She  touched his temples as he began to relax....his arms dead weight..his eyes growing heavy.....yes..you are right....a Wisp.....was working the  Computers..wiping the  programs to make the ship useless....but ti started....at the wrong  end...fighting  the engineroom, and the Weapons dec....had you hit the  Life support?...and..the gravity?..the ship would have fell.....

 she nodded, a dark smile on her  face....now?..Yoou will be  asleep..in a moment or two? Youw will forget...all about  the Star..and the ships....the Voice you here...was the Wisp...but..he is now dead....if ever..the thoughts of this ship come to you again...the pain will be great...and you will have to shut it out...now?...go to sleep...and forget...we ever talked....

 as the  helpless Justice  passed into  the darkness, Un-li called on her Coms. Two Angel Bodyguards came through the door. Take him to the Civie section...place him in the park...try to do so with no one seeing you..then return to your posts...

  The Guards  Left with Justice......Un-LI smiled and  washed out the  Glass of Vul.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>from SEC

  Hack  stepped on the Bridge...CO on Dec!

 Hack Looked around,..I want all the doors  to the Bridge  Sealed...No one comes  in Save  Security Chief Spencer, and any he brings  with Him....Lilly? Hook the  Monitors  up with Beth in the SEC Area..


 Si Stood  and Got out of the Command  Chair, HAck explained to her what just happened...at first she was shocked, but then her brow  furrowed  as Anger took its place.

 Let me go Talk...

 No Commander... stray at your post...we'll see who you talk to, after the dust settles...

 He reached  for the  Big Com and  spoke with Roy,..Bridge  secured...Lilly is hooking Monitors up with Beth in the SEC room.

   She looked at her COM and   pointed to the SEC  Panel,..Lock down all empty ambassador  suites... she turned to  HAck,..the Lone  Angel  seems to be headed to Un-Li's...there are  2 other Angel Elite outside her door...

  He Opened the COM to  Spencer...in case you were unsure..it appears the  Angel Elite is heading to  Un-Li's..at least her floor...there are two  Angel Elite  outside her door..if yo have any one free?..have  at elast one take the  Fire service tube..it should,bring them out at the Dead-end area of  the Ambassdor's  level...

Roy's voice came back in response..."I've got all available Security on the Officers' levels covering the elevators or moving in on the Ambassadorial suites...I'll adjust orders and get them more focused, but I'm not sure anyone's in a position to make a shortcut out of a fire-access tube."

  Admiral HAck stood on the Bridge, looking out over Fuji.  There was a Call on the COMs  from FUJI SEC, he Pointed to his quarters and  Lilly transferred the call there...Commander SI entered the  Quarters  as well..Hack put the Message on Speaker COM.

 What have you got, Captain?

Admiral Hack..Cammander Si..first off...my condolences for the lost of your Sister..we are being flooded with Calls  from heaven, demanding to know what happened...I apologize..i sent this information to them, before  contacting you....

 ..Understood  , Captain, please continue...

 ...we cannot be sure, of the  Person't name. But we uncovered  who they were from the Credxit accoutns..can't hide that..and you can't  buy anything without it...

 ..Go on.....

 of  course...an Angel Merc  . going by the  name Prometheus..owned the Merc ship, 'Longarm'...he made money running  guns, attacking   convoys...most times they were enemies..but not all the  time..depends where the Credits came from, I suppose.  At any Rate..we  checked out HAnger  12..a Mull merchant told us about the people  going on board.., there was no mistake they were gearing up for a Hunt...but that HAnger   is  for privateers...we are goig to put  up extra  eyes on that hanger from here on out... there was a pause.

 ..From the   SEC Vid Cams..and the credit transfers...we forwared..the names  we gleened   from information...I am going to bet, that  the familes of those folks are going to be getting a vist from Angel Elite


 Commander Si nodded,That would be normal procedure

 ..The Last BIt of News?..The Angel was a PSI Opts...as was the crewman you lost?... AP SEC and ESN SEC are now rounding up as many as they can find...they have a Code Name of Mother?...it wil be a day or two, before the Angels get  the   information to find out who that is...whoever it is?..seems to have  his/her  finger on the pulse of  PSI OPTS


 HAck shook his head  as he cupped his hand in his chin, his eyes looked up at  Si who spoke into the COMS,...keep the heat on..i want the name of  every dead, or captured PSI OPts to come across my COM...I am sure  the Angels will have a Bounty?

