In reply to hanger Dec (msg # 980):

Zob cracked open the soda and downed it in one gulp before tossing it aside, "What's he gonna do wine and dine him? should just kill him now... but it is what it is i suppose, will just have to wait to see what *glorious death* the LC has in store for him"

He then cracked open another soda as Meari came over and spoke, "And let me guess arrogant and completely obvious to his situation as well as find any far fetched reason to justify his choices?" he asked her in a rather nonchalant manner.

Izzy would wave off Beth's comment about not liking fast cars as being irrelevant, as she deliberately missed the point "Fine, throwing your shiny new computer into the compactor because the spacebar sticks, regardless the ESN was created to protect Earth if we destroy our own home planet simply because of a few bad elements then we'll simply give the EDT and the Empire the satisfaction of saying that they were right all along about us being pirates and terrorists" she calmly explained not even needing a past in journalism to tell her the optics of destroying Earth would be horrific.

She would show no reaction to Beth's biblical reference other than quirking an eyebrow as she hinted that they could become "gods" with her instead turning back to the comms chatter, not really feeling up to theosophical debate at this point in time. With the comms seemingly back to normal with no further messages from Earthers or Light's Out would once again focus on what she was supposed to be doing.

  Beth  gives  a shrug,..there are people  fighting back on Earth..always  have  been, since our  3rd year out here... They'll be  safe, they'll gather  as many folks  who haven't turned, as they are  able...Bottom Line...We did our job, and Earth broke from the APF...We still have Matterhorn to worry about? But in the  end, we'll have to make a stop at Earth....

 she shrugs again,..I like Fuji and Bura?... I won't miss not goign to earth...Shadow  might, he has a football career  waiting, if they still play?

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

  The Admiral  looked over the wounded being  Helped to the  Med tech, some of them would  be able to be 'walking  wounded'.

  All Assault  team members who need Med Tech, get treated... Those  who  can still fight , report to the Hanger Dec, those not cleared, stay in med tech...

 Looking over  The  three  Shuttle group commanders, he Points to LT Hirr.You are done for  this  trip... get you arm tended to and  you can report back to the Hanger dec. LT Jug?... Your  first big test here... you take Command of The Club  Troops...

 LT HIrr   'roweled  ' something in a Cat  tongue  dialect  as she moved off  with the other wounded

 Hack turned and Shouted,any Volunteers to  take the place of the wounded for  the assault craft.. step up.... walking wounded will take your place on the hanger dec

 Folkes  raised his  Hand..Shoey just frowned  as he knew he couldn't go.

  Supe  was mad  as his shoulder was wrapped  when he returned,  Tucker's  right leg  had a brace, as they set up  Supe's heavy Pulse  on a tripod and   put  some crates   and such  around it, a few yards  in front of the  scaffold.. they would be  a static  HW  for now.

 other    troops  ran to   the bathroom, got  food and drink and began to replenish hard   Ammo, C-10, and get fresh powercells

 Morris, still in a flight suit, walked throught he   troops checking  to make sure  they were eating and drinking

 Stoly's   shuttle folks,  ate and  drank  while  cleaning out  empty  50 cal casings  and putting in fresh belts, along with   fresh crates of  50 call ammo

 Hool sat  down  by gregor, his battered  suit  and head gear off, he looked depressed  as Rigg would take   his place, Disna   and  Puskie  suiting him  up, they  would move on to   cleaning the other  Larg's  head gear and patching or replacing suits... while letting the largs drink and  eat  some of the left over Avian  and SSN troops that boarded them.

Henry stood up.

"Can you use us anywhere, Admiral?"

Beside him two largs thumped their tails and a furry-larg wagged hers.

  The Admiral Turned to look at Henry...I don't know what we'll find there.. it could be a station like Olympus  with the Empire  folks as top dogs....or it could be a gods be damned processing plant...or a Mix.....You get there. Look around.. see what Bio-tech info  you can  come up  with... Looks  Like Hool is  staying  and Rigg is going..gregor has to stay...he is a bit too small for  boarding action, but he's just right for  Hanger Dec Duty... Pick a Shuttle, Doc....

 gregor thumped his tail a bit more slowly, but seemed relatively happy.

"Yes, Ad..." hang it all, what was it the military types said? Ah yes...

"Already done, Admiral. Come on Mila."

Henry checked that he had plenty of shotgun shells and water for Mila. He sent a com message to Bio-Tech asking Roll to come and resume Larg Master duty for Gregor and Hool on the Hanger Dec, oh, and to tell Val he loved her.

 Meari looked at Captain Traitor and then the Admiral asked for volunteers to replace injured troopers. Meari saw Folkes volunteer, Meari was technically still on limited duty but the Admiral could  over ride that if she was needed.

 Meari looked at the Admiral and rose her hand and said," I would love to volunteer Sir." Meari hoped he understood what she meant, she was technically not allowed.

