She applauded Shade's comments or opinions of their visitors. It showed clearly that he had the understanding to know what was being said, even if he didn't chose...or hadn't the ability to speak it in their common language. She winked at shade when he looked at her and gave her his thumbs up. He may not be enjoying himself wholeheartedly but he was able to hold his own!

 She listened to the discussion of the weapons and possible fluid dynamics that the fighters weaponry seemed to find a way to capture and harness. Then NC-37 and MC-1 spoke up again.

 She looked at MC-1 then turned to NC-37 with a look of concern on her face. "Tell me NC-37, has MC-1 failed to take his politic manners lessons for some reason? Surely you don't allow him to attend Social Events often since he seems to have no discretion, and insists upon stepping squarely into the muck of insults like a small child? Of course, one may excuse a small child for not knowing better. Is MC-1 perhaps... how may I say this delicately? Is MC-1 perhaps a little slow? Has he had damage to his intellect somehow? If so maybe we can possibly overlook his rudeness."

  MC-1  moves to speak,  But  NC-37 holds her hand out to stop him.

  ... we do not have  Much  interaction with other races...

 Beth blurts out,..i wonder  why....

 Si  gives  beth a small smile but a quick shake of her head.

 ..As I said.... we do not have much, in the way , of gaging other  races.... we know  only  our own way of life... and  measure others  accordingly...

 .. and MC-1 , being a jerk..is normal  of MC designates?

 All three Roussians looked at Shadow, Hack simply said,..ease up..LC....

 Kray nodded  and   took  a forkful of potatoes.

 ..In   OUR...culture,   We do not laud  people who become heroes  though the efforts of  others....

  Miller speaks  up  from Morris's  side,..so you'er  saying you don't have any heroes then....

 NC-37 cast a dark look towards  Miller,..what Heroes  we have.. did  so on thier own.... Not through the aid of Machine...

"Ah, I see. So lacking knowledge of other cultures, you speak as you would amongst yourselves, is that correct? Perhaps what we perceive as provocative, offensive even, is to you normal discourse... or of course it may be that you are being deliberately rude. In our culture, at social events it is not acceptable to be offensive."

Henry kept his voice level, unchallenging. The academic approach, enquiring dispassionately.

  NC-37 smield  slightly at henry, and looked around the  dinner,..i am sure it  is hard for you to grasp  the customs  of  elder races.... I am sure you will  learn, as you grow  in the Black....

  ..Indded.... NC-37....  we find it  ectremely hard to Grasp the Demons, Largrans and Creshians  use of Breeding  captives... or  the Dining on such captives?....Perhaps  we  will learn.....? Commander Bornberry said , in a cold  tone.

  ..That brings up a very Good point, Commander Bornberry?  He turns to   the Roussians,..... If ytou were seated on a Demon Flagship  Now, and a Human Bade was  laid before you... would you..begin to eat?

Jesse wonders how they have lived for so long in this quad without knowing or even seeming curious about other races.  So, even with their lack of other races, don't they have their own dignity among themselves.

She sat and listened, learned.

 "If I were on a Demon ship as you say, and a Human body were placed before me as part of a meal, I would be deeply offended, being neither a barbarian nor a cannibal. Of course, I would not be on a Demon ship unless all the demon kidnappers were all dead to begin with. I cannot see where a Demon ship would invite Diplomatic Contact with us except as a trap anyway. I cannot say I would expect civilized actions of the Roussians  there if such happened, if MC-1 and NC-37 are prime examples of their civil actions."

 "At the risk of being crude, the Demon's activities are like to crude examples of barbarian humor wherein some backward low intellect persons used farm animals to have sexual concourse with and then later on ate them. That is not at all considered to be civilized behavior."

 She looked around the table then bowed her head briefly to the Admiral and Henry then went back to giving her order to the server next to her for Prime Rib medium rare with mushrooms, and a Caesar Salad with cracked black pepper and slivered cheese.

   The   people were about halfway through the Main Course....

