... Frans , Eckles  and Mara   came over, they all put their hands on the  table and leaned over..staring at Shadow as he sipped from his soda...

  ..Alright..out  with it!.... you didn't  do a damn thing...

 Shadow  shrugged,Musta   did  something, she  slapped me..right....?

There was a Grind  and a Bleep...

 Of  course it  hurt, , Knocked me over a damned chair...

Mara spoke up...You didn't  do anything to hurt, I can tell how she's looking at you..

Eckles  shook her  head and cross her arms ,...you're doing something... even if she   would have   wanted to hit you, you would have stopped it?

  let me put it this way....  his  Voice  was low   and cold....I took her  to the officer's dec......we had to go to Captain Si's office and then i got slapped.....all that is true....let's just let it  go at that, Huh?

 Frans  gets  real close to  Shadow, her eyes  study his, he sorta smiles  weakly...ok , Dammit..but whatever you're  doing better  be worth it....

you guys  wanna  do something?.. cut the Moon  Angel  guys from the herd and see what you can get out of them..Stay away from the Paradise   folks...

 The  tree left the table  as the approached the Vid  Box to get was  dance  music.

 that's  fine, but what about the  Moon  Ladies?..you can't do it know...a least not until after tunnel run, they won't  trust you...

 I dunno? if Steele  were here, or Machins, they could  hit on them...and? lets face it..there isn't a Paradise  angel in that fleet that would trust me...I'm a big ole  Meanie...remember?

Shade  chuckled.

 Meari watched and listened to everyone and watched the Admniral talk to the transfers. After Roy left Meari looked and smiled at Nic and replied," Well Nic Udenese are not humans and we didnt have time to fight each other we have been fighting the Verians since my Grandmod said no to Adem many many many years ago."

 Meari chuckled at Nic's reaction to her ball squeezing, and then added," Just hope I never havea reasong to do that to you." She laughed and smiled at Nic.

 Meari then looked at the LC after Frans and the others left, and said," LC sir is there anything I could do to help, and if you need me too shadow them during the run let me know sir."

  Shadow looked up at Meari and gave an awkward  version of his  ..half-smile...No?  we'll have CAMs  running..if a  CAM goes down some where , SEC  will Close in , because we know, Beth's  CAMs jsut don't  'go down'...

  They know, most of us  don't like them...they should also know we won't trust them, until they prove  themselves... the trick now, is to see who is here to fight, and who is here to die....

  You want to keep an eye on them, Go ahead, but  don't follow them around, we don't want them  to ...NOT...do something stupid.

As they Talked  Brivet Talked to Frans  and Nodded, the   bevy of pilots looked to Shadow's Table  and, as a group. Moved to the transfers..

   Frans and Eckles  asked LT  FO-TE to dance..he went out  with Eckles.  GR-NE  went  with  Frans..Mara Talked  SGT  ZU-KA  to   follow her  out on the floor.  KR-TE was asked to  Dance By Lippen who  has  Joined the  Ladies as they walked towards the Transfers.

 Brivet talked to  FA_LN, looking like she was  sympathtic. She Rose  FA-LN  beckoned  EG-ER,WA-NA, and YO-SE  to follow  Lona Lake and   NO-CA Joined them as  they headed to the Pulse.

 That left a few  Paradise Angels  and the  two vicrock troopers at the table , not knowing what to do.

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

 Shadow  what the transfer split into  three differant  Groups and  smiled a bit

 " Very well Sir, but I will watch the Mix guy I dont like him, maybe I will give him a tour of the ship. I could try to be nice to him and see if he knows anything or just cut off his arm and beat him to death with it." Meari chuckled at the one.

 Meari watched the few remaining transfers and waited to see if the LC wanted her to go talk to Mix that Vicrock asshole.

---->>>>>> From Officer's Quarters

 Lizzy was smiling and she was skipping and bubbly as hell. Lizzy was so happy helping Can out, she was worried about Izzy but she knew she would do her best to stay alive and come back to her. Lizzy looked around she saw the LC's table pretty full, and Nic was there.

 She saw the table with the Paradise Angels and the baby killers. I wanted to pull her sidearm and shoot the two Vicrock assholes. She saw Nikki and looked for Haley.

  The LC   looked over at the  Table, Mix  would  watch  Dana  Sneak for a bit, then talk to his  comrades.

   Looking to meari  she  gives a shrug,you can try, he seems like  he wants  easy targets...waitresses  are handicpped by thier job...

 Meari smiled at replied," Well I think I might have an angel that will reach the Vicrock asshole. " Meari smiled at everyone, she finished her beer and got up. She smiled at Shade and headed for the dwindling Paradise table.

