Nikki could see all the kids playing.  She smiled, it was good seeing kids just being kids.  She also spotted Melia and Orria.  "Haley...do you remember us talking about non humans and stuff?""
Haley thought a moment "Kinda"
Nikki knew that a 5 year old usually only rembers fun stuff.  "Well, I was just thinking Orria and Melia don't often get to play.  I think it might be nice if maybe you asked them if they would like to build a sand castle with you." she leaned forward a bit "I think it might be okay if you ran aroud a bit to play.  just make sure if you go in the water you ask me first, you are still learning.  just don't leave the beach and kinda stay in sight."
Haley smiled "Okay." she got up and grabbed the sand pails and shovels. She walked on the wet sand area over to where Melia and Orria were.  She looked at both, but mostly Orria"Hi....would you two like to build a sand cassel with me?" she hel up the pails and forms.

Mortica smiled at the girl. "I shall call you whatever name you wish to be called. Rana is a pretty name but I also like Sneak. You get to chose what your name is. And look, Gregor wants to be your friend! He sniffed your hand and gave you a lick and now his tail is thumping which means he likes you. If you want to pet him you may."

Teela came up laughing and splashed the Commander. "Your backup is here, Admiral. I have one enemy fighter contained. Continuing to put suppressing fire on her!" She splashed Si again.

  Orria smiled.....I know how to do that!... Dr Henry showed me on Fuji!

  Melia   Nodded  as she accepted   the Drink from the nrunner..The runner  ,, not sure.. set one  down by  Orria   and Haley too.

   Oria  waited for  Haley to start, and  see what she wanted her to do.  Melia relaxed, putting her holster near.

…………………………………..

  The Admiral  was  fending Off  Flores , who was  laughing. Teela felt an iron grip on her left  ankle as she was pulled down.

  Shade pointed to them, looking a Shadow,..you want to?.. go ahead... i'm not taking sides in that battle

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

 Sneak reached out and scrunch  the little larg's noggin. Gregor padded a  couple steps by the hurt little  girl and curled up by her knees.

In reply to Roy zob (msg # 32):

Zob moved over to the door where she was, "At least they aren't in the enemies hands so silver lining and all that" was all he said in regards to that situation.

Haley plopped her little but onto the sand and passed out the pails buckets and such. "Nikki and Mr. Joseph sayd that it not matter what it looks like.  It's the building it thats fun" she filled one pail up with the brown sugar like sand "Oh..we need some water too" she took the reusable cup and went and got water for them both.  "Nikki told me that if a little bit of water is added that the sand sticks better" she smiled pas she added a bit to her pail then shoveled more sand in.  She packed it in a bit then flipped the bucket over. It slid out a bit slow but it held together.  A flat topped conic shape came out "Back home me and my sister ..we'd play in the red mud and dirt.  It's what we had.  I think the sand is more fun" She began refilling the pail again "Know why?  Cuz I gots friends to help me play"

With in eye shot Nikki relaxed a bit.  One of the things she relaxed with was one of the training manuals the SIMS chief gave her.  Still she kept an avid watch on Haley and others.

  Orria nodded sagely as she took a sip of the drink and set the  cup into the sand so it wouldn't fall over.

  then  she began to dig around to make a moat.  PO Mommy says castles   had  water  aroudn them to keep out  bad  guys, cause thgey didn't have flyign things  then...

 There was a stage whisper, and she nodded  as she said,..Mommy Nelia..is mnot my  1st Mommy... My first Mommy was eated   by bad guys..

Henry was happily splashing around in the water with Mila and Larry, although Mortica had enticed Gregor away.

Harry had just about reached the shallows when Will finally caught up with her; swinging her around to chorus of delighted laughter that was only slightly muted by the small tidal wave that Larry produced with a single swipe of his tail causing Harry to gasp  ”Bloody Lizard!” in between her laughter before finding herself being effortlessly hoisted over Will’s shoulder in fireman’s lift.

