(( oneyed Jacks 2nd Battle))

  The   hated   Delta  Fleet pounded the  planet/station again, explosions  from vehicles  or  ammo supplies  added to the damage the Fleet was doing. It seemed they had  experienced gunners..and once  they  found their target..many more   rounds  would hit.. and 'walk' along a prescribed  path the Gunners  wished

  The Troops  were  huddle  inside the  smoking   cities... the  troops  would be coming doon, then it would be a fight to the death....if they couldn't kill the Delta Fleet... they could kill her people.
.....................


 In the   air the last vestiges of the  Empire   air corps    shot through the  vents that had  not been destroyed  by shellign or plasma flow... 2 thousands  aircraft of  every known type in The Empire... already they were being pounced on  by  ESN pilots..... They wanted the Hermes...  Then.. The Hermes aircraft met them....

 Tral 1 was in her glory, she would  lead a wing of  fighters against the ESN scum and thier APF toadies

 She was proud, almost 2000 aircraft in the air, even after that first battle,  she saw the  dors  in the   air, as she pouned her screens, the Vets said   you couldn't get ESN aircraft on your screens..she didn't  Beleive them , until now.

 Aircraft all around  were Vanishing from  sight,, she pushed  her Aircraft harder to get to the  first wave's  contact witht he ESN  fighters.

 SDhe  could see the  ESN CAp ships  pounding the   docks.. and drak shapes of drop ships headed to the  surface.... this angered her... they had no right!... This was thier space.. they were part of the Empire.... the rest are meerly  there to  serve the Empire , however   the Empire had use for them!.. she fired  off  a long shot at  a ESN  fighter that  looked like it was crippled they way it was tryig to fly..but it  was too far out...

 Then she smiled  as three  Fighters  Came  towards her..the Middle One must have  Been  Hit  as it  began to spin...but all she saw then was a  bright spiral of  Pulse and the Flash of a nose  cannon..shw  was vaguely aware  of the  other two fighters  Breaking off... Before  she screms when the first 37 MM hit her  cowling..

    Inside the planet station, troops  were setting up.. the fresh troops   waited  at the   areas that led into the  Main 'floor' or the  world..the  city sprawled out   behind them.. the troops from the surface , retreated into the city to get rest and  food.

 the top two  'farm floor' had troops as well, but not as many as the City floor.

 the two lower floors  where the industry  and  Military held  sway, hand limited   people, as  any intruders  would have to go through the main floor  , to get there.

  An elderly  Elipsian looked at Maris.....never..in the history of my people, has one of our world been invaded..now..because of you and the Demon Fools.. this world may die!

 A Demon in battered Armor sneered at the Elipsian..watch your tongue, Old One...

 why?..what can you do to us, that the  Delta Fleet has not!...,, our  whole fleet, that the Empire has  helped built up..destroyed or captured... our families  at the mercy of the APF jammed in  transports like  the larder ships  you brought here!... Our grandest Admiral, who defeated ..twice..your people, Killed himself   after the shame of his flagship being  captured!

 ..he should have killed himself, to be beaten by...by humans!

 The Old one looked at Maris, then to the Demon general,..they are not like this one..this one..this one is...is...malformed.  And You genral..have been driven from teh filed  2 days in a row!... I am glad you  are alive... so?.. you may see the comign fate of your own home world as that Creature hack and his vermin, crawl all  ove rmy world , and  end it..I pray, the other Elipsian  worlds  see this..and oust your  EDT  traitors, ...They have killed  as,,as surely as the Delta fleet...simply, by leading them here..


a voice broke in the COMs...what of me?

 The Demon  said...leave..you are too valuable to waste..go..listen for the next place   these  human locusts  go...

 I did  want to see my...dear Uncle again... luck was one his  side..he  found me...i should be dead..but i appeared to close...

 ..go..even if you killed another 100  fighters.. this place will still fall....go to the next palce...

 Maris  spoke up...take me with you..i am a pilot!

 ..no....you must stay... General.. Grand Elder.. it has been my honor.. die with honor...

  The  elder grabbed  MAris. despite his   frame, he managed to shake maris  around.. he held  Maris   close to his   face.. the one   eye  shifting a little , back and forth

 hack has spared our  civies.... but only witht he promise that you would be here, to die ... if you think i would  let you go..you are Mad...

 the  Pulse  round blew out the Elder's  back bone, and the  leader felt to the  plating.

what have you done!...you fool... now there is no home of  talkign with Hack

 Maris  was almost hyperventilating,..it went off..i was  scared..I ..I..

 The  Demon slapped   Maris  hard enough to knock him over   the desk...scared of  a 1000 year old  , one eyed creature... I hope  we are both captured... I will beg  Hack for the right to see you die..befoe my time comes

   Inside the  Station,    Empire   regulars as well as  Elipsians  were setting up  weapons.. mostly to cover the entrances to Main  floor of the  Station, 10 Bigger tunnels  lead to the Dcoks8 of them.. three on each of the longer  sides.. 2  each on the ends.

   in the  building that served  as the  central command, the Demon General and MAris  stood on the roof..

  what are they waiting For?..maybe they are changing thier  minds?

 ..I might be able to make them change thier minds if I had you can your staff over?..., but ti would do neither of us  any good... You killed the obly person who might have been able  to borker a  truce...of sorts.... But for everyone iside.. this will end, only one way.... and You..of all of us.. we suffer the most...

 MAris    took a  deep drink of some alien spirit...none of this..none of this shoudl have ever happened.. Damn Hack.....

 The Demon  laughed  as  he poured a drink from the  stand.. snipers  were set all aroudn the perimeter.. they had thier own drinksoof  course , You and GE-FI had nothing to do with this..right?.... His  lust for power..your  lust for his daughter ?... it may have worked..if Hack did not break away from Earth..If Hack did not find a following  among the APF  puppets...but now.. we  stand at the  bottom of the cone.. and the lava   is runnign towards us?... we cannot outrun it.. and there is a chance   we will suffer more  , then  if   we merely wait for it to  sweep over us.....

 I have a Mate on Hel..and two offspring... never..never  have  i had the hint of a thought to  send them away  to die, so I may have another   Man's  love?....It begs  to  tell the story..of which of us  would really be  the Monster here... you...or  I...

 Maris  drank against.. the   Largran  metal hand worked well enough, but it was still hard to handle sometimes...yiou don't understand , you are not human

 ..I have fought on many worlds..boarded  ships..killed and   been wounded... never..have i seen  as many traitors  as i have seen in the Angel and  Human races... I look at Hack.. I studied his  files.. He is  Hard..he is smart, he is ruthless...but..he is fair... and he is loyal to his people...his  mate..and his unifrom... because of this... most  people he serves with are loyal to him... You , could never be the Man he is..and yet you thought you could steal his mate?

 MAris shook his  head,..you?..don't know...

 The Demon waved to the tunnels,Almost 1000 years i have served... I have beaten Angels... Sanri..Occui... Verians treated me like  some  god, because  of the  swath i cut in this sector.....and here  I am....trapped.like a Stem Rat, because  some  pathetic human, lusted  after   an Angel whore.

 Maris   looked coldly at him...I warn you..do not  speak Ill of her.

 ..I do not fear you?... I fear Shadow's Whelp, more then i fear you... I fear those damnable  LArgs... and... right this moment.. I fear The delta Fleet..

    They huddle in the dark.. keeping the barricade  , just in sight.. two snipers  watched  someone  come  down  with a mech near them.

  then they  went  back up.

 the  EDT  troopers  smiled..They drew  straws to see who got the honor  of sending them ESN   bastards to  the 9 hells.

 the Joked about  taking  some souveniers..maybe they would get lucky and find a Bounty target?.. of course.. the ehads might not be in good  enough  shape to  turn in

 one of the snipers was lookign through his  scope.. when he said 'Wait..Something is..."

 and the world ended  the FAksh came  first... then the  roar,, the   the  wave of  Fire  that Hit  them... the surprsie and pain was cut short a few a few of them... one  trooper  tried to get up  on  roasted  legs, as she looked, the little  robot kid was there..and shot her.

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

 the  Gava dropped  when the  Heavy Pulse  nest opened up... but it  didn't last.. they knew they would have someone  come in.. they didn't think there would be this many.. as the  little  creatures  charged   Down on them The one-eyed jacks  saw the  almost invisble forms of the  Naragrans  runnign  dwon the roof  of the Tunnel.. One..was suddenly  caught in a  Web.

