Sanri   chasing him..

The two leaders  were dying a slow  death, neither of them had more then two arms  left, while  , insides  were spiling onto the forest floor , after  claws cut through them.

Roy processed it all in an instant, assessing and dismissing threats until there was only one left.  He moved quickly, closing distance, and fired the Verian pistol at the Sanri's head before wheeling to start closing on the pair chasing Shadow, dropping the spent machine pistol on the ground and cross-drawing the other from his opposite hip, before flipping the fire select and sending short bursts at the Sanri legs, aiming low to prevent a stray round that might pass them from hitting Shadow.  Knees were the most vulnerable, yes...but even a tough Sanri would have a hard time running with a .30cal round in a shattered ankle...

  The Verian weapon, left the   sanri with  no head to speak of.

 Frddie  had just finshed  tearing Off  another  amr. and Looked   around.

Homer  finished the Occui/

Stee  and Larry were satisfied , thier  amrks were dead.  Flores  had  another arrow  knkced, Just in case.

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

 With the   Bigger, slightly slower, Sanri  Behind   hi,, Shadow  would   cut    around  boles of trees.

 Shadow was hoping he didn't  find another Nuska. the  trailing Sanri Cried out   as  rounds him his   left leg, and he started to   stumble.   The  Limping Sanri Turned  to   find out who was shooting  at him.

  Shadow  grabbed a tree ,pushing off, while the lead sanri runner was trying to catch up., A smaller   tree  appeared  as   Shadow   grabbed it  was  swung himself  around. when he  came back into the  surprised, Sanri, the   trench knife   drove  in to the   Hilt, of the  Sanri's  chest... ..of course,,the Sanri was moving  rather  fast, and Out weighed  Shadow by some 300 pounds . and they went to the Ground, the Dying  Sanri on top.

  A dark grin on the Sanri's face   as light blue  blood  dripped from his mouth.

 we both die tonight,Braggard...

 Shadow's   sanri was in his Holser.. his   trench knife, in the  Sanri , He was gasping , from the  weight of the  Fellow as his hand  reached   behind his collar, pulling  out a throwing dagger, he smiled. winked, and   drove the   Blade into the  Sanri's  throat, twisting it, and  sawing  it  across the flesh.. as the  alien Gasped  and Gagged.

 ..how many cows   do these guys  eat a day!..Sanri was  covered  in lightblue  blood,, and   having to take, shallow  breaths  because of the ...literal. Dead weight, on him

 Sam took Madison's help as she was able to get onto Snowball. Sam smiled and rubbed her neck and thanked her for letting her ride her.  Sam loved being on Snowball and she was so sweet to Sam.

 Sam saw the others get on their horses, when they were ready Madison led them, then Izzy, then Sam followed Izzy, then Lizzy. Lizzy seemed to get getting on the horse o her own which was great.  Sam was having a blast and riding Snowball felt amazing and Sam kept rubbing her neck.

 Listened to the instructions on the reigns and held them loose while they played follow the leader. " Madison this was a great idea I love Snowball; I might put you in for a Burian medal for this." Sam smiled and just enjoyed her time on Snowball.

 Lizzy had gotten on Lady Red by herself and was very happy she was just tall and athletic enough to get on by herself. Lizzy listened to Madison's instructions and held the reigns loosely as they headed off Lizzy taking the rear.

 Lizzy was having a blast and took to it very easily and very well; Lizzy was having a great time riding Lady Red. " Madison this is awesome, little different then a fighter, but Lady Red is so sweet."

With the aid of a stool Izzy would follow Maddy’s instructions, mentally counting to three before lifting herself up and swinging her leg around, giving Madison a flash of bare thighs as she does so. This however was quickly followed by an alarmed squeak when she got around halfway then started to overbalance only to feel a pair of steadying hands about her waist as Maddy helped her the rest of the way ”Sorry about that” Izzy said in embarrassment, though it wasn’t clear whether she was speaking to Maddy or Bluebell, with the horse turning her head to see what her rider was doing.

After taking a moment to rearrange her skirt the best she could so as not to show off too much leg, Izzy would lean forward to gently pat Bluebells neck as Maddy helped Sam to mount Snowball, with Lizzy meanwhile managing to mount up without any assistance.

Loosely holding the reins she would try to relax as Bluebell followed Maddy’s horse with her clearly having a better idea of what she was doing than the young woman currently on her back.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:22, Thu 10 Nov 2022.

As the limping Sanri turned, and Shadow diverted into the trees, Roy raised the muzzle of his weapon, pausing long enough to take a steady shot, sending a burst of rounds right at the Sanri's shocked face.  Even as he did it, he caught himself thinking, Well, shit...so much for leaving one alive to tell the haunting tale of how they paid for trafficking ESN personnel...  Given that they were all EMS, word would get around fast enough, anyway...

