..(( for when  we    go down to the surface ))

  Sun was  just coming up for Uden, sparkles in the  sky as the Light flashed of the   Hundreds of ships of the  Delta Fleet and the  support Vessels.

   Lilit  was still in armor  as she looked over the MAssive  Center Hall of  , The Palace of the One Tree.

 at the North   end, a think tree, perhaps 50  foot around and  towers  over  100 feet into the  air, was part of the   Building'' structure.. the tree was free to Grow as it will , as the structure  helped  support it.

 ..what are the Reports...

 A fellow   dressed as an Undenese MArine officer   said,Warlord... The Admiral was right...we have  taken over  200 Verians  who wish to go back and  fight  for vera... They are loaded in a captured  Transport.It is parked in Orbit  above  Calimite  with another transport of Verians  who  surrendered to our  people , before  The  APF got to them.

  She looked  disgusted...send out orders.. any Verians who fought for us, that wish to return to Vera.. should be put  on  that transport, or  fill another one... and Verians that  raised  arms against us..Kill out right... we have no need to fight them twice.

 The Officer  Bowed and left

 The Major Domo  arrived.My Lady?... are we sure we want the Humans in the great Hall?

 Lilit  smiled,.. The  Ball should be one of the most memorable   we have   in a long  time...... You got the Vid Box , contraption?

 Yes . My Lady..rther Vulgar  bgit of machine....

I have watched the Humans use it to great success and shooting  juice into parties.... I do not want a 'state  affair"...I want a Celebration!

 there was a sigh,.As you say. My Lady....but i have heard..some of the Humans  Get....rowdy?

 Indeed..if that happens. we will  be able to see  whom we need to remove and  thsoe whom we  may count on..

  The Palace of The One Tree was starting to Light up... the   Road way  was  cleared between  the palace  and the LAnding Area  for the shuttles  of the Fleet. Three such landing spots  were set up, shuttles  would hand.. people disembark , then the shuttles   would move off to a nearby  airfield until needed.

 The Exception were the  Hermes assault shuttle, they would park at their designated landing spot   on the  airfield , in case   the Hermes  needed someone to go up in a hurry.

<<<< from the Hanger Dec Uden Ball.

 In the Adnmiral's Shuttle ...  Stoly Let his  copilot  take the controls  as he came  back waving  the Admiral and   Roy over to him. Ok..excuse me Admiral?... But   we had  some.... rough parts back at the   Hanger?.... Seems that   LT Lag... promised to take   Dana to the   Ball, then left her on the Hanger to  go with Pike?....  The LC got   Dana on his shuttle now...... and?.. it  seems   Lag got the third  shuttle pilot to button up... and   Shadow Got  Lucky and a few others on board his   shuttles as well.... Supe  COMed me... said... that  'Shadow is going to have a Talk with Lag "... I think he would have wanted you both to know....

 Stoly went  back to the cockpit   Just as the shuttles   started to hit  Atmo..

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

 Aboard   Shadow's   shuttle,   The LC  said out loud.we land  at the airfield... we get to the Limo...thing..they have. It will be  easy to see.... when we get to the Palace.. I want Roll and   Haley out  first.. then Jax  and  Sneak.. you guys stay close  to them  until we get into the palace.... everyone  else who has  an escort..get out   as you  wish..make it look like you are at an awards  thing or something.. when  all the Couples get out... all the single Ladies and Guys  exit, I'm the LAst one out......do what you ant.. wave..sign stuff.. if   reporters ask stupid  questions , give them stupid   answers.....if they get on your case  real bad..direct  them to me... that's why I'm here.

 You all have  Fun.. there  some  stuff gonna  happen..its   part of the party....'cept Lag... I'll take care of LAg...

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

 In the third  shuttles  the Black Dots   and  a few other   pilots and thier escorts where  singing party songs as were  Crewman who  didn't have escorts.

Zob looked over and overheard the last part about Lag holding up Dana and Shadow was gonna have a talk with him which meant things would get messy, "I wonder if they will try and pull a weapon on another person again like last time... they draw a weapon ill put them down for good"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:44, Mon 24 Feb 2020.

Roy keyed his comm, with a message for Supe.  Watch Shadow's back.  Lag's an asshole, but he just might be stupid enough to try and blindside Shadow thinking that the formality of the occasion will have Shadow off-guard.  I know Shadow wants his 'talk', but if you feel the occasion warrants it, feel free to have your own heart to heart with Lag...and don't be afraid to make it VERY personal.