 He was Pulled  towards the  Gater-like  Maw and   screamed for help, and he was in side, spolashign in the awfuls   jucie  that sprayed him from  'spinnerets' inside the  flesh pouch... he screamed More  as his   uniform and  skins began  to  melt away  as he  kicks  and splashed...and then  quiet.. as he throat  and face  plopped into the   sloshing  juices, and  was  taken into the  throat..

 weapons and Metal being spit out...

 explosions  were happening   at the  big Entrances to the  City..  The Plasma  attacks  only worked a few times,the   ground forces    had been ready for  traps  and   shelled the openings or  sent in sappers  to make certain no traps  would go off..

 from there place in the    North east section of  the  massive  'city'..and area   as big LA and  New York combined.. they could only see the   'lighting up' to the  far  west and south

 Hover Vans  were droppign like flies as  heavy weapons  or well armed  snipers  began to   target them.

  Hover Vans  around them began to drop , smashing into  Buildings , bodies  falling to thier deaths...

 ..Stop the Apefolk!.... they are  shock troops... look for  more of  those Little  armored things  going out  of that Tunnels..

 In was  at that Moment a  Second trooper  was hit from the street the round  Burst through the  Body of the Elipsian   and   spun, wetly on the  rooftop..

 Maris  crouched a bit...Snipers......good ones.... thay game them good weapons

 The general looked  down to the street with his Bino..the  little tube  humming as the  scope  lengthened  to focus on the Ape folks.. some largrans  had  Foolish  charged..One of the Ape  folk fell, but three largans  were torn to shreds.. 3  more Gunned down.. the Ape Folk would be at the Main door in  5..maybe..9 minutes.

 .. Hack... he is  sitting somewhere..waiting  for the  city to  be well under seige.. then he will come in.. is officers  around him..shoot one of my people and claim he won the battle...  The was a snort

 he  holds out his arms  wide  as he truned to Maris.....Here i stand.. General Kal de Kal.. 2nd family to the western province... Victor  of battles with occui and Sanri..Capture of Angel forces   are listed  in my records.. and here? I will die, inside   a Glorified ration tin... with a coward who sold out his race for  a woman who would not even spit on him...


 Maris   slammed his   cup  down.. he   steadied himself  as he poured another drink..you don't understand... Hack is...

 The General pointed to the street, causing Maris to take  a look as the  phalanx of  Ape folks   charging  up the street.

 The Humans!... The HUmans, got the Apefolk to fight  for them...fight..along side of them..they talk..they got to parties?..for us  they were nothing but fodder..Hack has  won batteles  he has  destroyed Fleets... The Empire   has people whispering his name  like he is some  dark god..... The fleet around this ...this... palce  is lost?... I do not think the  Delta fleet lost a shi.. He has Gava  and Naragran fighting for him..both of those races are used  for  buffet foods, and  Grand Dinners.. Nargran cooked in thier
 Own shells,  and Broke opend  to  scoop bowls of   thier inside out... gava on trays
 with  chefs making the cuts for the diners?

 the  was  a   thud  , the general  turned to see a Van   nosing   down  with the shouts of the ..soon -to -be..dead troopers in it...

 ..make peace with one of your gods, maris..out time is measure in hours...if not minutes..

  The   Explosions  and Screams  were  echoing from below.

  Kal De Kal   checked his   weapon  and  his Sidearm...They are here?... Regardless of what happens to this ration can... We  ..ourselves are doomed... how you wish to  live this  last few Minutes, will be   spread across the Black for  all to see and hear...

  the  heavy weapons Gun turned  inward to the   entry point to the top of the building.  The General  got up and poured a large drink...... to die, with a traitor...a gutless traitor... There  is   no place in the   Warriors Palace  for some one who would   die..in such  a way...regardless of the  swath  i have  cut in my lifetime...

 Maris looked  sad and  scared at the same time...,, this, because the bitch sent  the whelp away?...how...did she know?

  San Diego  SSN ( old ESN) Academy.

    Cadet sat in the   auditorium , 100 of the finest   of this years batch of recruits.  The  Red hats and red sleeves with Midnight Blue  tunics spoke of  'the pride of the SSN... Thier  job , to portect the Sol System, from enemies, including the  ESN Delta Fleet.

   these  cadets.. at least half  headed to be pilots. the rest a mix  between  Ships officers  and Marine Corps 'shave tails'

  They watched the Vids   from the Battle of  the Elipsian plastation ... the  ease in which the ESN took the CAp ships, either capturing or  torching them.. while    fighters    zipped around like hornets  in some  massive  , galactic nest.

 Some Pilots   watched  with eargerness... others watched with worry

  As the  Vid Played. Admiral  Che Guarro.. from Brazil  lectured We  see here.. The ESN   having thier way  with the  pathetic  attempt  of defesne put up by the    Empire... Admiral Hack and His renegades  loot and pillage thier way through The Black , for thier Masters in the APF...

 A Hand raised... Cadet   Finnigan..you have a  question?

 he stood, taking his CAp off  and putting it  under his left arm.Aye  , Sir... The delta Fleet   is  beating the Empire.. that should be a good thing..is it not?.... I do not understand  why the SSN  had thier  conflict   Admiral?

   There was  a  flash of   Shadow and Flores  taking out a pair of   fighters... as the  vid was paused.

   Admiral Guarro  motioned for the Cadet to sit  down......there is some footage  that shows  SSN  officers   taking  part in a Loyalty feast.. we  believe that to  have been  manufactured, to give the  Delta Fleet a reason  to attack  the  SSN  fleet..

another Voice...and the kids in  the cages , that were   larder'  cells?

 again?  that is film  we did not recived from SSN   people..

another Voice  came up..that's because the SSN had its  ass handed to them, no one was left to send the messages?//they lost more ships  in that one Battle then the   Delta Fleet lost in 5 years!

 thare was alot of  laughter  but  Guarro  shouted  for them to shut up...You should all be careful, how you speak.... The SSN was fledging  at that time, we did not have  well trained people..that has  changed.. you all will change  that.. he nodded slowly.....you are dismissed.. hit the Sims, or the   airfield.. we'll continue tomorrow...

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

 Thes cadets   left the  Building, some were ehaded for the ebach... others  to Siims or the airfield..more then a few shouting matches  broke out  as   SSN loyalists argued  with  cadets  who saw a 'clear  picture'.

 Finnigan sat  at a  table  by a  soda  stand, he had a hot dog and a soda, slowly a few folks hit the soada  stand and sat around him, 10 in all...

  The Hotdog  guy came out  brining another tray fo  dogs, , a mexican he smiled  and bobbed his ehad   as he wiped his hands on his   apron as the   Cadets   stacked paper and plastic  creds for Him, he got out his scanned   and   talksed softly..his words  defied  they grin  on his face.

 ..its   getting bad  Hombres... they are stopping shipments  out of the Sol system, using only  for Olympus and the   moon  colonies. There are gods comign in from
 The  APF/ESN..but the prices are high... The Red Angels and EDT are hunting  down any one
 who they think might be anti-EDT..

 Finnigan  nodded...so , what do we  do...


 The Hot  Dog man   swept the creds into his apron pockets  and  placed a blue disc on the table..one  side  had  the ESN emblem on..the other side.. the  Hermes winged foot.....you got to your  quarters, Pack for the  beach..there is a   a charter   boat company.. you all want to go  fishing.... you show  the fisherman with the  necklace of shaks teeth this  coin.... you will all be taken out  for a day of fishing...you will not come back...there will be an explosion... but you will be   one a Submarine headed to Alaska , from there you will be  sent  to a  transport that is delivering good  to mood  base... and  from there.. you will go to Fuji...... if.... you change your mind.. don't  come back to the academy..you will be taken away... you will be tortured,,ad because of it, your famlies will die..and so will mine.. now.. Tell me you want more fries  and I'll  be on my way...

 Finnagan    stood up and  pointed around the table    and the   Hot Dog man bowed a  coupe times and ran to his stand... he brought the fries  back  and the   cadets 'dismissed   him...

 2 hours later  they were on thier way to the   beach.. 30 minutes after they left, dark clad  figures  entered thier  rooms to  wait.