   Shadow  Looked around , the Roussians seemed a bit  mullified if not outright slapped  down. Shadow asked,...now... what can you tell us about t he Favor  the Delta Fleet can do  for you... even though your....very high Tech..fleet seems to Have us at a disadvantage...?

 Bornberry   almost choked on her  wine   at that and she   giggled  and coughed,..for give me.. that was.. too funny, and it caught me, well off guard.

 MC-1  Glowered..  Tx-5  just shook her  head. NC-37  took the   chance to speak...we  have  these , taken from bodies of   Aliens and Humans we  found...
 she opened her  belt pouch and  Brought out two Collar pins...Hack Pointed to Beth and Shadow... NC-37 frowned  but passed them along... Beth and Shadow nodded right away.. and  passed them  to Roy and Jesse... ( and  then would be Passed  , counter clockwise to  the rest of the  folks.

 Beth whispered with Shadow then said,...the  first is a Collar Button of an Elipsian Officer... the   one  eyed, pale  skinned folks who  have the Blade  weapons.... The Other is a collar pin of  Mask Of Death Officer..... LAdy V's  answer to Lights Out.

 NC-37   Looked..Shadow merely nodded at the cresant  moon pin and the Skull pin....surely  this  girl cannot  know this?.. we have barely learned about the  white skinned ones...

 Shadow   laughed,....This..WOMAN.... knows alot of stuff.....stuff that keeps us alive, or helps make  the bad guys dead.... i sorta like both areas....
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:19, Fri 21 July 2017.

 "Here here! Amen to that Shadow!" She picked up her glass and saluted Shadow then took a drink before setting the glass back down. She concentrated on her beef with a look of pleasure at the excellent food. She took a bite of salad and relished the peppery flavor of cracked black peppercorns and the smoky flavor of the cheese combined with the crisp romaine. She enjoyed a nice meal other than quick take out and the only thing better would have been Maine Lobster with Lemon Butter. She smiled and chewed happily.

Roy sat back with an amused smile on his face, listening to the others' reactions to the Roussians and their bluntly provocative questions.  Once things settled down a bit, he cleared his throat.

"You also seem to be woefully uninformed about the nature of LC Shadow's fame and prowess.  It's true, for quite some time, he flew a plane that was enhanced by a Verian, unbeknownst to any of us until the time he upgraded and had to leave that plane behind.  He's been flying a standard, unenhanced fighter plane for...what...two and a half or three years now?  Without any diminution of his combat record."

He flashed an openly predatory grin, and continued, "Now, what most don't know is, Shadow is possibly even MORE dangerous on the ground, without a plane..."  He looked up the table, toward the Cavet.

"How many troopers, Juil, did you lose, trying to collect Shadow's bounty after he crashed on the Green Moon?"  He didn't wait for an answer, but refocused his attention on MC-1.  His voice took on patient, slightly malevolent overtones.

"Believe me when I say this...I would a million times rather have the LC chasing me in a plane than have him stalking me on the ground.  My odds of survival would be a lot higher..."

He speared a bite of his steak, and continued, in a perfectly conversational tone, "They've done an excellent job preparing this...some of the best I've had on board, and that's really saying something..."  He turned to the server closest to him and added, "Please, convey my compliments to the chef..."

    The Cavet looked away from Roles  for a Moment,..we  lost a lot of  Scouts.... we do not know how many of them   The LC...um...Accounted for.

 Roles  chuckled,..i would have to assume... most of them...

 MC-1 looked at Shadow  who  was eating the last of his   main course and   stacking the silverware and such on the plates for the servers. ..how Much of that, Mr  Shadow, could be  attributed to luck?

   Shadow took a Drink of his  Soda  and asked the server  for a  refill ,..Oh?  MC-1.. there was alot of luck involved...

 MC-1  smiled  with victory...

 Commander Si  tilted her head,... How so, Kray?

 ..Well, Ma'am... you gacve ne  my Evac point  and the time to get there?.. so I could not take the time to kill as many as I would have liked...so.. they lucked out....

 Mc-1  glowered   as  Bale raised his Glass to Shadow.

