Nikki checked her craft "I'm good, had exhaust flume earlier.  Nothing left but the nick he gave me.  to bad he can't gloat about that...since he's floating about the bits of his craft now"
She lined up with Lizzy close enough to give a thumbs up.

With Shadow recalling them all in order to rearm and repair, Harry would patiently maintain her place in the formation until it was her turn to come in to land. At which point she would bring her fighter in to land within its berth and then power down so she could get ready for her next combat mission.

——>Hangar Dec

 Lizzy gave Nikki a thumbs up back and then heard the LC and said to Nikki," Ok lets head back get your bird fixed and both of us topped off." Lizzy would take formation and Let Nikki go first she was damaged Lizzy didnt think she had any damage but she would look after she landed. Once it was her turn she would her for the hanger deck to land.

--->>>> To Hanger Dec

Nikki followed in.  she swtched off the music for now.  "I hope they got ham and cheese"

===> to hangar

  The ships were  pounding the planet More target lights  lit up with  orders to hit them first, than fire as they will .

   A  Missionary Vessel  was approaching.. It was painted  white  with symbols   for  many Earth Gods, and Gods of the APF and Empire.

  on one side was a SSN   destroyer, also painted white, and a demonic  Cruiser painted white... They flashed    white lights   for parley.

    The   Ships  who broke the wall were  just now catching  up  the  other ship, so they  could get in line for their own  shelling. other ships  were  fanning out and holding station.. they  would not...it seems..orbit.. they would   hammer the area   with in thier firing zone..which...covered alot of over lapping areas!

 Sam saw the vessels on her screens and sent word to Sarah, " Commodore we have three vessels approaching the Fleet, a Missionary Vessel, a SSN Destroyer and a Demonic Cruiser all painted white and all are flashing white lights for parley Ma'am" Sam made sure the Burian fleet knew of the vessels and she sent word to Beth and the Board about the three vessels as well.

"Send a message to them, let them know they've entered an active combat zone, and either they state their intentions or be labeled as hostile. Let the rest of the fleet know to prepare to engage at my order." She said watching her screen sending tactical orders to maneuver the Burian ships into position that would allow them to effectively fight.

Then Admiral Hack contacted the Holy Joes. She watched, as the Burian fleet shifted into an intercept course. "Belay that Sam, open a channel." She says,

"Holy Joes this is Commodore McKeon, commander of the Burian Navy, we fail to recognize your authority. Your vessels are interfering with Burian Naval activity, you will deviate from your current course and move to depart the system immediately. Any other actions will be treated as hostile, and should you fail to move and continue to attempt to block us we'll simply remove the blockage."

She watches her screens as a number of gun emplacements shift targeting from the planet towards the interlopers. Targeting gun emplacements on the Holy Joe vessels as well as their engines.

 Sam was so good she had almost sent the message when Sarah told her to hold those orders and Sam opened a Comm channel to the three white ships.

 Sam sent all the messages, and scanned the vessels just to make sure not another Empire trick. She watched the ships carefully and waited for her scans to come back.

  The Demon'holy joe',  answered   The ALL COMs,..if you kill us!..you will not be any differant than my people!

 ..and, knowing   what i told you...if you continue on?  You will cause us to act, as if you are like your people...Nothing is to be gained by you gettign in the way....when this war is over,  this incident will be a tiny part of the  narritive, and only your intelligence will be taken into account...don't bother me again..My people ahev thier orders... Wait  until you get permission.... turn around and go home..or continue and Die.. its  all the same to me...

 The Last Fleet order is.....no ships come into the area that is not  ESN or APF... any that do    get one warning, then die  if they do not  heave to, or  trun about..

Sarah triggered the still hot com connection. "I'll make this abundantly clear. You have exactly 30 seconds to divert towards the edge of the system should you choose not to divert or to stand and fight you and your followers will earn a one way express ticket to meet whatever gods you believe in.... 27. 26. 25" She left the mic on. "Tactical you may engage on my mark..."

Any gunners or tactical techs would note the Burian's guns had stopped firing on the planet... We'll the ones that could target the Holy Joes had, emplacements had turned and locked into position. If they wanted to play chicken Sarah had no problem obliging them.

 The  White ships   continued on... certain that  thier  gods  would  protect them, in the mission of mercy.

Tact said...they aren't even pretending to stop...

She watched the timer, she wasn't one to break her word. The bridge seemed tense as the timer counted down 5.. 4.. 3.. 2.. 1.. "So be it, Fire at will." She said coldly over the open comm. The order sent, across the Burian 1 Fleet once temporarily quiet guns re-engaged firing rapidly and at point blank range, a destructive storm of kinetic energy as pulse and hard ammo cannons lashed out. Ripping into the Holy Joes. She was a great many things, but a liar was not one of them.

  The White  ships   at  first took the  rounds  reasonably well,  but then  tried  to   trun away from the   weapons. The Ships  were Blown apart,, No pods ..  Nothing   but  debris and  bodies, and parts of Bodies..

  before  any of the  rest of The World Could react, Hack  Had  beth  Flood the  waves  with His All COM...

