Meari watched but she didnt want to intrude, but she couldnt help but hear both sides. Meari looked at Harry as she passed her and said," Yes Harry many care about you, you are Hermes Family and we stick together no matter what, you need to talk Harry I will be there for you but you need to get your game face on, and go kick some ass, never never say they are good enough too shoot you down Harry." Meari nods at Harry as she left and then walks with Will and she says to him, " I am not sure if she is in the right mind to go up either Will, what do you want to do?" Meari didnt want to upset Harry but if she was already shot down in her mind it would not be good for her to go into combat, in that state she might not just herself killed but others as well.

 Lizzy smiled held Izzy close and said," Well your eye, and dont worry I will give you a few pointers ok my love." Lizzy smiled and then she brought up getting her armor Lizzy was about to reply when Nikki came back and said she should go get changed, Lizzy made sure her fighter was set to go and said to Izzy, " Yes Izzy not sure what will be happening lets go get changed together, I know you hate seeing me in my envirosuit." Lizzy giggled took Izzy's hand and they headed to their quarters to change into their combat gear.

 They didnt have a lot of time, but Lizzy give give Izzy a little show as she got dressed in her envirosuit and then her armor. Lizzy said goodbye to their fish and made sure the tank was all set for combat and the beautiful fish where fed.

 Once they where both ready they would head back to the Hanger Dec and Lizzy would ask Izzy," So you do not know what you will be doing for this combat Izzy? The SM hasnt contacted you yet?"

 Shadow  watched  she shook his head, he truned  from the  screens and   walked down  steps...Those kids?......I... he just keep walking  , When Will ran into  Him, they went off towards the shuttles   as Will talked  and waved  his   hands  around.

  The LC pointed a  finger  at  him  and  said   some  stuff, and Moved  to make sure  Will looked  at him , before he  gave the  trooper a  whack on the back,  and   started towards  the  Berths   with a purpose... Will just   walked to the  shuttle  entrance    and stood  there  shaking his  head.

  .....

 The Admiral Looked at the Board as  he answered  Roy,Set the  three  shuttles up as you want.....  were  driving  right through to the home world.. I'm  looking  at the fleet making  to orbits  of  constant shelling  before we  send   the shuttles   down.... The   Drop ships  will come   once you light the   smoke...

 Hennings  adds.. as  far as boarding actions , we'll see how that goes ,
  we don't know   how big or  how  strong thier  fleet is... I mean? they been doing it
  eons before us?..But they have  never  fought  some one like  us...

 Hack looked up  at the scaffold,I,,,myself..owe them for somethign they took from be, using the Nivarians  as  a shill .. this thing witht eh Kids? they don't have a dog in this
 fight, yet...there they are  trying to kill a boat load of kids   who never   had a chance at life .... well  Roussa is going to   paid the Bill in full...

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

  Reaching    Thier berths, Shadow  walked  to Harry's  aircraft.. , no preamble, he   told Argie to check on Billie   aircraft, Then   plopped   down next to  Harry .

 ..This is going to  be short....You screwed things up pretty  well?.. Don't know  why,  Don't even care.... I have one question... we are going  Hammer Roussa...regardless of what happens to those  kids... The Fleet... The Admiral, owe those eggplants .... The   question is... can you screw your  head  tight  enough   to
 do you job and not hang your wingman out to dry...

 his voice  was  tight... some anger to be sure, some disappointment.

By the time Shadow had arrived Harry had finished the rose's stem, complete wicked looking thorns, and had moved on to the flower itself, the blood red bloom a stark contrast to the black background of the nose section. He would also be able to see that she had neatly painted a set of dates beneath her name under the canopy in white paint; one date was presumably her date of birth, the other was today's date.

