Will smiled   afte  finsihing the  2nd beetle...leave this party?.. who knows when the Next time we'll be at on eof these, where no one is trying to kill us?..besides.. there's  some  kind of  Military  show  gonna happen  when the board gts  back.. I want to see it..maybe  even volunteer if there is something up my alley...

 As HArry would   look, she saw Dixie  with a Bit of a coy smile on her  face, she  cast a look back to the ladies   room, then  to   Harry, one raised  eyebrow and   that smile, with an eye dart to Will.. then she was taken away  By  a Pilot from The Apollo.

 ........................

 Mitch welcomed   Nikki back, as he  said,..you did  good.... all these folks around... I  have  trouble shouting orders  to my crew!

………………………...

 Garrat... Meets  up  with  what is  a Captain of  a Burian trooper  force. he greats the ...rather    tall..'human'.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:42, Mon 02 Sept 2019.

Roy saw the reaction, and snorted softly.  "Look offended all you want...if you're on the losing side of a three-to-one or four-to-one kill ratio, it's a training issue, not an equipment issue.  The Hammer IV isn't THAT old...even a grunt like me knows that.  Too many stories in history where better-trained forces won the day with out-dated equipment..."

Shifting mental gears, he asked, "What kind of transport do you have for assault troops?  How have you been sending people in, prior to this?"

  ..we have   the  6  wheeled   tracker APV.. they are  armed with  twin  Pulse guns on top, they can  garry up to   30 troopers  or a Mix of  trops and   equipment..., we have  also send  troopers in on the ground, trusting in out  experiance, fighting in the   forests.. but... the Largran  and Bugs  are good in the forest as well...

  Morgan   nodded,..Tell you  what... It won't belong  until we  are up there again...

 he pointed  Upwards  as  transports   and shuttles    filled the sky  handing  at the  landing areas they left behind.

 ..we  should  go into one of those    eating places  and have a real sit  down , Burian meal, we can always  hit the stalls  , after  to nibble.

"So, no assault shuttles, then?" he asked.  It didn't surprise him, really...with an utter failure to establish air superiority, sending an airborne assault was asking for massive losses.  He just wanted to confirm.

"If we land a couple of drop shuttles on the perimeter, with a mix of Nargran, Ape-Folk, and Sanri troopers...the Sanri should have some sharp-shooters with them, the Largrans could have snipers and counter-sniping would save a lot of lives.  But the Naragrans and Ape-Folk can got toe-to-toe with the UEs, and the Sanri are definitely a match for the Largrans.  Shadow leads a combat air patrol to establish air superiority, we land a few assault shuttles and maybe even another drop shuttle right on top of them and go dig them out of the mountain...demo teams on hand to destroy a transport gate if we find one.  The Morningstar and maybe a torpedo craft or two up there to take down AA as soon as they start rolling it out.  Hit them hard on all fronts at once, either force them to completely hole up in the mountain or else commit all their troops to try and hold us off.  We took a whole planet on Aqra...I'm pretty sure we can take a valley, here."

In reply to palace (msg # 22):

When Shade speaks up Orria dutifully and quickly translates, "The Ambassador says we should attack everywhere, and overload their ability to react. We should use APF troops, and short them like a circuit"

As the display goes and briefing continues something doesn't make sense to Orria. She pulls out her vidboard careful to pay attention and starts to poke about probing the Burian network.

Karl was going easy on the wine, himself...he'd been with the fleet long enough to have learned that alien wines and other similar libations could 'sneak up on' a Human metabolism...and he didn't particularly like the sensation...or the hangovers that often came with it.  "I can come up with a long list or words to describe you, Lizzy...'fat' isn't one of them."  He stepped in close, so he was murmuring quietly in her ear.

"'Radiant', certainly.  'Breath-taking'.  'Delectable'..."  The word trailed off as he leaned down, kissing her shoulder.  "Desirable..."  He kissed her again, moving toward her neck.  "Ravishing..."  A third kiss, at the base of her neck, below her ear...

As the lizard dog turned to watch her, tilting it's head over to one side as it did so, Isobel would pause in her affections to the cute doggy as she gave her large friend a curious look "hmm I'm not sure if you're friendly or not, you kind of look like your trying to decide whether or not to eat me...which is shame really as you are rather cute in a scaly kind of way" she said with a shrug, giving the doggy once last scratch behind the ear before standing up straight. As much as she enjoyed being with the animals, even if one of them was kind of sizing her up, she probably ought to get on with her job and find some people to interview.