He made sure his target was down...not necessarily dead, but out of action...and then moved to help Shadow.

  There were sounds  from behind  Roy as  Flores, Mara, and Shade ran towards him// Homer and Freddie were  enjoying the feast.

  Larry    ambled over  and Looked at   Shadow ,  ..he snorted.

  yeah yeah..big  funny   joke, someone get this  meat pile off me..

  Shadow   couldn't reach his COM, he   pulled the Sanri's  COM off his  belt, he had to use  only on  hand to set the  message.Hey, Roles?   We   got  some of the problem taken care of.. got a bunch of dead Sanri and  some Occui here..well..they used to be.. they are Larg  chow  now... I'm using the  dead guy's  COM.. I am going to send pics through
 his  contacts , especially of the  Sanri who lost arms.. that should help send some fear for traffickers? You may need to shake the tree to see  if  anymore  fall out.

 How many were there?

 4  Occui..I think 10 Sanri..  we also have two  prisoners,   we're gonna check them out    , if anyone  gets this  dead  guy off me..

 He sends a Pic of  the   dead  Sanri's  face, with  his  throwing   dagger 3/4ths of the way outacross  a jagged   throat cut.

 That's Beskits , we  picked him up on Anzio... when you send those  pics out, make sure i'm on the  stream, so everyone knows..i know.

 Already Done, Admiral Roles...  Shadow shut the  COM off

 Flores  looked at Shade, Shade Bleeped  and motioned to Shadow.

Shadow  frowned...he says  'he did it again'... he means kilign a Sanri with b lades... it happened  just like this... the Guy killed himself I just happened  to have the pointy end   facing out!

Sahdow? Shut up, take the fame, scare the bad guys... she  sends out   COM pics  to  the   Mercs feed from   the COM that Roy  killed.

The track inside the fence line was only a couple hundred meters. It was long enough so that it felt like a good ride wile walking slowly, but not so long that anyone was going to get bored. Madison took them around two full laps. It was a good distance an time to get everyone used to being on the horses.

"Okay ladies. If you all feel comfortable, we can go around again, but I'll speed up to some trotting. It's not much faster, just a bit bouncier. If you don't want to, speak up now. Also, you'll get a bit more.. um.. sensation from the bouncing. If it makes you comfortable, just stand a little in your stirrups. Speak now or forever hold your peace."

Roy snorted softly at Larry's response to Shadow, a vague grin creeping onto his face, which had an almost eerie cast to it because of the grim expression that was set on the rest of his features.  After the comm images were taken care of, Roy looked over at the larg.

"Larry?  Could you assist Shadow with getting that Sanri off his body?  Preferably without getting even MORE blood on him..."

He shook his head as he turned to Flores and Mara.  "Thanks for letting someone know about this.  It's bad enough that we're at war with half the known races in the galaxy...we don't need to help them out by stabbing ourselves in the back."  He began making the rounds, slashing arms to collect the creds on their chips and making sure that the bodies were truly corpses.

"Really, Freddie?" he asked after looking over the body the larg had taken the arm off of.  "You had four choices...six, if you count legs...and you had to eat the one with the chip?"  Despite the somber overtones of his words, his tone was more teasing than upset.

  it  took Larry a couple  minutes  to     pull the   600 lb or so  dead  Body off  of   Shadow., Shadow  fussed   until  they got him  rolled over, so  the LC  could   pull his  blade out of  the chest. the Blade was bend slightly...

 Bastard.... look what he did to my blade.

 Shade Bleeped...Yeah , its  his blood..mines  red..remember...what mande you decide  to  come here with larg reinforcements

 Shade rattled off  noises..

  he said, he thought  we had enough Help , with larry and Stee.., but he didn't trst  the  trasitors. so he came with Freddie and Homer...Dusk agreed  with him..
 he  shoved his bent trench knife in its sheath..lets  find out who the captives are.

 Lizzy was having a blast and as soon and Madison said it was time to increase speed Lizzy responded," Hell yes Madison this is great lets pick up the pace some." Lizzy was all for it, Lizzy and Lady Red were ready.

 Sam was having an absolute blast on Snowball, Sam seemed to really connect with her. Sam got comfortable and got the feel for Snowball as they did the walking too laps. Sam stroked Snowball's neck as much as she could as they went around slow.

 When Madison asked about going faster, Sam leaned forward and said to Snowball," You ready to go faster girl." Snowball gave a happy whiny and then Sam replied to Madison," Snowball and I are ready when you are Madison."