 Hack loked at  Meari his eye glanced at her leg.if you think you are able to help, pick a shuttle.

 Meari looked at Folkes, smiled and said," Do you have this traitor Folkes? I am heading to a shuttle, good bye Captain Traitor remember real heroes dont eat their own." Meari gave a Udenese curse to damn evil traitorous souls, and then replied to the Admiral," Yes sir Already done sir, thank you."

 Meari then made sure Feng was watched and called another trooper to take her place. Meari then headed for the SM's shuttle, to join his group.

“Yeah Bura is really nice...but it’s not home, I grew up in a right shit hole but it’s my shit hole if you know what I mean?” Izzy said, recalling the tiny apartment she’d shared with her parents within the LA slum where she’d grown up, trying her best to either get along with or avoid the local gangs with the one plus side being that only one bully had been stupid enough to chase her into her neighbourhood that asshole sure got his!

When the admiral asked for volunteers to replace the wounded on the shuttle’s bound for the nest ship, Izzy would hesitate for a few moments before speaking up ”I could go if you’re desperate for people, I’m not an assault trooper but I have trained for boarding actions” Izzy cautiously offered. She wasn’t worried if she couldn’t go or she was needed more here, but she thought she would make the offer.

 Hack truned at Izzy  words, he seemed to measure her...Alright , Ensign?  Pick a Shuttle Listen  to the Lead...we want Intel..Cred  discs   and to Kill SSN  and Empire  folks...any question of accepting a surrender. is answered with  'NO' unless it seems to be a Civie.. Civie  surrenders  will be based on the room the two transports  we captured  have.. The Rest?....well... that's the breaks of war....Your Lead  will have the final say, since they will be there, and they won't let me go out and play..

Henry and Mila headed towards the Spade, to take their places.

Trying her best to hide her surprise at being allowed to join one of the teams, Izzy would throw Beth a quick glance to see if she was ok with her leaving before getting up, assuming of course that Beth was ok with her leaving "Yes sir, Already done sir!" she said, eagerly grabbing her headgear and carbine before quickly heading down the scaffolding and following Meari onto the same shuttle as her, glad that she would finally be able to actively take part in the battle. Manning the comms was important and all, and she was more than happy to help Beth in that regard, but she wanted to prove that she was an asset to the team and not someone they simply tolerated.

 Meari heard Izzy volunteering and the Admiral sent her, she headed towards the Shade and her. Meari waited for Izzy and replied," Ens Sakura you are joining us, glad to have you aboard, lets crack this nest ship shall we." Meari smiled and then headed for the Shade.

    Morgan took his   Armor  back to the  mech Area, he   told the  tech cre, they could use  his  if then needed it..but  not to take it  out of Atmo.

 He  them walked   his  Gremlin across tot he shuttles.

 Hack  gathered Andre, Morgan and Kira.. We have no idea what the floor plans  for this thing are.  But they  have Balst door  sections   for  windows  in a 360 degree ring..... If   Shadow  and the  others   can weaken or break through  a Balst door... that will be the  best entry point.... I want one thing understood... if things   go sideways,  or its , just flat out  time to shatter the place... you  three get out, and if your  machine can't make it out, leave it behind..we can always get  new Mechs..Understood?

 In the Spade, troops  refreshed.. some new  folks from the Hanger Dec... Will Looked at Meari,wow?.. did  Stefi OK you..or did you sneak on?

 Cora  and Ellen noted  Izzy.  Cora  said,you ever board  before?.... You gotta  watch, these guys  have a Mixed  back...SSN unifrom, red coat human troopers, Black uniformed EDT..and Empire  folks?

 Maria   stood  , one hand  on the  hand rails  about the seats,..it is not that hard... shoot any thing that doesn't have  ESN  Blue...make them stop more of your bullets, they you stop of thiers..

 Jax  looks  down and  says...And keep your Helmet on!

  The  shuttles  were finishing  the last load ups... They had  about  5 minutes before the shelling would stop..

 HacK didn't even use  the COM...LT Stoly!..Lead them out, no use waiting for the last Minute!

 ..Already done, Admiral!

 mechs  locked on, ramps  camp up... 2nd shift for the assault  teams..

(( Shuttles  to   'funnel'>>>>>>>>))

 Beth  looked at Orria , who had a questioning look...we'll be  fine.. we did this  before, just you and me...

 Feng watched , he was  visibly upset  as the shells  pounded the station..There  are women, children....

 ..Save it , Captain. there were  tons of  women and children on there, that were packaged and sent to be eaten..or..in your  case, served up....I can only imagine what Earth is like now..with  some people  kissing  Empire ass to  gain power and  creds, while other   people  fight the good   fight... Bura?..  had  Empire people harvesting thier people , like it was a garden.. innocents people  get kill in Total war... the difference between  us  and the Empire, is , they did it on purpose...we'll be doing it  as ...it is often quoted....' breaking  eggs  to make the  omelet

 Meari smiled at Will and replied," Shhh I was on the Hanger Dec the Admiral asked for volunteers to join the shuttles, I volunteered, the Admiral asked if my knee was ok I said yes and he said get in a shuttle. Here I am I guess fighting the Birds off the Hanger Dec showed the Admiral I was fit for combat as well most likely." Meari smiled at the others, and Izzy as she took a seat and the others talked with her.

