Alison nodded and made a mental note as regards smoking and the static field.   Just in case she ever needed to advise anyone else...

And likewise made note of the names and faces which followed;  there were some interesting stories here, that went without saying. Some she looked forward to learning at some point in the future.

"Hello Cadets, and Miss Haely.  That's a fine looking sword you've got, Sir Roll.  May it be used only for good and proper knightly conduct," she offered with a wink.

And then to Lt. Robertson, returning her wave, "A pleasure as well, lieutenant; I hope you're enjoying the change of scenery." There were several details about this one that Alison noted -- not least being the scars.

"Well. The Largs aren't the only ones who're hungry.   I suppose there'll be snacks at this After Party?"   

 A pretty,  and slim  young woman, her  hair   tired  back, she had the Apron of a Rec Dec  waitress on..

 she spoke up...Ma'am?  I'm Sneak,  There is a Table there  with hot and Cold  drinks  and some  varieties of sandwiches... Dana, that woman there with  an Apron like me... she's the head waitress...  if you need  anything to eat or drink, come over..

 Roll looked up at  Alison, a bit of a frown... The  small  larg stil thumped his tail.

 Captain Mossis   cleared his throat and said  very...very softly...The  Young Woman is a Stem  Kid  too..we had a few of the  brought  aboard  after we did  some house  Vleaing  on Etna...The young woman, Sneak? her Boyfriend is  around her  age, he's a SEC trooper and is on the planet right now.

 he turned his back to Roll...The Young Boy with the 'sword'  Killed a demon  by jabbing it through  the face mask , last time we were boared...Stem kids  do not have easy lives, and  may have killed more people then some troopers.

 Stefi smiled   softly...he almost was sent away..none of the civies wanted to adopted him...his  'pack' members  all were adopted   except   for Sneak and Jax, he boy friend... Jax was signed up  for troper training..and  another   fellow who isn;t on board  adopted her... don't  let that smile or size  fool you... if one of 'the pack' was threatened  she would attack as any other   crewman on this ship...Roll. actually saved the LC  at a Ball..a Nivarian had the drop on him  during a Ball, and he stabbed  him through the back, before he  could pull the trigger.. He sorta lives alone? he was adopted  by a Vampic  who turned  coat..but she went off, trying to find out what happened to her mate...until she returns, Sneak,  Jax, Rutledge and the LC  watch out for him..as well as Doc  henry and his wife..

 Captain Morris   waves to the food  tables, that Gregor  guards  incase  a dropped sandwich tries to get away. His Voice a bit serious...The LC Pays for  an After party, when we have a jump off.... its a mix between celebrating  some pilots who reach  Milestones, and  those who didn't come back...a wake of sorts?...  I am certain you'll see  the LC... you either  like him, or not...he is never boring though..

 Stefi rolls her  eyes...I would pray for a 'boring LC' if there were anything out there to listen!

Haley was smiling.  She was worried about Nikki, but she did understand there was nothing she could do about it and worrying never solved anything.  Mr. Morris and a few others were showing a woman about as tall as Nikki about.  Her voice sounded kind when they were introduced to herself and Roll.  "How are you ma'am" she began as she held out her hand to shake "Mind iffen Ah ask yer name?  What you would like to be called Ah mean" from her speech Haley had an accent probably of rural Appalachia.  Maybe southern North America.

Alison was surprised when the server showed up, almost on instant wish.

"Well, I was prepared to wait, but that's more than convenient, and gracious! Thank you.  I'm going to rate this place five stars, for sure."   

To the captain, Lt. Stefi, and the Stem children, she added "I don't know how familiar you are with any Arthurian myth, as well as authentic history of the period, but knights do an awful lot more with swords than carry them for show.   And all's fair, in love and war.  I've never had to fight for my life; but I've spoken with over a hundred and twenty people who have. Some military, some not."   She shrugged.  "Sometimes the latter have the more extreme stories."   

"I doubt the LC will have direct interest in niche med-personnel, like me. I can respect how much he surely has on his mind, and if he excels at his job, that's what matters."

She looked at the newcomer, shook the hand warmly. "I'm well, thank you.  And the name's Alison, or Ali, if you want to lose a syllable.  I love the accent; hopefully you won't mind if I ask where you grew up?"   
This message was last edited by the player at 16:54, Thu 28 Apr 2022.

 Rivets had   ground grews  get sandwiches  and  drinks, By Flight..LC's group first, then would work down.

 Amy was  pulling a hover  cart from the rec Dec, had  4 more   container   of  thrinsg with  sandwich  cases on top.

 Sneak went to meet her  ..Roll even  helped to unload  and set thing up.

 'ADMIRAL  ON DEC!"

