In reply to Zobaich (msg # 959):

Melia coughed a bit more, handing Zob the beverage. "I... thought it was non-alcoholic punch..." She manages to get out. "Took me by surprise, and I swallowed wrong." She adds as her sides spasm, and she hunches over dry coughing. After a few moments she manages to regain control, though her face is flushed and a thin glistening layer of sweat appears on her brow from the coughing fit.

Recovering from the mix up she grabs a glass of water from a passing server, as Zob disposes of the offending beverage. She starts to realize how late it actually, unlike most evenings and parties she realizes she doesn't really want this one to end.

Orria has been having a great time with Shade, one of the younger kids had brought her back her vidboard, mostly because they'd been unable to access anything else from the lock Orria had put into place. Between shakes, cake, cookies, and dancing she continued to ask Shade questions about his dreams and goals, and then explaining hers.

"Hey it seems things are winding down here. Want to go sit on the obs deck for a night cap before it gets too late?" At this point she doesn't really have a plan other than to prolong the night.

Hawkeye had spent a lot of the time bouncing around having drinks dancing here and there, nothing serious. She'd kind of discarded dating and sleeping with other people when she and Rolf had started dating, though truthfully neither had mentioned anything about being exclusive it was at least for now more comfortable this way.

She wanders past Lizzy and Karl, "Hope I'm not interrupting, but great party. It's pretty clear the Captain really likes you. Happy birthday, and thank you for inviting everyone." Already caught onto the hint she quickly slips away tonight headed for the medlab.

---MEdLab--->

In reply to Melia Kristensen (msg # 969):

After disposing of the beverage he returned to her, "Ive come to expect these things at any party that has lots of dancing and crew" it was then she would ask if he wanted to head out to the observation dec with her and he nodded his head, "Sounds like a great way to close out the evening" he said with a smile as he waited for her to lead the way.

Melia moves to depart with Zob for the observation deck, after stopping over to Orria and Shade, and informing her daughter that she has 30 more minutes before she has to head home as well as to get ready and go to bed if she's not back by that time.

Noting that Zob was ready to depart she leads the way swinging by Lizzy and wishing her a good night, and thanks for inviting her.

---Obs Deck--->

Karl grinned, the added layer of meaning in her question about quarters not lost on him.  "Well, it's your candle and your memorial...seems only fair that it should burn in your quarters...assuming you don't mind spending such an intimate gesture with someone who never knew your family by anything more than vague reputation."

It was at about that point that Hawkeye walked over, sharing her compliments on the party and her observations about Karl's behavior.  "Well, damn...now the secret's out..." he commented after she left, in a laughing tone that indicated he considered it not at all secret.

"If you're ready to call it a night...I mean, it IS your party, seems like you should be the last one to leave...but if you want to go early, we can hit the hangar deck and see if anyone's there to cut down one of the shells I mentioned."

 Lizzy said good bye to everyone as they left, when Karl said it should be her quarters, and if she wanted him with her. She would smile and say," Karl I would be honored to share that moment with you." Lizzy was about to kiss him again, when Hawkeye walked over.

 Lizzy smiled and said," I am happy to say it wasn't much of a secret that you like me Karl. Juat as I hope it is not a secret I like you."  Turning to Hawkeye Lizzy would say," Thank you Lt, so glad you had fun." Lizzy just smiled at Hawkeye.

 Lizzy looked around there where a few people still having fun, but it was time she had to light the candle and she really wanted to have some fun time on her birthday with Karl.
" Yeah I think it is time the Birthday girl called it a night, not too many people left. Yes that would be great Karl, we can head to the Hanger than to my quarters. Lead the way my Knight in shining armor." When she mentions her quarters there is a huge smile on her face. Lizzy will then head to the Hanger Dec walking in Karl's arms as they go.

 As Lizzy walked out she would say to everyone left," Thank you for an amazing party, thank you everyone."


------->>>>> Hanger Dec
This message was last edited by the player at 19:10, Fri 23 Aug 2019.

