The People   were coming in, there were a few stragglers, including 1 of the Heimdall troopers...Oscar, it was to be noted   finished in the Middle of the pack.

   Shadow  looked  at the  Clock on Beth's  table... He called over to   Sam and Orria...anyone left out there?

 They could only see  Roll  and Thor  as   Roll  tried to get Thor  to run with him, then have to run back  and Point the Pup in the right direction.

 While Shadow  waited, for the answer, he looked over the Crowd. Nodding to the SEC troops  in particular...

 First off... Thank You all  who weren't mandated to be here, for  coming. From The Brass to  the SEC.

 I LIKED IT! Giles shouted, Nifty and Jax  laughed   as  they 'roughed him up'

 others  laughed..The mercs  didn't think it was  funny

 Pilots who have to POD out, are at the mercy of the land, and the enemy... the one  way  to survive,  is  to be able to run like  hell for a decent distance, knowing, that the bad guys  can  probably out run you, since they  have the  hike or run most of the time...

 Now? there are  two 'punishment laps ' left.... The mercs and Heimdall troopers , except for Oscar..must run those  laps... I will run with them..the Largs? of  course will be running , because they love to  run...

  Margo was  damn near in a Panic.her  eyes  wide  as she  gripped Gunny's  pack straps...He's Going to  make me  run again!..You said  we wouldn't have to!

 Gunny  passed her off to Fred White,,he stepped up...Beggin' yer pardon LC..but  Margo beat you...By alot... . people  agreed..some   mumbled...

 That she  did. but a good  few seconds too.. Not as Bad  as  Zob... he Grinned at the  Demon, then  Turned back to  the Gunny,There was nothing on the table   about you not running if  one of you beat me..... and? Punishment Laps..well.. they are Punishment? Its in the name!

 People laughed.

 well..she can't  run again..I won't let her...

Shadow's smile fade,YOU....have  no  say...there are   5 people here  who can  stop me  from making her run..Admiral Hack, Hennings, Roles..Captain  Si and the SM....  then his eyebrow went up....or LT  Simmons..

 Stefi  was talking with Haley, she saw the Look on Shadow's face  as he mentioned her name. She turned to Roy and Looked..

 some of the laughter stopped   Zia was on her hands and Knees gasping after  coming in dead last..

 Admiral  Hack sipped from his bottle of water....I'm running again?.. don't see  why the trooper  can't  run..even if she's burned out. she  will still have to take the Punishment...

Stefi looked at Roy...then Shadow added...Stefi can give her a H2 shot.... she'll be able to Run..she might  have a headache, or upset stomach at the  end of it...but no worse for wear...

Margo's eyes  widened...NO!...NO  H2  shot...

 Stefi looked at Shadow   with Wide eyes....

Captain  Si's eyebrows furrowed as she sipped her  water, but didn't say anything.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:19, Tue 08 Mar 2022.

She ran hard, pushing herself to her limit and focusing just on herself. It wasn't a competition...other than against herself. Finding that zone seemed to be what Billie needed as she ran perhaps the best that she had at these tunnel runs. Breathing hard, she moved to one of the tables, grabbing a bottle of water and sipping at it as she did her best to regulate her breathing.

The run was more than what Tulliun had expected. It took a lot of effort to keep up in the back of the large group that formed in the middle. He was beat when the lap was over. He wasn't as wiped as the trooper on the ground, but, since he wasn't forced to be here, he wasn't staying for more abuse. But, he knew he'd have to work on his endurance.

Because he knew he planned on running the additional laps, TI-JO had opted to not burn himself out on the first go around, instead going for the long game, so he was, if he was honest with himself, a bit lazy on the first lap. But, when the LC and Admiral were talking about getting the other two laps in, he headed back to the starting line.

 Hemsly  looked at the mercs... No? even  Me  Captain can run a lap or two up here.... the  who company  was a sight  to see. but there  ain't  many of us  left.....seems to me, yer  bunch would wanna  stick together...  we  don't leave a folks   behind,,, Pilots   help us  ground folks...Ground  Folks help the  Pilots.... ye'd be  surprised  at how ye have  to come together....

 Fred White  still holding   Magro  just said ..fuck off, Limie

 I'm a Bloody Scot  ye...dobber  ye...

PVT, Tanna Wishworth, one of the New  ESN transfers snapped...Mind your  Mouth , Yank or  you'll be growing back teeth..

Shadow  snapped...AT EASE!!!..and things begin to get  quiet...

 He looked over the    gathered  crew... Largs   shuffing in the back round. The Brass   just stood   by drinking water, and Let Shadow run the show...