  The serve  GAve  Kray a refill and smiled... The LT in charge of the serving crew  bowed slightly to the SGT Maj...Thank you SM... The crew did not have much time to prepare a grand feast...The Chef will be pleased , that you were pleased.. he grinned.

  The Admiral Nodded  as he  stacked his  dishes  as well,..The Chef has never let us  down. It is a Mistake on my parft, that we do not praise him more. Sometimes....

 He Got his  glass raised it, Lokking from Herny's  side of the opening  and Moving his  Glas the  whole way around , until Stopping at Bornberry and her  XO,..I forget, Just how  great a Band of folks we have as comrades....

 Hennings said,..here , here....

 Carts  were pushed out with the  dirty dishes, even as carts  came in with the different  types of deserts.

 The LTs stood in the open area and   slowly turned,..we have   managed  some other deserts... the  'cold cart' has  Hermes Made Vanillia  Ice cream... and  chocolate  Pudding as well as  Sanri  Ice.. and  we have a selection of pies  and cakes, on the cart as well as  berry toppings.

 he stepped out of the way to allow the servers to move around.

 NC-37   Marvel at the  food and  asked for the  ice cream.....Life on  Board the Flagship seems to agree  with you all..such..food!

    Hack was  watching the server put some icecream on his  Burian Apple  pie,.. That isn't the Case, NC-37..outside of Having the  WC of the fleet.. and the ESN/APF  Board , on my ship, we do not have anything   the other  ships do not have... even the smaller ships have ...smaller  recdecs, though their  Civie sections are much smaller...thier 'farms'  are hydroponics...

 Roles  Nodded,..our EMS ships have    a  gathering place. not like the Rec dec, but close enough.. we have  no farms though, but that was  because of  size and EMS  building  rules...

 ... The Nemesis   has everything The Hermes has....except the reputation... I am working on that part!

  There was a Bleep on the Vid  screens as they began their deserts.

   The Admiral  punched  a Button  and a Major from the fleet Mairnes was on the other end,..Sorry to disturb you sir? I'm Majoe  Wilkes of the Tesla.... We have two full transports of troops   who volunteered to transfers... as well as  armor and a  couple mechs... we  have  Fences   erected  around the   Air base...   The Colonists from different ships who Volunteered are already setting Posts  and such for the   outline of the  Colony itself.... there have been a few Nivarians who have  offered to help..they seem a bit put  off when we told them the Naragrans are coming to morrow...

  Very well done... i assume that is not the only reason you  COMed?

  ..no sir, Admiral. There have  been attacks.... some of  the Nivarian Loyalists  have been attacking Niavrians who  want to help, or  who are helping.... there have been some reports of  explosions in the  Bigger cities..

 ..I see.... and.. Your  recommendation ?

 ..sign the pact on the Hermes?...We  can deal with the people down here..and..

 ..Sorry .Major?  But  if  i should be worried about going  down to sign....what makes you think i should allow colonists to try and  settle in?

  ..aye , Sir, but if  something should  Happen....

 ..Then Best to happen while we are there.... we'll be Armed, Major...  there  will be  air cover...and i'm certain a few Loyalists  won't last long  behind troops  who have  fought against Empire  regulars...

 The Major  shook his  head with a smile,..Right then.. as you say Admiral....we'll  be ready...

 and?  Major Wilkes?..should it  seem to be overly militant  .. we'll pull  the troops and  the Colonists out... and play a game to see which Cap ship can fracture the  Mantle of the planet first...

 Understood, Admiral,, we  will see you and the  others in the afternoon... Wilkes out...

 ..So..Side arms, Knifes and some form of Long arm for Nivar....everyone got that?

 ..so..You ar warned.... and  yet you still will take  the board  down to  Nivar? NC-37  asked  as she  ate ( and liked) the Homemade icecream

  If they  are aggressive . to the point  i cannot  trust to have APF  colonists there....Then? we'll treat them as  any other enemy planet.. either way.. it is good to see for oneself..aye?

