Hennings made his way through  the   groups. Stopping and Chatting  Emmie  following behind.

  The Sanri, finished their drinks, ,..we  must be going...0600 come early.  And  we have to do our  share  for the   Federation....

 Naon  tried to smile an 'ambassador   smile' as she  said to Jesse,..not all of us, will like everyone , who joined the APF....after all? The  Mulls  are loosely  in the Federation...few like them, but none can agrue that they have strung  The Black togther by being the ...um..'bankers' of  The Black.

....

 Morris  says his  Goodbyes to everyone  before  stopping  at Hack and Si,..Thank you, Admiral  for the  invite, it has been a while , since i sat in on something like this.... But..I Must Get back to my Duties...and Lt Miller Has duty  in a few hours...

 ... You are Welcome, Washington. Let's hope the  rest goes this  well?  Have a good  Night...

  Lyri was watching folks, the signing was done, but she still watched...

  Shoemaker had rotated  a bit .  He wasn't near as Stoic as the Master Chief, but he didn't have all the stripes and ribbons she had  either. he grinned is  Bale or  Hennings  said anything to him.
......................

   Shade  and Orria  got up  from their table, carrying  their, half gone, chocolate Milk. The  little Ambassador  group  Stopped  at  Bale and said  something, The General and Stefi  smiled  and    returned whatever nicety  was  in order, The pair the approached  Roy , Shade  Whirled and Beeped a few times...Orria   spoke up...... Shade  say... he hopes you are liking the party.... in a very serious  voice and look while she Nods her head... Shade Gives  Roy a thumbs  Up.

  MC-1.... leans a bit  Closer to Shadow,..I may take you up on that Hand to Hand, Mr  Shadow... but  i doubt if you are anywhere near my skills....

  Shadow   laughed,  and caught himself, as  some folks looked to him, then went back to their own chats...now...on that i will agree!... and... Just because i don't like eggplant, doesn't emean i'm afraid of them...

 MC-1's  face  screwed up again...  Beth tapped  something on her COM  and  MC-1's   COM  beeped...when he Looked , there  was a Picture of a  Ripe  Eggplant...

 Beth smiled sweetly,..eggplant......

 MC-1's    Purple  Face got even darker...SHadow  Just Put an arm around Beth and Gave her a squeeze as he  grinned.

 Lyri   watched from across the Room, she just shook her head and frowned a tiny bit at what might be going on...or? was she  trying not to laugh?

In reply to Henry Christie (msg # 195):

 "Do you think I'm invited too? Or do you want me to stay with Mila? Or should we bring her with?"

Given the angle Shadow had been approaching from, and the path he'd been trying to achieve, he wasn't far from Roy when the Roussian confronted him.  Listening to the tone, more than the words, Roy angled his body slightly, still talking (more listening, at this point) to the Occui and nodding at details they mentioned...but putting himself in a position to take action, and at least have a peripheral view of the confrontation.

His ears caught the words 'agent' and 'asset'...and for the briefest of moments, his eyes hardened and he shot a look sideways...before there was much chance to notice, Shade and Orria were standing before him, and he mentally forced the tension from his face, angling his head as he listened attentively to them so he could see...and analyze...MC-1...looking for signs of combat training, any indicators of concealed weapons...very much assessing a threat.  He gave a pleasant smile to Orria, thanking her for her work with the Ambassador, and gave Shade a nod and returned the thumbs-up...his eyes sought out Lyri, looking to see if she seemed to be on alert to anything in the room...

"I think I shall take Mila along, if she wants to go. As for you, why not? Nobody said you weren't invited, after all. Nor did anyone say that I was, it's just when I get told what I ought to bring it kind of implies that I am."

Henry bumbled through his rather convoluted logic, paused and grinned.

"Anyway, and more importantly, I'd enjoy your company!"

      The   Sanri  Thanked the Admiral  and  told everyone there, they would see them on the Hanger  Dec in the Morning.

  The    Occui Male  gave    Spencer a  whack on the arm,we're gonna to be going to... see you  aall  on the   Hanger dec...

 Shade  and Orria   still made their way through, trying to be  good  guests... They talked to  Hennings  and  Emmie.. Emmie made sure she complemented  Orria on her    Ambassador Aide  uniform.  orria  seemed to Like that, Shade  Gave  Emmie a thumbs  up.. Hennings gave   Shade a pat on the shoulder  as he smiled.

  Orria was sipping her  Milk when TX-5 B umped into her, splashing   chocolate Milk on both her Leg and  Orria's Uniform..