Roy grinned, speaking as they walked.  "You've never been in a situation where you needed to know your way around here," he offered.  "You've always got an escort guiding you to where you need to be, so you've never needed to learn the layout.  I can't speak for Verians, but a lot of humans don't learn their way around until they have to do it on their own.  Remembering directions that someone else is steering you through is a rare talent..."  He fell silent as they walked...he'd never been one compelled to conversation...and the walk was Dusk's idea.  If he was talking, odds were good she'd not bring up what was on her mind...and that just seemed rude, to him, to dominate the conversation.

  She smiled  she had on the  'captain's  duty Uniform,' with  Dec  shoe s rather then  heels.

  .. when i was  Younger... I called you  Uncle..granted... her  metallic  Giggle echoed  on the field, only  4  people were there.. Burians    running    'suicides'  for  Coach/chief  Post, so they could be ready for the next tunnel  run.

  ..but? You are  not   really My Uncle..as in 'bllod'..though you are closer    then that, family wise? You seem to watch out for us all, evcen Father?

 she  Looked  out  at the   struggling  Burians  as they were learning , the hard way, what  Humans put themselves through to be  'better'

  would you... i mean? could you think of me.. as   Just a Undenese Female?  rather then a family member?

Roy gave a quiet chuckle, shaking his head slightly as a hint of sadness crept into his expression.  "If this is going where I think it is...you might not like the results," he answered, almost reluctantly.

"I've never really had a family of my own.  My mom died when I was little...my dad remarried, and moved us onto a reservation to live with my step-mom.  She and I never really meshed with each other...and Dad was more interested in being with her than being with me.  First time I felt like I had a family was when I was going through Boot Camp...and that's a pretty warped family to belong to.  But I've had the family I chose, through the Corps, and another, even closer version of it once I ended up on the Hermes."  He gestured broadly, indicating the whole ship.

With another shake of his head, he continued, "I've tried having a...well...a not-family relationship a few times.  And it's never ended well.  I don't open up easily, and I never really learned how people are supposed to interact with each other, normally...I'm a hard man to get close to, and a harder man to stay close to."

He sighed, then chuckled slightly, and added, "But, for what it's worth, I'm already working on seeing you as not family-close.  I mean, you've been laying down some pretty broad hints...they've gotta be broad, for me to pick up on them.  And I talked to your dad about it, down on Bura...because I wanted to be sure you wouldn't become something that might start to drive us apart.  Shadow's really the closest thing to a brother I will ever have...I don't want that messed up."  He paused briefly, then gave a soft laugh.

"He basically said he regarded you as independent enough to make your own choices, he would deal with them as they came, but he trusted you.  So, I started mentally preparing myself then for this talk..."  He laughed again, a low, pleasant chuckle.

  the shifting colors   showed a bit pink when the flesh  tones  crossed over., she gave a rueful  smile,..Yes?I must admit, I am not good  at attacting  people...at least not the right  kind?..I guess you hear Shade  broke  one of My Pilot's hands.....he..um..wanted to  test the flexiblity , as a Verian?  compared to my breast  being Udenese..... she giggled,..when the hand snapped, Shade  said he wanted to test the flexibilty of a Verians   wrist..I do not know if he got off lucky? compared to  if  father hand been there..

 She   looked up  at  Roy,..Then?  I suppose..I will have to settled   for  a good friend? who is almost  family...Which means? if neither of us had  anything to do  at certain times.. we  could  have a dinner or two?

 I hope i did  not  point yuou on the dot? As they say?... But ..if the rumors  are  right... there will be  some bad  things hapening when  we get to Uden Space.. I figured? I did not have  anything  to lsoe?..Yes?

"On the spot," Roy corrected gently.  "And your timing was good...if you'd asked me that question two months ago, I wouldn't have had the first idea how to start answering it.  For now, yes...very dear friends.  Where that ends up going, if anywhere, is something we'll have to explore together, I guess.  But, yes...I'd be more than happy to have dinner with you, when time allows."

