Tulliun was glad to see Meari smile at him again. He had been worried he'd already damaged his standing in her eyes.

I didn't figure you would, but it sounded good for the toast.  And, maybe some of the others will come aboard and you can cut them.

Tulliun realized his mistake as soon as he'd made it and simply held the glass for a while. He tried to figure if Meari was watching anything in particular, then realized she was lost in thought, and followed her lead, enjoying the silent company and the calm before the storm.

 Meari then thought that maybe Tulliun showing up was a sign of good things too come. She was no fool she knew the odds they where going up against, if those Hive busters dont work we will all most likely die.

 Meari smiled and replied," Yes it did and thank you it was wonderful. Oh I will cut down many more of those Empire bastards before I move on." Meari thought Tulliun would be fine and a great addition to the Hermes but she did have too see how he handled real combat then he will be a Hermite if he wished too be.

After the announcement, Tulliun remained quiet for a long time, still barely touching his Rainbow.

I have two new questions for you. 1) How would you prefer to be addressed? I've called you several different things, but you haven't corrected any of them. 2) If not for the war, would you still be a commando?

 Meari listened to the announcement, so it begins, she thought, Meari the replied to tulliun," Meari is fine but all the names you have called me have been correct why would I correct them?"  Meari gives a solemn smile and replied," My people the Udenese have been fighting with the Verians for many many many centuries. Uden joined the Apf and then we defeated the Verians. I have been raised since I was old enough to walk and hold a weapon trained to fight hand to hand with Verians, which are bigger and stronger and more mechanic than Udenese. So the answer would be yes the Empire war had no determination on me becoming a Commando."

 Meari then replied," I will stay and stare out a few moments and then I will get ready for jump off, I will see you on the Hanger dec for pregame in 2 hours."

Well, the endearment I applied to your name and title may have offended some people.

Tulliun mulled over what that childhood must have been like. Well, in any event, at least the fates brought this fleet together for this moment.

Tulliun raised his his glass and took one last small sip of his drink, enjoying what would be his last bit of pleasure before everything took off. I'll see you there.

He took his glass back to the bar, paid for it, and said Thank you, that was delicious. I hope I can have more of them after we squash these bugs. Be safe.

He headed for the lift, taking in a parting look out the metaglass.

---->>>>to Hanger Dec
This message was last edited by the player at 13:40, Thu 18 Nov 2021.

 Meari nodded at Tulliun,"Again you said nothing not true Tulliun. Yes the Fates have and we are all here for a reason."

 Meari raised her glass with his and took a sip, " Yes I will see you there." Meari would stay a few minutes and then head too her quarters to figure out what she was wearing and what weapons to have on her, and if she was staying on the hanger dec a big ass gun.

------->>>>> To Non-Com Quarters

  The   massive metal  doors  closed in , slolwy on the   OB Dec.. Arnie held up his hands...

  Alright Folks?  Tough break, but  we can't let the see us  coming...... Finish up and go where you want to go..but  we have to set up guns...

two Heavy Pulse guns   came In. they would  have 'neats   set up , in board   facing the    Metaglass, that where parasites  would most likely hit...

<<<<<<<<<<<<<  Shadow from Rec dec after party

 The Hiss of the doors, showed the  DC crew  replacing the   fabric walls that went over the   newly welded plates. some were vaccuming  the   aftermath, and the  blast  doors were opens once again.

  Matterhorn could be seen in the distance, looking  as big as a circus peanut...bright flashes  of explosions of  dying vessels. would light up an area of The Balck... , Captured  vessels  were  towed  with  'excorts on either side... some of the captaured  Vessesl were steaming in under thier own power.

 more then a few  Delta Fleet  ships,limped towards  Matterhorn as well... Matterhorns fighters were  providing  air cover, and Med tech shuttles seemed to fill the area like snow flakes.

 a Nivarian  woman stood behind the   bar, , she had on a chest plate, her helmet was on the counter. as she  was opening the protective  doors around the Bottles  and Tins.

 sand bags were being replaced where  the heavy weapons  nest was attacked., Shadow went over and wtched for  second as the  cleaned the blood  from the walls and carpeting..

 You need something LC ?

 ..no..no..carry on, Just wanted to see the place where, they were killed

  The Nivarian  said from the counter.....They should just wipe out the whole planet... she  was  sniffing a bit.

 My thoughts  exactly.... espeically, the UEs...., they are not something we need to have running around the universe

 he   motioned for a Ber and   pizza  rolls...

 she  Poured the beer.. and  broke open the  bag of pizza  rolls to  put in the gamma wave.

