(..the attack on The Pit )
will start her  shortly.

  The  Shuttles took of.. The Rabbit   first.... and the Count of  15 seconds.. the Diamond took  off  and   the 'RAft Blew  Up.. with    a seprate  Chunk Attached  the Hermes   that  pumped out smoke.

    By this time, The PIt was easy  to see.. a Dark Planet. Dark Blue and Black...  with a  darker  south pole.. and  an Only , light   North pole

   The  Chatter started on the COM...The  TOP  Gunner    Fired off  rounds  that  went   well wide, as  did the Rabbit  Gunner

   The shuttles  Bumped  about   as  they   glided  through the  Black.  The  tie CAme  for   The Rabbit  to send  a COM Text   to the Sig  Green used. "..HAve  Commander... Voice COMs  tapped.... her  is Pic..."

 The  Was a Pic of   the side  view of  an Angel woman with an ESN Tunic on her head  was turned away as if  unconscious  with  her Balck hair  covering Most of her  face..

 "..being Chased... try not  to kill us!.."

 agonizing  Moments  went  by,.."Understood...veer to the south Pole and hand  prisoner  Over..Fighters  will be launching  In  10.."

 The Message  was repeated over COM 1 to  Beth who repeated   it to the  Fleet.

 HAck cam on COM 1.. Delta  3... Pounded the South Pole. eliminate  any and  all  enemy forces.......Delta 4.. use your own Judgement.. Rabbit and Case..continue to the SIG area.....Shadow..Its time..

 The Fleet Horns    blared  again.. as the ships  warned thier people..battle  was to start...and the    ships had  Moved to BAttle  speed....

  Shadow said into the COM 1  his voice  cold  and tight.....there is  is nLAdies  and Gentlemen...  shoot foreward..fire  enegry  weapons for show..save hard Ammo for real targets.... when  we  get in range of  the Rabbit.. Hit  all thrusters to  get ahead of them and Poubt the  9 hells out of that rock....Seeing you all  on the  Rec Dec, for the after  party...

 The    Hermes  Fighters  split, with  half  going  on top, the other  half  Under the  shuttles..

 The Pit Saw  two things on thier  screen right now   Teh Rabbit  and the  Chase   shuttle..  The Diamond  top Gunner  stopped  firing  to save  ammo ..figuring the Fighters  would cover that...

  As the Shuttles drew  Near... the  COMs  could hear..

what's that!....  Fighters  Coming in!... wait... what's  behind them..something's  Behind    them....its!...BATTLE STATIONS!.....

 from thier point of view   red  lights  flashed  all  around the Planet..    three CAp  ships   rose from the DArk  side of the  Planet  with .. Fighters  comign out o the hanger BAy..Demon fioghters..

 AA Guns  Behand to  fire.. trying to   leave an avenue for the Shuttle

 Shadow  led   the   ground  Fighters   right  past the Rabbit towards  the   SIG  target

 in the  faint morning light ( for this side of the planet )  troops  and Vechicles  could be seen   as    the LC   waited  until he  could get  good kill shots..  send up  sprays  of Bodies  and  Bro9ken MAchines...

    Kat and Flroews  Opened   up after  seeing  Shadow  fire... people were runnign about    with red lights  flashing on  builsings..war  had  coe to  The Pit..

  as they  Dove..Shadow   asked   Beth.....Something on  COM 4..let them  hear it!

  Beth  giggled,Already done!

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?...3w&start_radio=1

  Shadow     Sang along  ( rather better then on the rec Dec!)  as he done    towards  the    ground Pounders... and  chewed  folks up..

  Howe  swept   North,  He-la  to the  South  and   Foster  to the West..

 …………

  the 'upper  flights    hit the AA  Guns, that were already  firing  at the     wave of   Delta fighters... some died.. with out  ever seeing where the   AA fire  came  from. but..  the  Hermes's fighters were close, and  Under most of the  Guns.. chewing  up the Buildings the Guns  themselves

 All right Boys and Girls.. we Got  Demon  fighters     coming  from the North.. and  Red Birds  launching   across the Middle.....Good Hunting!

  now that the    play acting was over.. the    shuttles flew  together   with  their  weapons   overlapping the best the  could...

   The Building was  east to see Now.. a  three  story Bunker... Hermes  pilots  have  already torcher    wheeled  and Hover class vehicles.. Bodies  and parts oif  bodies  were  scattered  around...

  Rabbit  to Chase....  Alright     Nikki..  we're  Gonna Land  Inside the  compound.. I'll face   east.. you face  west  so out ramps  face  each other.... Bubble  guns?..You'll be  support fire  ..those  fighters  will be  zippign by..but they can't get everyone!

 In the  hold,  people started   to open the grenade  Boxes  every one takign  2  extra  frags.

After a smooth launch from the hangar, Viktor formed up off Waggle’s wing maintaining formation with him. For now he would let the ESN pilot take the lead, and he commed to Waggles, “You have the ball, Waggles, following you in. I’ll keep bandits off your six.”

  Shadow  chuckles  and   COMs  to   Harry......here ya Go    En Lynch......

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7RnvLeYtl8


 ..................…….

 The Shuttles were landing  as  B  flight  made  another    pass, this time chewing  up the Building  itself...

 two   Civie   Air cars  tryined to elave  the abck lot of the  Building .. Kat torched them Both,  sending  tem crashing into other    cars  parked there,,,  Bodies  flew and  hapless   Pit  people    tried to reach the vehicles

  Two Heavy Pulse   Guns  were smoking   roof of the  Building.. some wheeled Vehicles  tried to  escape  as the Shuttles  Touched  Down

 The  Club  came  down and joined the other  two.. mech  restraints popped, ramps came down

    the Ships  became  Visible to  The Pit  when they were a  close enmough  to  fire.....Blue  Wraiths  spitting  fire as   the  Planet began to look like  an ancient  disco ball.

 Flames   and Blasts  appearing  all over the  surface.. teh South Pole   was  suddenly Hammered ..The north pole.., perhaps a Minute  after..

  Captain Bornberry here... Delta 2 is   moving to greet... the  3 Demonic  Cap ships.. we  are taking HAlf of the Delta  2  fighters with us...

 ..Very Good , Captain Bornberry...watch for any other suprises

 ..Delta  3 ..Captain  Bruce of the Apollo.. the base down here is massive..it  covers the   whole of the  land mass  down here... they have  some corvettes, ..nothing Big, I have a flight of  fighters  looking... we'll pound them until Cummings   brings the rain...

 a well cultured   english accent.. Captain Caroline Spikes... Zeus od Delta  4..theyre  are 4  installations Up   at the Northern Pole.., we will like wise..  Shell them  and   surround the   Pole  so the  drop ships  can  launch

 Hack  watched the Holomap.. Hennings  sat on a crate..so far?  so Good?



 ..no... this is  just surprise.. if they have any kind of Military there, they will either    regroup and counter attack..or begin to pull out.. it would  be nice for them to run..but.. I can't see  us being that lucky

As soon as the restraints were released Kira took point with her team, "Hostile vehicles trying to leave the complex light em up!" her weapon arm spinned up as she sighted in on the targets and let the heavy pulse rounds fly providing covering fire for the ground troops as they would be approaching the building.

Nikki managed to avoid getting heavily damaged as she landed.  She and the bubble gunners giving more than they got.  She gave them an E-ticket ride.  Giving cover fire for her compliment to deass and kill what ever decided was not Hermes or allies.
This message was last updated by the player at 21:42, Sun 03 Mar 2019.

When the ramp dropped Zob was the first one to hit the ground running, he moved quickly up to cover and pulled out the sniper rifle on his back and took aim at the building and looked for enemy snipers or heavy weapon emplacements if he spotted any he would engage them.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:50, Sun 03 Mar 2019.

   A few  Windows   about  3X3 feet.. dotted the sides of the  three floors.. some   weapons fire  winked  in the  fading darkness ..another hour  or so, it would be daylight, on this  side of the  planetoid.

     Morgan watched    Kira   rounds  go down range   , Both  Vehicles  exploding..

    B Flight and M  flight  Flew over one more Time, chewing up   the   side south side  and  roof of the  Building

  ..B-Flight    comign up.. need a Flight  to Come down...

 ..A flight will take  out  turn.. we  waxed a couple  Demons..be carful, Red Birds in the air...

 there were two   doors  on the   west wall  Facing the   shuttles, the  Top  turrets  swung  to face   towards the  fences  and  fired off and   any   troops they saw  Moving.

---> Hangar Dec

It was mere seconds after the ruse was lifted that all hell would break loose as fire from the cap ships rained down upon the planet and it's hapless defenders with wave after wave of fighters resplendent in ESN blue fell upon them like armour plated furies. With a feral grin spreading across her face as the music started to play down her comms, Harry would gun her engines as she broke atmo and headed for her first target "Heavy pulse sighted on building roof, 4 o'clock low, moving to engage...Come on Teela lets show em' where the Blue Max's grow!" she called gleefully as she strafed the enemy position with her pulse cannons before arching round to fire upon an AA emplacement at the six o'clock position followed by a squad of infantry unfortunate enough to break cover just as her guns lined up on them.

Before she knew it, they were being called to break off and go hunting whilst A flight took over pounding the Pit's ground forces to dust. Ascending sharply she would check her sensor suite for any enemy contacts, eager to add some Red Birds to her tally, not that she'd object to fragging a few demons or Vamps if she got the chance, a kill was a kill when all was said and done and she needed as many as she could get if she was ever going to knock Shadow off of his throne.

"I'm with you, my friend," Teela said as pulse and laser fire took out gun emplacements and infantry with lethal precision. The two of them were a deadly combo as B Flight made the surface of the Pit a very bad place to be for anyone foolish enough to be one of the enemy and then they were both pulling up as word came it was time to start killing Red Birds. "I love tearing Red Birds to pieces. Let's get some fang kills in too, shall we?"

Hearing the chatter she could not help but respond.  "Time to give these pukes a lesson from the big book of beating ass"

  The Demons    had a Flight    On  fran's  Flight's  tail... they did not expect   fighters  rising from the  surface Flores    Hit the Lead  Fighter  that send  some  rounds through the  Tail  end   Hermes Fighter..

 Kat  Chewed Onbe   Up,  it  Lose   control when 37  MM hit the   cockpit  and    Slammed  into the Wall protecting an AA Gun.

    Shadow  went  for   the Middle of   a  Three  group  fighters.. the   Red  Light said  'Flight  Leader... He  Spun His air Craft.. the  37   MM  still focused on the  the  Demon  Leader, the     Wings  kept  going as the Middle  Vanished..  the other  two  suffered  some  Hits   From  the Pulse  and Lazers  as he spun,, One  Peeled Off towards   Waggles  and Grimm.. the  Other  spun off  towards     Teela  and HArry.

 Above the  another Hermes  Fighter  Vanished I   a cloud  of   flame and  scrap..Steels   chewed  Up rhw  Demons  , sending it  down into the Moutnain side.

  As Soft..Angel Like  Voice.....Demons?.. Go see to the ground  people..Let the Head Hunters  deal with this ESN rabble..Where Is ...Shadow?

 ..Look for the Fighter  with the Red  and Blue flashers, Bitchlette...  I'd  tell you top be smart, and run away...but..I kinda  wanna  torch you..whomevre  the 9 hells you are..

 The CAts     were zipping around  wounding  and  torching Demons.. Ariv  COMed.....LC.... there is  the Many of the  Red Birds...

 for the  South end of the  LZ   the scanner showed  Dozens of   Red Birds  Coming.


 Well?... that's Good...let's see  how Many Tail feathers   we  can pull...

 Teh demons listened to the Voice  and Dove r dowb  to   try to  defend the LZ...

And that's when the RAins  came...100s of drop shuttles  scream   down onto the planetoid... a few  Vanished  as the AA   guns  swung up to stop them.....

On his sensors, Viktor picked up the bandit closing in on he and Waggles and he opened a channel to his wingman, “You see that? One prey-fighter coming up on us. I’ll hang back get him on my six. Keep him busy chasing me while you loop around and slay him. Is that acceptable?” Grimm prepared to throttle back and act less experienced than he was to draw the enemy fighter in if Waggles agreed.

 Waggles   answered........You can do that if You want?.. but  we have  a bunch of  bad  Guys out there...

 Waggle s Looped  away  as  if he was  On a   cahse,  then Immelmanned  around  to    wait for the Demon  to take the Bait.

 The wounded Demon did.. , Waggles  didn't  even waste   37 MM.. but  fired  off his  pulse and lazars ..The demon lost his  Tail section and   dropped to the Ground Below..

 and that's when the waves  of Red Birds  came.

Zob ducked his head down as few rounds zipped past his head and impacted the cover he was behind, when the heavy pulse gunners were destroyed by the fighters he grabbed his heavy pulse gun and quickly popped up and fired full auto into the doorway and windows.

Viktor kept tight formation with Waggles as he pulled past, then tried to synchronize their fire as best as possible as the fighters dove into the swirling dogfight. Concentrated fire would splash the enemy craft quickly, and would allow Grimm to split his focus to watch for any Red Birds moving into firing position on their tails.

  The  windows  showed  signs of  impact..otherwise the lower   windows  were dark.. the  top floor  window were Lit.

    Lyri   , Mi-Ta  , Lirg   and other  snipers  began  sighting in on windows, each  calling  which window they were   aim  at.

    The Ground   around them Shook  as  Dropships    hit,  ramps opening   on the sides  and the Rear, as  armor  and  Troops   began to   spread  Out... the tanks were hardly off the ramp  before they  Fire    at    Buildings  and AA  encampments.


 LT  Hirr pointed   to  a Tunnel....Just to  the Left of  Block house  building.....there  are  the Largan Mechs..they  are coming...!

    Waggles  told  Griimm,..stay close..but   don't  anchor yourself  to me... the differance  between   the ESN  and everyone else... , we can funsction on out own, and still be a wing..

Mortica popped out and into cover next to Zoibach, her Vampic rifle in hand. She found a shooting position and began peppering the defenders with rapid fire, incoherent burst of laser from one of the barrels of her silver filigreed weapon- as much a work of art as it was deadly.

 The First Demon Cap ship took a Pounding, almost like the Old  ships of  sail as   Bronberry  lead   5  ships as they  came to Bear. The  ships  split aprat in a massive explosion. Not  far  above the   atmo of the small planet ..

 The SunRay took a pounding  from the Second   Demonic  Vessel, and peeled off, steaming  back towards the support ships.. with   smoke   pouring  from  its Hanger Dec.

 Two  Drop ships  handed on the 2nd  Demonic vessel  as     fighters  that Bornberry  pulled  with them  trimmed away demonic  fighters.


 at least a dozen  burners started  Cutting through the  spine of the Demon

 The  Third   Cap ship was  meat  By ships  of Delta  One , with the Blizzard   putting the Killing  Blow...

"Come Harry, let us pluck some feather off of these Red Birds for having the temerity to believe they're able to hurt of kill out people with impunity," Teela said as they climbed to let A flight take care of the ground pounding whilst they went to shoot some fighters out of the sky.

  Dixie  came  on  the COMs,..you ladies  for egting   I was once one of those little old Red Birds..

  you  must remember,, You are the Only one left, Si?

  Targets  weren't hard to Find..Alright.. dreop shjips  are   down.. I want  two fl;ight back up here.. two flights   down below  for support..

 ..Howe  Here...  Me and Fitz  will stay down, its  what we're Good at...

