Zob who had been fairly quiet up to this point spoke up, "Couple of days at most assuming they make it a top priority" he commented nonchantly as he looked through his com for a specific number.

  Hack looked at Will.....Damn good thing you didn't  die  son..would have  ruined out  shut out!  he grinned.. Will chuckled  softly.

 Aye, Sir.  I'd hate like the 9 hells to miss  Jump off...
 Stefi and   Harry were returning...

 whoa there trooper.... no jump off  for you.. your  insides  are being held together  with foam and stitches ..I almost felt  like calling the Naragrans   to just web you up!

 ..you trying to tell me, I'm stuck on the   HAnger Dec   again!

 Maybe  , not even that..getting ripped open..is getting ripped  open..doesn't matter where you are, when it happens. she gave  the LC a dark stare..keep following him into dark places, and one time you won't be coming back..

 ..I didn't ask anyone to come in..well..'cept  Roy..i hinted  to him when i found out there were Verians  in there... Larry  evened out the Odds..and  I asked  my little  Naragran buddy if he wanted to have some fun..Every one else  came, cause they wanted   in on a good fight....

 Stefi  shifts her Glare to Roy,I suppose you didn't talk anyone  out of going in?.. I mean.. we had the warlord Granmod  get wounded  and  HArry prancing around  in a dress?

 Dusk  frowned,..so why was my Cousin permitted, but your  own Daughter  could not go!  Shade got to Go!

 ..Shades  been in  some odd  fights   with me... you haven't.. Meari  is  big enough... i wasn't going to tell her no...

 ..that is so , unfair...

 beth Giggles  as she  sat down with her  food  next to Stefi....you sound like Eckles!

In reply to Palace (msg # 328):

Sarah took another turn around the dance floor with Rivets, "It's only a matter of time before I start to have to deal with this isn't it. If we stay close, gratefully it should never be as bad as you have to deal with the backstabbing." She says as the evening wears down.

Afterwards she returns the goodnight to Sam, knowing that she'd see Sam bright and early the next morning, or at the beck and call of a comm if needed.


----

The next morning she rose well before first bells slipping out of bed as was her habit, leaving Rivets to his snoring, she padded naked to the shower and luxuriated in the steaming hot water. She'd not gotten much sleep, but for what had transpired she was feeling quite refreshed. Staying on Bura had her further away leaving for a little less time to spend and less opportunity to spend time together.

Exiting the shower she finds Rivets up and about likely woken either by the shower, or his own internal clock.  She heads out to join him for breakfast with the rest of the guests.

Settling for starting with hot chocolate in lieu of the coffee and other caffeinated beverages sported by many of those present she digs into her buffet plate.

To no one in particular Sarah comments with a bit of a conspiratorial wink, "The way we treat friends here, I'd almost hate to be family, that said I've been to some wild family reunions to make even last night look tame. We'll Shadow you've survived dog fights, now for dinner with a teen and the in-law."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:46, Wed 11 Mar 2020.

In reply to Palace (msg # 328):

Melia nodded, "It is fine by me if Orria stays over, I assume that there will be a room for the bodyguard of the Ambassador, and his aide?" she asks, partially curious but also well aware of the risks at stake right now. It'd be a huge coup for the EDT or Empire to manage an assassination on Shade, and despite his ability to defend himself having a few allies nearby was never a bad thing.

---

When Zob decides to head out Melia nods, she too is covered in blood but for now decides to stay close to Shade and Orria. Besides she'd been covered in worse for longer. "I'll be along shortly when Orria and Shade decide to pack it in." She says than calls after him, "Save some hot water for me."

Once Shade and Orria had decided to head back with Orria distinctly telling Melia that she didn't smell great, not surprising Melia in the least she saw the two of them off to their rooms where Udenese attendants could take care of them, and found the small side door to the room for security escorts where Zob was inside.


