Xyran watched the situation with interest but kept on his guard, "Something seems off about this situation Osk call it a type of combat intuition but you can feel the tension in the air" Xyran may of been over thinking things but he knew to trust his gut when things seemed off.

  Leslie looked around nervous,..Sirs?...  I cannot  say for sure?  there was rumors  they  had to kill humans  while the  Empire Officers  watched. Either in person or  via  Vods?.. I never  was  in the runnign for  command...

 Colt  was a little less  worried,..Lt?... I was  in contact with the  higher ups in the SSN...The  pass into high command..Captain or higher..  they  had to   Eat, Human  children,,, some of them  learn to ..'prepare them'....most times.. the  'next dish'..is sitting there  watching... so?.. LT.... The SSN, is  supposed to be   the  Child of the EVOLs  and EDT... a way to  hide behind   new uniforms, but old ways.. they are.. the first stepping stone, into handing  Earth over to the Empire.

  Gia   , knew , of  course, but her  revulsion couldn't be hidden... Shadow  started  to walk over to the Table  with   a bag that had his container of mushroom soup and  rolls.

………………………

 Finnes   says quietly ..that is a new pilot..i don't recognize him..he  appears to be ....a problem?

Justin took a seat, facing the SSN Transfer, scratching Larry's head. Glancing at Besserman. Are you prepared to provide us all detaild and specifics of the SSN Structure and Command you are familiar with?

  Besserman was  off  kilter , he looked at Justin, his eyes  narrowed,..I have  always  been ESN... i was just fastracked...didn't have to study things that didn't have anything to do with Flying and fighting..

 By this time  Shadow stopped  By LArry and Justin, put his soup down on the talbe  as he eyed  Besserman..

Xyran looked back at Finnes and responded back quietly, "It would appear so if this many SEC personnel and the Admiral are here confronting him over something"

Roy glanced over at Shadow, hoping this wouldn't turn into the confrontation he'd been working to avoid all day.  "Ah, LC...we were just bringing Besserman up to speed on the realities of who the ESN enemies are.  I'm sure you'll be absolutely shocked..." and the tone of his voice made it clear that he actually didn't expect Shadow to be even remotely surprised, "to hear that he'd been led to believe that the EVOLs, EDT, and SSN were all fighting the good fight and holding the line at Ranier.  He's only just now been informed of how the SSN inducts their command officers into office..."

He turned and looked at Besserman.  "You still think those vids you watched on Matterhorn were truth?  Or would you like us to call up the five years of news reports, from multiple agencies, demonstrating everything we've come across chasing the Empire across three quadrants?  Because, you know, I've got time.  We can go all the way back to the first Demon ship the Hermes encountered and show you all the footage of what we found there.  Hope you've got a strong stomach...having been fast-tracked and all, you missed out on some of the more gruesome aspects of Basic Training, but this would be a test, even if you'd fought your way up through the ranks the old-fashioned way."

     Eyes narrowing as he listened  to  Roy   but didn't take his stare  off Besserman.

   Hack looked around   He noted the look on Shadow's face, then Looked at Roy.  Have   Troopers  Call, Colt , and Scarlett  take  LT   Besserman to  SEC..  set him up in a room there.. and Have Beth feed him the  footage... I what special highlights of of Bura... and I what   footage from Zolth..before  we landed there... Then  I what  footage  of     Captain Wess,,, the wife... getting  the  meal ready... after that feed him what  footage   you want....

 Hack looked   stone cold  at Besserman,..a little later?.. I am MAking a call to Matterhorn..i am going to find out why you were sent here... Then I am Goign to   come  Down to SEC with the  Commander.. and  we will give yuy a quiz.. on  the Vids you have seen... keep in mind..LT Besserman... we not only have seen these vids... we have lived them..Troopers..  Take him   to his ..'history' class.

 Will   finished   his glass of Sangria   and     motioned for   Besserman to follow  them.. Colt  was on the other side.. Scarlett  led the way.

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

 ... we should just  Bounce him..let him  sit on Delta  Sigma  or  somewhere...

 Hack    nodded,..That could happen, LC.... but i want to see what effect..if any.. those Vids   have....

