Mila saw Shade running about excitedly and deserted Her Human to see what was going on with another of her favourites.

She bounded up to him wagging her tail and put her head on one side.

"Yip?"

 ------->>> from Morris's she'd

 Lizzy was happy Izzy was moving in with her but upset about what they got caught doing. Lizzy really hoped Izzy wasn't too mad at her.

 When she came out of the Shed Meari was towering over a Verian, Lizzy did not want to get involved she was already in enough trouble for one day. Lizzy nodded to Roy and headed for her fighter.

 Once there she gave a quick look over and check and she was happy the way her fighter looked and the condition it was in. She checked her emergency supplies as well

 Once she was done she decided to head to the Rec,Dec after dropping off a few things she got on Uden in her and Izzy's Quarters.

 ---->>>> to Rec Dec via her Quarters.

(( Flex))

 Shade   rubbed Mila's  Head  as he showed her the Pic  Bleeping in a stead   stream with bright green eyes.... If Henry is around, he will show hem and VAl... since they were like a foster   couple to him, in the lab.

 after they saw the Pic, ( with him bleeping a mile a minute )..he  wound run to catch up to  Shadow.

Henry had followed the curious dog, wondering what had caught her attention seeing as she didn't like the hanger dec much and usually stuck very close to him.

"Hello, Shade, what have you got there?"

He looked at the picture, handed it to Val then returned it to Shade.

"Great. No wonder you are excited."

He gave Shade a thumbs up and watched him run off after Shadow, then turned back to Val.

"You want to have kids? Ones of our own, I mean."

He hoped she did.

Roy looked back and forth between the two, with an expression that found the sudden cooperative statements a little conveniently-timed...but nodded.

"That's good, because I have absolutely no time to deal with divided ranks.  You're both here to fight the Demon Empire and their allies, and while you're wearing the Hermes patch, I expect that to take priority over everything else, no matter what kind of bad blood might lay in your past."  There was an absolute finality to the declaration that indicated any problems of the sort would not get much understanding from him.

"Now, carry on."  He gestured for Larry to follow him, and headed for Security.

 Meari took Magin's arm and shook it good, she took her arm tight but not overly tight, she would not cause any pain just a good warrior's shake, but Magin would be able to tell Meari is quite strong. Then she nodded to Magin and says," Well we will see on that, but yes we are both here to kill the Empire." She turns to Roy and says," Yes SM we are good now, just had to clear the air, but we will be fine now. Yes Sm thank you very much." Meari will smile at Larry, and give his head a little rub before he leaves.

 She will then smile again and Magin and says," I am sorry I delayed you but I had to know for myself where you stood, and as long as we know the true enemy we will be fine. Go check in and if you need any help just let me know Magin. " Meari was satisfied that the Verian would be fine, but she decided to keep her close just in case, but she will give Magin a good fighting chance.

 Meari then nodded and headed for the QM Lockers to get the rest of her uniforms and to see if her Kukri blades where in.


--->>>>> to QM Lockers

Shadow from Rec Dec <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

 exiting the  elevator,  they walked to the   Flight line.. he  shook his head and said,as much as   some of my ground crew  would enjoy the show?.. I can't have you  climbing into a fighter with that skirt..go to the QMs.. have them give you an eviro suit  and a Helmet..I'll wait here...

 Shadow shook his eha d as he sat down and began loading a Belt.  Argie  came over,we got them all loaded for you LC?

 thanks Argie, I just want  to have something to do until the reporter is ready....gods be damn joke is what this is....

 argie  Just Nodded and sat on a  can  as he   loaded another  belt.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:20, Wed 25 Mar 2020.

   about  15 Minutes later, Shadow and Argie , each loaded  two Belts they were about to  start on a there, but a Perplexed  QM clerk came around the end of the Flight line  with  a Crying Wendy.

   Wendy walked oddly in  the   Light  boarding armor  Boards... she  had the   Enviro suit on and  carried  the boarding armor.

   Argie cleared the   cansa  away  and  began Hanging the   loaded Belts   on the  'walls' o f the   Fighter's berth .

 ..what the 9 hells is she  crying about!

 The Clerk looked at the stern Visage  of the LC.. and   tried to speak,  , but a raised   ebrow and  half smile , got her to speak,,softly..

 ..LC?... She complained the  whole time.... The suit  fits her like a  glove, the boot  are perfect with  the feet of the suit?... and the  armor ..well..it's great.. Sir?..its one of the best fits  we  ever  made?