  The submarine  was  already 800 feet and  diving as the Muffled  roar of the    charter vessel echoed through the  water.

 the  10  Cadets   stood there dressed in  bathing  suits and shirts and  surfer shirts. The  3 ship's crew  were dressed in their charter uniforms, and   had    paper cups of  coffee.

  a Blackman in an US Navy  uniform  came up the p-wat from the bow to the Con.. "officer on deck!"

  he waved  at them to be at Ease. You have  been taken   away from the Academy, by the   organization known as 'Lights out"..it is  a Pro-earth...pro APF   group that  focuses on defeating the  Empire,,and..the EDT..Admiral hack... does not like secrets to be Kept  from you...  There  are  Taxi  logs  that indicate that you all went to differant places.. only
  3 of you were  noted  as  'going to the beach'... your classmates  will argue  and tell
  the police...Shore patrol and EDT   units that they saw you 'here'  and they saw  you
 'there'..Vids  will show the Taxis  and can even follow them to the destinations  we have put on the  logs....

 Lt  Hunter... you can take over  from here...

  A Scot  with a scar on his left cheek nodded to the  10 cadets...I am LT  Hunter... ASA  and Lights Out.. i served on the  pride of  the ESN, The  ESN 351 Hermes.... i hadda  come  home to see to the  scum that was taken over the   Isle, an'; it wasn't a grand  time...

 ..but  i tell ye  this right now...10 of ye  don't seem like much...but yer all for   Earth, and  not in the way the EDT is..now?  to cover  yer  deaths, we had  people take clothes from yer hampers... and .. we  kidnapped 4  hard core  SSN  sympathizers.. they  were blown up with the charter boat.. thier bodies and your clothes  will give most folks   the  closure  they need.. but, there's enough  of a Mix up with  your name sand faces being  all over the place, that no one can tell.

 ..so?   we kept  10 of you away from the  SSN and will be sending you to the Fleet..and we got rid  of 4 traitors..not  a bad  days  work.....In Spain.. 7 more  Cadets  were rescued... in Norway  8... in Japan 11... The EDT knows what were doin' an' there's not much they can do about ti.. there are always  dead  sympathizers  with evidence of   people like you...Once you reach the fleet..you will be assigned with your real names ..names that, we hope your parents are proud of...and whether you live or die out there... at least you'll be fighting  the good  fight ...

 one young woman raised her hand...what about  my Boyfirend....

 he'll think you're dead  for a month or so... if you die in battle.. they will all know   when and where you died... if your name gets mentioned in the dispatches. then  people will know where  your  are now..it is hard as it is cruel..but it must bedone... we have   young lads and Lasses in the Carrierstations getting trained...but whenever we can get  good ones , like yourselves, it  could make  all the difference...

 ..now..get into  uniforms  so's you don't get shot  as spies..an' welcome to the ESN

  The ship lifted  off  from Anchorage , one of the 'less cared for' sites on Earth. With out them knowing, the EDT  created a spot  , perfect for   Lights Out  to funnel people through the systems.

 some people signed on as deck hands  on  Yellow Star transports and freighters.. Though it was  strongly rumored  through  Gossip mags and Vids that the owner of the Lines, Emmy.. was  dating  and very Close to Admiral Hennings, it seemed her   transports  didn't  mind where they were going and who they picked up... the good thing was, the   escort of ESN destroyers  once they brought past Pluto's orbit.

 Finnigan looked out through the  window  of the  transports 'rec dec"  One of the women, an Asian Named  Channa Quo,...how  do you think this will trun out for us?

 that's the  question, eh Lass?   we all have   about  30 hours  flight time in Mantis, off world.. but  we are goign to a place  that has lost more pilots then we have seen graduate...80+ ships in the delta fleet.. we're all going to be flying somewhere.

   dis is  true..Ya? But  will be  be the ones dying? It is  sure  they send  people out... They don't be carring  who then send out to fight those creatures   we see on the Vids...Ya?  said the tall Blonde Fin, Falk Cinnerson.

 aye , to that?..but  we signed up, we did. wear the fancy  tunic  with the wings on your chest.. we won't even get those  until we're on the dec of   some   ship or  another... clsing in on 6  years of war?.. uses  up alot of bodies

 Ya..again Dis  is  true enough. But  we see alot of the faces on tehs creens, who have yet to die... what  does  that  tell you 'boot  them...?

 Finnigan smiles as he pats the  Nord's shoulder, don't know  about you , mate?..but it tells me, I gotta  stick close to  them and learn what they have to teach...... Look at the sorties they  flew, look at the kills?...ain't no one gonna be teaching us better..and I for one..am Gonna listen.

(( after   the Delta Fleet shore elave  on Everest ))

 Three figures  walked into  the  massive  room, that served  as a dining  area, offcie  and   living area   For Lady V.

  there were shattered  vases, broken  glass and  empty  bottles of  liquor  scattered  around... Lady  V  sat  on a chair, he  eyes   red rimmed and sunken in... she had a half  bottle of  Largran  Wine in her hand..

  The Human, and  EDT   General said,..Lady V, the  leaders are here....

 A Demonic Wisp   stood there,  thin , yet fit looking a blaster on his him..we have talked on VidCOMs.. I  an Strac.../.. This  Vampic is  General Luggen ... and , You know general  Figg of the EDT... we hear that you have lost your senses, we have come to see if it is true...

 Lady V  took a deep  drink, and looked at them,A Wisp?  I thought they stopped making  you?

 Strac gave her  a small , short lived, thin lipped smile.we are still ..'made', just not as  many since the   2nd Gen with human DNA  has taken root... they are Viable as, being able to mate  with both races, so we should see  an upturn soon..

 ..you have become unhinged  at the lost of some....relative?

 ..fuck you Vampira.. you don't understand..She was the  last of my blood.. I lost a Son on Astra... and   a nephew on Etna ... and Shadow killed her, right and front of my eyes, and fed her to a gods be damned larg...right...in..front  ..of  my eyes..

 ..yes?  Well... his parents  were killed  by  your group, even before you took over... other people of his  died  witht eh  experimentation of the animals..which.. did not work as well as we have hoped...

 The Vampic   spoke up her  pinkish pupils   staring at  Lady V.... you have lost...some  200, maybe more?  Food products?

 ..your people lost  a whole fucking , homemade planet,  That same planet is  now  a bulwark   with its own home defesne   fleet?... it will take   another  week to go  around, or  above, or below  that  Quad now?... so don't  talk to me about you people losing you  comfort  food.

 The Fleet will come for my home world...

 ..then you better get your pale little asses in your coffins and bundle up..  Hack doesn't  like your Race... and wipign out   the  whole  nest...be right up his alley

 The Human general  asked,..what about the Roussians... are they not in the fold?

 The Wisp   waved a hand,..they are frightened of us.. they toe the line..Thier tech is important  to us, but their  Navy is ...less then terrifying  I cannot see
 Hack  given them a  second thought for now.

 he turned to Lady  V...Hack is Ruthless..he is  an Animal... Shadow, is worse.. it may be why he  hasn't   had a ship of his own?... I think they will go after the Vampic...

 Lady V  looked at the   Female and said,..Boy? that hidden planet you had... sure  would come in handy..right?

 The Wisp said,Because of that Fool Marris.. a Human...

  Lady  V  stood, a bit   shaky and   snapped,..your Demons  were there?.. her  Vampics.. and those One  eyed  bastards....why didn't you kill him. I told he he was worthless  as long as Si was  alive!... and say what you want..  Elispsians, Demons and  Vamoics  got thier  damn asses kicked

 yes..be that  as it may, Qer La Kal  is  COMing you in two hours..i would   ...make yourself presentable

  The all bowed to  Lady V..  Figg said,..I'll have  your people come in as  we leave

  The  Russians   were smug. This would be easy... catch or kill those  kids......well.if they  could  knock apart those Burains while they were at it..so much the  better.

   the   4  flanker ships Broke off  and hit the Boost.... they launched thier fighters  right  before that... It wouldn't be long now...

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

 Aboard   the 'Ark-1'.. kids   were afraid   they weren't sure what was going on. But they all have seen people in Unifrom  running with  the same looks  as these men and woman had.

 some  kids  huddled together  talking..some sat  stunned...they thought they were gonna be  safe....

 Skiffle  was   with some of the others  who  hung out  at the Hermes   hotel.. The older  kids   tried to distract the  younger ones....

 Can sat but himself..sorta of.. with all the  kids  jammed into the recdec. with  Guards  at every entry point.

 he looked sad and  pitiful. no one  really noticed  as they all had thier own problems at the moment.

  The little guy  sat  there, his head on his knees.. tears  rolled   down his cheeks.. and he held tight to  a drawing of  a  brown stick woman,a little brown  stick boy, and  a stick man with  dark grey hair   and a white stick  dog.