Hearing Shadow's voice she would give him a slightly confused look like her mind had been a million miles away and consequently hadn't seen him arrive before quietly responding "oh...hey LC...I suppose it depends if she can follow basic instructions like stick with me or whether she's going to wander off whilst I'm trying to save the other rook I got lumbered with like last time...I could have really done with her help you know? I had to take on three Red Birds in order to keep Higgins alive, I bet no one told you that did they? Typical...I throw myself into a suicidal attack to save a rook in a limping bird and no one bats an eye, but Brivet throws herself in front of the guns of an enemy aircraft and get us both shot down and I'm the bad guy, consequently you should have a word with her, as well intentioned as that is it's liable to get her killed and she's too good of a pilot to waste doing shit like that..." she said as she carefully painted another petal onto the rose. There was no anger or accusation in her voice as she spoke, in fact there wasn't any emotion at all, just the weariness of someone that knew something bad was coming and that nothing she did or said would stop it from happening "...send me up, wing or not, I can kill Roussian's no problem...just do me a favour LC...make sure they spell my name right, oh and no letter home to my parents, they wouldn't care anyway" she said in that same far away, emotionless voice as she continued to paint "...at least Cora and Ellen will be happy...they've been trying to drive a wedge between us for months, me dying today will be just icing on the cake"

  Shadow  snorted...I won't get into  why you ended up  going after Red Birds  when there were  alot of targets to be had... it doesn't matter right now...

 ..You get shot  down, there will be a letter  Home with   a Vid sent  to earth about your  exploits... you don't  want that.. don't do stupid  stuff...

 He  slipped  down off the Wing  and shook his head ,..you had  it all... but you just needed to be   the 'bad  girl'.. hope the price  was  worth it...most folks don't get that chance again.....

 Argie  yelled down from Shadow's  Machine...All loaded LC... we won't get it all Painted....

 ..make sure that  tail is white  with my number..., and make sure   my  Flight  leader Bubble   works.. I want them to see me  coming..

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

    Frans    and Eckles    were  sitting  on thier  wings  waiting for Pregame..
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:49, Sun 27 Dec 2020.

Roy nodded.  "Sounds like ground-side assault.  I'll get everyone sorted into sticks, but hold off boarding the shuttles until they a total shelling starts...anyone tries to board us before then, they're gonna walk into a shitstorm of fire."  He had his own emotions simmering carefully...letting them out of control caused jitters and heavy breathing and that screwed up marksmanship...but he obviously had no use for the Roussians.

He made his way back over to the assembled ground troops.  "Okay, listen up!" he barked out, his voice managing to cut through the buzz of activity around them.  "We're gonna be hitting planetside...Admiral wants to make two orbits of shelling before he sends us out, tenderize them a bit for us.  So, we're not boarding shuttles until the first orbit begins and the guns open up on the surface.  That said, I want you ready to board the moment that call is made, so we'll sort you now.  Until we mount up, we're extra troops for anti-boarding action.  Stay back from the static fields, stay out of the ground crews' way, don't cluster too close together...if someone manages to sail a stray shot in through the screens, I don't want to lose half of you in one blast.  Once the shooting starts, button up your boarding armor and keep it on until we're done.  The Roussians think they're pretty badass...but they've never tangled with us, and they're gonna throw everything they can at us, so be ready for anything, and assume nothing."  He gave a grim nod, then started moving through the troops, sorting out who went on which shuttle, trying to make sure he had an even spread of heavy fire and new troops so no single shuttle was shy on firepower, or burdened with too much inexperience.

When she had finished up with her bird and grabbed her things from her quarters, Billie looked for Shadow, still bothered by what was revealed and not entirely sure she felt comfortable in her flight leader. "Hey LC...um...could I have a word with you?" she asked when she found Shadow.

  Shadow   stopped as  he  wanted to go back to the scaffold to  hear news  of his   Duaghter  and   the  kids.

  ..You bet?  what's up...

"I am just a little concerned about my...Flight Leader given what has happened. I...guess that is the nicest way I can put it," she said softly, shifting a bit nervously. "I mean, the communication hasn't been the greatest and I just worry how it all is going to play out when we are out there. Sorry...I know you are dealing with a lot but I just wanted you to know that I am pretty uncomfortable with the idea that I can't...trust...my flight lead." Last time had not gone well and the lack of communication could potentially cost her her life.

