Nikki entered the shed and gave her disc. Saluted the higher ranks before speaking.  "I know we didn't get a real fight.  But I thried a few thiing to test the Mantis a bit.  might be something useful.  plus since I am still studying and not a full fledged fighter pilot.  perhaps you could give a few pointers.  I would appreciate it"

There was some LT that had been helping Morris currently in the shed.  The others having stepped out.  She left him the disc and then left.  near the Diamond she took off the gear she didn't need and left it in the cockpit.  It was going to be another few hours before her shift was over and she had Toni picking up Haley.  She could get 4 hours of work done atleast.  She was tired, but now she was cooling down.  The 2nd shift had got much caught up, but there was still some fine wiring to do with the flight controls and operational controls on the port and starboard bubblegun turrets. She got to work.

------------>>>>>>>>>>>>> From Hanger Dec

 Lizzy knocks on the shed door and then opens it and says," Captain Morris could I have a moment Sir?"

  Morris  Nodded,Of  Copurse , Ensign O'Conner... pelase,  grab a  tead  or   coffee..maybe a skone?

 he     shuffles  some papers  and put s them to the side,what do you need?

 Lizzy smiled he used her new last name that made her feel good. " Thank you Sir I am good just a little nervous about later today, but I will be fine Sir." Yeah she was nervous about the traitorous bastard that was coming here and her date with Izzy.

 She then says," LC said I should come tell you what idea I had for my nose art so i don't steal someone else's and so that no one takes mine. I would like to Have a Phoenix on each side, with the words BURN IN on top and THE 9 HELLS on the bottom Sir is that doable Sir?"

.. well?  lets see what we  have?  he  started to    open the files  on  al the  Nose  art  on  fighter  aircraft in the Delta  fleet. he goes through the  alphabet . Lizzy  can see there are a few  that  are marked...  KIA... or MIA..

 well Enisgn?... there  are 11 Phoenix, but  not   saying what you have...so?   When you are set on the final. I will  record  it ion thje Database.

 Lizzy was hoping there where no Phoenix's but she thought there would be. He then said there where 11 Phoenix, damn but none with my words, she smiled and said," Does that mean I can have the Phoenix with those words Sir?" She was lighting up and about to jump up and down, but she tried to calm herself down and said, " Sorry Sir can I have that as my final Nose Art Sir then?"

 Morris  sipped a bit of  tea,I don't  see why  not?.. You can   jeck the  Nose   art data  Base.  there are many forms  of the Phoenix?... Havign   the  same style and same words?   That's frowned on.... SAome Flights will come up with some form  of  Icon.. and  all mthe flight  Members   will work of that... There is a Balck  Flight?.. the  Eagle flight .. Snake Flight..I'm sure many more... The  LC want's  people here to   have thier own style?  Us  paper pushers  make sure  no one looks the same.

 ..Go apply it? before  the Universal Mind , give s some one else the  same idea..

 Lizzy smiled and said," Yes Sir I have my own Style of Phoenix and thank you Sir, the QM will have everything I need correct Sir?"  Lizzy will wait for hi answer and then very bubbly head out for the Quarter Master's office.

------>>>>> To QM Lockers

<===Hangar Dec

"Captain Morris?" she asked as she knocked and then saluted him.  She like the shed, it always smelled ...well British...in a way.  Tea and such she thought.  "Are you busy or can you spare a few minutes?"

  ..hmm?.. why no?  Have a seat.. grab a cup of tea. eh?  make   a roll or danish?.. skones  to..wit?... ther eis coffee  and water, if you would like?

 one of his screens  ha d a    do  mark  the dot was getting closer...Now?  what  can I do  for you Ensign?

"How about a bit of that fabulous orange tea you have?  Please" that was one she truly liked.  She came in and sat "Still recovering from that 'ceremony' and the tunnel run as well" she gave a soft smile "Well, I was wondering about nose art.  I am rather stuck for any ideas and what would be permissible and such.  Closest I have gotten to a response came from Lt. Regal and that was a flag pole with an outline of my swimsuit cutoffs.  I know it should show or have bearing on a personal note or basis.  This leaves me a bit catawampus.  I was thinking something musical, but I am thinking maybe something on a more different line might be better.  Plus if something I do come up with …is it unique?"

