"I can do books.  Did well in math.  So I think I would like to try.  I do have a breakfast engagement with a 5 year old in a bit.  Then I'll talk with Chief Oric" She finished her cup "I think I'll have to keep coming down here just for the tea." she smiled "My token of home is my old guitar, and a few cigars from home" she was not going to mention the flask.  "Thank you for your time Captain Morris.  I really do appreciate it" she stood up and returned his cup.  With all do proper military protocol she saluted and when given permission she left.

  ..Carry on, Ensign. Good Luck in your studies.. I will warn you this?... The  LC won't let someone  out in the black , if  he doesn't think they can defend themselves...

 walking  down, Lyri  has in a foul mood.....Ma'am, I will speak frankly...  I'm a damned Non-com..i don't understand  one ..whit of  what's goign through  The Admiral's Mind... but I know.. that  you folks, are about  as well liked  as a demon trooper

  As they   cross , heading  to teh shed, she adds,who knows  what the 9 hells  we will be seeing?..Vampic  ships?   Straggling in  with thier Lights on?.. for what?  to join us?...  for  asylum? ...and  we also can  expect  runnign battles with  IPF mercs and such that  don't  want a damn thing to do with us.


   They reach the  door , the  SEC  trooper  took one looks  at  Lyri and stepped  aside.

  She knocked on the door , saluted the  seated  Captain sharply,..The Vampic..Captain?... she is   enlisting as a Blue  Vampic..

 Morris turned   his ehad  to Look at Mortica,..Indeed..well?.... I had My tea, just a mo ago?.. if you two wish a hot or  cold drink, please  help yourself and  we'll get this  bit taken care of...

 Lyri     shifted her SMG  and  took a  small orange  Juice   from the fridge....Thank You sir...

  he motioned with his hand to Mortica, to help herself  while he set up the Vid board.

"Thank you, Captain." Mortica said as she poured herself a cup of tea and looked at Lyri.

"Thank you for speaking frankly on the way down and I do understand what you are saying and what drives it. I don't know what the future will hold and it may very well be just as you described or it may be something far better. The only thing I can say, with certainty, is that I am going to dedicate myself to being the example of what my people can be if we turn away from our base impulses and towards something better. I will fight beside you and I will, if need be, die beside you in protection of this ship. I will give the Captain my oath and I will uphold it."

Henry looked rather hard at Lyri as she spouted off, but didn't say anything.

"Would you like anything to drink, Mortica?" he asked, fixing himself a cup of tea.

"A cup of hot tea would be very appreciated, Dr. Christie, thank you." She sat down and closed her eyes for a moment. For just as brief a moment she trembled before taking a deep breath to shore herself up.

"Of course," said Henry, deftly fixing some more tea.

"Here you go..."

Thank you. How do you think I did, Dr.? I work in shadows and just stepped into the light. It’s most unnerving for me,”  she told him as she took a sip of tea.

Henry grinned.

"You would have convinced me. I think you may have a future in politics..."

She laughed, melodious tones echoing through Morris's shed. "Stars no. I am not suited for that kind of life." She stopped and looked lost in thought.

"The only way I would ever consider such a thing would be if it were in the pursuit of helping to redeem my people. Otherwise I'll let others do that and concentrate on doing my job."

"Good answer. I never trust people who think they know better than I do what I want."

Henry grinned. He'd never trusted politicians.

  Lyri,  Stood   Just outside the Door   with the   rookie  trooper who used to be an SSN  trooper.

  Morris   eyed  her   SMG  and just signed  but turned to Henry  and  Mortica, As he spun  the Vidboard  around and handed her a stylus...

  we are using the Vid board   for your  forms, so you can  read it.... I am uncertain if you are   able to read and write the  Trade  talk?.. but.. it should help you..now?  As you fill out the form, do not sign the bottom, until   i tell you...

 He    was moving   his  mouse   around to bring something up on the  Desk top... the oath, binds you to  service to the APF  first... The ESN  second, and the protection of  all coloinists, ships  and stations under  that ...very large..umbrella..

 Watching her, as she  fills out the Form,..what  does that  entail?... well.. I'm sure  you saw  some of that, at the Ball. The willigness to to sacrifice  your self to save others,  and, when needs  be.. Kill some of your own race.... Quite frankly?  I shoudl think killing  would not effect Vampics  very much.. But.. Cam You Kill other Vampics...

 he looked at her, there was  no ahrd looks, Just a purebred  question.

"I am fluent in Trade Talk, Captain," she said as she read the vid board. She began filling out the sections that required her to do so whilst she listened to the Captain speak.