 Meari watched Mix still looking at Sneak. She walks up to the table and says to Mix," I will tell you this just once, leave her alone or you will not last long here Corp. Mix. Now if you really want to fight and kill Empire scum, then you will be welcome here." Meari stood there and then added," If you are serious about being a real part of the Hermes I could show you around, if not it was nice knowing you because you will not survive the tunnel run if you are not here to win it." Meari stood her ground and was ready for anything from any of them, her hand was on her kukri handle just in case.

Nikki stopped playing as the announcement went on.  After returning to playing and eating when the food arrived.  she looked at Haley "I was thinking...maybe we can see if the gym has a big ball to play with... maybe you and some friends could play kickball or dodgeball?" She played and instrumental version of 'livin' la vida loca'

 Lizzy saw Nikki playing and then she saw Haley. Lizzy headed over too Nikki's table and said," Hi Nikki how are you doing, Izzy is on a special assignment with Harry." Lizzy was in kid mode and she went to Haley gavce her a hug and said," How are you doing Haley?"

 Mix looked at Meari,..look lady,  I don't  mess  with aliens. And  I don't need  aliens  trying to teach me how to kill other aliens..

 his eyes shift to Sneak, and then Dana,..The older one looks Lonely that young  one looks, fresh?. Civie waitress... i bet she would love to have a guy with Creds...

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

 Shadow  watched   Jax, Nifty and Zob, his eyes  shifted  to meari once in a while... The  transfers  at the  table looked nervous, more then one cast looks  at  The  'heavy weapons  Table.

 Lirg  had stepped onto the  Rec dec..staring at the transfers, a bit of s  snarl on his lips..Nugest was  with him, his nostrils flared  at the  sight of   the paradise Angels...

both Nikki and Haley waved at Lizzy as she came over.  Nikki pointed at a seat at the table "Hey have fun on downtime?  We did swimming until the 'incident', and Punkin' here fell asleep." Nikki stated.  nearly everyone knew it was about Roll an Gregor.
with a mouth full of food and wiggling to Nikkis beat still Haley waved and smiled as she returned the hug.
"I was thinking of maybe going for a work out a bit and seeing if the gym had a old red vinyl/rubber ball and teach them kickball or dodgeball.   might give Haley a knife lesson.  want to come along?  who knows maybe we can get a practice spar in before the 0600 tunnel run"

 Meari smiled at Mix and she knew with his attitude he wasnt going too last long, and that made her happy. " Well maybe you should listen to a warrior who will send you to the 9 Hells if you bother either of those two waitresses." Meari looked at Mix her eyes went dark grey and she gave Mix a very cold death stare," Your wearing the baby killing uniform, you should be very careful here and I know you like eating babies but those two Sneak and Dana are way out of your league. This is your last warning do you understand you complete idiot, the next time maybe we will treat you to the LC's loyalty dinner."

 Meari looked at them all and said," I will warn you Paradise Angels and the other baby killer, keep to yourself do what your told and give everything you have, then you might earn some respect, you act like the asshole Mix over here I promise you that you will not survive your experience on the Hermes."

 Meari just looks at Mix and says one last thing, " Corp Mix if you ever want to train and try and kill another Alien just give me a call, that is if you survive the tunnel run. I will be watching you and if you bother either of my friends it will be fun for me and painful for you, this is not a threat it is what you humans call a promise."

Lizzy smiled at them both and loved the hug she got from Haley. Lizzy smiled again and replied," I had a great time Nikki, the ball was fun, had fun on the beach, then Izzy was called for duty and now she is on a special mission with Harry. Spent a lot of time with the kids, and helped Can get some amazing fish, Haley you can see them when you visit Can and Roll."

 Then when Nikki asked if she wanted to go for a work out at the field gym, Lizzy smiled and said," Yes I would love too join you two at the gym sounds fun to me. Yeah I will be ready for the tunnel run for sure."

  Mix looked at Meari.........how many babies have your people killed?..How many  died  in the  shelling of the  planets, just so your  troopers  could walk safer on the ground.....a whole Creshian Hive ship was destroyed?  Last year?..in the Matterhorn Quad?..no one mourned the hive  mothers  and thier eggs and offspring...so?  Don't  give me the 'baby killer' thing...none of you, are any better.

The  Paradise  angels nodded   in agreement  as they looked   at  Meari.

 Meari put her hand down hard onto the table and said," You fucking asshole that is Total War you eat fucking kids alive on a fucking table too prove your loyalty that is so much different and you fucking know that disgusting human. Dont even think that is the same as total War and it was the Demons and the EDT tactics that made the APF go to total war."

 Meari looks at the Paradise Angels and says," You are just cowards, if you want to fight we will let you fight, but you must know these two assholes are the enemy and you helping them makes you enemies as well." Meari stood there for any comments, she had her hand on her Kukri on her lower back.