With her legs kicking out in a futile effort to get him to put her down she protest in between gales of laughter all the way back to their blankets whereupon she’d find herself having to sit down rather hurriedly. After giving herself chance to get her laughter under control she would look up at her man adoringly, uttering ”cheeky sod!” with fond smile as she retrieved her drink and turned to watch the ongoing melee between the Admiral and Commander with interest.

Roy nodded at Zob's statement.  "We generally have a series of priorities on interdiction activities like last night.  The primary target is usually the individual...beyond that, capture what materials you can, and if you can't,  then make sure they're no longer available to the enemy.  We didn't go into it thinking we were going to burn down several buildings...but the EDT were waiting for us.  Word's made it around, bad things happen to EDT personnel whenever the Delta Fleet arrives.  We were lucky to capture what we did."

He shrugged after a moment's thought, and continued, "We made a helluva hole in their operations, though.  They're not dead in the water, by any means...but they took a big financial hit, they've lost a lot of weapons, transport, and information, and we captured a lot of potential intel on their operations that could help Elge pinpoint the remaining movers and shakers.  We'd always like to have captured more, of course, but we got a lot."  He gave a grim smile and nodded.

"One other thing we accomplished...word will get around, I'm sure, they KNEW we were coming for them...and they still couldn't stop us.  And that was just with our SpecOps teams.  We didn't mobilize even a full percentage of our available combat personnel.  A lot of fair-weather EDT contacts are going to hear about that and realize the EDT can't protect them."

    Joseph waves to Christy.  The Vampic would benefit from being around children and the fleet would benefit from the blue Vampics and puppy large being shown as working with children.  Adding a kind professor and a earth dog could help but the doctor deserved his own time if he wanted it.

   Joseph watched Nicole and thought about what would happen if Haley no longer had her.  He looked at the stem children and wondered where they came from.  The names were trails of bread crumbs.

    To the others he said, “If those of you who don’t know your past could.  Would you make the choice to learn?”

   When Joe Mac  asked , One of the Older Boys shook his head,..Miss Stefi has  scanned  us?  we know our names..... we also know the names  we have lived by?...She Said    The  SEC  might be able to track down our Mothers, if not  both parents...

 Lookign at sneak and back to  Joe Mac,.... If they are Dead?  it would be good to know...If they are alive I would  want to know  only 2  things?... are they slaves?.... or do they live  free.... because, if they are Slaves,  they should be found and saved.... and if they live free...

 Sneak says  softly   as she pets  Gregor,..then that means  they either left us...or sold us... and we don't care...

 one Little  boy  looked up ay Joe  Mac  as she  crouched near Sneak, "...or they got  eated..and  that's  not their fault..."

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

   Larry  seemed to be boundless.. Mila was  getting a bit tired  as she looked  up a Henry a few times.

 Stefi watched Larry,..that thing, could  kill half the people  in this area of the beach before  a SEC trooper  could bring it down?.. and no one seems to care...

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

  Will was smiling  as he sipped, Beth rolled over  to 'get the other side  done' pulling the ball cap over her   eyes.

  ..so... now its  Tan tie, for all of us,,space sardines....

 Amen to that.. sunlamps  just  to  cut it...

 Shadow sipped his  iced  tea, Shade   Bleeped  something to the  little ones, Orria  said,..Shade is going to clean out his  Cup and Help...

 As  the  Verian      walked  down  to the water..a fellow, who was near the Size  of Supe  came   Jogging  down the  beach,   there were  calls  of " watch where you are going".. and One  girl was Picking her self up after being ran into .

   The Fellow  Hit Into Shade.. Shade    fell BAckwards  in surprise. the   Fellow   stumbled  back   rubbing his legs...WTF!.. Watch  were you're Going...

 Shade began a stream of  sounds  and  Pointed to the  direction he came  from.. he stood looking up at the fellow  with one arm pointing and the other on his him.