 ..but you risk.. getting killed..or  members of the board?

 we are all warriors, NC-37... just some folks  do more  fighting then others.. The last thing . Nivar wants is for me. or a Member of the board to die while signing a Pact...the punishment  for Nivar, will make Hyria look  like  a sunday walk on the beach? he shrugs,.. we have warned Nivar, they have already  paid a rather stiff price..  i have no qualms... none..what so ever... to turning Nivar into a wasteland... it might be good Karma. for the simple fact, their lives have been built on  stealing, slavery and Empire worship.

 MC-1 .. looked past  Shadow, to Roy,... and you would allow your  'great Admiral' to take such a  risk?

 "It's called "Chain of Command" MC-1. If our Admiral is set on an action there's little chance we can stop it. Much like stopping your snide comments it would seem. The Admiral knows the risks, though I admit it would not be a good prospect if he were to be injured. There are protections in place and more would be available if there's trouble. But I am also sure that the Admiral's intelligence is great enough to understand the situation and not put his life in harms way, or the lives of the other signees."

 She took a bite of her warm strawberry rhubarb pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream slowly dripping and melting down it's side. It was most delicious and she stopped talking to the irritating and rude MC-1 she secretly started calling Most Contrary One to herself...so she could enjoy her homestyle pie al la mode.

"Moreover," Henry chipped in, "It has long been a core principle of military doctrine that a commander should never ask of others something he's not willing to do himself. It's called leadership, and it's the reason that we all follow Admiral Hack out of conviction, by choice... not because it's our duty or because we are forced to do so."

     As  they ate their confections ,  Commander Si  spoke up. Looking around the table.... before the signing?  Perhaps..it  would help , both sides,  if  we told of how we all came to this place In time...

  She smiled a bit,..I am here, because i met Oliver  when  he was awarded  the Angel  Bronze Star , for his actions   at Olympus Mons...  He was not quite the normal  Human... My Father seemed less  then happy, that  we started to meet.

 Hack grinned,..Ge-Fi disliked it..very much, to say the least...  I think he gave me the Hermes, hoping  that i would be a failure, next to the HAdes....

 Hennings   laughed as he held up his  drink and took a sip,...we saw how that  ended..... I am here , because we started to form a  Human alliance , one  not  for the sole task of serving the Angels.... but one  that would  be an Active, and deadly part of the ESN...

 Bale smiled,...i was  added to the Board, when The Admiral was granted  the powers to sign treaties and make Pacts.... there was also, various  reasons  we needed   Provosts   traveling with the Fleet.

 Roles pointed  with his  fork to Both Hack and  Shadow,..I'm here because of them....

 Shadow Pointes to Si and Hack,.. I'm here because of them....

 beth   nods.... Me too!...

 ...I am here, because   The Admiral selected me to over see the Pilots and personnel ....While Captain O'rielly  works to keep the  aircraft and such running...

 The Sanri Nod to each other  Noan speaks  Up as one of her left hands  wave about,..When the Human ship took on  a Demon  ship... half again its size, and saved  our Ambassadors.. it was enough  for us....

 Ziger spoke up,..That was enough for us as well..too long , in  The Black fighting on our  own.. with Only the Sanri to aid us... both of us..fighting on our own Homefronts?... Then we hear about the Empire  vessels  being harrased and destroyed... so..yeah.. we're  Goin' where  they go....

 Bronberry Nodded,..I am here , because   The Admiral is giving me a chance for revenge .. for that...  I will follow  the hermes to  the Hel system and burn the   planet to a cinder...

    Shade  Bleeps  and Just points  at Shadow.... Orria  Points at Henry

 Stefi points to   Hack,..if there is a place that needs Med techs... this is it....

  The Cavet  shrugs her  shoulders,..I was   exiled, as much as those    i had to oversee... Now?..I am a ruler, with  some say in how  i will govern and allies  to work with.

 "I'm here because I volunteered to come here to fight Demons and to save Humans and other's who are being killed by Demons. I watched attacks hit cities in my country and I vowed to keep that from happening again! I heard Hermes was accepting transfers from Volunteer Groups and I decided I wanted to join the best. That's here."

 She took a bite of her pie with melted cream and finished off the confection. She could almost have eaten another but wasn't about to ask for another. She would have to see if she could get some rhubarb started. And strawberries and gooseberries.