"I thought I did too...but apparently he didn't understand me at all...and once again I've been hurt by someone that I put my trust in, sure in hindsight Grit and Abby were probably not the best of choices, but what's his excuse? All he had to do was man up and talk to me and I would have made the effort to change, after all I quit drinking for him didn't I? Instead he just sat there whining about getting hurt and then ran away when things got tough" she said with a hint of bitterness entering her voice "Oh and Shadow, for the record a bad girl, the old Harry that ran around the East End, wouldn't have spent anywhere near as much time worrying about him getting hurt, and dressing up to in a desperate attempt to make him happy as I did, and she sure as hell wouldn't have put up with his friends constantly flirting with him" she said applying one final touch of red paint before leaving to find her armour, for all the good it would do if an enemy put a 25mm round through her canopy.

As Lizzy put her arms around her Izzy would give her a relieved look when she seemed to understand what it was she was worried about before giggling at the mention of her envirosuit, with the two of them then returning to their quarters to suit up.

After attending to their fish and making sure they were fed and secure in their tank they would strip out of their uniforms and don their envirosuits and armour, With Izzy giggling delightedly at her girlfriends display, although she had to admit it was far more enjoyable watching it coming off, but at least that would give her something to look forward to.

Once Izzy had finished tightening the buckles on her armour and had collected her carbine and a few spare magazines she would wave goodbye to the fish before heading back down to the hangar dec with Lizzy "I look like ESN Barbie in this lot" Izzy sighed knowing that even in a full set of medium boarding armour that everyone else would tower over her, not to mention the fact that the enemy was more likely to say aaah isn't it cute than argh don't hurt me! when they saw her. With the subject of the upcoming combat being raised Izzy would consider the question for all of a few seconds before replying "Um...not exactly, I mean the SM probably has more important things to think about than calling me, so I think I'm going to sit on the hangar dec unless someone has anything better for me to do" It wasn't the worlds greatest plan but considering she was currently between jobs and technically not cleared for active duty it was the best she could come up with until she could find someone who could tell her otherwise. It was as she was telling Lizzy this that she would see a tear stained and bleary eyed Harry walking down the flight lines towards the lifts "Oh wow...she's looking seriously rough, is she alright?"

 Lizzy smiled at Izzy and replied," Izzy you look protected that is all that matters, plus I think you look sexy as hell in it, and please remember my love if anything goes down make sure your helmet is locked on ok." She smiled but she was also serious any more injury to her face or eye could change Izzy's options quickly.

 Lizzy looked at Izzy and said," Ok just make sure you check in with someone so they know you arent AWOL or something. Well just stay safe ok, lets head to my fighter I want to make another check."  Lizzy had no clue the plan so she wasnt sure when the fighters would be sent out but most likely as they hit enemy ships or unless they where saving the fighters for Roussian home world.  She was also wondering if the kids made it safely to Bura.

 Then Izzy pointed out Harry who was not looking good at all. Lizzy shook her head and replied," No I dont think she is ok, shooting down Abby, then her thinking a betrayed her by calling in help because I cared about her, and now from the looks of what I have seen, and the rumors Will and her broke up. I am worried about her Izzy, I just dont know if I go over there I would be helping her or hurting her." Lizzy and Harry wherent exactly close anymore and she missed it, but it was her that ended it, and then Harry treated her like an evil monster for over reacting trying to help a close friend from hurting themself.

 Meari would stay with Will they where still on Hanger Dec duty, Meari nodded when he went and talked to the LC and he saw the LC head towards Harry. She noticed Harry seemed to head off somewhere after the LC talked to her. She then continued walking with Will and said," If you wish to talk I am a friend and I am here if you need an ear. Just wanted you too know that Will." She smiled and they continued their patrol as they where finally heading towards the Scaffold area.

  Shadow looked  more then a Little  Angry, but  the   brief  glances towards  the berths   told  Billie  it wasn't  with her.

 ..I'll talk to Captain Morris , see what we can do... if   you  don't   here from me, before   we mount up, you're   sorta  stuck..

...........

 Will  shakes his head, the sadness  was  getting replaced by disgust...I'm fine... I  was  just..... wrong.... You know?  so damn many clues?...the thing  with Lizzy?... sticking up for  some  whack job  reporter, over the  people who  put themselves on the line  for her... and all this crap, with showing , little or  no  repsect...making  me feel like i 'put her out' when she  had to go to the Bals?...and then this crap with  thinking i can  just walk away from what i have to do, witht eh PR  and such.. I wish  i  could Jump off... it
 would be a  god cleaning  to drop a few hundred Roussians

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

  At the scaffolding,  Beth  relayed   information to all ships in the Ara  , even  as she   called down to The Admiral....