  ..you little parasite!...look what you have done!  Orria Looked around   shocked and  frighten ed  that she Did something bad.. Shade's eyes  turned  Red   as His  right   hand  came up  , the   forefinger  turning Red.

 MC-1's   hand was On his weapon  but never got to  unsheathe it.... take your  hand of the weapon... or i'll break the wrist...and i'll enjoy it....

  The red eyes of   MC-1  stared into the   forest Green of Shadow's....

  Admiral Hack  stepped tow steps  towards  TX-5. Lyri's rifle was up.. as  was Shoemaker's

  ..TX-5... I must insist you apologize to Orria.

 ..I WILL NOT!..The Little...

 Shade bleeped   loudly... , MC-1 shruggled but  could not move his hand from His Holster,

 NC-37 Looked to Si... Si said  in a calm, but harsh voice,...... Orria did nothing  wrong.. TX-5 seems to think nothing of  slamming into people, regardless of thier Importance in the  place of things... You will Find..TX-5... that you are far down the list of rank, when it  comes  to Ambassador Aide Orria....

 NC-37  nodded to TX-5.... TX-5 frowned .....I am...sorry..Ambassador Aide Orria... I should not have  snapped... i beg your pardon... the wprds  came out strained , but  with purpose.

Henry took a couple of long steps and was at Orria's side.

"Are you all right, Orria? Don't worry, that will wash off."

His back was half-turned to MC-1 and TX-5, but he was clearly positioned inbetween them and Orria, protecting her.

Roy's hand rested on the butt of his pistol.  There was no question in his mind...the Roussians were expendable in this situation.  An aggressive move by any of them and he'd be firing...

If they live long enough for me to draw... he thought with a grim chuckled to himself, as he saw the long arms of Shoemaker and Lyri leveled and ready to fire.

"Object lesson, here," he said aloud.  It was partly an attempt to ease the tension, and partly a chance to underscore a point that the Roussians had thus far apparently failed to grasp.  "Age or size does not excuse bad manners, especially in the APF."  The glow of Shade's fingertip hadn't escaped his notice, nor had Shadow's grasp on MC-1's hand, preventing the Roussian from drawing (and signing his own death warrant in the process).

"Everyone in the APF has something to contribute...even the Mulls.  And it's an incautious fool who assumes anyone in this room is beneath notice."  He let it lie at that...if more was to be said, Admiral Hack would say it, he was sure, and it would be better that way.

   NC-37 looked  quite shocked. She  Nodded to  TX-5 and  MC-1,..I think it would be wise  for us to go to our quarters Now.

  ..Ambassdor Shadow... I am ..very sorry...

 Shade  bleeps  his   hand did not lower as the finger  followed  TX-5, and he shakes his head.

 from MC-1. who  still was having a problem of freeing his hand, Shadow was not  just being a jerk,, Keeping the man's hand on the  very object that he couldn't use, right now. Shade said  through gritted teeth,..NC-37... Shade says... you are talking to the  wrong person......

  ..of...course .   Ms Orria... I am sorry for  the Actions of  My party. I...um.. do hope you forgive us....

 ........

  Shadow   says , Harshly into MC-1's ear,..you know?.. I flew over that Nivarian Base a few times.... its  Big... Hangers  are gigantic...maybe after the signing.. you and I can talk a tour.... Just you and me....because.... thinking about  drawing a weapon On Shade... or even worse?  Orria... should have  been the last action you had ever  taken... now... let's suppose that you might have used that, as a cover... and..you know.. a stray shot hit The Admiral..or   Commander Si?... well.. that flotilla of yours would be  boarded and scraped inside of 30 minutes....so.. you should thank me , nothing like that Happened....aye?

 Shadow   let MC-1's hand loose.. the Roussian's hand was  bleeding where  Shadow forced the  skin into the pop-up sight on the back of the  weapon.... Mc-1   rubbed  his hand, taking a napkin to  stem the   blood... He and TX-5 left the room..NC-37  stopped, turning to Hack as he walked with her to the door...your  ..LC... he seems bent on antagonizing  MC-1... your barely bereted  him once...

 ..Aye.. he does  that.... he does that ...alot...  he grinned as he looked over  at   Shadow  who had walked over to  Shade and   Knelt down  talking to Orria  with a smile.. Orria was starting to smile  again... the server  replaced her   glass of  milk.

 ..But...NC-37.. that is part of his job.....he will test those  we meet....and through  that, we find out who are allies  will be....

  Beth smiles, as she  stood nearby,..I always thought it  was because he can be a real jerk, sometimes...