 ..why Bura?

  Hack Looked at Roy them  Turned awat from   Shadow as he watched  Besserman get into the elevator.... why?..  to show him  the turncoats in action?.... and their loss of course?... Zolth shows    what happens  to   earthers  who turn coat.. Wess... Nickerson... Lady V got away, of course... but... she's is only half  free... she may be buildign a  Fellt  with the Empire..but she  can't enjoy  any  of the fruits of her  labor...at elast.. Not in ESN Quads.

 He   then  Looked to the Occui,..Seems  like i have Vistors?.... Carry on  you  two..That goes for all of you...  He shoos  the others   away to go about thier n   business.. then Aproaches  the Occui.

Roy almost chimed in to comment that Lady V had just become even more limited...but explaining how would mean talking about Besserman's family tree.  He didn't want to give Shadow an excuse to have another confrontation.  That could wait until later...until they saw hiw Besserman reacted to the real story of the war.  Until they found out why Matterhorn had sent him to the Delta Fleet.

Instead, he just nodded to Will as the trio led Besserman out, heading for security.  He turnex to Shadow and gestured to the table he'd vacated, where Justin and Larry were still located.  "Come on over and have a seat, Shadow...I was just trying to cleanse my palate after having to compliment Cummings..."

  Shadow  grabbed his   bag  of  food  and  sat  down with  Justin , Roy  and a sniffing Larry.

 aww..man?... Did he beg  for  any food?...


 Larry Tilted his ehad, his eyes  looked  'hurt'.

  Shadow  and  a  circle with  two hands  to Dana , and Pointed at larry.  He    sat back,wow?.. Complimenting Cummings?.. You're a Better man then I am....

 then he looked at his take food,..seems Lilit   and Dusk are staying   on board over night.. so the   Kids  wanted to hang out in the ambassador's  quarters.

In reply to Rec Dec (msg # 218):

Not at all LC, Larry was the epitome of manners; besides he was more intent on watching the Newbie than asking for food affording Larry a glance and giving him a scratch on the opposite side of his head to the side he'd been scratching.

  Shadow looked at Larry who thumped this tail. Dana  was on t  way over  with a steak in his  bowl.

 well.. that's good... folks  can be burning  Creds   just to  feed a hungry  Larg...


 of course, I think ...hungry ..and Larg mean the same thing..

Roy grinned.  "Only thing I've ever seen Larry beg for is attention from you, Shadow...he doesn't seem to have any trouble getting it anywhere else."  He sighed, and refilled the sangria (only about half full, again) and took a sip.

"And much as I hate to hear myself say, Cummings earned it.  You saw the vids...those transport troopers pretty much sealed the docks...they were thorough, quick, efficient, and damned effective."  He sighed, looking at the glass, before taking another swallow.

"That's not to say that I want Cummings leading men into a hot combat zone.  He knew pretty much what to expect and what all the variables were...easy to prep troops for that kind of mission.  That beach assault, on Aqra, where the wave nearly got us all on the ground?"  He shook his head, thinking about it, and continued, "If Cummings had been in command of that mission, we'd likely have lost everyone and those cliffs would have dead Marines strewn all over them.  But he got a textbook assignment...and he executed it perfectly."  Roy shrugged.

"I believe in giving credit where credit is due, no matter how much I dislike the guy."

  Shadow   Nodded  as Dana Put the   Bowl down. Larry looked at  him,well?.. Go on!

 Larry  turned  with a  rapid tail thumpign and  begin to  eat his  steak.

 ..yeah.. Cummings....  He's like..the ESN version of Nickerson.. do yu know.. Cummings  beat out Nickerson  for  his spot on the Hermes.... But  Hack   was reported  to have said.."... Sorry.. none of my people buy thier  way on my boat..."

 Shadow chuckled,..Nickerson  served  in   The   Oil Lords terrirotirs  hunting  down whack jobs..or..at elast his men did... thjen he  got a seat on The Hades.... but.. his money caught the eye  of the EVOLs  so he  went there...... and  look at it now?...  Cummings  alive, leading the whole  damn Transport /base  componants of the Delta Fleet.. and Nickerson  is chasing Wess around one of the 9 hells..