 ..The   Roussians  have been destroyed.......  The  Rear Guard of the  Burian Escorts  were destroyed.... Uden's Promise    his damaged... The Ark  one , is  well into the   Golden Fleet's cloud  of  vessels...

  Shadow by this  time  was close  enough to hear  the  Call  from  Beth  and Jogged     over  to, and Up the  stairs   to  get  a  quick briefing  from  Shade  as to how   Uden's Promise  was.

 Hack    waited  for the  LC to climb up, then he followed.... He pointed  to beth    to open ALL COMs..

 Attention.... all  Allied  ships  and Delta Fleet vessels .... I want to  commend   The  Burians, Nivarians, and  Uden's Promise, for seeing the  Children  to safety.... and  , when this is over , we should have  some sort of service , for those   crewmen on  the Cold  Stone  and Bond raider.... Sadly, this in  not the  time..

 ..The delta Fleet   will continue  on to   Roussa, whatever  ships  are in the  way, we  are goign to cut through... our target is the Home world, while  we shell the  planet...  we can deal with the ships  that will be  caught between the   Delta  fleet.... and   the Hyrians  coming  in with the support  vessels

 ..there is   two  variances  to this.... the first?.. All  Delta Fleet ships, destroyer  on down  will   search the   conflict zone  of the rear guard, spread  wide..look for Pods....

 ..To the Buirans  and  Nivarians... i offer this... Come laong  to Roussa  Sapce, I am sure you both  have  some issue with the Roussians.... and... if  all things  go  our  way,  three more planets will be  added   to the APF  as   Colonies... Please... Fleet commnaders.. let me know of your   decisions..

  he turned  and looked owe the Hanger   dec, a practiced  eye  told him which fighters were ready  and which we not...\

   General Bale    asked , a bit out loud.Admiral?  You misspoke ?  You meant  to  add the roussian system to the APF, not colonies?

  he looked   down,  a grim look on his face,..for the roussians  to  Join the APF... there has to be people  able to sign a  treaty...

She gave a nod, swallowing hard. While she knew that he wasn't angry at her, he probably didn't need this on top of everything else...but she was also putting her own life on the line and not being sure of Harry's mental state just didn't sit well with her. It wasn't like she hadn't heard the stories of Harry being more...unstable. "I am sorry to bring this up in such an...untimely manner but I had really only just learned of it shortly after you left the Rec Dec...and I'd honestly like to not repeat the last battle. Thank you, Sir. If nothing can be done, I will make it work," she gave a salute before moving to fully gear up.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:22, Mon 28 Dec 2020.

 Meari nodded at Will and listened intently, she didnt know have the things he was talking about, she wondered what happened with Lizzy and the reporter, but she did see Harry leave the Ball early. Meari smiled and said," I guess we all make mistakes, but it seems Harry's are very deep and it seems she only cares about herself but there is a good heart in there somewhere. Also she needs to realize why we are all here not just some joy ride, we are fighting for our lives."

 Meari then heard the Admiral report about the children being safe, she let out a sigh of relief, and yes the Burians lost two ships Meari was pissed and then turned back to Will, " Dont worry Will after hearing that if I get a chance I will kill a couple hundred for you my friend." Meari was glad the kids and Skiffle where safe when this was all over she would check in on Skiffle.

After rolling her eyes in response to the over protective comment about putting her helmet on, Izzy would briefly look down at her armoured body before giving Lizzy a funny look "Really? You think armour is sexy? This is like the most most unflattering, non-feminine thing I've ever worn, I mean I could be an Occui under all this lot...a MALE Occui" she said with her personally not seeing the attraction.

As the conversation migrated to that of Harry, Izzy would wince as Lizzy revealed that the woman had killed her own sister and was in the throws of what looked like a nasty break up "Well...I doubt you could make it any worse, that and if she was to...um...you know, at least you'd be able to say you'd tried to help her" Izzy said, suspecting that if Lizzy did nothing and Harry died that the question of "what if" would tear her apart inside "if it helps I could go with you or you could ask Nikki to, she seems to get along with Harry" or perhaps Harry hadn't pissed her off was a more accurate reason.

