In reply to wreck (msg # 74):

Zob got lost in thought for a bit as he looked over everything before finally responding, "Yeah lets get heading out we lingered here long enough, Hemsly hows that door coming along?"

 Lizzy had just finished all her checks on her new fighter and then saw Maddy leaving her fighter heading to the mess hall. Lizzy ran to catch up to her and she said," Hi Madison getting some chow? Yeah, they gave me a new fighter had to check everything, oh did you make sure your emergency equipment was in your compartment?" Lizzy was bubbly and seemed pretty happy and her Bostonian accent was really bad right now.

 Lizzy walked with Maddy as they went to the Mess Hall, she got in line and got whatever they were offering, and she got a large water.  After they got their food Lizz said," Want to sit together, so how is it going in the illustrious B-Flight with the LC?"

Madison was delighted when Lizzy caught up to her. "Hi Lizzy. Yeah. I checked out my new skeeter. Everything's there and I tested all the systems. I just went and roamed the entire base, now I'm going for something to eat. How are you doing? Did your skeeter check out okay?"

Once in the mess hall, Madison let Lizzy go first. She too took whatever they were serving. She really wanted a cheese burger, but apparently that wasn't on the menu. She was so looking forward to getting back to the Hermes.

"Yeah, for sure. We can sit together. Did you want to hang out just the two of us or does it matter if others join?"

 Lizzy smiled and replied," I am doing good, and my new Skeeter checked out fine, did you check your belts?"

 After they sat Lizzy replied to Maddy with a huge smile," I am happy with either Madison, I just want to get back to the Hermes and plan my wedding before we have another jump off. Also kill as many Empire scum bags I can before we head back."

 Lizzy wondered how things were going at the wreck and she hoped Izzy was ok and doing a great job.

  Hemsly waved  People  back....the  C-10 string charges  went  off   blowing  the  door  apart as  it fell into the  room.. weapons were ready. The saw the Body of a Chinese Admiral... He was in his  dress uniform,, beside him three empty  vials of  poison. In the body , dried hand clutched  a small journal... Flags  hung in the  room, most were dry but  rotted.

 Shade left Maygin to   pack up the  gear  and entered the room, his  head lamp  spotted the    sword near the body,  he grabbed it, taking it  out of its moldy  sheath, the blade seemed sharp and clean, though  the  sheath and  Belt, wouldn't hold up long..he took the blade,  He pointed to a desk at the other side of the room, where   books were sacked.

     Howe  entered  the mess  hall he looked for the other  flight leaders, but none were in yet, he went to grab a tray and  was rewarded  with Spam  sandwich covered in  a creamy gravy with some bit, that How  , hoped, was meat. he got a bowl of what passed  for   'canned peaches'.

  Shadow  entered, seemingly less on edge   since his talk with the  ground crew officer.. he  took his food  and a cup of  coffee, moving down the   serving line to the table he sat at before.

In reply to pilots (msg # 85):

Justin joined the queue that was lined up for meals. Grabbing a tray he selected three dishes from those available then made his way to a corner table.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:03, Wed 08 June 2022.

In reply to Lizzy O'conner (msg # 83):

After getting her tray of whatever it was they put on it, Madison found a table in the center of the room. Upon sitting, she started right on on her meal, speaking between mouthfuls.

"So how's Vosts doing? Did anything we said help one bit? It would be a shame to lose her."

 Lizzy ate as she talked to Madison as well. Lizzy's face got less bubbly with a more dire look and replied," She is scared shitless she will die if she goes back up, if you think like that then you will die. She headed to get some rest I hope she can pull through this or maybe she just doesn't have what it takes to be a fighter pilot on the Hermes. I really hope she can pull herself together because I will do everything I can too keep both of us alive."

 Lizzy then smiled again and asked Madison," How are you handling it, this is your first combat as well. Yeah my first time was a fucking furball fight from hell against the Vampics. Now some time later I have 46 kills and 10 ground targets before this jump off, you are doing great and every time you go up and come back your survival rate increases. Hey I have been shot down a few times, badly shot up, podded out and got beat up when I landed and then had to run for my life with Nikki to get to a safe zone." Lizzy took a few more bites then remembered the tunnel runs.