 Alright..if things  change  Call us  down.... we  got alot  of   red Brids  comign this  way

 three Demons     crashed  and  Burned   aas Foster's   flight  hit them on thier way up

Kira turned quickly after the targets were eliminated to focus on the entrance now that the drop shuttles with the reinforcements arrived she then turned her head towards the tunnel when she heard the Lt speak, "A Flight we need you to do a strafe run on the mechs coming out of the tunnel left of the block house will mop up" Kira said over the coms.

Kira then addressed her team, "We got hostile mechs incoming lets move to engage, when they are in range give them each a volley" she then moved with her team into position as soon as the targets were in range she would let loose with her heavy pulse arm centered right into the cockpit as she let one of her volleys fly.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:29, Mon 04 Mar 2019.

"Mind if I put play a music selection, LC? Something I've grown to fancy in my study of Earth," Teela asked as she started lining up a shot against one of the enemy fighters.

 Shadow  replies,..Go ahead..Keep it on COM   4  that  feeds into the Enemy feeds as well...

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

 Frans    and Her   flight   Veered back..  they strafed  the  Tunnel  entrance in a Line  Two Mechs  were  already  well outside the  Tunnel  mouth   Firing  Heavy Pulse into the troops   pouring   towards the Mountain..

  when A flight  pasted.. 5  mechs  were  smoking  ruins.. but  a few  more  were   coming   towards the Front.

Kira moved quickly after the strafe run from A flight with her team they now had a chance to bottleneck them in the tunnel from the mouths entrance, Kira and her team fired another round of heavy pulse and minigun rounds into the the enemy cockpits as well as a 2nd barrage of grenades into the confined tunnel hopefully cause a chain reaction of explosions they couldn't let the mechs run rampant and tear up the infantry on the ground.

“Affirmative, I’ll back off, go hunting but stay close. Call if you need assistance,” Viktor replied before banking away then turning rising upwards. He scanned the lower altitude of fighting, then put the wraith into a dive, opening up with the starfighters cannons as he attempted to chew through a Red Bird that was flying to engage the wing.

"Master Chief (Lyri) we need to get inside that building, can your team provide enough covering fire for me and Mortica to reach the door?" he asked as he lets another round of full auto heavy pulse rounds fly at the defenders chewing a few up in the process.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:57, Mon 04 Mar 2019.

"All bubbles..If it ain't us....slag it!" She kept targeting any weapons aimed at them, automatic or not.
She was waiting for the ground assault go.

Karl had flown in close echelon with the two shuttles leading the way, close enough behind the Chase shuttle that if sensors picked them up, from a distance they would read as a single, larger vessel.  When the balloon went up and the shooting started, he braked, holding back at the edge of his sensor range, just close enough to start reading the AA gun emplacements.  "Okay, Ed...let's borrow a page from the Sergeant Major's playbook and do a little Shoot-and-Scoot..."  If the fired too often from the same location, a good gunner could zero on their muzzle-flash...the 105 spat out a big ball of fire along with the massive shells.

"Lock targets and fire when ready, keep'em going as fast as you can until the fighters get to thick to safely shoot through...then we'll move in closer..." The howitzer roared, the leaders buzzed with action as the barrel shifted targets and fired again...and again...
This message was last edited by the player at 08:48, Mon 04 Mar 2019.

Roy looked at the situation.  "Shuttles, have your side bubblesfacing the building lay down suppressing fire, same with everyone from the Chase shuttle.  Rabbits, we're gonna live up to our name...when they light up the face of the building, we move up.  Zob, you take Lirg and Mortica and get through the door,  the rest of us will move up on the walls between ground-floor windows and get grenades inside.  Zob...don't you go in until after the grenades go off.  I don't want you getting metal poisoning from any stray shrapnel."

He paused, assessing readiness of the troops.  "Alright!  Let's do this!"  The air erupted with concentrated, sustained fire, chewing up the walls of the building, and Roy called out, barely audible over the noise even through the comms, "Let's move!"  In a running crouch, weapon up and ready to fire as he went, he moved from behind cover and ran toward a section of wall between two of the dark windows.

Teela grinned and set the comms on her datapad to the desire channel and hit play.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iymtpePP8I8

"Hey, ho, let's go!" She began to sing as she moved to engage a Red Bird.

Hearing the softly spoken voice of the lead Head Hunter addressing Shadow, Harry would speak in a near perfect imitation of her dead friends voice down the open channel "Oi bitch, you're in my seat...you hearing me? Sin is coming to get you!" she crooned in Sin's East London accent hoping to unsettle the Red bird leader knowing that her friend would have held no qualms about beating the hell out of her own team mates in order to reinforce her authority.

With her little pantomime done she would follow Teela in as she moved to engage the Red Bird she'd found, fully intending to finish it off should Teela's shots not hit their mark. It was also as she was doing this that she'd be sure to keep half an eye on her sensor suite in case anyone decided to come to the aid of their intended victim with her singing along to the Ramones the entire time "...the kids are losing their minds, Blitzkrieg bop!"

In reply to Roy Spencer (msg # 36):

"Understood" he nodded to Mortica for a brief second then turned his focus to the door as he waited for the SM to give the suppressing fire order... and when it was given Zob raised his weapon and moved quickly up to the doorway and stayed off to the side as there was gonna be a shit ton of grenades going in real quick and didn't wanna get torn up by the shrapnel.

  the   three  shuttles  Layerd  down 50 CAl fire  at the    building..the Top Bubble  swung back around to  shoot  at the    top floor    windows   was the side bubbles  hit the other  floors.


  Lirg   shifted His   fire  to the lower windows  to  Run  with Zob and Mortica..Hemlsy  scrambled   after     them with his Greasegun and  Demo Pack

 Lyri  called Out,..Garrat..Take   Supe, Hodden  and Minnet with  a couple support folks.. Help the Mechs..  make sure  they don't get taken down  By  enemy support folks...

   Morgan  ,  and Clark Flanked Kira  as the  Moved towards the   shiny  'new' mechs that  were  trooping out of the Tunnel.

 Felrites  Bounded  across the  Battle  field    also headed towards  the  Building

 Az-el and her  Angels  fired  at the Building with sniper rifles  and Angel steel pulse  rifles.

 Lyri  Pointed  at Doc Henry..Have Mila  ready.. we  may need to  send her  to another  Door  If  we  find one..

Larry Howled ..but not the  Mournful howl.. but a savage  howl..
.............................

  Karl's  round  hit  around  the AA  Guns  Near the LZ ,Massive   explosions erupted on the  Ridgeline... and   slowly  cut  down on the  weapons.. of  the  50 AA guns  reported ..30 were on the side    facing the fleet's  approach …of the 30..18 were left


 Tanks  moved   over the    terrain .. while  the  Heavy Panzers   shells  the top of the  Mountain and over.

  Red Colored Fighters   we veered towards     the area   Karl's  fire seem to come from.

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

 In the  Air  the Mix  was  getting thick... There were  very few Demons   above the    cliff side , but the Red   wall  of  fighters    we're  arrowing  towards  the Hermes  Fighters...  Fighters  from Hera  and The Nymph   were Joining thier  Comrades...

 The Soft Voice came Back..Addressing Shadow, but   answering   Harry....Nice  bit of trying, eh? But   that bitch was Killed on  Aqra....serves her  right, you know...trying to rise  higher then her station...she should have been left to cleaning the  mess  tables...Now... Where  is the Lovely  Wing Commander of yours?... I do so want to meet him...

  Flores  Giggled,..you and Half the females in the Black....

 Hmmmm?.. Only Half?  the flight leader  COMed  back.

  ..yeah?  the othe half doesn't like Guys...

  The   the  whirlwainf  Of  Divign, Climbing  and  spinning aircraft Met... Shadow Once  again did the   'Shadow screw" .. torching      the First Red Bird  He  found,  and Nicking Up    the one  that dove  downwards... He  continue stright t hrough   takign   aim on the Next one to pop up

 The air  was  filled  with a   mix of   Lazars , Puls e  rounds  and tracers , and the  brief  flicker of  hot  hard ammo..another Hermes Aircarft  shattered.. and was Gone

 all around  them, the  bright Red Fighters seemed to   have  2 or three of them  near  any one of the  Hermes fighters...

 two  Nymph  fighters   exploded  and the  Flight  Leader   zipped throught the  Debris

 Dixie  screamed  into her  COMs.....LOst My Tail..PODing Out!

 The  Pod  ejected, she  followed  Shadow's rules  or 'directional Podding'..   In a few Minutes her   Pod  Bounced   across the  Ground  a few  Yards   on the other side  of the Fence..between the shuttles  and  the   Drop ships...

 By  now  , tall columns  of Orange  smoke  rose from a place Big Uglie s  had  landed,, to bring in  extra  Ammo and Meds..as  well as  wait to cart off   wounded  and 'Zip ties'

"Understood, Lyri," acknowledged Henry, making sure Mila's harness was loaded correctly. He got out the portable bowl and gave her a drink whilst they awaited commands.

Kira noted Morgan on her left and Clark on the right, "Watch out for hostile support troopers guys" she was getting closer to the engagement area but still out of firing range, "A flight make another pass at the tunnel if possible over" when she was within range her weapon arm spun up and she fired dead on into the enemy cockpit her goal to kill the pilot, these had to be stopped or they could cause a lot of casualties for the ground folks.

  ..Howe to Mech Riders.. demon fighters   comign  down.. Fitz's  f;ight  will make a  Pass, but  we  got to keep the  demons from chewing everyone up...

 ..Coming in... in...3....2....1... Fitz  f;light    came in, much the same  as   Frans's flight.. a Line  of   fighters   shooting up   the  entrance area  of the Tunnel.. when the Flight   passed   another  5  or 8 scrap heaps were left.

 with  some   nehind them in the tunnel mouth  trying to  toss the scrap aside..  from over  tome  of the wrackage  came  Troops...swift if  not  awkward in their  Movements... Vampics!

   Garrat nodded to the orders, "On it Lyri.  You five, your with us. Three to a mech.
 Let's go guys, try not to get killed, I hate doing the paper work."  he moves into position with his guys. "Ambermoon, Let's go knock on some doors."  He looks at the Largan mechs,he'd worked on some of these back at the LG.  They standard issue, the Largan combatants aren't into personalizing their equipment or fighting style, they just want to get to killing.   This makes them predictable.

   "Kira, if we enggage these mechs, thier canopes can actually take more hits than the feather weight armor and the screw servos can take abuse too.  If you sweep under the cockpit you'll rip off the lower half of the driver in one pass, and maybe even set off the battery cells on this design."

   He didn't have to tell her they would just charge firing their weapons at the biggest target they would see.  She knew her shit and stating the obvious would probably piss her off.

   As the vampics flow out, "Keep your distance boys and girls, let you mechs do the chewing, take out those who get through and watch for anti mech artillary."  Garrat chews on a cinnamon stick. "We just need to keep them off Spencer's back, but if they take out your mechs or reach you, it's over."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:17, Mon 04 Mar 2019.

"Understood" she then noticed the troopers starting to move through the wreckage so she moved her team back a bit she didin't wanna be in a situation if her mech was compromised she couldn't escape, "Garrat be advised a lot of Vampic troopers coming over the wreckage, will give them a volley first then mop up any stragglers... Clark, Morgan Volley now!" she ordered then let loose her 2nd volley of grenades spraying 24 grenades into the quickly moving vampic forces as the heavy pulse gun swept underneath the cockpit to take out the lower half of any remaining hostile mech riders if possible or at least hit the power cells.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:39, Mon 04 Mar 2019.

   "Thanks, on it."  Garrat starts picking off the lead vamps. "Whatcha thinking Kira? wait till they get low on suicidal Idiots then take the tunnel?"

Zob when he reached the door pressed himself up against the side of it to make himself less of a target, pulled out a frag grenade and tossed it in one of the ground floor windows he needed to wait until the rest of the group threw in grenades before he could sweep and clear inside the building.

Spotting a Red Bird closing in on Waggles who was, himself, in the process of chewing apart the tail of another, Viktor angled the plane going into a sharp turn to end up on the Bird’s six. The Wraith’s cannons again opened up as the tracers flew in and around the right wing of the enemy fighter.

"Are you sure about that? Sure enough to bet your life on it?" Harry crooned back in the same voice as before as she flipped her fighter end over end so as to engage a Red Bird that had been trying to come in behind her and Teela. There would be brief stab of laser fire followed by a burst 37mm cannon rounds that should spoil the Red Birds day, With Harry meanwhile rolling to starboard to avoid any returning fire.

As soon as he reached the wall, Roy pulled a grenade, throwing it the window on his left...then turned his back to the wall, repeating the action with the window on the other side of his sheltering wall.  His right hand stayed on the grip of his rifle, ready to start firing if a target appeared.

  one  could  say  the 9 hells broke loose , but   most thought it had, perhaps...the 9th hell broke loose?

 Hemsly   stood  to the   side of  the  main door, even as  grenades  went off inside the building..Screams  and  odd sounds... came  from within, as he slapped the 'pancake on the doors."

  Burnin; the   Biskets! he shouted    and turned  away   as he triggered the    explosives The   Dooe inwards,  for the Most art.. the  metal  opened m Like a massive fist   punched through.. Bodies   of  Largrans   lay  torn and Twitching on the  Inside... even  as the  Oddly moving, yet fast  Vampic  troops charged out..

 Thinking   the Hole  was  caused   by  a Tank..  the poured out

 Will and HAwkes Looked at each other    and  shrugged   as they Op3ened up, chewing the   Pale warriors  to bits..noting, that it  took them  longer to  die  after   being  shot up  or lost limbs..Twitching or screaming  as they reaache3=d   around  , if they had arms  left..

    some LArgran  troops     followed them  through the  ruined  door..., when out of  the   shados   cames  a Very  Angry..very fast LArgran  Tearing  into the   Front     troopers even as    roy Zob and the others   chewed  them Up from the Flanks

 Rolfe  Yelled.....CLEAR THE DOOR..2 ROUNDS!..

  a 'cough' was heard  as  a Grenade sizzled Over  tops of the Dying LArgans  and  Blew up somewhere inside... followed  by a second....

GO!...NOW!!!

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


 From the    'mech side' of the   Blockhouse.. grneades  rainded  down on the Vampics  ans the   Mechs  that were   trying to Push through the   mess... they had  Oppened up  a path way, at the cost of being Unable to   shoot...   two More Mechs  died..  and  dozens of Vampics...

 The Heavy  weapons    folks   Just waited... as the  jerky movements of the   runnign Vampic brought them Closer... Supe  said..Calmly,...fire..

 the     lessening of the  darkenss.. was   brighten , even More as the   heavy weapons  Opens Up.. with Tucker and   some drop ship troopers    picking off  those  outside the sweep..

  One   Vampic    shot  two troopers  down    , Clark   took a step towards  Him  and Grasped him  by the  chest and squeezed,, crushing the  armor  and the  Body   before   lobbing the  Body back towards its  kin..

 Karson  was  Clos e  By witht he Mech techs  who carried   ammo  and  tools..

 Garrat.. saw the Side  door  to the   Block house... a  double  sliding  door as in the front.

   "Hey Kira,"  Garrat points "Big door, let's go see what's inside."  He jogs up to it keeping a couple of really big rounds heading down range, and backs up against the door.  One shaped charge where the pannels meet should do the job.  "I should have brought a Pylon gun"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:45, Mon 04 Mar 2019.

Zob moved inside and noticed a Vampic dying on the ground trying to reach for his weapon and promptly unloaded into his head to finish him off, he then let loose full auto with the heavy pulse gun on anything in sight as he pushed up to the nearest cover inside the building, "Go go go!" he shouted as rounds and explosions went off around him.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 18:55, Mon 04 Mar 2019.

  ..After  i deal with your  'Shadow' , one way or the other... Maybe  I'll find you....

