Seeing the awkward wave, Harry knew Will had heard her and although she didn’t want to come across as being desperate she needed to talk to him, he’d even said he would in his note ”Will please, I just want to talk” she called wishing that the dec was still empty so there wasn’t anyone around to witness what was going on, with her only hope being that everyone would be too busy to notice.

 Meari smiled at Harry and gave her a nod, Meari was trying to stay out of the way of the ground crews, she would say to Will, " I am assuming things are not good between you two Will, if you need a few moments go talk to her before jump off you will both be in a better mindset."

In reply to Henry Christie (msg # 985):

"As unbelievable as it may sound a family from the Civie section found it and they thought it was some sort of exotic bird, but as you can see it's a young pirloc where the family even acquired such a creature is beyond me"

He then fed another piece of meat to the creature, "Pirlocs are magnificent creatures but untrained they can be rather dangerous but I'm one of the very few people in existence that knows how to train them and would like the opportunity to do so with your help of course"

 Will pointed to the   corner if ftom of B Flights  berth near the   static  field and started to  walk over   , waving off  the Pulse  rifle.

 ..not  allowed to use  one  yet..

..........

 the    Pirloc  was about is  big as  a Bat.. he  took another  bit of   food  and  gobbled it..

With Will gesturing towards an area near the static field, Harry would drop the brushes she’d been using into the pot of white spirits before moving to meet him feeling more than a little nervous as she tried to keep in mind what Nikki had said and more importantly keep it all together and not start crying ”Hey Will I...um...I just...what...what happened? How did things get so bad?” Harry stammered nervously.

 Meari nodded and understood but she had too offer. She then nodded to Will as he headed over to talk to Harry. She nodded and smiled at Harry and just waited far enough away to give them as much privacy she could.

---->>>>> From the Rec Dec

 Lizzy walked onto the Hanger dec with Izzy, Lizzy knew it was going to be busy it always was right before a jump off. Lizzy smiled at Izzy as they approached her new fighter number 147, Lizzy says," There is my new fighter Izzy, lets go check it out." Lizzy went over to her fighter and then expertly began to go over her fighter and she will explain what she was doing and looking at, that actually helped Lizzy to make sure she got everything saying it out loud just made it easier for her. Lizzy will also ask the grounds crew near her fighter what the status of her fighter was.

<=== Rec Dec

Nikki walked with Lizzy and Izzy to her Mantis.  "I need to ask you two a favor..." she started I got into a bit of trouble and when I have a down day I'm going to be restricted to quarters and since that does not apply to Haley...I was wondering if you wouldn't mind watching her"  the ground crew brought the belts and armorments to load.  She grabbed one of the ammo belts

 Will gave her  a soft  , sad  smile,..I.. i was out of my depth.... This ..this whole thing? his arm  waves to the   ceiling of the hanger Dec, as he looks up.

  ..this is me?....It means   alot.....  he looks down at the  Dec , then up at her,

 seeing you disrespect the Admiral during Pregame?... not seeing to care  about send off?...Making me  feel worthless when i get wounded because  i can't...'take care of you'....  there are other little things... the  reporter thing, get wired out  every time   something  bums you out?.. I mean?... Abby?.. you didn't even know she was alive, until a few months ago?....

 ..your  flight mates?.....you..either  can't  see, or don't give one damn, that we are a family...yeah.. don't laugh.. there folks i don't like, but i'll stand  next to them in a crater  with  Largans bearing down on us...

 I tried...i did...no matter how  bad  i felt, i tried...but.. the Ball thing? That was it...

 ...I feel bad enough  about getting a  medal .because i  tripped  and fell...if i would have hit the Bastard  clean.. it would be just one of  a thousand   'heroic  actions' and no one says  a word....and then we go to this ball..right?  And the Lady who is supposed to  give  a damn  about  me, decides its  a waste of time.. and  'what can i do for her'...

 he sighs,..In the end?.... Its my fault. You don't want some one like me?..and  maybe?..its just me being selfish?.. I dunno... but it  was time to step way back....Some  poor bastard  died  on  that walnut... and  I got to have his  quarters....funny huh?.. A real hero is dead, and a  'lucky'  hero  is  alive.

 looking  down the Flight line,I wanted to take to the LC  about it..cause... he sorta  neutral and has done stuff for both of us..but  people  kept  grabbing him for something, so... I just took the  Quarters... I wanted to tell you, but you  weren't there.., and   i waited  for a bit, but you didn't come back , until it was  duty  time.... its no where near how i wanted to handle it..but that seems the way things have been shaking out for me, this last month or two.