 Noiw?  those who  do not  have to run, and want to leave..you are  dismissed... those who have to  run..get ready..that means  ..ALL..of the mercs  and new transfers....

 Margo was still in a panic...

Zob watched carefully at the exchange going on he would move to the back of the line to run again just for the fun of it, part of him wanted to just crush Margo's skull like a fresh melon but he gave Roy his word that he would not draw first blood.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:45, Tue 08 Mar 2022.

Nikki was breathing hard and sweating from her run, like the others as she drank a few sips of the cool water Haley handed to her.  She listened and as she and Lizzy well knew what Shadow talked about on needing to run, she kept her knees and feet moving.  in a bit of a gasping voice Nikki said looking at the merc "I'll run LC.  I think I still owe you a few" She winked at him.  He could have turned her in for the RecDec incident, extra running would certainly be punishment.  Also Nikki was thinking of putting Margo in her place by being willing to run no matter what to her being so willing to give up and quit.  Atleast that one undying brain cell thought it.  She took another small sip and splashed some on her face.  Stood tall and moved to the line unless he stopped her, again stil lightly jogging in place.  Lizzy would know her movement and Izzy too.  She was not trying to swagger and toss an attitude as she had nothing to prove, she just had to do it.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:22, Tue 08 Mar 2022.

Justin heard raised voices, from the group of runners milling around behind him. Knowing that whatever was happening would be resolved by the Brass in short order, Justin kept up his steady 120 pace jog, moving smoothly along the tunnel passage.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:43, Tue 08 Mar 2022.

 Meari moved her way towards Margo," So you are a one-shot wonder, I will run as hard as I did each time, because each tunnel run is a jump-off and if you don't run with everything on a jump-off your dead plain and simple. The only time I don't run all out is for training correct LC. When you can run that way every tunnel run lap then I will be very impressed, because you ran very well for 3 miles." She smiled at her Uncle, technically, and got ready for the second lap.

 Meari does move closer to the LC and says," Sir you want me watch the transfers, maybe help calibrate some of the Heimdal , or run all out?"

 Lizzy thought about it for a minute and then lined up next to Nikki and said," Ok wing-woman let's do this shall we." Lizzy smiled at the LC and got her game face on, and ready to give it her all again.

Meari came near Nikki to the line she held a hand out in fist style for a bump.

Roy shook his head, the disgust on his face plain to see.  "You know why I have Sec run the tunnels, Gunny?" he asked, in a tone that made it clear he was NOT waiting for an answer.  "It's because we don't have the luxury of a fast plane to get us out of the line of fire, and when the enemy makes a push, we have to respond.  When the enemy falls back, we have to respond.  WE DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF PAUSING TO CATCH OUR BREATH BECAUSE SOME DUMBASS WAS SHOWBOATING!!!"

It wasn't often that Roy looked and sounded well and truly angry, but he was seething.  "I told you that if you couldn't pass muster here, you'd spend the rest of your time polishing the deck with your ass, at best.  If she can't make two more laps, she doesn't go down.  If ANY OF YOU can't make two more laps, YOU RIDE THE BENCH WITH HER!"

He glared at the lot of them.  Without breaking eye contact with the gunnery sergeant, he added, "That includes you Heimdall pukes that couldn't or wouldn't keep pace with everyone else.  Right now, there's only one of you fit for duty, which is why he isn't being ordered to run more laps!"  He moved in, glaring at the Gunny, daring him to protest.  "Is that clear enough for you, Gunny?  Or do I need to ask Roll to bring me some crayons so I can draw it out simple enough for you to comprehend?"

His voice raised from the angry growl of a personal challenge to the resonant bark of a drill instructor.  "We don't like leaving people behind!  If you can't prove that you can keep up with us on the ground, then we'll leave you on the ship!  But if you're too tired to keep running after one lap around the ship, you're a battlefield liability and you should be slinging mops in the head, not firearms on the field!"  He paused, his jaw clenched with barely contained anger, before he continued.

"You've got thirty seconds to get your asses on the starting line!  Anyone that doesn't make it will get the shittiest jobs I can think of!"  His voice dropped again to something between a snarl and an angry purr as he said, right in the Gunny's face, "And I've got one hell of an imagination..."

He turned and stepped up to the line.  "Clock's ticking, babies!  Get the bottles out of your mouths, pull up your diapers, and get ready to run!  TWO LAPS!!!  And pray you do well enough that I don't decide you need MORE practice!"

Henry walked over to Margo.

"Hi. I'm Henry, a bio-tech, and I hate running. Come run with me."

He held out his hand.

"We can go round together."