 Meari then says," I just want to know if all Vicrock troopers are as stupid as you are Corp Mix." Meari will stand her ground and get ready to head to Supe's table after the idiots respond.

  Mix, laughed,you can try to cover it up as much as you want?...But i never saw Empire   people  bombing the 9 hells out of a planet. just to land there?.. They aren't afraid...

The Paradise   Angels were getting  agitated.. TO-NE shifted in her  seat.....you should leave , Udenese . Your kind are not well thought of in our system.

 " No they use Med Tech ships, children, and illegal plasma to fight battles. I see you are all lost causes, and Paradise Angel you are hated as cowards in my system. Only respect for the Rec Dec keeps me from spilling all your coward blood here."

 Meari doesnt wait for a response she gives a sigh of disgust and heads to Supe's table watching the transfers closely as she walks away. She hopes one of them tries something she is ready for anything as she goes to Supe's table and says," Oh the 9 Hells can I just kill them all, I need a drink."

"Little one here I left for a few minutes to talk to Rivets and I came beck she was hopped up on some sugary breakfast cereal I almost ad to use a broom to scoot her along the ceiling.  trying to get some protein and more solid a food" she grinned looking at Haley.  "Rivets said some gear is coming in so might have a new Mantis.  Else I might have to 'commandeer' a sorry as paradise angel craft" she let out a giggle.

 Supe  and the others  watched  as meari approached and sat down.somewhere down the  road, we'll get out chances..or they'll straighten out.. I don't have any use   for the
 Vicrock folks though..that one guy there? he seems  quiet...but?  you don't wear that Unifrom because you  hate the Empire.


..........

Shadow  sighed  and  got up from his table,I'm going to  the OB dec... don't let those  idiots  push you around...

Shade  gave a Thumbs up,

stopping at the transfers table...I'm leaving... I suggest you guys  find your  quarters, and get ready for the tunnel run. you didn't do yourselves  any favors   with ZI-RE and this dumbass... he points at Mix.

 yeah?..OK Hero. I'm not the one that got  slapped by an angel chick..you don't have the right to talk to anyone , about crap like that...

 ..enjoy your night, dumbass.... tuneel run comes..you're mine... he looks over the table,Thinking about  being sick?..being hurt..? You're running anyway..and you folks already bought  3 laps....

 I hear things  get rough sometimes?....better watch your back...

  Shadow whistled....the sound of  claws on the Dec, announced the Arrival of Larry... Shadow patted  Larry on the head...The Largs have to run too...they like it...and they also like eating folks who do stupid stuff..so....be my Guest...

 Shadow  heads to  the Left, Larry  goes back to the table with Shade.

 Meari sat down and ordered a pitcher of beer, and then said, "That Mix will not survive the tunnel run if I have anything too say about it, yes watch the quiet one he might be worse trying to slide in, while Mix takes all the heat."

 Meari smiles at Sneak and Dana and says," I wont leave until that scum bag leaves."

 Lizzy smiled at Haley and said,"  Oh you had a little too much sugar earlier Haley. Yes get some real food Haley, and hey she will be ok Nikki."

 Lizzy giggled when Nikki talked about new fighters, she then said," From what I saw as I went through the Hanger Dec with Can and his family, they where painting new Mantis's so hopefully we all got new ones but that means painting tomorrow."

    The transfers  stood as  one, they looked  about, concerned   over the Missing   Moon Angels.

 But a warning  was being taken to heart.. as they walked towards the lifts. Mix  waved   his fingers at Sneak, then Dana, both glowered at Him.

  Jax went to stand, Nifty held him down....ease up?..... The Tunnel run is in a few hours..right?...


 The group entered the  lifts, Non Coms going to their   dec,  then Officers  going to theirs.

Corner of her eye she saw them go.  She turned to Lizzy and jerked a thumb at them "You know I really would not put it past them to try and mess with the tunnel run, or a few of the crew in it.  we best keep and eye on things and each other" she finished her meal.  "Getting full there Punkin'?" she smiled.

 Meari smiles at Supe, Holden, Tucker and Minnet and then said," I am going to make sure that bastard stays in his quarters until the tunnel run. I knew if they started something you guys had my back."

 Meari stood gave Dana and sneak a good tip and said," Comm me if you see anything suspicious or you see him following either of you, we are Hermites we stick together always."

 Meari will wait for a reply from any of them.

 Lizzy smiled as she watched the baby killers walk away with the stuck up Paradise Angels. " Yeah but I have a feeling some of our runners have plans for them as well. Did you see Sgt. Meari over at their table I would not want her pissed at me she would break me in two."

 Lizzy smiled at Haley and said," Now dont eat too much and get sick ok Haley. Now are we ready too work off some of this food."