   Shadow looked at  Justin,I won't  bring this up again, but  it sorta  worked out for you and Flores, that Blu screwed up... with oth that, you guys  wouldn't have been brought here... and   get your second  chance?.. You might  be  Hunting  down  Delta Transports  now..lookign  for  kills...or...something to eat?

 Larry  lifted his head.


 not you!..you're eating..i guess?. tell me you're  done  already?

 Larry looked at Shadow, then to  Roy and  Justin..sloly  thumping his tail

Justin gave a shrug about LC's comment. So what if they were here because some piece of Sh screwed up, he could take a hint. Rising he gave Larry a scratch then headed to his cabin. To get some down time.

    The LC   Nods  to   Justin and  Gives him a  wave... LAryy Look s  at him  with a couple thumps of  his tail.

  Shadow  saw Frans   come  back to the   Rec dec, her   nose  a bit  redder then it  should   be, and   anger on  her face..

………………………………..

 Osk, Venne , Xy and the  Med tech    sat at teh Table  with  The Admiral.   He ordered   a soda, and told the others   to order what they  feel like... Osk  and Venna ordered  fried chicken   with mashed potatoes.. Finnes   got a hotdog and a soda  and thanked the Admiral.
 Hack asked Xy if the ship  was feeling familar.

 when the  food  arrived, Osk started,... the  Colonies  are pretty well set.. the  solid  walls   are  Going up..and the  electric  walls   are a bit outside of them... Some Aqra  tech is being salvaged, and   the  arms  that were   captured  or  scournged ... The Military  ourposts   are   far ahead of the colonies...  There  are programs  set up for   bounty hunting  Aqra, that  stray into the APF  Colonies.  There areas  a re posted... and there have been talks with some Aqra,  for warning .... there might be  some talks of trade between Aqra  and   APF..but that won't be, until Aqra  attacks  stop...and  as long as they attack.. there are Bounty  hunters.


 Venne adds,... crops   and  farm land , has been carefully laid out. It is  even  used  to entice   creatures    that can be trapped or hutned...Merchants  are setting up trade  routes,  but, anything over  the seas, must be done with Big Uglies  ..we cannot  trust water  travel, in areas  that  have not been secured.

 They both settled in to eat,  As  HAck took all this in.

Xyran took a seat and ordered himself a Shepherds Pie when asked the question by Hack he nodded, "Yes sir" after the food arrived he sat quiet and listened to Osk and Venne speak and took notes of the various things such as the *Bounty Hunters* and various trade routes not being secured.

  Hack sipped his soda, and nodded,.. does it look like  the Defense  fleet will be  enough to cover  Aqra?

 Osk     ripped off the   meat from a chicken leg,..it looks  good  from the ground.. At night those  Battleships  are an imprssive  siight..Coupled with  the APF Cap ships  being sent there.. and the captured ships  you gave  them... they could   put up a  good defesne, unless a fleet the size of the Delta Fleet would invade.

 ...so?.. what do you have   come for, besides the report?

 ..Admiral?..  we  have been away  from Occis.. 25..Aqra  years.. I think we have served  long  enough...

 Hack  sat   bad  with his  soda,..indeed... it sounds like things  are  going  well.... What do you think awaits  you on Occis?

 Venne, smiled,having a home.. a family...

  Hack studies   the  ice in the   cup a waitress  refill  his cup and moves along... Both  Occuis  and the Sanri Homeworlds.. are  only a Day's  sail away, from the   approaching Edge, of the Empire.. we have slowed that edge.. but the  Holes  we have  been punching in thier flanks... This.... he pointes  in the direction Aqra  would be,..hurt them... I suspect, Hel is trying to  figure out  If   The Largran and  Creshian can hold  this section of  space....The Hyrians  are sending more and more  Troops to us, as their  planet recovers  faster, with the help of Sanri scientists , then I thought   could happen.

 What are you saying?

