Teela leaned against the wall but away from the vents as the Chief had instructed. "What if I could do something about getting you in a cockpit again? You'd be ESN so your merc days would be over but you'd get the chance to stop Demons and their allies, including humans, from eating human children. You're a good pilot so if you can be trusted I might be able to make things happen for you. No promise besides me trying but I will try."

   The  woman smiled a bit sadly,..Bless your littl' Angel Heart, do you really think they would trust me in a fighter  aircraft..I would Love to Fly... it took  alot of Dirty tricks  and lost of pride to get in a Red Bird....

 ..Sindy gave me a chance... She had to buy her way in with bodies.. but she looked for people  Like me....

"We've taken in SSN members and integrated them into the fleet so I can ask. I expect the LC and Admiral will want to spend time with you first. What rank did you hold in the SSN?" She really hoped Dixie didn't know of, or partake in, the feasting rituals.

..I was an LT?... I mean you had to be an LT before you could be a Head Hunter..


 ..not Much room for  advancement, after that Sindy was  working at it.. Next time she was on EArth  she said  she would have it made.....Guess your  LC, put a bit of  cold water on that camp fire...

"He did and then we put cold water on the rest of SSN's 1st fleet. Strategists they were not. I'm going to head off and get out of this flight suit and relax. I'll either come to talk with you again or the LC will but I'll ask him. See you soon, Dixie."

With that she left to head to her quarters and a shower.


[To Quarters]

<<<<<< from Rec Dec Justin's party before Anzio

  Walking  down  to the the Brig, The Chief  salutes   Shadow, and the  door opens, then the Barred  door to  Dizie's area of the Brig.

 ..It is not lost on me... that  i could have been here, more then a few times...I have also kept a few folks out of here... and Lived to regret it.

 He  Looks at Teela,..If she leaves here  with  us,  I won't live to regret it...the problem will be  fixed as fast, and as nasty  as it can be...

 Then he waves her  forward,..you start.

"Remember what I said when I suggested this in the first place? I meant it." She said before walking over to Dixie's cell. "Dixie, I spoke to the LC about you and he went up the chain of command. We're willing to entertain the notion of you joining the ESN and flying with us but we need some answers first.

Are you willing to put aside your former life as a mercenary and pledge to take the battle against the Empire and their supporters?"

  Dixie   stood up, Lookign at Teela..Well, Sugar? If it means getting into the cockpit again... You bet them  little ole  feathers of yours...

  Then her Smile went  away as  Shadow stepped in, It was the Shadow of the Rec Dec, it was the Shadow of  Delta Night...now  see?.. That's not what she asked...was it?  Right  now?..Merc  or Not.. you are a traitor , flyign under   your own colors  , to be sure..but..aiding the enemy... and  if..somehow... there would be a loop hole to stop you from taking the long  walk for that?... There is not Loop hole for finding you dead.

 She stepped  back a space,..LC?  I...  I  mean.. what are you implying ?


 ..Nothing.. i'm layign it  out there...if you don't want to fly for teh ESN/APF..that's find.. we'll find yyou a cozy spot in the Delta Colonies, or  even Astra... but you walk out of her  with us... you'll have to take the pledge , then.... anything stupid  you do, could cost your  life.

 she nodded slowly.......what do i have to do?

 .we will take you to  Captain Morris's shed... he'll induct you, with me as a witness... we have a ride  waiting for you... from the last traitor  who is now  on his walk home, hoping to catch a ride on a comet...

 He leans closer to the Metaglass,..you see?... as big as a Dumbass as he was.. he didn't torch any of my people.. you and Yours Have.... if  I hadn't had to protect one of My pilots  the first time... I would have cleaned the whole damn sky of your  people, myself....

 she smiled at  that..  Until Shadow's  arm came up impossibly fast to pound on the Glass...sending her another step backwards.


..if you think i couldn't  do it?.. You're as dumb as that last guy


 He straighten up,..some folks are gonna have hard  feelings, knowing where you come from..You are Gonna have to work past that....and become a teammate... do you thing you can do that....

.. yes  sir.. I think i can...

 ..Chief?.... Pull her  out... Put Ensign Teela's Name, and My name down as responsible...

  the Fellow  hit the Door,  and she  came out....Shadow didn't say a word, but turned to fill out the Vidboard  form and Let Teela  lead her out.


>>>>>>>>>>>to Morris shed when Teela is  ready

<- Henry's office

Henry soon arrived at the brig and asked for the Chief. Mila stuck close, she didn't seem to like the place either.

 The chief  was outside  the wall of the Cell  section.. one level down from SEC..and the 'SEC Holding Cells'

 He  Stood and  Offered  a nod to the Doctor and said,..Now?.. watch this?... there is no way she  should be  able to tell its on....

 Chief  flicked  the Cam on, she was  sitting  on her bed, the tray  of  food was empty and placed neatly on the   shelf   they sued  to  send it in and out.

 almost   in time with the flick, she looked up, smiled  seductively and  finger waved.


 ..see?.. and  she doesn';t even try to hide, she knows?

Henry watched the demonstration with interest.

"I take it your cameras don't have a light that comes on when they are operating. Is there any change in sound? Or the power running through the system? She could be picking up on that... but maybe not. It's intriguing. I wonder what would happen if we put her in a Faraday cage..."