(( after    the reveal  of   Sarah's   ship, followed up a  few minutes by the   whole of  the Delta Fleet.))


 The NAV TECH  On the Roussa  Fire Gasped  as    hundreds of  dots   populated her  screen.. she   truned   in panic    to get Ves-Noe's   attention.

 His smile  drooped  as the  saw the massive  amount of  dots..... the  good or bad  effect of this, was ALL  the   allied   dots populated..showing the Burians Home fleet, The Nivarian Golden fleet and Sarah's   vessels.

 The  Gunnery Officer turned  as well and said.....we  are all dead, Captain...and Roussa  will be  No more...

 Ves-noe   was shaken... he had to think....COM  the Homeworld... we need to warn them...

 The COM Tech shook her  head...... the COM  bitch for the  ESN... she did her magic... I cannot  even contact  our fighters!

 Ves Noe   felt his ship shake   as one of the  rear Guard  hit  it with Two Hard ammo  rounds... Lights   flickered  on  and off  as   horns blared   signaling  Hull breeches  from the weapon damage...

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

 Aboard the  ARK  -1

  the ship would shake from time to time when a fighter  died too close to the Hull.. the sound of   fighter   round   impacting on the skin of the vessel , made the sound of Hail, to any of those who had ever been lucky enough to see  or hear hail.

 The   Stem Kids  were  stoic... they have been in danger all thier lives. Those who cried..or   curled up, or both, mostly did so, because of the dashed hopes they had... Skiffle    leaned against Duck  and Runner.. they  all were sad, wet eyed.... some were shaking, the  'new kids;  who were saved  from the platters, wondered if they would be  there again.

 Can   buried his head  in his knees, clutching his  drawing. Wtacher   shifted over  By him, trying to console him by rubbing his back, even though she had tears of her  own..

 The Roussians   had  abandoned thier ships... shuttles    with no power on save  for surrender lights   floated   in The Black  as well as Pods   floating in The Balck with   flashing lights.

....

 In the area   where he   rear Guard ships were lost..there  were  many pods, abut  there were  4  Roussian Pods, for  every  Burian  ship Pod...

 Bodies, from Body  sides  floated in the Back..in an ever expanding Movement that would take them on thier final journey, forever

.......

 aboard   the  Ark-1'  the Kids were told  they were  safe, Many of the Cheered. Some stoiclly  shrugged it off...in thier minds  they would not be safe, until they reached  the planet.

 Watcher  Held Can who was now in a troubled  sleep. His hand clutching the  paper tightly, despite his   sleep. Watcher , just lookign into space   in deep thought.

  The Kids  were cheering when the heard the Roussians all got killed!

   Most were  jumpign up and down.. some just  sat and   laughed..others  broke down and cried.

 Can  just sat with his drawing , watching all the kids  as he  held his  picture.

 High Admiral Woonis    watched    with disgust, and even anger...

 The Fool.. he'll never   stop those  ships  in Time... if we don't fire.. we'll look like cowards... if we do fire,  we'll have started   a war!

 His   COM officer  shook her  elongated head,   braids of hair  hanging off the sides while the middle was  smooth  skin..

 They have locked  us out..we can talk to them, but they aren't talkign  to us , unless that   COM bitch lets us in!


 The   NAV  officer looked at his screens... High Admiral?.. they  have speeded up......all off them..  from what our  scouts  say...the bruians  and Nivar   is joining up....

 Woonis  snapped, open out COM... if he can hear us, that's  good enough,I don't know what you are Playign  at Hack!... your ships  will be in range in 2 minutes!..we...will fire!.. veer off so you do not collide with out ships!

 a female   '1 star' admiral   said,High Admiral?.....  I...I don't think they are going to stop....

 don't be a fool?  there's Nothing behind Us..  the ships  are on the wall... if he  tries to break through there is  nothing behind us but...

  Siggal , the 1 star  nodded her   head....

 Woonis  brow furrowed the   whole way back the forehead slope...then he truned back to the screens.....the ...homeworld...

 Tac shouted..they have emptied out thier fighters.....the ships   can't  stop , even if they wanted!.. they are   breaksing..  the flanks   are   flattening  to a wall..and  are  firing  at out   Flanks...High Admiral!..we have to do something!

 Woonis  dropped into his Command  chair...Hack  ...is a Mad man... no one attacks the Middle of a Wall!.... who does that..

 Siggal said  with a bit  of fear... a savage...and  a genius

  tell the    captains to  fire!....

Another  , older Male   with  2 stars  shook his head,we cannot stop them.. we  might take a few of them..damage a few more, but they'll break through, and  if we   try to  Block them,  the  Bow of  a  ESN God  Class curiser  is  made, for just that... what ships we have left  after the  break through, will be  out of position...they can  shell us... they can drop  troops..and the Home world isn't prepared for that

 C..COMs...s..send   a warning..to Roussa.... send....for aid   from Takkis  and   Loussa.......perpare  to  fight... ready the figthers.......

 I want it on record... I  wanted all our  fighters  launched before they came in sight!

  Woonis  just  nodded   as he reached for his head gear

    The Burians     rounded the  Kids up the best they could, and fed them hot food  and cold drinks from the  red Dec as they could  relax..

  the Vid screens  came on  and the troopers  got the kids  to watch and Listen.. The Kids remembered   The Admiral.. they saw him at the party, and on the beach..talkign to them, letting them play on the beach.

  they ooohhhd  when he leaped the railing and    the Angel reporters  followed him... then they saw his eyes that seemed to look at each and  everyone of them  as the song played.

 ..we did not 'sert you!

 if the Admiral could have said  anything better...no one knows  what it could have been .. the   kids     jumped up and   cheered as wild  as   an sports  fan.... that one stem phrase  electrified  the Kids  who Jumped up and   down.. crying   with smiles.. or grinning as they huged  each other...

  towards the back.. Can pointed  at Henry  and waved his drawing...

On Board the Ark-1.....

  The Kids   were   safe.. the Nivarian's have passed    over them,  two Nivarains stayed  with them,  as they made thier way towards   Bura, waiting to ..either be relieved  by  Burians.. or to make sure the Shio  docked safely.

..The Kids  watched  in fascination..it was  like Captain Lighting!, except    there was   Hundreds of ships, thousands of  fighters,  and  100s  of   explosions..  Roussa came  in to View, and already    lights   were hitting the Atmosphere  as   'wounded ' delta vessels  simply turned thier  broad  sides, to fire  at the planet,, and the other side  targeted   enemy vessesls.

  Can   stayed  near Watcher,,his eyes  wide, and still a bit wet  as he held his drawing

 Skiffle    was smilign tightly as  she worried for those people who had been nice to them..people weren't nice..she  had learned that all her  short life..until the  day the   Hermes   people   risked thier lives to save her and her friends.

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

  Roussians   ran about..   The Capships were in  complete  disarray , no one ever  did this to them before.. small encounters  with Undenses   vessels  or a rare  appearance from Everest?.. The  Damn Hyrians    would attack thier  convoys..but, no one had ever  attacked  Roussa!

 Woonis     was bennt over his COM  station

 High Admiral?   we must do something.. they  are  already firing on the Planet, thier fighters  have  engaged  ours,   the  first   Delta  Ships  have   already broken through!..our Flanks     are turned...

 Wonnis  gave  a  sad, but dark look to  his   Lower  Admiral,Tell me?... what do we  do, Admiral Lannis?

 ..Ram thiser  ships  if  we have to.. we have to stop them..

 Woonis   tapped something out and  truned the   screen towards   Lannis...We have the whole of the delta fleet   hitting or breaking through our  wall...... Above them is    a group of Burians.. below  then , Narvarians... and  comign in with   s a few hundred other ships , are the Hyrians..,The only thing we have not seen  is the Undenese..and that is  probably  as they are in reserve...

 .. High Admiral!  There is not a Roussian, who would not  die  to stop the invaders!

 there was a dark chuckle...and that is the difference.  Well we are ready to die for  our Homeworld...The   delta devils, are more then happy , to make us do so...

  send  word  through out the fleet... and the  system.... fight..stay alive... our only hope  is to kill enough of them, they leave  us  crippled.... and go about thier business...

  The   COM  bitch  is  still compromising  our COMs... we cannot  even contact fighters...

 then?  send Shuttles   to a few ships, tell them  to send shuttles... and the next to send shuttles..fight  until you die, for the homeworld..

