Melia came in hot focusing on staying in her lane. She was in luck only one blocker lined up to contest her. He underestimating her smaller size and speed she blew past him a with clear line on the ball. As the return tried to move to the left she beat him on speed slamming into him at the waist from the right her head up arms out watching them wrap him up as their pads collided.

Hawkeye followed the trooper up to the box. Crate under her arm.

Once in the box she grinned, as she heard the crowd light up with the first TD. thanks trooper. I got it from here. stepping into the door. Admiral's Hack and St Gual I come bearing gifts. She gently sets the case down opening it up revealing the bottles.

"A bottle of Gin for each of you brand spanking new. Naval Strength made aboard the Hermes."

 general Bale  cleared his throat...Oh, Dr..  the  crowd nosie  was a bit loud?..  I did here you say..  the crate ..MADE IT TO..The hermes...

 Hack loked at cat  with  a slight grin..St Gaul looked agast...well? let us Open mine  and we'll see how it  tastes... anyone?

 Lyri shrugged  and    finished her glass   and went over.

 Beth just waved it off...I'm good, i want to be ready for the Victory party tonight.

 Will held up a hand   and shook his head.

 Outisde the  Box  the stadium was shakign as  Hermes  folks  danced in the stands.

  Captain Si,  Admiral Hennings  and   General bale  had  glasses  as well as captain LaQua.

Hawkeye grinned, "Deciding to stay honest with thing Hawkeye grinned. Just a product of down time and want for a hobby, and yes it was made aboard the Hermes from grains and botanicals obtained on Uden, thus making it perhaps the first gin produced from Udenese grains and botanicals. If that's a problem I am more than willing to fill out whatever paperwork is required. It was mad in a shop in the civie section. She took a small serving herself. Bear in mind this is Naval Strength so it's a touch stronger than most shelf products."<royalred> she smiles trying to pour on the charisma raising her glass. <Royalred>To the APF ladies and gentlemen she says with a grin then sips the gin feeling the unique bite of the alcohol made by Udenese grain, and the rich flowery taste of the juniper and udenese flowers and other flavors.

   Hack Coughed a Bit  as he took his  sip..  Captain Si chuckled , Hennings looked a bit  surprised , but  Bale  didn't seem to mind it.  Lyri  Knocked hers  back   and hunched her shoudlers...

 ..That's enough for me today...  I want to be standing for the victory party.

  Billie  came  down   forcing the return man , back inside, where  Melia   Hit   Him, with a good  wrap up tackle

 1-10 E25 12:55s 1Q H-7 E-0

 Billie  was  waved off the Filed  for a moment she stood  right next to Coach  Post  as  the other players  took the  Field.

  Everest opened  with  run up the Middle, it  gained  3  yards the   Defensive tackle  brought the  runner   down

 2-7 E28 12:26 r  1Q

 the  Evererst  team was talking  time in the Huddle , coming out   with 12 seconds or  left on the play clock

 The next Play Pascal  rolled to His  right  he    passed  abut the   ball fluttered incomplete over Machins  head  as he tried to   knock it away.

3-7 E28 12:01s 1Q

   Post grabbed   Billie by the Pads, ..go in for Simmons  at  Right  Corner.. Tell Supe i want him and Zob Blitzing... and Blitz every play after that..

 he sent her to the  field  with a push..

 Shadow  stood there   watching , His Helmet pushed halfway up his  head  as he drank some power Ade..

 Tucker  was next to him...Ok? LC..i can see them takign thier time when the clock's  runnign, burn some clock?... but  why now? the clock is stopped...

 He points to the sidlines  as  Billie  was   pushed onto the field.....Thier Coach is callign the plays. There is a good chance Pascal has the option to  chance things up.. Walker  sends  plays  in to  Miller, but Miller is in charge, if she don't like walker's play, she is goign to run it..because of that?  Walker  can tell her  where to attack and she comes up with a play.

Billie entered the game doing as the coach told her with regard to instructions to the other players. She was a bit nervous since she had just gotten used to special teams but remembering what she had been told, on the snap she gave the receiver extra room, determined that she wouldn’t give up any deep passes.

Nikki stayed near Sneak and the kids as well as Larry.  She watched the kids and Sneak with attention, making sure noone bugged them as they had fun. She made sure even the littlest one had a good view.  When they'd ask a question she would answer it if she could.  She'd help them cheer for Hermes (or even Everest if they liked).  She'd help them have fun.

Roy shook his head softly, declining the offer.  "The only hard liquor I drink is vodka...and only for two occasions, at that," he explained.  In his career field, he'd seen a lot of good men ruined by relying on liquor to help them wind down when they weren't in the field...which eventually led to them needing the liquor when they were in the field, which led to their careers ending in an ignominious display.