Tulliun was getting ready to head back to his quarters when he saw that nearly everyone else was lining back up. He contemplated going to his quarters anyway, but decided to stick it out and got back in line anyway.

 Margo Looked at Henry, she was  Wild eyed  as  Fred White held her...back off , Doc... we're troopers, you wouldn't Understand...

 Shadow  moved passed the Admiral  skirting the Gunny who had a  'full-auto' SM in his face...and gave   Fred  push,,,which caused  Margo  to   move away ,,as she  looked , around like a  scared  animal.Doc Henry?  The Warrior Prof? You haven't seen the  Vids...The Hermes Cartoon?..seen a magazine... This man , most likely , killed more   enemies then you have  seen.... and  he has  certainly  seen more Empire  troops  then you have killed...

 Looking at Stefi, the  LC pointed to Margo...H2  shot...and I mean now...

Stefi hesitated, in a very uncharacteristic , subservient tone  she  said.....Kray?  Are you sure...

 Shadow   Gave MArgo  a look, ignoring anyone  else  as he   said with a savage  grin...Yes....iTs all on Me...The Admiral  and everyone else here  heard me Order it.....Unless...Margo?  You think there is a damn good reason, not  to get the H2 shot?

 Roles  who was  trying to  stretch out Muscles he has not used in a while , calmly said..Lt  Brown?..I think..a senior  on the academy Mile team..big dog Until me, and Shadow, and Flores started  stealing some of the lie light... he took double doses  of H@, before  every meet.. still couldn't  quite beat us... then he beat us  by 10 yards..There was enough  officers  who didn't like us, to 'let it  go'..Shadow fixed that  with the  2 mile?  he simply said...

Shadow chuckled,I said, I guess you'll beat us  by 10 yards  this time? Unless it was a fluke

Brown died ,  on the 6th lap..turns out  he had  doubled up his H2 for the Mile..then doubled it again  for the 2 mile...

 Shad0ow turned  to Margo....just looked at her  as he waved  Stefi over.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:47, Wed 09 Mar 2022.

"Get a boost if you feel the need," said Henry gently.

"Don't worry, Steffi won't overdose you. I'll run with you if you want the company."

And he hadn't even intended to do more than one lap although he guessed Mila wanted to stay and run some more with the largs.

 Margo  was afraid her  eyes over  wide..

 Of course?  you could   run with out the  H2?.... you'd  be pushing your body  harder? but that shouldn't matter, right?. That's what work outs  are  for...

 so?..... H2  Shot...go without?...your call, but you['re  running. That is, Unless you have a damn good reason for me not to make you.

 Flora  Moss  tried to speak up..Admiral Hennings  pointed at her  and shook his head..and she   back  away.

 LET'S GO! he snapped in his best officer's  voice....people have thing to do!

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

 Gunny looked at Shadow and   MArgo..Stefi was preparing the shot.

 the other mercs   went to the  Line, Zia  had to be helped  to line up again, she  ws drinking  alot of water.

As his gasping for air subsided, Tulliun was grateful for the distraction and delay. He was still heaving by the start line, determined to make another go of it.

Frustrated by the whining and delaying, TI-JO walked over to the gathering, If you're so afraid of the shot, I'll take it for you. Then, when I don't die, you'll see it was worth taking. his face was still flushed from having run two laps already, but he had no issue bolstering himself up to use an insulting tone at the lady Merc.

——> QM Stores

Stepping through the hatch that led into the tunnels, Harry would be greeted by raised voices as some form of commotion played out between Shadow and a bunch of troopers she’d never seen before I guess some things never change she mentally sighed before continuing over to where Roy was. It hadn’t taken her as long as she’d originally thought it would for her to file the report and get her new equipment so had decided to gear up and swing by, figuring that she could always run by herself if they had already started, with her more interested in getting the exercise after being cooped up on the corvette than any form of competition ”Room for one more SM, or should I wait until you guys have finished and exercise by myself?” she politely asked not really caring if she ran with the others or ran by herself when they had all finished, but deciding she’d best ask before doing so.

 Meari turned and smiled at Nikki and gave her a fist bump. Meari then moved closer to the Mercs and Margo.

 Meari still carrying her 30-cal. just looked at Margo and said, " You are going to run, now get on the line, get the shot if you think you need it, but you are running. I could let you carry my 30-cal. if you wish." Meari hefts up her 30-cal. and adds, " Should have been more prepared for the run, that does not give me much trust in your groups abilities at all."

Justin had jogged just over a quarter of a mile from the  deliberations which he calculated had been going on for about 4 minutes. Continuing his steady pace he moved effortlessly along the tunnel taking measured regular breaths in and out each two paces.

