Upon seeing the shiny new Mantis standing within her berth, Harry would break into a bit of an excited run as she eagerly went to inspect her new ride. After dropping her kit bag onto the dec she would slowly walk around the Mantis; partly to perform a quick visual check and partly to admire it's pristine paint job and metaglass that had yet to sustain the scars brought about by multiple combat jumps.

It was as she was nearing the end of her first pass that she would overhear Brivet's comment, prompting Harry to shoot the woman a frosty look before replying in a cool voice "Yeah, well I wasn't the dumbass that decided to fly in front of the enemies guns instead of shooting it down" before climbing up onto the wing to inspect the cockpit.

 Brivet  laughed,But you were the one that caused  me to do it.... I never  string out my wing man, or go looking  for free kills.... she said   as she went   with the others   as Shadow   and  Roy addressed the   transfers.

 Shadow and  Roy began thier introductions   to the new folks.  It appeared  that some of them  didn't  want to be there, or think they were  'slumming' by being on The Hermes

In reply to hanger Dec (msg # 903):

Melia stepped aboard the Hermes, in a duty uniform. Orria followed in her smaller Yeoman's uniform. She set her bag on the deck and took a deep breath taking in the hanger deck. It was nice to see all the new fighters in their berths. Over to one side Roy and Shadow played with the fresh bodies. They like as not wouldn't last long. She shook her head as she read the look on both faces communicating clearly that they'd gotten another batch of nitwits to fill the ranks... "Come along Orria, let's get home and drop off our things. We'll figure out what to do next. You can talk to the SGT MAJ later. Let him play with his new toys for now."

----Civie Section--->

---->>> From Beaches

 Meari walked onto the Hanger dec from her transport, in her duty uniform and with all her combat gear. She sees the SM and LC dealing with the transfers. Meari then headed for her quarters too stow her gear and then to SEC . Meari will walk through the hanger dec, she sees Harry on her wing, she says," Ens. Lynch I see you got a brand new fighter, and after we get underway if you want to find time for Udenese dual knife fighting, just let me know."

Roy raised an eyebrow in the only gesture of surprise as he turned to look at Este.  "Well, I was considering doing the same.  But as Lt. Este apparently felt like he was too good to participate in the weapon exercise that I ordered...and doesn't have the good sense to shut up and do as he's told, the pilots get to wait until 1000 tomorrow.  The rest of you have two hours to get your gear in your quarters and meet me in the tunnels."  His eyes narrowed as he stepped up to Este.  "You're in a combat unit, now, Lieutenant.  You're going to learn real fast that you may have rank, but that means jack-shit when we're going into combat.  If you're storming the bridge of a Demon cruiser, you'll take orders from whoever is put in charge, because I've got buck privates around here who know more about combat than you think you've ever learned."

He raised his voice again so the whole group--including the pilots--could hear.  "Forget what you've been taught about military protocol.  The Hermes runs as a meritocracy.  You want to be respected?  You earn it, by what you do at every minute and in every situation.  That means officers don't get to rest on their brass while the non-com do the dirty work.  Learn that lesson, and you might just survive.  Ignore that lesson, and if you're lucky, you'll spend the rest if existence tumbling through space in a bodybag."

He nodded his head in the direction of Morris' shack.  "Go check in.  Clock is running...two hours."

”Bullshit! That stupidity is all on you, and you know it!” Harry shouted after Brivet’s retreating form from where she stood on her wing ”...oh and by the way, my wing is on long term sick!” Harry continued before grumbling certain threats and promises beneath her breath as she turned her attention back to her fighters cockpit.

It was as she checking the various instruments that Meari would remind her about the combat training she’d offered her ”Sure, sounds good to me...oh and for the love of Christ, it’s Harry...all that Ensign Lynch crap makes you sound like an FNG” she said from within her cockpit, flashing Meari a quick smile as she does so.

 Meari smiled at Harry and said," Yes we can set up a time, Harry." Meari smiled for real, and said, " It sounds like you have some built up anger as well, I know that feeling I fight the warrior within everyday. Excuse me .. Harry how could you have left your wingman when she was on long term sick. Isnt anyone who you fly with your wingman Harry?"

  Two of Argies  Crew had   been  setting  up the fighters  for thier  new paint   jobs, a Marine  CPL Mike Phips and PO Aggie Mist

 Excuse me , Ma'am?.. you were..and  are listed  as  Ensign Morrsion's  wing until  the  angel gets  back.. Aggie said...

..........

 The Pilots looked at  Shadow   who jerked his ehad towards    Captain Morris's  shed, and they scampere4d away..

 the Troopers looked hard at Estes, and  didn't seem much happier with Roy.