Her trip to her quarters had been just long enough to change out of her overalls and haphazardly pull on an envirosuit and her bright yellow armour before returning to her berth. She felt like crap. Her stomach was roiling, her head felt like it was stuffed full of cotton wool, and when it did work it was just filled with unwanted thoughts that distracted her from what she was doing causing her to make mistakes. Consequently having already messed it up once  Harry was in the process of re-calibrating her guns and controls away from their factory settings, wishing she still had her old fighter or even her Bee, both of which she'd spent weeks tinkering with the settings until it was just right, instead she would have to pray that she could get the settings close enough in the limited time she had so she could hit what she was aiming at and take as many of the enemy with her before they finally killed her.

 Lizzy smiled and replied, "  Oh Izzy I think you would look sexy in anything, especially nothing. Plus I know who is in the armor." Lizzy giggles and smiles at Izzy.

 Lizzy listened to Izzy, yes she was right if she did nothing abd something did happen to Harry she would never forgive herself for not trying to help her friend. Lizzy replied,Yes you are right I have to try and thank you but I think I need to do this alone. Lizzy gave Izzy a hug and kiss then added,Go check in Izzy I will meet you back at my fighter.

 Lizzy was nervous as she walked over to Harry in her yellow armor. She went to Harry at her fighter and says to Harry,Hi Harry I see your upset, I know things aren't what they use to be between us, but whether you believe me or not I care about you and I am here if you need a friend,  and honestly Harry I think I am worth being friends with. Now we are getting ready for jump off are you good to fly? Lizzy had to ask she knew the answer but she wondered how Harry would react.

She would roll her eyes again over the comment about her looking sexy in anything and nothing before replying in a dry voice "My girlfriend, the nympho" she said before having a quick fit of the giggles before adding with a mischievous gleam in her eyes "well if you promise to come back to me in one piece, I'll see if we can't indulge in this little fantasy of yours"

With Lizzy deciding to go and speak to Harry alone, Izzy would give her and understanding look before returning the hug and kiss "ok I'll see you later...but if she hurts you I'll...well I won't deck her, she's bigger than me...but I'll certainly give her mean looks" Izzy replied before heading towards the troopers congregating near the shuttles, hoping that one of them cold point her in Roy's direction so she could find out where she needed to be.

   By The Scaffold,  Shade  bleeped   some information that he was gettign directly through the  Undenese   COM netwrok.

 Shadow  frowned  and  had an even angrier Visage. He    turned to The Admiral,..The starboard side of  Uden's  Promise was hit  pretty  hard  by the   closer Roussian,, they Lost two guns on that side  and  some 200 people...One  round  hit the Bridge...

 Shade   was  stomping off the  scaffold  as he  picked up his ehad gear and   SMG  , The Little  Udenese   walked there   the  crowd  with  Pitch black eyes, Most people   parted  for him, some   were simple  pushed out of his  way as he   went straight for the Troops  gathering at the shuttles.

 Shadow Turned to  gather his Pilots... Hack Grabbed him by the Arm...The LC  took a  deep  breath, his jaw set as he said... Lilit refuses to leave the Bridge.... they are tending to her there... Dusk is in Med tech with 6 others who survived the blast, the  rest of the bridge crew   were killed or  sucked out..., Its  running on emergency systems now...

  The Admiral  Gave   The LC  a pat on the  back and a Grim  nod...Beth.. send  a COM  for   any updatess on  The Warlord   or  Captain Dusk to be relayed to us.

 She looked overly worried   as the retreating  Shadow ,Aye Admiral, Already done..

 Captain Morris  followed  Shadow  who was Giving  a  few  sharp  whistled  everytime  he passed  a  flight line , pointing to the  Middle  Bay doors..

...........

 At the    Shuttles  the   Troopers  Milled  around. Froth  and O'day   looked more then a little  bummed out that they weren't goign, but   talked to the other Iron guard  and a few of the  vets  as they  began to  describe  the Hermes  Assault  teams  procedures.

