Teela was laughing before Gia had even finished the story. "Now that is something I wish I had bee there for. I imagine the Alphas haven't tried anything quite so foolish since that night. Where is Shadow's son now? Is he with the fleet?"

 Gia Pointed to the Elevator where   Shade  was trying to  'teach' Larry how to hit the right buttons.


 ..the   Little verian.... is Shadow's  Son.... his daughter  has becaome Captain of the verian Flagship.....their ..mother  was Shadows   Fighter... a verian  in disgusie.. as it were...

"Oh right. Now I feel rather silly as I had heard that but not too many details as to the how. I didn't know humans and Verians could reproduce. I also note you said 'was' in reference to their mother; did she..." she appeared to search for the human phrase she had heard, "pass away?"

   Gia shakes her  head,..I fully do not know? You'd have to ask  someone here who has been here longer...but..His HAmmer  IV called  'Lady"... was  a Verian that  took the machine form.... she could not leave  the  form, and chose to fight on Bura... an EVOL.... named  Jonny Blu..killed her....friendly fire..... there are Vids of Shadow  beating him to death after forcing him to land , when teh EVOLS   changed  sides  after his court martial......

 she waved  a hand   again at the Dec,..i do not know   who the  offspring came.... again.. someome else  could  tell you. perhaps..  The SGT MAj..or one of his   Flight?
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:28, Tue 21 Aug 2018.

"That's awful. I've heard of Lady and how much she was loved by Shadow and everyone who knew her. What an incredible love they had and to have that taken away. I simply cannot imagine the loss he dealt with. It makes me even happier that I was able to keep Shade from falling to his death on Aqra." Teela shook her head as she contemplated what Gia had told her.

 There is a shale of her head,..i am not sure, how the verians work?... so..i do not think that was  the 'love' he had... but.. she was his  best friend?...at very least?.... again..stories get told and twisted..

Equanimity restored, Henry finished his glass of whiskey and decided to head off for the night back to his quarters.

"Coming, Mila?" he asked the dog.

“Aye, “ says Joseph on a break between songs, “I’ve been collecting information as I write the Ballad of the Shade.  It is a peculiar story, that one.  On the surface Shadow was clueless but conceptually every movement he made in the field went through Ladies very body.  It makes you think about the concept of pure devotion.  Indeed the genetics were said to be harvested from the flight stick.”
This message was last edited by the player at 18:08, Tue 21 Aug 2018.

  From Officer Quarters<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<


  Shadow led  Dixie off the  Lift towards the  people who were still around the Celebration.

  Some of the pilots looked at the brand new  Ensign uniform, as Shadow  began.... This  is  now... Ensign Beaman.... Unlike the SSN she didn't  betray her people   to save her  li8fe... at least... i don't know  she did...... She  did it for Creds.

 ..as  far  was  we know?  the Mercs  didn't take part in the feasts.... though, there is a Good  Bet thier  Commander  did... if she did?   Beth  will find out....not that it matters, since she  is  a hole in the  side of the Mountain...


 ..I'm bringing this up now... for  2  reasons..... The first, is to get it out of the way.....a vet pilot can help us..if  they  loyal to us. If not?.. well....

 ..the  second?.... She is getting another chance out here...if she blows it, she'll lose m  ore then her   wings...

 Dixie  stepped  forward,..I know , ya'll  might not like me...  don't  want me around.... But i wanna  fly.... and  i don't mind putting Empire Types in the ground... They never did me a good  turn... my employers  did..

 .... there other Red Birds out tehre... they   aren't any different they , ya'll...'cept. they never got a chance  ta  fly  with the ESN...

With a deep sigh Harry would fix Teela with a look that said she felt that the Angel was simply being awkward now "You know it wouldn't hurt either of you to lighten up and enjoy yourselves for a little while, after all you will be in a room filled with armed ESN personnel" although granted she and any of the other women wearing a gown wouldn't exactly be sporting sidearms like the men would be, however she was pretty sure she'd be able to hide a little something upon her person should anyone try to do something stupid.

Sitting within Will's lap with her head gently resting upon his shoulder she'd quietly listen as the conversation moved from the events of the first Etna ball, with Gai briefly touching upon how Alpha fleet had worked back then, to that of Lady and Shade which was way before her time with the fleet. It was around about that point that Shadow would enter the Rec Dec and make his announcement concerning their most recent recruit; the former Head Hunter Dixie. Wincing visibly over Shadow's rather hurtful comments concerning Sindy, Harry didn't even wait for Ensign Beaman, as she was now called, to finish speaking before placing what was left of her drink onto the table and hopping off of Will's lap "I'm going to head up to my quarters...I don't feel much like partying anymore" she said before turning and heading straight for the lifts.

  Will shrugged  and Got  up , following,..something  wrong? he said  as his  stride s  closed the distance.

 Shadow left Beaman to the others. Best she find out now  who will  be on her side  and who won't.

  He was  headed towards the  Lifts  as well.. a couple   yards  behind Will and   Harry.

Teela saw Harry flinch, saw the look on her face and in her eyes and jumped up from the table. "Excuse me LC, may I have a word?" She called after him.

Her eyes were dark as she walked across the deck.

  Shadow stopped   and Waved  Will to take the Lift,.. What do you  Need , Ensign?... Its been a long  day...

 other folks  were dispersing , while a  few  folks  were  just comign of  shifts and watches.

Teela walked up and stopped a short distance from the LC. Just a tiny bit closer than normal conversational range. "Permission to speak freely, sir?"