  Shadow  Grins...welocme to the  war, Mr  Estes...hope you enjoy your stay..

 then  moved off  to  the shed   as well.

Roy sighed as the group moved off.  "There's always one..." he muttered.  In every platoon at boot camp, every outfit he'd ever served in...there was one insufferable prick who thought he knew better than everyone else.  They either learned...or they died.  Roy's job, right now, was to try and make sure Estes learned he was not as good as he thought he was.

"Well...hope you'll excuse me.  I have a bunch of new transfers to smoke..."  He grabbed his bag and headed for his quarters.  He had some time, but he wanted to make sure he made an impression.

An hour and forty minutes later, he would be waiting at the tunnels entrance, with full weapons loadout but no armor or additional pack...the only reason he skipped the armor was because he doubted any of the new transfers had theirs yet...

To Tunnels

Hearing the comment about her having built up anger, Harry would rest her arms on the edge the canopy and look down at the Udenese woman “Is that so?” She said in a voice that hinted that Meari needed to be careful where she took that particular line of conversation. It was also at this point that she would question her statement concerning her wing being off sick with one of the ground crew helpfully pointing out that Ensign Morrison was listed as being her wing before she was able to open her mouth “Alright, technically Billie is my wing, but what me and Teela had was amazing, we didn’t even have to speak to know what the other was going to do, now those are some really big shoes to fill and so far everyone else has come up short”

 Aggie nodded,..of Course Ma'am?  and that is  what the LC hopes you will do, is  help  the newer piltos, as you were once helped?...The Angel isn't here.... the others  our.. and if i may,

he voice lowered as she looked around  Mike tried to stop her but she ignored him,I overheard  Captain Morris    put in for  Ensign Brivet's actions in saving yoru life..Ma'am...Trying to scare people away with your anger, will not  work on the Hermes...

 She Looked  to Mike who just rolled his  eyes...then she looked to meari.

Soon Nikki, Mitch, Haley, and Roll were back on Hermes.  A look about told her they had new members and new Mantis craft....well, for some.  'No prob' Nikki thought, she knew the tiny nuances of her old one.  She gave Harry and Meari a wave as they went to collect bags.  Brivet got a wave too after she got the bags for Haley and Roll.

 Meari nodded and replied to Harry," I am sorry Harry if I upset you, I was just asking. I should get to my quarters and check in with SEC, comm me Harry and we will do that training." Meari nods,and waits for Harry's response.

"Don't worry about it, and trust me you'd know if you'd upset me" Harry said, waving off Meari's apology so as to dispel any notion that she'd upset her "I'll see you later Meari" she said to Meari as she turned to head for her quarters before then turning to listen to Aggie who kindly informed her that scaring people off with her anger wouldn't work. Harry would look at the woman for a few moments as if trying to decide if she was naturally optimistic or on something before turning to speak to Mike "she's new here...isn't she?"

 Mike   shook his head,she's been part of   B flight's  crew   since before me?...she..um..likes to keep  people  'imformed'  when they ..um..misremember things. The LC
 says  it keeps people on thier toes...

The 4 were making for the lift when Nikki stopped.  She had waved at Brivet, but that was by B flights area.  Now she looked over at her flight, E flight.  it looked a bit different.  "Daaayyyyy'aaaammmmm!  They look like they're straight out of the box" Her southern accent got a touch heavier.
Haley looked over at the Mantis's "Nikki?  Where's yourns" she asked.
She shrugged "Don't know Punk'in.  Let's go and look" she looked at Roll and Mitch and then all four left their bags a bit out of the way of traffic and moved over to them.  Nikki looked at all the berths and markers underneath.  "This is my berth number, 149. she noted the mark on the hangar deck plating "It looks like , yep ... the number is 149.  Guess I get a new Mantis too.  Cool" she looked over at Mitch and smiled a bit surprised at it.  "Want to check and see if you got a new Torpedo craft?"

 Mitch  smiled  and pointed  down the way  at the end of the Shuttle area of the  Hanger  Dec.

 ..Two of them Unpainted...so?..one of them has to be mine..I guess mine old girl is gonna  serve  Everest now...

  Roll looks at the  aircraft and can see the Felrites who came of leave  crawling all over thier new  Hunters.

  ..the Cat people got   new ones  too...'cept thiers is all painted up...they don't have numbers   yet though..have to have numbers?..that's like your name in the sky?
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:13, Fri 11 Dec 2020.

    Jax  , Sneak and Nfity  came up with Henry , Val  and  Mila and  a bunch of others, most of them from the SEC, Like MAria.