  As you say, so it is done... Lannis began  to ask for Volunters  to take   two shuttles to the enxt two ships  to relay the messages.. and   for the next ships  to do the  same.

  The Planet was having  a nice  day.. the  sun shining through the purple haze,  water s  quiet,  some breeze  as  people went  about thier business.

 There were  Military people scampering  around, and, those  on the   Sun side of the planet  saw  some  flashes in the  sky, but   though they were just  aircraft maneuvers .

 Roussa  was a wealthy planet,  goods  their  raised and Made..goods they captured  from convoys...and.... Slave trade....

 Rousians  never  wasted a  thing... a  battered   transport,  would be used for scrap.. the goods  used or sold, and dead  crew  fed  thier  war beasts..Lives one   were sold to the  Empire.

 then... the  day...and thier Lives changed. Children pointed up into the sky... plumes of  smoke   and   fiery streams  of Hard  ammo  and Pulse   rounds whistled throught he  Atmo..bright  Flashes of the Pulse hitting the ground , and    fountains of   debris  from hard  ammo  exploding on contact...

 Sirens  went off...  warning lights  , and   Loudspeakers telling Civies  to hed  for cover. Confusion reigned... what was happening.. ,even as  more...and more.. and more    rounds  screamed  through the  sky
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:11, Tue 05 Jan 2021.

 Felsa... one of the bigger   Cities  on Roussa. Not famed for much.. Thier tech industry was good. They made very good hover  cars...their sports teams never  dominated , like some. But they were always respected on the field. or in the dome.

 The warnings  came, they all saw the  streams of  smoke and Vapor  they heard  the  impacts  for  miles away. But, Felsa wasn't  a city that  should be  targeted it was.....

 most people had   hurried, but not rushed to get off the streets.. the military would handle this ..and they weren't important.

 a cheer wetn up as they saw  the  Cap ship break through the clouds, heroes  comign to protect them from the Evil leader of the delta Fleet...

 the ship  got bigger and bigger.. retried   military began to warn people to get off the streets and head to shelters.... the   sirens started  to whine  thier hideous  whine,, people ran. most? didn't know hwere to run to. Hover  cars  crashed into each other, or into Buildings  as the roussains  tried to escape  what was mind boggling to them...

 Spray painted on the  bridge   wind screen was " greeting from the ESN"... very few people  would get to read that..and no one  would be alive to  say  what  was written...  the imp[acted  witht he  taller Building send    debris crashing  down,, the  Mile long  , almost mile wide... and  mile tall, 'teardrop' shaped   vessel slammed into the ground, and the Power  cells  went  off... the blast radius  was almost  5 miles. Felsa..was just a memory.

  There was  Panic on the planet now. It had been  1000, or more years since  anyone dared attacked the planet, even then, the battles were   fought in space.

 People ran?  but where to?   A whole  city and the landscape  aroudn it  vanished when one of thier own ships slammed into it.. others  where getting Hit  by  the  shells  from the   APF  ships  at nearly blotted out the sky... and on the  other side of the planet, the Udenese where hammering   the   planet with its mixed  vessels  of  Udensese make,  and those  from  vera.

 The High Council  sat in the  War room.. a bunker almost a mile under  the surface of the capital City. Even  there  in the impacts of the   shells  were  felt .... but that was  only  until the  shells  blew  enough   dirt and rock  away until the impacts would crack the  bunker like an eggshell,

 There were Screens up , Admiral hack was making  his latest  Vid attack on the planet, Gloating?..warning?  both?

  A frazzled looking  Tech Mate which her hair braided  along the edges  of her  flowing forehead. They COM  bitch can't  affect  every thing High Council . we have lower bands of   COMs   she isn't dealing with, or cannot deal with.. she opens    the COMs
 when her master speaks...

 The    Chief member  of the Council looked  weary,  flashes of  anger  and despair  would go across his face  as  both his hands    moved though the sides of his  Hair...we have to move  our  troops and   equipment  to meet the   Humans and thier lapdogs  when they  land...

 But..Chief Council?  we  will leave  them open to attack as they try to move to a secondary location...

 This  is true.... but if we leave them stay where they are, they will be buried  and useless to us  when they  ground  part of the invasion  starts

 .....maybe they will not  come? maybe they will settle  for the damage  they have done? a Woman in civie  clothes   said.

 The High council looked at her, he liked  how her hair  hung from the   sides of her   forehead, like  an auburn waterfall.

 no, My dearest... we have seen Aqra  and  Vera..and Even Hyria?.. This Human. he  is  as savage as  any creature in The Black.... and he is angry..he feels  as  if he has been wronged... and  he  cares  not, for those who are  outside the APF.

 If  we offer him somthing?  a full surrender?.... and what of our allies.. the other planets

 There was a snort,Takkis, our sister planet is  massing  for defense... they have some  scout ship  dotted about..trying to  find a weakness in the Delta fleet...Loussa, is   the outterMost..she will  aid Takkis, but other wise.. shore up thier own defense.. we are  quite alone , save for a  few  thousand  Empire troops  who have been training out people.. thier ships have left the system..

 The  Officer picked up the  Low COM, and  sent the  orders to evac the  mountian  and hidden bases, I go on record   as to disagreeing with this Move, High council....

 Indeed...  your   response is noted... Just as  My response was noted  against your  attempt to   kill or capture  the  children the  Marauding  Humans   sent to Bura... think?.. how differant things would have been, had  we not done such a thing...

 The Officer looked  down  and  gave a  sad nod...indeed, High Council......

 Fear not, when this is over, the last thing anyone who is left alive will worry about, is who sent those ships....Admiral Hack  has  filled the Airwaves with his reasons  for attacking us? very few  people, even his enemies, will disagree. But those who are left will have to  rebuild,,, and they will likely do it  under the watchful  gaze of APF governors ..so?...who is to blame ? it will not matter for a few hundred years...and  none of  us in this Bunker  will be around to  enjoy the discourse...

  the music , like an unseen rodent, filtered through the   COMs and   Vid screens .. even beth was havign a tough time getting the Vids  across, on Roussa, ebcause of the hammering the  Planet was taking.

   The   Officers  and Council in the Bunker   heard the song, could see a  smilign  LC( on and off) with others  clapping and dancing...

 ..there   will be little  chance for  Mercy from these humans... They are  eager... They Hunger    to beat us... to..kill us.. I wonder how many other  Races  out there are watching... and who  are they more apt to  follow?  The demons  who  never seem to help thier allies.. of the  Humans, who go out  of thier way to punish foes of thier friends..

 ...maybe..if you send me up to talk to them.....Maybe... i can  reach  them...outside thier hate and anger..

 They will shoot you out of the  sky..they Blew up  3 ships of holy  people?

 Supreme Council? I do not think those  we  Holy  people.. i think  they were goign to  try and evac us.. or...at least you..

 well?... just another demon, mistake.

 we do have a Plan, Supreme Council...

 Tell me this  wonderous plan?

 The fleet cannot shell us  when they  send thier  fighters and thier  troops...

 The Supreme council held out his    arms  as if  to say "and?"

  we send  every fighters  and   figther bomber  into the air  along with  every shuttle..big, small,  civie or military....

 he Supreme council  stared  at the general.

 ..they will think the shuttles  are  full of  troops, but we wil pack them  with  explosives  and power cells.. if they Blow up in the atmosphere, we may knock some of thier  aircraft...  the shuttles that make it  into  The Balck  will  ram   ESN cap ships, we might bring a few of them down

 The Pilots?

 ..the  shuttles   will be  drones...  once they are a mile or so up, they will  be cut off  from control so the COM Bitch cannot  effect them...Meanwhile. our figthers
 try to bring down the shuttles. whittling away at thr  troops who will defile our soil..

 ..Make it so..... we have nothing to lose,  that we will not lose otherwise.

 when  will you send  up the aircraft?

  As soon as the shelling stops we do not  want the drops  to  run into a shell..they have slowed down thier  fire...perhaps to cool thier weapons.....maybe , another hour?

 The   Female  looked at the screens,...this will be out last sunrise on Roussa..and we cannot even enjoy it..

    the  Roussian troops   were bunkered  down  anywhere they had   decent  cover, Some Rubble  gave them a 'natural  tunnel or cave'  others   managed to  find thier  way into basements.

 Those troops in the wild, cad Caves  and hidden  Cabins..  they   used only heating bricks or   powercell  fed  cooking devices,  only used tact lights to see  and kept  Vidboards  to a Minimum ..there was fear of the COM witch..or others names  COM Bitch of The Hermes.