  I will put this bluntly.... The plan is to  drive   stright into  Hel.. and   butn it to a cinder..and eliminate the Demon threat...forever... The colonies  they have?.. will either be hnted  down and  destroyed.. or?.. allwoed to join the APF... Buy Hel.. will be burned.... Now?...  Had i went   right away.. we would have died.. and  Earth would be  a vending machine for  Empire races.... Right now?  the Detla  flweet is  big enough  to  make this  drive.....but.... if  we  did that, the flanks could Fold in on us?.. Our allies  would   defend us.  that i have no doubt.. but the cost would be too great.. Occis.. Sanra?.. would be lost... so.. we have to  tidy up loose  neds...should you  go to Occis.. yuou will be on the front lines of the   Empire-Angel war..though.. I  hardly  thing we can call it that any more...

 Osk was shook.. he looked at Venne  and   offhandedly said,what would you call it...

 ..Historicly?  APF-Empire  war...... for myself?  I  call it the ESN-Empire  war.. because  it became a new  war.. when we entered the game.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:26, Sat 20 Oct 2018.

Xyran sighed deeply he knew they weren't gonna be allowed to go home at least not now, it was the one thing he had accepted when he signed up for this mission from day one... there was no going back and the black would be his grave... he continued to eat his food and remain quiet for the time being but ready to speak should it be required of him.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:52, Sat 20 Oct 2018.

Roy snorted at Larry, then looked in surprise when Justin suddenly got up and left without a word.  "I'll never get that kid..." he mused aloud, after Justin gad walked away.  "Seems like every conversation he's ever in lasts for five minutes, max, before he just ups and leaves without so much as a 'talk to you later'."  He took another sip of his sangria.

"He'd get along a lot smoother if he occasionally toughed it out and resolved whatever it was that sent him walking away, instead of hiding in his quarters or behind a computer screen or simulator..."

  Shadow    nodded,..didn't  think i said  anything bad? Flores  will be the  first to admit, she was stuck in the EVOLS.... Lots of folks were.. until the  time  came where you had to choose   EVOL  or ESN.....

 Larry settled down on the floor, his tail thumped a couple times  as he looked back at them, then , just watched the Rec Dec.

 ..there are  lots of   folks  who , maybe wished they would have chose  differant?... EVOLs  who are fighting real fights  now, watching  people  die  around them... and EVOLs who stayed EVOL.. knowing that  most of   the APF, lump them in the  same pile  as  The Empire.

……………………………..

   Hack   watched the two Occui  as they looked at each other. Osk  Looked at  Hack,..so?.. you are   saying we  aren't  permitted to go home?

 The Admiral gave a shake of his head,I am saying, you  shouldn't.. I am saying, I rather you didn't...but.. i will not  stop you, if that is the course you set.... You have Served the ESN, The  APF, and Your  Homeworld will honor  and sacrifice..

taking another  sip o  soda, he added,..two Occui aren't goign to   change the ide of the  war, if the  Empire choses to invade.But  two Occui on Aqra, could  change/save the lives of thousands...

 Venne  said , in a hushed  whisper,..  You are saying, the  Occui are Doomed?

 ..When the time Comes  for the Push.. the Fleet is  sailing  right   down the Middle, between   Sanri and  Occui space.. Should   the Fleet Fail.. Occui and Sanra  will be the first Homeworlds  to suffer... they wil also  take  , be sending alot   of   people  with us..unless they have been invaded by then?... Then  we will have to  stop   and see what we can do to aid them..The Choice is yours...in the end.


 Osk looked at Xy,..what  would you do?

Xyran set down the spoon and looked at Osk a rather serious tone of voice followed his words, "Ive been in the service since i was 15 years old Osk and i firmly believe that this fight is more important then anything our race has ever faced before, if we fail we face the complete annihilation of our race by the Demons, there will be no homeworld to go home to and no future for the family you wish to make for yourself... at the end of the day you two, home is where you make it out here in the black"

     Garrat had watched the education of the new guy take place and even testified what he saw if given the chance but sat next to Xyran as the Admiral lay things on the table.

     Asgard had Occui, they were referred to as dark elves but were known as shrewd traders with their own brand of technology rooted in breakthroughs they had achieved in studying lost tech from fallin empires.   Garrat respected them but Xyran was the first fighting warrior of his species Garrat had ever met ... then the little green guy had left the Hermes.  It was good to have himself  back.