He chuckled grimly.  "Yeah, I heard a little bit about Shade demonstrating the relative fragility of Verian anatomy...and why..."  For just a moment, his eyes darkened at the thought, though whether it was because of what was done, specifically, or because it represented a gross informality with a ranking officer was impossible to know.  "You will never lack for someone to defend your honor, I must say...I can't speak for Verian culture, but a brother inflicting pain on someone who oversteps the bounds with his sister is a VERY Human tradition, and one that I'm quite sure was never taught to Shade...he just does it, instinctively."  He chuckled drily and added, "That's another good reason for us to take things slow and carefully...I never want to put myself in a position where I feel like I've given Shade justification for wanting to beat on me...because I'm pretty sure he'd win."  His eyes twinkled with hints of mischief, but he said nothing further on the matter.

He grinned, and added, "Best-case scenario, we come to see each other as family, for completely different reasons.  But that's wildly optimistic, given my track record.  For now...let's just take it a step at a time, and see where that leads us.  Okay?"

 she leans   in to him a bit   with her metallic  Giggle, then  straightens up  as they walk,..yes!..that is what we  will do?  And   for your part?  Shade   seems to have the same respect for you , as he does  Father?... he does  hold some  deep respect for   Dr  Henry and    SGT  Garrat, because nthey were there when he hatched?

 frowning a bit  and looking out onto the field as they walked,..I am most ashamed, at the way i acted   after being hatched... Evert made every  thing  so clear?.,.. what they tries to do to me on  Vera?... I do not think would be any worse, then if i would be captured by demons... Only Adam's fear of  what  Father..and perhaps Admiral HAck would  do, should i have  been harmed more severely . I...I do not  know what was worse.. the  pain of 'being fixed'..or the laughter and disrespect  about my skin colors...imagine  how surprised i was, to  See Grandmod  and   Undenese , whose  slin was like   Shade's and Mine!

 ..now..many of  thsoe same Verians, must follow my orders....but that does not eman, there  isn't disrepect!..some still think they are a Race above, all other, while Udenese,, thing they are ,'one of the races'

Roy nodded.  "We humans have a long history of going to war over even more trivial differences.  We've had wars about which gods you pray to, or where your ancestors came from, or even skin color and lifestyle.  Can't claim we've all risen above it...some of the EDT people we've taken out of action signed on because they couldn't stand the thought of Humankind being blended in with all the other sentient species in the APF."

He chuckled ruefully, and shook his head.  "In fact, I think we've seen some version of that from just about every race...Angels, Nivarians...not so many Sanri, but they're enough like us that I'm sure that undercurrent is there, somewhere.  So I can't say that I'm surprised to see it from Verians."  He snorted softly, and added, "Even Udenese.  Your granmod adopted a decidedly different attitude about Humans after Shadow bested her in three different combat trials."

He put a hand on her shoulder, turning her to face him so he could look her in the eyes.  "There are two ways to look at your situation.  You can be ashamed of what you were, and what they almost turned you I to.  Or you can take pride in the fact that you rose above what they tried to do to you.  Either way, what you can't do is undo it.  No sense worrying about who you might have been, without their interference, because you can't go back and change what happened.  You have to figure out how to make the best out of what was done to you."

He gave a crooked grin, and turned them to start walking again.  "I could choose to wallow in the anti-social mess my dad turned me into.  But what he did put me in a position to be self-reliant, to spend time living off the land, to learn to shoot, and track...it messed up my social skills, certainly, but it made me a perfect candidate to become a sniper.  And that put me in a position to start fixing the rest."

  she  smiled,  she  gave  Roy a  tight hug and held it for a bit, before stepping back... Thank You Roy?  I think i will call you Roy, when we are not n among  stuffy  people?..I will call you SM, when they are....

 she motioned the stairs as they rounded the  track,we should  go and make sure, Shade  didn't  stuff those  LArgs  with too much steak, for them to move!..

after a few steps  she added,..my brother.. i think he  tries to  view the 'world', as FAther does... but..he has  his own insights.... we were  on the Unden's Promise, and having an  officer  dinner... Shade was next to me.. but he could talk, ebcause the  Verians  could understand him... One of the LT..a Gunnery officer was  hearign tales  of   Shade  fighting..and he told stories  of   doing  missions with father  and you... The Gunnery officer.. I supposed he was  trying to Impress  either    Granmod, or myself?  asked  Shade, how he  could  take Orders  from a Human Non-com  When he saw  Shade   refuse  an Order  from a Verian  Officer?  Shade  looked at him with these..purple eyes.... and  said...2 reasons...

when the offcier  asked what they were?... Shade  said,  " The Human Non COM is  toughter  and smarter then the Verian Offcier."..

