Fluss  answered her   COM and heard   Shadow's  Voice...  Beth Tapped in and   put it on speaker.. there was   the Crunching and slurping of Larry.. and then the  COM  was  cut.

 ..well.... Anzio  seems to  be running out of board Members.

  ..Abors  is   aboard the  Hyrian  Flag vessel for this  fleet.... Bala   is hiding..somewhere...  Now?.. do you think its  time   that you folks  made  some calls?.. tell your people to surrender.. so we   don't  have to keep  Killing folks>

 White  frowned,..your  are the Fleet Admiral?... why don't you order the  station to stand  down...

   Hack downed his Drink , handing the glass to  the orderly for another.....yeah..you and the Empire  would  love that..ESN pulls its  crew ..Aqra moves in... Empire  has   a Jump off point?... no.. this is the way it will work.. we clean the    station out... or  we blow it up....Some of the very people  we  are  trying to save?..  we will kill... but..whether its us blowing up the station... or them gettign fed to the Empire..Dead...is dead..

   Hack took his   time pouring  another  Drink. As he  did, he nodded to Beth.

 Beth, fussed  with her  Vid Boards, with three of them  she had a very Good  Holo view of the 'live action"... as  The Last Hop  dropped out of her  Dock.

 Admiral White looked  surprised,  but not as surprised  as Mock...how?.. we cannot  even do that, and  we live on the damn station.

 Beth snorted  at White,..The Vid Boards we gave you , that you signed the   treaty?... it also carrier  your  signatures to  my Files.... and.. I have  over ridden all the  Vid Cams  except  2.....Bala?.. took he r Vidboard  apart.. my fail safe   destroyed  the insides...and?..  there are  no access to Demon Vid Cams...

 Fluss's  turn to snort,..how  does that help you?

 ..anywhere that is Blacked out.. we know is  either   Avian, or Demon areas.... and now?.. we can see   what the 9 hells is going on...

 White Moved  closer to Fluss, handing her  a fresh drink,  as he sipped on his own,..the  treaty?.. it is False?

 Bale  raised his hand,..No, Admiral White.. it is a legal, and Bidding  contract?..however, it seems that  Admiral HAck  failed to sign his ?..thus..it is non-binding..

  All three of the  Anzio Board Members looked shocked... Hack grinned  and Winked, handing Beth a Drink to celebrate.

 ..You never  intended to save this station...

 Commander Si speaks up.....that is where you are wrong?... We are here to clean  it up..if it can be saved, it will be  a new  Station..Fully.. ESN...If it cannot be saved..then it  will serve  the ESN  as scrap for New CAp ships  and  fighters..

  ..Master Chief.. please    Bind these three to   thie r chairs, but , leave thier left arms  free to have a drink and such.

 Lyri Stepped  forward  and slammed Fluss  down into a chair,  Cuffs on her  arm through   outside of the  chair leg to her   right Ankle..

  Maria  nodded to Admiral White   who settled  in and  was looked in the same way..

  Mock   raised a  weapon at  Lyri's  Back.. but he  screamed outloud  as  his  right hand   was   Burned  with a  finger  missing...

  Shade  put his    'burner' finger  away..   Melia had her  SMG up. Orria looked  at Shade who's  eyes  were  Grey.

 Hennings  said,..nice  shot Ambassador!

  Shade  blleped a few times  and shrugged.

 Orria  Giggled,.. 'bassador Shade say..' i was aiming  for chest."

 Lyri   glowered at the wounded   Occui as   Stefi moved  to  stopped the Bleeding,..you'er not  an Occui.. you'er a Bald   Mull...

...........

   Beth Patched    Hack through to the  Last Hope.....Beth has   all teh Feeds  from almost all the areas on trhe station now?  except  Avain  areas  and Demon areas......  we are watching your  ship  about to Approach the Inner sphere  ..now...

   Hack  watched  the   whole of the   scene  before them...  LT Miller COMed  from the Bridge...Admiral?... Demonic  fighters in  bound..at least 20...

 ..Have  Lt Frans  Hail them, and   wrn them off..then they may engage ... Send Orders  out to all  fleet vessels for Battlesatons...  any   Empire,  Aqra, or indepent  vessel that   approaches  with armed  weapons is a hot  target.....