 ..what do you think, Mr  Shadow?... I bet  you would  look good  in Red....rather then that ..oh-so-boring  Blue

 ..not a chance, Bitchlette.... you'd  never  catch me  wearing Red..Unless its  because i'm covered in traitor's blood!

 ..dear boy?    You do not know what is  in store for this little party crashing, do you..well... Yor fleet is about to learn...

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

  Viktor's  weapons  stitched   up the   wing to the Fueslage ..   Fore   began to   Glow inside   , the fighter  broke   aprat  with a small flash.. the   Pilto  falling away   her arms and Legs   movign like she was  trying to catch something..

 Waggles and Viktor   both   felt  their  Aircraft   shake from the  impact of   hard ammo and Heavy Pulse... the Mark VIIs   phased out  lazars.. for more heavy pulse...

  all around the COMs..  sounds  Of.. 'I'm Hit!"   and  some " Podding out!"

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

   Teela  Managed  to   torch a  Red Bird   as it closed  In on  Harry.. But  Teela  felt  her    aircraft  shake   as a 37 MM  hit  her    Tail section..yellow  light popped up,, she  would be slower    at turning to her  right, and  Climbing..

  Harry saw the  red and Blue Lights of the  Red bird's  Wing Leader.. she  was    comign Up  for Under Shadow's  aircraft..  from about  3  Miles  away..

   Harry    burned  down a Red  Bird  who was  headed  after Mara...  then she  saw Hamlet shift and Look up in the air.. two Red Birds   were  firing  at  her from 11:00 and  2:00..  Both her   wings   took  some Hits......

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

  Shadow  Lights  were  flashing   as   he had  to shut  off the  flow to  his cockpit and shutters  for the engines.. the cock pit  would have to stay closed,  and the shutters  would have to stay oepned,,he smiled a bit  at the VApor trail he must be leaving..

 Flores    and    Cat were scrambling  around... covering  each other the  Best they can, while  the MAd Man of the WC    Zipped through the   Red Bird  formation..  hitting    Aircraft, , crippling some..  but only one   more that  'lit up the sky"

 Kat  swore in Russian  as her  fighter  shook    then dove   head to head , on the Red Bird that hit her....it  ended  with Kat flying  through the Debris
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:07, Mon 04 Mar 2019.

   Garrat ads another shapped charge making it 2 LB of directed c-10

He waits for the mechs to get into position and blows the door.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:11, Mon 04 Mar 2019.

   Hafter the charges go off Garrat hears Hacks signal.  "Well gosh folks, just when I thought this would be boring we get some good news"

   Garrat throws in a flsah bang, listens to it go off then picks off anyone Kira hasn't mowed down.

Kira mows down a few stranglers the situation wasn't a very good one but she kept her cool, "Ok Morgan form up on me, we are gonna check out the blockhouse with Garrat, Clark i want you to cover the rear" with that she moved up to Garrat's position and prepared to breech once the explosions went off she would be prepared to fire at any hostiles inside the the place if there were any.

“Prey coming in on our eight, braking hard...NOW,” Viktor commed Waggles, throwing the throttle back as the frame of his starfighter shuddered and vibrated as he tried to hold control as he rapidly dropped backwards. If all went as planned the enemy craft would be crossing to his 2 o’ clock and he fired as they crossed past then would accelerate again to pursue.

With the grenades having gone off, Roy gave a sharp whistle.  "Larry!  Your turn!" He pointed to the window that had been partially blown out by the grenades, indicating the larg's entry point.

"Once Larry's in, everyone go through their windows.  Anyone still kicking inside should be worried about an angry larg, we should be mostly unnoticed!"

  Garrat's   Dooe  Blew  Open, Much the same   as Hesly's.... The Mechs    pushed  aside the  doors  and  enterwed...

 there were some  25   troops, two Vampic Officers…. the  rest were  A collection of LArgran  and   EDT..

   Larry   Bonded  through  the   shattered  window Landing On a   largran  , clawing its   head   and   arms

 Garrat   and the Mechs     entered    , firing  from thier  Side..Chewing up half of the  troops  who were not Dazed   By the  pothers.

   Roys   people  Moved In   Finishing off the Rest.. two EDT tried to surrender.. bit    were Cut  down  without a thought.

 One ..6 wheeled Truck had its   box  opened... the tires on the  side  facing the  attack  were  either flat   or  shredded.

 Inside  the Box   where Containers   marked   in Human...Galatic Trade...and   Demonic...that said  ' SOUP "

  Will   and Hawkes     ran to  a   stairway.. it was  wide  , but only some   8 foot high.. they trades  some  rifle  fire  and  were  greeted  by a demon Tank rolling  down the stairs.

  Zop can here Demonic   talk above, as  if  something, oe someone was  speaking   Demonic into a COM System.

"Sergeant Major they are trying to contact the Vampics, we need to move fast... sounds like a COM system next floor up!" Zob then pushed up towards the staircase Will and Hawkes were at and saw the demon tank coming down the stairs, "Seal ej fmihmgd znvrh al!" (Come on bastard fight me!) he shouted at the tank in demonic to get its attention before unloading the heavy pulse gun full auto straight into its face giving Will and Hawkes a opportunity to catch it off guard.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:37, Mon 04 Mar 2019.

Kira swept across the room with her heavy pulse arm full auto to mop up the rest of the group that was still alive after the initial blast, she was greeted with a few pulse rounds that caused some cosmetic damage to her mech this annoyed her greatly.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:33, Mon 04 Mar 2019.

  The   t wo Groups  looked  around the   Building,  bottom  floor  was a giant  shipping  area.. another door  Like Garrat's on the North  wall.. down a hall wat,  past the stair  well  that Zob was  runnign up, followed   By Will  and Hawkes.. was a small door that was oepned  and lead out to the parkign Lots.. the Lot  was   burning with  Hover cars  and wheeled  vehicles that had  been torn up  by the figthers.
 Larry  finished  Crunching a  Vampic  who was movign a bit...skull, spitting out  the  brains  and  gagging a bit.

 Lyri  and  her  people   came around the side  Door.. taking shots  at the   few troops that were   trying ti shoot from, inside the Tunnel mouth.

  The Movement  of the  Cap ships  wasn't easy to Miss.. the thinner   atmo   and the  rising son , let the  bottoms    of the  ships   as  Delta  One  split its  squadron, and the Hermes   heading  for the incoming Vampic.

   Harder to see..for the  Red Birds, at elast... was Delta   2  much higher, and heading the same direction...

 and  no one  could see  the  ships  from the Poles  Moving towards the Vampic.

 ..I am almost ashamed to admit that I am Human?... does  your great Admiral think he can defeat the Might of  a Vampic  attack force?... with a handfull fo ships..

  ..I'm  ashamed you are human...but history is  full of Humans  who have used the death and suffering of others, to make themselves  rich...and  Sister?...  Those Vampic?...They don't know how  Big of a Mistake they have Just  made..

Garrat fires his over powered rifle on full auto through the ceiling in a pattern that
will clear the room.

   Then marches upthe stairs rifle ready.

Zob let the rounds fly from the heavy pulse as he marched up the stairs past the dead demon tank and lit up anyone stupid enough to be in his path., "Will, Hawkes lets go, keep me covered!" he was determined to reach that Com room.

   The rounds   slam into the  metacrete,  dropping  and cracking  some holes.. and  brings   lots of  bits  down upon those   near him

 Zob   rounds the stair  well,, he sees    another  set of Metal  doors, though, they aren't like the  main doors  on the next  Floor.. Will  and  Hawkes   are     crouching   just below the steps   with weapons   Ready...  Garrat can  be heard  coming up the steps.

 at the  south end of the Building   Clark   is  firing.....hey!.Got us  someTroops... Black Uniforms.....most look humans.. don't see that   disjoined   run of the Vampics..

 there is an Impact of a   missile type weapon,  on the   south west ( west being where the   shuttles  are) wall  more  dust and such  shake from the walls and ceiling  , Clark's  grenades  launch again... Morgans     minigun    is  spouting out   fire..


 one more Volly and My  launcher is dry..
  Lyri    fires from inside the   door.. Supe   is  using  a dead largran mech for  cover..

  Stuart tanks   are  funning down the west   side,  speed  turning on thier treads..firing at them with all guns.

"If its not one of ours kill it... leave none of them standing!" she says as she moves up to support Clark and fires her weapon arm towards the EDT that were approaching.

Zob responded to Garrat but kept his eyes forward as he approached the room, "Perhaps but that is on him we still have a lot to do down here... and the longer we take the worse its gonna be for everybody"

Zob then reached the metal doors and took a deep breath making sure Will and Hawke's had him covered before taking out a small bit of C-10 and placed it on the metal doorway no bigger then a breaching charge he then backed up, "3....2....1" he then set off the charge and went into the room to clear it weapons ready to take down any threat inside the room.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:15, Mon 04 Mar 2019.

  the  two  troopers  used the steps  like a Fox  hole...  after the Balst.   they popped thioer ehads  up and  fired at anything movign in the dust   when Zob  entered..  they  each took   a differant  side of the door way. letting Garrat fill in the Middle.

 there  were   , as  far as they could tell.. 4  dead  human Civies.. papers werwe scattered all Over..

 at the west end of the   room, but  a COM  consule,, Say a Demonic Wisp.. she helf   a   mic in her hand.. and the speakers   either   sent our   noise..or  some ESN 'music' piloits  were playing..

 She  Looked at the   Four.. there  was  another  stair  way at the  south end of the room...

 that part of the Romm was  shattered from  weapons  fire  of the    shuttles  that leaked through the  windows..

Zob rushed her quickly through the dust and butted her with his rifle before detaining her with a zip tie and removing any weapons she had on her, "Hlbb al lwlgohrnjv oep cje!" (Tell me everything you know!) he demanded of her in demonic his gun aimed at the back of her head and his foot on her back to pin her to the floor, "Garrat cover me while i interrogate this one, Will, Hawke's search the room!"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:37, Tue 05 Mar 2019.

Catching a flash of red and blue from the corner of her eye Harry would see the Red Bird's softly spoken leader ascending towards Shadow's underbelly "found you" she would softly speak, pausing long enough to watch the fighter she'd been tailing catch fire and pin wheel away to the ground before sending a com to Shadow "LC the Bitchlette is 3 o'clock low of your position and moving in fast!" she shouted before suddenly noticing that Hamlet was warning her about her own impending problem.

Taking hit's to her wings Harry would throw her fighter into a vertical Shadow screw at the two Red Bird's closing in on her, firing both Pulse and 37mm cannons as she did so before throwing her fighter into a loop in the hope that if she flew erratically enough that the Red Birds would be unable to draw a bead on her.

   Garrat gets a mischevious smile "Oh, a wisp.  Make sure there's enough left for Dr. henry to dissect.  You know how he likes to hear his subject scream and beg for mercy while he removes their organs in front of them."

Karl might have missed the motion of the red ships angling to 8nvestigate where he'd been firing...but the AI didn't.  "Captain, there's a formation of fighter craft rising from the surface, on an intercept with our last firing position."

Karl thought for a moment...it was a deliberate part of the AI programming that the pilot made tactical decisions.  "Start calculating their approach vectors," he said as he nosed the Morningstar into a dive and bumped the throttle.  "</green>Fire off cannon rounds to intercept their flight path...let's see how much we can thin them out before they figure out we're moving...</green>"

The display instantly lit up with course plots for the fighters and other lines to mark the line of fire for each of the shots.  "Let's keep 'em guessing even longer, Ed...prioritize targets in inverse order of proximity...if they don't see the guy in front of them burst into flame, they'll wait a little longer to go evasive."

The display shifted, the angles of fire changing around, then slowly moving to compensate for the changing positions of the fighters relative to the Morningstar.

"Okay, Ed...marksmanship practice.  Three rounds at each plane, as fast as you can update your aim...commence fire."  There was a brief buzz of noise from the cannon turret...which repeated every half second until the rounds had been fired off.  The planet grew larger in the cockpit metaglass, and the cannon rounds were only visible on his display as tracking markers showing their progress toward the fighters, which slowly started to become visible as more than indistinct dots swirling over the planet.

Roy proceeded over the the stairs.   "Larry!" he waved to the larg to follow him as he started up the stairs behind Zob and Garrat, leaving them to deal with the comm area and moving to check the rest of that level.  "You see anyone hostile, you take them apart," he instructed the larg.

Teela cursed at the damage she took and climbed after Harry, turning into her own Screw as she opened up on the fighter at 1100. "I'm right beside you, Harry."

   ..Thank You Harry...  would be  bad  form to miss  my date and all...  The LC     went Up and Over..  screaming  downwards  towards  the  Red Bird  Leader..

 ..not  quite fair   actually?.. Your streaming Vapor... I had thought this  would   have been more of  a sport...

   the #19   flattened Out     and all the weapons  fired... The  Woman  screamed   in surprise    as   holes appeared  in   her wings   ..Shadow's  Skids     within inches  of  her Canopy..

 ...my my my.... .. your wings  look...just a tad  ragged    Lady Bitchlette..Imagine   one of those  37 MMs hitting  your windscreen?

 ..you?  missed..on purpose? she snorted...,,how ..stupid.. do  you think i am!

 ..I didn't miss.. I hit ..just what i was aiming for... now?... You can   hit your surrender lights  and Go to that pretty color   smoke.... or.. My Next pass  is  the last thing you'll ever  see...

 ..you ego manic?....  my people are loyal to Me...as you are  about to f.....

 the   two  fighters   coming Up  from behind    him vanished   in balls  of  flames   as   Flores  and   Kat criss  crossed behind  him....yeah?..that's neat..so are mine...now?.. we can screw  around here   for a minute or two... but i have to end you, one way or the other.... 'cause there  are  a bunch of VAmps   coming that are waiting  for 37MM stakes  through the heart..

 The  leader  was   Pushing her Aircraft hard.. the   wings  didn't look so good.. and they were in Atmo...

 Flores   snapped, Finish the Bitch  and    go kill more... we don't have time for this!
.....................................

 Teela....  Muscled her  aircraft around..pumping  rounds  into the  aircraft, Splitting it Open and sending  another red suited   pilot to last landing he would ever make. .. then..just Like   that, another  one  took its place.. firing at Teela   By  Missing as she turned.


 Harry...  One aircraft  Vanished when  Harry's 37 MM hit the belly of the aircraft...   another one that was  seemingly ..'passing  By' as it  chased   Gia..  took  Pulse  and   lazars  from angles that wouldn't have  been 'normal' except for the 'screw'.. Vapor   both white and Black  trailed , and the Pilot  Podded out..  Falling  towards  a line of  troopers   moving from the  Drop ships

……………………………………….

Viktor...  Waggles   was  Hit  again  as he  swept through  the   crazy dog fight... but managed  to bring  another  Down.... Viktor    chewed  Up a fighter that seemed to  hesitate  when he saw the aircraft type..

 There  were less  screams on the  COMs  from   ESN Pilots.. perhaps  more swearing as they  miised a target or  took a hit... But  Red  birds..were thinning out.

…………………………………………

   Karl.... fired  the    cannon rounds,, two  of the   fighters  Blasted  to  Bits..  another    Lost  part of  a wing and  tail section , going down,   as the Pilot looked to make a forced  landing..  the  other    thre e  fighters  Turn  and  spread out... heading in his direction

………………………………..

 and then... there was Light... The  Mountian  bathed   in yellow-white lIght… Buildings  easy to see  as well as   Vehicles  and troops... LArgran and demon troops    moving across the ridge top  were Now  getting Hit   by Panzer  rounds...and to..ANY  Pilot..no matter the race...looking into the Sun was not a Good thing.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:37, Tue 05 Mar 2019.