 Aye.....sucks to be PSI OPTS  now..its open season on those freaks, never met one, i could fully trust...


 ..Anything else, CAptain?

 no sir, just wanted to fill you in, Commander SI? You'er added to  the Link for any PSI folks we kill or capture.

 Thank you, Captain, enjoy your day...

 Si looked at HAck, who shook his head,..Lets hit the White SAnds? Last chance for a while...

 Of Course, Oliver...I need some  time away from the ship...

  The Fleet sailed   into the  Black, past Astra, into the Void  Between the Boundries of the Demons...the Delta Sector ( now  part or Earth, and Thus AP)...The Skith..and the fringes of  The Angel's holdings.

  ..Bring Up the Screens  Lilly....

 Aye, Already  done, Commander...

 the Screens popped up , one by one...small screens on the MAin screen on the bridge..each  small screen held the face of the Captain of  a delt a fleet ship...or the Captain of  a Tortuga "privateer fleet' ship...The Skith, the  Occui and the Sanri..just had their flagship CAptain on..they would relay whatever  Messages to their own ships.

  ...As we  sail towards  our next Oblective....you will now..open the First Locked COM mesage Lt Morrow sent you...the Code that will be sent in  a second, will only last 10 seconds....if you fail to open that Locked COM...you must tell us....That COM will give you your  headings  and speed for the next 12 Hours....At that Point in time...YOur will be sent the code, to open the 2nd  Locked  COM... her eyes looked over the screen as she added,..at that point in time, Admiral Hennings...GE-FI and Admiral HAck will begin the the Briefing for what we are about to do....Ready yours hips for  War....Si...out...

 She nodded to Lilly who send a COM ping  down to beth in the SEC  room...from there  Beth sent out the Codes..and activated the timers...

  Lilly  turned to  Commander Si, who sat in the  con Chair...Ma'Am...Skith Commander  on the COMs  for the Admiral...

 Hack stood  by the  Forward window, looking Out into the Black, his hands Clasped  behind him...

 ..PAtch it Through, Beidge speakers only...

 ..Aye...Ma'am..already done...

 Admiral HAck...We have something here..I need to make certain i am following your orders?

 ..The Admiral  Is  here...er.. CAptain Hiok...please  state your  questions?

  Aye, Commander SI..from what i understand..we are to destroy any enemy Vessels we come across, so they cannot  relay account  on the size of the fleet...

 ..That is Correct , Captain...your Question is....

 ..Thus  far  we have destroyed two scout sloops and a Transport..however..there is a demonic  Hospital ship  here...we have Jammed its COMs...do not  know how long  we can continue...My question is..do we board it...do we capture it?..It is marked  as  a Hospital ship...

 ..I do not understand the problem, Captain Hiok? We destroy all enemy Vessels on our  way to our target...

 ...aye..Sir..I wanted to make certain..because it was a Hospital....

   Captain Hiok?....your  people have been fighting the Demons , much longer then mine....if they treated your people, ..the same as they did ours? I have to assume you lost more then a few Hospital ships....We lost farming  Colonies..and  tree Transports  that were carrying noting  but trees.....Captain....We did not start total war...but we are damn well going to wield the same weapons  our  enemy does...they will taste the same bitterness we have...and they will learn..they are not above the treatments  they have dealt out....So?...Good Captain...if you need this to ease your  mind..I give you the order to blow the ship out of the void....I am willing to kill a ship load of demons, if it means I can save   a shipload of AP people...Carry on....

 ...Understood , Admiral... Admiral MU said you would say something to that affect, but allowed me to contact you to make  sure...

 a few seconds of silence....Done  Admiral...

 ..Make sure your tenders  are picking up the  scrap...

 ..Aye  Sir...and thank you...Captain Hiok ..out...

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


  Hack  walked the  floor  in front of the   Bridge  window. A Cupo of fresh coffee in his  hand as he looked out  through the stars....like he was looking  for one special  star.

  Si  sat in the Command chair, watching the  Viewscreen, as  people came to her  with Vid-boards  to be checked.

  Miller  spoke up, Ma'am?... Orion just came on view...ETA...10 hours....

  Very Good  , LT  MIller...steady as she goes...we are making better  time then we thought....Admiral?...Did you hear?

  Hack  Nodded as he smiled , walking briskly to the CON he  Nodded to Lilly...Open COMs to  all the  Fleet, and the ship...Have Beth run the Buffers against outside COMs...

 ..Aye..Admiral..um...already done!

