Grit  waved to his  chairs,Yeah... not bad.. not as big as a CAptain, or the LC, or even a bloody Lt's  place... but it beats sharin' down in the NCO-Enlisted Dec,

   he opened the fridge and Pulled  to  Glass  out of the small cabinet. And Poured   about  3  fingers in each glass...

 the  aroma  drifted over, like the  smell of eucalyptus  and  something else. Got  Bloddy lucky , getting  my disc pulled ta  come 'ere... don't know 'ow  it  works?.. Most ships take   people accordin' to their  sheets... They  Say  old man Hack picks his peop0le?  so?.. I dunno? MAybe  he wanted  some one who can get stuff?...

 Handing her the Glass,..now?.. take it slow...  ain't gonna do either of us any good if yer  passed out?.. an' won't  do you any good  if yer  bleedin'  'ead  splits open during  the LC's  briefing..

Taking the glass of clear, fragrant liquid Harry quietly considered Grit's explanation as to how he'd come to be here as well as Admiral's Hack method's for choosing his crew "hmm maybe...though I'd hate to think what potential he sees in me" Harry quietly responded unless of course he's seen right through your BS credentials and knows exactly who and what you are it was an unsettling thought that provoked more questions than answers, most of which she didn't want to contemplate let alone answer.

Upon hearing his warning concerning the strength of her drink Harry couldn't help but laugh "Oh come on Grit, I'm not a little princess you know" she said with a smile that was quickly wiped from her face after she'd taken a mouthful of the deceptively strong shine. Once she'd finished coughing she would promptly reconsider what she'd just said "ok...I take it back, this stuff is seriously strong" she said wiping her watering eyes with the back of her hand before taking a far more cautious sip and deciding that it was far nicer drunk in that manner, though it would still get her wasted in no time if she wasn't careful.

Gently swirling the remaining liquor Harry would stare down into her glass as she considered something that had been at the back of her mind, almost as if she could divine the answer from her drink like a crystal ball "Grit I'm curious, out of all the women in there what made you want to dance with me? I mean...I'm not exactly the most feminine of people…in fact you’re lucky not to have any broken toes" she asked, quietly wondering whether she really wanted to know the answer to that particular question.

    Grit pulled  a  chair over  after   putting  some ice   chips in a bowl for her to add to her  drink.

   Sitting down,..yeah.. well?.. not alot  of  folks like ta be around me?...  Mostly because  or Urns... i mean? Urns is learning? but   he still rubbed a few folks the  wrong way, But .. I'm not a straight liner...  But I'll  fly  my  aircraft into the Sun  if  Hack says it will win the war?

 almost all the  Ships  in teh Delta Fleet have folks you  won't  mind follwoing in to the 9 'ells... The  'ermes is the Best... ya  don't want to  get the LC, or Morris  mad at ya... but they'll be there  is ya need them...

 .. so?  Why  you?.. Why Not?... we're   both 'ere, you seemed nice  enough.. and  ya not afraid ta take a chance on a Bloke?

Chuckling softly at his answer, having found the irony in that he'd asked her to dance pretty much for the same reason she'd said yes amusing, though that could be the alcohol talking, Harry slowly rose from her chair and took a step towards him "Grit...the reason I took a chance on you is because as well as being easy on the eyes and a bit of a rogue, you chose to dance with me over my hot friend... however the fact that you've stuck by your mate despite all the trouble he's caused you tells me I've made the right call" Harry explained as she sat within his lap and draped an arm across his shoulders pausing long enough to take another sip of her drink before quietly continuing with a mischievous smile "...That and I lurv and Aussie accent" she quietly finished as she gently nuzzled his neck "I've had it with bad boys Grit, they've caused me nothing but pain...I want somebody that'll treat me right...think you can manage that?"

    Grit  smiled   a bit, .. fist?.. I'm an Aussie... i don't 'ave accent.. you folks do?..