 The Nivarian  looked at Him...I am ESN  PO1 Saliv..I will be  replacing    Beta... she was...a good friend to me..

 looking at her Unifrom,ESN?  i tought you'd be Nivairan Homeworld?

 ..I am from the green Moon, LC... you..... she looked at him,Killed two of my cousins that they sought to  capture you...

 SHadow took the Beer, but  did not drink. The Gamma bell rings  and  Saliv placed the bowl on the  counter.

 I know some folks would say they are sorry?..But i can't..they were trying to kill or capture me?.. they paid the price...

 her  eyes  studied his, and she nodded, Fair  enough..... as she opened other doors foir glassware and such, she asked.....do you know where the    UEs  come from?..I  mean, besides  the creshian home world?

 I dunno?...brood Mothers?

 yes?  you see, when  a race , other the  creshian, become Brood mothers..None of those offspring are ever allowed to rise  higher then a Non commissioned Officer...and?... 90 % of an 'other race'  brood  mother's egg batch, will be   UEs....Pureblood Creshian brood mothers..or..as they call them, Queens.. have all  humanoid   births from the  eggs batches... Humans are favored for  Brood Mothers, for some reason they  turn out 2 or three times the Egg batches a Pure blood does, and  almost double, any other race..The creshian uses  these brood  mothers   to  fill thier holds  wit UEs..for unleashing on   thier enemies.

 and You know  all this....how?

 I was a Bio-tech grad  student., Until the green Moon entered the  APF...now?.. I just want to see Empire  people  die..

  Shadow popped a pizza  roll, offered   Saliv one she  shook her head...You get down time?.. forward that information to Doc Henry... it could aid him in his studies...  Shadow sat down by the   windows, put his feet up on the railing   and  watched   the activity while popping  another Pizza  roll.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:13, Wed 15 Dec 2021.

  a few couples  came in..saw the DC  crew , turned around and Left. Saliv stepped over...You do not like the Beer?

  what?..Ya..i like beer... i just don't  drink...

  I saw you take the toast on the Rec dec...

 Yes... and I will..drink when its  needed too, or  appropriate... Its a problem for me.... so?  I come here.. Think about the things that  anger me, bad things  that happen, and  try to stop myself from drinking.

 does not  sound very  smart, LC?

 I Know, what i can handle, and i push myself ...if i can't handle it..i don't deserve the unifrom.

 would it not be better, just to stay away from it?

 would it be  better, to fly away from  enemies, rather then  towards them....would it be better not  to risk AA fire when your shipmates  need aid?.... Running away, isn't an option..ever... you have the  guts..or you wash out..

  He looked at her,the real Sad thing, is you might get others killed, because you don't measure up..and that....cannot be allowed

  Shadow's Timer beeped on His COM, . He stood up  and offered the beer to a Sailor  who was with a Civie woman...I didn't drink any, just something to have around...

 The Sailor  took ,  , The LC popped the last two Pizza  bites into his mouth and winked at  Saliv, and left for his  Quarters.

 The Nivarian gave a shake of her  head  and  wiped down the  small table , and returned to  her  restocking

 Shadow,  Officers  Quarters>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

<<<<<<<<<<<<  Shadow from rec dec after MAtterhorn cast off

   as they entered , Arnie  was  making room for some  new bottles, Slavic was coming across the   dec with empty dishes.

 Are you going to have the beer you will not  drink?

 Not tonight.. tall   with crunched up ice...and   what the  Justin here  wants...goes on my account..

  When the  Nivarian Gave  Shadow his  drink, anf readied  Justin's...I am  PO Slavic.. ..i am Arnies #2...

In reply to ob dec (msg # 941):

I'll have the same as the LC. replied Justin accepting the drink he raised in thanks to Kray giving Slavic and Arnis a smile Pleased to meet you both.

  Shadow moved  the chairs,closest to the   port side of the  windows, to let the other  people in the Middle  and   Starboard  side, not  feel  interrupted .

 Nice view?...  See those  two bluish   dots out there, that's  E-1  and  E-2..they are roughly as far  apart as  Earth and Venus..the area between them  is called the Corridor.., If we weren't going there?  the  planets  would  be on out port side,  and we would  be  veering to the starboard.

Billie headed in, raking her fingers through her chocolate brown hair that was worn loosely about her shoulders. With a smile, she waited for Arnie to be free before taking a seat at the bar. “Need any help?” She glanced out the windows before she noted Justin and the LC. If they noticed her, she'd give them a small nod of her head in acknowledgement.