 Shadow  calls over, rather calmly as he  studies the  'Enta Star' design on his cup...He says  You have to apologize  and..Go back and apologize to that girl.... and?.. You have to go around us...

 ..This Yours?..Maybe I should come over   and teach you some manners?

 Beth Mumbled,..oh Brother....

 Tell you what  Bluto?  If you don't do what he  says?..  we'll  have to call Med tech.

 The Big Fellow  lost it. He  reached to grab  Shade, his right  hand  Gabbed  Shade's left arm, Shade Grabbed his left arm and began to squeeze...

 The Fellow   Yelped  as  Shade  squeeze harder.. the big man fell to his knees..

 MAria  and Scarlett  stopped talking and began to move..but Shadow  just waved them off...what Color  are his eyes?

   The Man looked   frightened  as he hear a crack..RED!....

do what he says.... if they turn black.. well...

 ..I'm Sorry!..... I'm Sorry!...

 Shade's   hand  came open, the man's  arm dangled.....I think it broke my forearm!..

 ..Best find that Girl..and apologize ... then..GO AROUND.. this section..  I won't help you again..

  The Fellow      took a few  steps to get Up , Looking  for the Girl who was   in her  Teens.. he ran  up to her  , Apologized, then headed to the   streets to go around the   'Hermes section ' of beach.

  Shade   clapped his hands  together, picked up his crushed Cup  and rinsed it out, bringing  a  Full cup of water  back..The Girl who was  with a Teenage  Boy , ,and holding his hand, stopped  and Gave Shade a Kiss on the cheek..."..My Hero!"  and the  Boy  grinned as they kept walking.

   Shade  walked  towards  the  sand castle  with bright blue eyes.

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

  The  Commander  Boibbed up  Just when  the fellow shouted  at Shadow   The Admiral stopped   with his arm around Flores   as he was about to toss her again..

 After the fellow   was   taken    Care off, Flores Hooked  Her  leg behind the Adnmiral's  and  Plopped him into the Drink...She  raised  her  arms in  Victory As   The Commander   Said,..WE WON!.... Now.. time for  sun....

  The Adiral Popped  up   Giving Flores  a  pat on the back  . making his way to the blankets as well

“That victory was tainted by that fool man running over people. I refuse to accept it and demand a rematch. After we get some drinks and work on our tan.” Teela declared as they walked out of the water. She made sure Hack, Si, and Flores were in range when she spread her wings and gave them a vigourous shake to shed water.

She had a mischievous grin on her face when she got her drink and began toweling herself dry.

Mortica gently reached out and stroked the girl’s cheek. “Everything will be done to find your parents, little one. All of your parents. We will look for them. Look at how Gregor is curled up by you. He only does that with people he likes.”

Seeing that Mila was tiring, Henry led her to the shore to have a rest near to the knot of youngsters and Mortica and Gregor.

   Sneak smiled a bit,..It woulod be nice to know if they are  dead.. or..just  didn't care to find us. We have  all bveen on Enta..and in The Stem..as long as I can remember..Only  Jax  remembers the ship   we came on..

 ..Mary Celeste... she  used an Orbiting Dock..they gatheres  a bunch of us  and sent us to the Station.. when  we were taken to the Stem,  some of us older ones, slipped through the cages, and got as many little ones out that we could... we split up , so's  we all wouldn't get caught... Me and Sneak ended up in differant Gangs... Lots of the Little ones  got  killed through the  years,  'casue they couldn't get out of the way of stuff...The Bosses  we had?.. they tried to keep littlke ones  just being Runners, but  some of you saw what happened to the runners  trying to go back and forth from the trucks...

 Gregor  was eating  up the attention, after  feeling left out  from the fuss over  Mila and LArry in the water...every now  and then his tail would thump.

 One of the Little boys looked at Mila,..that is a real doggie?.... I only seen those  weird ones in the stem that they made from other  animals...  his eyes  were  wide  as he watched Mila.
......................