   He put his glass down on the Little table, and used  that hand   to push he r hair  back a bit, fingers a bit  cold  from the glass,..Now?>.. as   far as  yer   'ot  Friend... She's  ok an' all... but  i like   real people,  there's a few folks  on this  ship that are still bloody plastic.....  I 've been lookin' fer  some one  real?...They fact that you  are a bloodly sizzler?.. is  just a bit of  a Bonus...

  Nuzzling back, he adds,..... I'm thinkin' just about  anyone  kin  manage that?... least..'round  'ere.. I'm thinkin' you just net  too  many Bloody losers?...So?.. No worries  there LAss?

"Ok...I'll give you that one, but it still sounds very nice" Harry softly sighed into the side of his neck, enjoying the sensation of his cool fingers against her skin as they gently brushed aside her fringe making her glad that she'd decided to grow it back out.

Awkwardly reaching behind her Harry would fumble her own glass onto the table as Grit explained how he was looking for a real girl, with the fact that he thought her attractive being a pleasant little bonus. Blushing at the unexpected compliment; still having not quite recovered from the fact that she'd been chosen over Gia and not as a consolation prize, Harry would make a low purring sound at the back of her throat in response to his ministrations, suddenly finding coherent thought to be a real challenge and not just as a result of too much alcohol "yes...no plastic here… I don't even varnish my nails" she murmured placing her free hand upon his cheek before leaning in to gently kiss him.

Looking back it was easy to see that he was right and that she had netted herself more than her fair share of losers over the years...maybe this time she'd get lucky and find what she was really looking for.

  Grit   smiled  into the Kiss,..well now.... yer  gonna make we not wann let ya go 'ome  tonight... we got less the 14  'ours  before  cast off...gotta believe the LC will have  us on the Bloody 'anger Dec  not long after.

 ..wadda we do with the  time....

"Who said I wanted to go home tonight?" Harry quietly purred as she caressed his cheek with the smile on her lips faltering ever so slightly at Grit's casual mention of the impending cast off "Also...Grit...um...please don't mention the clock, I'm...I'm trying really hard not to think about tomorrow" Harry quietly asked clearly nervous about what would take place when they finally reached their destination. Trying her best to hide the fearful look in her eyes Harry would once again lean in to give him a lingering kiss before answering his question with a mischievous smile, forcing herself to drive all thoughts of tomorrow and the inevitable dogfights from her mind "as for how we spend that time...well...I'm sure we'll think of something" she said in a playful voice as she set to work on his buttons, with no intention of going home this night.

  Grit   smiled after the Kiss,well.. you'er a lady of me own 'erat..ain't  ya....

   Watching the Buttons  open, he   gets up slolwy,  moving to the  door, and hits the lockdown, then dims the lights a bit...

  Shucking off  the  shirt and  drapes it  on a chair.....now then?..enough light ta  enjoy the View... but  not enough ta spoil the mood..eh?


   Offering a  Hand to her, he leads her over to the Bed,...now then? Lets  see how well the bloody ESN makes thier bunks...

Sliding from out of his lap in a surprisingly graceful manner, Harry would watch as Grit hit the lock to his door before dimming the lights down a touch, biting her bottom lip as she admired the view as he removed his shirt.

Taking her glass from the table she would finish what little of her drink remained before taking Grit's hand, chuckling softly as she allowed him to lead her over to his bunk “ok, but I’ve got to warn you it’s been a long time for me so you are going to be in for a rough night” she jokingly warned him before turning to kiss him, eager to get the night and the delights that it promised underway.

Slowly waking from a deep and dreamless sleep Harry would discover that not only was this not her bunk but there was someone lying beside her. It was at this point that details of the previous night would slowly filter into her sleep fogged brain prompting a satisfied smile to come to her lips as the memories returned.

She had made good on her threat; not allowing Grit to sleep until all of her desires had been fulfilled, and although they hadn’t managed to break his bunk they had no doubt upset his neighbours with all the noise they had been making.

Surveying the clothes scattered across the room through bleary eyes and with a slightly sore head as a result of drink, Harry slowly came to the conclusion that she at least would probably have to get up soon despite how warm and comfortable she was playing the little spoon within Grit’s arms, quietly asking over her shoulder “Hey baby…Are you are awake?”