 ..we have  just had a lesson in violating  a combat zone, and   failure to heed  warnings...

 He  looked  sternly at the  Vid Screen.....perhaps  the 'Holy Joes' were  for real, and wanted  to help...or? perhaps they were comign in to try and  rescue   Empire folks trapped  on  Roussa.. we will never know, because they failed to follow  orders...

 Through the years, I have seen helpless transports, people, children.. and a  a pair of Med Tech ships destroyed. No one complained  , by the ESN and APF... there damn well better   not be  complaints about this!... We ehard once... voices calling out    to  whomever their gods were, right before  Demons  blew a ship to bits.....I learned at that moment... what you have  all learned now... no matter  which god, or gods you follow? None of them are  able  to save you from Pulse cannons  or a Hard ammo round from a Cap ship... anyone seeking to help the Roussa, may do so when we are done, and  there is a colonial government set up...keep what has happened, in mind, shoudl you think to interfere  with this punishment we are  enacting..

 nodding to beth  to give him a Line  to Sarah,..Sorry  Commodore , But  i felt it  better to have  any  anger  directed   at me , rather then the   fledging  Burian Navy....  we'll never know   what was on that ship, but  it didn't seem right.. Carry on...

(( after  2nd jump off started))

  Shadow    waited  as the    fighters  and   Shuttle s formed up.. the   Cap ships  still pounded the surface...

  All WCs.. this is if  folks.. portect your shuttles.. knock  down   figthers.. if you see two seters,  don't  let the climb out of Atmo.....no surrender   lights are to be acknowldged .. this is.. as a  old friend used to say..'to the bone'

   Shadow watched the Clock on his   console ... waiting for the last  rounds  to be fired...

 The   the word  was Given..... Shuttles and Fighters.. GO!

 hearing the Admiral, The Hermes   aircraft Dove  down.. observant pilots    could see the  white  hot Pulse Rounds, and the  noses  of   hard ammo glowing  read  as they flew past on the last  salvos...

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

 In the shuttles, once  more the   bumps and  shutters  of the Atmo pounding the  craft.. most folks looked    easy, checking weapons, adjusted  Helmets  and  grabbing  a pair of grenades from the  crates...the  whirl and clank of  the   Bubbles  guns   could be heard as they seared  for enemies

 Shade sat with   dark red eyes  and   he  held his   SMG   and started  at the Dec.

In reply to poof (msg # 72):

"We appreciate it Admiral, however we would prefer to stand with the Delta fleet as co-equals. We all understand the consequences of our actions, and the Burian people who've accepted me an outsider as their fleet commander openly understand the blood price that may be asked of us for standing in defiance and in our defense of our people against interlopers. We may be small but we are strong and we are growing stronger every day. We say let them come we're ready for them." She replied, it wasn't a rebuke perhaps a strongly worded and passionate response from an ally that saw itself as more than a support element, one that wanted the Black and all comers to view it as formidable on it's own, and perhaps unstoppable with with allies.

--- Second Jump Off----

While the pilots took their break the Burian Navy did it's work returning to the atmosphere and doing it's level best to reduce every building on the surface to rubble. Then it was time to jump off, Burian troopers aboard their own shuttles and fighters took to the skies ready to fight agian.

  COMs  come through,..LT Morrow here to all attacking vessels...beware of all the shuttles .. our pilots  report them  exploding more  massive then they should... me advised. knock down shuttles  first..

 Sam coordinates the second attack, sending their assault shuttles and fighters out to take Roussa and make them pay for attacking their children. Sam sends out to the Burian Fleet shoot down the shuttles first they seem to be bombs. Sam will look for any way to hurt the Roussians and end this battle quickly.

  the    fighters  and  shuttles  broke free of the  top cover,  , as they had to break  and  stop  the new  waves  coming for the troops.

  On the Hermes, in the tight  quarters of the   Gun gun, The Gun captains  sweated along  with the crew.. the Auto AAs  as  well as those   manned  by people were starting  to  send    rounds  down  range.. the  Senior Gun Captain  said..Set pulse   round  to disperse at   5 miles... we'll knock some   down, maybe nick some up..but  we  can't  fire  any normal rounds   , incase we miss  and they hit planet side..... there were already some flashes, big and small from the   AA guns  firing   at thier max  range....


  the  two  Pool pilots    wheeled   about    to  hunt  down shuttles    and see if they could stop a few.

 across the   fleet,  some   fighter wings had  been kept   for   defesne.. others, like the Hermes , only had pool  pilots.

Sarah listened into the comm traffick, Sam make sure our defensive screen is giving those shuttles and any two seaters absolute top priority at this time. If we can spare a flight send it over towards the delta fleet to assist them. " For the most part the Capital Ships were done with their part minus controlling space and preventing the demons or their allies from attacking while the troopers were on planet. In some places damaged sections were undergoing rapid repairs hoping to bring them back up to operations at least marginally if not better. Still the ship was on lock down and alert. A kamikaze enemy fighter could do a lot of damage as could a suicide shuttle if it came down to it.