 Lizzy giggled and then added," Yeah the main reason Nikki and I made it, is the LC's harsh 3 mile tunnel runs, that is just one lap, some of us do more than one, alot of the troopers run a second one, some pilots do as well, I usually try to run a second lap. The LC runs us hard knowing it can save our lives if we crash or have to pod out in enemy territory." Lizzy was all smiles again as she continued eating.

Madison frowned at the report on Vosts. It was sad that she worked so hard to get there, only to be sidelined by a nervous breakdown. As Lizzy said, hopefully she would feel better in the morning. She wondered what it was that would make Vosts so freaked out, but not bother her. Sure, Madison had anxiety. She had been fielding existential questions in her head since the campaign started, but there was nothing that made her hesitate to go back up. Lizzy was wondering the same thing.

"Me? I'm fine. I was hit twice. The second time my skeeter was really bad and I had to come back here with Candy riding escort. I mean, is it scary? Yeah, I guess. But I don't think about that. I just go after the enemy birds and knock them down. I don't know why it doesn't freak me out."

Madison listened as Lizzy recounted her kill rate and the time she had to run to escape the enemy on the ground. She had already told her all that before, but this wasn't the first time Lizzy repeated the stories she was most proud of. It was always impressive to hear, so she let her continue without interruption.

"Yeap, I know about the tunnel runs. When we get back I plan on making that part of my regular workout. So when are you an Izzy getting married? Do you have special plans or are you just going to do one of those quiet ceremonies?"

 Lizzy smiled and saw confidence in Madison and that made her very happy, she hoped Vosts would get that confidence. " Thats good you made it back and we all try to help each other get back safely. I think seeing a few friends she came on with get killed freaked her out. That is the way to deal with it, hell yes I am scared too, but I am up there to do a job, kill bad guys and help my flight mates get back alive."

 Lizzy smiled and replied," Yes tunnel runs will save your life for sure." Lizzy looked dumb founded for a second and said," I dont know Izzy and I havent had time to talk about it, but I think it will be a special wedding not sure if a quiet wedding fits me. You should have seen the birthday party my scum bag Father threw for me to try and have me go with him, I am so glad the LC wouldnt let him take me from the Hermes."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:23, Wed 08 June 2022.

Listening to the women chat Justin glanced across the handfull of tables separating Kray and himself. Chinned in the direction of the women; rolled his eyes then gave a shurg.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:24, Wed 08 June 2022.

Despite her misgivings as to how useful the books would prove to be Izzy would gather them up, quietly mouthing a thank you to Nugest for his help. Standing well back, Izzy would watch as the charges went off holding her carbine at the ready just in case there was anything waiting on the other side.

Following the others into what appeared to be the admirals quarters, Izzy would wait until Shade had retrieved the dead man’s sword  before carefully retrieving the journal and reading through the first couple of pages in the hope that the admiral would shed some light on what had happened to the ship and it’s crew.

Back at the barracks Nikki took time to get a real good shower.  nice hot, she even started singing.  Of course, her voice carried everywhere.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXD5wMr2-qI

In reply to Lizzy O'conner (msg # 90):

"I'm sure when you get back, you''ll have plenty of time to plan. If you guys need help with anything, let me know. I'd be thrilled to lend a hand."

 Lizzy smiled as she finished her meal and then replied to Madison," Oh yes Izzy and I will get to planning the wedding when we get back to the Hermes. Oh thank you so much Madison the more helping out the better."

 Nugest took  any and all books   Izzy gave  him, in two  duffle  bags  he  would   carry out. It was odd seeing her  next the Apeman, as she only came up  to his waist,  and his thighs  were almost  as big  around as she was.

 Shoey Called out... for the Demo Teams  to  line the  ceiling  and    other doorways, with C-10,  they would repeat the   gesture   the   whole way back  to the shuttles

   Lyri would stop at each intersection   until the  demo  teams Rigged it, and  Moved on..