--

The next morning she rolled over to Zob and greeted him with a kiss. After getting ready, she heads out and joins the table with food of her own. Naturally there's bickering Shadow was there. She waves Zob over to pull up a seat, "There's no point starving yourself in the name of security. Short of a bomb under the room or an orbital round we're relatively safe for the moment in our current numbers and I don't think you or I can stop either of the other two without some serious luck or lead time"

In reply to Palace (msg # 328):

After taking care of Will, Hawkeye had returned to the party and worked her way through her fair share of drinks and a few more before retiring for the night with Rolf.

----

She woke the next morning hungover but functional and set out for a big cup of hot coffee and something greasy to ease the hangover. The surgery had been brutal, just when you thought they'd thought up all the best ways to kill they invent a round that acts like a oz of buckshot upon penetration. 32 pieces of fragments, several bowel resections and a number of other punctures plus they'd almost drained poor Howe dry in the process even recycling the blood from the surgery. She'd been more than happy to drink after that.  She quietly enjoys her breakfast only pausing to half heartedly jest at the angry Nivarian's I hope my eating isn't too loud for you to be angry over." While she digs into some sort of greasy Udenese sausage.

   The  4 Nivairan Officer s  got up, The Captain   throwing his napkin down with a huff, on top of his  food. The group went up the stairs.

 General BAle  said,Well..LC..seems like you may  have collected  some more enemies...

 Its  what a do, General BAle, Sir. Collected  Kill... action figures  and enemies..not to  worry... If the Golden Fleet has them,  we won't see them again

 he looked under the Table, Larry is  almost done with his   second .. 'turkey leg'... when he's finished  i'm going to the Airfield.. Might be good to see if they have  any trouble unloading the new largs... I imagine   Roll will what to go to see gregor?

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

 Rivets  was  eating  rather well. He was a bit   bummed out there was no Beer  for Monringfest..so he   went to the Coffee  cups instead.

 Morris   sat back, eating  some breaded 'fish'  with some kind of potato  pancake..thing.. He was rrworkign the   slots on the  Flight likes.. and  said to no one ..we'll have  all the aircraft  filled... we just do not have pool pilots

 LC  Raven is   flying with is  this Jump off.. the rest of the Harvester Piltos  are  goign to help be 'honme defesne'  as long as the harvester is in Dock.

Zob watched as the Nivarians moved away up the stairs was good odds we wouldn't be seeing the last of them, he then turned his attention to Melia and took a seat next to her He then poured himself a cup of coffee and took a sip, "I plan to eat I was just waiting for the stink to leave the table..." he said not being at all subtle about his dislike of the Nivarian officers.

Roy turned an uncompromising gaze on Stefi.  "They're all grown men and women...and they're all out here to fight.  I'd rather have them walk into a stand-up fight against a bunch of people who positively identified themselves as traitors than tell them to stand down and behave and have those same traitors wind up knifing them in the back.  At least this way they get a chance to give as good as they get."  His tone wasn't quite icy, but it was clear that he was annoyed with her accusatory manner.

"They're Marines and Sailors.  They came out here to fight the enemy.  Why would I tell them not to, when the intel I have gives no reason to think they're walking into anything more dangerous than the boarding actions and ground assaults that they routinely go on?"

He looked over at Will.  "We had one serious casualty, and a few other wounded.  Pretty sure if we had told them all to stand down, we'd have two corpses, because they started pulling guns pretty fast, and if it was only Shadow and me in there, we'd be dead.  They had too many targets, too much chaos...couldn't settle on priorities because they were worried about trying to keep their own hides intact, rather than accomplish the mission.  I'd have traded Will places in a heartbeat...but the only reason I'm still here to say that is because they went in with us.  So sorry if you find it troubling that we're willing to take volunteers when we roust traitors...but it's not going to change anytime soon, so you better find a way to make peace with it."

He pushed his seat back from the table and got up.  "Apologies, Admiral, but my appetite seems to have soured abruptly.  Hope you'll all excuse me..."  He turned and walked away from the table without a backward glance.

Nikki filled up another plate, this one with a few sweets as well and another iced tea.  Coming back she offered some of the tartlet looking items to all at the table "Glad they left, now the food won't taste like prison food." she smiled and sat.
"Why was they mean?" Haley asked
"Any number of reasons Haley.  My favorite is they're just being stupid" she glanced at Mitch "Sorry couldn't help myself" apologizing to him for losing her cool.