   Answering the question, in a soft voice he said,..yeah.... a bit tuckered, for certain... but that's ripper oh a night....

   he Nuzzled a bit  as he lifted his ehad to see the clock,...ack... bloody 9 'ells... 6  hour afore we cast off..... guess we should be gittin' goin' to our birds...

  ..in a bit.....

"I warned you" Harry cheekily replied in a sing song voice to Grit's comment that he was still feeling a little worn out as a result of their ripper of a night; giggling in an unashamedly girly manner as he gently nuzzled her neck, proving that there was a feminine side to her personality, even if it was remarkably well hidden.

Upon learning that they only had six hours until cast off Harry would give a single anguished moan as she hid her face within the pillow "no Grit, please...one more hour that's all I'm asking...just one more hour" Harry quietly asked in an unsteady voice; trembling ever so slightly within his arms at the thought that she would be having to fly an actual combat mission within only a few hours time.

She'd known this day was coming and had trained for it, hell! she'd signed up to go into combat and try make something worthwhile of herself, and when Etna wouldn't let her do that she'd fought to get into a fleet that would! But now that the moment was actually here she was scared to death that she'd screw up and get herself or somebody else killed "I mean...Bloody hell Grit...how are you able to stay so calm? I'm bricking it here!"

  He  ran his  hand over her  shoulders,..Eh... an 'our or so won't bleed the bank dry... Not  much fer us to do really, 'less you want ta load them damnable belts  , like the LC does....

 ..even then?  ye get some ground crew bloke  to 'elp ya with it, an' it take 'bout an 'our...we ain't  getting to no battle  that soon....

  He  his  quiet as he  hand moves up and down,..first time.. I was Blddu scared.... goin' up againt's the  'ounds?.... an' if that ain't  bad enough... Bloody  Hack is  eggin' them on..  The Black Fleet, they called themselves... the  'ammer of the 'ounds, fer when they wanted  to wipe out folks.... only... they didn't.... they got blasted an' torn to bits.. even with the  Beta Fleet fillin' thier  flight suits....

 ..we  al saw some of our mates go... big blindin' flash..an' yer gone?  But that's  the good part innint?  No pain?.. or  maybe a quick bit?....not like the poor sloughs on the ground...So? I did  learn som thin' from the LC and his  flight leaders.... Kill them, before they kill you... real...simple?   Real..... easy

  they he gently  turned her   chin to him, eyes searching hers,..an'.. ya don't offer quarter.... don't approach a enemy plane that has distress or  surrender lights....one of the LC's  wingladies   did that with one of them Bananas?... He would have  blown the both up.. But Shadow knifed in....c rash laned on the bleedin' green moon.. started a whole 'nother fight..so?..after the Battle.. we let the Tenders  take  care of   those who are flaotin' about....But  don't be afraid to torch them... keep in mind.. the  eat  folks like us...or...worse...

>> from hangar deck

After completing his pre flight check and load out of the 25 Justin selects a meal from the Club, timing its arrival to a couple of minutes after his refreshing shower. Quickly eating he gets some rest before the Mission briefing is due to start. Rejuvenated by his power rest Justin showers changes and heads to the Hangar Deck.

to hangar deck >>
This message was last edited by the player at 14:56, Fri 10 Nov 2017.

With his hand gently stroking her shoulders in a soothing manner Harry listened as Grit talked to her about his first action before then giving her some rather sound advice concerning the enemy and how they would treat her if positions were reversed "yes...I remember the pictures" Harry said in a distant voice, recalling how one of her instructors back at the academy had quietly informed them that their sidearm was not only intended for self defence but to make sure that they weren't taken alive.

Finding the sensation of his hand slowly moving across her shoulders to be rather relaxing Harry would silently doze for several minutes before speaking again in a calmer tone of voice "Thank you for being so nice to me Grit...I'm not normally this emotional, I promise...cast off has just got me a little rattled is all, I'll be fine once I'm actually in the Black it's more the waiting than anything else" she confessed, knowing from experience that it was a common problem with her, having found herself in a similar state for not only her exams, but on the night before a race when she'd done running or a big job when she'd been running with a decidedly less reputable crowd than she was now.