   Roy and LArry clamored Up the steps to the Next floor..Hemsly trailed  after them  ..another set of doors  before them..but they didn't  appear locked..  as  one   door seemed to  move , ever so slightly.

    Hemsly  held his grease  Gun ready. he appeared ot  have  taken a  wound to his leg, but it  didn't  seem to bother him.

  Larry    flattened out    coiled his legs..and  burbled...

……………………………………………..

 The Wisp wheezed . Teh Normal demon's  sounded gravel like.. harsh.. her's sould  like  stones   rubbing together..

  ..i...am trying to warn the  Fleet.. they do not know the Number of vessel.. they would not have seen them!... The  Fleet's   Shamen has  her spells  working....many will die.. if  I cannot reach them!..

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

 Lyri  said,..you know what?.. if thier  Mechs  can come out of that tunnel......

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

 the Felrites     were climbing the  cliff  like  gekos  they met squads  of  Empire  folk    and  wiped them out  with only losing  one or two of their  own in the process...

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

 Then  the  Light appeared  like a  massive search light...

Zob pressed the issue a bit further, "Who is your fleets Shaman, what spells?" he spoke in demonic the gun pressed against her head a bit harder he knew he couldn't stay here much longer and had to continue on but he wanted as much information as he could get.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:12, Tue 05 Mar 2019.

Kira noted the bright sunlight coming, "Team activate the shaders on your HUD" after flipping a switch in her cockpit she was safe from being blinded, "Ok team i don't see anymore hostiles here lets move on over to the tunnel and investigate"  she would then move her team over to the tunnels entrance.

  The Massive  ships  were   pouring on thier  power.. that had been sitting thier, like fat spiders, until thier threads   tingled... Now.. Brachus stoop on his   Bridge .

 Smiling  Even as  Vampic  fighter s were    being   blown away.. he  had Plenty  and  his troops  would  soon be boarding   ESN  Cap ships.. the thought of the  food supply  made him lick his fangs...

  straining his eyes  against teh Sun..he saw  some of the fighters   Die  a more violent  death?... the   realization hit him..and he smiled... Hacks   God class  cruisers and smaller Hero class..  would be  crushed by the  ramming  weight of a LAir Vessel..   then.. the firs  of the heavy Pusle  Round hit..    , he  smiled   … then the  first of the Hard  ammo  hit..  sending rumbles  through the ship..his  smile..weakened .

 The Moonless Night was hit  by the first   Cap ship class   torpedo , a large  section of the both    deck   Blew  away..

 Faster!.... Faster.. ready the chase  Cannons  and fire  at will...

 "..admiral?  we cannot  see them to target them... they are in the SUN!..."

 ..Best Guess..you fools!  and  Make Haste!  Both   Lair  ships  fired   sends    Heavy Puls e rounds  down  range.. the Biggest problem, was  the MIsses, and if they woud  hit  any Support ships..  But   the  figthers   from the support ships  made it thier    Job to  try and shoot  down, any stray   rounds

      some of the vessels  were Hit.. the  lair ships  had  8   chase  weapons , 2  per  dec  except thier   Command  dec..

  then.. the LAir  ships  were rocked....  from  Under them as   Delta  4    turnign their ships and  fired 'upwards..."

  and  from   above  as  Delta  3  fired  Downwards.... leaving the  great  broadsides of the lair ships...nothing....alarms   were Goign off    all over the Vessel.. the ships   shook, time and time  again  the Moonless   Night   had  Gouts  of flame  comign from her hanger dec..

 ..5th Element  here , Admiral.. sorry it  took us so long.. we had to  destroy a Cruiser  called, " Midnight Dreams"... they are all sleeping    their  last sleep..

  Thank you Captain..Carry on...

 Already Done , sir...

 The   Dark Embracer    was Hit  again, this  Time  from the Stern...

 Brachus Lost his  Mind,what the  9 hells  is going on!...

  the   hems crew  turned and said,we  don't Know  Admiral?...  Power is  goign out on the Decs.. each time    a round Hits.. we  lose    power  or controls?..  some rounds   are HE?...almost like one   round makes a hole, and the next round..follows  it in...

  Hey... Brachus?... how funny is that song you played at the Ball..... another..5..6  rounds.. You'll have no engines... you stern chase  Guns  will be off Line... and  30 some   ESN cap ships are going to   cross your  T.. I just want you to know.. That  Captain  Herny Roles   and His EMS cap ships... help serve you for dinner..

  Hack  came on the Comes....keep pounding away    Roles?... see if you can  knock out some of those broadsides..

 ..now?.. Brachus.... I know you can't  stand surprises..like when  you all got  your asses kicked at the ball... so.. I'm gonna  tell you what's gonna happen..right..now... were gonna  keep send   round s down range  at you.. and went your  sorry ass gets  too close.. we'll  just move out of the way... that's  another  10 minutes.. unless  Roles  takes  away all your   thrusters.. then..maybe  20 minutes of  getting  pounded  from  us.....meanwhile.. when Roles  signals he's  down.. delta  3  and delta  4  are  going to sail across you stern..it will be like a Piñata ..see   which  ship cracks open the   casing  and   watch the candy fall out..

 ..not  gonna end there though?... You got  Holes in your Belly  and your Spine.... transport bases  are coming.... Colonel Cummings   is hard on his people... but he has a soft spot for them too?.. soe   you'er gonna get boarded   By Cat...Naragrans...Ape Folk,  Sanri, Occui..Nivarian with Largs and   some  very  nasty Hyrians.. we don't like to leave anyone out?... so the Gava  are comign too.. they get along good  with  the naragrans.

 ..no!..this cannot  happen!  You won't be able to take us...

 Hack  took a sip of  Coffee   , that  Dana  and some of  the braver  grils   were serving to those on  duty.

  ... did you every read the Iliad?.. yeah..damn good book... anyway..there  was this   woman.. a preistess named Cassandra..she would always give  warnings.. her  fears , would come true..but it was her  fate.. for  no one  to believe her?.. That's how  I feel

as Your  watch  the rounds    Pounded your  vessel..and you see  systems begins to  fail.. and you here  battle  going on ,in your  own Vessel... keep this  one thought...The Delta  Fleet has    brought planets  to   thier knees  what ever made you thing.. two   little ships were gonna  do?

 we will fight to the death!

 ..Yes...yes you will...

 ..colonel Cummings?.. let us know when your troops  are  ready...  we'll stop the pounding then

 Brachus  watched.. a  small aircraft was  approching..it wasn;t a fighter... a torpedo craft... it fired  one   small torpedo , then turned  and   flew away.. Brachus smiled   at the  little  aircraft... Until  part of His  Bow ,  Blew  away,  rocking the  ship.. the  vessel  had  fired   a torpedo into the Muzzle ,of  the giant chase guns. Blowing  away      the  3rd and  4 dec Chase  weapons, when the Pulse  Coils  went Up   Brachus looked   out  the side  of the Bridge.. the  Moonless    night was listing, and thus  its    barely controlled  engines, and momentum  was taking  it to the starbaord  Firsh were  blazing at various  spots... and then he saw them.. from this angle, they were   highlighted  by the gods be damned sun... large  vessels ..Dark Blue..Transport basses..  like feeding fish..coming to prey on the wounded.

  the Wisp  struggeled  against  Zob,..your  Shaman..the one  who casts  spesll on  devices  so they are rendered   useless...The one the Called  'Color HAir"

 Will  called out....got some shipment  date shere..and placs... none of the destinations ar good..

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

  Lyri called  for Rolfe   and his grenade launcher.. KArson   stayed witht ehm too.. One of the Mech Techs  was wounded   pretty bad Lirg and Mi-Ta     jogged over to follow the mechs to the Tunnel.

“Waggles, what is your fighter’s status over? I see the prey have gotten several hits on you. Do you require me to move into defensive position to protect your six?” Viktor asked, concerned for his wing mate.

 Waggles came back,..She's  Sluggish?...  I'm Gonna  go up to the Hermes..maybe  i can knock  down some of the  Vampics...

“Copy that, moving onto your right wing following you in,” Viktor responded as he banked and accelerated to catch up to Waggles. He kept his sensors running as the pair of fighters headed to the Hermes. He was determined to see his fellow pilot survive this, both for Waggle’s sake and to prove the Vampic was worth the trust the Admiral had placed in him and the reputation that Mortica had risked.

Zob asked, "Which fleet?" he asked once again in demonic before turning to Will, "Hang onto it we can use such to trace back to the suppliers... where is this cargo going to?" Zob asked Will pressing a bit harder at the struggling Wisp under his feet just enough to keep her from moving around.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:06, Tue 05 Mar 2019.

Kira noticed one of her Mech techs was injured pretty badly but she didn't have time to get distracted on it, "Get him back to the big ugly and patched up"

Kira then glanced down the tunnel and saw a large heap of scrap from the mechs and smoldering vampic bodies she then pushed on down the ramp with her team being cautious as it was unfamiliar territory and a good spot for a ambush.

Roy eased up to the door, cautiously, weapon ready to fire...when he got there, he pulled another grenade.  He crouched low...there was a chance someone on the other side of they door was waiting to fire through the door itself at anyone on the other side, so he crouched to be below the line of fire.  It compromised his mobility...but he was counting on Larry to back him up if anyone came through the door...

Carefully, he eased the loose door open just far enough to give him room to toss the grenade into the room, then dove clear of the doorway to avoid any shrapnel than came through the door into the hall.

After having the ground force aboard and a few extra Nikki commed the Rabbit.  "I cannot see just waiting here until their done...How about we take care of some of these artillery placements?" With VSTOL capability raising up some was not a problem. "Gunners...target placement batteries" Which was fairly easy seeing them fire out to the fighters and possibly the Hermes.  She began a 360 sweep to make note of important targets.  The bubbles began firing, making the area they landed rather 'quiet' compared to other areas.  A few rounds pinged the shuttle, many she dodged by flying erratically.
Hipps could be heard "When the hell did we get put on a rollercoaster?"
"When you bought the ticket"
"Can I get a refund!"
Nikki kept flying and banking at random, firing the 37s as needed.  She spotted part of a bunker that was definitely made.  "That looks like an interesting toy.....wonder what it is?" getting closer it looked like the top or outer section of a communications or scanner array.



====> to be continued

Karl noted the planes changing course.  "Cease fire, but keep plotting fire angles, Ed..."  Karl pulled the stick and kicked rudder, bringing the Morningstar around into a broad barrel-roll, as he fire-walled the throttle and his plane leapt forward, racing toward the oncoming fighters.  He meant to minimize the time he was in their forward fire-arc...because unlike the Morningstar, their planes didn't have turret-mounted weapons.  The Morningstar was also built to take some punishment, some its ground-support role meant having to endure fire from the ground...he was willing to bet he was better armored than anything 5hose planes were used to facing.  And they still likely had no idea what they were actually chasing yet, thanks to Beth's transponder scrambling...they had a visual on the muzzle flash, and if he changed relative positions to them fast enough, they'd be looking g for him in the wrong spot.

"Okay, Ed...same drill as before, but wait until we're in minigun range to start shooting..."  Out here, at the tenuous edge of the atmosphere, that was still far enough for them to have a hard time making a visual contact.  "Anyone that makes it past the cannon fire, open up with the minigun...if all goes well, we chew them up before they ever even get a target lock on us..."

The display changed again, the tracking lines updating continuously while a 'boundary marker' line appeared, showing the distance to engagement range.  The three planes came closer, and closer...and then the cannon buzzed, then buzzed and buzzed again, and Karl heard the distinctive oscillating whine of the minigun spinning up as the AI prepared to continue fire if anyone survived.

 Lyri COMed to   Doc Henry, Doc?... we  need  Mila's Sniffer  over here for the tunnel Mouth.......make sure she has her charges...

  Some felrites , hearing they were goign to check out  the   tunnel  , Bounded over   like  old  earth  Footage  of   the  first man on the moon.

 The MAster Chief then said,Alight Mechs?.. lead  the   way... when we  get to a Door  or   an Intersecyion.. we'll use  Mila to scout a bit...


 The wounded Tech was  talking Back, the  lone  remaining Tech,PO2 Vennison   took the   ammo canisters  for the Mini guns

 Rolfe had his grenade launcher , Lt Hirr and 4   Felrites, Karson . Ma-Ti, Waggstaf,  Jeens  and Brooks.. Minnet   went  with them. leaving Supe  and Hodden  to help  secure the Bunker

 Stoly    stayed on the  ground, he had  No    Gunners  since the troops  acted  as the Gunner.  The Club  Joined the  Diamond  rising up

 Lt NcNeikl  gathered  the    'leftovers' of the  3  shuttles  and  readied  them to go off in what ever  direction they were needed.

………………………………

 The Smaller Bunker.. more of a Block house.. showed  some  sign of  being Hit by   Fighter  runs..  but one thing for certain,, in the    daylight light   it was  easy enough to see a column of  troops, of  Mix races and Unifroms , double timing up the    'dark side' of the slope , trying to reach it....

  There  was  shaking of the shuttle    as it ws Hit  By a Passing  Red Bird.. who in  turn  was  Hit  By the  top Bubble..and 'passed on to the starboard  Bubble who  finished it  off.. the three  Gunners  cheered  as the  aircraft went  down, the Pilto  Podding out, hitting the  slope  and  Rolling down the   mountain side  like  an overly large  egg.

   Roy Tossed  the grenade inside,  there was a   yell of  surprise   then the explosion....then.. there was  quiet ( from that room at least.. Gunfire  and  aircraft were making all kids of  noise   everywhere else!)

  Hemlsy and    LArry  were   ready..when the Door  was Opened  they saw the   ceiling had been gone from the strafing  runs. at least  a dozen  bodies  littered the  area.. a Female LArgran  and   Human   seemed to be the  'most fresh".

   Half of the screens  and machines  were  either  crushed or Blown up..  bit the south east Corner ( to the left of the  door as they entered)  5  screens   still worked.. the scenes  of  aircraft  and troops  flashed  as the CAMs  changed  randomly.

  But  was of Most interest, was the Holo map of  The Pit... small Icons   of Bunkers and   such were  either Green, Black or red.

  and the  tunnel systems mapped out to the City below..showing  underground   highways to  every place   on the Rock

 A Battled  Empire Flag was  stil waving from the   western  wall, at the top of the roof.. the stairway had  been  covered,, but the  roof  , itself  made a  ramp way to the top.

…………………………………………

 The Wisp's  wide eyes  tried to  look behind her at Zob,..you are MAd..yes?.. that is why you  run with the food, rather then eat it!... I was trying to  warn the   Cap ships.. i was  trying to  warn the Vampic.. they Could  not possibly know how many ships   the mad  dog admiral had... but i cannot get through....not  from here...

   she  winces a bit,..the cargo goes to the LAir Ships... form their they are send to  ..either needy  troops..or  to the higjhest Bidder..

 Will looked  around the Offcie , he pulled  some pictures of  a  mesaage board  and  Tucked it inside his  armor.  he relived  two Offcie folks  or  Demonic  side  arms  and   added them to his weapons  belt.

 Hawkes   took a boot knife of a  EDT, that  had a handle  carved to look like a  woman  dancing on top of  a globe.

 Garrat could see the machines   were  either Fried  or  cut off  from the main feeds.

"On our way..."

Henry checked Mila's loadout of demolition charges, showed her that he had the detonator, and led her over to Lyri's position to get a detailed brief on what was required.

The dog was trembling a bit, so Henry soothed her... no matter that he felt a bit of a tremble himself.