Returning to the table Harry would place a plate of food in front of Will before taking the seat next to him and starting her own breakfast, which consisted of the Udenese equivalent of bacon and eggs, sausages, toast and fried mushrooms. And although choosing Will’s breakfast had involved a little guess work she had been dating him long enough to know what sort of things he liked.

For the most part Harry would remain silent as she ate her food feeling more than a little uncertain as to where she stood with Will, though she would ”I wasn’t prancing” In response to Stefi’s comment, leaving Roy to argue the point that they’d known full well what they were volunteering for, although she did quietly agree that Will shouldn’t be on the next jump off in his current state.

Mila polished off the scraps she'd been given and went to lie beside Larry until Her Human was done eating and ready to go.

  Shadow  watched   Roy  walk  away..he  waggled at finger at Stefi...now, she  what you did?... Not  cool to ruin a guys Breakfast..or what ever Fest this is...

 Morningfest....  Dusk said  tartly

 he finished    his Egg thing, and stood Up...i may as well go , as well..

 Shade  bleeped and stood.Yeah... He can Come.. Don't know about Orria?.. That's   up to  Melia?.. there might be some Verians getting  eaten...


  Shade looked at Orria  , then to Melia.

  Comon, Larry..  there was  a burble...Shadow looked  under  the table.

  no way!.. we're not waiting  until you  finish that whole big thing...  Break the end off and give it to  Mila, you can carry what's left  outside to finish..

 There was a solid  snap and the wet sound of  marrow  being 'freed'.. Larry  took  a one foot piece to Mila.. then cam back for a Dinner  Plate    sized   upper leg  and carried it with him as they  left..

 Will was  bummed, pushing his  food  around his plate  as he took a bite now and then.

 Stefi    followed the  retreating figures   and the LArg,..Strange...Strange Men..and..creature, for that Matter..

 Shade would wait to see   what Melia  says , the  chase after the  trio.

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

 ..Lots of Dead  Bad  guys because of them....

 Hennings  nodded as he  looked at Stefi,.. they didn't even ask, anyone.. they didn't order  anyone... In my younger days, I would have  been happy to have a dozen men and woman who would follow me without question?.. those two there.. have almost a whole damn ship load...

 Morris  cleared his throat, Dabbing his lips with a napkin.  I* d not think , you will find  anyone worth  bothering about, who wound't  , follow them into  the teeth of  'The Mother Prylock'... It is a good thing to have..and? of course, very bad when you speak of losses... But for everyone that dies?... some 100 will live.
............................

  Outside  the   door, The Undenses  Guards   looked with   confusion as LArry plopped  down on the  marble like stone to  finish  is   bone...

 The SGT called  for  a VAn...it wil be here  soon. Sir...

 Thank you..please have the Verian Prisoners  and SEC Volunteers to the   clearing to the south please...

 Yes  Sir, Already done..

 ..you know?... And  I say this from years of  being put together by her... You shouldn't let Stefi bum you out.. if it was up to her, we'd  have to  fight this  war with Lazer tag, and paint capsules..

 so?  when we get there..whadda  we do?  let the LArgs  run a bit..or get right into fetch and carry and sort out  bad  guys?

In reply to Meari (msg # 399):

When Meari came over and asked Orria, mouth full of food shook her head no, that she didn't mind and gestured at the chair saying "OO, cnn stt drrr." Her mouth full of a delicious Udenese pancake. Natrually this earned the girl a look from Melia, but little more. Melia didn't worry too much about proper manners and the like so long as Orria wasn't being excessive.

Mouth finally clear she nods, "Okay, but I just listen and asked him. I can help you though. Is like computer program and other languages, there's patterns to learn and certain sounds used."

Melia smirked at General Bale's comment, "Shadow collects enemies the way Captain Si collects dresses, and he's just as generous with sharing his enemies with us grunts as the Captain her dresses."