He looked over at Admiral Hack.  "You suppose it's too late to get some money on the game?" he asked.  He didn't generally gamble...but he could afford to venture some money.  And betting on the Hermes had never failed him.  Quite the opposite...

Karl got to the stadium late...but headed straight for the betting windows.  "Too late to put some money down on the game?  And is there a maximum bet size?" he asked.  He didn't often pay much attention to his account balance...it slowly went up over time, but usually, he was pretty close to equilibrium in what he spent versus what he earned, even with paying the premium price to get the better food on the rec deck or at the O-club instead of the cheaper fare that was more readily available.

But he'd just been paid.  And he remembered the last trip to Everest...and he was still kicking himself for not putting money down on that game.  It was not a mistake he intended to repeat.

 St Gaul looked at Roy...Us the Box COMs , you cam place a Bet from here.. The   odds  are limited?  we had  some ....trouble.. the last  time the  hermes  was here, so  the   Bookies  put a Cap on the  Bets.

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

 Carl  had the Betting  pointed out to Him , witht he  fellow  answering , with a german accent,Ve  haf der betting  capped  at 5000 creds... it is to insure  der people  do not  ..over  extend  thier resources..Ja?  so , vhat vill it be...

...........

 For Nikki  she was Given the  last sideline pass, they stood  out of the players  Box,  and would run to the other  end  when  the ball moved past the 50.

 Roll was Having  Fun..Larry was havign  fun watchign the  players, when a big hit happened he thumped his tail  Sneak was  excited..  Nifty  and  Jax  stayed  near them, Lookign at the stands, but also watching the Game.

 The   4 Kids  were in awe... and..because the hermes  helped them..they were all about the hermes  winning!

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

 in the booth..it started..  offciers  and   well dressed business  folks started to  File  in and  chat with the board, and pose  for pics  with  Will and his medal..

 Will would smile, then go back to eating,    the same questions rattled off, the   newly minted SGT  would start to answer,"...  I tried to tackle the  guy and he shot me..."..or.." I got in the way of a death Frisbee.."  and one he would use on men in suits, "... there are alot of dead guys out there, form every race in the APF, that should have this   medal.. i was just lucky enough to live.."

 he would sit down to start eating ( his  second dish of the  beef and noodles)  and  another   pair of  elbow rubbers   would pop in..and he'd  have to do it  again... To her 'credit' St Gaul   only let folks stay for a  quick drink and chat, then moved them off.

  Lyri , watching the door  would nod to  Roy and Messe, as   the door guard was scannign wrist ,  for those who were  paying to see the  EMH...

 CE-VA  was busy, getting film on the Fans  and the Game.. He Media vessel pumping her feeds out to The Fleets and Colonies, Gleefully.

 3-7 E28 12:01s 1Q

   It was  third   down Everest was  taking thier time, for whatever   reason, and this  aided the  Hermes  team whose people had  been fighting hard they last few weeks.

 as the amble up to the Line ,Pascal watchign the  clock.. Supe yelled  at Pascal,..No Use  lookign at the Clock, French Fry. We get to beat on you for a long time!

 Then, Pascal noticed the   new  Number  two his left..he called  out  a  change to the  play and  Nivit  went in motion to Billie's side.

  Shadow Moved down the sidelines.....he sees you out there , Billie.. be ready,,hit hard!

  the  ball was   Snapped  Rascal rolled to his Left ( not his favoirte side), he saw a new number out there, and  was goign to feed!   The Blitz   came rolign into the  Everest O,Line.. The  Sanri Lost Zob  after Hitting Him Hard, But Zob  used     the   skills  learned in practice   tto  slip   by..  supe  used a 'swim Move' and his   free run  from MLB  to shoot  another  Gap, Nivit  shot off on Billie, lookign to  blow past the  rookie...

Sarah had joined the rest of the flag officers in the limo arriving at the game. It was good sense for her to make an appearance as the highest ranking Burian official, barring any ambassadors, on the station.

She passed on the gin being proffered up much preferring beer or wine herself and not really having a taste for harder liquors.

When the ball snapped Zob laughed at the pathetic attempt at the Sanri trying to trip him up as he slipped past him, perhaps it was bad luck but he was just a fraction of a second off from catching Pascal as he *bumped* into him even though it was light he made sure it was painful as possible.

 Sam Found Howe and watched the Hermes team score the first Touchdown. Sam smiled and said to Howe," Hi there Lt. how are you doping and that is a great start to the game. She knew football, she was an ok fan, she was more here to see and spend time with Howe.

<slight flex as we want to arrive at the beginning>

Henry, Val and Mila came along and found a good vantage point to watch the game. It seemed to be the done thing to have snacks, so Henry got some for them all.

  Howe  waved to Sam  and   motioned for her to take the seat next to him.. even though the game had started, Hermes  folks  were  drifting in.