 Beth  also adds to ALL COMs, we cannot see what the  Demons  and  Avains are doing..but it works  both ways... I  forze out thier  Vid COms , that belled into  any of the   station areas that  they do  not openly control...

   Hack  watched the  screen  and Listened to teh Cross talk,

 White  sipped from his drink as he sat, Cuffed to his own leg and chair...so?  what do you  do now Oliver?  The Empire  will  use this  as  an excuse to attack the stations and take it over..

 Fluss grinned  darkly,Aqra  will gladly aid them

   Hennings  began to   snicker  abit.....how many  ships  could the Emoire  possibly have out here..

  Mock  sneered,,..there is a Battle  fleet of  30  ships... at Most... 2  hours  away...

 Fluss     raised her   'chin',..we have at least that Many..and  we can  send out the Call..

 Bale  and Hennging  began to  Laugh   as did  Hack.

 how many ships   do   you  think we have?

 we know the Delta Fleet has  some  sort of  ...cloak?... But we have eyes, we have  scouts..or..we had  scouts... we have  between  10..to 15 cap Ships and a few   support ships...

  Hack nodded,..that's a good guess... for ...the Vanguard

  the three looked around   as Hennings and Bale continued to Laugh

 ..I do not understand....

 with out  giving up numbers... we have  More transportbases  then that 'battle fleet' has Cap ships...  In Human ships  alone.. we vastly outnumber the Empire ships.. so?.. they are more then welcome  to   come within broadside  range..As  for Aqra?.. whether they wish to fight us now..or later?.. it matters  little to us.

  Hank  took a seat next to   Admiral White. the  scene  on the ESN portion of the Hanger  dec  calming  down as a fighter  took to the air.

 ..You seem to have  , more the a  few  people down Admiral Hack?

 ..Indedd, for your people's  sake, you best hope not  die... My .....assault teams..tend to frown on thier teamates  dying.

 then Roy's message  comes in...

 Hack  Turned to  White  and said,well Collin?..be nice to  know why you  are working with the EDT?

 ..its  a grey area... Oliver

 ..then color it  for  me, Collin...

 ..Lady V  has come into powerful resources ... she has the Machine of the  Empire  behind her.... though the EDT and  Viper  Fleet  still operate on thier own? The have  formed  an allaince out here, ..The have  an insignia.. the   form of  a hooded  Cobra  with the EDT  logo on its  hood... the resources help keep us   running and..

 ....Larg Crap,,,,, Hennings said  as  everyone turned they didn't turn their backs  on  Human Kind... when given the chance, they signed up.. and do the same thing they have been doing, except they now  attack  enemies of the APF.... You have  allowed pirates to roam free.. I am thinking, for a price?... You deal in goods  with the Empire, when you know those  goods will have..or  flat out..ARE..people...

 ..Beth?..Pas the  word to all  people of the station..all people in the sky.. EDT is formed a union witht eh Viper  fleet... shoot on sight.. we'll apologize  later, if we are worng..

   The Footage Came through.. there was  Gasps..  Melia  Hide  Orria's eyes..though she didn't have to try hard  as Orria buried her face in her  mom's side.

   Hack stood..he looked at the screens then to the three who were cuffed,..my..gods... you have  good  full out Empire?

 Fluss  raised the  'chin'..I believe that is a Compliment?

 Shade did his   machine-0like  laughter  and  Blurted out a stream of sounds,

  Lilit   patted    Orria  gently on the back  as she said,...But Grandmod says....if  getting your ass kicked is a compliment, then you are right... she turned to Shade,..your   Mod and I will have to a discussion on your choice of speech...

 Shade   lowered  his head. Lyri  just winked at him.

 ..so?..what are you going to Do.. Hack?..  shoot us?..make us take the Long walk..do you know how many people are on this station..how they look to us for leadership.. you have already Killed most of the leaders  and...

 Shut the 9 hells up.....we will have a VidCOM  trail... and   we will  over turn the station then... there will be an amnesty for those who do  not  want to be APF , to leave..after that?..it wil be open season..

 ..My people are Not APF..  you cannot Try me...

 HAck looked to Bale   who had   just sipped some wine,..This  is  war, Madam   you are allied with teh Empire, even though you are not sunject to them... since we see for ourselves, that you have harmed ESN and APF peoples... you will..indeed, be listed  as an Empire  Agent..and tried  as such...