In reply to ob dec (msg # 943):

Justin picked up on Kray's statement.  We're headed to the Corridor... Justin acknowledged Anything you can share? he prompted.

Spotting Arnie and Morrison chatting Justin noted her nod and returned it as he waited for Kays reply.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:25, Sat 26 Feb 2022.

  Arnie   gave a smile,no help  now, Slavic  and I have it  covered...you need a drink?

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

 Shadow  gave  a shrug as he  drank a bit of his soda,Some  chick>  Claims to  be the daughter of  an Arch-Tech?...working on a crashed Chinese  vessel, they think its one of the ships that sailed a few years before The Hermes was finished being built..they   supposedly, built it themselves, but were  found out later, to have   Empire  aid...which? is a good bet why they never let anyone study those  Pyramids  hidden all over  China.

 ..Any way..she  approached   , almost everyone..SM..Me.. and final  The Admiral...don't know what's going on, but she doesn't look like  one of those types  who spent days sitting at a dig hoping to  find some carked toilet bowl.

In reply to ob dec (msg # 946):

Justin grimaced; a city who trying to get her own way, being passed off up the line. Sounds like her speel was sufficiently persuasive to move up the chain. Do you think AH will be swayed into helping out?

  he   shook his head, and pointed at  1:00 of where they sat...out that way, More or less...is Lizard  space.......back around 4:00 or 5:00..will take us into Bug space.... we shove  have went straight from Matterhorn, to Bug  space..But? that would mean we would have  the  Lizards  and Vamps on our  port  and Demons  on our  starboard...not to mention , the chance that  SSN  slips  through Epsilon Quad to try to  sneak in behind us...

 so?  rock  cracking, dirt digging eggheads  get into trouble...and  now it looks like the ESN  is goign to help.... I can't wait  to here why...

"Sure...surprise me," she smiled softly, twisting a lock of hair around her finger.

In reply to Kray Shadow (msg # 948):

Are there any specs in on record about this Chinese Vessel, it may be recoverable and with some refitting provide another Capital for the war.

  Arnie     rubbed his  chin, then  set about making a Drink... he waved  Slavic overt  and she watched..she  watched  as he Mixed  some   Yellow  Liquor, with  some banana Juice, and  Poured a  cap full of  chocolate   into the  Mix, sticking in a straw..

 This is a Nivar Nightfall..watch..

 the   yellow  Liquor was splitting  as the Banana  juice  slipped its  way down,, the chocolate  spread out  in the   Juices'  wake ..becoming a  darker  brown,,slowly covering the  glass.

 One or two, won't hurt.. don't know if you want more then two though..

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

 I dunno? You had Academy History classes?  They are Big..maybe two or three times  as big as the  Hermes? they were made to be colony ships  that could defend themselves... How the 9 hells it  crashes into a Mountain?  i have no clue...Now?  Not sure  if they'd waste time  trying to save it..but that's alot of scrap down there,, and  it wouldn't hurt to see what the Chinese had  in there as far as tech....

She watched how the liquids interacted with one another finding it oddly fascinating yet satisfying to watch. "Do people just...mix things randomly to see what happens and if it ssomething cool and tastes good...turn it into a drink?" Admittedly, Billie knew nothing of mixing drinks or anything...hell, she had only really just discovered the joys of 'partying' here on the Hermes. With a chuckle, she took the drink and sipped at it, savoring the flavors first before swallowing.

Arnie waves a hand at Slavic...people  who  are used to  drinks from other planets , don't normally mix them as earthers  do all the 'alien' liquors  have  opened  , whole new doors   to mixology!

In reply to ob dec (msg # 951):

Justin considered for a moment then gave a shrug. Thinking that it doesn’t really matter what his speculations may be they weren't worth a tinkers with all the stuff that may or may not be happening.
to Officers Quarters---->>>>
This message was last edited by the player at 20:21, Mon 28 Feb 2022.

    Shadow watched the  Blue dots... The Hermes was sailing  towards in, The very fact he couldn't see  vessels on either  side, meant the  Whole fleet was headed there.

    with a shake of his head, and a sigh, the LC  got up ,well..I'm going to go down and see if they  started on my paint  job....if they did, then i'm putting my  nose art on....going to be odd, only painting one...

   walking past  Billie, he  gave a smile and a Nod. sliding the glass down the counter to  Slavic.

 Slavic shook her head...that is the man, my people could not catch  and Kill?....no wonder we surrendered...

 Arnie laughed.

Shadow to Hanger.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>