  She giggles   as she remembered.. The LT  and   a Captain  rose  from thier  chair s and excused themselevs...

Roy laughed softly at the idea of the largs being overstuffed.  "The little one, maybe...but I'm almost convinced that Larry's stomach is biological singularity...anything he eats mysteriously vanishes, and he's never too full.  He could eat his way through a legion of Aqra, and he'd still beg for steak afterwards..."

He listened to the story about Shade, and grinned.  "I'll assume he was referring to mental toughness.  I'm in no hurry to find out how I stack up against Verians in a straight-out brawl...although I suppose I might, depending on what happens at Uden..."

He gave a fond grin.  "I would like Shade, even if he weren't Shadow's offspring.  He's a good soldier, and a good friend.  He's got as much heart as anyone I know, he's smart about following orders, he understands the need to work with other people, and I can tell him to hold a position and know that he will.  Hearing that from him is quite an honor."  He nodded a confirmation of the statement, as they headed back toward the Rec Deck.

------> From Non Com Quarters

It was getting rather late in the evening so he wasn't expecting many people to be around, he approached the range and set up the targets on the line and moved them all back to appropriate ranges once satisfied Zob took the shotgun and took aim it was no secret he was a fantastic shot with any firearm as he in succession blew the heads off each and every target, "Yep i still got it" he says out loud rather proud of himself before reloading the shotgun and getting ready for the next round.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:23, Fri 27 Dec 2019.

<<<<<<<< from Rec Dec

 Shadow   went  down to the  Down tot eh Filed.. a   Grumbling  Shade   sat in the bleachers  with Roll  who looked  a mad as a  little kid  could look.

  He  threw His Jacket down  on the  40  yard   Line, and took off his tunic  and Blue Max.
 The LC  was looking  at the  ground shaking his head talkign to  no one.

  Chief Post  was   clearing away   a the few people  who were working out.. He walked to the steps  to see the three  rookies   coming  down with the whoever else.

 what made matter   worse, Frans, Eckles, and MAra came down to sit by Shade  and they were laughing

Zob was about to begin target practice again until he heard commotion outside the range, he flipped the safety on the shotgun for the time being and made his out to take a look, it was then he noticed Shadow taking off his tunic on the 40 yard line as well as rookies coming down he knew shit was about to get real whoever pissed off Shadow was gonna be leaving here in pieces...

He then made his way over but stayed out of the way as he took a seat in the bottom part of the bleachers right at the base of the field to watch the show.

Garrat  deposited the rookie on the field.

 Higgins    took off his    Tunics  and Flecked his  Muscles , he was alt  least  as well buiolt  as  Shadow, But Shadow  had his Burain Tan  and some  interesting scars.

 He Looked Over   at Frans    and  Flexed..  Kr-En just rolled  her  eyes.. Frans  and Mara    just laughed..Ecjkels took in the show.

 ..Right, Old Man?.. what's the rules?

  you do know , Ionly have ..like..5  earth years on you...right?

 Higgins  scoffed,what Punishment  do  i get for  beating the  crap out of you...SIR...

  Shade   Blared  and Bleeped...

 ..what did that thing  say?

 ..he  said.. If   you  win.. everyone will be surprised... if you lose... Med tech  has had alot of practice,,,

 Tell you what?... You beat me... and I mean.. I can't  fight any more..beat me.. I'll give you  your own flight...

 Higgins  Grinned...and If you win?  what do you get...

 The Satisfaction of beating  your  to near death..and showing   your  Two bussies  what its like  IN The Black.

   Lilit  stopped  with Dusk on the railings by the Civie shops, they stood  to watch. Abby made her  way  down with Dixie  , the two sat together  to  watch..Dixie  smilign at the New Guys.

 As  Far  as  rules?.. None... except  I'll give  You  5    swings  and or kicks... before  I start hitting back... then?..its  all over  for you..Now.. Hand to Hand training begins...

