Aboard the SS Scarecrow Captain Thomas Spartan rubbed his eyes, trying to get the sleep out of his system. He sat upright in his pilot chair and looked outside the window. The Hammer fighter was a little behind him, clearly in view. About the same time he noticed it his tailgunners voice cracked over the comm. "We have company Cap."

Spartan sighed.
"Yes Zeon, I noticed. As a matter of fact, they already hailed us too... Now shush."

He opened a direct communications link to the Hammer fighter.
"Ensign Franks, this is captain Thomas Spartan of the SS Scarecrow. It so happens we were looking for you boys. I take it the Hermes is with the rest of the ESN fleet? If so, we would like to be taken there so we can get our legs stretched and some actual food in our guts. So I suggest you lead the way, and we will follow you as requested.
Perhaps you could radio ahead and inquire about a place to land this crate. I take it Hermes has ample room to accomodate this small freighter? I hope to hear from you soon."

Spartan flicked a few controls and immediately the engines of the 45 year old trade vessel reduced their power. Switching to manual controls Captain Thomas Spartan followed the fighter in.

"Captain, you want me to track him?" The voice of his front gunner this time.
"Nope," Spartan answered. " They are friendlies. Just stay in your turrets both of you untill we are properly inside their protective radius. Then you can go and get properly dressed for a bit of a walkabout. Not you though Zeon. You are staying with the Crow."
Spartan sat back, waiting for word of either Teak or hermes.

   The Ensign chuckled,..no sir, CAptain Spartan?.. The Caps  ship donw have room for  friegthers...   You can Pull  along   side, a shuttle  will take you the  the Hermes.... Follow  me... I'm sure you won't  Miss it, once we get in sight.

 The   Hammer  flew Out in front of the Frighters, while the sloop  dropped  low  and Behind the  Scare Crow

Following the hammer closely Spartan wondered exactly how small the hangar bays of the Hermes were. Falling in next to the capital ship wasn't all that bad either, but the minor repairs Scarecrow needed would have to wait untill they found a decent place to touch down.
Soon Hermes came into view, and Thomas carefully placed the 'Crow in a holding pattern.
"ESN Hermes, this is Scarecrow. I thank you for the escort to safety and await a shuttle to come and pick up 2 persons. Scarecrow out."

  as they Closed on the Fleet, they   over a Score of ships, most of them Cao ships... 3 Med Tech  ships , huge , by themselves, were  flying in the Middle of the pack.

 A large  ship Loomed before then.... it was until they saw the Number  and name  SANDSTONE..they  they realized it was a destroyer...dwarfing the  Teak and scarecrow as they flew by.

  The Lights of the  Hermes' 3  bay doors Light up the side of the  whip The  insignia of the Wing foot   hightlighted  by spotlights.

 ...This  is LT Stolyarev of the ESN Hermes... Please  turn   you ship  about  so in nestles  between the Hemres ans the Sandstone....  and tell me where you what the board   tunnel docked?

As Spartan manouvred Scarecrow snugly between the capital ships he looked around for the shuttle. Soon he saw it approach.
"Lt. Stolyarev, this is Cpt. Thomas Spartan. Thank you for your taxi effort. Feel free to attach the funnel to the upper airlock behind our cockpit. It is mansized and should fit snugly. We have two coming aboard, me and my first mate. Our radar technician will remain behind to oversee any eventualities on board the old Crow."
He flipped a few more switches and the engines died out to a slow humming. Spartan spoke into his collar comm.
"Zeon, you have the Crow. Anyone comes aboard without permission... waste em..."
"Aye Cap'n."
Thomas Spartan and his first mate then waited for the shuttle to hook up.

 It took about 10 minutes to Bring the assault shuttle  along  side and  extend the  tunnel.  they were roughtly 2 miles  from each ship.

 when they got aboard they noticed the Bubble guns were  manned, but only of Hermes SEC trooper was on board

  Cpl Shumaker, Hermes SEC Once  we get  you to the Hermes you'll have to wait on the Hanger Dec  , until the Admiral comes down...seems he wants to talk to you himself.

 once they settled  in the  hatch sealed and  the  tunneled  retracted, Stoly  winged away  and  aiming  for the sternmost Hanger Bay doors.

(Rodney Pullens, Zeon Xondoloo)

Rodney and Zeon prep the Crow for combat, Pullens running all the systems checks and Zeon, despite orders to sity down and relax, loads up the tubes with scatter missiles. When he is done with that he drags the crate of sidearms to the back of the hold and sits down, checking each rifle and pistol thoroughly.
Pullens meanwhile comms Hermes Bridge, requesting the latest uploads on the asteroid belt. He then sets an open comm line to the Morning Star.

     "Good to go sir."  Joseph comes on board and stows his bag and starts looking the ship over getting a feel for the layout.  "You DID make some improvements." He checks what's available in the hold.  "If yer gonna be pickin up ESN troopers who are in trouble, ya might want a spare medic kit or two available."