Henry came and looked at the pirloc.

"Well, I'd love to learn how to train a pirloc. I've just about got the hang of largs now. What can I do to help?"

Zob glanced back at the creature, "It's a predator so needs a good supply of meat, as it gets older and bigger it will need to learn to hunt..." Zob began to mumble off lost in thought.

"Sorry about that also I shall have to teach you it's language and that is gonna be very hard but not impossible, for now we should get the creature moved off the hanger dec and down to the zoo, we can continue discussion about it after the engagement"

Henry was surprised.

"It speaks? How sentient is it?"

He glanced at Val, sharing the excitement.

"Come on, this way."

He led the way to the zoo, seeing as that is what Zobaich had requested.

  Captain Morris   was hobbling across the   dec   as he  strapped on his   chest plate of his  light boarding armor. an orderly   followed with  a Helmet and  a  ESN  Pulse rifle.

 He stopped at  Shadow   figthers...you going to be alright out there, Kray?

 Yeah?..its  stiff  a bit, but i have  two more  hours  to work  that out, had   i use  my hands   more then my shoulders anyway

 I am at a lost  of what to  do with the pool pilots?

 Shadow looked  in the general direction of the  Pool  area, that he couldn't see  from his  flight line., he    stopped his loading  and    fastened   to troublesome  strap on the Left side of   Captain  Morris's  armor,  The captain gave a  small smiled, took his head gear and weapon from the orderly and    sent him off...

 well? they all have  1 kill each.. i don't know if its  a real kill or drone kill..i don't know, they all have decent  flight hours  logged.. So..just pick Four.. Have them  as ready, and slap a number on thier tails... if they come back and we lose some one, they can take the place of  whomever we lose.... I'd  keep them around the Hermes though. I don't see any of them as hard core pilots  yet...they have to prove that to me

........

  The Admiral walked   down the  ramp way with  Hennings , Bale   and Roles, they  all had Light Boarding Armor  on, and carrying Pulse   rifles  , except   Admiral hack  who had   a german style SMG  with a back of  6  mags   over his shoudler

  Beth was have in  light  armor,  as she directed  people setting up the  Vid screens , in thier practiced , expedient manner.

  Beth   was  on the scaffold,..chatter  coming in from the sections..   Delta two is to our  Starboard,,,  Delta    3 has the left  flank...Delta  4  has the right   Flank... The
 Support ships  are  Just  starting thier  190... the Hyrians     are sailing over Top,
 they look like the Delta Fleet, except...smaller?

 ..Unden's Promise  is  still with us... But   there  are  Verian  vessels under the commander  Of Udenese and Calimate Officers,  swinging   around   'the back door"  to  Rossuo. They  report no activity , thus far  in  The Deep...

 The Admiral was standing at the  bottom, to stay out of Beth's way as set up continued.. I want to  know  updates  as they come in... let me know  about the Burians...

 Hennings  looked up at the Countdown clock..1:26:09 counting.Can we stop them ?

 Hack took a water  from Sneak and Haley  as they helped set up the sandwich and drink area..Us?.. no.... If they would try and  capture the Ark?.. maybe... but they won't..they'll blow them out of The Black, just so everyone knows  we failed to protect them.... The Burians?...  The Burians  are going to get  hit hard...., if they can slow them down... every second gets them a few  hundred miles closer to  Bura.....when we get with in contact range,  I may send   Delta  4 over  ..but I am afraid    it will just be clean up at that point..

 .............

 The Healthy Iron Guard   entered  the Shuttle area.3 of them... Froth and O'day  where dressed  and ready, but  they would assume they would be left behind.