     “ We do need them Xyran.  The greater our diversity the stronger we are.”

   Osk  and Venna looked Sober for a moment, Osk took  another  bite of chicken and MAsh Potatoes ,we don't have , Mash potatoes on the home world... we have our own Tubers.. , of course . But  not like these...

 Venna asked  quietly,..You would let us go, if  we  wished?

 HAck nodded,..I cannot stop you... Occui would set you up  for the next transport, or other vessel  going to Occis.. But  i would never stop anyone  from  goign home, if they thought they could make a difference...

 Osk  took  another bite,...why don't you, head back to Earth, and  Stop Ge-Fi  and  end  the EDT?

 .. The  thought  has  crossed   my  mine, What  better  way to secure  our Flanks  and rear, then by  eliminating the EDT  at its  source... the  Board  has Mentioned it.. and even some of My Off Ships's captains..... But... here is the thing  about that?

  He asked the   server of a  Coffee, and     motioned for the others  to  get anything they want , to go with thier means..Fines  asked  for a chocolate shake.. Osk and  Venna  aske d for   a pie..lemon  if they had it...

 while the  server   went about  getting orders, Hack continued,..we  would have to Assault   Olympus.. and I do mean Assault.. more they  likely . Frans  would have to die he has  turned  Olympus  into a  feeding ground  for all who stand  against , why  the ESN  and EArth was supposed to stand ..for...

 ..he will still die, of course...but  i cannot  waste  time, ships and people on  eliminating them, and then fight through the Sol System defenses to take Earth...

  frowning he added, The Empire  would take the opportunity  to   push forward... Sanri..Occis.. and thier  systems  would be  invaded... There would, most likely  be  an incursion  to  the Moons of Paradise... Aqra  would be  Invaded.. Hyria might have to flat out surrender.. and Uden  would face  attacks  from the Roussians and whatever eles is out there.

 ..so.. You are  saying  you cannot   leave The Black, without hurting the allies?

 There is a shrug  as  the coffee   ( and whatever  anyone else orders)  came,   Sims    got his wrist scanned  for  all the  food and such. Fixing the  coffee with a couple milk packs  and sugar, he sipped   and smiled at the  cup, then he looked at the others,..We are the Delta Fleet.. I have  split the   fleet into  four Flotillas..anyone  of them,  could take on, and  Beat a Demon Battle fleet.. two of them?.. would shorten the  battle  but  hours  Three of them  would push through like a  Dagger in the  ribs.... but?  the Whole fleet, will sweep over  Empire fleets like Lava over a sugarcane farm... Teh roots   might still be feeding behind us, But the heart if the  thing is  in Hel..when the time  comes  for us to strike, there will be no turnign back... there will be  a Massive butcher's bill to pay... and  once   Hel is nothing  more then a Cinder...  we turn, and begin to  trim away the rotted vines,  until  we  unroot the whole thing, on EArth....

 ..so you think.. with out the Empire..or at least, the Demons.. the EDT  will fade?

 he shakes his  head  as he  takes a sip,.. the EDT  will become, mot likely, the most power  Pirate organization in the Black.. but they will lose alot of recruits...and Creds...because people  won't  be paying  ...'not to get eaten'... That will change  the Political  Climate.. and Send   Frans  and  his  idiot  followers  on the  quick path, to the 9 hells.

 Once more they Looked  at Xy.. Osk   also turned to Garrat,.. well.... would  you think?  We  could be  more aid ..on the Hermes?

Xyran nodded his head after ordering himself a coffee, "I truly believe so Osk, it would be a honor to have you and Venna but that is not my decision to make... follow your heart"    The man had to choose his own destiny, after all only thing he could do was show him the door.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:42, Sat 20 Oct 2018.

In reply to Rec Dec (msg # 232):

Garrat laughs. “Your on the flag ship for the entire delta.  Many species call it home and consider their wing mates and team mates family.  We could certainly use your skills and background.  And the Hermes is involved in almost every pivotal operation for the ESN.  Yes, you can do a great deal of good here.”
This message was last edited by the player at 16:41, Mon 22 Oct 2018.