She looked up when he asked her second question and held up her hands. The nails were long, sharp, and looked hardened. Indeed, she used a special polymer to make them such. "Any Vampic who proves to be the enemy of the people I am taking an oath to protect will die by claw, fang, knife, or firearm. Yes, Captain. I can kill another Vampic. If I see Braccus I will bleed him before I hand him over to the LC and will do so with a smile."

  Morris  nodded   and watched, waiting  for her to Finish the Form. Normally?.. we do not   need   another witness, since we have Vid and such.. But   with the Good Doctor here,..it  will..or should.. help with the over all acceptance .

 he reads the oath off his   Computer  screen though he doesn't even seem to  hardly glance  at it....he stresses  the words.. 'to protect those who cannot  protect themselves regardless of teh Cost"... he stop  for a Moment and says...

 ..most people   may the  folly, of thinking  that  means  of themselves , which is true to a point.... but 'regardless of the costs'.. means what it will cost our enemies , as well....in the realms of the living..there is no better  teacher then negative reinforcement.. You  tell some one , not to tocuh a hot stove, and reward them with a cookie.. that's  fine.. but..if they touche the hot stone, and get burned... they tend not to touch it again... we...burn the hands... of thsoe  who strike against us..

 Then he Finished   the Oath,..if any Blue   Verians  pop up.. they will have to take this oath as well... Now?.. After having   said the oath, and  understanding all it  entails.... You may sign the   form.. and hit  'send'.. once you do?  You  are binded  by that oath and all that it  entails..if nyou change Your Mind?... then hit escape, and your  'enlistment' never happened...make your choice.. ebcause no matter which button you press.. you life  will be changed for ever.

There was no hesitation on her part as she stood. She looked at the vid board and studied it for a moment before standing tall and reciting the oath that was part of the complete change her life had undergone. When she was finished with the oath she signed the form and hit 'send'.

"I'm finished Captain. Lt. Mortica Blackthorne of the APF reporting for duty." She snapped off a salute to him as perfect as any he had ever seen before.

    Captain Morris  truned the  Vid Board to  Henry to sign an addendum ..  they He returned her salute   and shook her hand.

  ..I won't pretend, this will be easy.... but.. it  you show your   value, you will be accepted... I will impose on Henry, and  MAster Chief, to escort you to the  QMs... You will draw    a duty and off  duty Uniform  as an LT in the APF.. for all intent and purpsoe, the  first 'blue' Vampic... by the  time you  draw that uniform... The Good Doctor  and   MAsterChief  will escort your to the  Offciers  Dec  to  fine your new quarters... You will be up a few doors  from out LC.. that is not a coincidence.. The LC  eliminates  a lot  of  what  we need to be eliminated...But he is a rather  fair..if not..violent man.. 

  Once  they deliver you to your  Quarters.. You will be on your own..get to know the ship and its people...  Don't   'try to fit in'... just show people you belong to the APF...Carry On, Lt Blackthorne.

She saluted smartly to Cpt. Norris. "I understand Captain and will follow your advice. Thank you for this, all of you and you, Dr. Cristie. You're a good man and one I hope I can call friend one day."

Henry signed where directed.

"Welcome to our family," he said.

"It will be my honour, Mortica, to show you the QM's and your new quarters."

  Lyri was   as stoic  as  one can get , with out being  stone, frozen Cold. and    lead the  way to the  QMs..

>>>> Mortica  to  QMs>>>>>>>

   As requested, Garrat arrived with them and stood back and silently watched the entire event, if asked to sign as yet another witness, he would. "I will follow as far as the QM and Help you get situated as far as weapons go."

===================>QM
This message was last edited by the player at 16:09, Wed 07 Nov 2018.

"Thank you all. I am honoured by your willingness to accompany me as I move forward to a new day for me and hopefully, the Vampic people."


[To the QM]

Garrat swings back around.  "Captain Morris, do you have a moment?"

  Morris  smiles,..My offcie seems the place to be right now, Come on in SGT..  help yourself  to drink and whatnot?

 what can I do for you?

   Garrat snorts,"Your office is always the place, They may steer the ship from the bridge but they seem to run the fleet from this deck.  Mechs, shuttles, fighters, tactical stage, training, send offs, frankly I'm think the only reason you haven't been promoted is to keep the enemie from knowing how important you are.  I'm glad we didn't lose you when that poisoner came through.  Anyway, I wasn't here for Hacks training exercise so I was hoping you could show it to me before I talk to the Mechys about reinsstalling a simulator...and maybe even borrowing one for the LGT."
This message was last updated by the player at 20:00, Thu 08 Nov 2018.

   Morris   nods, as he goes through the  SEC  Feeds, He brings up the  Feed  …

  ..this is when The Admiral  has everyone  Gather, and begins to set the tone for the...um...demonstration...