As Izzy stood up, Larry nudged her with his scaly snout.  It was gentle, for a larg...but firm enough to make her stumble a step or two to regain her balance.  His tongue snaked out, swiping across her arm, and the little stub of his tail beat up-and-down in the air.

In reply to palace (msg # 22):

Sarah listens closely to the briefing. She frowns as briefing continues. Its It's obvious there's an infestation, but also gaps in the defense. She nods at Orria's translation, Also if we do a covert airborne drop of a team or two of specialists we could wreak havoc on any ground based defenses and create openings for shuttles with troopers for a ground assault.  We will assuredly want the entire Hermes wing if not more in the air, as well as a transport base of troopers. If one of the special teams establishes an LZ the other can assault from a different area of the main attack and go after the queen and leadership. she says.  The mountain looks like a tough nut to crack.

 Sam likes Ray's and Shades ideas but then she would add,Okay that sounds very good, but they must be getting communications out some how to set up these supply missions, we need to locate and decode these transmissions.

 Sam was on a roll, Chairman have you located any transmissions coming out of the mountain, if we can find their transmissions we can possibly sneak am attack force in with their resupply as we attack from the outside,  just an idea.

In reply to Melia Kristensen (msg # 17):

"I like to keep my options open Melia and nothing is saying i can't do both" he smiled as he held her gently it was a comforting feeling he hadn't experienced in a very long time.

It was around this time he heard her talk about surviving the war, "I'm just lucky to be here in general... Qer La Kal is burning to get me. The feeling is mutual. she is trying to put out my flames with fuel." he would never truly be a peace until she was dead.

"I hope it works for you though and if you find that it doesn't there is always other hobbies" he said to her sometimes it took a while to find the one thing you are really good at.

   Frad  Looked at   Shade, then to  Roy.

   Shadow   say  in a tight  voice aimed a Frad,..shades been around.. its  not   too  hard to understand, he would share some of the SM's  thoughts...

   The High Chairman watched   Orria, Beth  watched her  as well, but   did not  stop the  girl, or  ask to use her  board.

 The High chairman   looks a little  settled in,...if you are to  do this.. what happens  if your  reach  the cove mouth...

 Hennings  shurgged,... the real work  will begin..  it  will almost assuredly end, with the  mountain comign down... But.. if there is a Brood  Queen, it  must be  killed..either in the destruction of the base, or   the single purpsoe of  ending it.

  what of your aircraft

..the   fighters  we 'gifted to you' are to be used  by my people..this  keeps the alerts  down on the enemy side... Shadow  had the foresight  to have the Morningstar  come down...

 begging your  pardon , Admiral..It was    Captain Milsson's  idea.. I just pushed it through

 .. good  thinking on his part..if   we had  spares  i would have send one down here as well..but  there aren't anymore

 Shadow's  people  will make sure the  drop ships  get  down... we'll set the  deployment in the Morning.. I want  the Dropships   to  come   down at...whatever  time  noon is   above that valley... let them deal with the sun..

In reply to kira (msg # 37):

Kira glanced up the sky at all the transports then to Morgan, "And the Hermes mech unit stands ready to meet any threat" she said in a serious tone as she then looked forward spotting a sit down food area off in the distance, "That looks like one off in the distance there" she then began to make her way in that direction.

Isobel would give a startled squeak as the lizard dog nudged her with it's snout, causing her to stumble in her heels followed by her quietly giggling as she felt it's tongue against her arm "now you'd better not be tasting me Mr lizard dog or you will be in big trouble!" Isobel said with mock severity as she wagged a scolding finger at him "now if I give you a scratch will you be a good boy?" she asked before, after little hesitation, reaching out to scratch him behind where she supposed his ears should be "Tali make a quick video of me with my new friend and send it to the private section of my hard drive please" she called to the little drone, deciding that it might make for a nice addition to the next time talked to her mother, after all she'd always wanted a pet.

"Well...ok if you're sure" Harry said a little uncertainly as Will said he didn't leave the party just yet, which was a good thing she supposed...she just wished she knew what was bothering him. It was then that she would catch sight of Dixie.