 Hack to  Orville Wright... I want a thransport of  troopers   sent to the  Center Sphere to  aid in evacing prisoners from there.... I want a tranport  of Ape folks to land on Axis  North, and proceed   southwards  dowm each main tube..search  and destroy  and  Empire  or Aqra  troops.. capture  any Civies..of thsoe  races... if they get..peccish, tell them to  help themselves , I don't thinh the Empire will mind, 'giving back'..

 Aye Sir. A;ready Done sir... I'll have  two more tranposts  stand By out side if they need to deploy

 Mock said,..you said there would be amnesty?

 .after we overturn the station.... he winked  with a smile...

 ..You Bastard!..you had this planned!

 he  nodded to Si who had a very dark smile,..it was my plan?..the elast  that would happen, would be the cleaning out of a corrupt board... the best that would happen..the people of  the station revolt, and   come to us willingly....but?.. we knew we would  find slaves... we just didn't think it would be this bad...

 ..how  could you  possibly know?

 ..A friend of  our  SM... maybe  you ahve heard of Him.... Gresh ?.. he  came to see us at Etna.. to expand his business.. he also  gave us some information about   LArder transports  making stops  at Anzio...

     They Listened to the Talk on the Comes, it wasn't  Until the  first of the Drop  shuttles   started to clim  to   reach the stations.

  Admiral  White  Cleared his throat.....LC Shadow  and   the Piltos  with you?.. Fring  on A-Sec Fighters   can put You in the brig..for a very long  time...

 ..oh?.. wow?.. Is that Right.. so I guess  shootign thier asses  down is out of the question?

  White looked at   Hack who just shrugged  and watched the Vids...You will stand  down.... you will escort those Drop shuttles   back to thier transport Base... and  left the  Prisoners  where they  have been locked up...

 ..Not Gonna Happen..Sir.. My orders  are out of your paygrade... and..comsidering the  condtions  those peopel were kept in?... and    I have   6 Demon fighters  closing in on me  and My buddies here?... I gotta figure   the whole..' don't shoot  bad guys cause they have a white hat'..goes out the  ejection Tube.. you can discuss things   with General Bale..  his barin is smarter then both ours  put  together....now?.. sit back and watch the light show..

  Hack   Looked at Admiral White.  The  man just lowered his head.

  He looked to  Fluss,  she seemed   haughty .

   Mock... was grinning

  Opening the COMs to   all ships ..This  is Admiral Hack.. I   want the  Fleet to hit  Battlestaions on My Mark.

  Commander Si was  already on her  way to the bridge.. Captain Morris   followed her  out to  get to the Hanger Dec.

 ..I want Pickets  doubled  and spread out another 200 or  so Miles... Have thier  scout   range out from there...ANY..independant ships  will be  hailed  and Boarded... or  ...should they refuse..  captured or   destroyed.. we  don't have time to waste on fense  sitters..... Empire ships  will be attacked on sight, as well as  any Aqra Vessels... on my mark....3.....2......1.... MARK!

  Red Lights  went on   in the room as the Clarion Call Busted   with  Millers  Voice  shouting over the   COMs.....Battle stations...battles Stations.. this in  not a Drill..this is Not a Drill...

 ..PO? if you want to  take  Orria to the Cibie  section  You...

  Orria shook her head,..I stay with 'bassdor  Shade.... I am aide ..

 Hennings  looks  around the    room and says, they are  as safe here   as   anywhere?

 Lilit  said,..Captain  Shadow has   the Bridge on My ship..   where can I be Of Use?

 I would send you down to the Hanger dec... But   I will need you here.. the more  witnesses to these three's  actons..and the effect of thier actions  will be needed in the trial... If things  get bad.. we have a few extra  Fighters...

 Lilit  nodded, ...as you say.. I am ready , when you need me..

 ..you are a fool.... you think you can save the station?... It will be  the primary target... Millions will die,  Just because you wanted to save a few hundred thousands...