 The  eyes  shifted without the head  moving..hands on each of his hips...put the gods  be damned  armor on... and..something for you to think about.. I read the COM word  for  word, that says  you have  to do with me...no where...  his   Voice  then  shouted,..NO WHERE... does it  say you have to be alive!

   Wendy looked shocked.. she was  about to burst into  tears again, Until Shadow pointed  a finger  at her, and her mouth shut... her  body  shook as she   tried to put  the  armor on.. The Clerk was going to help and  said,

 ..NO!..PO?  You did good, very good.. but she has to learn to dress herself..right?.. go back to the cage....Thanks you..

 The woman nodded rapidly, but   was only one step around the  flight line, when she broke into a full sprint to the QM's  cage.

 ..I don't know how to do any of this!... Wendy slobbered out.

  Shadow  raised himself up on this fighter's wing....sure you do?  Your   a Gods  be damned  Reporter.. you know every  thing..how we should have done  something..how we shouldn't have done something..why we should do something..why we shoudln't  do something..right.... But I am Going to  tell you this..Straight up.... You  back seat drive while we're in the Fight... and  I'll  throw you bout the static  field as  far as  I can..then shoot you  as you tumble  in space...

 The LC stood to go and open his  Cockpit.. Argie  watched  the   woman struggle with the armor, Argie   would point to were to pull something  up or  settle  something  in..

 ..he won't  do that...right?

 Argie smiled and  chuckled.....no , Ma'am...everyone knows the LC can't shoot...

 she started  dumbfounded at Argie as he walked away.

 when she  finally got  ready,   she climbed up..awkwardly.. on the wing and  Shadow  showed the    Jump seat..it was shifted, slight  to the right of the Pilot's seat..   He waved  , impatiently for her to get in... then she   brought up he hand held   CAM...

 Shadow  Got in  and   closed the cock pit... Wendy Gasped ..he hit a button and the 'smoke' cleared... the  Metaglass  'smokes' itself  when the  light is too bright.....Just enough to take away Glare  so we  don't get jumped from ;out of the sun'

 ..you'll have  a wider   view to the starboard , then you will to the port.. You'll have no view  of   the rear..and  be thankful.. the engineers  added   armor   on the back part of the Cockpit   to save us from having headless pilots, when someone gets on our 6....

 Now there is  4  things that happen to a Fighter   after a Jump off... 1.. you get to come home..Yay!...2... You get  shot up so bad, you have to land on a ship..any ship.... 3.. You have to Pod  out ..and 4?.. You get turned into a BAll of fire....

 If  we POD out in space.. we have to hope  a Tender, or shuttle   finds  us..or this   giant football we're  sitting in, will be our  Coffin when  Life support  gives out.... If  we POD out  planetside.. I have to open that   small cargo   hatch on the outside.. I have   weapon, some ammo, a med tech kit and  some  rations.. and then we got to get the 9 hells away from the POD before bad  guys come..cause.. i have never met a Bad  guy who likes pilots...

 ..You...You ..meet many..bad Guys....

 lots of them.. a whole Lot..but..I only meet them once...

 she nods  as  she  sniffs,because  you  run away!...

 ..because  i make them dead... Now?.. I want you to go to your   Quarters.. and i want you to practice  putting that  outfit on , until you can do it in the pitch dark.... and make damn sure you get a side arm..

 the Cockpit  popped, Shadow got Out , giving her a HAnd out of the  cockpit...its  awful tight back there.

 ..Its meant for us to land, and pick up a down  pilot or  trapped troopers... we are then supposed to fly them to a safe area  and   drop them off...and? go back  and get more  if we have to...its not meant   to 'share' for a whole damn battle..

 ..Now   Go do what in said... and  take your airsickness pills  before  Jump off...

 Morris  was  leading against one of the bars  that had the canvas  around Shadow's  aircraft...he watched the sniffing   Reporter   carry her old  clothing    as she tried to walk in the armor  and head to the  lifts.

 ..I say..Old Bean?..  A bit  rough  on the women, eh?..

 name one reporter, who has been nice to me, ...or the fleet...Sir?

 Morris  puffed his pipe,..still, you could be a good chap. Take it all and  stride and all that rot?

 Maybe, Captain Morris , Sir?... But.. i'm about all out of 'strides"

  The CAptain smiled   a bit between Puffs,..carry on, There's a Good Lad..off you go..big day tomorrow and all that...