 He waited  for the light  to pop up, telling  him it was secure,..Attention...In 6 hours  we will hold a  PreGAme...This...is   goign to be one of the Biggest Steps In Human History...in the ESN and AP histor..everyone bethere...and  bring questions..should  you need to ask...2 hours  after the Breifing....we will be in battle....Civie Sections  of all ESN Vessels..prepare for battle..including the bUnkers for  expecting mothers  and Children..All Fleet Captains..open your third  Message....set your ehadings  accordingly...Hack..out...

   Garrat steps on to the bridge.  Now the bridge of most star ships is a well oiled machine.  Barring being boarded by the enemy, there is never anyone there who doesn't belong. Everyone has their task, their purpose, and if they can't perform them well, they never make it to the bridge.

   Most people who don't belong to the machine stand out like sore thumbs. Garrat had captained smaller vessels for most of his life, so while he wasn't a part of the bridge there was the feel he belonged there.

   Garrat scans the room then proceeds immediately to a quiet spot where he will be out of the way till Si can have Garrat approach.  His eyes catalog the different officers and their duties.  Making mental notes on their abilities and tendencies and how they work together, how formaly they interacted.  Not for the first time he misses his own ship.  It was small by comparison, but the spirit was certainly the same.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:32, Thu 03 Sept 2015.

 The Guards Stop Garrat, both guards  are SGTs. One of them says something softly into his Collar COM, a minute or two later  the SAme SGT nods to him , to enter.

  As he steps on he  sees the overhang o the Hermes  Blastshiled  and the great front   window,  Many of the forward shisp are in sight, weathe by their shape, or flickering of the  fire of their engines.  a large screens Is  fold up  that would drop down when the blastdoors  are closed,  large screens are on each side of the window, showing a view as if they where side view  windows.

  Si is sitting in the Command chair that is   a few feet highter then the ring of people Monitoring  their own screens.

 Lt Miller is  near the blast window as Pilot, next to her is   the NAv,

  Lilly sits near the   Command chair with a thin head piece on as she  monitors COMs. There are  Two SEC  guards  by  a door  to the fsr side that is  the Admiral , and Si's  private entrance to the Bridge

  there are two LTs who  run the   Forward firing Guns , one on each side of the main window.

 Si is  watching the window as  Lilly  listens to COMS, she waved Garrat over,What can i do  for you, SGT Garrat?

In reply to Commander Si (msg # 162):

   "It was recently discussed with me that I needed to adapt to ESN protocol.  This is difficult as I can't even read ESN protocol as it is not written in my native language.  Beth said she would help me work up some translation software but yyou were mentioned as someone who could help as well.  I don't know a whole lot about earth history with the exception of where Asgard blundered into it and harvested genetic stock from it.  But I do know they angels were there through much of it.  I was wondering if you had the old Toutonic language mapped out from the Germanic regions previous to what were called Ceaser's Golic wars."

   "It became the Einherjer native tongue with most of the first genetic stock coming from that region and time."

 Looking at Garrat with those eyes  that seem to  search what you were thinking, as much as what you were saying. When he finished she propped up his chin  on her hand as the elbow rested on the Command Chair arm.

 ...If there is  any truth in this? Heaven would have it recorded, as well as which side those  people and taken  , when Angels  and Demons crossed swords...as it were.

 ...My Father   is in Command of  Heavan, and does not seemed to inclinded to aid the delta  Fleet.

 she topped a mment when a crewman came and over and handed  her a Vid board, she looked over it  and signed the board, then said, Tell the  Commander of the Teal to slow down Util the   Thor  is able to close with her....Tell them Si said they can alway come back and guard the  Medtech ships, if that is not acceptable...

 Aye..Already done, Commander...

 Looking back to Garrat, Beth is remarkable in her  skills...for a human, she is near god-like. She will have to do , Until i can Contact the Moons...there should be someone there who is able to access that, if...it  is really there to access...

 ..i will warn  you SGT Garrat. Of the people on this ship? Beth is the last one you want to anger...

 ..is there anything esle  i can help you with?

    Garrat looks confused. "First, why would trying to generate a translation software for my language anger Beth?  Second, I'm only seeking records on a language spoken on earth during a certain time period in a certain area.  The Asgard tried to be well clear of any Angel/Demon conflict at the time.  They simply sought out conflicts where the genes were pure and the outside involvement minimal so we could get the fallen and get out of there.