 Hack    was   workign with    Beth who had    Shade  helping  tap into the Vids  screens in the room.

 ohhhh... Millions  will die, and that's  a Fact.. do you know how  easy it is to kill fish?... Concussions... poisoned  water.... things added to the water that won't hurt humans   but  mess up fish?.. I have to congratulate you though... Most times we have to go in..Give a warning... then Kill Millions.... now?.. we just have to go in... You... Councilmen  Fluss   have   instituted  an act of war.. you have  aided   the Empire on an ESN  station... and you have caused the  death of  thousands of  APF citizens as well as the Newly protected Gava..... which..I ma sure you new they were 'people'...you just flat out...didn't care...

 Oilver? You cannot  do this This  is the gateway to Deep space.... right now..it is  a ..boarder town..it  is a safe  place for all to come and...

 and   what, Admiral White?..a safe place to  get food.. to  break up famlies.. to eat people alive?.. to teach humans  how to eat people?.... No.. this isn't  what i will tolerate...nor should any APF citizen  tolerate it... his eyes  looked at the Occui, who  just shrugegd and  gave a smart assed  smile.

 beth looked at Hack,..Its  ready, Admiral  Hack...

   Hack watched the   100's of  dots on the screen.. almost all were  Delta Fleet... there  were orange  dots  that Indicated   Empire  types leaving towards  Aqra space .

  well?  the Rats that are leaving the  ship, seem to be heading to Aqra...what awaits them there?... shelter?.. or  will they be used   as food sources? off  course, alot of them  will end up facing us in Battle..  The  Captain of the  Transport troopers that  boarded the  HQ section of the Core, have  said   many of the A-Sec troopers were  Empire  types.....

  Beth?   Please   gather your people  and set up the  warroom on the HAnger Dec.

 Turnign to Mara and Lyri,..Master  Chief? Take these three down... In Cuffs.. tot eh Hanger Dec... I want them secured to  Mech  area   walls, so they can see what is happening, but cannot influence , anything.... should they fuss, or  try to  break free, yo may kill them... they have already showed to  have turn coat..or.. flat out , anti-APF..

 Shade  was already Helping Beth  take  down he r bOArds, then Followed her  out t he door, followed  by Melia  and  Orria.

 Lilit said,..I am Going to the HAnger Dec, my shuttle  will be there directly..My place is  on the Bridge of the verian section , flag ship...

 ..Indeed... Good luck  they  clasped   forearms,  as did  Hennings   and Bale..

 Admiral  white  was angry,..You are a fool Oliver!.. You have gained so Much.. why not  be satisfied with what you have... The Empire  will treat with you....draw Boundaries:....

  Hack was  already taking off his  Tunic , so he could get  boarding armor on,.Until they regrouped?..Until they find out more about us?...meanwhile APF people..some we have not even met yet, will suffer , die..and wonder why  no one helped them..

 The Sanri Ambassador  and His   wife   smiled   as the female said,..this is why we  follow  the Delta  fleet...and Admiral Hack.... he has shown...with actions.. that  he will help, all APF races...

 ..it is a Fool's  errand..As Long as the Empire  exists.. there will be  weaker   people fall... Fluss  sneered.

 ..Indeed... you may be  right.... but...when we  turn Hel into a cinder..and there is no longer  a demon homeworld.. and the Demons have to  live off thier colonies..or  be vagabounds that travel  The Black, looking for a Home?.. It won't be long, Until that race is extinct...then?.. we will see who the other  Empire races, want to  wage war..


Hack and others...hanger Dec>>>>>>>>>>

<<<<<<<<<<<  from Rec Dec, after Fuji shore leave

 Shadow, Shade  Orria  and Melia entered  the  Room. The  room  had the  tables  sorted  in a  square, with a  small opening  for  servers to  enter  so the servers  could  serve  from both sides of the tables.

 Captain Bornberry and her  XO Commander  Al Nithen...of the  Athena

 Captain Ed Bruce   and his XO  Commander Mike Minns of the Apollo

 Captain Caroline Spikes   and her  XO  Bridget Jones of the Zeus along the other side  was the  Board.. on the third  side  was  the Ambassadors of the  Sanri , Occui and Mulls.

  Lilit  would be  briefed  By  The Admiral and/or Shade  Via COM.

   Lyri  stood   watch,  Melia was bade  to sit  by Orria, who sat next to Shade

  Hack began... I am  hoping  the SM  and Doc Henry can make it.. but if the cannot, if will be a small matter, as  we can brief them..it would be good to have thier  insight...