Izzy would smile as she was greeted by Meari ”Yeah I thought it was time I got involved” she said as followed her onto the shuttle, feeling a heady mix of nervousness and excitement as she does so. When asked if she had ever been on a boarding mission before she would hesitate for a few moments before replying ”It’s my first time as a trooper...but I accompanied a few assault teams when I was with the...um...press corps” with her agreeing that Maria’s method of shooting anyone not in ESN blue was perhaps the best policy, quietly relieved that she’d finally got around to re-spraying her own armour. At the mention of keeping her headgear on she would offer Jax a sheepish smile as she quietly replied ”you don’t have to tell me twice...my girl would lose her shit with me if I got injured doing something stupid again” tightening her straps as she took her seat and waited for the shuttle to reach it’s destination.

——> alpha-beta funnel

  Mitch landed  He and Benny hoped  out , went to refresh themselevs  as the  next  torpedo was  loaded. In Less then 3 minutes  the   tube was loaded and the  fish was active.. the two hopped   in  Just as Shadow's  Message came in.

 ..on it , LC.. leaving the hnager Now.... MC  Fitz!...ETA..90 seconds....

 fly on in ,,, its  an easy target to see!

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

 Hack listened  and smiled... Shuttles,, you should  have two Holes... when you get in, open all the blast doors...

  Mitch landed again..he was tired, Benny was tired... but they wanted to fire one more.

 The Admiral pointed to the  hanger  bays  and Beth nodded  as he leaped over the   railing and landed  with  a bounce to his step...He jogged over to  Feng and Shoey  a Burian archer  had watched  Feng, he made certain he  knew it.

 well Feng.. what do you think?

 I think you are a butcher....

 coming from a fellow who fights for the bad guys who eat people?.. I'll take that as a compliment...

 You just killed you  'Great"  LC..Yikk has never been beaten.. i fought him in war games.. i only tagged him once... he has over  500 kills, most of them in The Paradise system..your  LC, has never faced the likes of him.

Morris  sipped  some tea that  Dana made him , by running back to his shed.quite so?... 500  kills sounds impressive, if those  kills were all Angels...and..Your Vice Admiral, has never seen the likes of our LC..

dp you thin Yikk's is a fool?... There is a good chance, Shadow and those with him  will never see what kills them..

  Hack, Feng, Morris and Hennings along with Shoey watched  and Listened to the COM Chatter...

 well..whadda ya know.....a trap for the LC?

 Feng Grinned...its is total war, there is  only honor in winning....

 Morris  scoffed as he sipped,..you may wish you had not said that...

 Beth Could be heard... There are a total of   26 waiting at the dow, 20 of them  just below the  'dark side' horizon...

 yeah..we got them, they just powered up

 good luck..be smart...

In reply to hanger Dec (msg # 997):

Kira listened to the Admiral and gave a affirmative nod, "Understood Admiral we wont let you down" and when it was time to go she gave a nod to her team and they attached to the shuttles and headed on out.

----> To Alpha Beta Funnel

  The Hermes  was one of the  4 Cap ships closest to the Station..EVac  shuttles from the   drop ships loaded people on and spread thier  severally  would to those four ship, while treating   small wounds in thier own massive Med tech

 others still were   sent  to some of  Emmies transports to go to Etna or Bura  for Med Help.

  The Admiral watched the wounded comign in, it was  plain the CNC  battle  was going to be costly.

   He looked at Morris  and  Hennings,Next time we do this, if there is a next time, we bring at least one Med Tech ship...

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

 Karl came in,  his crew  hustled even though one  had  an arm in a sling and  another wasn't wearing  a helmet and had one eye covered  in  wrappings.

The IS crew start unloading whatever supplies Rivets wants.  Three CB Mechs jet across the void to the deck with loads of hard ammo.  Garrat gets out of one and goes to Hack.  Sorry we couldn’t bring more sir, but we figured Time might get pretty important fast.”

  Hack Nodded to Garrat,whatever we have, is more then we had a few Minutes  ago, QM  will get folks on it....

 Hack  waved to a Fellow  in a  Red and Black Tunic, with Captains  bars and SSN insignia , along witht he Chinese Block insignia.

  Captain Feng..This is SGT  Wolfrim..his people come from the other end of The  Black..

 Feng who was shorter  to start with, Looked up at the Taller Garrat.

  ..The LC forced him to land here.. I think  he might have some novel entertainment Ideas  for Him... we are also bring  over some  Officers from the ships  we  captured...Sadly? Hack made an Exaggerated ,stage  sigh,..not alot of prisoners were taken...