 Nifty was getting help  my a Burian archer  to get his  weapon and ammo into  his 'nest in the  rafters... he  would  be hauled up on a  pulley, to settle in.

 other Troopers  began to    flow  down the  ramp way  following the 'walk only'  to stay out of the  way of   hover harts,  small hweeled tractors  and   scores of    grounds  crew and Piltos   who  were  warming over  fighters  like  ants  at a Pic nic...near the starboard board   wall the   4  poll aircraft had  a small  set of  ground crew   workigngon them.. the  6 piltos   were all dressed and  ready  as they watchedOnly the  darkskinned  Florian Corbin, checked the  instruments  and such on one of the pool aircraft.

  LT Cross  came down in a Hover chair, Stefi was  with him with the 'battle ready' list...Cross stopped and looked at Shadow  who had  just finished talking to   Captain Morris, as the  Captain  hobbled away towards  the Pool craft area.....how does he get to fly?

 Stefi waved  Cross forward,first of all?..He's the LC.. the Wing Commander  of the Hermes  and the whole damn fleet.... 2nd?.. he has a  high pain threshold. And third... he would have to be in a Bag, for the Admiral not to send him out..

 they continued to the Command  area..

<<<<<<<<<<From the Rec Dec

Billie headed to where her bird sat and first checked on whatever supplies were there and then moved on to load her belts, wanting everything to be ready before she headed back to her quarters to grab the rest of her gear.

    Admiral   Hack called Shadow and Roy over to the scaffold,   as they and the broad watched  the ongoing   chase. The Admiral asked  for    Beth to Open all COMs...and when it was ready...

  ..This is Admiral hack of the  ESN/APF   delta Fleet.... Roussian veesesl  You will strike you colors and surrender.. or you will die....... or.. you  may put up surrender Lights, and with drawn from the field....... continue on this course of action, and Your Home world  will pay the biggest price  i have  yet to level on any  of those who  attacked APF citizens...

    There was no answer  for a bit, until a crackle of  a COM came over All COMs,..This is  Captain  Ves-Noe of the Hunter attack  squadron  #6... I spit in your face, Admiral Hack...  we are  watchign Burians  die   by the dozens.... and when the Godlen Fools  reach us, we will take many of them with us!  By the Time, you  are Able to   reach  Roussa... we would be ready for you...

 ..You know?.... beth's Bouys can  scramble thier  COMS.... it might  give them Pause to see the Delta Fleet and where it is?... they won't be able to   contact thier homeworld, and we are out of range of  Roussa scans  for another..what?  45  minutes?...let them see us?... fuck with thier COMs.... and  them let the m decide...

 Everyone Looked at Shadow.. Shadow shrugged and pointed at Beth...Beth said,I can do it?.... but... once we show  ourselves, we'll have to   either  , stay that way, or  cover  up again with in..maybe..10 minutes?...

 Hack  Nods to   Beth ..do it...

Already Done....  hse pointed to slides and  toggles    rapidly   explaining what she wanted  orria  to  do.. Shade  was  tapping  wildly  on  another set of Vidboards.

 ... Roussian  Hunters.... check this out....

Harry would quietly wait until Will had finished speaking before softly replying in a downcast voice "you're right, I don't care about send off...because not caring is the only way I can cope, I don't learn their names, I don't even talk to them because I know that most of them will be dead by the end of their first engagement and the last thing I need is being able to put names and faces to the screaming voices I hear over my comms as they die, I can't even look at my dress uniform anymore because every time I do I just see those empty bags and wonder how long until one those bags will have mine, or the name of someone I care about written upon them, and before you say anything, no, I don't toast them either because I was always taught that making a toast with water was bad luck and disrespectful" Harry explained, hoping that Will would understand why toasting with alcohol wasn't an option for her "...but it's not just the dead pilots, I'm terrified out of my mind every time you go on a combat jump too, go and ask Lizzy, Nik or the ground crew how many times they've seen me pacing around the hangar dec worrying about whether you've been hurt again, how bad it would be this time around or if you would even come back at all and then to make things worse all you'll talk about is wanting to get healed up as fast as you can so you can go back out there and do it all over again! It's like you're trying to get yourself killed and I can't bare it! you're supposed to be the stable one out of the two of us...you're the one I come to when I'm struggling to cope with it all, and yeah I'll admit that's been a lot as of late...but ever since you got that medal you just don't seem to have any time for me anymore...I hate American Football Will, it bores me to tears, but I went to that game because you asked me and because I wanted to keep you company...instead I found myself all alone in a room full of strangers and other than the toy maker not one person spoke to me, they didn't even ask me my name, they just took their pictures and walked away...in the end I put my headphones on and tried to escape into my music for a little while just to get away from it all...I haven't had to do that since I was fifteen...and then I had that disaster of a Delta night during which I was shot and you didn't even ask how I was, which considering the number of times I'd come running to your bed side and pleading with Med techs to let me see you really hurt! So yes I asked if you were able to spend any time with me which considering I'd pretty much spent the entire first day of my shore leave on my own I didn't think was too much to ask for, but you went off in a huff and then bloody Cora and Ellen laid into me yet again and...and...and I'm bloody crying again!" she said frantically scrubbing at her eyes with the heel of her hand, angry with herself for bursting into tears in front of him and the entire hangar dec, with it taking all of her will power not to run away and hide, knowing how pathetic she must be looking, the epitome of the jilted lover.