He sent the message, then looked over at Hack.  "I'm not in the habit of making personnel recommendations, Admiral, but given what we just went through with Dixie, I'd say send Lag to Delta...to finish his sentence as a prisoner, not as a guard.  The man smells like a bad cesspool to me, and it's only a matter of time before he goes off and gets shit all over everyone around him.  Sir."

  Hack  frowned a bit  as he looked around.. Si cast  a glance  at them  from time to  time . but otherwise chatted  with the  rest of the Board  and thier escorts.

 I believe  i might have a chat with   the 'new  flight opersations Manager ' on Fugi  when we get there... its not  a bad  idea to get people to fight  rather then  use them as labor...but  this  group wasn't vetted.

  Meari stayed with Dana, to keep her calm and be a friend to her, what that bastard did to her, oh if Meari had her way he would no longer be male. Meari was nervous but also happy, she was going home as a member of the Hermes. She saw Roll and Haley and they where amazing and they looked so good.

 Meari looked at Haley and Niiki, she said to Haley," You look amazing young princess, and your companion is very handsome, if you have any problems please ask me this is my home, if you need something or can't find anything just ask okay. Just have a great time and enjoy yourself Haley." Meari smiled at Haley turned to Nikki and whispered I will keep an eye on them."

 When Shadow mentioned Lag she so wanted to tell him she would love to help but she gave him a look telling him if he needed her she was ready.

  The Shuttles began to  land..there was enough room  for  5 'assault  sized'  shuttles   at the end of the  filed.. Hover Limos  and massive and wide, tracked   Vehicles  would  Pull up.

 The Admiral and his  people  got into a very long Limo, that was as  wide as a Mantis  was long seats  went around the perimeter of the vehicle  with a few  seats  dotting the Middle

 As the Car Pulled    hovered  away.. The Admiral  stood, he was  smiling,  LArry was lying in the  Middle  by Roy.

 We are going to Mess  with the   Press a  bit..when we  arrive.. Shade  and Orria, and thier Body Guards  get out  first .Everyone else, follow.. doesn't matter  how you do it..no ceremony here... But   Roy and   Larry will get out
 next to Last, Then Nil and I will follow... this should keep the Press  back a bit, and they'll all converge of  The Lc's   vehicle..he seems to have a   better hand   , at  handling the Press

 ..if you are caught  for an interview?..say what you  want... Vera knows  we're  coming, if it wasn't  for Ordnance , we'd be there now... we are using the celebration  as a  repair, refit   stop over..other then that...no secrets  to give away..so have  fun..

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

   As Shadow's people  began to  step out of their  shuttle, an 8 wheeled 'people mover'  rolled up to  their area  of  the  tarmac...

 Supe says,..look at this  thing!..The  transport bases  need these things!

 Shadow Just stared  up  at the Monster...yeah?.. but you know  what? a few 37MM rounds..or  a salvo  from  Captain Nilsson's  machines, and there are alot of dead troopers.

   a big  ram  cam   down on each side...the inside  had   rows of seats  with  small back on them., this one  was   carpeted  and  had soft lighting inside. Undenese  troopers   stood  at the very back, where the main ramp as.. on  guard  each ,,across from each other  for the side   ramps  An Udenese LT, about 3 inches  shorter then Meari  approached  Shadow

 The  Man saluted  Shadow  and Held out his hand to shake, which  they did in  the warriors  grip of wrists.

 ..LC Shadow? I know you from the Vids  and Interviews, I am Captain Sumel..you are quite the Hero here... With Lady being the Mod of your  offspring.. This is   a Undenese People  Mover..., it has been modified  for   VIPs... there is normally a  second floor, but it has  been removed  to make it 'less military'..There is   another  one, that is   not painted  as nicely for your 3rd shuttle...

  Shadow  smiled  a bit  as Lady's Name  was mentioned...Nice to meet you  Captain, lets get this show on the road....

  Standing at the ramp as the others  got on board.. Frans  stopped  and pointed. There was  Lag  with   Pike all dressed up..most of the Black Dots  had...Black Dot escorts ..Vesper  Somm and Lou  Owen were together  , Wanda  McFie and Stan Jonnes  were together  Brant Wilson had  a Groundscrew   Chief with him Hoppy Smith  had  a Rec Dec women and Of Course, Sticking out  were  Higgins and  Abby as they followed the Black Dots in,  the others   had to wait until they were all aboard..there were a few other  pilots who were  paired, but they stayed well back, of  The Black Dots.