If the woman's smile and slight nod towards the ladies room was anything to go by there was a very real chance that she and Lizzy were in trouble. However until she knew for certain what Dixie was hinting at there was nothing she could do about it.

Nikki took her bows after her songs were done she saw others heading to the mic. She handed it over and stepped down with a big smile.  She gave Shadow a wink as she knew   it was good.  Heading back to Mitch.  "That got them going.  No, rarely embarrassed.  Big family.  One of 8 kids...maybe more by now if my Papa is still randy as ever. she gave a blushed laugh.  "My family we'd have sung, danced, carried on, probably half drunk and partly naked....and not think anything of it."

  Garrat talks "Shop" with him for awhile.  [does he find anything about the defended highlands they will be assaulting on the morrow?] he discusses the use of high speed hover assault vehicles for small unit infiltration.

  "This is an increadible palace to crown an incredible planet.  Could I trouble you for a breif tour?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:40, Mon 02 Sept 2019.

In reply to palace (msg # 31):

Hawkeye laughed, its not just yall. Even among ourselves humans can be hard to understand. Different places we've lived, different experiences, different cultures suddenly common phrases lose their meaning across different people. In some ways this war has been beneficial, its allowed us to consolidate different language gaps and close them because of the necessity of working close together." She nibbles on a small sandwich and takes another sip of scotch.

In reply to Zobaich (msg # 45):

Melia smiles, "I hope so too, and yeah I've kinda been trying to sample everything. I know gardening and such isn't for me, but journalling isn't bad. It's been a good start but I need a bit more physical than simple written word. Maybe if drawing doesn't work I'll try sculpting. She says with and uncharacteristic giggle as she imagines herself sculpting a modern version of the David sculpture.

"Should we grab some food or a drink. I saw Shade and Orria go off with the Admiral and Shadow so they must be planning for whatever tomorrow will bring."

 Lizzy smiled at Karl, the fruit wine was hitting her some so she would have non alcoholic drinks after this. When Karl said she wasn't fat she smiled and said, " Aww thank you Karl I am glad you don't think i am fat."

 Then Karl started saying the list of words he would call Lizzy, and Lizzy smiled with a radiance as he said these names for her. She liked the first two then he kissed her on the shoulder. Lizzy was very happy at the next name he had for her, then he kissed her on the neck.

 At the last one and then Karl kissed right below her ear, she really smiled and said," Thank you so much Karl your going to make me blush." Lizzy was very happy Karl felt this way about her. Then after he was done Lizzy said," Well I guess you think I am pretty good looking then with all those words, you are amazing and sweet Karl." She would then give him a very sensual, passionate and very sexual kiss, being told she was all those words really turned her on and she was definitely in a mood now.

    Will downed his  soda,   when the first    of the three  fast songs  came on,..you feel like  hitting the  floor? he offered.

  ................

 some  people near Isobel    chuckled  a bit  at her  reaction to LArry.  Gorgo   just peered  around  as Nina  seemed   perfectly happy  , spending time with Morris.. and leaving her beastie  to   stay with the others.

……………………………..

  The angel sniper   nodded, then added  a shake of his head,perhaps, that is the  main thing about humans... the  demons cannot  figure them out..because they have no figured themselves out!


 .....................

 The Fellow  with  GArrat introduces himself,..I am  CAptain  MacOften..I am  2nd gen Burians now... you can see my skin  has that  lime  green shade to it.... anyway... I am to be the  Desk Jockey  for the Burian  Mountaineers , who are going to the Hermes ... My climbing  days  are over... I can still shoot  pretty  well, so i will offer servcies to  protecting the  Hanger  Dec and such  from boarders..

 ..as  for the tour? there are some   events slated  for after   the big meeting.. don't  want to miss that.... and... since that odd  angel you came in with, most certainly has  quarters here?.. I assume you'll get your chance to look around.

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

 Mitch   looks  around as people  danced, abut alot of them are taking a break to get food and drink..the lines at the icecream haven't begun to  ebb...gonna  be something tomorrow  i bet.... My Master Chief  says   The Hermes  wil take the   First Hits.... then  the rest of the  Fleet might need to be called on as needed... and?  once the  whole  thing is over.. we get to finish  shore leave.

Orria fiddled with the board some more biting her lip in concentrated effort.