  Some  troops had a dark resolve as they readied   weapons  and  passed out ammo and power cells  Med techs were scare as  most had  fallen when the rain of ordinance came down.

 the  gear and supplies  were passed out  to troops, and the few Med techs  still alive.

 Some  Roussians  who were mated, or  at elast close, held each other  tight  as they looked over the   ruins of the  city and the Glowing fires   they could see in the distance  of other cities .

 Captain  Altis, was dirty, and tired, he  ate some  hot  stew  that  the  cook made as he  peered through the Bricks  and beams of thier   battered shelter.. even in the haze of the night and the smoke from  the battle, the   lights  in the distance of the  Human's  beachhead could be seen..he had sent two volunteers to see if there was a way to reach them.. but they were  Gun down on sight    when a random search light hit them.

  His LT, a pretty female  whose, reddish locks   were braided  backwards along her  swepted back head, until they made, what humans call a 'pony Tail'

 She  ate, her Vocie was sad  as  she saw some of the males and females  openly  sobbing at the loss of life, cities..other things, she supposed.... why..why do they not just...go away?.. the reports  say, the Homeguard vessels  are  either destroyed  or captured.. our  'sister' planets' are  talkign to the ESN about   joining  or stay neutral... they have proved what they wanted to prove..

 The Captain  settled  down close to her.....  There is much anger and Hate  for us out there.... for that? we owe it to our  High Council...we should have never aided the Empire, even in small ways... letting the Humans  drop of thier own children here  for  parceling out to Empire fleets?.. that was foolish enough... we have seen what happened to  Aqra.... Hyria was given a lease  on life, after  the demons  betrayed them...

..that  still does not explain  the  reason they are still here...

 ..it does?.... The Human Admiral....lost his child  in the womb of  his Angel bitch. We made much notoriety, in our part in that  ambush that we dubbed the mindless Nivarians into  taking on... but the fools  that were captured   from our Embassy were too  foolish to keep thier mouths  shut. That Admiral?  he is not leaving here with  out the ehads he  wants.. and Roussa is never goign to be the same... we will be  living under  Colonial Governors...or..if they are  kid? they will let us relocate to one of our sister planets...if..those planets  will have us  , or?  we will  board transports, and be permitted  to 'find out own way' in The Black, with all enemies and even past friends hunting us  down..

 so..what do we  do Altis?

 We try to stay alive. Ollit.. and   we  try to build a new life  under the new government...The fools  who killed the planet should suffer the fate for thier stupidity.... the rest of us, need to keep the race alive...

from near them, and Older    SGT  looked  up, pointing his spoon at  Altis...You know, Captain... that could be considered treason...

 Altis grinned at his SGT,It depends .... I want to keep Roussians  alive... while the council sought  the good grace4s of   The Empire, that we...even considered   Evil, as they played up to the Empire for    Creds  and power... We are, just wanting to  raise of  families..., scouts  say at least 1000 children , women and older Roussians  are in containment areas , we must assume its like that  near every city.... depending  on the out come here.. we can save the race, even if we lose the planet

 ..no argument from me, Captain.. but i am betting i must buy a new  boat.. i  doubt if it  survived the shelling, and i do so like to fish..

 there was laughter around.

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

 Troops in the wild  didn't have near the chance that those  trapped in the cities did... largs and Naragrans  Hunted them down..Nivarians, Gava, Apefolk and  Calimites showed  little or no quarter... cxaves were boambed , troops gunned  down as they tried to escape, meanwhile the scouts  and look outs  were little match for the Naragrans in the trees  and the Gava  in the brush.... Scaled 'bears' attacked, mor eout  of fear then anything else, and Largs  found them to be good  eating... Worts were paying their  way, by slinking into caves  and   ravaging those  hiding there...it would be a Longnight for those in the wilds..a night that would end badly...

  (( Hel))  Qer La Qal sat in her   highbacked chair.  Her eyes  Galred  att eh  Screen  A demon in officer's  garb, and an Elder  Roussian in Robes of state stoo  somehwere  as the COMvid with  The Empire  Leader.

  Be that as it may...why have not the other  Two planets  moved agains the delta  Fleet!   they have two world's of resources... The Fleet  could not  with stand  the who Roussian Navy...

 The elder Roussian said....They lost...no ships, we crippled several of thier,  but the limped off to  the  rear of the fleet... The Nivarians, Burains and Hyrians came to  fight  as well, and the Udenese came from behind.. The Delta Fleet's COM  witch must have  given them the  transponders the Fleet uses  as well.

 The Demon grunted,As we  speak, papers  are being signed and APF leaders and such are  movign onto the  the two worlds... They have joined the   APF... I am certain there will be rebels..but  The APF  will turn them against us. The  saw  the Vids of the  Elispian World-Ship  and the pounding of  Roussa  I do not think any Roussian, no matter which planet in the system they  live?  will test  The delta fleet... even if the Fleet leaves the area... the  homeworld fleets  they leave behind will be able to cause  a deep amount of  damage...

 She looked  away, and said...Go..niether of you are  any good to me now... Find a way to join an Empire  ship and get yourself  into service  the vid  went dark

   Around the quad, the  scouts  were sending in COMs. Yellow Star transports, in groups of  3 or 4 with only   corvettes  to  guide them. launched  at the same time, from multiple  ports.

   From the bridge of  the SSN  Perth, Orika The  Admiral of  Fleet #3 watched the massive  holo display. Henninings'd Bitch is getting smart?.. figured  we wouldn't be able to stop them all.... well... Call in  the  Hunters... and  we're going to have a  real fun time..Prize money should be through the  roof!

 The  COM Tech sent  COMs out.

  the bridge  doors Hissed open, Another Chinese  Man stood at attention. his  red Unifrom and gold  wings  chowed his rank as captain.

 Ahhh Captain Feng, we are about to go hunting again... many rich  prizes, fat from thier ports...

 ..is there any ESN  craft... that we might  fight?

 We have no word, our scouts   have been tracking the transports, several  corvettes  scattered around to   keep watch... they will just be , so much scrap, for our vessels. Even the Hunter  can handle an ESN corvette

 I was hoping , witht eh amount of transports, there  would be   some cruisers from Etna or even Nivar? Bura?

 ..do not be foolish enough  to wish for what you may not want!

 The Captain's eyes shifted to  his Admiral, I am tired of the propaganda  for the ESN and APF... I see  Shadow and frans, and a few others   who have 100 oe more kills, The Hermes herself, has as many Blue max  winners  as  the SSN #3 fleet! I want to be the one who kills those  aces!

 The Admiral turns away and Looked out the  bridge  window,..You call yourself  the  Dragon....Yhe SSN gave you leave to place  the dragon of black on your Red Wings...but, as your  ego causes  you to do that, take a lesson from the what you see of  your enemies
 art work....They are cold.. and  cunning, Many of them have  fought  for  5 years, in heated battles with the Empire... it was but a year..maybe less, we lost   SSN #1 to the delta fleet.. so.. Feng> Take your practice  as it comes you will get your chance at ESN fighters soon enough, Who knows?.. many the loss of all these  transports will give them
 an excuse to knock on our  door..go now... see to your   birds of prey...

 Feng  saluted and turned sharply   as he left the Dec.

   Orika waved to the COMs teach and many face  appeared on the screens...This is  Admiral  Orika... the SSN  # 3 fleet will sail into the middle of the Quad and branch out  both  ways , towards  The Pit and Hillite systems.. in is  too great a Voif to cover, so all Hunters   are asked to fill in,,Any  transports taken by a Hnuter, should be taken to  Station 13.... there, , by  The Olympus Accord, goods  will be split between the Hunter  and the  SSN...sShips taken by SSN vessels  will belong to the SSN// when the ships are in place... COM  me, and I will give the word to attack..if some one jumps the gun, it  could alert the other transports.. This could be a landmark day, in the history of the  SSN

  the screens  shut down, and  Orika drank fromhis tea,

  Orika  sipped  his tea  as he looked out the  window of the bridge, he had   light boarding armor  on and a  sword  at his  side, a Chinese made sidearm that was close to  a largan like weapon, but not  quite to the standards.

   Helm said,Admiral?  we wil be up on  the Middle  convoy  of  transports in  7 minutes. there are 4, with a corvette and a destroyer... It appears they Launched  from Nivar...