 Hey Lady!, we're off  to a decent start, but   there's a long game to go..

.......

 Mila  saw  all the people , must be  30,000 so fare with alot of  seats  that were slowly filling.. sights of oddly dressed fans  and  horns  sounding, and the  smell of  dozens of  types of food.

 Val  nibbled on a  Hot  Dog, she  was wigglign in her   seat as the next snap   came,  with Zob and  Supe goign after  Pascal, who  had  eagerly  decided to pick on Billie...

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

 In the Box  people chatted..Will was getting next to, No time, to  eat..people gald handing him and Posing  for pictures... some wanted to get a pic  with Will and his 'squeeze'

"Five thousand?  Perfect.  That's what I was looking to put up, in the first place."  He rubbed his hands together gleefully.

"Five Thousand, on the Hermes to win."  Half the team, he was used to covering in action...the other half kept the skies clear for him to do it (he knew it wasn't that simple, but knowing their quality, he had no reservations about the civies on the squad with the military people he knew).

"I'd say I'm sorry I'll be taking your money...but I'm not."  He gave a shark-like smile as his chip was scanned for the bet, and he went to find his seat.

 Sam sat next to Howe and gave him a kiss and then said," Yes I saw the first touchdown, lets hope they can score more and kick Everest's butt." Sam was happy she found Howe, and happy they would be spending some time together.

Billie knew she was told not to look for picks, but when she got out there she knew she had the read. Jumping the route  she got to the ball before the receiver and took off, inly to be brought down  within ten yards by Nivit.

 3-7 E28 12:01s 1Q

 The Everest People  stood  , almost as  one   as Pascal rolled out .  They have seen this , time  and again...

 'Le Lapin'..the Rabbit looking  for  a target as  he  ran from the foxes.. The  Crown  shouted  angry, when Pascal   was 'nudged  down to Sprawl  on the fiedl  by  Zob.

 They   shouted in disbelief ,  a  The   Ball wobbled  towards  Nivit  and   the Rookie DB  step up to grab it,, she    stumbled  forward  affter Nivit     tried to Hit  her, and fell down after a return of 6!

  Hermes's  Ball on the  Everest  37!

1-10 E37 11:40s 1Q H-7 E-0

 Pascal  was screaming  at the officials  (who weren't home grown this time)...   Nivit  was   crying that Billie  pass interfered...

 Shadow    walked  past the Both , after  High fiving  Billie... He  said to Nivit,..shut the 9 hells up  you wuss bastard, you're gonna make  us   ..REAL recivers  look bad...

    Pascal  was storming to his   Sidelines..Wow..Pascal... you're up the creek huh?

 what do you mean..you...you playboy?

 is that in insult? cause.. hey? there are worse things... But  you don't have  home grown  refs ... you have peoploe that are going to hit  you every time that ball is snapped.. and crying like a Baby, doesn't   make it look good... instead of  'the Rabbit'... what About  we change that to , Pascal the Pussy?

  he  took the  quick steps towards  Shadow who enever moved, but  tow  refs    stepped between them...

   That's   enough LC..Play the Game...

 But..  machins  had heard the Bit  as he stayed  near the field to make  sure there wasn't  any  lobbying for a call..,, He came back and   repeated what Shadow had  said...

 Pretty soon   a slow chant started..., getting louder  and louder  .. PUSS IN BOOTS....PUSS IN BOOTS'

 Meari watched the game with Vaka, and when Billie intercepted the ball she jumped up and cheered. She then sat back sown and said to Vaka," She stole the ball from the other team, that is very good."

 Billie was mobbed when she  got to the sidelibnes, people   slappign her   back, pounding on her  pads  and  Givign her  High  5's

 Post was Grinning...well..you did that good enough!....

 machins came over and Handed her the football...You might  want to hold onto this.. '1st interceptions' do happen every day.

 Walker sent  Melia  out , this time with Watson standing  next to him...Tell Miller ,  keep the tempo,  try to score fast...  he pushed her out   to the field

 as they waited for the sticks to be reset,   there was a commercial on the  screem  for the new   edtions of    Action figures   for the ESN  and CAptain Lighting  collections, as  well as 'Shadow's  Flight" Video game  and  " Hermes Rise "  a tactical board game

Melia cheered as Zob nearly landed a tackle for a loss the ball wobbling down field only to get pulled in by Billie who added 6 yards returning the pick. She pulled her helmet on moving out to the field with the offense ready for her first series of downs on offense.

She was breathing heavily but smiled as she was mobbed, giving out high fives and everything before grabbing a quick drink and removing her helmet. A drop of sweat trickled down her temple. She grinned when Machins handed her the ball. "Thanks. Now Kyle has a friend," she chuckled, glancing up into the stands but knowing there was no way she'd see Arnie from where she was.