The  Voice at the other  end chuckled a bit,Yeah?  we'll just let you go on in...right?... Picket fighters..you getting this?

 Lt  Bassen here of the ESN Argus///  Alright,  meadowlark..here's what your gonna do..... Rise   about  50 miles   above the   cap of the  fleet. we  will  escort you to The Hermes, They'll decide if you're going  aboard..

 Opening ALL COMs,  Bassen  said, LT  Bassen , ESN AC^ Argus...to ESN 351 Hermes, we have  a   shuttle...of sorts...wants to land on The hermes.. we're  escorting    them  in, you can decide  what to do...

 LT Holy Hock ESN #%! Hermes.. brink them in, The Brass  is  attending to somethings... I'll patch word to Captain Si...Carry On..LT

  A;lready Done... lets Go Meadowlark...

 One thing that did show up on  meadolark's screen, was close to 100  Civie/merc/privateer  shuttles  sailing  far to the  starboard, away from the fleet.

Very well LT.

Tulliun pulled the nose of the Meadowlark up to follow the fighters above the fleet.

So, is that group back there to starboard where I'd be in time out if they hadn't let me in?

   LT Bassen chuckled...At various times  through our  tour, we have had   fireships come in that we had to destroyer..including a Captured  med Tech ship, that  had  captives in..Knocking down a  shuttle  we do not trust, wouldn't make us blink an eye....we do, at times,  find merchants and such on their own that tag along for their safety, But are kept way from the   support ships... If you tried to move  past the transportbases a destroyer  , Sloop or corvette  would  come in, and , most likely, a bunch of guys  like me...

 As  the meadowlark  rose  above the  formation,   the fleet seemed endless... The Mass of support ships  with , white, Brightly lit' Med tech vessels  in the middle surround by supply ships and Argo ship..Water Tankers  .. One  ship was   above the  formation. The Insignia  of the Provosts on the prison ship.

   it  took several Minutes  for  the shuttle   to cross, more or less  diagonally  towards the  front   of the  Fleet, It daned on  those watching, that they could not even see the  portside of the fleet, as the ships  were  spread out, high and wide.. One ship was close to 100 miles  ahead... as they drew near  The   Winged Foot of the  ESN 351 Hermes was seen with the light shining on it.

((when ready Tulliun to  Hanger Dec.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>))

 (( near the   boarder line  of   Beta Quad  and  entering the Sol system where the   '9th planet ' was destroyed)


The PSN  was  cruising  slowly, in no hurry to cross over into the Sol System, but the  writing was on the wall...They had  to crossover, and  do something, or  Face the wrath of  Admiral Hack  , Delta Fleet  and the APF.

 Iizzy, working  on, and improving, somewhat, her  skills at COM  eavesdropping , heard a COM Between ZU-IS and   Ambassador  Frans ...The important    catch was  Sending a coded  message  now... This was after my Talks  with GE-FI.

 The Nasally voice of Ambassador Frans  answered,send it... my people  will  sort it out  and present it to me...

 The lights on Iizzy's  COM recorder, Light up, as it snared the coded   message.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:15, Sat 06 Nov 2021.

Izzy sat at her station amidst a sea of notes showing a collection of shortcuts and hot keys for the equipment she was using as she scanned the various channels and frequency’s used by the PSN; who were currently loitering just this side of the Sol border. Somewhere in the background she could hear Harry laughing as she fleeced one of the rookies at cards prompting Izzy to glance across at the picture of Lizzy she had and sigh wistfully.

It was as she was doing this that she would pick the encrypted message to Frans, her fingers moving rapidly over the controls as she desperately tried to capture what was probably the most important piece of intel she’d received during the entire mission, praying that she wouldn’t screw up.

Several terrifying minutes later she had it, all she had to do now was figure out a way of cracking the encryption, however that particular task would quickly prove beyond the capabilities of both her and the software at her disposal leaving her with only one viable option. She needed Beth. And Beth was on the Hermes.

She would download the information onto a drive and after explaining the situation to Harry and the others would head for one of the small shuttles, not wanting to risk the enemy intercepting any messages she might send, and set a course for the Hermes. She was going home.

——> Hangar Dec

<<<<<<<<<< returning from 'listening op".....

as they sat in the  Shuttle from a Yellow  Star tranpost ship..PFC  Lou Hogan and
PFc Yeti  Ammina . looked at  Harry.