Awkwardly shifting around to face him, she would snuggle in closer to Grit; putting her arms around him and fully intending to get another hour or so of sleep before returning to her own quarters.

  The hour goes by..in a blink.. grit frowns a  bit   , and  pats her shoulder,..Time  fer all good little boy and girls Piltos  ta get up?...

 His  smie  was a bit sad,..we get through this bloody Mess, we're gonna have ta take a walk about on  one of the stations... maybe a planet?..somethin' were the   trees grow in the bleedin' ground...

No sooner had Harry closed her eyes to sleep she was being woken up again by Grit, or at least that's how it seemed to her. With a disappointed sigh she would reluctantly disentangle herself from his embrace and set about the task of gathering her clothes from where they'd been thrown last night and getting dressed. It was as she was perched on the edge of his bed that Grit would suggest they go for a walk some time, prompting her to pause in the middle of pulling her top on and offer him a smile "Ensign Collie are you...asking me out on a date?" she asked in a mischievous voice; giving the question a few moments of thought before giving him an answer "sure...I'd like that" she said, though truth be told she hadn't really expected him suggest as much. Sure he was cute and had been really nice to her, not to mention the fact that they'd had a lot of fun together, she just hadn't really thought he'd want more from her than a one night stand, though on this occasion she was happy to be mistaken.

Once fully clothed in her now rather rumpled uniform, Harry would place her hands around the back of Grit's neck and give him a goodbye kiss; breaking away with a smile on her "I had a lot of fun last night Grit, perhaps if we get chance in amongst all of this we could hang out some time...if you want to, that is?"

  Grit smiled a bit as he   put his arm around her,..well.. I'm thinking  we'll get our chance after this is  all done.. You just make sure  you listen to your  wingmates.. they've been around the bloody block  a few times out 'ere..and most of them come back.

  ..now?.. I gotta  see my Little shiela make sure  her  weapons are armed an' powercells are  fresh.

After giving Grit one final peck on the lips, nodding her head in silent acceptance of his advice, Harry would make her way back to her own quarters, grateful that all of the senior officers were somewhere else as she currently looked a bit of a state though no doubt she wouldn't be the only one.

Once inside she'd quickly shower and change into a fresh set of clothes complete with sidearm buckled at her waist, though she left the standard issue boot knife behind, opting instead for the trench knife she'd acquired from a marine back on Etna, which she strapped upside down to the top of her left arm for easy access, not that she was likely to need it though it made her feel more comfortable knowing it was there.

After having a breakfast that consisted of black coffee and a pair of Paracetamol to combat her headache, the thought of eating anything more substantial making her stomach roil in protest, Harry would force herself to take several deep breaths in a futile attempt to calm her nerves before heading out the door and towards the Hangar Dec.

---> Hangar Dec 

    The nose popped  and    dozen of so UEs  fell into the Pway.. the  SEC troopers   fired on them without a second though.. and displaced them.

  then came the Flash of Clarks  grenade  followed  by  bug guts  and  bits of shells.

  ..Impact on aft  side of   Offcier's P-way...  boarders delt with...

---> Hangar Dec

Locking the door behind her, Harry would bury her face in her hands before giving an agonised moan. She'd thought she'd been reasonably subtle about the whole thing, I mean, ok sure more than a few people would have seen her leaving with Grit but that didn't mean anything! "I'm going to kill him" Harry quietly announced deciding that just because she hadn't said anything that it didn't mean that a certain somebody hadn't either.

After removing her weapons and stashing them in her bedside table Harry would strip out of her clothes and head for the shower, pausing long enough cast a single admiring glance in the bathroom mirror before stepping under the lovely warm water. Sure she wasn't hot like her sister but she still had a certain something going for her.

Once she was finished in the bathroom she'd pull on a pair of black skinny jeans, a scarlet vest top, flight boots and a leather jacket before leaving for the party.