 Shadow gace  a sharp salute  and went on his way, Argie looked at CAptain Morris and shrugged.....I wouldn't want to be no Verian tomorrow...

 ..Quite..Quite, Chief.. carry on... and Morris   walked to the static  field to watch the  ships he  could see out the port side of The Hermes... he smiled a bit as he puffed..it never  failed to Amaze him, the power of the Delta Fleet.

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

She stepped out of the elevator accidentally bumping into the blubbering reporter. Billie gasped loudly and froze in place, her breath caught in her throat as all senses overwhelmed her. Intense pain coursed through her and it took several moments for her to recover since it wasn't expected. Once she gathered her senses and did several deep breaths she headed further into the hanger, unsure on who she should talk to about her fighter.

  Shadow was   walking around the end of the Flight line , he saw Billie  coming  down,

  ..You coming down to check on your Bird?

 some other Pilots, Waggles, He-La  and DR-No and  Brivet were  walking up from having checked thier birds and loaded  some Belts.

Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, Billie nodded. "Yeah...figured I should know instead of waiting till the last...minute..." Her gaze was immediately pulled to what she could see of the Black from her position. Biting her bottom lip, she looked back to Shadow, reaching up to wipe a smudge from her goggles.

 He Motioned to the   shed  and  Pointed up  at two  boards  that  Hung on the wall facing the flight lines..

 ..  check these boaders... One is the Kill list... you get kills and you live..your  name stays on the board, you get killed or transfer out.. you get archived.... The  second one   is  the Flight  Roster.. I tell  CAptain Morris  who i think should go where..  he takes  my Information into account  and......

 his voice  trailed off,...well?..It appears you are in my flight?.. I wanted you in Howe's  or Foster's  because they see alot  more ground support.  Frans  and Steele  see more   fighter to the fighter stuff.. the rest of us  do Both.. except teh Felrites.. they are  always  top cover looking  for Kills.. if you ever  see  Felrites   come in for  ground support.. that means  there  aren't gonna be alot of bad  guys left.. the Felrites
 were  strafe  their dogs!

 ..anyway.. your  Number 156... that should be   right around the corner here.   as they waled  around to the first flight line, Shadow whistled  for Argie  who came running down...

 ..whatcha need  LC?

  156   ready?

 all accept the Belts.. we...

 ..get the ones you and I loaded...

 ..already Done... he  took off  calling for one of his crew members  to help him with the Belts.

 alot of us   load our  own  37MM  rounds...you do that, you know every round is clean , no bent ones..I'm sure you saw the Vids  of Hammer's getting the  Nose Blown off bu a  jammed  round    and the next one slams into it...if you try to race the clock..a God pilot can load  a belt in about 3 minute..maybe  less once your hands  get used to the feel and  heft of the rounds...Sometimes, you'll pull duty on the hanger Dec.. , it helps kill time..

 Pointing  to the  line of  fighters  he  said,..the first one's mine.. Then Flores..Kat..Harry.. Higgins You... and Raven will be flying.. Teela's  bird  is  on hold as she is   ill.  Frans has A  flight...Steele has C flight..Howe has   D..Fitz has
 E.. Foster has  M... He-La  has  G.. and the  Felrites  are all in F flight...you see some folks have nose art?.. you get  5 kills, your'er  an ace.. you get to pick nose art... and you get decals for your kills...no matter how many you get.. and Little   'Gs  for ground
 targets like  armor, or  installions .. Captain Morris  reviews  all the footage.. he confirms the kills...no confirmation..no kill..even if you 'saw it with your own eyes"..Captain Morris is God , when it comes to that.

She listened quietly as Shadow gave her the run down though she stared at her own fighter. Slowly she took a few steps towards the beautiful machine, reaching out and letting her fingers lightly run along the body. “It’s beautiful...and...I won’t get in trouble for using this one.” She seemed giddy, that excitement clear. "You will show me?" she asked, referring to the belts.

  SHadow nodded, he  climbed up  opened the cowling... Argie got the other  side.....this is  glosses  over in training..by every pilot of mine know show ot lard there belts.... when we are on Vera.. and you  run out of HArd Ammo..you can still fight with  your Pulse guns..but hard Ammo kills everything...Now.. take this end.. and watch  Argie.. and  you feed your's in  like his.. then you have  to  go back and forth..like..i dunno?  Cake batter?  so the  belts  can come up as the feed  pulls them.. OK Argie,,show her...