 She nodded,you may not realize this, Mr  Garrat. But wear much closer to Earth, then we are to this ..'asgard' you speak of. The  Asgard we Know, is one of our Mothers ships,and  its  sister ship is the Valhalla...We will do our best to aid you, but you may be better  served, just learning the language.


 her  brow  furrowed as she looked out the   main window..my....father...was  on earth when the people of the north  , mistook angels and Demons  for gods...I..was not...what  written words they have, or may have  had, are stuff od history, your best bet would be to get Dr Christie to see if  he could   call in some favors to send copies...of what they know.

  she  smiled a tiny bit,i have no memory of   'asgard' ships in our histories, unless they withheld  such things? But..that is of no import, as  , if there is  such a place,  they are neither friend , nor foe, so...are no use, or no threat?

  as for Beth? I am simply warning you. Her tasks  are important..perhaps..the most important on the ship...sometimes..she  can get a bit....testy..as they say? I am certain she will help you, especially if the right person asks her?...but she does  concentrate on the  things  that seem to hold the most import?

   Garrat rubs his brow, "Look I don't know where the names came from. I don't really care.  Our enemies destroyed much of our history and we had to piece it together again.  I'm a soldier not a scholar, but I'm not bullheaded enough to think I'm more important than what's going on here.  As you say, Angels were there on earth through everything. I was just hoping that maybe they documented that language while they were running around being Gods and fighting Demons.  It IS my birth tongue, and it IS from earth."

   He switches to English speaking in a strong Germanic accent, and very haltingly "and I HAVE been learning your language, but I have also been going into battle with ESN troops to free your home planet." [switches back to translation] "I'm just asking for help with written language, and that requires more mastery than I'll have for years."

  She straightens   just a bit, the smile  turns into a stern line,...then? You will  be happy with what efforts we are able to provide.What records  of such exist, would be  in Heaven, and of  course  the Valhalla   and the Asgard...but we have not heard  from either ship in decades...they are most likely lost, or in hiding...again?  Dr  Christie may be  able to dig some things up through his  contacts on Earth... but  they will have to contend with what is going on  there, as well.

 ...Now ...SGT Garrat? I think we are done?

In reply to Commander Si (msg # 168):

   Garrat sighs "As it seems...of consequence to you, I'll be happy to discuss what little I know of our history with Midgard at your convenience."  and leaves.

  The Commander Called the Admrial from his Meetings, Entering the Bridge  he  waved off the 'Offcier on Dec'..the Yeoman handed  the Admiral a Vidboard , that had  the same  views in Information that  the Commander's  had.

 ...so, Commander? before i say anything, tell me what you see.....

 ..The Romulus  has Confirmed, The Hades, the Pyrite, and 5 EDT Cruisers, along with the  2 EVOLs cruisers  that left with them...they appear to have  two Creshian Troop carriers, along the lines of  our Transport/bases....


 ..To the   Starboard side , the Argus  has  spotted a Large task force of  LArgrans and creshians Capships..we won't  know until we run the SIGs, but we must assume the remainder of the task force  that was near Zolth, as  joined up with another?

 ..Lastly...there are 2  confirmed Nest Ships  ahead, they are  still powered down , in attempt to stay hidden,, But the   sloops have made Visual confirmation....oddly enough?.. whatever they  are planning, they are leaving The Black behind us  wide open...as if they are giving us  a chance to ....retreat?

  Hack Nodded  and said,..Very Good, that is what i see as well..except  for one thing? There are No support vessels for the Nest Ships..  he looks up at  the  windows, the  "blacked out" stars can be seen now, about as big as a 50 cent piece.

 ...so?..Commander..what theya re saying is this....You can  trun around, and  we'll let you go....or you can attack the Nests, and we'll close in on you....if  we attack either Flank, the other Flank and the Nest ships  fighters   come in from behind....

 She  leans back  in her Chair,...what do we  do?...there  has got to be a 'point of no return'..once we reach  a certain point..they'll attack no matter  what we do?

 ..Come with Me..we  will talk with the board...I know what i want to do, but we'll see what the others have to say....

 Si  stands Up and Motions  for Miller to take the   Command Chair, they she follows Hack tot eh  Offcier's quarters, where the Board is holding court.

 Miller  looks at the   Vidboard the Commander left on the Chair...she slowly mouths  a soft  curse word as she  see all the Red SIGs, along the boarders of the Vid screen.

    Miller's   Voice  came into the  War room...Admiral HAck, We can see them.....


  On mY way.... the  doors hisses open a second later,  HAck  and the rest of the board strode out. Hack stood  By the  Command  chair, that Miller left.  Commander Si  was   getting ready to  Sit down.