It would take her a little bit to regain some measure of control and even then she would look down at his boots in an attempt to hide her red rimmed eyes and the tears running down her cheeks "...They're always making digs at me and I can't even fight back because they're you're friends so I have to just sit there and take it as they pass judgement on me over and over again whilst they flutter their eyelashes and flirt with you like I'm not even there...so yeah...I snapped...I knew I couldn't compete with them...I'm not pretty like they are, and we both know that I look lousy in a dress so I left...figured you'd far rather have a pair of pretty girls hanging on your arms whilst you spoke to the suits than a tomboy...and seeing as you wrote that note I guess I was right? Do you know how much finding that note hurt? It made me feel like something you'd scraped from the underside of your boot...You were the one person I thought I could actually trust to be there for me and you didn't even talk to me...you just left...do you not realise how hard it is for me to put my trust in anyone?...I guess it's the whole reason I don't see the Hermes as one big family like you do..."

   Will watched her, he loked  overly sad  as he looked throught eh static  field once,  turning  back as he composed himself  to listen as he watched  and listened.

 ..you left..right?... and you didn't come back.... I waited in your quarters,,and you weren't  there, i had to go  on duty? so the note was  the only recourse.

      I failed, right?  I thought i would help you, make you happy. bring you into the family as it were? But you didn't like this person, hated that person, But..didn't seem to have problems  with Lizzy... right?

 ... Shadow said, this Medal will test us...test me... he was right... I don't know  how he does it   and people like  The Admiral.... how they keep it together. But...well..Its part of the job....part of the war... he  just trailed off.

 ..I did not mean, to hurt you. None of that matters , if it did hurt you...then its  another thing   i failed. I figure a Note was better then you wondering what happened...

  ..the horns  are starting..the clock is starting..you take care of yourself and your wingman,,and come back... There are alot  of people to trust...it doesn't mattter, unless you trust firts.

Nikki finished loading her ammo, rechecking it to make sure it was right.  she looked over at Lizzy "I'm gonna go get ready and then be back" she stated and did a jog to the lift.  It would only be a few minutes to get ready and she'd be back.  She was fully combat dressed in her armor and flight suit.  She stopped only long enough to give Haley and Roll a hug and kiss each.

---> Rec Dec

Following Lizzy down from the rec dec, Izzy would quietly watch and listen as Lizzy ran through all of the checks for her fighter along with any tweaks or maintenance she needed to perform to get it working just right. Smiling as Nikki walked up to them Izzy would then listen as the other woman asked if they could look after Haley as she something to take care of, with Izzy turning to look at Lizzy to see what she wanted to do, after all they were her quarters and she didn't want to impose by agreeing to anything on Lizzy's behalf. All the while this was going on Izzy would keep half an eye out for either a message from Roy or for the man himself, wanting to if not get everything sorted out to at least figure out where she should be during the upcoming engagement with the Roussians.