 ..Gonna be good to be back on The  Hermes.. that Corvette seemed like a tin can , after being on a Cap Ship.

 I am wantign  to be eating a  Rec dec  Pizza....

”I guess so” Harry replied, turning the page of her book her tone of voice suggesting that she wasn’t as eager to return to the Hermes as the others were ”it’s a shame that other job didn’t pan out…kind of liked being on the corvette I found the smaller size…” the conversation would pause as Harry searched for the word she was looking for, before finally settling on ”…good for me” with her eyes lingering on Lou for a moment before dropping back down to her book with a hint of a smile on her lips. She had long since decided that he was a lost cause and no longer worth chasing…but a girl could still look.

  The two  sorta of agreed...Lou still said,..still?... I would much rather be able to go to the Hanger, or  the rec dec, or filed, and even the Tunnels...then be  stuck having to do exercises in the hanger dec  of a corvette..

The  Pilot  called back...about 10 minutes  until we  reach  docking range, make sure your gear is  ready..

Harry would reluctantly concede to the point about exercising in the corvettes hangar bay ”yeah I suppose it would be nice to stretch my legs…maybe go for a run around the field” she said knowing that it could get pretty cramped stuck in the tiny comms room or galley all day. With the pilot calling that they were ten minutes out, Harry would look up from her book and call back ”Thanks for the heads up” before carefully marking her place in her book and returning it to her pack. She would then fish out a pack of cigarettes and pull one out, anxiously twirl it about her fingers before then tucking it behind her ear. She’d developed this particular tick during the course of the mission having scrounged the cigarette’s from a dec hand though she was yet to light one up ”ok you two remember what I told you?…SM Spencer is one of the most clued in people on the ship so if he tells you to do something he usually has a very good reason, he’s also the guy most liable to keep you alive” she explained once again in the hope that they would take it to heart. Harry couldn’t keep them alive…but the SM could.

  The Pilot   could be heard Corvette ESN C022  Pepper.   to ESN 351 Hermes have  3 packages  for you,  getting ready to  send the Tunnel Over.


 I see Ya  Pepper.. set the Tunnel over  and  unload yer packages...

 On their  way..... we're Hitting Up a Pelasure   Ship after wards... its been a long time since  shore leave..... You folks, get ready..the tunnels isn't as high as a Cap ship's Keep yer head  down and   helmets on...

 The   crew fired the    chains  across the hearmes  Net   caiguht it  and  set the   chains taut..then the  tunnel un furled...

The Chief had his head gear on.....there ya go...home sweet home...

 and the three  crossed over  with thier gear..

 HArry Ect>>>>>>>>>>>>>Hnager Dec.

”Well you heard the man, grab your shit it’s time to go” Harry said in her best officers voice as she got up and slung her pack over shoulder. It had been surprising how quickly she had been able to pack her life and how little space it had taken ”Thanks for the ride Pepp, see you on the flip side” she called to the pilot before heading for the door.

Being sure to duck her head through the airlock Harry would lead the others through the tunnel and onto the Hermes.

——> Hangar Dec

((((in E-1..E-2  space )))))


  This  is  AESN  100 Storm... we are on the outer fringe of the  E1-E2 corridor..there  appears to be  some   Empire  ships at the very edge of  our scans.....
 

(( as the Delta Fleet head in the direction of Fuji))

  one half of the Burian fleet was hunting down   Sol system transports  and warships, as well as   Pirates  and Mercs who have not  sighed onto  Delta Fleet or  APF.

   And Angel Admiral, Admiral CI-LT, who was in charge  of a 7  ship squadron, stood in his  war room  with  a Sol System Human, a Tall Black man from the southern part of America , wore admiral stars  as well.

 So how well do you  know, This  'Admiral hack:

The  Blackman looked at the Holomap.I was a Lt when he was a Lt. he moved up faster then me, because he was a fighter Pilot, I was  just a sea sailor. I finally got   some service   after the Hermes and Hades  sailed. Hack was Lucky enough to catch a crippled  Demon  Cap ship. and  brink it home to Olympus....That ended alot of hope for  others   to move up the ladder as so much was focused  on him and his ship. The merc  Ship Harvester  shared the glory as well....

 So humans  have this love affair  with  luck... that does not  help me  make  my plans, do they ? I need to now, is he going to Fuji, to  get ready to  invade and take Olympus?... Go to Astra  to try and Pick up some fresh  troops? There have been rumors of them  visiting  the Moons? if they do that, they will Indeed, pick up more rebel Angels...