Zob shook his head as he chuckled, then spoke to her in demonic a smile upon his face, "Silly girl you just don't understand do you?... ill send my regards to Qer La Kal when she lies dead at my feet and i become the next high king of our race... I will lead our people to a prosperous future and we will have peace..."

Zob then looked to the others, "Once we finish getting anything of import from here we should form up with the Sgt Major... ive gotten everything i could out of her anyways... its just rude not saying goodbye before you leave you know?" he chuckled at that last statement a bit but it faded quickly.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:00, Tue 05 Mar 2019.

  Karl...   As he  came into range, he saw the   sun lighten the   side of the aircraft facing   it..even as   both  groups  fired  at  each other...

 The Sun , seemed  not to care, who was on what  side... and  Karl was   Highlighted  as  well.

 the  moment turned into a jousting match.. the  Middle  aircraft   Broke up  and  fell  apart.. the other  two  Hammered   the  Morningstar , Until the   left most  aircraft Blow up..  the Right Most Fighter   dove   down then brought its  nose up.. Karl  could feel the  hard ammo and  Heavy Pulse  walk down  the   frame from just behind the pilot seat to  the  Tail section.

 Yellow lights   flashed on and Off in the cockpit.. from  what KArl could tell the   Red Board  was  damaged a bit as well..

………………………..

 Waggles  said  to Viktor...I'm safe  now.. either Get back down there.. or Help clean up some of these  Vampics up here..... with that, he made the run to the Middle hanger bay door, that had a Flashing  Green light.
………………………………

   Shadow  fired  off  one 37 MM   round that broken off part of the   Leader's  right wing...surrender lights...now.... or Pod out... I can't waste any more time...

  The  woman's   voice only cracked a little as she tried to hold her calm,why... is it some Important for   me to do either?

 ..look?..Lady..I've been doing this a long time... and if i haven't been doing it more then you?.. I certainly have been doing it  against  damn tougher   opposition then you.... if you fold up..alot of your people  will as well.. which mean  a couple more of mine live..and alot more of yours  do.. the Hot Heads..well.. there  won't be  any left... and then we  can go and clean count  dracula's house..

 ..DEVIL'S FLIGHT... THIS IS CONSTANCE .... I...I...I AM  SURRENDERING . I WILL NOT  TELL YOU ALL WHAT TO DO..FIGHT..RUN..OR  SURRENDER.. BUT.. I AM GOING    DOWN... IT HAS BEEN MY HONOR, TO  FLY WITH YOU ALL

 With that,  she  flicked On her   surrender Lights,  And Shadow followed her to the ground.. she  landed    and  troops from the LZ  surrounded  her and lead her off to a Big Ugly.

 all around the  sky.. three things  happened..Hard Core  Folks   kept  Fighting... Surrender Lights  came on ( mostly on battered fighters) while  a  Blue  lighted   Hammer VII took off towards   Roussian space,  followed  by dozens  more

 Shadow climbed back up  and   said , coldly into the COMs..Allaircraft5..no matter what damned  side you are on.... if  one...just one  fighter   uses  a false surrender sign.. we'll kill ever  last one of you..with no remorse... Any one  who is free... try and kill some of the ones  who are  running, so we don't have to fight them again...

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

 The Vampics  in the air  were having trouble, even with the shading...  Nivar's  sun  was Bright with  no obstruction save   for a passing Cap ship,  dozens  peeled off to Follow the   Red Bird Flight leader who was leaving the  field , Broadcasting   for those   who wanted to  live, to come along... Corvettes   joined the  escape  as well.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:51, Tue 05 Mar 2019.

In reply to Tunnel (msg # 91):

Kira proceeded to take point with her unit clearing her way through the rubble with the force behind her supporting her, "Its unlikely but make sure none of these fools are playing dead" she said as she passed over the heap of bodies in the tunnel towards what looked like a door in the distance keeping alert as she did so.

  The Cats crawled over the Bodies, some of them  grabbing weapons or powercells  and the   Like.. a few  wounded were ended  fast.

 Lyri  waved  Doc Henry and Mila  up  behind her,  As Lt Hirr    walked opposite.., there was a grade to the    tunnel , that went  down slightly  as they walked,.. which served  the tunnels  well  as the lighting fro the intersection  weren't seen ,from the outside.

Viktor commed Waggles as the Vampic’s starfighter arched away from the hull of the ship, turning to re-engage, “Good hunting with you, Waggles.” With that, he listened to Shadows orders and he angled the nose of his fighter towards the retreating ships as he sought new prey.

  As   Viktor   flew towards  the  exodus  for  fighters.. he  had  a sudden tough choice to make.... does  he  chase them... or try to shoot  down  some of his  brother and sister Vampics  that  still wheeled about the Black.. he  could ignore them..and chase after    whatever  flew the   Hammer VIIs.. or...he could engage  with the Dwindlign Number  of   Vampics, that the Sun , behind them, had left them  at a disadvantage.

Kira was a bit careful at the grade in the tunnel as she pushed forward, "Keep a eye on the flanks... don't know what kind of horrors could be hiding down here in the cracks of these tunnels" she kept her weapons arm spun up as she scanned the area for any threats.

The commander had ordered pursuit of the retreating ships lifting off the surface, and Viktor intended to prove to him he was one of them now so he pulled up an intercept solution and engaged maximum burn in the void heading towards the ships coming up from the surface.

Henry walked along cautiously but curiously, looking around. Mila kept close to him. She'd stopped outright trembling, but through the implants Henry could still tell that she was nervous.

That's two of us he thought, then concentrated on feelings of reassurance and love.

With another pair of Red Birds destroyed, one aimed for and the other resulting from happy coincidence as it and Gai crossed her T, Harry would form up on Teela as the order to pursue the fleeing Red Birds was issued. It appeared that the softly spoken Constance either didn't have the stomach or the zeal required to fight to the death an so had surrendered; encouraging several others to do likewise "I dunno Teela Babe, they don't make them like they used to" Harry joked as she arched round to pursue the nearest of the fleeing aircraft. Using the myriad of colour coded trajectories on her HUD she would plot a suitable intercept course, waiting until it was all nicely lined up before firing a quick burst of cannon fire.

Karl kicked the Morningstar into a broad turn, trying to keep the plane on his port side.  "Ed...fire anything you can bring to bear on that plane..."  He added in a low growl of frustration, "Let's see you dodge all that, you slippery sonofabitch..."

  Stopping  at  a  Thre way intersection, it ws easy to see that the  tunnels  were  , mor eor less, covered  roadways...  some of the metacrete  chipped up   from the mech  shoes... and lots of  sign of   wheel burns  and  Hover-thruster   burns..

  Lyri  stopped  and Looked  around,.. the northern  tunnels  was not as well lit  at the  southern Tunnel

 ..Master Chief here.... we  entered the Tunnels  by the  SIG  Point.. we  are  at an intersection.. we can go  South  or  North.....  they both have a slight  grade...downhill...

 She  turned to Doc  Henry,..send Mila  down  South a bit, to see if she sees  anyhting.... keep her in eyesight..don;t  go more the  400 yards...

 KArson Looked at Hirr  ..The  Felrite  LT  shook her head,,,theees  has to lead to thee  guts of this  rock... we  may need  troopers..

Roy eased into the room, until he saw 5hat pretty much everyone was dead.  When his eyes fell on the map, he nodded.  "Beth, can you get a vid feed off my comm?  We just found some highly actionable intel...roadmap of the entire Pit, including all the underground connections..."

He started circling the holomap slowly,  getting a clearer idea of what interconnected where.  " When the Fleet is done chewing up Vampics, and you get back, I think we could also use some of the Demon-gas bombs.  They probably won't do anything to the Vampics, but they'll slow down the Largrans and eliminate the Demons...we can minimize who's coming back out of those tunnels."  It was a pretty heartless option...but they'd been warned to remove non-combatants before the attack.  If there was collateral damage, it was on someone else's head for leaving civvies in a combat zone.

Hearing Lyri's comments, he looked at the map, trying to determine her position and what lay down either fork from her location.  "Stand by, Master Chief...might be able to navigate you..."

 Fitz  and Howe  widened thier   searches  for Targets .. the enemy was   either  mostly   dead, on the run, or holing up somewhere...This gave them a Chace  to  try to burn some Red Burns  who were  trying to run..or fight.

 thus  far, 22    HAmmer VIIs  landed   near thier  leader's  aircraft.. several others  were torched   trying to climb out of the   thinning cloud of    Fighters

  B  Flight   was Giving chase... reports  were coming  in from many areas of the planetoid of  HAmmerVIIs  landing.. what was suprisng, was , Not all the Pilots  were  Human.. some   Demons..and  a bunch of Vampics.

   Shadow  and  Flores   went..instead.. after the VAmpics.., They were trying to join the escape  as well... and others  flew back to thier  massive Vessels that  had  just finished  taking a Pounding ..

 the pounding stopped   as  drops ships  fell on the  monsters, ESN and APF  Marines    pouring out like  ants.. and  goign  down into the Holes, the  breaching teams  made.

 Colonel Cummings  Opened  all COMs   so his   commanders   could here,..I say?  Admiral   HAck.... are  we to  take prisoners..or  No?...

 ..The Order..was No prisoners   except  Civie's trying to escape... we can vet the Civies  to make sure  no ones  trying to run..... But on thise  scrap Piles your  peopel   are going on?... if   some one surrenders right away... take them... if they try to fight..gun them down... if they fight to the end?... end them....but...All commanders  anywhere in this Furball... I would rather  1000  empire   folks be kiled , with out  you being sure..then one of our people dies..because   we  cut someone some slack... in the end?  they all had thier chance.

  Very Good, LAds and LAdies.. you heard the Admiral.. use  judgment based  on  us before them..right?.. CArry on...

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

    Flores  and   Shadow   cleaved  through  some VAmpics,  without even stopping to  note, the kills..that's what Gun cams   were for..  then, they veered off  towards  the   receding way of  Red and Black fighters.. to  start  to chew up , 'tail end  charlies'


Viktor..   was Approached    by a  Pair  of   Wraiths..  both.. fired  power weapons  at him..  nicking   up the  tail section, almost as   if they  wanted to 'see what he would do..  Kat    pulled up High and behind hm.. her   aircraft was shot   up  pretty badly...but  didn't  stream any Vapor.....good  day to  you, comrade Vampic... we are in  rat catching stage.. I will fly with you.. since   Comarde  Shadow   can step on rats with out my help...

 Harry..Teela..

 Just a Bit ahead of Shadow  and Flores... the pair   found three   fighters.. two HAmmer VIIs and  a Wraith ..the saying 'devil take the hindmost' was well in vogue today.. the other   fighters  were going   full burn.. many of them out of sight.

 Teela     torched   nthe tail off  a Hammer, the Pilto Podded out.... The Wraith was Hit  By  HArry, the pilot  never  had  a chance...

 Karl....  The  Hammer   VII came  in hard   at  Karl..its  weapons opening  Up  as if the pilot had the triggers   Gripped   with no thought of running out of  Ammo...

  The    Unhappy   Pilot    Died  even as    rounds    slammed into the Moring star..Karl  could see come starring  where the   Cock pit met the  frame... the   worse part   was ..  the    cockpit Pod   hand   slammed  it   the  nose of  the Morning star....  the  Pilot   Looked  over  at Karl.. his  body torn  by the rounds  and the Blast... he..spit and  what was left of the Pod  fell off...heading towards the ground below..

 red Lights   flashed  al around KArl's  consule
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:26, Tue 05 Mar 2019.

<minor flex, continuing from last post>

Nikki flew even closer to the structure.  As she did she noticed a few pilots took notice and she was taking more artillery implacement flak.  They seemed to think it important.  Stil flying erratically she got even closer."All gunners....slag this structure.  top bubble keep any enemy off our ass" she then began unloading her 37s at it.  The side gunners began opening up as well.  Part of what once was a needle like obelisk with a fly swatter at the gtop gegan leaning and soon toppled at its base.  Falling across most of the roof top.  Three explosions occured along where the array fell, largest was near where another smaller array was.  She banked the Diamond on a turn and could see an opening on the roof inside.  She moved and fired into the hole. Stopping only a moment to avoid taking enemy fire.  Then she moved again asthe buildiing began to both explode and implode.  It rocked the shuttle, a few warning lights flicked to yellow and alarms sounded.
From the gunners she heard cheers for toasting it and a few explatives fotr being bounce like ball in a pinball mashine.  She quickly took stock of priogrities and flying about for another target.

  the   troops that were ehaded upwards, began to  fire at the shuttle..an APV  had its  own Heavy Pulse  turret that sent  rounds upwards   ( and someties into) the shuttle.

   Nikki's   estimate was   30  some trops and two APVs that were ehading to the ..now  ..destroyed  Building.

    Beth  cam  back on the COMs...

   ..so we don't alert them.. I'm send  the   Holomap  Roy  found to COMs on COM 1... it would be the greates..but it will be a MAp.... If you guts go South.. it  seems to leade to a Big Complex, or maybe the town?.... if you go North..  there  seesm to branches leadign to the cliff faces..

 Hemsly   walked up  the 'ramp' of the fallen Roof...he tore  down the  Demonic Flag..  he rolled it in a BAll and Tossed  it down to Spencer.lthere ya Go Lad... souvenier..

Kira looked over the map a bit, "I'm thinking South your call though Master Chief" she waited for Lyri's approval or disapproval before continuing onward.

Zob having had enough talking to the wisp girl fired 3 rounds from his heavy pulse into the back of her head splattering her head like a melon, "Grab what you can lets go check out the stairwell over there" he pointed towards the south side of the room he then reloaded his weapons and carefully made his way over to the stairwell on the south side of the room curious where it leads.

"Well, ain't that a kick in the ass..." Karl grumbled.  Speaking clearly into comms, he stated, "Morningstar is out of action...heading for the LZ, my cockpit is compromised..."  He checked his restraints, as he said, " Ed, dial life support down to lowest pressure levels until we get into atmosphere...let's do what we can to prevent this crack from turning into a full blow-out..." He nosed the plane toward the LZ, already starting to feel some difficulty catching his breath as the cockpit atmosphere thinned.

"If I black out on the way down, get us down to ten meters over the LZ,  depressurize, and give me a few seconds to wake up and land us...I'll never hear the end of it if I let you autopilot us down..."

The plane raced into atmo, cockpit pressure slowly started to rise to equalize with the exterior...Karl hadn't explicitly said to do so, but the AI interpreted the directive to minimize the effects of the cracks at the edge of the canopy as being the priority.  "Don't worry, Captain.  Your reputation is safe with me. "  The words sounded oddly distorted, a combination of the thinned atmosphere in the cockpit and the weird, sub-audible roaring sound that heralded Karl was on the verge of blacking out...

 Zob  ,Garrat  and the Others and the othe s  move to the  top  of the  Buiding  With Roy  and the rest. Larry  is  Sitting there  thump his  tail from time to time.

 They  saw the  Holo Map..Hemsly was   looking through  drawers  of  smashed  Desks . He Pocketed  some  goodies  like  Pens  and  the like, and  Put  any Discs or Papers  he found in a  side  pouch of his Demo Bag.

 Will    Unbuckled a weapons   belt  from  vampic. it  had a stylized  belt buckle  and a smaller   silver sidearm in its holster, he tucked that n his  backpack.

 ..if they sent the  Sig from here?.. it got  fried, because i don't  see  any big wheels...

 Hemlsy shrugged,..they might be layin' oot in the  parkin' loot..oe maybe   haul them selves off  to them tunnels...

   Garrat was getting the Lyri conversation on his com.    “I better get back to the mechs, catch you guys.”  Garrat takes a picture with his com and heads back to join with Kira. You
This message was last edited by the player at 22:12, Tue 05 Mar 2019.