    The Vids   were comign on from the  BU  filling  people in on how the kids were  doign.. the 'feel good  story' of the war so far.

   as they  walked down the ramp,  Sneak  said,,,,They  will be happy, they  will never be 'serted  again....

 Nifty nodded a bit solemn .

 MAria  looked at here,I heard  some   kids  say that?. is that supposed to be  .." deserted"?  I heard some  kids on the beach  say that a few  times...

 Jax  smiles with a quick shake of his head....its 'Stem Speak', we have some  words  of our own like 'bagged'

 Sneak says,..that's when a kid  gets taken by someone  and we can't save them.

 or 'feeden'

 That's when kids  are  given to someone, who is going to  eat them, or send them to be 'eated'

   Jax  shrugs,..and  'serted.... That's when  you think you found  a pack who will stay with you,, and they leave you behind to save themselves ...most kids  only get 'serted once..because   those  people hunting  kids  will take what they can get... lucky ones might get 'serted  two..maybe  three  times?

 Nifty  shoulders his  rifle to  carry his duffle,..happens to little kids the most, because they can't  keep up with the older ones....i was 'serted on Olyumpus?.. Mr Gresh  watched out  for my new pack.. he would bring kids in  who they found  waiting  to be taken..so kids?.. it hits them hard.... they just..give up.

 Sneak  nodded,..Roll was like that, he just gave up?  Jax  found him and snatched him up  for   other GAngers  could   get him.... almost got killed anyway, except  Mr Garrat and  Mr Zob and others  came  . But at elast he would have died with a pack

Harry was only slightly surprised about how long Aggie had been on the ship, after all the Hermes was a big place so it would be very easy for two people working different jobs to never meet one another ”Uh-huh and how does that work out for her?” Harry asked Mike, curious to see how often such a personality trait had landed her on somebody’s bad side.

  Mike smiles   and shrugs,  Argie was leading the rest of the  team towards  the flight line.

  I'd  say pretty damn well, Ma'am... she's still here, alot of others  aren't. All people have   a bag they carry, sooner or later it bursts, if they don't   empty it... People Like her help keep the bags empty.

 he pointes to Argie   as a Hover  cart behind them had  spray takes  and   powerwands.....looks like  we're painting...

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

 Other  Pilots  were excited.. the few  , newer folks who had   thier older air craft, with its   new   wing or  tail or  whatever  needed replaced...soon, the aircraft would all be   ESN  Blue on the  Top, Light blue underneath.

 Rumors of the new aircraft had  updated   powerplants  that might make them a little faster, but no one would be able to know that, until they were flown.

Mila stuck close to Her Human. She'd never liked the Hanger Dec... too noisy, too much going on. Odd, she was OK on a battlefield, which was at least as chaotic, but she had her place there, knew what she needed to do. Here, the noise was oppressive and confusing.

In reply to Harriet Lynch (msg # 924):

Meari nodded at Harry and then headed off, she saw the vids and she saw the tall purple stick figure with the small stick figure and tears rolled down her face even before the name was revealed Meari knew Skiffle drew that and it made Meari happy and sad at the same time.

 Meari then said a Udenese prayer for Skiffle and the rest of the children, my the Galaxy finally smile upon Bura and these children let them have happy lives.

 Meari then continued to her quarters, unless anyone stops her.

---->>>> To Non-Com Quarters

---->>>> From Everest

 Lizzy and Izzy came off the shuttle holding their new fish tank and fish for their quarters. Lizzy smiled and walked, then her eyes looked at the brand new Mantis's, she wondered if she got a new fighter or kept her old one? Lizzy would steer then to look at Lizzy's birth and at her fighter, she was holding Izzy's hand and smiled as they walked towards her berth, number 147.

”Really? Well all I’m going to say is make sure you don’t burst any of those bags as it’s liable to make one hell of a mess” Harry said as she climbed from out of the cockpit and lightly dropped to the deck. Retrieving her bag from where she had left it she would once again sling it over her shoulder as she made ready to leave ”Well guys I’ll leave you to it” she said with a smile before heading for the lifts and then her quarters.

——> Officers Quarters

---> Everest

Having caught one of the last shuttles back to the Hermes, the ride had been a little cramped but nowhere near as bad as she feared it would be, all the same Izzy was relieved to disembark from the shuttle and set foot upon the hangar dec.

With the carrying case containing their newly acquired fish in one hand and Lizzy holding on to the other, she would follow Lizzy as they walked down the flight lines with it clear that her girlfriend wanted to see if she was also going to receive a new fighter. Though judging by the number of shiny new aircraft she was seeing Izzy felt that the odds were pretty good that she would.