  Morris  nods... he   things a  bit as he  chews on a bit of  skone, while  Nikki fixes her tea.

 well?... sinc e people  startign doing such things, all the way  back to the Greeks?   art used on shields..pennants .. nose art .....reflected something of    who that person 'was'..as this war  goes on..piltos   on both sides..much like wars on our own Earth, get known by thier    colors , or   artwork... so?.. what  Makes  Ensign Rutlegde .... 'ensign rutledge   the Pilot"...The Ace?

"Well...was hoping for more help.  I mean I was thinking maybe 'Tobacco Jack', or 'Whisky Jack's.  however the 'Jack's doesn't feel right.  Then thought about music...  perhaps the Muse of music?
 Thought it kinda ..out dated.  'A, B, or  C Sharp'... maybe.  Was thinking something a bit more intimidating.  'Requiem for Hello or some such.  What do you think?
 Or should I put 'crazy woman pilot's? she smirked.

  Morris   smiles  a  big  as he sipped,..I am , Most Certain, that  title  could be used  for  everyone  of  our LAdy pilots

 ..Though i do like Music, i cannot  say i am a Musicain?  Somehting like  " High C" " Fiddle  sticks?"   I don't   Know, Ensign, you'll have   to  pick something you feel is  you,

"Well more helpful than some responses I've gotten" she smiled and finished her tea "Damn fine tea" she stood to leave.

  Morris  stood   with a  smile, he held up a had  while opening a  drawer near the  hot plates.

  ..her you go?... something to   pamper  yourself  with  on those  odd  nights... he handed her  a  pouch of   6  Orange-tea,... rather  stocked up myself... will be   getting more such creature  comforts , next station we hit.

"An officer and a gentleman...love it"  she smiled as she thanked him and began leaving.  she still had a problem though, but atleast she was in better spirits for it.

===> back to the hangar dec

<===Hangar Dec

"Captain Morris, Ensign Rutledge reporting.  I have my disc.  I think I got 2 more to add.  As well I think I know what I'd like to put on for nose art, if acceptable" She knew something was going on, but not in the direct loop she would just have to sort it all out as it would unfold.  She also knew not everyone made it back.

    Morris  nodded with a  slight smile  as he smoked  hus pipe.. a fan drew , most of the  smoke out, into the   Hanger Vents.

  ahh..very good, two less of the Blighters out there.

 he   grinned a bit,shouldn't  take me long... just have to make  sure  the beggers  didn't run into a tree otut there..eh?

She didn't quite understand what he meant so just responded with "Quite" as she looked at him "I was wondering if there were any other craft with the nose art of a banshee or golden Banshee specifically" she asked him

  Morris  puled down his glasses and    pulled up  registered nose  art... There is  "The Black Banshee" on the  Zeus..... and   the Screaming Nanshee of the  Hector.. so? you can have a Banshee?.. just not those two.

She thought about it a moment "Okay then... think I'll go with 'Banshee', just straight up." she gave a slightly crooked smile "I'll do a bit of research and sketch to get it looking nice.  Thank you sir" she saluted and exited the shed

 he waved her off  with a smile, and began to study her Gun CAm footage

Shadow  , ect from hanger  after  Battle of Uden ))

  Pilots  were  leaving and entering  to drop off  discs.. Morris   saw Shadow   coming   and sighed , he poured himself a Tea  and sat down.

 Captain Si had come down from the Bridge , Leaving Miller   in the chair.    Morris began to set up his Vidboards  and Computer screen.. Hack and Hennings  approached  as well as  a battered and   smudged   General Bale.

 the   Flag officer s  entered, each fixing a coffee or Tea shadow grabbed a  can of soda Foster   and M  flight all took a drink as well..Dixie  had a water...
 the shed  was a Bit   Small.. Toni Rogar stopped,  just inside the Door..  CArl Will   just inside.. Dixie  was made to  sit  next to Morris.. the three bridge officers  were  against the Bow  wall..covering the window  to the flight lines.. Shadow  was in  the  corner closest to the  flight lines. Foster stood  behind Morris, Yuito next to him..Kate  Joll next to Him, her   face  covered in  lube from a pulse  round  that  cracked her   visor  and hit  the  lube lines, she looked  like an odd  celtic  warrior  with a band of 'clean' across her  mouth and eyes, the rest of her  face, light  blue.