  Out the  main windows,  Two  huge  shapes, Circular, Black, Loomed  head..the   closest one  Had  tiny Lights  near a large  yellow  slot. The Hanger  Bay...with fighters  ready for Take Off...

 Hack  had a Grim look, nodded hos  head and pressed the Red Button on the Commander Chair.

  Red Light  began to flash, the    Blast Door s closed over  the windows as the forward Screen Drooped  down to take their place.

  Hack reached  for the ALL COMs RED ALERT....LAUNCH TIME... IN 30..On MY MARK..... he waited for the  minutes to reach :00.....MARK...ALL COMMANDERS...OPEN ORDERS....

  There is  a Call sounded, Captain's  Morris and Rivets... Chief Morgan...LC Shadow... SGT MAJ Spencer, Master  Chief Mullins Please  report to the Bridge...that is all


 Shorty..Morris, Rivets   , followed By Shadow.. Lyri  comes up with  Spencer.


  they are  ushered tot eh war room, where  a Holographic  display of the Hillite  system is.... the Board is there, along   with  the Commander of the Sandstone, LT Cora  Minn, and   3 civies dressed in the uniform of   O'Higgens' merchants. ( a Large 'O' with a 4 leaf clover inside)

  When  all were  in,  MIller  was the Last one is. the doors  shut.

  Good...now that we are all hear, i will start. first,. The board  has met theses folks,  I will introduce them to you, who have  just arrived.

  These  folks  are part of the survivors of  Kevin O'Higgens' ship...The Big Package...it was taken about  12 hours ago.... and only  about 12  hours after  an earlier  attack that was show on the Vids....

  This is Captain Lissa Murphey...Lt Nil Liam...and Seaman Connor   Kiln...  .. The LT there is Cora Minn , the Commander of the  ESN Sandstone.

 the admiral introduces  everyone and explains that Miller is here, ion case she  has to  take the Con during the action.

 Everyone greets everyone, Lt Minn seems less-then-happy to see Shadow.

 ..another Fan of yours?

 Shadow  does his halfsmile,yeah...they're  all over...you can't swing a dead felrite with out hitting one...
 Lyri tried  not to Laugh, Hack looked over at them Both..Something you would like to Share...LC?

 he  cleared  his throat, and   straightened a bit,..Oh?..No Sir, Admiral.. i was  just wondering, what this has to do with  the fleet?

 ..That? LC  Shadow is a very good  question.... The fllet is in the beat Quad  for  one reason..to start taking out the trash, and  eliminating Vermin.... I was prepared to go in and just start shooting... it would make  us look a tad, bad..but? with the treaty signed, most folks would   think they know why....But now?..Our Good friends  on Hillite..have handed us the sledgehammer, to start crushing  the ir  homeworlds.

 So? instead of being  bad  guys  doing bads  stuff to bad  people...we will be good guys, doing bad stuff, to bad people...

 Minns  rolled her   eyes and  snickered.

 something  funny?..Lt?

 she waves  a hand at Shadow   and says,words like this, Admiral  Sir, are what makes us look less then professional!

 The Admiral  shrugged,Agreed LT Minn. But... when you have killed  and many of the ...'bad guys' ... as the LC? YOu may scoff..until then..try to learn something...

 She  Nodded  and   took a step backwards, her face red.

  Now?  Captain Murphey?  If you please.....

Roy managed to keep himself quiet at Lt. Minns' statement...but anyone looking his direction could see an expression somewhere between disgust and amusement on his face, and it wasn't hard to see him rolling his eyes.  Unless called upon it, however, he held his peace.  He was curious to see just what the Admiral had in mind, and whether it would involve standard boarding operations or some kind of more direct ground work.

   The red HAired  woman  moved to  the 'crew's side of the projection and  said...We have   3  planest that the Hillites call Home..they  narrowed  the names  down..in thier way...H1...H2...H3...not very exciting   names? but it is somethiong   you would expect from the likes  of these  gobshites!

 Now?  You'er  a noticin' the H1 is a wee bit hotter then the other  2? We ain't got the truth of it? But the eggheads are sayin' they Greenhoused themselves.. now? only Miners and such live there..  one year on, one eyar off... 'ceptin' fer the slaves  who go there..and say  unitl thier  dead, altogether...

  Now...this  was  leavin' us  with a bit of a quandry... which of the other  2  have   O'Higgens  ? Most like, be either one... but  we'd be beatin' on the wrong door?..and the  cat would  run out the other house?