   The  chief  shook his  head,standard  SEC  cams?.. no  light..  they don't need to move... there may be a hum   when they come on?..  but   you couldn't tell by me?..... That Cage?.. we'd  have to set one up..  which means goign through  The Admirals.. Either     Hack  or Hennings?

"I could set one up in my lab if you'd allow her to 'visit' me again," offered Henry.

"That would give me a chance to run some other tests as well."

 The Chief  shrugged,..look Doc?.. she's  way out of my paygrade?  All i know  is, i was  supposed to keep her locked up, until   you need to  study her?... so its  your call, not mine.....but , I'll make  damn sure  you have escorts...

"Right. I'll call you when we are ready... and I shall be most appreciative of some escorts, believe you me!"

Henry nodded and headed back to his lab.

-> Henry's place.

  Chief  Crane  was  relaxing, catching up on paperwork from the  work that SEC  sent down to Him. Jenns   worked on  weapons, cleaning  and   putting them together..

 Meri and Mann were sent with their   charges  to  the brig,  1/2 level below the SEC....not a good place to be.

--->>> from Tunnels

 Meari was not gentle at all with Mix and manhandled him if she had too to get him to the brig. Meari smiled at Chief Crane and said," We have two Vicrock transfers who are now prisoners until General Bale looks over the video."

 Meari almost threw Mix into his cell, she smiled at him and said," I warned you asshole but you couldnt leave it alone, and I have a feeling you wont survive the day." She smiled at Mix and then looked at Chief Crane," Do you need anything else Chief?"

   Chief crane waved them both into the far end Cell...Don't get too many folks down here... if they  come here, its never good. Some times its for thier own good though..Like that Big Alien Human guy? he got in some trouble  with that Warlord  Lady , when   The LC's  kid  was  first born..er...hatched?  whatever.. anyway they sent him here for a bit... 

 Jenns  was  putting a rifle together,SGT Zob was here  for a bit, when he first came  aboard.. we didn't have much contact with  Demons then, 'cept  down the  barrel of a  rifle...

 wearing those uniforms? getting sent  down here?...should have  save time  and  Kicked them out the  Hanger Dec...

 Mix's Gauze  was red from the seepage...I want to have my call to Vicrock!.... and I need a Med tech!

  Crane looked at Mix  and shook his head,Yeah?  I'm  sure Lady V  will send  a Limo for you...Med tech will come   when i say you need one...right now?  you don't..

Nelson  snapped,what about food!

 Lunch is  at 12:00  you have another  hour...suffer?  that's what this place is for...

 Meari chuckled and replied," I was thinking of doing that Chief but I was ordered by General Bale so if I dont want to be in there myself we delivered them what ever happens now." Meari smiled and replied," Like we would let you call the enemy you traitorous scum, I just hope I get to see your punishment because whatever they give you Mix it will not be what you deserve. Enjoy your stay traitors." Meari smiled and gave them a cold stare that was emotionless.

 Meari then nodded at Chief Crane and headed back to the tunnels to see if she was needed to help educate the rest of the Paradise Angels.

------->>>>>> To Tunnels

Jug and a few Gava followed.  At the guard she gestured with a long and strong gnarled finger at their guest "What little crap pile whining about?"

  Jenns shrugged,..I guess he had a  rough Tunnel run?.... Then, did  something stupid...now he's  hungry?..he has to wait, like everyone else.

  Mix  was starting to feel the pain from the slice of   'face' missing.Look, Guys.. we need   food, something  drink, and i need  some proper  Med tech care..

 Crane looked  up from his desk, taking a sip of coffee,Look, Dumbass... you're sitting in the brig of a legendary ship...wearing the uniform, of people we normally..shoot on sight? I don't  know what  stupid thing you did...I will when the Vids  come through....

 we're troopers, Dammit, and were  treated  like crap from the Moment...

 ..how long you been wearing those  rags?

 About  3  years..served  on some Vicrock  Hunter ships, capturing   rogue transports  and such

 ..You mean attacking APF trade vessekls and  gathering slaves, and tribute?//Tell you what?.. I have been here  since   The hermes   left the  space Docks. before that, I was on Mars colony..for  close  tp 10, so...don't tell me you're a trooper, you a slaver in unifrom

He couldn't stand the abject humiliation, despondency and discrace he'd been subjected too. Rigging up a makeshift solution to the absolute despair Brian sprang forward. A definite snap of his neck followed by a jerking of his body from oxygen deprivation and it all over.

   about  2 hours after  the  'deed" The  Guard, who one  rather  new came in with a tray of Food.

 he stopped   and Put the  trey on a  table, and Hit the COMs  to Roy... SM..this is  Willie...I am  on duty  at the  Brig...  The Croby  guy hung himself? I..I didn't go in yet, in yet, just in case, its a trick...he looks  pretty dead from the window.

There was a moment's pause, then the response.  "Saves us the trouble of arranging a transport to the Delta Colonies.  Get some backup, just in case...he hasn't exactly been the poster child for competence, but it could be a front.  Cut him down, let Stefi decide what to do with the corpse."  The answer was tired, in an "I can't believe we've got to deal with this now" way, and the tone dismissive.  Cowardice and incompetence were two things Roy had never been particularly patient at handling, and both in the same package just amplified his distaste.