 Shadow    watched   as the two fed  the   first ling into the mechinism.. Argie   spoke softly , but firmly as to  what to do..

 when the Belts  were loaded and  stacked , the cowlings  were closed  and locked.. he    sent Argie  for three  more  belts,  two of the Ground Crew  cam over with three Crates  of 37MM ammo
 Shadow      kicked  a   Can over to  her  while  Argie  got one from A flight.. all three sat down..one can in the  Middle.

 ..Loading?  Looks simple? But it isn;t.. you pick  a round up that looks  like this.. he reached into the  'dud' can and  the  37 MM was bent  a bit....it can cause a  Jam.. or this.... he fishes around and  pulls one out that the shell was a bit wide and the  bullet was  seated oddly..

 ..Yeah?.. sure..Argie  and the other  Crew chiefs  can load them.. and you'd be 99% safe, I say 99 % because people doe on the hanger  dec too..so they have new  guys they have to train....WWI pilots  did this... and the good ones lived alot longer, because they did... You know..every damn one of these rounds  are going to be coming out of that Muzzle channel and going to  kill some Empire bastard..or?  if you're luck..a bunch of them....its  a bit more satisfying, that that you loaded that round yourself... and ?  besides that..  the ground crew can work on other stuff , rather then loading belts...

  Amen to that LC..Amen to that!

She watched carefully, not paying attention to the words being used but more to the feel of it, of how the objects went together and the visual that they presented. “I don’t mind learning any of this…I…want what is best for her…” she said as she sat, taking a belt. “It seems logical…especially when you are bonded to it…you want to ensure that was goes in…and what comes out is the best quality…otherwise you compromise your bird and potentially put yourself and others at risk.” When she started loading the belt, her movements were a little awkward and slow as she tried to adjust to the movement and block out the pain, focusing on that sensation she got being so close to the black. As the movements became more natural, she sped up a bit, the tip of her tongue curling upward at the left corner of her lips, eyes scanning each bullet for perfection before loading it up.

   The Belts Loaded.. Argie  would take them to hang them up....now?    the rest  is you and your bird?  Sit in her, get a feel for the controls.... frans  and I have Master  screens... we can see  when your  ride  has a problem..and..if something happens    we can tell you  what to do..80% of the time   its us  telling you to come home and land the aircraft... get to know the   controls  so you can  make  changes  while your in a furball with out having to look at the console .. it might not seem like much.. but a blink of  an eye can ruin your whole day..

   he  taps  on a  door just behind the pilot's seat on the   port side.as you know?  that's  your storage compartment.. you need to put you 'long arm' in there..  a few MAgs   for ti, a med Kit..a T  rope and Rations  , If you have to Pod out in atmo, your grab your gear and start heading to where you think our   lines are..that's what the Tunnel Runs  are  for... if you survive   Vear.. you'll get to   see a Tunnel run...

“I don’t have to look at the controls…it comes naturally,” she smirked, quickly climbing into the cockpit. “I frustrated my instructors because of it…terrible with terms…but always in the top with the simulators.” A part of her missed those looks from her teachers and how they always just tried to say it was luck. Thing is, it wasn’t for a lack of trying…she would stay up late studying just terminology alone but it just never stuck. Her instinct guided her and she trusted that over everything else. She sat there, enjoying the feel, a nostalgic feeling welling up within. “How come my flight got changed?” she asked curiously, since he seemed surprised by it.

  Shadow snorted  a bit,..That might have got you here..But there may be  a  time when one of  us asks  for a read out from a certain gauge  or tell you to hit  this   button or that toggle.

 A good pilot can hit those   instruments  with out looking... a great one, knows what the  9 hells they are. there was a bit of Sternness in his voice. But it was changed  as  she asked her question.

   I wanted you in wanted of the ' ground support primary ' flights. Though i  don't  think  the Verian Pilots  are  as good  as  us, they are sure to be m at  least as good, as  our  fledglings.... I also take  rookies in my flight,  to try to keep them alive  a bit longer, but in  this instance  i though  you  shooting up people on the ground   would   be better then  flying with me.

 He Pointed  with his chin, to Captain Morris who was looking out at  what would be a  small part of the Delta  fleet.