 Gold-skin's tin cans... looks like we are about  to be come richer.. Have they seen us  yet?

 It does not appear so?

 COMs,   Hail them. Tell them i am feeling generous  this day. If they  heave to and hit thier lightd, we will merely  take thier ships  and allow  3 shuttles  worth of   crew to return to Nivar.... should they  put up a fight, any we capture, go to pay our debt to the Glorious  Empire.

 The COMs  sent the  warning/offer.

 The COMs  came back, Orika waved his hand to have it put on speaker.

 SSN Perth, This is Captain Kovacs of the  Yellow star transport company, on Transport 117..... our reply to you is....fuck you, come get us....

 Orika's hand shook as the  tea cup was almost to his  lips. he lowered  it and said,Send Feng... began the   runs to capture the ships,

 Captain  Kovacs?  I am Admiral Orika, of the SSN  #3 fleet.... you will pay for this insult  of  the mercy i was to show. I will take your head myself, and have it shipped to your family...

 Come get me.... I have never seen an ESN asset  run from  a chinese  asset.....and?ask yourself this?....what happened to Fleets  #1  and #2 ?

 orika  was shaking  in his anger and  flicker the   hand that ocne held his  cup to cut the  feed.

  then again to open  a feed to the Fleet.I have made a grand offer to the trasnsports, it was  truned down with ....much disrespect.... Attack when you are ready...all prisoners will be sent to the Empire.... Squadron Commanders, act as you will...good hunting...

 Orika watched the screens, he  had  finished  his   tea and  was  about to sit  down when   The perth was  rocked  by a  Hared  Ammo round to the   port side  and a  Heavy pulse  on the starboard  side...

  COM chatter exploded... The Green bean is  gone.. a torpedo to the bow...

 Orika    had  fallen and   got up in anger..before he could  ask...its  the gods be damned Delta Fleet!

 Orika's face drained of  color...That is impossible!, they are   almost to Etna!

 The Heartbreaker, in a  'cusomized' largran   cap ship was screaming into the COMs..THEY HAVE US..BOARDING  CHAINS, THIER LAST SALVO KNOCKED OUT MY PORTSIDE  GUNS !!!

  ..............

 Feng, however , smiled, SHADOW!!!!! where are you!

 Admiral Akkus heard the  COM  speech  by Admiral Hack.... he could hear out side the halls  shouts  and warnings...  people  were running about. The first warning, with the Holy People, was shrugged off... The Fleet would never  Attack inside Sol Space?

 But, as   Hack outlined what was about  to happen, and the  Cold, harsh voice  leaked  throught he COMs..the look in  Hack's face  and the gritting of the Man's  teeth... cause Akkus to step back

 The demon Admiral COMed  GE-FI... He is going to destroy this  Ship!

 GE-FI  laughed,....he is simply trying to get you to empty out the ship, so he can take it over, and have a  foothold in  the Sol System

 Akkus looked to His   Vice Admiral, a Largran Named  Yikk.

 It is my view? that he has never  hesitated to kill humans who  have been  EDT, Slavers  or  Empire... he knows the cost would be too high, to save any prisoners we have...Destroying the station? Is  far cheaper   for him, and denies us  food, resources and  a Viable  attack/ defesne position..

 GE-FI scoffed..you are scared....

 you  sit  on Earth, in a tall building, surrounded by guards  as you round  up  tribute and  rebels...we are looking  down the barrel of a very  angry  Admiral's  fleet... and that Admiral has all the reasons in  The Black to want to destroy us..

 Akkus frowned,Get Empire  troops  off this  Station first... send them to outposts,  and have the vessels try to come back for others... If Hack is not Bluffing, we have less then 20 minutes...

 on the screens he can see fights have already broke out, between   humans and some APF priosners who had to work for the Empire,  as they  attacked  troopers  to get weapons  and try  to rally  thier people

 Yikk said,  The  station is dead.... Hack won't  send   vessels here and leave the Station intact.. and those  who are not military  are already starting to  fight.

 Akkus  snorted,..indeed.. well? that will be  that many less  we have to  EVAC.. how many ships  do we have to EVAC..

 Yikk started at the   screen  that showed only darkness, ebcause of the  Fleet's  Transponders.two transports... each can take  about  200 people...

 TWO!  HOW IS THERE ONLY  TWO!

 ..your choice, Admiral? You were so  confident of stealing all those transports   supplies  and  adding  people  for the larder, you sent  them all... these two only arrived  when the battle was joined, the supplies have  been off loaded..so they are empty

 Maybe....Hack will listen to reason....

 The Largan  was quiet, his eyes  shifted in the leathers  face to the clock and back to the screens....he knows what we have here... he knows what becomes of  80% of the humans we capture....and he  has  embraced total war with the   enthusiasm  of a Largran Bezerker....I see no reason for  him to 'spare us'...If you wish to escape. your  private shuttle can be readied....

 We may have to do that....

 The Largran shakes his head,..I have  some 80,000 troops and crew on this station..The Avains  have  twice that many..  they look to me for command..i will not leave them to die alone...

 you are a fool....

 Perhaps.... But i have  learned one thing  from Fighting Hack.... Honor is important..if  i can save some  crew, the word will spread  and others  will find  hope... if we all die, then..perhaps , making the stand  will inspire others of the Empire....but if i run, knowing  we cannot save  any of our  crew?.... That will spread, and Undermine The Empire  officer corps

 Perhaps...but you cannot  fight the war if you are dead.....

 and if  I flee? I will never have the respect of troops again. I may take a fighter.. but it will not be to run... it will be to face  Hack's  attack Dog,,maybe, in death, i can bring  some hope, by killing the bastard...

 Pressing the    Upper  dec hanger,,,Have My  shuttle prepped  for take off, I will want my  bridge officers with me....

 when do you leave?

 I am uncertain, but have it ready

  Ge-Fi, like almost everyone  else in the Balck, watched the pounding  the  SSN #3  You either had to watch it, or  shut  down you screens....

  He didn even try to Contact Akkus.. hearing the Demon scream at him for  not sending help would be more then he could take  Right now..

    He nodded to his  frazzled COM tech.. the COm tech just threw up her  hands  and opened  a link, to 'who knows where'

  Admiral Hack..i know  your   COMs Witch  will see you hear this.. Can you destroy that station and everyone in it, and consider yourself  an Earther..

 The Tech shrugged as she looked back.

 a Minute Later... Hack answered...i will always be an Earther..but  will Earth always be human?..Earth has to make a choice... throw off the yoke of the Empire..or...suffer as  any other  enemy of the APF...

 To answer your  question, GE-FI... you don't have a station her any  longer, and when the  Fleet leaves...all that will be left is the small bits  we don't tow away as  salvage...

  what are you going to do. shell your own planet?

 If we must..... the allies  blew up  french lands... civil war tore up  America,,, You sent  angels to thier deaths, it  won't be pretty?  but,,maybe  , we'll wipe the slate  clean, get countries to have the right leaders, and become one planet, rather then a bunch of countries on a ball of mud..

 Can you do that?

 if they can join Empire, they can pay the piper.... You lied to us  100 years ago, when you said you came to Help...you came to hide, and you sent us out to clean out the Sol system...you never thought we  would go further, and you never thought we would succeed,,,Earth?  You make your choice..My has been made...

the feed was  cut....

The Angel COM tech looked at Ge-Fi......he fed that to the whole of The Black...

 GE-FI sat  down,,he was in a bit of  a Shack....I told Qer La Cal, that  we would not  get in thier way.....Now the Paradise system is free. Hack...might not be stopped...The Demons will have to save us....we gave them Earth?.. they should give us somehting...

 MY LORD!....

 what is it!

 The feed  was still open....

 GE-FI's eyes  opened  wide...

  THE PSN Fleet ,exited the Kyper Belt,  cruising  closer to  Jupiter ... The   Moons Colonies   were flourishing after the years of terra forming,  ZU-IS  just shrugged off the rebuilding  they would have to do  once they started thier  shelling and   Ambassador  set up the traty meeting.

 ZU-IS  snickered to himself, If Ambassador  Frans  could get  females to bed him, he and his Angel offciers should have them flocking to them...his reverie was broken by...

 GRAND ADMIRAL...LISTEN!

 There was some noise, and they heard  the voice...

 ”Too long have we lived within the shadow of the boot heel of those that would oppress us because they mistakenly believe themselves to be our betters, too long have we been sold out by own kind as they grasp for yet more power at the expense of those they are supposed to protect…well we are the flames that will dispel the darkness and it is time for all traitors to die…Light them up!”

 where is that Coming from....