 Hack Laughed,.. well.. there is that...but  he's our jerk...and I''ll tell you this.... If MC-1  hand cleared his Holster..  The Sgt Maj... Shadow..Ms Dalton, beth  would have stopped him...and the SEC troopers would have , most likely, dropped both you and   TX-5.... thus>> would have ended the Roussian membership in the APF... and brought a fresh new  hell for your people to experiance...... Have a Good Night, NC-37... let us hope MC-1 gets a good  rest this night..aye?

 ........

Shade  watched   Shadow  talking  and smiling with orria. he  finger was returning to the   'flowing' cream and  metal grey... He Looked at the SGT MAj  held up a thumbs up again.
 Melia  was  near Oria.. Lyri had  Moved  a few steps, the rifle  couched , but not put away Until the Roussians  and other Ambassadors left

 Shoemaker called   over to Lyri,which one did you have?

 ..TX-5.... why?

  Damn... so did I? ..who would have had   NC-37?

 Bornberry was sheathing her  sidearm.....Me.....

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

   Hack was smiling as he shook his head,.. see? who says these things need to be stuffy?...

  Right then.... everyone get sleep.. be on the Hanger Dec at 0600... we go sown in the Big Ugly... sign the   pact on  the Moon, then board again with the NAragrans  to Nivar.....Shadow..  the Hermes  wing is going down... But you'll land   until the  signing is  done... i wouldn't want MC-1  to miss your company....

    people started to leave, HAck  added,..Ladies?.. Uniforms and  Light boarding suits... just in case Nivar isn't  quite ready to sign....

 he   walked over to  Orria, then looked at Melia,..grab  one of the deserts  to take home.. I think   a cake or pie  will do you good tonight..aye?
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:30, Wed 26 July 2017.

In reply to Henry Christie (msg # 201):

 She also stepped forward with Henry, placing herself between Orria and Shade, and the rude and crude TX-5 and MC-1. She wouldn't be surprised if MC-1 hadn't told TX-5 to bump into the girl! She gave both of the strangers an angry look.

 "Pay no mind to the peons Shade, Orria. They are nothing."

 She made room for Melia and Shadow when they came up, stepping back out of the way. She was a nobody compared to their parents.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:31, Thu 27 July 2017.

In reply to done (msg # 203):

Orria was enjoying the party with Shade, there wasn't a whole lot for them to do or say.  The adults were being adults and for even the most mature younglings it had the potential to be particularly overwhelming.  Such was the case of the spilled beverage. At TX-5's initial accusation and anger tears welled up along with fear and surprise in Orria' s eyes. These were supposed to be friends and allies not meanies. As the others at the party stepped in Orria transitioned to anger.  Though young she was smart enough to realize she hadn't intentionally spilled on TX-5, and rather the Roussian had bumped into her.  As the delegation from the Roussians apologized to Orria another, final time she caught up aand remembered what Melia had been teaching her.  "Orria, accept ap'logy." She says beginning to be slightly pleased with the afternoon,  as well as slightly shy. She nods in gratitude to Hacks recommendation of another dessert.

--MELIA--

Guard duty for these functions were typically a cake walk. Her Marine Corps uniform spit and polished with get Naval insignia prominently displayed along with her medical branch insignia. Naturally she was also supporting her side arm and knives but who wasn't. She'd been across the room when the situation occurred, though the way she moved across the room did mama bears proud. She practically exuded as aura of palpable threat towards the Roussians as she approached Orria parting those ahead of her as a freight train through a snow bank.

Arriving at the scene in time for de-escalation She assessed that Orria was safe abs the threat rapidly being cowed into an apology though it did little to ease her demeanor below a hard and promising look of later danger should any harm come towards Orria.

Crouching near Orria she wraps an arm around her daughter, she nods at Admiral Hacks request. "Aye sir," with the threat gone she smiles at Orria, "come let's pick out a dessert sweetie. " she says escorting Orria to the dessert table, while Orria waves goodnight to Shade.

Henry got up, and looked round, preparatory to leaving.

   the   Board  began to Leave.

  Shade waves back as Orria  and  the LC walks down the passage way to his section of the quarters.

   Shade can be heard  Beeping, whilring, grinding andbuzzing.

 ..no?  you coulding  burn a hole in her  ....

  bleeps  and Buzzes..

 ..I know..I know..... I nwould have  done the same....now?  MC-1.. i might have looked the other way...

 whistle and Bleep

 ..no?  I don't think the Admiral wil let you kill anyone..least...not  at a dinner...

 a grumbling grind..