 Captain Morris, also flet the  the Pilot he traded off, might be better off as  ground support Primary..What we  are goign to do?.. if strafe  and   meet any  enemy fighters  trying to  do the same thing... The GSP will  count  on us to hlep the,.. and the   Aircover will take  care  of   Fighters  that are sent out to stop us....  The Skies  will be flat out  dark. with Fighters   and drop ships... The good thing... on your  screen... Only bad guys  show up... a trick  from LT Morrow.. except  for Frans  and Me...and   the WCs of the  other ships we  see everyone... we'll she  Red for   the bad guys... we'll see  Green for   anyone on our  side.. those  greens  can  turn orange... then purple... if i see your  Dot  turn purple.. then you  get the order to   either POD out and or go home.... if you are orange,  You'll get a COM  asking  what's wrong.. and..you'll have to decide  how bad your  damage is.. and  act accordingly...

 ..be a damn good time to start learning some names...

  The squawk  went off  calling  people to the war room.....well?  That's me...  get some rest..maybe  check out  your  console...  He started   walking and saw   Morris    moving   as fast as he  was  able  with his Cane.. Shadow waited  for  Him, Rivets came up from the far end , where the QM's cage was.

 The three walked  together   as they saw   Lyri and Beth step out of the  Sec    and wait  at the elevators..

As Shadow spoke, Billie's jaw clenched that sudden nostalgia wearing off and she remained silent. It was just like dealing with her teachers and she sighed when he had to leave. "Once again, I will never be a great pilot all because I can't name a stupid button..." she muttered to herself as they left. Apparently, she was the only one who believed in herself and instead of letting those words sink in and destroy her, she vowed to prove everyone wrong. "Don't worry...I'll show everyone what we are capable of...together," she said to her bird, giving it a loving pat. She remained in the cockpit for awhile, just enjoying the feel as she looked out into nothing. After a long while, Billie finally climbed out and headed to the lifts, intent on just going to her room, still a little disheartened but determined none the less.

>>>>>>>>>>> To the Officer's Quarters

  Argie  waved  to Billie  as  she  went  away.  the ground crews  were hard  at work now..loading belts for those who did not 'load their own'.

  checking Skids  rudders    and flaps.. triple checking the cockpit  seals  and making sure   all the   tubings  for   O2  and lube , and the wires  that carried  the power , from the power cells , to the    weapons  and console were are coated  with the  plastic to insure  not  leaks  for frays... they wouldn't  stop a Pulse round  from  taking out the  tubing, but  it would  save against   jagged metal or being   tossed  around.

 Raven came   down to check on  her  fighter, she   shook her  head  seeing she was attached to Shadow's flight. Steele  was taking to her  , until she pushed him away...what is wrong  with you?.. we have a Jump of in..what  18 hours or so...leave me alone, my bird has to be  right!

 Steele  feeling hurt and Embarrassed  moved off to his own  ride.

Ever since getting back Kira had been very diligent about getting all the mechs up to her standards she had spent hours and hours working away with little to no breaks until she finnaly leaned up against a empty crate and sat down exhausted with a hydrospanner in her hand.

     Morgan   walked over   with a  Hot  coffee  and a danish from  Morris's Shed handing it to her. his own danish  held in his  teeth. As she takes  it , he removes  the danish    and says,goign to be a bit more  fun this  tiem around.. We'll be on the ground, and    we know who the bad guys are...

Kira pulled herself up and sat up on the crate and took the offered Danish, "Will have to see what the SM has in store for us during the prep talk tomorrow but it should be pretty straight forward, I expect some serious fighting down there hope Andre and the rest of the crew are ready"

Hanger Dec..Morning of  Vera  Invasion)))))


Roy took an early swing through the hangar deck, Larry at his side as he slowly walked past the shuttles, pondering some of the lineup changes to be made for this go around.  He'd settled on a couple of individuals to handle the other largs...people who'd been on the assault teams for a while and had seen...and maybe even been saved by...Larry in action.  He figured they'd be good choices...familiar with what largs could do, and not unnerved by being around one, plus enough combat experience that they could keep their wigs with the traditional duty of guiding a larg.

He actually expected the largs would largely manage themselves, but he wanted at least one person to keep an eye out for them.  He'd wait until he heard from Henry if any of the lab techs had combat experience...and find out just what it was, if anyone stepped up.  Knowing what he did about the upcoming mission, he also spent some thought on what if anything, to change about what he would carry.  There were a few hours, yet, before it was time to gear up.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:09, Sun 29 Mar 2020.