Admiral hennings   and Captain Si  walked  down the ramp way.. Captain Morris   waved. the   Human  man and Angel Captainarrived, the  Captain was  , maybe an Inch taller then the Admiral, as per   Angel stature.

 Captain M0rris  said...Real Admiral  Hennings.. Captain Nil-SI...this LT ..DR..Verault.

 Hennings  took her  hand..welcome  aboard..... Admiral  Hack is on the Ground...

 Nil Si  smiled    the Angel Smile,Yes, My Husband  and I will have a talk about that when he gets back.

Haley smiled with the handshake.  "Both names are pretty.  I like 'Ali' and Alison." she looked at her intently for a few moments "You look more like an 'Alison', but I like 'Ali'.  Maybe ...innerchangible?" she was not to sure on her pronouncement.  She continued on "Nikkis family and mine lived close.  She used to help babysit me and my family for a bit" she looked a bit sad but then tried thinking of good thought "My folks were tobacco farmers and a few animals.  Nikkis family still is.  Her Papaw always made sure we got fed and taken care of.  He helped lots of folk in the area, and they also helped Nikkis family out too"
When the admiral and all showed up she stood up straight, then smiled and gave Capt. Si a wave, and admiral Hennings.

"Yes, interchangeable is just fine," she assured Nicole. "I'm not too picky on the names."   

"It sounds as though you came from a good-hearted community, and Nikki's father in particular sounds like he's a good man."    Something which Alison could not say of her own...

"Pleased to meet you, Admiral, and Captain, and thank you for the welcome."    Alison was likewise standing straight and formal, with the arrival of the Brass.

Inter-species psychology was a particular interest of hers.  And a human-Angel marriage was always intriguing...

  Captain Si went over to the table  and looked over the Sandwiched, and poicked one to Unwrap.

  Turning a small bite, she  chewed  for a moment and said to Alison. we  run a tight ship, though, people from the outside  may not think so... People salute when the should, show respect to people who have earned it.and..at all times , keep the Ship as thier most important responsibility

 She waved a hand back and  forth  as she stared  across the expanse of the Hanger Dec.so? No need to hold attention, unless there is a demand  for such practice.

"As it should be, Captain," she acknowledged Si, concerning the priority of the ship.   And then relaxed, once she let them off the hook about being at attention.

At which point she too made her way to the sandwich table, to browse the offerings...

 beth called out from the scaffold... Admiral Hennings... LC is  sending Up  uplaod from the Tunnel attack?

 Henings  waved to Beth...Let us know  when its ready , we'll access it on the Vidboards..

 Aye Sir, Already done..

Haley had returned to help Sneak and the other ladies serving sandwiches.  For the moment she just colored in her book she had.  thi page had a few Uden animals and flowers to color including the 'berafak'.  she laid on a shelf behind the sandwich carts and colored to her hearts content.

  Captain  Si with a   Can of Soda and a Sandwich, Notions  for Alison to Join her  for a  walk across the massive hanger dec..roughly a Half  mile across, depending on where you started from..

   they reach the static  field The Hermes  was   above   the  planet's  North.. The rich blues and Greens of the planet, were  now marred by some  small black smudges, which. would most likley be  miles  wide  Burned or blasted  areas. other  vessels Dotted The Black   some formations of  fighters   zipped by, Big Uglys were comign  and Going as the shuttled   supplies down to the   surface.

 It is  lovely..is it not? The sister Planet is  on the starboard   side.. we cannot  see it..but if  the OB dec was open you  would see part of it, depending  on our  facing...There is alot  of darkness down there...something is not  right.. The APF and ESN, never broke into full scale colonization, because  we  did not have a  strong grip on this   quad? That is changing as  Oliver replaced the Admirals of Etna  and Matterhorn... I suspect we will be  sending in Troops and Colonists   now, once we have paid  for the real estate with lives.

Alison nodded, after giving Captain Si undivided attention while she spoke.

"Looking at worlds from above is quite something.  I doubt it will ever get old for me."  She paused a moment, before continuing.

"Yes, indeed. Real estate can be pricey. And at times overvalued. Hopefully, it was more of a buyer's market, in this case."

"Admiral Hack has an amazing reputation, as do a number of his ranking officers. But waiting to hear back must still be hell, sometimes."   

   The Captain Smiles  slightly as she takes  a bite of her sandwich,Its  not that? I'm The Flag Captain, I could Call at any time i wish.. But I do not  wish to distract him. Nor  do I want him to seem as  if he is Less The Man that he is, With  his wife checking up on him, like he is  playing cards with 'the boys"

 We have been Boradered  almost as many times  as we have boarded other ships... When The Admrial is here..he fights  with his  crew...when he is away frighting, He trusts me to make certain we do not lose the ship..I must  trust him, not to be killed.

