Shadow  and Hack  got their  cards and entered the Black Hanger. Admiral? You sure you want to do this? If something bad happens.....

 ..Then Si  takes  over... I see no reason for anyone  not to follow her....

 He   began to put on his  light armor. Hack looked a bit younger right now, perhaps, this might  be a good thing?

 Aye, Sir.... you have a plan?

 outside of making sure Aazz dies?  not  yet, we'll see who wants to show up...then go from there.

  Shadow  had  a  Night blackstealth suit on. Its armor was less then a light boarding  Suit, but a bit more then an Evirosuit.

  adding  a holster in the back  for   the Verian Pistol, and a Largran blaster on his him. he just filled out his sheaths  with  throwing daggers and  grabbed the thin flexible helmet.

 Hack was ready as well, he had  a grease gun and some  clips. A largran blaster  and  a  nasty looking Occui blade.

 Hack Offered his hand to  Shadow.....Given the Chance.....

 Shadow  smiles  and  takes his hand,.....Take the Chance....


 they both said..." Succeed!"

 they headed out  to the QMs  to wait.

>>>>>>>>>>>  Hack shadow..QM.

In the black hanger Melia heads over to the open work bench and carefully sets to work mounting the IR scope onto the M1 Garand Rifle. Once mounted securely and correctly she heads over to the range, and sets up a metal target and measures out distances before setting up and taking shots dialing in the zero on the rifle and the scope. She works for nearly an hour until she has the rifle the way she wants it.

  Down in the Black hanger, Melia  gets used to the feel of the  few lights  and shapes of the alien fighters..

 Shadow and Lyri have thier  Drop suits   Hanging outside thier Locker's Shadow's  has a 19 on the side of his  helmet.

  Spencer's  hangs a few  feet down by his locker.


 She sees Hunter's Locker is missing  some things. Like  Hannah's when they went off on a mission.

 Irina's   still has the things in she did not use.

 Jesse's locker  was there. Her new suit in the QMs as they finished up her adjustments.

    Shadow enters the Black Hanger.  He studies  the vehicles there...Shade is walking with him , looking  around and  trying to make   ...for him..soft converstion as Shadow pointed to  Melia and put a finger to his Lips.

  There was a Largan and Demon fighter here...Painted ESN Blue with Hermes markings..instead of Numbers  there was a Hashtag Under a White frowning skull, on each tail fin. one on the left wing top..and right wing bottom.

 an Air Cycle rested  towards the back, it looked like someone was  toying  with mounting a Pulse weapon on  the  front... pushed against the far wall was an air van,it was Black,  but there was a shelf of  paints at the  stern end of the hanger.

 The Bow end had the  range. and the Middle was ,mostly open, save for the Matts on the floor  fro  practice, and  ropes  hanging  down from the rafters.

 also along the stern wall was  work benches and  COM system as well as   a rather big Vid screen

 a double wide  fridge held drinks and some  food..a gamma wave oven was next to them...in a corner were a stack of empty Pizza boxes.

 Shadow  took his    suit off the Hanger   and began to inspect it...as  Shade sat  near him bleeping from time to time while he used his vid board.

Jesse had been motioned by the QM to head to the black hanger that her suit would be there.  When she arrived, it was hanging on the locker door.  She glimpsed out of the corner of her eyes at Roy's suit and gear as she passed by but shoot her head and focused on the task at hand.  She wanted to do one quick suit up and check in to make sure that it fit right.

She had one of the attendees helping her into it and making the proper adjustments.  She then looked over herself in a nearby mirror and braided her hair quickly to keep it out of the way of the 'chute cord.  She didn't want a bundle of hair to be ripped from her scalp as it went out.

She then began messing around with her weapons and just how she wanted them.  She finally realized that the shoulder holster was going to need to be taken out quite a bit to fit, but with some finagling she finally got it.  Same went for the thigh sheath/holster, but it was a bit easier.

Once she was happy, she made herself comfortable and started lacing up the boots.  She looked over at Shadow and Shade, then to Melia, all were getting ready.