 ..Before  we start.... we have  some  loose  ends  to tie up. Lt  Morrow?

 Beth Got  up... from her table  behind  the  Board, she walked   to the other side  . placing  a small box  in front of Bornberry...Spikes   and Bruce...

 ..The Log  will show, as of   2100 hours this  day... you three are  now    rear Admirals... The sections of the Fleet you lead.. will be...for  all intent and purpose..your  fleet, under the Banner of the Delta Fleet....The reason for this   is clear enough..but there are goign to be ties when  we  split,  to  engage greater  areas   faster... I do not  want you handcuffed, waiting on my orders...... you will have your general instructions..and order of battle... but  when the ballon goes up?  You'll be in charge..aye?.. you can COM  us..or  any other section, to work against the enemy..The Empire  knows we have a Massive fleet... they also know  we have  acted in sections..they do not..and will not  know, that you all have power to act on your own....

 ..You are, of course.. still under the    Flag of the Delta Fleet. And  could...and will answer  for  failure to follow orders or, if you take a beating   I do not feel was deserved...but all of you have been around..so i trust that will not Happen.

  I suggest, when yo get back to your ships.. you raise people up accordingly, it will help your people  to see  the wealth being shared.


 Servers  fill  glasses  with   drink of  people's  choice. Being used to   Orria being around. Chocolate Milk was on  hand...Top our  New Admirals...

 people raised  thier  Glasses   and  drank

In reply to dinner meeting (msg # 255):

Melia took her seat quietly to the side, she watched the newly minted Admirals and wondered if new ships would fill the roles for the Hermes that the three Captains had filled, especially since the new Admirals would have their own tasks forces when the fleet split up. She pushed the thought aside, strategy wasn't her strong point especially at the fleet level. She quietly toasted with the rest letting Orria do her thing.

Orria raised her chocolate milk in toast, she understood a lot less than Melia did but was there to interpret for Shade. She kept a careful eye on him, and occasionally sounded out comments or questions to him.

  the  food was brought out... stuffed   chicken  or   salmon.. the servers  asked everyone  there preferance,  followed   by sides of mashed potatoes , 'corn'  or  ' extra long  Burian Green beans baskets of hot  rolls  were palced  around the tables.

 As   people began to settle in and eat... HAck would begin the conversation.

 Beth and Lyri  eat behind them.. though Lyri had he r Pulse rifle   near.  a  Screen  popped up with the  galactic  map, of the Quads  that  surrounded    the Sol System.

 ..Yo all see this map... it is centered on the Sol system... The reason it is.... isn't because of the ESN..or the HUman ego.... it is  an analytic  based off the last 5 yeasr of  the war... we  have   weakened  or destroyed  many of the  biggest Holding of the Empire  in the  Blue colored  Quads.. The red Colored  Quads are Under Empire  control...Epislan and  Zeta were red.. but so was the Sol System.

 "Admiral Bruce" asked,why is  the Sol System Red?

 .because   the EDT holds  sway there... it is damnable  for GE-FI..but the  tribute ships leaving   Earth and her colonies  in the Sol system, is   exactly wht he did in the Paradise system..

Roy slipped in just before the new ranks were handed out...he had a vidboard with him and appeared to be highly preoccupied, merely gesturing when he heard reference to himself to acknowledge that he was present...physically, at least...

 Shade   gave  Roy a Thumbs Up as he  sat next to  Shadow,  the spot opend  for Henry next to Melia.

    the  Admiral  takes a sip of  wine, as he swallowed  a bite of chicken...What   we need to do... as a Federation..is decide on this next course.. In the  end..no matter  what we  do, it will help the cause..But  we  Must  think of what we  want to stamp out?

 Hennings Nods  to  Beth, and waves a hand telling her to light up whatever she  felt like , On the Holomap that  hung in the  air  over the   center of the  square of tables.

 ..what we see here  firts.. is  Vampra... , Out  Past Anzio and  Aqra, the   space is Vast.. with  only three  real stars that provide  light and warmth... Vampra and her Moon, as  well as another  Planet Kaos..are hope to the Vampic  race.. there is  another planet called  Oasis ... it  is over the    'line' into  Largran Space... we know  nothing of it, save they it does get more sun from a LArgran star..it is a settled planet.. and is more or less....independent... rumors have it, there is a  Native race.. and  some humans who have a colony there...they trade with LArgrans and Vampics  and  any brave  merchant that travels out that way...It is a damn good  Jump off point  for Largran space...Settling the Vampic  system would go along  way to gibing us a Back door   into Empire space...