 Rivets was  smiling nodding His head...Morris was  looking at Hack who had an amused smile on his  face.. Miller  seemed to get the gist..Shadow...was...Shadow...  Lyri just furrowed her  brow,damn translater  chip must be broke...
 she whispered to Spencer.

  But the  boss... surein' he's a bright one... Had Conner   tag the   hull in 5 differant places... Them Blue bastards  might be findin' one or two...but they ain't gonna  find all 5

 Shadow spoke Up,..so? you are  saying   we can track them?

 Rivets Elbow  caught  Kray in the Ribs,..Ye  let the wee Lass have  her   say Laddie, Don't be fergettin' yer manners...

  LT Minn laughed... Murphey  smiles and Fluttered her eyelashes at Rivets,..well..shor'n its 's  a bright t day to see a Man of the sod?... how  about  ye be takin'  the new  girl ta' get a drink after the   we fill these folks with a wee bit of Knowledge?

 Rivets  took off his  crumpled hat,be my pleasure...Lass... we have  a few good places  ta drink here...

 Hack cleared his throat. Lissa turned away with a  grand smile and  finished up.

 ... so... the Sandstone tracked  The Big Package  to H3..but lost it  before  they could lock on.... The admiral here  says  ye got a LAss  who can find sheep's fur in a blizzed..so's we're here ta see...

 ..Thank you  Captain Murphey..... beth will   find it..... Now..SGT MAJ Spencer?  we will be using the   3  new  shuttles to take   assault teams down, to break in and free O'Higgens and any other   prisoners we can find... as   always  we  will be dropping    Transports with armor and troops to draw attentions away from the  spot the Shuttles  are coming  in.... we will also have  a Big Ugly load the mechs  and take them down... i'm not risking our  assault   shuttles with the mechs

 LC.. Most of the  fleet fighters  will be in the Balck, harrassing  any enemy aricraft and CAp ships we encounter... and..we  will encounter them... these folks will not  just sit  by and watch us.....but?..this is a good test.... we will see how well  thier  'allies" support them....

 ..Shadow? I want h
Hermes  fighters  escorting the  Shuttles and the Big Ugly down..   I want  Capt  Nilsson to  bring down the Morningstar as well......we don't know   quite what were attacking yet...but  we'll know  as soon as   Beth gets the tag nailed down

  you are  all dismissed... we'll have  Pregame  as soon as  we figure what we're up against..


   Murphey  turns  and grabs Rivets' arm,..so?... where's yer  quarters?     Rivets  just grinned   and the two were Gone.

 ..LC..if you Please? escort Lt Liam, Seaman  Kiln and LT Minn to the  rec Dec  for some  relaxation while we wait...

 Shadow  tried not to frown,Already Done sir....

At Lyri's whisper to him, Roy gave a distracted grin.  "You mean you didn't understand that?  Made sense to me.  Must be operator error or something..." he responded in a low murmur, to avoid distracting from the information they were getting.

When Hack started laying out the plans, Roy nodded...three shuttles, that meant three different squads.  He would have one...much as he hated to do it, Lyri was the natural choice for the second, but he'd leave it up to her to decide...it wasn't as if he had a lack of choices, really.  And the third...well, he'd still heard nothing official, but Garrat had mentioned being considered for a leadership position in the crew.  This might be what he was talking about...

He decided it would be wise to ask...but he'd wait for the briefing to end and the others to file out.  He caught Shadow's unenthused look at being told to take Lt. Minns with him...maybe, after clarifying the shuttle crew leads, he could follow them down to the Rec Deck and bail Shadow out a bit...

As the meeting broke up, Roy stood, and walked to Commander Si.  "A question, Commander...did you have specific personnel in mind for leading the shuttle crews?  I'm assuming, since I'm here, that you intended me to lead one of them...what about the other two?"

    Truning and Smiling in her 'angel perfect way',..Ah..Yes, SGT MAJ... Oilver feels  You and the MAster Chief  will each take a crew, and...after a Talk with SGT GArrat... he feels, perhaps..it's  best to give him one last shot. at a team lead.

 she   flips through the Vid Board,..the  Washington Carver will provide  a transport to  take the Mechs  with thier  squad of Troopers  down..then it  will return to  Orbit... and come down for them on recall..that's  all I have  for the Moment SGT MAJ. The rest we will hear in Pre-game..as the Admiral Calls it...