In reply to Melia Kristensen (msg # 51):

Finally with the IR scope calibrated the way she wants it she transfers it over to the carbine and does final adjustments on the system. Most of the adjustments she makes are to the carbine itself making the cross compatible for optics. Finally all done, she checks over the medic bag she stores in the locker going over the fasteners, clips and straps on all her gear including holsters and otherwise. Meticulous checks complete she starts to dress out in her gear each item checked another time as it goes on. Her pack she carries, before jump it'll fasten behind her legs in the proper carry position.  She thinks of Orria as she dons the gear, she'd dropped her off at the apartment with John to see that she was dropped off in time for the pregame, and the kickoff to assist Shade however Melia had wanted to see that Orria got a good meal before hand. She goes through the steps checking her seals again finding a good place to sit and relaxes for a few moments waiting for the time.

Roy turned up, wasting no time in checking his HALO suit and doing a careful visual check of the chute, as much as he could without unpacking it.  He said nothing, and didn't spare a look at anybody, deep in thoughts that, to judge by his expression, weren't all that enjoyable to be thinking.

Satisfied with the jump gear, he selected what he wanted to take along on the mission, arranged his weapons and ground gear on his person, and got ready to go...still, without speaking, seemingly locked in his own little world for the moment.

<<<<<  Group from QMs

 Entering the  Black  Hanger.. it is..indeed...Black..only some   safety lights on. Beth was the last to enter and hit the switch at the top of the Ramp.

  several  Lights flash to life..The Hanger  was the  width of the ship and  included the  bottom two  decs, with the ramp leading  down from the Hanger Dec.

 There was  a walk away   on either  side  of the  first deck that led to  Bunks and  Footlockers. Deck space  and Vid  screens.. there was a kitchen there as well  as  a bathroom at the  other end  for showers and such  The  'top dec"  was  only half  a Dec.. A sparkling  Hammer IV sat there.  The   Fin  Number  said   H1... under the cockpit  was the  Name  'Commander HAck" along with his kill decals... Next to it was  a LArgran Fighter, painted in ESN  Blue  with  Delta Fleet  Markings...The   Fin Numbers were  Just two  'X' s.

 The Bottom Dec Had   workbenches, Lockers  with People's NAmes on  them and  the armory . Close to the Like above, Close to the doors was a demon Fighter, in the same colors   as the LArgran.

 to the Port side of the Bottom Dec   was  an range, with a simple  trolley system for targets, .. there  were  a few  'meat dummies"  , some with Bits  of  LArgran or Demon armor on them...There was also a stack of some 40 empty pizza boxes.

 towards  the starboard side of the  Hanger  was  an airbike and  some padding on the  Floor  for Hand to hand  practice... there  was  also  a  pair of  Meat Dummies that  seemed to have been stabbed an awful lot.

 Hack  said, The unit  keeps its  extra gear here. The  rules still effect you as to the amount of weapons you may keep in your quarters. You still have to  check in any 'goodies  '  with the QM.. he'll make sure they are safe... log it as yours and you can stow it down here.. or he'll  tag it up there..

 Beth  Giggles,..Shadow?.. 40 pizzas?

 ..well..that's over time.. they sued to be scattered around. Melia  said she cleaned it up for me.. they  Make  good targets  for knife  throwing.. and  are just about the   right size  for  a UE's head...for guns as well as  knives...

 ..needless to say.. people know this is here.. The QM  is  Lights  Out and his  people are vetted...they have to be, to work in his  space...If things  got  real bad.. we  could hold off a small arm from here.. while  exiting the blast door to counter attack... but.. if that happens, there is a Good Chance the Hermes is  in a very bad way...

There  are three lockers  that  are sealed... one says Stolyarev...another  says Tatyana...another   says Killian.. and the last one says Hunter.

Pick out a Locker... type in your name  and Pass code..... The SEC  will be able to overide it.. but if that's happening, something very bad has  happened to you... The  4 that are sealed..  One, is a Unit member we lost..the other  three  are doing thier  bit elsewhere... we''ll keep those lockers like that..until we run out of space, then we'll  let new folks use them.

 Shade  is walking around Looking  , crawling all over the   Demon fighter.