When Shade asked and Shadow looked to Melia, "She's seen worse on the hanger deck and in the lab. I'll let her decide." she says turning to look at Orria, who understanding Shade's question was already tracking on the topic. "I wanna go see the bad guys get eaten. Plus Largs are cool. Larry's like a Lizard dog Shadow, with his own team now." She says explaining as she excuses herself and takes off with Shade.

Melia sighs, "I suppose someone should go out there to keep an eye on things. You wanna come along, I could always use a little extra help?" Melia asks Zob as she quickly down her cup of still extremely hot scalding coffee.

Hawkeye looked at Will in his bummed state. "Will, as much as I hate to see young men and women go off on those terrible jump offs just remember you are having an impact. Just because you've got more holes in you than a strainer doesn't mean what you've done hasn't mattered. You'll get your jump off. Don't worry kid. Take the time to work on some soft skills maybe get Beth to set you up with a omnicom course or something. Help you feel useful while laid up, and give you additional skills when you are back on your feet.  Heck take a cooking class and show off those skills to your girl after she gets back from flying." She says by way of trying to cheer the young man up.

Watching Shadow get up and leave along with Roy Nikki commed them "LC...You need the 'Larg Master'?  I am sure he misses Gregor" She winked across the table over to Roll.  "His entourage is here as well"

Zob nodded to Melia, "You only need say the word" when she was ready he would head out with her to watch the exercise.

  Shadow stood  outside the palace..it  would be a warm day, for certain, He Ansered the COM
 from Nikki,..yeah.. i think i may have mentioned to him, but the Nivar guys  might have distracted him.... send him up, Gregor is going to start to earn his keep..


   Ellen  and Rolfe  were   walking  across  the way towards them..word id, you wanted  some  SEC folks to help?

   There was a brief  nod,..yeah.. a couple,  to either help keep the largs in line, or   cut  down a few Verians that might make a  run for it.

  Simms  and that new  guy, Longgen? They went   witht eh Udenese  guys   to
  bring Verians down...um?.. How's  Will ?

 ..he  got shot by a  , new  kind of  weapon?   He';s eating in there  wil Harry  at the Admiral's   table... he 's gonna miss  Jump off  , I think.

...........

inside.

Will    smiled  slightly ..I get what you're  saying, Ma'am... I didn't sign up to cook , though...

....

 Captain Si  smiled a  bit at Melia,..and Much like   my dresses, once  Shadow shares his enemies, they do not  often come back...though i would be highly upset if people shot my dresses!

 there are some  Chuckles.

 Mila   can  take her  Bone  with her, if they are going out.

Meari nodded and smiled at Orria and said,That sounds great and I will listen more and,ask questions,  maybe we can sit down once,we,are back on the Hermes and the three of us can work on it. Thank you very much Orria

 Meari then listened to all the conversation,  when Dusk asked why Meari got to go and she didnt, Meari laughed at Shadows answer and she gave Dusk a shit eating cousin grin.

 Meari finished her meal and then said, If anyone wishes a tour guide and with to see Uden let me know I would be happy to show off our beautiful world to my Hermes shipmates.

Finishing the comm with Shadow.  "Roll..Shadow and I think Roy are ready for you.  Jax, if you'd escort him.  Sneak If you want to go too I think it is alright.  Anyone else?" She glanced to Mitch and Haley, and any others at the table.
Haley looked over at Roll.  "I wanta see some of the town.  Aminals and any pretty flowers" she said.
"Okay, I'll see if there is a garden or zoo like place about.  Mitch would you like to keep us company or maybe hang with some of your friends" she smiled as Jax, Roll, and Sneak wandered out to join Shadow to go work with Largs "If you need me just call" out of caution.  They waved as the trio left.  "Mitch, if you want.  I have no problem with you wanting to hang with your friends from last night." She wanted to let him know either way she was fine with.

  Mitch  shrugged,..those  guys are scattered to the  4   winds now... We can take a look at what  Unden has to offer.

 Jax  and Sneak followed   Roll who was     trying to run up the stairs.. he got about half way up and started  walking..but a few weeks ago, he might not have made it that far.