 You will  see , we have people  here, that you can trust with your life..and some...you may not trust to fetch you a coffee. The  Crew will help you sort them out  as well.

Alison nodded, "So it usually runs, with any group of individuals. I'll be sure to pay attention, when my crewmates offer any helpful insights."

 Stefi's COM went off...  she  COMed   Med tech...Two Hover Carts... make sure   tewo ORs are ready..send the Guardians  down ..2 minutes ago!

she was barely  done  when the  doors slid  open  way   past the   aircraft area   and  4 guardains   came  jogging    down with two over carts.

  SGT Meari...make  certain  that shuttle doesn't ;eave without Giles...

------ from E-1>>>>>

The Meadowlark flew up to the Hermes at full throttle, barely taking the time to identify to the fleet's security patrol.

Tulliun brought the shuttle into the back as quickly as he could. Thankfully, his time as a civilian courier had not been all easy, so bringing her in through the bay doors at a 'high' speed and stopping squarely within the designated pad was not a challenge. He had even had the finesse to turn the shuttle within the bay to face the ramp towards med tech, slowly opening the ramp. As he figured he was in the right direction, he set the shuttle down and let the raml go to speed.

He quickly shut off the shuttle and ran into the hold. Meeting the med techs that were waiting, Do you need us or can we return to the fight? he was certain whatever had wounded these two wasn't done yet.

----->>>>>> From E-1

 Meari helped get Giles on a stretcher first, she did everything could on the flight up. Meari then Helped Harry to the other one, Meari took the bag with the venom sac and gave it to a med tech. " This is the venom sac we will need it to help counteract the venom."

 Meari turned to the med tech team and said," Do you need me for anything else I would like to go back down it was getting bad down there."

  Stefi looked at  Giles and   Harry, she was less then Please,  She took the  Med Kit herself  and Jogged after the hover carts.

 Coming over to Meari  and  Tulliun,Captain Morris showed them  the  Vidboard... best get down there..Wot? Sticky buissness.. another  shuttle is  bringing  wounded up... we need to have  enough Machines  down there to evac our people.. It would be rather....helpful, if you would dash off now..Hmmm?

 Meari told the med techs the situation with both Harry and Giles, she then turned to Captain Morris and replied," Yes Sir we will get right back down there." Meari got back into the shuttle and said to Tulliun, " Lets get back down there, they need us, we have done all we can for Harry and Giles."

 Hennings   was on the scaffold  with Sam Orria  and   Beth...They watched the  screens  as  Hennign said to  Tuliun( who was in flight)...Mr Tulliun?.... You load up your shuttle  with as many people as you can cram in there... take them to the Compound....  off load them, and Go back Up...

 LT  Stoly..  Your  Two shuttles do the same.. we  wil get the club  back down as soon as we off load the  wounded.

 " Laready Dones'   filtered in as Beth watched the  scene in the passage.. she shook her head..this was the worse moment in the Hermes  history...and the retreat wasn't even caused By Demons..

With Captain Morris' order, Tulliun nodded and headed to the cockpit. The ramp went up and they were through the static field within a moment.

When Hennings gave his command, Tulliun acknowledged and continued on his full speed flight back to the atmosphere.

---- to E-1>>>>

  The Club  entered the  Hanger dec,  the  ramp already coming  down before the skids  touched

 Med techs were  already standing  By.. Guardians  were bringing   down  more  Hover carts.

 Zob, Frakas WA-Na and a few  others  were unloaded,

 orria saw Zob  and said Daddy!!

 beth     pulled her from the  Console...Go.. me and Sam  can handle things... don't get in the way... a teary eyed  Orria  scrambled down the   stairs towards the  Hover cart that was Taking Zob to med tech.

 Turning to Sam, beth said...get helmet cams, and Gun cams from the  troops in the area , Prior to the attack..

Zob was badly injured but he wasent crippled so he waved off the hover cart to be used for the more direly injured it was then Orria approached him all teary eyed, "Dads gonna be alright just gonna leave a nice scar" he assured her as he choose to walk beside her to med tech.

-----> To Med Tech

——> E-1

Harry didn’t know what was happening. There were fuzzy memories and images but none of them seemed to follow on from another as one moment she was shooting at the creatures, then the next thing she knew she was being dragged away by her collar only to then find herself lying in the back of a shuttle with Meari standing over her. It had been at that point that she had tried to ask why only Meari had been following her and what had she done to them to deserve stitching up in such a manner, though it had come out as a series of unintelligible gasps she would have been unable to hear over the engine noise and nearby gun battle. Currently Harry was lying on a stretcher with the stench of vomit in her nostrils from where she had been sick in her headgear, her leg and arm were numb and the knuckles of her right hand aching from where she still held her pistol in a death grip that wouldn’t be loosening anytime soon.