 Shadow didn't even wait for  and  Answer, he set up  with   arms  and  fists   ready  as he  danced into  the   Man's   reach near the 50 yard line.

  Higgins     waited  the   Swung  and Over hand   right,  Shadow danced bacn , brough up a  foot near his  face, with out hitting him and Grinned....One.....

 Then the   Fellow    Tried a Jump Kicks  that shadow bent back ward  and  rolled  just up bit  for the man to fly  By....two....

 Higgins  was  getting frustrated  as Shadow just grinned his cocky half-smile.. Higgins   tried a very Good    Round House   Kicks  that Shadow  just slapped away,three....

 Shade Blared out a  Beep....  Shadow  pointed at him..You're  Right!...

  Higgins  spun    faked   a  Kick  and   send a very good   right hand at Shadow's  face, the LC...JUST.    moved  his head ......FIVE....

   SHadow's   Fist   Drove Up into the Man's  Jaw  and  sent  Him flying   back   to  near the hashmarks.  The Ensign was  Groggy as he tries to get up...

 Motts  yelled,HEY!.. that was Only 4!

 Shadow waggled  a Finger at Motts,..My son  pointed out, the free one on the Rec dec.... Now.... its  My turn.. The LC's grin was not one of Joy....

 Higgins  was Shading off the Blow  that almost Knocked Him out..Roll was   standing in the bleachers  pretending his was   fighting  movign his   little arms...

 Shadow  waded in again, but this  time he wasn't a target, he was a weapon  He  faked  at   Punched   that Higgins  went to Blacok and a full force  kick hit the  man's  ribs, the crack and  the scream were  loud, staggered Him, even  as the  Left hand  Hit    the man's  right  cheek...

 ..now?  You'r e right, that hit you got on me  , on the Rec Dec..shouldn't have happened , I should have Blocked  it..maybe broke your  arm as a Lesson.... but?.. I warned you i wasn't in a very good mood .

  Higgins  was  wobbling.  his  head was  turning Like  he  couldn't see out of  his right  eye.  He  tried to  swing  his   left arm as  Shadow, but the  LC Just slapped it  down, then  Droved  his  left  then  His  right into the  wounded Left side..

 Higgins  dropped  to His  Knees   covered  himself  with   His arms.

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

 There  was   OFFICER ON DEC! Shouted  by Ellen  as  Scarlett stood  at attention.

 Admiral hack, Captain Si ( with her  nose   mold ) and a  Tall older  man with a Hawk-like Nose...

 WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS! The   Hawk nosed  man wore two stars  of a MArine General..

 Hack  was  rubbing his  temples.

 everyone stood  at attention  except  for Higgins...Giving  the new Pilots  a bit of   survival training  off   the books  , Sir.... help then understand  the  way things are out  here  In The Black , Sir...

 The General  walked   down, HAck Looked at Roy and Garrat pointing to his own  Name plate  then to the General.  The  General  Stopped  in front of Shadow.

 ..you were  trying to Kill this   , man..LC....

  begging the general's pardon? You may ask  anyone here?.. if i had  planned to kill him, he would have been dead 10 minutes ago..

 LC...Fucking Shadow...  I hear stories  on the transport ships.. troopers talking  about.. You aircraft   swooping down to ''save the Day"....

 ,,.not just me , Sir.. My who  Wing can   give Air cover.. there  are 4  flights who even specialize in it..., we do try to knock down   fighters when   we are able...

 ..So?..  what happened here?.. My Son Challenge the Great war  hero//perhaps..stepped on your ego a bit...

 CAptain Si Bristled at this .. Hack  just whispered ,for  Fuck's sake..

 Aye  sir?  It would  be very much Like if someone  dared challenge how many   landings  you have been in on, compared to  them never seeing so much as a decent picture of a demon.

   General  rounded on Shadow  and  Hit him full in the    belly..  Shadow  only jerked  a bit  from the force... Higgins looked at him in the eyes..  Shadow  just smiled  and said.....Ouch....Sir....

 The General  Shook with Fury,Admiral Hack!..... Have My SGT MAj  Report to the field..   Captain Si Looked at HAck , Hack Sighed,..Rivets ,  HAve SGT MAJ  SRet  report to the field...