 Roy was on  the LZ,  sending dead bodies   and   Vilas of poison  to the Hermes  Via   The Meadowlark.. TI-JO  would go as well.. getting the Largs  into the  Shuttles... Roy  gave  Henry the choice to go back to the Compound, or go  to The Hermes.

  Pilots came in and Out    With no  real time tables, some  just went to bed/

 Shadow   sat   and   looked at His  Vidboard  typing something, now and then., other times  just reading Flores  sat with Higgins and  Buot, a feltite male..she was  working the  crowd  well.

  frans      came in  Eckles  was chatting   up Jeb Harmon,  She   sat  down  a table away from Maddy and Lizzy.

Madison finished her food, pushing the plate away. Eckles sat at the next table with someone Madison hadn't seen before. There were probably a lot of people she had yet to meet. This was only her third day, and she had spent more time on the planet than on the Hermes. Still, she thought she should at least know who all the pilots were.
"Hi Betty. Who's your friend. I don't think we've met."

   Eckles   smiled,..This is  Jeb Harmon..he's  one of the newer pilots, he is flyign with  LT Ariv's Felrights, because..well.. we're  Running out of felrites..This  is   Madison..LC calls her Maddy..

 Jeb was  a younger  guy..maybe? 2 months out of the academyUm..Hi, Ma'am...

 "Hi Jeb." Madison waved. "Pleae. I'm not a ma'am. Just Madison. Besides, I bet I've been here less time than you have. This is my third day on the job."

 Jed   shrugged with a  small smile,um... well.... This is only  my second Jump off..I do have  2  Kills from last time, i'm hoping they confirm enough i get ace status  so i can paint my plane.

 Fitz  walked  by, heading  for Howe, the other flight leaders  were getting thier   food as well...don't worry about  nose  art and paint scheme  , until you get home... there's alot of  'dead aces' who never  got to paint thier nose art.

Sckles  frowned at Fitz and his dark humor..  Hamron seemed a  bit chastized,

 Lizzy smiled at Eckles as she sat near them, and Madison and her began too talk. Lizzy didnt know Jed either. Lizzy smiled and added," That is good just keep going up and keep killing bad guys and helping your other pilots. Just remember kills will come dont chase them, fly with your wingmate or mates keep each other safe and the kills will come. Also never leave your wingman got it that will get you tossed quickly it has happened before." Lizzy thought of Harry, and she wondered how her friend if she could still call her that was doing.

Henry smiled at Roy.

"I'd best go to the compound and check on Larry first. Anyway, if we still have largs on planet they will need people to supervise them. Mila may also be useful if there is more exploration to be done before everything's blown to bits."

  Fitz, Foster and Steele  sat  down with Howe , talking, Ariv was  with  a felrite talking about  their fighters.

    Shadow     rolled  up his  lap top  and gathered his things on the Tray... he stopped  By Lizzy , Maddy and the rest.

  Saw y9ou making the Rounds? You fitting  in...

 Eckles  grins and  Said,  Jeb was  telling  Maddy of his  2 Kills...

Jeb Looked  embarrassed.

 I remember  my first few kills..when we found and  took that Demon Cruiser ... we all got a few kills  Frans  and  I had it out on the Hanger Dec because she didn't
 like my choice of  tactics...

 Eckles Giggles,That's when you got Hannah  to check on Lady!...  as soon as she said  that, her  smile dropped  and she Looked at Shadow.

  Shadow  was stunned  at first, he recovered, he answered slowly, with a bit  of a sad smile.aye, it was.... he looked at Jeb,Its good to  be proud of those  kills, Gods will only know who many we get credited   with  when we go home?  So? be  proud  of those kills..Just remember, there's a good chance there
 a pilot on the other side, who has more...

 You...you..have   170?

 175!eckles interjected.

 how many , unconfirmed?

 close to  30?

 so you have almost 200!

 No?...175.. the rest... are just  icing on the cake.. you will, almost never, get full confirmation on all kills...too many guns, explosions  and aircraft, in a furball...  it evens out, because there are some that cannot be denied.  Carry on....

 and he  went  to take his things to the  servers.