Zob looked at the hollow map for a moment before speaking, "So whats the next move should we regroup with the mechs at the tunnel?" Zob wanted to be sure before making any assumptions of the plan.

“Affirmative, Hunter. I have two prey testing me out. I see you high. I’m going to lead them right past your 12, open up when you have a shot. I’ll bank around and chase whichever survives once their partner goes up in flames,” Viktor commed to Kat. He could see her fighter had taken a beating, better he be the decoy.

With that, the Vampic turned his Wraith into a steep climb, weaving side to side to sell that he was panicking so the other Vampics would chase him in front of Kat.

Roy gave a nod.  "Sweep the building on the way down, make sure we didn't miss anything that might be good intel and make sure the rooms we've found account for the entire interior space of the building...wouldn't be the first time we've come across hidden rooms.  But if we don't find anything noteworthy, we'll meet up with Lyri's team.  I'm guessing any VIPs that might have been here headed underground the moment they realized combat was imminent.  One thing I've noticed about the EDT...their leaders are really good at recruiting people who will stand and fight while they run away."

He gestured around the room with the holo-map, and started checking for discs, documents, or anything else that might prove useful.

  The desk  with the Holo map , had  some discs  look like operations  discs.

  some  plasta-sheet maps, for use in the field in all waether.

 The  group  worked thier  was  Down , when the reached the ground Floor   Drop ship troopers were    checking out the  Truck.

 An older look LT that  had  a scar  across  his   chin  greeted Roy,..Lt   Olsin... From the  Clara BArton.. we setting up shop in here, to use this  as a staging  ground   for Tunnel  running.... we're supposed to secure this cargo, so we can find out what it is..But Considering   Empire  and Vampic  folks are  involved, it  can't be anyhting we  wanna eat.

 he   looks around,..ain't seen  any Civies  here..Up north they have them  wrist  marked by the  scores..Down  the south pole.. there  explosions  ever  couple minutes.. so?  we're   either hittin' them good..or  we already hit something good!

 Hemsly  Caught a water Bottle  from a trooper  who bought in a APV from the  drop  shuttle. tossign bottles  to anlyone that wants them.

  Karls craft   Cam  Down near the LZ..  Drop  ship troopers    ran over to make sure  he was  alright.

 a  two striper   pulled up her Visor,..You ok  Captain?..we  say that last bit there  were you got  Rammed  by part of a fighter... We were gonna check on teh Pod..but its only a red Bird... we'll wait  until we have the LZ  settled in.

............…..........

 Viktor    went Up, the  Two Wraiths  webt after    Hims..  Kat   came In   Hard,  twisting   and firling.. some puse  rounds  nicked up the   tail fin of the first craft.. but all her  Rounds  Hit   the   Second.. she felt a  Snap  and  saw , Half of her    left wing  break away...

  ..that..is  it  for me..Comrade  Vampic.. I an  headed to the  Hermes. since  we  are in the Black...

 The     nicked Up  wraith turned back on  Viktor,..you will now  die, for  daring to  fly one of  our aircraft!

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

  Messing  said  to    Nikkie....You know?.. I bet we  could take  those  troops  out   with  the weapons we have...

"Then let's take it out too.  I believe we took out a communications array and something else important.  The pukes ran right in to death."  She continued avoiding flack to take out the APV and troops Messing mentioned.

A hunter had no need to taunt his prey, barreling onwards through the black he chose not to respond. It was a game of ‘chicken’ the humans called it, at least until they reached firing range and Viktor selected his longest range guns as he opened fire. Putting his Wraith into a spin to evade enemy fire he continued on, intending to blow up the other Vampic fighter and exit out the other side of its flaming remains.

  The Cap ships  of  Delta 1  and delta  2   Turner to face  the  Massive  LAir  ships, Giving them plenty of  room to  drift By..   it  woun't  be long  before   the   Lairs   were   hit  by boarding chains  to bring them to a stop.

 Drop  ships  looked like   beetles  all over the  Lair ships   bodies ..

  Then.. Jax   hollers <Rose> hey!@..they are shooting at us!</Rose

 Henings     Shouted  BOARDING SHUTTLES!!!  STAND BY  TO REPEL BOARDERS!

 a new  sound.. thie one a High wail   of a siren to let   the crew and Civies  know they were about to be boarded.

 Dozens of  shuttle s  shot out. hitting  a  few    ships on each  side... Much the same  was  done  from the  Moonless night.    Two   shuttled      slammed into the HAnger  Dec..  waggles      had  just got out of His   airraft..Kat wasn't  in  yet.. she  fired   into a third  that Blew up, scattering Vampic's into the Void

 The AA guns   had  not be  ready , sicne they couldn't fire  at the Vamp ship  with troopers all over it..    Waggle  got out of the way of his  fighter   as  the first   shuttle  crushed  it.. he Looked  around Wildly  as  Lucky tossed him a carbine..  the  ground    crews  were on the    upper side  to try and stop  any one from reaching the  elevators .

 they fired  at the Gunners , almost point  black  Killing  then as Metaglass  shattered.. but the   vamps  came  down and   dozens  of Vampic MArines charged Out,, Brachus was  with them in  Silver  armor bearing his  Family crest.. the   back two  bays were now  Blocked by the attacking shuttles..

  Beth     ducked  being  the barriers    sending out warnings to  all fighters   and  drop shuttles to looks for Cap ships that were being boarded.

  the heavy Pulse  of the QM's  people  cut  down a lot of the VAmpics.. but there  were  too many..too  quick  the   Heavy pusle   up  by  Waggle s and the ground  crew  was  hit  by some kind of rocket launcher. that was  hand   held.

  Brachus looked  around and  Smiled..  Morris  was Missing..  Rivets  was in the corner   slumped over  and bleeding.

  Hennings   was down was  down  clutching his  right thigh and a bullet furrow  across his left Cheek.

  Admiral Hacks   left arm hun loose   as   blood  covered the  area where hard  Ammo .

 ..it appears... Admiral HAck.. you have lost?

 Hack and Henning  began to laugh.. Beth looked  frightened..but angry,..why?.. ebcause  you escaped your doomed  ships of glory..landed on my hanger  dec  and killed a few people...?

 ..I have You?... the Fleet will surrender.. and...

 the Two admiral  laughed  a bit..right now?.. you have 'captured   about  1/3rd of the hanger dec.. but not for long.. you see?..If  i fall, there  are  people who will move up the line and take the fleet over...I also wouldn't  give you   one   wooden Credit for  your  homeworld  right now..

They'd torched two more of the fleeing enemy craft when Beth's warning for them to be on the looking for Vampic boarding parties heading for Delta cap ships came through "Leave him, it sounds like we're needed up top" Harry spoke down her Comms to Teela as she turned away from the solitary Red Bird and accelerated so as break atmo and enter the Black. The extra kill would be worthless if the Hermes was captured by the enemy, and it didn't look like the lone Red Bird would be causing any more trouble for them...or at least not today anyway.

Once she was in the Black Harry would scan the surrounding area for any Vampic craft, prioritising assault craft over fighters for the time being so as to thin out the number of enemy marines landing on their cap ships. Catching sight of one such craft she'd move to intercept, lining her guns up on the engines before opening fire with her Pulse cannons.

Zob didn't pay the LT even a moments notice as he moved right past him and double timed it to the tunnels where his skills were needed, "Lets double time it!"

Roy nodded to the Lt.  "<blue"I'm guessing any civilians in the area were sent underground.  They do live down there for a significant portion of the year, I'm sure they've got places to hole up.  The good news is, since they've never really had to defend it, odds are really good sweeping them out will be relatively simple...</blue>"

He looked around at the personnel setting up shop.  "You didn't happen to bring any Demon-gas grenades down, did you?  I can't believe I didn't think to grab a few, seeing as we KNEW there were Demons down here..."

"You're right about that, Harry. What happened to the good old days when they fought to the death?" She cut off when she heard the news that the Hermes had been boarded.

"LC we have boarders in the hangar bay, Vampic by the sound of it. Permission to pull a Shadow Special, fly in and shoot a whole bunch of them until they die from it."

Kira decided to just go for it after taking one last look at the map, "Clark,Morgan lets make our way down the south path here... watch your flanks" she then carefully moved the mech forward ready to fire at any hostiles that may show up.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:52, Tue 05 Mar 2019.

Mortica smiled at Roy, slung her Vampic Rifle around to her back and her G36A2 around front since they were in tighter quarters and grabbed two grenades off of the bandolier she had on. "I never leave home without them," she said, showing him the Demon-gas grenades."

   Garrat jogged up. "Sorry, I got hijacked."

hearing the COM  calls  Shadow snapped,....let the cowards  run.. turn your  weapons  on VAmpic shuttles that  are  ramming the   CAps ships.. torch  any enemy fighter that is  still trying to  fight

 He  Rolled his Aircraft over, Follow   By Flores..bot the figthers were  about  done for this fight.. Shadow was out of HArd  Ammo,Flores  had  6 rounds  left

 Shadow      down  down   on a shuttle  heading for The Sif.. came  down head  Long    and blew out it s   windscreen with Pulse  and Lazar.. Flore   Put  tow   hard ammo  rounds  into the shuttle  behind  it..  he was in a hurry to get to the Hermes.

  Teela we  still got to make sure Mor e shuttles  don't make it to anyships..and , remember?  That's the hermes..not a LArgran.. we have a wall..ALL FIGHTERS..GET TO THE SHIPS..TORCH ANY VAMPIC SHUTTLE...

…………………………………

 Viktor  torched the Wraith  as it  tried to pull up  from the  'head to head'.. a  few  of the  Vampic  fighters  were  now , simply  take off '' straight up' and  once out of the maelstrom of Capship Began to make thier  way to the

"Understood LC. I wasn't going to fly through. I have something else in mind once we blow the shuttles straight to hell." She whipped her Nova around in place and boosted hard for the Hermes. Any Vampic fighter in the way and any shuttle she got in her sights was opened up on.

Viktor arched up in a space loop, turning in the midst of it then diving down towards the Vampic shuttles incoming to the Hermes. He spotted two in relative close proximity and opened up with his heaviest guns attempting to savage the would-be-boarders. No quarter was given to his fellow Vampics, they had chosen their path and he had his. Now they were merely prey and he was the ultimate hunter.

 The LT Hollared,..any one  got  Demon Juciers?..Brinig 'em here for the SM

 after a couple  miniyes there  were  2  guys who brought 2  each. They gave them to Roy.

……………………...

  Mechs moved down  slowly, but it wasn't like you were going to sneak up on someone   with a mech.

  lyri stood against the far wall watching  the mechs and  doc

   Garrat slunk out ahead his rifle up and ready, using the noise of the mechs to cover his own stealthy approach.

Kira wasn't seeing anything threatening so she decided to pick up the pace a little bit but not to fast that the people on foot would have trouble keeping up, "Not seeing anything so far" she reported as she kept moving down the tunnel.

Zob was just rounding the corner and caught up with Lyri, he checked his weapon then joined with the mechs moving down the tunnel.

    Brachus  smiles.....I am sure, yo are mistaken.. The  APF  races don't have the resolve  The Vampic  do.. I think I will take the Commander  as  My  Mate?...

 Hack   grinned,..yeah?.. well..you better   cut her  arms off  first...

   Beth had Locked open the COMs so both sides   could hear...this one?.. is not good breeding stock.. but might  do well as a play thing.

 ..says the refugee from a Count  Yorga  Vid...

  Brachus  gave a   quick  Smile   then Slammed  Beth  so hear she   fell into  the Mech  station,

   The  was  whirl  and  a Bleet  as Shade  Rose from   Junk that  had  Hit  him and Opened up with his SMG.. Kill   4 of the VAmpics   Before  Brachus     shot  Shade Twice  in the  chest,   The Little Verian   flew  back into the  Junk..

  Hack Moved to   see to   them,   But   Brachus  slammed His    sidearm into his chest plate...

 ..that was Shadow's whelp?  he died  a good  death.. taking  4   of my people with him?

   more  noise s  from the BAck  as  Vampic  marines   brought out  Morris  and Jax... Jax had a Bandoleer  on  shotgun shells and a  45...in his hand.. Morris  was  thrown    near  Hennings...They  were  , I think  trying to escape...

 Brachus....your  Infirmed  Officier   tried to  escape with  child?...

 he waved  Jax  over...those   rounds on your Belts..they do not  even fit that weapon?

 well...  Stem rats  can be tricky... morris  said

 Jax  Looked   nervous as he he handed his   sidearm to Brachus..... yeah...  well.. I need a little more  practice   with that... now these.., he   Pulled  two out  of the banoleer...

 Brachus    smiled  at  Jax,..yes... your people call  those shotgun shells.. good  weapon for those  who  cannot hit  what you aim  at..

 Oh?.. Oh now , Mr Fangs... these are called...Poppers?

 The  First One  went off In Brachus  face.. the    second one  in his groin.  his  he screamed  as   he  dropped   Jax's  weapon and the Kid threw  the    weapon to   Morris   who   fired  it   as soon as he  caught it , into the belly ogf the   Vampic  who 'captured them"
 Jack    Dove  out of the  way as  one of the closer MArine s  tried to stab him. when   jax  got off the  Ground.. he had Shade's SMG...

 ..this?  I have  had to use  a few times...  he loosed  th  full auto   into the Bunched    Vampics .. . with Waggles and the ground  crew  surging   from the Shed area

A Nova came screaming in through the static shield and whipped around and over, coming to a hover high over the deck, nose angled down so the weapons were pointed at the Vampic troops. The cannons started to spin but did not, as yet, fire. An amplified voice echoed through the hangar deck:

"Vampic troops, stand down or you will be destroyed."

Teela aimed her lasers at two groups of Vampic near the back of their line, away from any Hermes crew and fired.

"That is your warning shot."

    Waggles  and the ground Crew  had to  Hit the Dec as  the Nove  flew in..handing    , ...just..above  the  shuttle .. she  could see    the  Silver  plated  Admiral   holing his face and his groin... Rivets was  easy to see  clumped  against the  wall... Hennings  was    trying to  help a Dazed   Beth Up.. as Morris    heped the wounded    Admiral  and Jax   try to   Pull Shade from the pile of  Junk...

 The  QM   started to   Grab the weapons the Vampics   dropped,  whacking them on the back of  knees  to get them to kneel   Shoemaker .   was on  fims face  near the QMs shed.

  the other SEC  troop that stayed behind were runnign down the  ramp  from SEC   followed  By Guardians  and Med techs.. Bale s stood  near the   Heavy Pusle

 a wounded Argie shouted,.. get   the   Hover Jacks  and get this scrap off out  decs.

 waggles set about  helping  hook up   the overhead  to get the shuttle  out of the shuttle bay first

     fighter  craft  moved  to the  10 ships that were bweing 'attacked  with shuttles... those  who did not have a ship being attacked, helped haunt  dow stray fighters,  and  blew  up shuttles they came across

 Harry got   another shuttle  that  seemed to be escaping, rather then  attacking.. either way..it was gone

   Viktor     sent  another  batch of  30  troops    flailing into the Back  with another shuttle  kill

 the  the   COM  calls   Came.....Vampic ships  taken... just  Clean up.... Admiral Hack.... you... you should  see this... and  Bring the Vid CAms..

  we'll be  there , directly..have  some wounds  to take care of..

 Hack looked to Morris  Send  word to Warlrod  Lilit , tell  her  to bring   Verian Med Techs..

"Admiral Bachus - you are under arrest. Resist or attempt to flee and I will burn your legs off," Teela announced.