 ..of course i do..its  my job..look..just forget about it... we'll see  next time.....

 and they crossed over the elevator to   Shadow's  side of the Officer's  deck

 She stepped away when Melia came in and went to stand near Henry, watching as the situation calmed down. Next time she'd come armed as well, even if it was a tiny sidearm hidden somewhere. She glanced at Henry and sighed.

 "That went smashingly. As in I'd like to smash in their smug assed faces!"

Roy gave a grin and a nod to Shade, as things dispersed, before turning back to Hack.  "Light boarding armor for everyone, sir?" he asked...after all, Hack had prefaced the suggestion-slash-order to the ladies...but odds were pretty high that they'd all be involved, if a situation arose where armor was needed.

He turned and looked down the hall after Shadow, as he waited for the Admiral's response, debating with himself before he finally decided...

"Did you catch MC-1's little slip of the tongue, Admiral?  Implied that he was some kind of operative, or operational asset...in a way similar to what Shadow is for us.  That one definitely bears close watching, Sir."

   When Roy asked about the armor, HAck Nodded,Aye..everyone has   light boarding Armor, the Naragrans will see the  shiny armor and I am most certain, they will understand , we need to be ready for  Nivar...

  Then he  frowns  as he looks to the empty doorway...no.. i didn't  catch the whole of it. But he seems  eager to  test  Shadow.... we'll have to watch him..a bit.

Sarah had missed most of the dinner off in a corner, stuck on a vid conference with Admiral Sifuentes from Alpha Fleet. She ran through get various reports and in person assessments of her on going mission.  She paused for a moment mid report as things suddenly escalated, "apologies Admiral, it seems LC Shadow has set a new record for aggravating antagonistic and judgemental allies." She watches the situation unfold casually dropping a hand to the holster on her hip.  Things quickly settle down, "As I was saying sir, I don't particularly trust the Roussians. They are just off and antagonistic..." She says continuing with her final conclusions, as the party winds down. Thanking the Admiral for the dinner she departs deciding to stay in the quarters she'd used earlier and to have the Ironwood shuttle meet her ground side, as LC Harrington brought the Ironwood into a low orbit over Nivar, once the signing was over she'd rejoin her ship.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:12, Thu 27 July 2017.

Henry grinned at Cookie.

"Behave yourself. At least, until they misbehave. Self-defence is always acceptable."

Jesse had walked up to greet and give her evening tidings to Hack and she nodded to Spencer, just barely catching the tail end of their conversation.

It was a pleasure, Admiral, she said.  Spencer.  I will be seeing everyone in the Hanger.

 She grinned at Henry with a bit more teeth than usual but she'd never embarrass him or the admiral by hitting a guest... Unless the guest really really over reached politeness.

 "Yes Sir Boss!"

after the party.))

  It wasn't much more then an hour  after leaving the party. That Si fell into  a restful sleep. Hack  slipped out of  bed   easily, making   no noise  as he  left  his  quarters  and  went across the way to the War Room. He sat in a chair, turned on two Vid screens and  Punched the  Buttons.

  On one screen a Young Black man in the uniform of  an ESN Captain came on... On the Other  a  Tired Looking  woman in an Off duty Admiral's  Uniform.

  .. are right  folks.... I know nits  late.. lets get  the information out, and we can all get some sleep..

 The Black Fellow, Captain Collin White, Began...Things  aren't Good out here  , Admiral Hack. Anzio is an Important spot.. the Trading in this    Hub is the Biggest in the Black... you want it?.. You can get it... it miught cost you...but it's  yours...

 ...but....

 ..But  Aqra is  all but  cut off  from the APF... Their  vessels are a match for  the Largran, but the largran have more.. and they have Creshians  backing them up....

 ..and what has Enta  done for you?

 ..Not Much , Admiral... Sevente has  an 'understanding.'..Anzio  keeps everyone in line.. anyone on  Etna's  side of the Station  , fall under  Enta's  control.... any on the   Lizard's side is Empire  Controlled... the  bad  part.. the Empire  plays  pretty loose  with that.. lots of  Merchants and  Civie transports  go missing...

 and... your  out post?

 ..they leave us alone.. we have  30 MArines... 6 fighters  and a Corvette.. we do have  anit-ship  cannon..but... i don't think it scares them... every reprot i send to Sevente , i get "...we  will take it  under advise ment... that's  why i sent you my reports..

 ..and  i thank you for that..... Admiral Richards?


 The woman was chewing on a Cig-stick.. the mass cred making  item that gave  smokers something to do, when they couldn't  smoke...even though it tended to rot out  belly lining.