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

 thought it has been several Moments, Hack turns  to  Harry and says,.. for the first part, Garrat   has the right of it... You are Harry Lynch of the ESN Hermes..anything after that, it is up to you, if you want to share...

 beth   just smiles  .

 ..for the Innocent  people?... and 'someone's  agenda'.. Well  Ensign, you have  been working   my agenda... that is the destruction of the Empire, not just to protect Earth... but the APF allies  who are now lookign to us  as  leaders, rather then...'just another race'.... Every time we shell a Planet from space.. we kill innocent people..when  we  blow up a Demon Cap ship.. those in the breeding  stations  die too..they were inncocent.....

 He loks at the Dec  a moment,..our  ..child  was innocent..when  Si was shot  on Nivar....and? i am damn sure, everyone of the traitors  who were pouring Creds  into LAdy V's  accounts, considered themselves  Innocent

 Si said Softly,..Shadow's only family WERE innocent.. thier biggest crime was being related to an ESN Hero...and  that was enough  for the EDT  to  kill them.

 There was a  small sad  smile from HAck,.. we aren't goign to ask you to kill a street vendor so we can get free hotdogs..... But  if   we strafe   abuilding that houses the enemy.. that Vendor might get hit....
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:54, Fri 16 Mar 2018.

Garrat puts his hand on  Tatyana’s locker.  There’s a sad look on his face.


"No rush to re assign, I'll store my stuff elsewhere if the need arises."

   He looks around, then at the practice range and pulls his side arm and aims but does not fire.  He holsters his gun.

    "Is there a weapons smithing table?"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:44, Sat 17 Mar 2018.

Roy gave an amused smile at Shade climbing on the Demon fighter, then turned to Harry.  "Anything we need to know about your past, we already have on file."  He shot a look in Beth's direction, adding, "Lieutenant Morrow is VERY thorough about vetting people, and there's not much that stays hidden from her.  But anything that isn't relevant to your current assignment...including details of your former identity...will stay sealed in the 'eyes only' part of your personnel records.  Four people have access to that...myself, Admiral Hack, Commander Si, and Lt. Morrow.  If you want to tell us something, that's your business...but we don't care all that much about who you were.  We're focused on who you ARE, and right now, that's Harry Lynch, upstart fighter pilot shaking up the image of the female fliers on the Hermes."  He gave a reassuring nod to her, then stepped over to Shadow.

"You suppose he can identify some technical flaw in their fighter design that would help us kill them faster?" he,asked the pilot, standing at an easy parade rest next to him.

      Pointing to the row of Lockers,  HAck says,..we have a while before we have to  worry about that... Until then, thier lockers  are sealed..if and when the time  comes   we will, indeed   turn them over...Perhaps we can  ,take a place    here for them..Like a hall of fame  or something...

 ...aye?... That bench  is  for weapons... the one Clsoest to the  doors is   for  messign aroudn with Ammo....but , one thing  we will not have   down here...Is Plasma..That's a good  way to take the Long  Walk Home...

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

 Shadow  Looks at Roy and Shrugs,..Hey..... Shade!.... Take a Look aroudn the thing? See if there  is a hot spot  we can hit on them...and ..DON"T try to fire it up... I see one flicker of flame...you won't see a milkshalke  for a Month!

 Shade's  Head pops  out of the cockpit..his  eyes  are Black... then Looks down and Gives Shadow a Thumbs  Up... then crawls inside.

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

 beth   went on the Upper Level and began to unpack things on one of the Desks.

 ..Beth?.. What are you doing?

 ..Shoey and  Lyri  didn't want me workign in  SEC...no one said i  shouldn't  work down here...

Rather diffidently, Henry pushed the door open letting Mila through before stepping in and closing it behind him. Even more than SEC, he didn't feel as if he belonged here, but he'd been told...