 Shoey looks  at  Roy and says,..Nifty  set himself up int eh rafters, with a few of those  Burian archers?.... He's not comign down, don't think we have the time or people to  waste getting him down?

 he shrugged , a bit bummed out.....we  figure Lyri should go to give you another  Sniper,, sicne the Hanger Dec  should be covered...I sure would like to go..to get payback
  of the LC's Kid though...

 Shade   was checking his  weapon,   he  tried to ask a QM person for a  few more Mags, when the poor   Sailor   didn't understand, Shade  just   grabbed two more Mags from his  crate  shoot them at the   QM sailor  repeating  bleeps ,   they   shoved  one  in each side of his  Light Boarding armor. His  Mag pack  had  5  mag pockets that were   full.

When Lizzy arrived she would find a red eyed and forlorn looking Harry sat on her wing staring down at a vid board, looking very much like a kid who'd just been given an exam that she couldn't even understand let alone answer. She would also be able to notice that her armour was being worn incorrectly, her tear stained face and the pair of dates neatly painted beneath her name like an epitaph.

Hearing Lizzy nervously addressing her, Harry would pause in what she was doing in order to reply in a quiet and uncharacteristically subdued voice "I suppose that depends...are you just going to decide that I'm the bad guy and ignore everything I say like Will and the LC or are you just going to insult me to my face and walk away like Gia?" she said before waving off the question in a manner that said Lizzy wasn't supposed to try and answer it and she was already regretting having asked it in the first place "Sorry, I'm not feeling great at the moment, but I'm certain the enemy can fix that for me...but yeah I should be able to fly well enough to take a couple of them down before they finish me off...speaking of, can you do me a favour? If I give you my door code can you go into my room find the small jewellery box in my bedside table and get rid of it for me, it's full of private stuff I don't want anyone to see...oh and before I forget, give Hamlet to Haley will you? He deserves a good home"

Nikki saw Harry talk with Will, she hoped that it would at least help both.  For now though she needed to concentrate on the task at hand.  She went through her list of procedures to make sure everything was 100%.  She wondered though how to help Harry

   Shadow  whistled loud one more time, and he shouted,Alright, gods be damned !..  get over here... and I mean now!

   Captain Morris   stood   slightly  behind  looking over the  Pilots  ( even the   pool  pilots  ran over when  someone told the m what Shadow's whistle was)

 Some looked  eager, some looked  scared, some looked   bored.. Shadow   looked at each and everyone before he said.. Flight Leaders.. You may ajust your    wing pairings  as you wish, and...

 Steele raised  his  hand and  said, with a brief look to Raven and Red Water, then Back to the LC.....LC.. I..I don't Know  If  I can Go I...

 ..Fuck you Steele..you're going...

 Steele staggered back  like he had  been punched,,some folks laughed.. some gasped...

 You..and  anyone like you..get you head  out of your Ass... Boo Hoo?.. You fucked  up  you relationship... Fuck you...get a blow up doll... his eyes  were hard  as he  looked at  Harry,..and there's a shit load of Pulse   Batteries  in the Civie   store   for any personal devices  you might need...

 ..This is  the WAR... and  we have   three planets full  of  shit to flush down the  galactic toilet ..and   by all the gods... all of you are plungers..  and we're gonna use them  all...

 any other  time.. people may have laughed... but  even the most irreverent among the Pilots    just stood  quiet

 ..for My Flight... Morrison  flies  with  Kat.... Machins with  Lynch.. Candy with me...

 ..but  ..LC.... Kat started.

 He held up his hand  and she shut up with just a nod.....

 Get your  birds  right... I figure  we have  Pregame in about  20 minutes...  then we have to mount up...

Nikki heard the call she moved to hear.  She didn't like how Shadow handled Harry, but she was not in a position to really say anything as she did need to get her crap together or she was gonna get her ass shot straight out the gate.  She listened to the change up.  In a way it was a good idea, get used to flying more than just your wingman. Before he walked off she wanted to note something for all as a reminder.  She spoke loudly "LC.. A reminder some Mantis's are just out the box.  Be good idea to do a couple of test round to secure they work" Last thing she wanted to do was launch with full ammo and have everything jam up.