Roy gave Harry a world-weary grin.  "Tunnels runs are voluntary for Sec...you want to jump in on this lap, be my guest."  He cast an annoyed look over his shoulder at the confrontation going on, then turned back to Harry.  "Excuse me for a moment.  And welcome back...good to see you're still in one piece."  His smile was genuine.

It disappeared almost immediately as he turned around and walked over.  "For the love of..."  He let the words die, shaking his head with a deep scowl.  "Nobody's taking the shot for her.  Can't you puzzle out why she's so scared of it? he asked, before fixing his gaze on her.

"She's already hit her limit of it.  Another shot will kill her...won't it, Margo?" he asked, his voiced loaded with accusation.  "Only question is whether it was her idea or the Gunny put her up to it...that's why she pointed out that he said there wouldn't be any extra laps.  Juice her, so she beats Shadow, thinking this whole thing is nothing but a pissing contest.  Never thought we actually do this shit because it saves lives, did you?!"  He looked back and forth between them, daring them to contradict his assessment.

   As  Roy  finished talking to  Harry,  Shadow's eyes narrowed  and Shifted to Admiral Hack..The admiral   just shrugged, Shadow turned  Back to Margo shaking his head.....Like things  weren't bad enough...

When  Roy sorted  out his hunch, and  looked at Gunny and Margo..Shadow   started to laugh.well..that explains alot...and ...what? You thought  we were going to let you slide?.....

 SM..we have  people  waiting  who want to  make something of  themselves..

  He  pulled Gunny over  by the  pack strap , to stand  between  the SM and himself...Look around you..... we  have all types of folks here..we  have  Non-humans' who wanted  to serve  on the Tip of  The Spear...... We have  ex-SSN folks, who escaped with thier live s and serve with us...

 Cora  was leaning against Will near the   starting point and waved  ...

 we  have..REAL..EMS  folks...  Raven  stood with red Water....  Roles   just nodded.

 we got  guardians, and Stem kids and Professors...but..you know who doesn't last? Folks  who think too much of themselves...folks who only think about themselves...So..Gunny... these folks follow your orders, until one of us gives them one....how did MArgo come to take H2...

  You tell us now..or  by all the Gods  I shoot everyone of you up  with H2X2...and make you run  till your heart pops...

 Stefi says...I don't have that much up here...

 Then, LT...you'll send for more..and  give  everything you have here, to Gunny  Hill.

 ..But..I'm a Med tech..I Just....

 Captain Si handed her  half sipped  bottle of water to Haley..Then, LT   Simmons.. i will administer  it..I have the training..

 Gunny looked  from Shadow  to Roy... Fred  White  spoke up....No..don't do any of that.... Gunny Juiced. Like  the SM said... figured  we'd knock him down a Peg or two' in front of his home folks...

 Shadow   Looked at Fred, then at  Gunny...There isn't a damn person  on this ship...maybe in this  fleet..that doesn't want to  win ..at  anything..more then me. But That doesn't mean  i don't like it, when  something  like  a tunnel runs happens, and someone beats  me straight up..fair and square... he gave  Gunny a stiff arm.

 and you were willing to let her die....just for her beating me?....

  I want every damn  Heimdall and Merc  to line up...except for Oscar..if  Oscar runs..he  runs with the rest of the SEC  doing Voluntary......  the mercs.. are going to  run as many Laps  as i can run.... the rest of you, can drop out anytime you wish....Stefi?.. send MArgo  down to a med tech Cell...she is to be checked  every hour...when the H2 is gone..you COM me..then Me and MArgo will run, until she drops, or I do.

Stefi motioned to a Guardian to  take her   gear and weapons..they  they escorted her down the stairs...

The  ESN  transfers  and Pilot transfers, he said...You folks finish this lap... you go, check your quarters..check your rides..or  go to SEC and see where you'll be..

 Beth wave to Sam and orria ... Roll and Thor were still at the stern end of  Sam's  side..Set the Clocks and Camera's  watch for the starting light... she said into her head  set. one crossed leg  bouncing up and Down  as Fred Looked at her...

 ..betcha   you didn't think this  was part of your paycheck..

 he was about to say something , when Shoey  pushed him ...hard..towards the starting line.

The  Lights  blinks, the Gun sounded...  The Largs and Mila  took off in the   'nails on chalk board  sound' of claws hitting and  pushing off the steel plates..

As they ran, Gunny   ran, trying to stay with  Roy....that's it then..he's Just gonna  make us run a  few laps?
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:50, Thu 10 Mar 2022.

Justin was closing on half a mile when he heard the start gun fire. He wondered if any of the mercs would be able to catch up  and how long it would them to do so.