  Flores    Was  Laughing,..all fighter pilots  learn, when  there is  a change  in the  conflict area, you take advantage..


   Si   stopped at the blankets  and  squeezed   water water there  was in her hair out,Well said , Candy...

 Hack  hit the Blanket and grabbed the fresh drink...can't aegue that... no such thing as a Time out in the middle of a Battle.

With the confrontation between Shade and the beach bully ending with a crack that could be heard all across the ESN part of the beach Harry would take a sip of her drink before quietly musing ”you know I’m starting to think we may have to start putting signs up wherever we go...Warning, ESN Hermes crew, enter at your own risk!” she said as she carefully slipped her arms from out of the straps of her bathing suit so she wouldn’t get any tan lines on her shoulders. Lying down on her front she would settle herself down on the blanket beside Will so that she could enjoy the “sun” for a little while.

Henry smiled and put an arm round Mila.

"Yes, this is a real dog. Her name is Mila and she's very friendly. Do you want to pet her? Let her sniff your hand first, like this."

He demonstrated how to offer a dog the back of your hand, staying far enough away that the dog had to decide to move closer to sniff it.

"If she likes the smell of you, she either licks the hand or wags her tail. Then you may pet her. No sudden moves, and make sure she can see you coming so she doesn't get startled."

   Will squirted  so9me    suntan  lotion  on her  backs  and  rubbed it in ,..I dunno... imgaine  if he would have  Hit into the LC?

 then he laid  back on his elbows to watch the  folks  , seeing how many Hermes  folks he could pick out..and how many 'fleet'...

…………………………………..

 The   did   took a  couple   'duck step' towards  Mila. his  Hand close in behind his  knees.. then he  held out  his hand like a duchess …

 Mila   Looked at the   Hand.. and wagged  a  bit..  as she took in the new kid's  look.

 Gregor kept  peering around from his spot by  Sneak.

    “Well it’s good to know things are bein worked on for ya folks, but what about those still in the stem?  Doincha think they should have a chance to know their past an maybe let it help their fate?”

  Jax  sounds a bit cold as he says,..Don'[t no one care up Stem Rats.... when  we  pop up in the Uppers, where cased  away, like if we were real Stem Rats... if  we pop up in the lowers, some  folks might help us  with  some creds, or something to eat..most ignore us..the only reason we are here... right niow?  'cause  we were in the right place  at the right time

 ..now?  I'm  just a stem rat.. we  only got as smart  as them folks who  took us in, wanted us ta be?... but , there is  as MAny people in the Stem, as there  are in the  Uppers, or Lowers...only difference is.. Folks in the stem die alot more.

  “So what would you be willin to do fer a steady meal and a good place to sleep?” Joseph asked almost absently as his Fingers played across some soft calming cords.

 Jax   snorted,we've been doin[' that..and more?.. scrounging... picking up packets or delivering them..keep watch on places   so's the boss  knows  when to send teams in ta get stuff.. we even shot some folks.. so?.. I'd  say we earned what little we got.

“Bah. We would have won that engagement. I had the Commander at my mercy and Flores was about to go down at the hands of the Admiral.” Teela said as she stretched out on the blanket. Her golden skin wasn’t predisposed to tanning but the sun felt good.

Softly moaning as Will's hands gently massaged the sun lotion into her back and shoulders before then moving onto her arms and the backs of her legs Harry would attempt to mull over his statement about the LC as she started to relax in a way she hadn't done in a long time, with it all too clear to Will that she was enjoying the pampering she was receiving "well...if he'd ran into the LC...I suppose Stefi would have to try and stop the bleeding until the ambulance arrived" she replied dreamily. The LC could be so delightfully violent when he wanted to be, and she'd most certainly want a front row seat "you know Will...if you keep this up there's a very real chance I'll fall asleep" she said with a relaxed sigh as she suddenly found keeping her eyes open to be a real struggle.