 Bornberry asks,..what would  entail 'settling'...

 Hack gave a shrug....Aiding the Vampic  Rebels in taking over the Homeworld..or?.. if the rebels  cannot   hold thier own...we'd have to neutralize Vampra, as  we  did  the Hillites and Hyrians...or?..if there is  enough support.. as we did  with Nivar..


 Hennings  nodded  once more to Beth, and the Epsilan and Zeta  quads  Lit up.... Both of these Quads  have  ESN  Carrier/stations, the last  two of the  'Steel  Ring'  , The Angels  built to help slow, or stop Empire movements.. rumors  from both, is  there are  contentions  aboard, between   EDT and   APF  forces..The planets there are  more or less in Empire hands...we would have to  free them..one way or the other...

The  next area  lit up, was the edge of Paradise  space...here we have the far edge of Paradise  Space.. Both the  Red and Blue Moon are APF.. Paradise   stands  independant..thank's to us... a trip there to  eliminate the  squadrons of   Empire  ships. Mostly  Demons , who are still attacking  and raiding  , shipping there...a Good  Will trip, more or less..with an underlying   need..

 'Admiral' Bruce asked...and  what would that be?

 Commander Si  spoke up...to show the Angel people, we have not forgotten them..and to  whittle away more of the   Empires  stretched  fingers... but...the Agra Techs  we have, have begun to get serious success of the growth of  the plants   used in making  Derma foam and Derma plast..Med techs  now have  small kits with  ampules , they  are  able to inject into wounds, per race type... this  quadruples the  manufacture loads, since they  can make all the same type..while the ampules are geared to a race?... For instance, Occui, Sanri.. Hyrian, Demon.. those who aren't  normally compatible with Human/Angel ..thus  helping  us, keep our allies   alive  in and after battle...It would be good to go to the Moons to get more seeds and flowers.., there is also a chance to get  alot more  Angels troops  and  a few ships, since the fleet would be there.. and they would not have to cross The Balck to join us....

 Beth lit up  the next area..  this is , what we have  Called,  'The Matterhorn Line'..it starts  at the    'corner' of   Largran space  and the  Alpha  and Gamma quad..It reaches  from there  all the way to Epsilon  with Creshian space  in the Middle.. and the Demon/Gamma/Epsilon  corner... Rainer has not sent  ships into the  Gamma  Quad  for a while..  Van Ros  Has  done a damn good  job  rebuilding  the  Matterhorn..but it has been bloody..Apefolks , Gava and Naragrans are still finding pockets of   Demons  , Creshians  and  UEs.. they are eliminated on sight.. pirates and such that are  found to be aiding  them are summarily executed .. thier ships added to the Gamma fleet as   scouts   to patrol the Line..its the  weakest point in our  'ring of steel'..because  it  runs across the face of  all three  Major  , Empire races.. a sweep through there.. would help Von Ros in a big way...but, we would  need to consider  the other  areas  near there, that need attention as well.

 amother  area Lit  up.....The Hillite system... pain in our ass... we have swapped out  ESN cap ships , with Captured  enemy vessels  to keep the blockade up... it is working... H3  is  ssuffering from being Nuked..As the Sanri and Occui predicted, alot of aid is trying to get to  H3.. which  gets captured  and aids the flweets, not  to mention addign ships to the Blockade fleet..or transports   for  the Fleet, for supplies...The other two hillite planets are in a very bad  way... food can be grown there.. but  there is no outside resources  comign in..or at least, very few...

 Hack pointed at the Holomap with his fork..we have been intercepting  close  to 90 % of the Good s  goign   in..and  about 95% of those trying to escape... every now and then  we send in agents with a battered  transport, with food  or Med tech... we take about half of what the ship carried,, damage the transport enough  to make it look like it ran the blockade... then  they make a crash landing , bear  a bigger   city... the results  are , Hillites  killing  Hillites  to get the  supplies....meanwhile the agents  slip off, and began whittling away at the hard core. Hittlite Leaders... it is a slow process, to be sure. But it is   effective... there are a few Hillites   entering  APF service, if for no reason, then to  stop the blockade and save thier three Homeworlds..