 .. The  Bugs   are probing our  Quad at least 2 times a week.. ship to ship actions  are a matter of Course....at least half our CAp ships  are under repair.. and   Sevente won't send us anything more then a destroyer, now and then.... I have  fighters out there, floating  dark?... they report a build up...from the Numbers? I'm thinking we're  going to get hit hard... and I don't mean just to beat us up.. i mean to  destroy  Matterhorn..or  capture it.

 ... THank You both. I will have to  talk with  The Board... I can tell you this.... Sevente's  fleet is going one  way... ours,  will go the other.. The  bottom line.. we have to secure , both quads.. if we do not.... then we cannot move on  the Hel system... and the Goal here is to reduce  Hel to a cinder...

 ..Yes  Sir, we   understand....,I am sure I   echo  Admiral Richards in saying  , we both hope to see the Detla  Fleet...

  There was a half-amused  smile,... we will not abandon either  quad, once  we   are finished in one... we  will move to the other.... Its just...

 she looked over   a bit at her  second  screen,..that whomever Sevente goes to?... will take a gods be damned beating, until you come  back.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:47, Thu 12 Oct 2017.

(( after    Vote for  Blue  Verians  and Hyrians)

   The Admiral  and Commander  Both retired to thier  quaretrs  to change    for a more formal Dinner....

[flexed before the vote]

   En-route to the Commander's quarters, Garrat chuckles "Apparently hell hath no fury like a Verian scorned."  Garrat nods to Gorl, " I'm fairly new to this sector, so I hope you don't mind if I ask about hoe the Hyrians came to be allied with the Demons.  I'd think that would be a little distasteful to your social structure."

  the  Door opened  ,the  Two  Hyrian officers  began to  set Up Gorl on  the Couch. The Orderly set up drinks for them  and Gorl seemed  to be feeling better.

 ..I should Think, Lirg could have answered that?... when my  Pack was years away from being formed... These Quads  Feared the Hyrians...  we allowed the Building of the  CArrierstations, because the Humans and Sanri did not care if  we Roamed the  Quads......The Hilites  and Nivarians  didn't care for the  Human  bases.. but realized there would be   prizes to be won.. so.. we  formed the Triad...

 ..First..The Demons  sent  Avains.. and  we destroyed them... then the Creshians... and we destroyed them.. The Largrans  fought better.. but  died  all the same. The demons came.. and battles were   fierce.. bodies   covered the black so you could walk from ships to ship.. The Demons..  pulled back..and sent  an ambassador...They said.. If  we would Hold these Quads.. any and all  things we could take, would be ours... They asked only , for a tribute  of 1000 Humans a year...

   we formed the Triad.. nad  ruled the Quads... Etna and Everest did not offer much in the way of worry....Until the Delta Fleet arrived...

 he drinks... and is quiet for a bit...the change that has  come.. is good and bad. No longer  under the thumb of the demons... we are free... but.. it could  still cost us out Homeword.... The Aqurains ..could even threaten us now... it will depend on how  your people deal with them... however the  delta Fleet goes.... We will fight along with  them..  The demons  made the truce..because they feared us hurting them..... The Admiral  warned us...offered us a chance.. then punished us...soundly..for not taking that chance... then?.. provide..a tiny bit of hope.....allowing some of my people to go to the colonies...and  giving us  the ..cure.. for the sickness that is  spread...

 .. there will be some of my people that will still fight Humans..and APF races.. those who have  lost too much?... but that will pass, as they do..

    Garrat shrug "Lirg is a soldier first.  He looks to follow a tradition of strength.  This is a good tradition for old warriors like him and I, but we often overlook the more subtle aspects such as politics.  You challenge traditional procedure and carry your envoy to Hack yourself.  Your a diplomat, and a politician so you are likely to have insights others don't."   Garrat nods "It will be interesting to see if you are accepted, but your people showed a power and courage in the last battle that impressed many people in the AP."

     "Best of luck leader Gorl."  Garrat nods and retires from the Admiral's quarts.

(( after Vote/ Admiral Richards))


Roy arrived shortly afterward, in his dress uniform...he wore the pin version on his commendations, rather than the full medals...but it still covered the left side of his chest.  He wore one of the machine pistols that Shadow had given him, ages ago, on one hip...the Verian pistol he'd been given for their last mission on Fuji was in a concealed holster, and he wore his kukri in its scabbard on his back.  He gave a courteous nod to the Hyrians, but said nothing as he walked in.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:07, Mon 08 Jan 2018.