---> Rec Dec

Justin stepped out of the lift from the Hangar deck. Moving slowly along the passage to his cabin he gave the Sec a half smile, fatigue showing in his face yet another 32 hour day these were beginning to take their toll on everyone; that was the nature of the beast of war. Tapping on the entry plate the door opened and he staggered inside, flopped on his bunk. Quickly reaching a deep meditative state Justin roused three hours later refreshed in a way that most would be after nine hours rest. Showering and changing he dropped his uniform in the laundry shoot and headed to the OC for breakfast.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:21, Fri 22 Dec 2017.

--->Rec Dec

Flex Time

Stepping out of the lift Harry would politely smile at the pair of SEC troopers currently on duty as she headed down the corridor to Grit's quarters, being sure to be well out of earshot before speaking to him in a low voice "I can't believe you! first you're dumb enough to leave the product in your own quarters and then you don't even lock the door!? I mean...nine hells Grit remind me never to take you on a big job!" Harry scolded, clearly still upset about her evening being ruined.

Upon arriving at his door she'd wait for him to let her in before turning her attention to the problem at hand "ok, so two bottles are going to your Angel friend, I can take another two, so...how many bottles does that leave us to get rid of?" she asked figuring that if it was only a couple then they might be able to call in some favours and get a friend or two to take them off their hands with Gia and Garrat instantly springing to mind, However any more than that and they would have to find themselves a more suitable hiding place for it all.

(Flex)

  ..I Bleedin'....  he stops  and  Looks  back towards the Guard..and   to the stern were the Guards  an a couple of work men are by the engine room door. and lowers his Voice   holding out his  hands in helplessness.....I always , bleeding lock the  doors.. we 'ave to .... somethign about an assassin tryin' off the LC  and  is shelia?...

 he looks around    then presses  'open'..the door opens without his password,..Bloody 'ells its been hacked?

  3  empty bottles  were on the  floor..  his computer was on but the  screen kept flashing. 'Violation'..must have user's  password..."


 ..Urns isn't this bloody Bright....

  as she asked  about the  bottles he  shrugged  and   he opens the locker , furthest from the Door  a case was there  with 6  full bottles , but  6  empty slots. he moves it   and   some duffle bags, removing  a Hydro driver and  opened  the floor of the  locker.. in the  Duct work  for cables and  such there  are 3 more  full cases.....36... plus  those 6?.. He  didn't   just 'ere for the  juice though..

Flex

Staring down into the hole in Grit's locker Harry grimaces at the sight of all those bottles neatly lined up within "Crap...there's no way we can sneak this lot out of here...we're either going to have to seal it back up and hope they don't think to check the ducting or flush the lot down the sink" she said, knowing that as painful as it was to do so that it would perhaps be better to get rid of the lot rather than risk it being found, however like Grit had already inferred there was something else going on here "Baby...I think someone's trying to set the pair of you up..." Harry quietly spoke with a genuinely concerned look on her face. It was too neat. Sure Urn's might have shoulder surfed Grit's door code but why would he try and hack his computer? and also if he was out to steal his hooch then why had he left six bottles in the locker and left the empties in the middle of the floor for the whole world to see?

Harry's mind drifted back to a dingy east end flat, watching as Haywire picked the lock so that they could get in and badly hide the brick of heroin inside. A call to the police by a concerned neighbour would later result in the occupants arrest for possession and intent to supply. All lies of course but it had neatly removed a problem without having to resort to violence.

With her mind snapping back to the here and now Harry would take single deep breath before calmly relaying her plan "OK...you go and rest the passwords for your door and computer, and get rid of anything that shouldn't be there, Meanwhile I'll start flushing this lot down the sink" she said pointing to the crates of shine. She'd leave a pair of bottles in his fridge along the empties that urns had left so that the SEC would find something and not get too suspicious. Five bottles was a slap on the wrist thirty six would get him thrown into the brig "also I think perhaps it would be best if you stopped over at mine tonight just in case it wasn't Urns who did this" she said silently adding the line and they decide to come back