--->QM's Locker

Upon entering the Black Hangar Harry's eyes would light up like that of a kid in a candy store as she surveyed the various armouries and training facilities along with the bunks and kitchen at the back of the room "wow...something tells me I'm going to spending a great deal of time down here" Harry quietly spoke as she followed them over to the lockers where upon she was informed that as far as they were concerned she was Ensign Harriet Lynch of the ESN Hermes and everything prior was so much history "Yes and judging by the smile on Beth's face she's already seen the paparazzi pictures of me...go on then Beth, is it the one of me passed out half naked in someone's garden or the one of me with the cute blonde girl that has you so amused?" Harry asked, quirking a single eyebrow in Beth's direction before turning to listen as the Admiral addressed her previous question.

Shifting awkwardly with a look on her face that said she knew she'd crossed a line and was regretting it. After he'd finished talking she would nod her head in understanding before replying "I'm Sorry...It's just that I've worked for a lot of bad people and didn't want to be someones henchman again...guess I'm just not used to working for someone who has an agenda other than personal gain" she apologised before turning to search for an empty locker.

  The Admiral smiled a Good  natured   smile,... In war?.... there is  only folks trying to win it... I am not certain  about the demon worls, nor  could  i care any less... But  from what i have seen of  LArgrans...and what we have seen from the Hyrians ...and  Niavians.. there  are people on thier homeworld that think thier people are the 'good guys"...In the end?.. I do not  care..not one bit..if  i am a good guy, or abad  Guy.. I care about  earth and now, the APF... But... I did not bring you both here  for a lecture.... This is  the base of operations for  The Unit... no one comes in here  Unless they have a Black Card...

 Shade's head pops  up  and He Bleeps....

 aye.. I guess we have to let you in....but  your  rank as Ambassador  can 'excsue ' why i did that..

 another Thumbs up followed  as   Shade  was  listening to some  of the sounds the   demon fighter made when he switch the console on..

 SHadow  looked at   Harry,..Doc  Henry  tried to talk with Shade... taught him about 'thumbs up'..so..he does that alot....

  Shadow   went to his Locker  and  Pulled out  a weapon wrapped in what looked like  someone's table cloth..and..maybe a  tad bit of blood on the cloth...he handed it to  Roy.

 ...had the QM  put this  down here..Until i could get around better...anyway..It was MArko's  he  tried to sue it on me..but  BAlasters   work better   at lose range  then this....Beretta M501?.... QM has a  case  of  rounds..  like?  50 or so?.. i should have looked around  for more..

 ..there are a few... one that..um..stood out..  your  on the  Thames , topless  with some other   chicks  whipping off the bobbies?


 Shadow  was mad i wouldn't let him see that one... she  said with a Bit of a snip at him.

  Shadow grinned awkwardly....

"It was a good way for him to indicate that he liked something, as we worked to understand what he was saying," chipped in Henry.

Mila looked up and wagged her tail.

"YOU are obvious, girl. It's easy to see when you like something!"

Upon hearing which of the various paparazzi shots had caught Beth's eye, Harry would pause in the act of typing her code into an empty locker "oh...that picture...yeah...mother didn't much care for that one" she replied as her cheeks turned a delicate shade of pink "for the record I have a touch more self control these days...it's also just as well certain people don't know my real name" she said, briefly turning to glare at Shadow before entering the rest of the code and opening the locker door, not that she had anything to store in it just yet "so...how often does The Unit go out to play?"

Roy grinned at the unexpected display of embarrassment from Harry.  For all her frank talk about her past, it was apparent that she hadn't lost her 'softer side' in the experience.  He spoke up at her question.  "That varies, often to wild extremes," he answered.  "It all depends on where we are, and the current situation on the planet we happen to be visiting.  And, quite often, we're not operating as a unit...the operations are more similar to what we did last night, although not usually in a one-on-one capacity.  We've assassinated corrupt politicians, taken down enemy agents, retired EDT officials...that's usually the style of our operations.  We don't necessarily kill everyone we go after, and sometimes our missions are more a matter of recon and intelligence gathering.  But we end up with a lot of wetwork."

He paused, scowling thoughtfully for a moment.  "Last night wasn't really an official 'Unit' operation...too many other people involved, including you, at the time.  Before that?  I think a few of us had brief assignments on Everest.  Before that, nothing since we left Fuji.  But before that, we had a cluster of small operations on a few planets."  He shrugged.  "Just like some jobs are better done with infantry than with fighter craft, some jobs are best done with a very small, very secret team.  We get called up whenever that occasion presents itself."