  Hack looks  up  at  Teela  with a bit of a droll  smile,..i think  Brachus  has a wee bit more to worry about Just now... Either land Your  aircraft.. of   go kill some  more Vampics.

 Med techs  were loading Rivets up on a Hover cart.... Shade was  already on his way... , The Admiral sent Jax   with beth who  was  still dazed.

  Hack    asked On  all COMs..  Status  of all ships   effected?

  Copmmander SI here... threat is  eliminated... Drop shutle s from the DaVinci   cleaned the   Vampics  off    our   hull.. all other ships  had  about the same  report..oddly enough, there were Not Vamic prisoners on the other ships..

 Stefi     ripped the sleeve off    Admiral Hack's  uniform  and  began to work on his  wound, while other Med techs  tended to Hennings.

..you know?  you ahve war  rooms on ships like this.. that's where yo people are supposed to be...

 Morris  watched Brachus    rolling  back and forth .....That  lad?    he's pretty quick... he made a  quick pooper  trigger  with a  tack and a  grenade pin ring....  we ..um... didn't have    time to take the Buck shot of of the Poppers  and  replace them with a  ball shot?..so.. I'm afraid   Stefi  will be picking alot of  b-bs  out of him.

 ..no  i'm not....

   they want us  to see the   Lair Ship.. Send COMs  to Viktor.. Mortica  and the SM..... when they are  ready to come up.. we'll go see them

Teela smiled and saluted Hack. "I think I'll go kill some more Vampic, sir. Let me know if I need to come back and shoot someone repeatedly as I will happily do so."

She Nova exited the static shield before boosting and looking for more targets.

Mortica pulled out her IFC comm once word came from the Hermes. "This is 1st Lt. Blackthorne to all Vampic forces. In the name of the royal house of Blackthorne I order you to stand down. All fighters and Vampic ships are to put on your surrender lights. All Vampic troops are to lay down your arms immediately. Brachus is in custody so by rights as a member of the House of Blackthorne I am giving you this one last chance. Failure to comply will be dealt with in a most permanent fashion. Operation Chrysalis personnel are to broadcast their IDs and clearance to me immediately and separate yourselves from non-Chrysalis personnel. I will personally check all IDs against known members of Chrysalis and any found attempting to pass themselves off as such will take the long walk back to Vampra. Comply immediately."

She turned to Roy. "I'm being ordered to one of the lair ships, Sgt. Major." She handed him the other two Demon gas-grenades she had and went topside to hail a ride.

"I'm getting transport from the pit, Admiral. Which ship shall I meet you at?"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:31, Wed 06 Mar 2019.

  Hack  replaies  as he and Morris  tried, like the  9 hells to get the COMs  systems to work  like  Beth does.

  ..when you all get back.. yu come to the Hermes.. we have  a good Hour before  we   get the Dec Cleaned

Roy nodded at the comm call, and cracked a slight grin at Mortica's explaining she'd been recalled.  "Yes, I heard the recall order, too.  Probably be on the same shuttle with you."  He nodded to the trooper with the grenades, gesturing for him to wait a moment.

"Lyri, what's our status down there?  If you've got a handle on things down here, the Admiral's requested I return to the Hermes."  He expected that she'd tell him to go, but he wasn't going to run out without checking, first.

"I'll wait with you before heading topside to get a ride. Someone might be stupid enough to ambush us," Mortica said as she kept watch on the entrances and exits.

  ..Lyri here...  Doc..Mila.. the mechs  and a few  others   are  taking the south Tunnel?a have a buncj of others   from all three    shuttles .. what do  want us to do...  pul back and   send  in teh  Drop ships  folks.. or coninute on mission?
This message was last updated by the GM at 02:27, Wed 06 Mar 2019.

While the deck was being cleared, Viktor started a combat patrol making sure there were no errant enemy fighters lurking among the floating wreckage of other vessels. He couldn’t land until the hangar was cleared, so he waited vigilantly for clearance.

Karl laughed, a little unsteadily.  "I should be okay in a minute or two...dropped cockpit pressure to keep that impact point from turning into a decompression rupture."

He gave a tired, savage grin, and added, "I'm not sure you'll find much in that pod,  considering he had a hole in it big enough to spit on my canopy before his pod slid off the side.  Good thing Lt. Stoly's uncle designed a robust airframe..."

He slowly unbuckled his flight harness and took off his helmet.  "How are we doing?  I kinda lost track of the battle when I noticed they were looking for me..."  He looked down at the control console.

"Ed?  Status update?"  There was a momentary pause, which felt to Karl like an eternity, before the AI answered.

"Weapons systems nominal.  Overall hull integrity at 65%. Cockpit integrity at 15%.  Advise against further combat action until repaired.  Advise against attempts at exo-atmospheric flight until repaired.  Life support nominal.  Targetting systems nominal.  Flight controls compromised, maximum operating capacity at present is 45% of operational standards."  There was the barest pause, and then, "Computer functions are nominal, diagnostics detect no significant damage"  It was all in the dry, mechanical monotone that Karl had come to recognize as Ed concealing its true nature...whatever that was...

Karl released a deep breath he had been holding, and nodded.  "Don't think I want to try one on seven again anytime soon...."

Nikki and the bubble gunners were chewing up the ground forces.  The enemy APV soon found itself a bit trapped between a rock and a hard place.  In a spot hard to get to Nikki got a bright idea.  "Top...get ready to fire straight up.  Everyone strap in tight this may or may not work"
"What?" the top gunner replied but aimed straight up then sorta hearing the rest there seemed to be a collective "Wait!....What?...OH SHIT!  She is crazy!"
Nikki began a high speed Immelmann with a twist.  Just before flying across the cubby he was hiding in she inverted allowing the top bubble to be aimed right at the enemy APV then in a reverse Immelmann she 'corrected' the inversion..again but higher was upside down right over the APV for the top bubble to hit.  And hit it did.  First one tore the armor and second one exploded it.  Which was good as she up righted the shuttle in a steep banking maneuver.  Coming around it surprised her that popping out of the rising explosion was a very large and close red tail...any closer she'd be in his tonsils. "Oh SHHH...." she hit her guns.  She surprised him too as part of the wing damn near cracked the front panels.  She had no choice but to try and climb and fly through the debris "IIIITTTTT!"
Small pieces hit the bubbles, pinged off the hull and again her instruments began flashing yellow.  One started sparking about as it had a nervous breakdown from the yellow flashing.  "All gunners call check" her heart was beating like an outboard missing a propeller blade.
"Good" came from the top "Don't do that again"
Hipps commed "Good, but bubbles nearly drained"
Silt commed "Alive.  Took a piece to the leg, minor.  bandaging and foaming now.  Bubble operative" then there was something about Nikki being crazier than bat guano.
"Let's go see how Stoly and others are doing" she began returning to the drop off point.  Flight pattern was irratic, but fast.

Roy pursed his lips, his brow furrowed with a scowl as he weighed options.  "Start pulling your people out, Lyri.  I'll see if they can send a Nivarian team with a bunch of largs over to clear the underground.  The largs should enjoy the run."

He keyed his comm for a general broadcast.  "This is Sgt Major Spencer...do we have a team or two of largs that are available to sweep the underground complex?  My team's just gotten recalled to the Hermes, and while we've cleared the surface, we've got a major tunnel exit right here that leads down to their winter site below ground, and we should sweep it while they're still off-balance." He waited for responses.

  Colonel Cumings  came on the COMs... Right , SM Spencer .. rerouting a  drop  ships of   Nivarians  to   your  LZ....  There should be  a team that has a Naragran Scout  as well... should be there  in 5...

  .. Allright   Doc Henry,  You and Mila come on Back... Mechs.. we ahve  soe  sigjt seeing to do..Everyone Pulls  Back to the shuttles...

 Rolfe  waited   on Henry amd Mila

 Will and Hawkes had stayed  close to Roy  Larry  was Looking   around  as if he was   waiting for  something to  happen

...…

 outside   there  was alot of traffic wheeled  APVs   and  Stuart  tanks   churning up the   soft  'spring' soil..panzer   were  movign a  Mile or south  ward  then set up to shell the  ridges

  to the North  two Shuttles    were chewing up a  ridge like   where a smoking  COM   block  house sat.

  The first Vampic   shuttle   was  Pushed of the hanger  Dec and  went  drifting   to the  stern.. the  grounds  crew, plus  Waggles   were moving the  second one, ( middle section 0  of.

 Morris  Got on the COMs...  This is CAptain Morris of the  351 Hermes... aircaft  can land in the first  HAnger Bay door.... The Shuttle  bay  door  is  clear... we are  workig on the Middle    door.. come in with low thrusters, as the  dec has  not been cleared of small debris and could cause   harm to  ground  crew..

 Other  wounded  were being taken   abck to the   Med tech Lab.. with Guardians , ever watchful, with them

Teela turned back towards the Hermes and flew a close CAP whilst other fighters, many damaged more than her own, made their landing.

Henry and Mila dutifully trotted back.

"Where are we needed?"

  Lyri   gave   Henry an annoyed  smile,..it  would seem,  God  Doctor, that the powers  that be , want us to tour   a Lair ship... Because?  that's ...MUCH..more  important then  making sure all the bad  guys  are dead  down here?

 Lt Hirr  approached them  as  well Holding her  Felrite SMG,..Maybe?   we can be finding  some  Vampic   bottles of drink...They cannot  always  drink blood..yes?

 Morgan Turns  with Kira  to head  Back up, he Gets on the COMs.....It  Might  be  better in the   Long  run... I'm Low  on Ammo and   from what  we can see, there's a long  stretch of Road  down that way

  Stoly   waited    outside the 'rabbit'  shuttle

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

  Dixie was  waiting  at the LZ,  there were alot of  wounded   and only  about  10 Civie  'Ziptie marked"  people..all of the Human.. they huddle  closed  together  as they watched   blossoms of   smoke  and  fire  erupt..moving slowly down wards to the   south...Bruian troops   followed them  down  in  Tracked  troop carriers  . The  little green Humanoids  and  taller Green  Angels  had  both long arms  and  thier trusted  bows.

 The  Pilto  saw  Karl, she  fixed her  hair with a  few   finger   runs,.Well!...  I am somehwat Gald to see a Pilot, other then myself her...though i am..heartfully sorry  your  mount is down?..Care to Join me is  some  Coffee.. they have   real  sugar made on Bura? she smiled  sweetly.

Henry looked contrite.

"I'm sorry, Lyri. I guess that's the problem of being both the resident xenobiologist AND part of special ops... sometimes the roles conflict!"

Kira got the order to pull back and she mentally sighed a bit and turned the mech around and started going back towards the LZ to head on home, "It will be alright... despite the turn of events we did rather well and we should be proud of that, good job team"

(Flex)
This message was last edited by the player at 15:45, Wed 06 Mar 2019.

 Lt Hirr looked  at Henry as they  walked out ,..it will be inwetresting... yes?... to see the  Vampic  big ship?  See how they live....

 Supe and Hodden  looked a bit  stern...I'm more  Interested  in 'how they die?"

 Tucker spoke up,..I wonder?... do they have real quarters?.. or    do they.like..hang upside  down in  big  giant rooms?

Zob got the news to pull back so he turned right back around, "Not gonna lie... I am so gods be damned sick of Vampics we need to bring them down to the foundry and dip them" he said as he marched back to the LZ very much annoyed so we are gonna take a tour of the lair ship and what next have tea with them?.

(Flex)
This message was last edited by the player at 15:45, Wed 06 Mar 2019.

Roy turned to the LT, and nodded to the grenades.  "When the Nivarians get here, give them these...be sure to tell them these are only to be used as a last resort.  We've never tried this stuff on Nivarians, largs, or Naragrans, so we don't know if it's as harmless to them as it is to us.  If their largs do what I think they will, they shouldn't need these."

He headed over to the Rabbit shuttle.  "Stand by, Stoly, once the Master Chief gets her people up here, we're heading back to the Hermes, so we'll be boarding soon."

Mortica followed Roy to the shuttle and climbed in, shifting her gear so she could lean against a bulkhead. "Brachus...we have him. That is going to drastically alter things back on Vampra. The failure of his faction here may have decided the outcome of the civil war. God I hope so."

Henry grinned at Mortica as he and Mila climbed aboard.

"Do you reckon that with him gone, those who followed him will accept peace and the new order?"

"Would that it were so easy, Henry. There will be holdouts, others below him in rank that may try and fill the void left behind by his capture but this will throw them into chaos. Hopefully my father and his forces can use this to gain the upper hand and, if not end this, weaken the resistance enough to lead to a swift resolution. If thereare none on the Drak Council who support us that will make things more difficult." She shook her head and smiled at him. "The loss of two lair ships is a massive blow."

  Will sat  down   listening to the Talk, and  not  thinking   anything of    poppign some of his own views,..so?  This DArk Council..its ..like you rulers  right?..So  how MAny LAir ships  are there?..and  sending 2  of them this far  from home?  they gotta have alot of Juice behind them....no matter how you paint it?.. over  200,000 Vampics  are    either   captured...dead..or will be...

Nikki landed near Stoly, the Diamond looked like it went to hell and back then went again.  The ramp lowered to let those boarding on. "Mind if I take up the first group?  I'd like to do a walk around and reload" she asked.

  Stoly  walked over to the Diamond,..all three of  us  are Goign up, were taking the whole  team up.. and?  I imagine we'll be taking the  who group to the    Lair ship..be kind of neat to see  what's inside  somethign that big.. they are a big  bigger then  those  Aqra Battle ships.


  On a pair   of  Drop ship troopers  Brought a Red Uniformed, Tall Blonde  over to the Shuttles.....all right?.. we  got a COM text  from the LC?.. waht's  this   Bitch sent up with you all..say's   its on him...

 The  woman  frowned,..Really?.. Must you   talk like  street trash?

 the smaller  trooper just said,..better street trash.. then gods  be damned  EDT....should  just strip off  your  Uniform and toss you in  the prison ship... serve you right it  would...

 she   gave a  quirk of an uneasy smile,..yes?  well... perhaps that's why  you are street trash..and Your LC is  an Officer..Hmmm ?

 Stoly Laughed,..I'm going out on a Limb to  say you don't Know LC  Shadow one damn bit...

 The LT   of the  two troopers  Led her in and    pointed to  the seat Near Roy.....LC Shadow?... He ain't like  most Offcir..he's  a right proper  Bastard..he is...an' that goes  for  the Admiral too... Right proper  bastards...an' they don't  wear that fancy perfume some officer s  do..or  talk like they  has Some one's...

 The trooper  elbowed the LT  as he glanced  at the  women folks...well.. they talk Lik Normal Folks, they do..and they Give it  to your straight...so's.. they'er askin' for you upstairs... you best listen fast..cause  they ain't gonna have much  of a cup ta fill, when  they see the butcher's bill for this here raid..
 The two  trooper    Nodded  to  the rest , giving a  knuckle salute  to those  who  make require it.

 well?....  that was... quite  entertaining... she looked around her.. eyes    going over the Demon and the VAmpicare there peopel here  who can speak  Common english?... I do hope so.. the  ride up to your little barge  will be , much more pleasant that way.

(Flex)

Zob was sitting down and turned his head when he noticed he was being checked out by the woman he then took his hand and blew her a kiss just for the hell of it, "Yes" he said clear as day in acknowledgment to her question.

  The  woman looked about , uncomfortable.well?  I  honsetly do not...understand  how   you people  keep winning  these engagmentss...

  Hawkes  grinned  at Will   who just shook his head.

Zob leaned forward a bit, "I wouldn't be worried about that... you should be more focused on being prepared to answer questions in a truthful manner cause how you answer will determine what happens to you" he said plainly.