 My bet would be him to get troops  at Astra.  Astra has only had  token attacks , because  Zolth have been savagely patroled the  area. The  Felrites  do now worry about capturing  ships, They a very happy with scrap.

——> Hangar Dec

The lift door would open to reveal a sea of black before Tarja’s eyes, with her HUD helpfully informing her that she was entering a hostile environment. Stepping out onto the hull plating she would move to join the mechs as she waited for the rest of the team to join them ”once we have basics down, I would like to get shuttle out here so we can practice insertion and extraction tactics” Tarja said over an open channel to the two mech riders with the rest of the AI joining them after a few minutes ”ok, moving is same as on the bounce, only difference is mag boots need engaging…also there are magnets in palm and knee for when we scale side of ship…ok, let’s move out” She said before taking a step, disengaging her mag-boots, turning on her jump jets and sailing through the black before bringing her back down towards the hull as she made her way towards the ships bow with the rest of her squad hopefully following her.

 ------>>>>>> From Hanger Dec

 Meari followed Tarja closely for about a third of the way where she would then fall back and check on the rest of the squad and try to keep everyone together in formation behind Tarja their commander. Meari would use the magnets, her mag boots and her jump jets as well and would make sure the rest of the squad got it as well. "Ok squad lets stay on our Commander, move it, move it."

  Andruss    pointed in the  direction the ship was sailing,all those  stars and planets...and it still looks  empty.

Morgan Chucked Until you look around you..... he  waved  an arm over top... Behind  them were  scores of Lights  from the Bridges, if the  blast doors  would close,  no one in front of the ships  could tell they were there.

Andruss  walked down the   side of the ship a bit, stand straight inthe   air  as he pointed the port side......you can see  al the  lights  from  the Hanger Decs...

 for now?  When Battle  stations   sound, they'll  used  Red or Purple lights. ...

........

 the  AI moved out, som,e doing  when  some, struggling...  The Spade  came   out   and  around H9vered  100 yards  above the Hull...LT  Stoly here, Corp. where  do you want me.

Fighting down her hatred for the accent currently resounding within her headgear, Tarja would focus being a professional as she led her team down the spine of the ship in a loping gait that would cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time. Part of her wished they had a hulk they could play with and practice cutting and breaching on but for now they would have to do what they could with the Hermes ”We are currently on spine heading towards bow, meet us there…drop ramp but do not land, get ready to leave immediately” she instructed before jumping and using her jets to gracefully pirouette so she was facing the others, with her momentum causing her to continue drifting towards the bow. From what she could tell the others seemed to be doing well meaning she was safe to move onto the next stage ”ok, now learn to enter and exit moving transport…shuttle will meet us at bow, you are to jump onto ramp, do not miss or you float forever” Tarja said before flipping herself back around and onto the hull so as to jump again.

After a few minutes of travel the shuttle would be in sight with its open ramp looking impossibly small. Timing was everything. Too early and you would lose all momentum and become a sitting duck as you drifted aimlessly, too late and you risked sailing past the shuttle entirely…assuming of course that your aim was good in the first place.

Making her jump Tarja would glide through space using her jets to adjust her trajectory so that her boots latched onto the metal ramp from which she would watch as the others made their own attempts.

The team would rather inelegantly board the shuttle, with Tarja having to grab one by the wrist that was set to drift past the shuttle, and another was hauled onboard by three sets of hands when they fell short and ended up hanging from the edge of the ramp with the unfortunate troopers receiving a barrage of teasing and encouragement well I suppose they’re bonding if nothing else Tarja thought to herself before speaking to the pilot ”Take us around to stern then make attack run on VIP pad, low and fast” she instructed, instinctively hating the idea of having a Russian pilot but doing her best to keep it to herself.

As the shuttle banked round to commence it’s attack run Tarja would switch to a squad channel ”Listen up! We are making run on VIP pad, when I say go, you jump out of shuttle, use jets to bring you down to hull, lock on, cover area and prepare to move on objective, understand?” she said knowing the biggest danger was them being scattered across the entire ship rendering the unit incapable of carrying out their objective.

