(( 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