  Lag walked  up the Ram with Pike he looked over  and Gave Shadow a 'comic' salute  and  entered their people  mover.

 well?.... we'll see how things go... but  I'm not going to ruin this party...i..will..however, Make sure to discuss  etiquette  with the Good LT   Lag...

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

once inside   Shadow     went  from person to person as he told them to have a Good time, and  made sure they  know  when they were to disembark.  Stopping  at  Lizzy and Izzy, he  spoke more to Lizzy then Izzy, but his eyes  did  shift to here  as he spoke, to make sure  she  heard/understood...right?.. now?  we're in a bit of  crossroads here  for  Ensign Sakura...If i know the press..your  Bosses  are gonna want pics... If you want to exit  together.. you're gonna miss the  Pics..you  send  your little  round buddy out to get the Pics..but  i have to know  so Roll and Haley  can   leave the  machine
 and have thier Moment in the sun....If You want to  be 'out there... I'll get the
 troopers to let you out the Back and  you can swing  around... Lucky  will go with you, to make sure they understand you are Hermes, and get you into  the  walkway  so you can do your thing...Just let me know before  we get there.  I Got a COM Text from Wendy..so i know there is going to be a  Feeding Frenzy...

 Eckles   looked over  as  Shadow was standing,..didn't  you and her have  something  in San Diego...

 Shadow  chuckled,..She was  early ESN   Combat Services... her and a dozen others  were 'practicing ' ..interviews   with us when  we landed from wargames...it was as  about as real as you could get... if you were 'shot  down' you flew to Area  51  and had to stay there until the 'war' was over..and  the reporters  had  to get info from us  , for two reasons... one... he nodded to Izzy,..was because it was thier  Job...  and  2..because  they wanted to see what pilots  would  give up too much info....

 yeah , but you two were a thing..?

 ..never  a thing.. a couple nights in a motel?.. a movie or two..she's nice  enough..but  don't let that fool you..she'll gut you on live vids, just to get her ratings..
.
  he  gave  Izzy  a nod  and went to talk with others

...........

 Moving up to the front more, stopping at Will and Harry...you guys look good... remember  to have fun tonight....now?  speaking of  fun..... Abby has been hanging with Higgins... I thought  Higgins  might be coming  around?... But he started hanging  with the Black Dots... there are a couple of those  folks who are going to be  alright.. we'll be finding out for certain in a day or so...But... Abby is   not doing herself any favors hanging with  Lag?..Vesper  and Owen seem ok... Wanda  and Stan   might make it.. the rest... I don't know..and   .... his head  tilted in the Direction of Dana  who seemed  to be 'all better' as she  chatted  with Frans and Meari.

 ..I don't know what  Lag's  Game is..but Some time tonight  me and him are going outside  the palace  for a chat... if Lag is planning something stupid...and? If
 he's planning it...it is stupid...It might  be very wise   for Higgins  and  Abby ..NOT...to join in  on 'his' side...better to  stake out the punch bowl and  eat goodies..right? Then he holds  a  finger  up , just short of shaking it at   Harry...don't let  this   mess up your  night. I'm just giving you a heads  up....you can talk to  Abby about all this tomorrow.

his eyes shift to Will , Will nods  and holds  Harry's  hand.. then Just like that  the smile  grew on  Shadow's  face as he moved towards the side ramp..

 .. OK  Roll..remember  the sword thing..right....

 Roll nodded his  head    really fast. As he did  this, Shadow  motioned Nikki and Mitch Up...

 ..Now?... Roll is   going to  Take a Step out.. he's gonna   bring Out his sword   and  salute  the  Crowd....   then Haley?  You come out  and  Take his arm.. when you do this?..  Roll  puts his sword  away and you guts follow the crowd up the  walk way behind the  Admiral's  people..right?

 ..Sneak and Jax are next.. stay close to the little ones..but not too  close... Nikki  and Mitch.. you  go right after  them.. That gives the Kids     back up.... keep the Press off them as far  as Mics go, until they   can get into  The Palace, then   we'll be able  to   'help them'  if  some  one shoves a  Mic in thier  face

 Standing up, he  says to everyone..all other  couple   go after  Nikki and Mitch.... then everyone who is going with  me, we'll   funnel out

 Dana Looked up...what?.. Your  going  with  us...

 Flores  and Beth    came up on either  side,..you're one of us.... you're   coming out with us..then   we'll see  about  'going on the hunt ' once the   beginning  stuff is out of the way..

 The  COMs  in all three vehicles   sounded....5 Minutes  before  we  disembark!