Hanging out the side of the door so as to get a view of the LZ Tarja would gauge the precise moment before shouting ”Move, move, move, let’s go!” before stepping out of the back of the shuttle and into the black. The jets on her boots would flare, quickly bringing her down to the hull, her right arm raising to cover the area as her sensors reported that the rest of the squad was scattered across the ships spine this is going to be harder than I thought

They would repeat entering and exiting the moving shuttle until they were able to execute the manoeuvres without a hiccup at which point she would contact Morgan over comms ”Morgan are you and Andruss carrying training rounds? If so how would you like to play a little war game?”

 Meari watched all the others go first to get into the shuttle then Meari would also jump aboard and make it look pretty good.  Meari helped one that almost didnt make it.

 Then Tarja brought the shuttle in attack mode and they practiced jumping out as a team. Tarja would lead them and Meari would bring up the rear and try to help those that were having troubles. Meari did extremely well she was taking to the suit like a second skin.

 Meari moved next to Tarja and said over coms," I was hoping for better but not completely horrible for their first time, we will get them into shape Tarja." Meari then went and tried to help a few with control issues as Tarja talked to Morgan and the Mechs.

  Morgan  and  Andruss   were  spaced  out on either   side of the spine.  they  had the retrieval  guns. somewhat large  'spear guns' . The fired a  weight  with Braided   metal  into The Black..with a range of   200 yards or so.. 'floaters  ' could grab them and be  reeled in.

 We're  carring live Har ammo...we never step out without some real ammo... but our  pulse  weapons  can  be  dial down,  people will feel the impact, should  hurt too much, unless you're  really Unlucky.

Stoly answered ..hey Vanska?.. Normal troop  drop off  in The Black  is    20-30 feet....  thats for fast deploy, you want me lower... or higher...

”yes, could have gone smoother” Tarja replied to Meari over the private channel, with it having taken them several attempts to land in roughly the same area ”…am I doing this wrong Meari? I’m not asking too much?”  she asked wondering if she was trying to get the team to do too much too soon.

With other questions coming through on other channels Tarja was more than happy for Meari to talk with the others and field their questions as she replied ”…as low as you can get us, I want to avoid sensors, AA and make things difficult for enemy fighters…also less time we are floating the better” she replied to Stoly with her open to any suggestions he may have, especially if it made life easier for her.

Flipping over to Morgan’s channel she would consider what he’d said before speaking ”…ok, I was thinking of having you and Andruss defend pad, with my team landing and attacking air lock…what do you think? Will that work?”

  Morgan  and answered,alright,  , we'll dial  down the  power setting,  people will feel the  hit, and that's a fact. shouldn't be too much damage..I  Tell Andruss, we'll be on  either  side of the  Pad and   elevtor  building.

  Our normal  sit  rep   is to land  and  let the treoops out... if you wat to   Jump, , to saty below   Empire   sensors, i can't Go higher then , say..20 yards?..we have the Morrow  Transpoders, but that close  range they   would have normal radar  or sonar,,,.. your  Cal...'on the Deck, or Jump?

”I’d sooner we jumped, no need to risk shuttle by having it sitting still, twenty should be fine” Tarja had responded having in mind a team of AI using these particular tactics. If there were mechs involved then they would probably have to land, but that wouldn’t require any special training ”…if we learn how to pull this off, we could land multiple teams in one run” she continued with her wanting to discover exactly what her new unit was capable of.

With Morgan dialling down the power of his weapons and moving into position Tarja would begin moving to where the shuttle would pick them up ”Roger that Morgan, we’re carrying training rounds so don’t worry if you hear things bouncing off of canopy” she said with a grin before switching to a team channel “Ok, we’re going to be doing a little wargame…mechs will defend pad, we are to reach the lift…Meari; take Paskins and Barlet and move down right, Hipper, Belle, Velta with me on left” She instructed before moving to board the shuttle and see how they did against a real opponent.

  Andruss    snorted into the COMs,I can't use  my minigun?

 NO!... the minigun is  only for   real threats, or if  we  send up  , Tow  targets... dialign down  the  Pulse  guns  will give them a  bit of a  feel for impact, and the gun cams  will show them what they need to work on..

 Stoly came on Tarja's COM, Jaws  are open, passign Dorsal Fin  now... height  at 19  yards...we are  closing in on 3/4 mile  from  landing pad... we  are eating up 300 yards per second.. jump when you are ready.. I can slow if  needed.

 Meari replied," Already done Corp." Meari would take her two AI's and head to the right going for the objective.