 Hennings  had Beth light up  the asteroid field,..This is  the nest of the Viper Fleet...  they have  passages  through the ever moving   rocks.. even somethign as small as a fighter  can't  make it through, with out knowing the  pattern... what makes it worse, is the  EDT have  armed some of the asteroids.. so a corvette or sloop trying to get through could be shelled  from one of those Rocks, from People  we have   captured  and questioned....and I mean questioned in the way that our Good LC would do it...there are at least 3  ways in, if you know the pattern... there are   flashes of light that give  a ship the path to take, but if you are  too slow  in following..well....The field  has  as many  hulks  in it as rocks... the EDT  peopel  will strip what they can from the   wounded or destroyed ships..leaving some  as  a 'warning'

 Then the last   spot  lit up.. The Sol, System,..this is  by far, the smallest area, yet the toughest nut for us to crack... for ..maybe 60% of the humans in the fleet..Earth is their Homeworld... But Olympus is a bastion for  EDT/Demon activity...... if  we  could  retake Olympus.. we  would cut Earth off from Demonic   influence, as we would  regain  Saturn Jupiter's moons, Pluto, and MArs... But.. we would risk  fighting the  Forces of  GE-FI  and the   SSN... I do not see us  retaking Earth, with out removing GE-FI and his   motherships... this would be a long..costly engagement , and  would  Give the   Empire  a chance to  sweep into  to some of the areas  I just  explained..

Henry slipped in quietly and took his seat, still feeling a bit out of place when the high command met in conclave. Mila took it all in her stride, curling up comfortably on the floor.

He listened to the discussion, paying particular attention to Commander Si's talk of medicinal plants.

 when the briefing was finsihed.. General Bale  turned to  Henry..Doctor Christie.. we had  a  rather.. um.. emphatic  complaint  about   Our  Larg, eating  at Bio-Tech research creature? Was  anything  mentioned to  you about  this....?

 Shadow looked   Sheepish as he glanced  at   the  others  and shrugged.

Melia ensure's Orria gets food and drink before taking some herself. She sits back quietly, Orria also doesn't speak waiting for Shade to respond to the information if he wishes.

  Shade  stood Up, and Bleeped , whirled  and Grinded a  bit. Then sat Dow.. Shadow elaned forward  and  Nodded to Orria.

"Yes, General Bale," replied Henry.

"The matter was brought up at the conference we attended. The creature's handler was there, very upset. As we had been discussing the uses and misuses of the technology, I pointed out that covert attacks were precisely how our enemies operate and that Larry - who is not implanted and does not have a handler - had no way of alerting anyone to a potential threat save attacking it. Had we been warned they'd be practising surveillance on the beach party, we would have known to stop Larry from attacking it. They seemed to get the point: I don't think they'd realised just how real the threat is to those who are out in the Black, in the field.

Orria stayed seated, "Ambassador Shade says we should go to Vera and remove Adem and Everet from leading. The pure Verian's who want to be APF should be taking over. Then we will get lots more Troopers and Ships to help." She says loudly and clearly trying to enunciate and say things like the adults.

  Bale Nodded,..thank you.. I was   concerned, as there was a report of Bio-Tech SEC  trying to Bring  Larry in for testing..they seemed  abit  put out at the insulting what they were handled... his eyes shifted to Shadow.

 ... Those test  animals  die all the time.. 9 hell's , they kills  some, as theyb 'test the limits'... as  far as Larry goes?.. there was no insults..just warnings.. and.. to be fair, they didn't have enough people there to take Larry...and that's not counting how many  Hermes  folks were  at the party.

 Bale's eyes shifted to Henry again.

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

 After Orria's translation , they looked at Shadow, who   held up a hand in 'stop ' motion  then nodding to Orria, who was   the  'Official' Translator.

 Shade, without standing , says  some more    grinds  and  bleeps

"Verian Troops and Ships would be strong and very scary with the right leaders." she starts, taking a breath. "If leaders on Vera do not change, the fleet being there will let the Blue Verian's join us, because Adem can't stop them." she explains looking about the room then back at Shade.