"I am here," Henry said quietly, "Because I asked to be allowed to come and study the plants and animals, and indeed the sentient beings, encountered out here in the black. I have found much more. Comradeship. A sense of purpose. A desire to do the right thing for all sentient races, to help them find peace and freedom and the liberty to live as they would like without fear of being eaten or used by others."

He paused.

"I also have seen many fascinating plants and animals. And met Mila."

Jesse listened to everyone's story.  She quietly ate for a bit and looked up.  When it was her turn, she became quiet nervous.  She first looked to Spencer and put up all her defensive walls.

She took a quick sip of water before she spoke.  She looked between Si, Hack, and the others at the table before returning her attention to MC_1 settling her attention to him.

Back on earth, my father was very persuasive, intimidating and a high governing body in the region we lived in.  He was a diplomat, but answering to the wrong team.  My mother, was helping the Angel forces, as she was half-angel herself which I recently learned and a distant cousin to Commander Si, herself.  When she learned of the Demon dealings that my father was bidding and the smuggling he was doing with the demons, she approached him about it.  It was a couple of months later, I found her dead.  My own father had her killed.  He couldn't have an Angel sympathizer, or Angel blooded being in his own home.

She put he hands onto her lap and played with the cloth napkin.  You see, me and my mother were close.  Yes, I was rebellious, but she understood me.  She knew my bloodline knew nothing more than being a free spirit.  She got that. With her gone, what did I have to live for.  I had gained friends, several friends, across the military sanctions stations in the town I lived in.  When I learned of who my mother's killer was, I sought shelter at their barracks.  They taught me to defend myself, how to fight back, and even how to fly.  They gave me personal basic lessons in case the need arose I needed to get out.

All the while, they were teaching me, I was using my father's house staff to divulge information from and coming and going so sporadically he never knew whether I was home or not.  One night after a banquet and the house was quiet, my father met his own demise.  By my hands.  No one kills my family, or my friends, and gets away with it.  The last words my father heard was my mother's name coming from my lips.

She looked to the others that were visiting aboard.  To escape my father's wrath, I went undercover and worked for special ops for a variety of people over the first half-year.
 I meet a variety of diplomats and learned of this and that intel that I passed along to the people who hired me.  I knew it wouldn't be long until I would be found out.  I came on this ship in hiding.  Knowing my father's men would be out seeking vengeance.  I come aboard not knowing any one, barely trusting whomever I came across.  Since then, I've been swinging from a rope tied to a helicopter while Shadow and I escape from a building under attack.  I've fell in love, even if for a fleeting moment, and met some great people along the way.  Some aboard here and some back on the planet we just invaded a mountain alongside.  All in all, they've become my family.

I'll protect each and everyone of them whether my own blood or not. I come here for my new chosen family.  I'll die protecting this new family.

  The servers   made they were through, asking   folks if they wanted Coffee or tea or wine... or an extra   bit of  dessert .

   While folks   waited  for the servers  ,  Hack smiled a  bit, drinking from his coffee.well?... now you know a bit  about  The Hermes Family.  Each ship is like this, of course there  might be variants , but in the end , i have not heard of  any problems  form ship's  captains.

  As the  people finished up  the  servers  removed the table cloth.. placing a fresh one on and setting up  a bar, Coffie  MAchine..Tea  MAchine and a few dozen bottles of  soda on Ice.

 The Board  moved to a  table  where  a  rather large  Book sat,  two papers were on the table.  each Member of the Board signed the   sheet, Including  Shade

  Then Admiral  Hack  and the  ambassadors...The Cavet signed... and  then  MC-1... TX-5  and Lastly NC-37

  MC-1 looked at Shadow,..I see the robot got to sign, but you did not?

  Shadow  gave a sharp chuckle,..Shade is  an Ambassador.. me?..I just kill stuff... I figure you were allowed to sign, Because NC-37 is the leader ..TX-5 represented the Females.. you  were  the  best  they could  settle for, as  far as  a male would go...