    Fighters and   shuttles  were    vanishing in  fire balls.. The Two Pool pilots   were flying together, a bit  shaky for sure..but they  knew that they  Hand to   Knock down  the shuttles..., Both aircraft   had  taken Damaged, but hey?.. they  can't crash land?...

     a flight  of Burians  were on thier  way, but  intercepted  a formation of  fighters that had  two   two seaters...

 Roles  watched  the      aircraft gettign closer.....This   what it was like  before the harvested    intervened?

   Hack nodded   his eyes  darting  back  and forth.. only  the  human Manned AA guts  were firing now.. the  auto guns knew better..Aye... Not  as many.. but  those   shuttles  are loaded...

 Roles shakes his head,I would really , rather not  get blown up again.

 I could get to my Hammer IV in the Balck hanger, but it will be all over  before  i even launched...

 he   Hit His COMs, Every One Prepare  for...

  Bale  Yelled,what the  9 hells  is  going on!

    a wave of Balck fighters,  came  over the Hermes  and Hera.. Hidden  by the massive side of the  ships..  heavy Pulse  and thier  newly acquired  hard  Ammo   that  Admiral Hack insisted  on the  Hyrians  add to thier  newest aircraft..

  Admiral hack... Admiral  Hirg says.. ' to the 9 hells  with waiting  for fun'  the  Hyrians  tore into the  Roussians  who  had  no idea  there could be so many  fighters  still in the Black!

 Flashes of yellow and red  as   attackers   died, barely 900 yards  from the  Hermes  and Hera....

  Morris  watched    from where he  stood near the Middle heavy Pulse gun..well.... I guess we do not have a rear guard  any longer!


 The Hyrians transport bases   were passing  over the  ESN areas  and Joining the  Undenese on the other side of the  planet.

 Hennings  Jogged    over to Roles and hack , he was laughing,..so?...there's no damn way we're  reigning in the Hyrians when  they hit the dirt...

 Nivarians in the  couth?.. Bruians   in between  us and them  on one side... Roussa  is goign to have a very bad  day.

 Admiral  Hirg?  Thank you.... but who's watching our  backs?

 ..Your are welcome my friend.... and we have  4  ESN Cap ships from  Everest behind us... general  Stone  wanted to help.... so..we made him  watch the  back dor..while my people get to play..

  Hennings   looked at Role s and   Hack, giving them a   surprised face...

 Tell your people to have  fun... look for   doors  with ESN colors on..should have kids  and  civies.. we'll get them  together  after the    fight, and decide  whether they stay, or  get shipped out to colonies.

 ..you are to nice. But  we will try and honor this... See you on planet at beach head place..

In reply to Sarah McKeon (msg # 78):

 Sam nodded to Sarah, " Already done Ma'am." Sam sent all available fighters for Fleet defense and take down the shuttles and fighters. Sam sent a flight of fighters towards the Hermes but they hit a group of two seaters.

 Sam watched then screen as it looked bad for the Hermes again, then Sam was them seconds before they started shooting, the Hyrians showed up. Their black fighters tearing threw the Roussians with their new hard ammo guns. Sam sent all info to Sarah on her console.

  All COMs.. This  is LT Morrow of the  ESN 351  Hermes.. The Admiral is  goign down to the  surface.... Admiral Hennings  will have operational control up here, Captain Si  Fleet  Control.... There has been an elevator shaft  found.. we think it may lead to the Bunker of   the leadership... all other  troopers  are advised to search for  more  such  elevators,  The one found  was in the center of  , what looked to be , an office building.. ground operations   are stopped at the moment  with  Drop ship  troopers setting up perimeters , to corral  the enemy... we have collection points  of   Civies   set up  behind the  QM  areas... they will remain there, until after the  invasion... any further  questions, direct to   us  for Admiral Hennings  who will either answer , or have   Admiral Hack's response... Morrow , out...

Sarah received the message.

"LT Robinson please see that our troopers are aware of LT Morrow's message. Also I intend to go down to the surface to move with our troops. This invasion is personal. Let Mac know I'll be down presently and be joining his forward element. You are free to join as well, Sam.

Mr Feeken, you've got the fleet. Keep me in the loop."

LC Feeken over at tactical called out "Already done," and rose allowing one of his people to take his station as he prepared to take over the command chair.

 Sam sent Beth's message again to all Burian fleet members, and Burian Troopers, she made sure everyone had it. " Already done Ma'am." She said as she did it. Then Sam replied, " Yes Ma'am I would love to kill some of those bastards, why the children, they put them in harms way and we lost good people and ships, they need to pay, plus i might be able to pick up something on the ground. Ma'am I am not much on combat, but i will do my best for the Children."

 Sam got up and followed Sarah off of the bridge.

 As Sarah and Sam headed for the shuttle that would take them down to the surface and the Admiral. Sam decided to send the Hermes, Beth,  Admiral Hack and the Board a super secure message," This is Lt. Robertson of the Burian Fleet, Commodore McKeon is heading to the surface to join the Burian forces, I will be on planet as well. If I can help in any way on the planet please let me know, Burian Fleet out."

 Sam got everything she needed to do what she needed to do on the surface and still keep tabs on the fleet and the battles.