  Shade  Gives her  a Thumbs Up.. again folks  trun to look at Shadow  who refuses to give  even a hint, of what the translator said.

  Hack  loked at the others,well?  there is another spot ?.. which would  mean going towards  Bura... witht he Hillite  system close, Everest on the way.. maybe a stop ay Uden? Before we go to Vera..... Hyria?.... and  back  door to Anzio, to Vampra

  The Commander   says,If would  come  down to which people  you want to try and load up on?.. More Verians..or  More Angels, since to locations  are  across the Galaxy from each other?

………………...

 Hennings  Looked at  Henry,did you see   any people   within Bio-tech, that would be  an Asset  to bring  with us?...Military wise?

Roy looked up from his vid-board, with a grim smile.  "He may have been in the Army, but I agree with George Patton...I hate paying for the same real estate twice.  We've got a large enough force now that we can spare part of it for crisis management behind our lines, and I think that's a smart move to make.  But we absolutely can't afford to take the whole Fleet off the front lines and give the Demons a chance to reclaim domain.  Speaking from a strategic point of view, the Angels have been fighting this war for millenia, and not really making much headway...the Verians aren't as numerous, certainly, but they bring a very different fighting style to the war than the Angels...at least, the Verians from Uden do.  We all saw what kind of a fight the Vera Angels put up.  And given the losses they suffered in that battle, Adem's leadership position could be pretty shaky, depending on whether the Verians think the loss was his fault for poor leadership and preparation, or our fault for antagonizing the Demons and their allies...but given that several other worlds have been similarly in the line of fire and didn't lose half their cap ships in a single battle, I think we can make a good case for Adem being a lousy leader."

He cleared his throat a little, and added, "Bringing the Verians into the war bolsters Everest.  If we can get the Verians and Hyrians to work together, Beta Quad could become a VERY dangerous place for EDT and Demon allies to try and do anything.  We get Beta Quad in order and internally reinforced, then sweep on through.  Go check on that asteroid field and see what we can do about it...maybe Shadow can tag an EDT transport going in and Beth can use the tag signal to chart a course, but at the very least we go rattle the cage on the EDT again.  See how things are looking in the Vampra System, whether the rebel faction is holding its own or not, either help them get on top of things or else give them a chance to join us and then bomb Vampra until it glows.  Sweep on through to Anzio, make sure things are stable there, get a read on Oasis, see if we can get a good beachhead to start in on the Largrans.  Any ships we send to help Paradise can either rejoin us at Anzio, or can head back toward the Sol System and interdict Olympus...we'll make up some of the lost numbers from the Verians, maybe even from the Hyrians and Nivarians when we go back through Beta Quad...if we're really lucky, the Vampics will have settled their civil war and can send a bunch of ships with us against the Largrans.  But we've got to keep the heat on the Demons, and giving them a chance to prove to yet another ally that they aren't going to come help when the Delta Fleet comes calling seems like a good way to do it.  May not do anything against the Demons directly...but after we took out three or four nest ships, the Avians kinda dropped out of the war.  The Creshians took a huge loss with their nest ship at Matterhorn...and the Demons have done nothing in response to even show a token level of dedication to their allies.  I'm pretty sure the Largrans will wind up fighting on their own, as well...and that may wind up nullifying them as combatants, when they realize their allies aren't all that allied with them."

He shrugged, and stated, "My suggestion...preference...vote...whatever you want to call it...is to get right back to where we were and pick up the stick again, and start swinging.  A few strategic detours along the way would be smart.  But giving the Demons room to breathe again?  That just feels like we're asking for the war to take a few more decades to be wrapped up."

  Hack Nodded as he listened to Roy  and  Nodded... Beth was  getting input from those who were on COM  connect.

  ..That is a very good   way to look at it, SM.  I do  dislike the idea  for splitting the fleet....we have been allowing   carrier/stations  to keep  Cap ships they were building, and sending some captured  ships  to bolster thier  defenses ..perhaps  we can use a few of those....

 his eyes  shifting to  Beta Quad, and Vera.  If  we  head to Vera.. we'll have some cleanign up to do on the way..and?..maybe..pull that  rotten tooth named Lady V


 he waited  for   the rest  to have input  as he took anothe r Bite of chicken