Finally she smiled, "look, there's a bad guy in that town. Its about 10miles away. The Burian network is very unprotected. It was easy to get through security. I think the bad guys have someone in your towns who is doing things to alert the bad guys and to keep you from seeing the enemy ships coming. We need that bad guy they'll know" she plops the vidboard on the table and slides it over to Beth to look at.

In reply to palace (msg # 55):

Hawkeye shrugged, perhaps, it's about as good an explanation as to why we're so good at fighting and killing. We've been doing it since forever over disagreements and misunderstandings. I doubt we'll ever be truly unified behind a single culture or even true language at least not for a good long time.

All I know is I hate killing. I've spent too much of my career up to my elbows in guts of kids who's biggest concern should have been
the zit they were developing before their date later that night. I'll be happy when Hel is a cinder, and lady V with it.

 Beth   picks up the Tablet,  her  right hand  Moves   like  a machine, her  eyes shifting  just as  fast,..She  found  it with the  little  Vidboard..... If I had  One of  mine, we'd be able  to tell you what color the  guy's Underwear is!... how  did your  Peopel not know that, you have a Gods be damned  3rd map filter!

 People looked  around, Shadow  frowned...  Hack  put a  comforting  Hand on Orria , while Shade  gave her a thumbs up.

 ..Got to Beth.... then he  turns  to his party   Girl COM  officer.....get  ready to trail.. can you do that  with that thing?

 Shade     hands over  his ....

 ..now  we can....

  Orria.. watch   beth... tomorrow  sometime   You can question her  , but  right now..watch...and learn..

 .. Chariman  Frad.... I think the answer to 'them being here' is now  answered..... I want you to show,  3  Drop ships  , landing  on the  eastern cliff  top.. I want it  to show  they are Burians  who are coming in to share the Glory...

 .. You will show  fighters   taking Off, heading  South towards  the  area where LAdy   was Killed... you will  label it  as Shadow's Memorial Flight for Lady...

 The High chairman asks,...How does  that help us?

  Because.... the Empire  will leave  what they perceive to be  ESN troops  coming into the  Valley as  easy  pickings... no air cover... with  Burians  landing on  a cliff top  as  support..., it may draw off some of thier fighters.. or they may just stand   ready to wax the people going into the  VAlley.

 The Icons   came  Up  Shadow  was  watching  the hologram..  the names  of Burian  Companies  on the icons  for the  dropships.

  fighters   with arrows  going to the south Pole  where labels  as  shadow's  Memorial  flight... with  at least  6  icons   at the Mouth of the VAlley labels  as  Delta Fleet  troopers

 anything  yet?

 Beth shook her head  as she  had  the  Vidboard on the table... Orria  watched    Shade  watched..as if he was willing Beth to do something.

 ..hit...send, Frad.

 The  Burian Looked   up at Shadow,..Hit  send, ...now.....

 Frad looked  nervous.... The Highchairman, looked angry,well?.. what are You waiting...


 Frad  went to hit another  Button,  but he screamed  as Shadow's throwing Dagger   had his right  hand  pinned  to his chest...

 The Highchairman  Hit send,NOOOOOOO... you just killed my family!

 we Got it!! she showed    Orria  the  tracking  vine  dotting across the   screen...at the same  time, a much faster vine  was headed to the Valley...

 ..ROY!...COM Supe... he's at that Town... have them close in   on  a  three story Building   on the north east  side of the town ..Third  Floor.. there are three people   in the ..capure them if they can.... but they gotta get there!

 Shadow   walked Over to Frad.. he Pulled his throwing  dagger  Out   of the man's  hand and slammed  him  against the wall..so?..lemmie  Guess?.. your  family for the whole gods be damned planet?

  the SEC guards   had thier rifles  raised... but in the end they were Binding  Frad.

 ..Lock him away..or kill him, I don't care  which.... But  we have to go out there Like nothing happened.. the story will be, the Frad  stayed  to work on   which troops  get the glory of   aiding the  ESN..... Tomorrow  morning..High Chariman... you will have your  troops on stand by.. You will get marching orders  at 8:00pm planet time... The Empire, is in for a big surprise...

   La-Ds  was breathing heavy,..you threw   that Blade, what  if you would have missed?

 ..lady?  there's alot of things   I'm great  at... and lot of things  I am..very very bad  at... useing Blades..is one of my best talents...

   Beth was showing Shade  and Orria , where the  Hermes  folks were at..
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:39, Mon 02 Sept 2019.