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

 Dusk  Looked  at Lilit  and said,well?..  I have nothing to do? Seems  my suitors  are all being shipped off in a  transport...

 Lilit  RAised  an eyebrow,...perhaps  we should point those Verians out to you Father.. I am sure he wouldn't mind  using them in the Larg training session

Roy shrugged.  "I wouldn't say I'm bummed by her...more annoyed that she seems to think all our troops need to be coddled and babysat between combat missions.  We knew what we signed up for..."  He shook his head, dismissing the topic from his mind.

"I'd say start them out simple...if we're going to lose control of them, I don't want it to happen right off the bat when they got a taste of blood.  Part of this is to assess how well they take instructions, and if they'll take instructions from anyone of us, or if they need specific handlers."  He got a contemplative look, and continued, "When I spoke with one of the larg handlers on Aqra, he gave me two bits of counsel that I could see good logic behind...the rest of it seemed like archaic superstition, practically.  But he told me to be careful what we fed Larry, because some foods don't agree with largs...but since we tend to let Larry pick his snacks aside from regular servings of meat scraps, I haven't worried too much about that.  In my experience, most animals avoid foods that are toxic to them, unless they're starving.  But he also said to avoid letting largs imprint too strongly on a single handler, which makes sense because if anything happens to that handler, you've got a rampaging larg on your hands with nobody to quiet him down.  So I want to make sure they'll take some kind of instruction, first...without Larry running along to guide them.  If that works, we'll start looking and search-and-destroy or catch-and-release tactics."

  Roll   came      Out of the  Dioor , Sneak and  Jax  behind Him. Jax   said,..Roll wants to see   Gregor and the other  Largs.. and since we are his escorts..here  we are..

 Roll plopped  down next to  LArry after    the   'charge' up the   tall stairway.. Larry Just Looked  back  and  continued to finish his Brander Bone.

 Two  Nivairan troopers, one MAke and  one female  , dressed in , Hermes, colors. approached them....SGT   Shoemaker  said we volunteers to help with the LArgs?... I do not know why.. we  are not Larg handlers... the MAle  said  as he , half distractedly  watched  the  'big' Larg, munching on a  Bone while a Child rested up against his  side.

  The Female said,..He is  Wukke. I am  Hunrr..we are riflemen  now of the  Herrmes SDEC?.. we were sent  by the Cavet..we are how you say...um... 'runners up'..in   The Cavet's  Guard'..she said. you need more   fine shooters.. she set us here.

 The MAle Points at LArry..,,this  doesn't not concern you.. the  child   leanign on a feeding LArg?

 Shadow shook his head,..Naw?..the Little  guy  is a bit tired..tried to run up the stairway?... he's getting better  at it though?

 both Nivarians looked  at each other, then to Roy.

Zob followed along when they got outside he took out a smokewood cigar and lit it up taking a long drag off of it, "Well let's hope you two don't get killed then be a waste" he then took the shotgun he had with him and rested it at his side as he waited for the events to start.

  Shade   waited  with his hands on his  hips, for the   Van..he   was whirling and Beeping.

  Ease up, Buddy.. lots of people gting lots of places.. the VAn will get here... LArgs  are going  anywhere, until we get there..

  He bleeped  something , Shadow  just shook his head.

 a few Minutes  later  a military  Van was  coming. It had  a   top   Gunner. It lowers its self to  the   grasses off the  paving stones.

 An Udenese SGT stepped out of the Passenger side,..well.. quite   an assembly..The Larg is going  , Yes?... perhaps  we put him in first, then the  rest of you follow  along..   LArry Looked at the   Fellow, and threw  back his head  to   Crunch and swallow the last of his treat,   before  Thumping his tail  for  Roll to stand up, then he stood.

As she sat beside him, it was clear that Will was upset about missing another jump off, with Cat suggesting that he took it as an opportunity to get some training or for when he was next allowed out "I know how you feel, I didn't like sitting in med tech when I broke my leg that time" Harry quietly said, uncertain as to how welcome any kind words from her would be "...maybe Cat is right though, I mean maybe not cooking but...is there anything you could do towards getting you sergeants stripe?"