 Shadow asked....Lones?

 Foster    looked  down , then back to Shadow and  shook his head  'no'.. Shadow frowned.

 Morris cleared his throat...Right then,  We have a Grave  Situation here, Ensign Beamon... The WC of the ESN  351 Hermes  has  called for a Scan # 3.. his   Vocal request was , because of  allegations  from Your flight leader and several  pilots  of your  Flight.  We have had  one other  Scan # 3 when Lt  Kase was here, involving   He and Besserman.... Kase  refused  to show up for hearing.... you did not  have a Choice.... Kase?... after some  discussion  was  sent  back to Fuji as a trainer. mostly due to  his  flying skills, and his length of service on the Hermes.. He  could have ended up in a colony... or...walked there... BUT., had he showed for his hearing, Besserman  would have been cashiered and.. sent o a colony...perhaps  saving the lives    of a waitress and one of our Covert  agents.  , Xyran....

 We have decided  to  do the scan now.... the hearing will be  ...now... and the Judgement  wil be ..now...Any Questons?

 Dixie  took  a sip of water.what can be the outcome?

 General Bale   spoke,..you may be  found  'Not at fault'..in which case, you go back to your  duties...... the second is.. you are found  'in neglect'.. if that would be the case, you would be grounded until  The   SIMs   chief  sent you through retraining. And   brought you up for  activation ..The  third  choice is 'willful abandonment '   if that is the case..whether  it was because of  Fright, or neglect..carries the price of Death...

 Dixie's eyes   widened , she looked  around at  all teh faces.. Toni  and Carl stared in anger..

 Morris, it was clear was in charge  of the proceedings , continued.....I  have  ballot  cards   that  those who judge ,will fill out... the  three  outcomes are listed.. they may only pick  one, by checking the box... should they   not  wish to  vote, or  choose..not to Vote.. they  cross  an X over  all three.. there  can be no misunderstanding of the Vote.

 He cleared his  throat...sipped some  tea...... for  this Scan.. Admiral  Hack...Admiral Hennings, General Bale Captain Si and   Lt Foster  will Vote... I cannot Vote, since  i am the  proctor... WC  Shadow  cannot Vote  because he is the person who requested  the Scan... Had  LT  Foster  requested it... he would  not be allowed  to Vote, and WC  Shadow would have voted... once the scans  are  finished, all but those who do not Vote  will leave the Shed... once the ballots are checked  and accounted for.. we  will Call you  back in   for the Verdict... Now? let us see the scans.

 the scans  from   The Hermes... the  Heimdall, that was  passing   as it engaged  a verian  cap ship below them. Dixie's  Gun cam..Roger's  Gun Cam..Foster's Gun Cam and a poor view  of the battle  area from the Achilles , who was a few miles  behind   The Hermes   and showed the   area   between  The  Hermes   , the Cap  ship it pounded on the starboard  side,, that the area of   engagement  where   Dixie and M  flight was  fighter,  and her  ..'blasting off'...away from the    dog fight.

  The  vids  were  damning... each screen showed  a differant CAM. Dixie's  was  the worst, as the  Cam Showed Rogar going in for a 'Shadow Screw", But  Dixie  didn't pick up any of the  targets..Toni managed to torch the middle one  and   'wound' the  diving  one, she turned to finish it  off, but the climbing one, with  no one to  occupy , or destroy it   tore Toni's   Mantis to bits.. Toni   PODed  out   when Both   wings   tore off, the  rest of the craft  exploded a hard beat later...

 Foster's    showed  a brief   2 second  view  of   Dixie shooting straight up, just as the 'healthy '  Verian  doved   down on Toni...