"Then again she is rather cute... maybe i can convince the LC to let me keep her as a pet?" he said to nobody in particular as he thought out loud. The goal was to make her uncomfortable and break her confidence.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:21, Wed 06 Mar 2019.

"Check her for any ordinances or such, zip tie her and toss her aboard.  have someone of ours dedicated to keep her from doing something stupid" all inher heavy southern accent.  She suspected this one would be trouble.

Roy leaned back, not looking over at the captured pilot.  "Keep talking, lady...and I use the term loosely...and we'll find out how well EDT pilots hold up against a hostile Demon.  I'm sure Zob would only break you a little bit...unless you really managed to piss him off."

He glanced at Larry and grinned.  "Or we could just let the larg shut you up.  That wouldn't take long.  You might even survive, unless he's feeling hungry."  Raising his voice slightly, he called out, "Hey, Stoly...I think we're all here.  Let's get this bus moving..."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:14, Wed 06 Mar 2019.

Karl shrugged.  "I hope they've got something more than just sugar to put in it...or something besides coffee to offer.  But, sure...I'm not going anywhere until they free up a Big Ugly to get my ride back to the Hermes.  No sense sitting here moping about being out of action."

  Karl.....

  Dixie    looked over,..they have  somne of that   soda?.. and .. tons of water?... she pointed a delicate  finger  towards the  Transport drops shuttle that served as  a  supply deot.

  ..If you get a ride  up, Sugar?  I'd  like to go too?...I think all the othe Pilots  made it back...at least, the ones who we'ren't killed.

Garrat wasn’t happy about pulling back but he was there in the shuttle.
     He pulled th latch back and cleared his chamber. “You are alive little one, that shows some intelligence. Don’t counter it by assuming that anyone who speaks a different dialect than you is ignorant.”

After torching the assault shuttle she'd been pursuing, Harry would continue to hunt down any Vampic fighters within the area until her hard ammo finally gave out. By this point several other pilots including Shadow had returned to the Hermes and so Harry felt she was justified in doing so herself, even if it was only long enough to get some fresh belts loaded before heading back out again. After gaining clearance to do so from the Hermes she would smoothly bring her fighter in to land within the Hangar Dec.

---> Hangar Dec

Karl gave a quiet chuckle.  "I hardly expect them to leave us behind.  And Big Uglies should be bringing down more ground troops to secure everything...so we shouldn't be stuck here long."  He waved in the direction of the landing depot.

"Let's go get something to freshen up a bit, find out who's in charge, and see what can be done about expediting a return to the Hermes."

  ..You Bet there  Captain.. I don't have  enough Brass on My ass  for them to worry too much about me!

 they reached  the  to teh transport shttle that was being used  for supplies.. a Gunnery SGT  seemed to be in charge.

"The Drak Council is made up of the ruling houses of Vampra, the various royal houses. My father sits upon the Council - or did. That the Council sent two lair ships here shows an uncomfortable dedication to the Empire on their part but the vote need not be unanimous, only majority. I'm hoping the vote was close and the Empire does not enjoy the full support of the Council. If it does then my call and our centuries of planning failed before they truly went into effect," she replied, looking rather crestfallen.

Finishing loading up Nikki then lifted off in the Diamond to head back to the Hermes.  This leg of the fight was going to be a lot smoother.
Mentally she went down her checklist....first was injured getting tended to, then she'd see about the Diamond.  There was talk of boarding the Vampic ship, if they told her go, she'd go.  Other than that the rest was gravy.


====> Hangar Dec

Karl stepped up, after having grabbed a soda.  "Sorry in interrupt, Gunny, but I'm wondering if you've got a Big Ugly heading for the Hermes that's got enough room for my damaged bird.  That's a bad flight to make with a cracked cockpit..."  His tone was pleasant, but respectful...the sergeant doubtless had his hands full of trying to keep things moving, and Karl was sure the last thing either of them needed was for him to try pulling rank.

  TheGunny looked up,well, Captain , Sir.. these here  are spoken for..but we got  abig Ugly coming  down  with  soe ammo for the tankers?.. if you got  about 15?.. we can get  you on that when she  takes off... if that's too slow, you'll have to   roll the dice?

Karl chuckled softly.  "Well, the only thing I would be in a hurry for is to get back in the air battle...and it sounds like that's pretty much over.  I can wait.  Thank you, Gunny...can you have someone give me a yell when my ride back up starts its landing cycle?  I can have my bird ready for loading, avoid slowing up the turnaround down here any more than necessary."

  the  SGt Nodded,..You bet  sir....already done...

 there was a crash  and the mad Looked over  as  two  trooper s  were  tring to stop a Palet of  water bottle  from  dumping off the  edge of the  ramp...

  .. NOW, I KNOE YOU TWO ARE STUPID ENOUGH TO HAVE WRECKED  A PALET OF...MUCH NEEDED..WATER... AND  I KNOW NEITHER OF YOU TWO ARE DUMB ENOUGH..NOT TO.. THINK OF USING  ANOTHER HOVER  JACK TO GET THE GODS BE DAMNED  PLAEET  UP RIGHT...AM I RIGHT..OR  AM I GONNA BE SORELY DISAPPOINTED THAT I  HAVE THE ONLY TWO STUPID  TROOPWERS.. WHODON'T  FIGHT,.,, FOR  THE E D..FUCKING T!

  the  lower  trooper   grabbed  anther    hover  jack   and  saved the   water  from  falling off  and Gettign  squished

  OUT...GODS  BE DAMNED  STANDING!.... now.. get it to where its  going..before  i decide  you each have to take a water bottle by hand .. to that  little tiny building  on the ridge!  they  moved the pallet off with out further problems..the GUnny shook his ehad   , talking to himself.....be a Cook.. Mother says.. do I listen..no?.. I have to be a Combat ..gods be damned  engineer... and  what am i doing... I'm  a gods be damned  Grocery clerk

Karl grinned at the verbal broadsides.  "You may be a grocery clerk, Gunny, but you're a Marine grocery clerk..."  He gave the sergeant a smile, and walked back to where Dixie was waiting.

"There's a Big Ugly coming down in about fifteen minutes that doesn't have a return cargo already assigned...that's our ride.  Take your time with the coffee..." he chuckled.

  Dixie    sighed  as she  ran a hand through her  hair,..guess we'll be  gettin' to the   party, just a wee bit late?... hope they don't do that salute thing  before  we get there... don't like to miss out  on that?  We didn't have that with the  Head Hunters.. if you got  kiled.. you were considered a fool..

Karl quirked an eyebrow.  "Well...if you were flying for people cooperating with someone that would gladly eat your friends and family, then I think there's some valid grounds for that judgment.  But, fortunately, some people wise up..."  He raised his soda in a casual salute to better judgment, before taking a drink.
This message was last updated by the GM at 20:59, Thu 07 Mar 2019.

   Dixie  Nodded   ashe  wathed the Fire.. the ligh  wasn't needed, but it  was  cold a  breezy, even the  Enviro suit  can  only keep  Cold away so long, unless your  moving.

  ..most of  us?.. we didn't  think about  things  like that?... We were   wanting to  take part..but...if you could get  good Creds  doing it.. well...

 ..So? there's  Little Ole  Me.. standing there  with alot of the Rich folks?... Now?..My Daddy..he had these peach orchards in  Atlanta.. they used some of the  soil  feeders to    be  put in the   irrigation?.. well..My my my, those   peaches  come out looking like  Volley balls..sweet as  all get out...So, My Daddy  knew  my grades  weren't  getting me into the acadmey..and I ain't no Marine ..to he meets  these  suit fellas... and Off I go to  England to learn how to fly the EDT way.. from there  to  soe  rock  out  past Everest Space?

  now?  them EDT  boys  they train your  little round butt off?... we  fly twice  as much,'cause   we don't have the classroom  that teh academy has... so?.. if you go by that.. if one of  the   Head Hunters   has    as much tie   in school as  an ESN?.. Well Sugar?  The ESN   boy should go down.... But it  didn't  work like that.. I saw  people who   picked off  LArgans, and wiped out   Caravan escort, blown away like they never been in a cockpit before?....  I wasn't smart?.. I was scared... that   Angel with the wings.. we had a  a go round... but..  in the end?  I wasn't goign to win..

Karl nodded, grimly.  "That's not a problem limited to the EDT.  I was a test pilot...some of those boys are the cockiest sonsabitches you'll ever see.  Time in a cockpit is good...but the quality of time makes all the difference in the world.   Remember one guy...can't recall his name, you forget the dead ones pretty quick...he was.positive he could handle anything because he had over two thousand hours behind a stick.  Problem is, most of those hours were flying transport craft, or ferrying fighters...first time he had an engine die in a dive test, he panicked.  Wasn't much left of him to recover, and they had to dig his remains out of the wreckage in the middle of a five-meter-deep crater.  There were five of us in the tower that tried to talk him through recovery, and then told him to eject...he was so far gone that we could've been speaking the same language as the LC's son and he would have made as much sense out of the words." Karl shook his head,  visibly weighted down by the memory.

He gave Dixie another look, and said, "I wish more people understood that there's options to get into flying that don't include the Academy.  Sure, that's the fast track...but some of the best pilots I've flown with enlisted, and then got into flight training later.  It's the hard path, I know...but then again, so's getting killed by your own kind because some suit gave you lots of flight time and then told you you were elite." He shook his head again, his voice tinged with a kind of bitter regret.

 Dixie  shrugged, a bit forlorn,well, Sugar? For a  small  town girl  whose Daddy suddenly had MoneyIt was a 'for sure' way to get his little girl into an aircraft..Like i said?.. I'm no Marine.. Why.. wa ger  to say Half the   girls on that boat  could beat me up..if that little old rainbow headed beth?

..I know  , Just enough  that if I pod out.. i might be able to last a few  hours, before someone picks  me up..

Karl grinned.  "Another evidence that the EDT training, though whether it's out of arrogance or deliberate malice could be argued...or, possibly, innocent incompetence.  But it would be generous to call the mindset 'blind optimism', when they're assuming pilots will never get shot down or will only ever need to pod out over friendly territory.  Whether they intended to or not,  failing to give that training means their pilots are disposable assets...cannon fodder, to use an old term."

He took another drink, then added, "I hope you're making time to get some survival and hand-to-hand training. Piloting's like anything else...the minute you think you know it all, you're doomed to need something you declined to learn."

    Dixce  shrugged,..piltos have  2  ties a week   Hand to hand.. and CAptain Morris  has  one...BORING.. class on survial..normal  focused in on the planet that we  will be close to during   a battle?... I mean..The Man is ncie  enouhg, but   Honey?...he needs to get soe  form of personality!

 The gunny came  walking over he had   two hot  dogs  in  what looked like  buns....cook is  makign these  for   folks who come in for the field..they are pretty good.. I think the meat comes  from Bura?.. anyway.. got  some bakers  making these things  for  Buns..

 handing them each a packet of Mustard, ketchup, and soe green paste from Bura that was   spicey....That bright light up there?.. that's   yor ride.. gonna be  about  8 minutes to land... about 15 minutes to unload..

 he turns   and shouts over his shoudler,....IF MY PEOPLE DON'T SCREW THINGS UP!

  then he smiles, Goign to be  5  troopers  going up with you.. they are  takign those  21?.. Red Suited Piltos  with them... those  folks are going straight to  The Alcatraz

Karl nodded.  "Thank you, Gunny, both for the food and the update.  Sounds like I may want my carbine out of my bird for the ride up...just in case."

He grinned slyly and added, "We were just discussing the value of survival and combat training for pilots, if we ever pod out over hostile territory.  What's your take on the matter, as someone who might get sent in to retrieve us?"

  The Gunney Nodded,I was  at the LZ on Aqra?... didn't have  to be a gods  be damned clerk there.. we have a Heavy Pulse ring  set up... I had  to keep checking on them... well  anyway.. we saw  some pilots  go  down.. Yu could tell the  ones who knew what they were doing... and  the ones  who didn't have a damn clue.. we  pulled  in a lot of  both?..but when you se  a pilto out there in light armor..or just an eviro suit?.. and he     crack off  shots  at the enemy... that's the kinda  folks you want to make sure you save.

 the    vessel was  down about  as  big as a grapefruit, in the sky.. and  would be enterign the thing Atmo soon.

Karl nodded.  "It's old news to us, now...but you might be interested to know the Shadow went down over Nivar's moon...not shot down, one of the Nivarian pilots was playing possum and decided to ram someone from the Hermes...Shadow saw the plane start to move and basically got in the way, so his plane took the hit instead of a pilot who had no idea." He was addressing Dixie, as he was sure the sergeant had heard it before.

"Crash-landed in totally unexplored, hostile territory, with enemy troops actively searching for him...and due to lack of accurate intel about the terrain, a rescue mission had to wait until the next morning.  Shadow not only managed to evade capture, he also managed first contact with the Naragrans, and took down several Nivarians on his own."

He shrugged, and added, "Now...if the top ace of the war can focus long enough to learn the skills to do that, maybe the rest of us can listen up during training...no matter how dry the presentation is..."

 Dixie   shook her head,..always  wondered  about that boy?  he  seems a bit off, you know... and..how many of these ehre stories  are true..and not , just 'punched up' for the  Fleet PR...

  but , lord o days...you'd thinbk they'd get soe one  who doesn't like tea  and Crumpets  to give a lecture!

 The Gunny Looked  over  as the aircarft  filled the  sky to  the west of the LZ...well,,Sir,  MA'am.. best  see if i can get thgis unloaded  with out my people spillign have the  stuff all over  this rock.

"Thanks again, Gunny.  We'll have the bird ready to load up as soon as your people are clear."

He turned to Dixie, taking another bite of the hot dog and chewing, a thoughtful expression on his face.  "That's the funny thing about the LC...some of the stories about him ARE exaggerated.  But there's other things about him that the stories don't even come close to getting right, and still more stuff about him that there's hardly any stories about, at all.  I've heard some of the crew saying that he's even more dangerous on the ground than he is in a cockpit.  I've been on the Hermes for close to four years, now, and I've seen enough to think they're right."

He took another drink of his soda.  "As for tea and crumpets...well, my experience has been that what a man eats is rarely an indicator of whether or not he should be listened to about anything beyond food.  Look at his service record, not his choice of afternoon snacks." He chuckled and shrugged.  "Suppose I shouldn't blame you for it, since it seems to be a universal EDT trait...but what someone's done should get a lot more attention than appearances and external traits.  At least twice now, the flight lead of an EDT squadron has laughed at Shadow because he was basically a gutter-snipe before he got into the Academy...or because he went to the Academy...instead of considering how many kills he's got, and the fact that he's bested at least one of every race we've come across, and seen and survived more aerial tricks than any collection of EDT pilots could come up with.  And both times, they lost.  The captain may not have the most entertaining delivery...but he knows what he's talking about."

Karl glanced up, noticing the growing mass of the incoming Big Ugly.  "Should be loading up soon..."

  Dixie   nooded  as she    tried to finish her Hot Dog in a Hurry, trying to  talk  with a  full mouth.

  well.. I sure think it would be  more  fun, to not to have to fight, to stay away in  classes!

  The  Big Ugly Pilot and His  Co-Pilot  came  down.....Say  CAptain?... what will do is   get your   ship in first... keep the prisoners  to  the  side of the static  field... this way we can see them..and if they do something   stupid, , pop them right off the  ship?... we'll set , off  of the  Hermes  and   you can Glide  your ride in... and  we'll pick up the Trash  the Hermes  has to send to Alcatraz  as we..

 with in 10 minutes or so.. the   Moring star was  loaded  and  took off with its  odd cargo,

>>>>>>Karl to Hanger Dec