As Will made his response Harry would simply give a sad and rather tearful shake of her head "I was at the beach pretty much all day and I was at the LC's party nearly all of the previous night...these are not new problems...you could have talked to me, instead you dumped me with a note...and I was happy with you, you used to make me feel safe or at least you did before your every waking moment was focussed on preparing for the next jump off and speaking to suits that don't give a flying about us...as for Lizzy, she showed an interest in me, that's all but even she let me down in the end, and I've since learned that family isn't to be depended on either" she quietly said, wondering if perhaps she'd made a mistake in leaving Lizzy and whether things would have worked out this way if she'd chosen differently. But sadly that ship had well and truly sailed, leaving her completely adrift and with no coastline in sight.

At his mention of the horn and getting ready for battle Harry would give a single humourless laugh before responded "Yeah...well...I doubt I'll be coming back this time around...I haven't slept in two days straight, I've lost my good luck charm, my fighter is fresh out of the box and I have a wing that is as green as grass, but maybe that's for the best...I think I'll just go and finish my nose art, that way they'll know who they've shot down" she said in a fatalist whisper before turning to head back to her berth.

 Lizzy smiled at Nikki when she asked her too watch Haley, of course the answer was yes, she just smiled at Izzy and said," Of course we would love to watch Haley, she is amazing." Lizzy smiled from the look and smile she got from Izzy that she was happy to watch Haley with her.

 Then Nikki said she was going to get ready, Lizzy replied," Ok Nikki when you get back I will go and change." Lizzy smiled and looked at Izzy after Nikki left and asked," You are ok with watching Haley together?" Lizzy asked her.

As Nikki returned she nodded "Yeah, I just don't exactly know what day it'll happen.  Better go get readied. she gestured for her to go change.  she went and climbed in to go through her check list for take off.  She'd know after launching she'd have to do a few practice shots.  Making sure the thing was operational.

Haley helped dole out some sandwiches and water to those wanting them.

   As  Harry turned away, Will gave a  shrug,..I'm a trooper.. I'm supposed to be getting ready for 'the next  Jump off '..not that it  seems like i am  ever  ready for one.... and if you were   at the parties...and if you were at those places... why didn't  you pop up?.... I understand, it isn't convenient   and all that..but..its the way of it , i suppose..

 At let words of dooms, he   shakes his hea d  with a turn,..I'll see  if  i can get a hold of the LC.... he can't  send you up like  this.... and he started   out  down the  line  towards the Bow   so he  could turn  past the Felrites flight line to hunt  down the LC.

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

   The people watched  and Listen to   the cross  talk at the scaffolding.... it  didn't look good.... it didn't look good  at all

   Cora , Ellen, Scarlett, Maria  and  Lippen stood    near the shuttles, everyone talkign about  who they think will get in on the Jump offs.. The   New   Everest folks  were tryign to  buckle on thier   armor,  Nagy was helping  some, Remi  from the  was helping others.. the  3 Iron Guard   folks were there, who were healthy along with  Felrites, angels  and   what was left  of Burians and Scots Morgan Kira where there while the other Member of thie r team   was  makign sure the Mechs   were loaded.

 Stefi stopped  at  The Admiral...she handed him her Vid Board.....LT Cross is not  Jumping off.. Neither   should Froth or  O'day.. Nifty  shouldn't leave the ship..i can't  find him to tell him...

 Jax  pointed up to the rafters...

 She looked up  and swore,..he shouldn't be up there   either

 Hack gave a  shrug,..he's up there now?... he can do more damage up there  , then he can  down here..

 ..And?  Shadow shouldn't go?

 He's not on your list?

 His shoulder  is  packed  with Foam....

  The Admiral looked up  at Shadow...well , Son?

 .. its  my left shoudler.. I'm  right handed... Unless  a Roussian wants to arm wrestle?... I shoudl be good

  Handing the Vid Board  back  to Stefi  The Admrial said,..he's not on the list....

 would you let any other piltos  take off  with that wound?

 ..He's  not  'any other Pilot'...

 Shadow  grinned at  Stefi...

 ..you get shot up?  You better  Die!..cause  i'll make fixing you my personal  torture goal...

 So?.. you're saying it will be  like every other  time?

 there was  some laughter  that Stefi shut  down with cold stares ( including  Roles)