  Shadow   just  gave a wan  smile  and shrugged at   Harry's glare,..the Unit..used to  work , just by itself.... more then a few times  we  included   boarding team members.. sometimes.. folks showed up  and kinds...messed things up...

 Hack Interrupted ,..Indeed.... I had a plan once, to  have  an away team soley made out of Unit members...  as i tried   to expand   the numbers  , By aowing  others in on ops.... sometimes proved ....a bad choice.

 ..we have people Like  Supe,  Tucker...Hodden?  a few others.. they would lay down thier lives with out a second thought... but... they are also not  completely  right  for the kind of  missions that come  up.... When  we reach Anzio.. there will be a battle... I can almost bet on it, at least.... once its  done, we'll have to  do some housecleaning there, and  get real people Involved... Tortuga is a Pirate's Nest... But those pirates signed on to  join the  ESN.... They patrol outside of Astra as good  as   any ESN Fleet we have...and they have  taken more prizes then they ever have, from  EVOL merchants or   EDT transports... With any Luck..Anzio's people will do the same

 ... for the most part , you will either  work with other Unit Members... or team up with  those who normally support  them... But.. your   main Job is knocking enemie  fighters out of our  sky.

"But of course" Harry replied to the commanders comment as to what her main job was, prompting another thought to enter her head "...which reminds me I still need to speak with Rivets about upgrading my bird, not to mention a little touch artwork" she said with a smile as she recalled the conversation she'd had on the forge ship concerning .50 Cal cannons "...so unless there is anything else you need me for I should try and see if I can find him before he gets too busy" she said, waiting to see if there was indeed anything she was needed for.

   The Admiral Nodded To Harry...You time is yours  right now..... You and Garrat  just needed to   be introduced  to the Black Hanger  and...

  There  is  a Flash behind them  and the Hanger Shakes  a Bit...

   Everyone turns to look at the demon   Fighter..  Shades  head peeks out   just a bit  his eyes  were grey as he  a few  sounds  rattled out.

  ..what do You mean you  didn't know it was loaded!!!! Get out before you become a Demon Ace!

 Shade  flipped off the   console  switches  and  Climbed out lookign a bit  bummed out...Right..lets go to the Rec dec... I'm in the mood  for some Pasta...

  >>>>>>>Shadow to  Rec dec...

   Garrat nods "Thank-you for your confidence Sir.  I too shall be spending some good time down here.  Now I won't take anymore of your time.  I have some equipment to look into."

   Garrat nods to everyone and leaves to the hanger deck.

Roy looked over at Hack as the group broke up.  "So...is our business on Etna concluded for now?  I seem to recall some comments that there might be more to attend to, today...but circumstances may have changed or I may have misunderstood."  His stance was relaxed and informal, but there was still a noticeable degree of deference in how he addressed Hack.

  Hack Held   Out Both Hands,..There was Nona.... no one picked up her packet , she's still out there, but if one was going to get away?..that would be the one to let go....

 ...Beth took it   upon herself to ....um.... he leans  closer to Roy,..Have  Mr  Macpherson take a shot  at finding her..  If he does?  good..if not, well we aren't any worse off..right?the Look on Hack's face  was a cross between sarcastic  and comic.

  Beth had Packed up her  Vidboards  as  she  strutted  across the upper  dec,... Roy? I sent you the discs for the three new  arrivals.... Ma'am?  she looks at Commander Si,..Captain Morris   asked  me to inform you, one is   a Blue Angel  that has been in the Augmentation program...

 Si's  face  twisted    in disgust at first, Then softened,..I still do not see how that program was allowed to continue.. I will Have to meet with her.

 Beth waits  at the door,..The SM  as well?  She   was used in  Balck Ops  and on the rgund  for  scouting and  such... she is a pilot..but..well... you'll see, Ma'am..


 beth Looked at  Herny,..Doc Henry?  Shadow  COMed to see if you  found the LArg yet, and asked  ..um..'how it was doing..."