 Outside the Fleet?   either Etna  or  the delta Fleet..... it  sounds like....

 Orders...... can you see  were they are going...

 The COM tech laughed,whom ever  set this up?.. the   shirled  were very easy to break down.... but..Admiral?.. The  message was sent to every  Paradise Angel the ESN  sent back...

 ...what?.. of course!!..Vicrock would be to easy... Moon Angels  almost as  Easy.... i want all Ship's  SEC to grab and  contain any of the transffers   sent back!

  ZU-IS  sat in his  Command  chair, the blast doors  were opened  as    SSN  vessels  were arrayed against them. It would have been comical  a week ago,

  GE-FI had made it clear that the PSN couldn't travel  any further  until  The Paradise  folks  got thier   traitor ferreted out.... ZU-Is, had no reason to continue on... he should go back to Paradise, with the Skith  invading...but..he would have to fight  Skith...

 The Largran Mother ship was as  stately as it was massive.   Right below the bridge was a large section, that put  OB Decs  of the ESN  to shame... Largran Officer   mingled with    Vicrock  officers, creshain ( humanoid), and a  few   Demonic  Tact officers.

   Two  demons  talked  to  2 Vickrock officers, , as  hundreds  of other Brass   walked   around the   OB  area, looking out  at the  bright dot that was  Matterhorn.

General Ken Ve Ken listened to  the  Vicrock Human  with the insignia of WC on his  chest...Tell Me  WC  Homms,  do you not  fear going up against the Delta Fleet  fighters...

  No Offense  General Ken ve Ken, But  they'll be seeing more  Humans this time  out. We know how to fight each other.. I did  extensive  studies on that  Fool, Shadow....

  The other   Demon general sipped  from some dark red  Drink,There were  Humans on Aqra, a specila flight, designed to  kill the   Delta   fighters... they failed...

The  Human general spoke up,..did they?.. they took our   many of the Hermes own fighters... one of them seeded  themselves  in the Hermes herself, until  savage  Hack had her put to death

 General Pritka Ve  snorted,..to that point, I respect  Hack... we would have eaten a spy...

 Ken Ve Ken started to Laugh, the Vid   that  was sent, where  Shadow  has the    EDT  Offciers   eat thier  wing commander, then thrown out into the Black?  I must say, it makes me think twice   about meeting them face to face..


They were Interrupted by High Admiral Tikvs Hello, my friends... our  Friends in the Hive ships are getting   edgy.. They want to attack now...

 Hamms  laughs,Tell them to  go ahead  ,  The  Delta fleet us   rumored to be near the boarder...., we need them to come to us, spread them out ..

 Two  Humanoid crestians    surprised  Homes. ..I am  Admiral Nukk...said the   creature  with a  human -like eyes  and Mouth, but  face encased in a  'antlike   shell...My Hive is  Egg Savior.... this is  Admiral Stiss... his  hive is  Mother's womb..

 Stiss  , who large , bug-like eyes, but  an otherwise, human face...we.. are  eager to get out share of the  food and breeding subjects,  from what we are able to tell, The  Humans and thier pets from the APF, have  wiped out  our UEs  on Matterhorn, that was to  set us up for total conquest..

  Tikvs gave a laizard-like smile,Your people lost to hack last time out...

 ..so did yours!..he  cahsed them with wounded ships   and destroyed them

 ENOUGH!...it was embarrassing.. it  brought even more  races out of the  woodwork  and  into the APF  laps.., we shall not  be  foolish this  time  around

Admiral Stiss turned to  WC  Danny Hamms.....how are we to know, when the Humans   will attack, we are barely on our side of the boarder, our   picket  ships will see them , too late, for us to have a measured response....but? if we try to have the  crews  ready and standing by, they will  get  nervous , or bored...

 Hamms  smiled,,,I am using Race  envy as a weapon,,, there are two humans flying, Two Crweshians, Two Largrans and Two demons...they were sent  wide, and are observing the Matterhorn ships as they deploy Mines  and  set up Anti-ship weapons on  the rocks and orbital playforms..., They are two tells us, when the   see  The delta Fleet... The winning pair, gets  1 million Creds from Lady V hersdelf....reporting falsely, send  the liar  to the UE holds.

The Demon chuckled,..That will be nice, to get a warning...but will not the  Matterhorn  people chase your watchers away...

 They will... they may even kill them outright.... but  thier Gun CAM Vids are live... if  matterhorn people kill them, we  will know... if Delta people Kill them, we should know

 ..should?

 Hamms shrugs,They are most...exceptional, with thier COMs  and  Tech units....no one
 'sees' the Delta Fleet, until the  'see' them... Elipsians  said wit was like  a dark waved
 rolled over their Mobile Homeworld... Then the  shelling started..

 He sips   his drink and points to the massive  Metaglass..They are copming.. you want them to come faster..launch an attack...you'll lose those   ships, maybe take out a few Matterhorn ships

 will you be flying out there, WC Hamms...

 I would love to..I was  two years behind   Shadow  , by i was  in the great Lakes  Academy.... all we heard  for  4  years  was... 'Do this  like  Shadow"...or 'Don't  do this like Shadow'...he was constantly sent  to the Mast for  ,missing classes, but the   verdicts were always light, or charges  dropped... It was like.... he was already an Officer..Now he's out here, getting people killed, while killing our people, and for that? he is a hero..I would like to end that...

 and why cannot you end that?

 Lady V said i was forbidden to fly in the   battle, she  said i could go out  and  'have at' some stragglers when it is over..i really want to fly in this one...

   A Human woman  sprinted  across the massive  OB Dec of the largran Mother ship.. she held out a Paper to  WC Danny Homms.. he read  it  and smiled...

  ..Looks like  Lady V  will have to pay out those  Credits to the  pair of creshian scouts, the  spotted   The Delta Fleet, seems they came  out  from Behind  the  Carrier/station, trying to get the   Jump on us.. they spotted the   portside   flank..looks like they are   going to  set up to....

There was shouts of  rage, surprise  and confusion along  the  Meta  Glass... there were explosions  as the Fleet hit the Outriders of the Combined fleet..

Tikvs looked at Homms  with anger,,,your  scouts, seemed to be a  few hours behind the Delta Fleet!

 Homms  stared  out the Window...he had  to compose himself...it..it  doesn't make sense!.. he would have  had to co-ordinate  with  Van Ros

Admiral Nukk looked at  Tikvs.....we have to send ships to  meet  them..  our out lying ships   will be destroyed,  we need  to protect the Hives....

 ..Go send your orders.... By all the  gods..all the humans in  The Black, and  we  get the mindless  ones!

 Homms  stared out the window..the message crumpled,no one does  this!... who would  attack like that...

 we have had some of our people   saved  by Hack...granted colonies  as long as they   serve  the   APF... we get  COMs  from them , not very often..but they say , 'hacks  Scales  are thick '

 General Kan ve Kan looked at Homms...that is a term Largran use , with great respect...it means that Hack has no fear.. will not back down... he would be a fool to think that he doesn't have a chance to lose....but he is  a warrior, who will take the chance of losing...to win..

Everyone!.. get your   vessels   moving,  The Fleet is only an hour or  so from our   Hives  and the Mother ship!

 Everyone scattered.. Homms   walked  to the  lifts to get to his   ship..he was shocked..and he was scared...

  the absolute Chaos on the Largran Mother ship  was compounded  by the   jamming of  orders being sent, or pleas for help being   cut off... the  Lights   flickers    as the massive ship  jerked, when their thruster , clauster  was hit   with  dozens of Ion rounds,,  the EMS  ships  wer  coming around   now, to meet up  with Cpatain Spikes  section of the Delta fleet.. , they fired  Hard   ammo  now, ppunching  waht  would have been minor   holes in the ship... but were now clostly  as  atmo leaked out   as the   over  all  static fields  were disrupted..

 Then.. the Music  sounded... with   people  seeminly from everywhere, joining in...

 A creshian pointed   at the  2nd   Hive ship  with its  surrender lights on as  Her Hermes pounded  it  ,and it was clear that the    ESN  ships were headed straight for them..

  TiKVs   shouts  for a Link to the   charging  ESN  Vessels....ADMIRAL HACK...THIS IS MOST...UN ACCEPTABLE..... THOSE HIVE  SHIPS HAVE SURRENDER LIGHTS ON!