 Shadow Nodded,..indeed... this is the Rec Dec.  Most of the folks are  off  duty, I  don't  see why not?

  ..If you some....concern? Shadow   waited, the   beginning of a HAlf  smile.

“No matter the monster she became in later life, Sindy was a childhood friend of Harry’s so whenever you bring up the facts or circumstances of her death it cuts Harry. I’ve seen her react, the pain in her eyes as she remembers her as she was when they were friends, not what she became. Give that some consideration in the future, sir.” She spoke softly but there was an edge of anger evident in her lilting accent. Combined with her dark eyes it was obvious she was angry.

   Shadow's eyes , harden just a bit,..then? she has chosen to remember the wrong part of her....She and her people Killed   some of my people...and they did it for Creds... and they did it for the  lap dogs of the Empire....

  he nods slowly as  he  studies her eyes,..do you know what the ..... introducing into the command structure... is..for the SSN?... You Must hand over a family Member..or..perhaps a close  friend... and only the gods  knows  what happened to them...

 His  voiced lower a bit.. almost a hiss through his teeth,..LAdy..was  Killed   by...a then..Merc. Before the whole of the  EVOLs   turned Coat.... My Borther... and his two Kids  were  killed   by a cat swarm... sent ,t  the EVOLs... and..  if i understand  it right.. my sister in law  was killed   fighting   with Hunter's unit..

 ......Dixie  is only walking around, because  ..YOU... spoke up for her.... otherise...at best.. she'd be on her way to the Mines or  a penal colony

 then his eyes  shifted  to where Beth had once sat, then back to Teela,...and from  what i undertsand..... if harry is that attached to  the  dead traitor, she better not ever  find out  how Sindy got  where  she was.... she had  some skills... but she wasn't much better  them are fresh folks, and she wasn't better then any Vets...

 ..now?..Ensign.... is there  anything esle?

Teela listened to what Shadow said, her eyes growing wider as the horror of the SSN and the EVOLS was laid bare before her, things of which she was unaware or had only heard in rumours. That they would turn over a family member or friend...she felt her gorge rise. “LC...Shadow, I had no idea. I’m sorry for what they’ve done to you. I apologise for questioning you and understand fully what you mean about Harry and Sindy.”

She drew a deep breath and gathered herself. “If Dixie does anything, anything at all that reeks of betrayal I will blow her out of the Black. If she’s going out an airlock I’ll rip her arms off and kick her out personally.”

She snapped to and gave Shadow a parade-ground worthy salute. “Please accept my formal apology, sir. I have nothing further to add, sir!”

 Shadow  Nodded slowly,....The Admiral does  nothing, without a reason...  I may  play fast and loose with rules..  and  i have little or no concern for those  who fight  against us....

 ..The Delta  Fleet has  never  hidden  its  intentions  to the enemy...it  it doesn't matter what  skin the  enemy  wears...or ..Eats...

 ..Now?  CArry  on... we have some  down time... use it... he Gives  a salute  and Punches the   Lift  buttons   for the Officers...

Despite Will getting up to follow her, Harry didn't slow her pace as she strode towards the lift "you don't have to leave if you don't want to, I just don't want to hang around and listen to everyone slagging off my mate" she said as she punched the button for the lift doors "I know she was on the wrong side, and I know she did bad things but she was still my friend, you guys have no idea how close we were, nine hells we even looked alike!...People use to think we were sisters" she said with a definite edge to her voice, though whether she was about to burst into tears or a furious rage was anyone's guess. As the doors slid open she'd throw Shadow a cold look as he spoke to Teela a short distance away before stepping inside and hitting the button for the officers deck, leaving it entirely up to Will as to whether he wanted to stay or not.

---> Officers Quarters

Stepping off the elevator Justin headed to the Stalls hoping that one of them may have what he was after. After checking each out he gave a shrug his initial though was confirmed these were just Food Outlets. Making his way to the Shops in the  Civilian area hoping that one of them did stock corsage's.

  A 'middle aged' woman ( if any one is middle aged  any longer) smiled at Justin.

  ..You are a  wee bit old, for going to a Prom, aren't you son?.  One does  not  wear flowers, to a Military   function? I mean.. you could  if you want... but ....i should think the embarrssment  might be a wee  bit too much to handle?


………………………………..

 She stepped off the lift and strolled along the food venues looking to see if anyone had any specials that caught her attention. She caught a scent and followed it to a Greek Gyro stand, her mouth watering at the scent. She ordered up a lamb gyro loaded with tomato, lettuce, cucumber and Tzatziki, and a glass of water. She grinned at the cook as she gathered up her plate and glass and headed to a bar shelf along the wall to stand and eat her gyro. She picked pieces of hot crispy golden crusted of lamb from the gyro to nibble before gathering the filled pita up and takes a bite.

 "MMMmmmmm!"

[From Her Quarters]


Teela was sitting in one of the bars that lined the RecDec, her back to a wall and a bottle of Spiced Fire Wine and a glass in front of her. The potent drink was from her home system and though she desired to get good and drunk she was an officer, in uniform. She wouldn't disgrace herself by stumbling home. That kind of drinking session would have to wait until she had a night in her quarters.

Instead she sat and paced herself enough to keep a good buzz going, watching Captain Lightning on her vid board and wondering if there was a cultural component that made it so enjoyable to Harry and Will.

(( post  Anzio delta  night II)

 People  were Coming in...  Some of the ladies  still had thier  dresses on  as they looked  around in concern as they saw  some of the  folks , who they knew, went on boarding  calls.


 frans and  eckels  sat  down and waved to  Teela the Vid machine was on  auto play