 Shadow asked for that vid to be stopped. that Verians..Tail fin #386.... i saw that one    as it  was  making the run on the Hermes... check my Gun cams to be sure... I torched it , to get it out of the way of  a shuttle i wanted to get... Had it not been there.. that would have been one less impact on The Harvester!

 Dixie's eyes got  Big..You don't know that!... What if I would have mnmissed, it was , sure enough, a furball!

 Captain Si ( a fighter pilot) spoke up.... You  could have  hit it at the top of its  climb.. or?..  turned and   got on its  6 as it  Dove  for Ensign Roger.. As a Red Bird.. you made  many such kills on Aqra....

 Dixie's mouth moved   , no words  came out.

  Vids  form The Hermes  show   Fin # 386..  weaving  and firing on another Hermes  Fighter, that went  up in a fire Ball...

 Foster pointed...That was Lones!

  there was  grumbling behind   Dixie..  Morris pounded the desk with a paper weight.ENOUGH!.. this is a hearing.. it will be conducted as such...

  the rest of the Vids  weren't any better.. Dixie 'blasting off'... Lones getting torched  and Toni  escaping with her life by a hamster tail.

  Morris stopped   each Vid  at the  'moment in question'..Ensign Beamon.. you have   the right to make a statement...please understand. The armorer's  report shows, that you only  fired off 40 , 37MM rounds  and your heavy pulse   was estimated to be...15 long burst , or  30 short bursts...so any attempts to blame 'malfunction'  would be considered  a lie, and be more damning to your case...

 Dixe looked around   the faces of the Men and  woman were cold..there was no 'support'...no..'boredom'..

 I ..I was not  well... I did not trust myself to engage at the time... I did   bring  down  a Fighter that made the charge to  the Hermes...

 MED TECH..I Need LT Simmons  down her  ASAP... even as he COMed   he ran Dixies  Gun CAM  to near the end  when the Hermes  Aircraft  chased the    suicide aircraft from Behind..she  did...indeed.. torch a fighter  towards  the  'stern' impact' of the line... The VIDs showed, however.. that she did  not join the    Hermes  fighters until they already made thier first pass...

 Shadow pointed  at Dixie  Gun CAM  Vid..after  asking it to be  wound back...She is looking down on us..as  we attacked them head to head... There is not real way to tell..but..had she been in line? she may have torched another  aircraft... and you add on the   'turkey shoot '  as we came about.. she could have  downed, at least one more...and..Had she taken out  #386..Toni would have still been Flying and so would  Have .Lones... there is a chance of ..what? maybe  6 less    suicide craft! At least!.. ..and..if  they would have been shooting well, maybe as many as 12!..6 might have saved alot of Harvester lives!..12..might have saved the HArvester..


 General Bale   cleared his throat,Those assumptions ,Are just that....but..the fact  remains, that, by   running away..  Ensign Rogan was take out of the  fight.. and Ensign Lones was killed... though The WC's assumptions  do carry some  weight.. we must be clear headed in this vote...

 Shadow   took a deep drink of his soda  and nodded,Agreed sir...

 Dixie  added,..I Know I can do better...

 Stefi came in, her Unform clean from the knees up..but  below the knees  had  Blue and Red Blood  splattered..this better be important!

 Hack  nodded,It is... Scan # 3.. we need  you to test  Ensign Beamon's health...

 Stefi slammed her   case on the desk..opened it, pulling out  an injection                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        gun.. she drew Blood,,  sent it into the   'spinner'  in her  case.. in 15 seconds or so it came up Green..

 she  is  healthy now.. she was healthy for the last 6 hours, and  will be for  , at least.. the  next 6 hours... she  left the   readout with Morris's desk  and left with  no other words  to get abck to patching up wounded.

 Morris   nodded as he looked at the read out.

 SEC..please  come to  stand guard over   Ensign Beamon, outside   the Shed?.. the rest of   you, will leave.. Shut the door  while the vote takes  place.. I will summon you in, once the Voting  has  ended.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:55, Fri 24 Jan 2020.