By the time she had got most of the way around the second lap Izzy was starting to relax, finding that most of her initial fears were perhaps unfounded. When Maddy suggested that they try going a little faster Lizzy unsurprisingly was all for it, with Sam likewise saying she was ready as well. Izzy meanwhile would hesitate a moment or two before replying ”um…ok, we could try that” trusting in Bluebell not to go too fast.

As the pace quickened to a trot Izzy would instinctively tighten her grip on the reins just in case Bluebell suddenly got the unlikely desire to suddenly bolt across the paddock at breakneck speed. She would also start to feel some of that “stimulation” that Maddy had mentioned though hadn’t become uncomfortable just yet ”If we ever decide to do this again remind me to wear jeans, ok ladies?” she called out with a smile as they continued around the fence line.

With everyone in agreement, Madison started again around the fence line. So everyone could hear her and to show off a little, she let the horse follow the trail, while she turned completely around in the saddle to face everyone behind her.

"Okay, so I'll get them trotting. If the bouncing is too uncomfortable, you can stand a little in the stirrups. When we start you're gong to have the urge to hang on to something. You can use the saddlehorn for stability. Do NOT pull on the reins. The best thing to do is relax find a rhythm with the movement of the horse. If anyone wants to stop, just yell STOP, and I'll slow it down. First we'll trot, then we can gallop for a short time, then we'll go back to a trot then walk for a bit. Okay?"

After turn back forward, Madison stood in her stirrups and called out "Okay, we're going to trot in 3...2....1...." With a shake of her bridle she got Sky wind to trot. Bluebell, Snowball and Lady Red all followed suit. It was a lot bouncier but not overly fast. If the ladies stayed relaxed the harshness would go away and it would be awesome fun. After trotting for a couple minutes, Madison called out again.

"Okay, time to Gallop! It's going to be bouncier and faster. All the same rules apply. Ready? 3... 2.... 1..." With another shake she kicked it up to a gallop. For beginners, she knew it would be a little scary but oh so fun. Still, it was easy to get shaken and fall off the horse, so she only did that for a few seconds before bringing them back to a trot. After a few seconds of trotting, they were walking. She turned in her saddle again.

"Well, Ladies? What do you think?"

Roy snorted softly at the protestation about the blade.  "Next time, just pull out that hand-cannon you carry and shoot him, instead of trying to use a knife.  Doesn't do you any good to carry that thing on your hip if you don't use it when the occasion arises..." he answered, with a grim smile, as they moved to the van.

"Relax, Hermes Security...we've got you now," he said, as they collected around the van with the abductees.  "Nobody's taking you anywhere you don't want to go..."  He leaned in, deciding it would be better to remove the hoods so that whoever it was could see them and know who was talking, before releasing the bonds.  He didn't want anyone flailing wildly in panic.  With a gentle tug, he pulled up the bags that had been pulled over their heads, until their faces were uncovered, visually assessing their condition as he was doing so to see if anyone had injuries that would need treatment.

  There were two Human woman, both had   some bruising on thier  faces, The looked  scared, they were Both  civies..

  The Blonde  said,I am Villet Ceese..i am from the  earth  tranost, that brough colonists  from Sol system...

 The  Red head  said,I am Misha Van Feres.. My father owns  PowerChem Inc, on  Fuji they took me from a Party in  The Burian captiol

 Flores    jogged over, Roles is here, he  vectored in on the COMs.

 Roles had a  dress uniform on, there  were  4 ESM tropers with  him.Dammit Shadow,  can;t you and Spencer. leave  a place with out finding bodies to stack

   using the Light from his COM, he began  sending names into  his  ship, and  the EMS  SEC  was starting to search quarters, and  round up 'buddies'

  Go ahead   and Go..someplace.. I'll handle this,  Admiral Hennings is on his way as well... damn  Kray..you look like you'er  wearing some old  frech unifro with all that Light blue on you

 yeah..well...they bent  my knife...

 what?

 Flores     Pushed  Shadow towards the    BU,go do your visit, before its  time  to go home  Homer  had  a Sanri head  in his Mouth... Shadow held up a hand... the  SEC  folks watched.

 Now?  Homer?  we don't have enough heads to take back for everyone..so you got to eat it here..or Leave  it here... Homer looked  at Roy thumping his tail.

 Lizzy had a great time and then when they went to the trot se had even more fun, Lizzy held onto the horn on the saddle, and didnt pull on the reigns.  Lizzy enjoyed the trot and had no problem with the vibrations she enjoyed them.

 Lizzy was then very excited after the trot Madison brought them into a Gallop for a little bit and that was when Lizzy had a great time. Lizzy yelled out when they went into the gallop," Hell yes now this is awesome, thanks Madison this is great."

 They then slowed back down to a walk and Lizzy replied to Madison," That was awesome Madison and I had a great time, do we have time for more?"