   MC-1 Turned to face   Shadow,  , shadow Looked unconcerned  as he  reached  for a Bottle of  Soda.

 beth whispered  Harshly,..think  twice.... she smiled  but there was no mith.

  One of the servers came out   with two tall glasses of Chocolate Milk for  Shade  and   Orria

 ..On Behalf of the APF, I welcome Rouss  to  The Federation... may it  be benefical to all

  He raised his  Glass   as did the others   as they toasted the signing.

  ... we lift off at 0600 to morrow  to  sign on the Green Moon.. with the NAragrans.... from there, the troops and colonists  will have  already arrived on Nivar.. after the signing   down there.... NC-37  can return to her flotilla  and  begin to aid the  Nivarians..... You will, however...use  at least half your  Cap ships, to lead us to your trouble  spot.. the rest  can stay  and Help Nivar  as needed

 People then began to Mingle after that...

    Shadow  stood  near Lyri who was looking stoic in her uniform and Pulse riddle...Hey there Lady?... Come her  often...

  ..Shove off Sailor.. I've  heard  about you ESN Types....  she  chuckled a  bit.

  Beth frowned as she  took a sip of  wine,..i can never  find those types....

Henry watched, sipping a glass of wine. He always enjoyed ceremonial.

During a lull, after MC-1's question, Roy interjected, "There have been times that I've differed with the opinion and the actions of the Admiral.  On this, though?  I'd pull that trigger myself, if given the opportunity.  Nivarians already displayed treachery on us once, which is the reason LC Shadow crashed on the Green Moon.  If they do it again...they won't get a chance to try it a third time.  I've got a tolerant streak...but it only extends so far."

He listened as the others explained their reasons for being there.  When his own turn came up, he shrugged.  "I've been a Marine since I was old enough to enlist.  Saw a LOT of action, back on Earth, dealing with anti-Angel groups all over the planet.  Something in that record stood out...I was part of the Admiral's hand-picked crew for the initial launch of the Hermes.  Been involved in everything from stealing a fighter prototype from Demon-sympathizing forces on Mars to the rescue of the Sanri ambassadors from the Demons to telling a Demon representative, to his face, that I thought he was a cheating coward who wanted peace talks just to get a chance to fall back and regroup when confronted with a force that matched the Demons step-for-step in ferocity, but didn't have to subjugate their neighbors in the process."  He gave a nod and a grin to the Sanri and Occui representatives at the table.

"I've got no family left, back on Earth, this is likely all the life I'll ever know.  But I'll fight to my last breath to make sure Earth is never food-storage for the Demons.  And if there's anyone in the way of that, and they're not smart enough to realize that we're the best chance they'll ever have to be free of the Demons forever, I'm not afraid to stomp them into the dirt to get to that goal."  His voice took on an earnestness that was not quite threatening, but left little doubt he was speaking truth, and he looked squarely at MC-1 as he spoke the last few words.

Through the signing, he was casual, relaxed...at the moment MC-1 turned on Shadow, however, anyone looking his way would have seen his hand drop to his sidearm, and his eyes narrow, ready to act.  He didn't relax again until the confrontation passed...and even as he drank his toast, he kept a watchful eye on the Roussians.  All three of them.  Something about MC-1 didn't add up, to him, and it didn't escape his thinking that it could be a lot more than just that the Roussian military commander had a boorish dislike for Shadow.

      people Mingled. The Occuir  pair  talked to  Roy,Zieger telling  tales of his  ranger  Days... While Oilra told some interesting stories of  being , what humans called  , a 'Coast Watcher.

 Being Dropped off on a planet or Moon  to report to  the Occui or ESN ship as  to what was going on. The Occui Coast watcher that  Died on the green Moon was a friend of hers, in boot camp.

 NC-37 talked  to   Commander Si and Commander  Bornberry, thought the Latter seemed, uninterested, at best.

 Bornberry's XO, LC   Ed  Mire, was  Talking to  Roles  and the Cavet ( who hung onto Roles  Like an anchor.)

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

  TX-5 was talking with  Beth,..So I am to Understand you are the Ship's   SEC COM offieer?