(Zeon Xondoloo)

The hold is big enough for four shipping containers, or could hold at least two dozen people seated along the walls. One compartment further were the living quarters for a maximum of 6 crew, with galley and seating area. A doorway led to some steps, up to the cockpit, or straight on to a bubble turret nose. Steps in the hold lead to the tail, with the engine room and tail bubble. The hold used to be bigger, but the side walls had been upgraded to contain four launcher tubes at each side. In the back of the hold, seated on a crate of pistols, was a large black man, with several tattoos along his chest, cleaning rifles.
"Captain is still on the hermes waiting for someone. So you the new loadmaster. The merc? We gotz some medkits in the wall locker. So we gonna be medevac?"

 Monnes and Billings Nod to  Spartan though they  don't seem  much more at ease.

 When the  get on board, Monnes wins  a credit  toss  and Take  the  Bubble gun in the Nose. Billings  sighs  and  heads  for the tail gun. Both settle in and start  checking the  movement arcs  and   elevations  as well as the power  supply.

Spartan walks in and approaches Joseph.
"Crow has a rear ramp, it will elevate down a maximum of 45 degrees. In a hurry, i can have her hover up to two meters above ground and the ramp will still hit floor. Anyone entering will have to climb, but it makes for a quick getaway. Controls are both left and right of the ramp door." Spartan points at the panels.
"That there is Zeon Xondoloo, new-ghanese ex convict. Up top is Rodney Pullens, my first mate and trustee. He is a bit special, but a miracleworker at what he does. You'll see him later. I think you know those soldiers? Or they at least seem to know you." Thomas Spartan grins.

He clambers up the steps to the cockpit and takes his seat at the center. With pullens to his left it leaves the chair to the right.
"Untill needed downstairs this here is the best seat left in the house Mac, feel free to join me!" he calls down.

"Hermes Control, SS Scarecrow T-666 ready to release board chute."

  Rivets' voice comes on the COMs,..release in....3....2...1...... Goodluck ta ye....

 the  Tunnel retracts as the magna locks let loose...

"Roger that Hermes Control. T-666 taking up a holding position."
Spartan switches the comm to the Morning Star.
"Nilsson, you with me captain?"

    "Thank ya kindly,"  Joseph takes a seat at the station offered and looks around at it.  "Ya wouldn't happen ta have the ability to install UBS jacks and a breaker directly into yer communications and radar antennae would ya?"

"I wish. This baby is forty-five years old."
Typing in some data Spartan looked up. "I'm glad she holds discs."

  Watching the screens and Hearing the chatter. he nods   his  head slowly.

  Things are....not right.... Set up the  Orange alert......I rather have the Civies  safe , then wait..

 beth hits the orange alert for the Civies, and Prep begins...again... for the  tireless Civies   who seem to do this half of their daily lives.

"Come again Hermes control?"

  Hack didn't take his eyes off the   screens but his head was shaking a bit   now and again,.. at ease   CApt Sparatn, but be ready to go.......


 ..Karl? where ever  we send you? Make certain that you  shoot up anything vehicles  on the ground that aren't ours.... they might  try and hole up , if  we  pull our people back? But they won't be going anywhere.

"Roger that, holding pattern," Spartan comms back.

"Copy that, Admiral.  Maximum property damage on anything that isn't us."  His voice had the forced nonchalance of a man who was ready for action and forcing himself to stay relaxed.

Clicking off his comms for a moment, he said, "Ed, better slot HE for the howitzer, initially, sounds like we're most likely to be sent after surface contacts and we may need that first punch to be a big one."  He figured there was little sense in boring people with the details of his interaction with the plane's AI.

He reopened comms, waiting for a 'go' and a destination from the Hermes...

  <<<<<<<<<<  from hanger Dec

  a team of 4   techs   Came out of the   Entrance  way, the  ground  crew uses to  secure and maintain VIP shuttles  and such.

   There was a Taller  woman in a sleek atmo suit.  PO1  Cummings, Sir.... This is My team, we are  Spec Techs   for repair  out here... where do you want us?

"Captain Thomas Spartan. Owner of this barrel of junk. I have yet to assess the damages but I fear my entire long range comm array will need replacing, an most likely both exhaust rings on engines two and three. I dont even wanna know about the rear plating though... Thats most likely all ruined." Spartan sees the look on Cummings face. "Dont ask. Lets just say I parked where i shouldn't have."

  Cummings   looks at the ship as  Spartan speaks.we'll start with the Plating to get the Hull secure..we'll work back to the  engines, once  we reach them we'll see  what we need to do first the  Engines from out here... or ....if we can work  on them inside... we'll continue with the Aft plating.

"The engines themselves are fine. Its the outside burner rings that are a mess. Plating, array, all outside work. Inside is just the shutter system of the number one launch tube, but I can fix that myself."

    Right then.... well start having Plating   brought  up, and work our  way back, CAptain says   he may send up the 2nd string too, once they get the fighters  squared away..

 The other  were already Locking  down the cutting  torch  , in case they had to 'cut to fit' plates.

  the last Member of the Group  had his  Cutting torch and was trimming off the  ragged  edges or  plating.