 Get a Med Tech for the  Pilot....

  General  Higgins  smiled,  Have  the Med Tech  stay around,  He  will need one  after he shows  the  Prowess  with SGT MAJ  Stret

 Beth    came bounding down the   bleachers     to stand  near Roy and the others...That General pulled some strings to get his kid here  so he  could make some Vid  splashes  and get some more brass on his shoudlers... Gen. Higgins  is  in charge of Delta 4 Transport Bases, but  has to answer to Cummings..he doesn't like that.. he came  here to talk about  deployments and to make sure his kid  got on board.... um... no one expected this..
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:34, Sat 28 Dec 2019.

Zob didn't really give a shit at this point he pulled out and lit up a smoke-wood cigar and watched the show and laughing as the rookie got completely trashed it was then the brass showed up and a man apparently the boys father a marine general, he watched as the man punched Shadow in the gut and Shadow promptly laughing it off, "If you need a picture of a demon ill gladly sign some autographs!" he said amused by the situation at hand.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:20, Sat 28 Dec 2019.

   The General  Shifted  his eyes  to  Zob   for a Moment,Hack's  Pet Demon?... Well.. I  have taken a  page form the Admiral's books  I have some  aliens  on my own transport..It does  help  our  troops see aleins close up...

 ..The Delta  Fleet  has  seen many an alien close  up.. afew even like us... you see bery many  at..um...

  RIO!...um..Sir...

 though posting there... bet the sand was a Bitch to get out of your..

 Silence!.... I've been in the  fleet  for 6  Months...

 ..you must  be..VERY.. proud...

  Before anyone   could say  anything, a Hyrian  , about 6 inches   taller  and shoulders a bit wider then  Lirg came  down the  steps  .. Larry was    slithering  dwon  another   stairs  his head flattened..

 SGT MAJ  Sret..Meet  LC Shadow...

 ..I know the LC.. he  killed  three of my Family at the battle of the line.. two in the air..one on the ground....

 ..He was showing My son, and his   shipmates, the best way  to survive HAnd to Hand  Combat..perhaps, The LC  would be able to show how to deal with a real Live Hyrian...

 Of Course  sir?.. One Puppy is   as  good  as any other.. and this Fellow is  No Lirg?... Lirg is a Hermes  trooper.

 ..SGT MAJ?  don't be afraid  to  be overly  harsh...after all  the pilots  here should Know what they have to deal with on the Ground, Should the Verians have any hard Line Hyrians on thier side..

Sret  took off his  Tunic the  triangle shaped, well muscled  body with  more Scars  then Shadow boasted...

 General Higgins. The LC has  just come off   an encounter with  verian Boarders..

 ..you look  in good shape....for Fighting Verians...

 I didn't do much?  these guys  did.... he points at Roy, Garrat and Zob,  My son beat one to death with his hands.. crushed his helmet flat, with the Vrerian's head   still in it..all i did was shoot one..

 The Hyrian, snorted,..boot  camp  spar... snice  we have Med techs?

 wouldn't have it any other way, Fido..hey? where  were you when the others  died?..Guarding the Hydrant?

 The Hyrian's Lips  curled....

Several of the Gava had come to watch the fights.  This included Jug.  When 'Officer on Dec'  was called they all stood.  Uvulu sat down a cup of a wonderful chocolatey drink called 'Frappe Mokka'.  She bought it at a pastry store in the civvie section.  She had led the small group of 3 Gava that explored the civvie section.  She also bought a few things for her hair, as did the other female Adii.  All totaled the 3 maybe spent 50 cred total between them.  Then they heard rumor of Shadow going to fight.  an opportunity to learn and watch, they would.

In reply to field (msg # 990):

Zob took a drag from the smokewood and leaned back casually after he watched the Hyrian arrive on the field, "At least your smart enough to recognize your betters" he then took another look over at the Hyrian then back to the general, "I really hope your pet puppy here is house broken..." he said in a snide remark before turning his attention on the soon to come fight.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:38, Sat 28 Dec 2019.

Jug waved at Garrat and smiled.