 Beth Looked at her  dress, and  an eyebrow  rose,..what makes you think that?

 Oh?.. Well... we have   intercepted   some COM  chats  and News flows?... They..um..mentioned that a few times.... Why would  you be  here?

 ..I'm the Cold, dark hearted Murderer's  date..um..Escort.

 Indeed?....he must  be  easy going, when he could have brought Some of those piltos  with him?

 Lyri Bristled at this... but  kept her  cool
.................

 The Snari woman  stopped to talk to Jesse,.... It is much the same, you know... almost every planet in the Federation, has  those who lean to the  Empire.... This  EDT.... they seem to be the Galvinizing those who oppose  APF.... the fools, do not know they are preparing themselves  to be feasts!

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

 Hennings  reached   Henry  and Cookie,... Well..aside   from some unwise  chatter,  this went   rather well?.... For tomorrow>  You will be expected  to have your weapons.... we are going to do full dress for both the Green Moon and Nivar...we do not want to slight the NAragrans... damn shame  we didn't look ahead to this and have it on the  Hanger  Dec... he handed his  empty glass to Emmie who smiled at henry and Cookie, and scurried off to  refill Admiral Henning's  drink.

  ..if everything goes well... the Admiral wants to  see  what the base looks like, and how much damage has been  repaired, as well as the state of the Colony...we have never  setp up, this many colonies  at one time...we have folks   setting up undergrown on teh BAlck Moon, until  terrforming and such take over.... we have the Colony on the Green Moon..and Now    the Colony , on Nivar....and..let us not  forget, the  re-introduction, of Naragrans to Nivar!

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

 Shadow Gave Beth a Pat of the Back and a wink as he  headed over to fetch Beth a  soda, instead of  wine.  MC-1 seemd to head Him off, as  Shadow  tried to split  the Sanri woman and Jesse, and  Roy and the Occui.

 ... Damn it MC-1.... look.. if you want to?...You and   I can excuse  ourselves and go down to the football field..or the Chapel-Gym.. and  we can wortk on some 'hand to hand'..if  you think that will make you feel better..... But here's a spoiler... You'll go to Med Tech..and MC-2..or what ever Alphabet will get a promotion...

 MC-1 al but laughed,..you think..because you are  an Agent.. you are better then other Race's assets...

 as the angry  MC-1 said his  words. Kray looked around to see if  any others  caught his words.

 ..Don't know about Assets?..  But I'm damn better then thier ass-hats..

 Admiral Hack watched  Shadow and  MC-1 over the rim of his coffee cup. Bale was  saying  something  in a soft whispers  as Hack nodded. Stefi, seemed overly interested  in the  encounter herself.

 Shade  and Orria  returned to the Table... none  seemed interested in talkig  to the 'robot' or his little aide , so  Shade  set up a little  star fighter game, where they took turns to try to shoot  each other  aircraft down.

 Morris and Miller were  making their  way towards Beth and TX-5

In reply to almost done (msg # 191):

Jesse nodded in agreement.  I do admit, sometimes some do not see the knife at the back for the fools gold in front of them, she replied to the Sanri female.  Tell me, what happens to bring you here?  Call me, curious.

She relaxes a bit but still a bit emotionally flushed from the information she divulged a moment ago.

   The Sanri smiled,..it is  as i said.... The Hermes defeated the Demon  crusier, which was  close to twice your own size?.... Ersi  had been on  The  Hades  when the Hunt started...now...he transferred   to Fuji..then to  the  Hermes after that..he  could not stand  the Hade's  commnader

In reply to signing (msg # 193):

Jesse gave a partial but friendly smile back.  She takes a quick look over in Shadow's direction but keeps the conversation going with the Sanri.

So what do you make of the new Rouss? she asks curious on her thoughts.

Henry smiled at Hemmings.

"Oh, I'm invited? Yes, of course... smartly dressed and armed to the teeth it will be, Admiral."

Henry wondered idly what clothing would be appropriate. It was so much easier for the military folk: put on an appropriate uniform and you're done. Maybe he'd add a bit of colour with a doctoral robe!