NA-CE nodded to Stefi and then left Med Tech to head to her quarters for the night. She hoped Vosts would pull through, and she kept her comms on loud and close in case the SM or LC needed to talk to her about the Incident.

----------------------------------- (Next Day)

 The next morning NA-CE came into Med Tech and went to check on Vosts's condition to see if she survived the night.

 <<<<<<<<  Shadow From Hanger dec

 When the  door  Hissed   Open,   The  Desk  Med tech   saluted him and sat back down.... Shadow  just said ...Vosts...

  She Pointed to the back where the recovering  patients  were, The  LC went  down  the guardian at the intersection  showed him to the Room, the planted himself outside the  door.

    Shadow grabbed the   charts from the  Bed, Vosts  looked at him with wet eyes.  He didn't look up0 as he studied the Charts...  why?

 S..S..Sir?

  he   flicked through some screens, without looking up, he said again......why?

Stefi  came  running to the  door,   Shadow's right   arm  pointed  at her, then the hand  made the signal to 'stop' she did.

 I...I...couldn't... i couldn't go up again  I...

 He looked at her  and sarcastically said,You were afraid to Die?

  She nodded...

 Shadow threw the    chart scanner on the bed..she  Jumped.. Stefi   went to take a step inside.. he  held his arm out again, The Guardian had turned to stand next to Stefi.So...Ensign Vosts..you  were so afraid  to die, that you thgought you would kill yourself?

 her Eyebrows   furrowed as she  thought..

 LC... she was  under alot of pressure and...

SHUT....UP... LT  Simmons... This is my job now, you can have her back when i'm done..

 Shadow walked to where her uniform was folded  on the  chair on  Vosts left  side..... I've  met alot of folks who were  afraid to die...100% of the people  on this boat are afraid to die for some reason or the other... Family...service...or they don't want it  to end  in a ball of fire...

 Vosts  looked up  at Shadow as he fussed with her uniform, tears were streaming  from her eyes.

 we had a few others  who pretended they were going to kill themselves, but they never  did it, and even caused hardship after  friends  stepped in...

 he took  Vosts  Wings off her   Uniform...You can't  fly for a while.....  he stuck the wings in her  front pocket, right below the name plate.Stefi mentioned pressure?  there isn't  anyone  in the whole of the fleet, who isn't under pressure.. cooks  on the rec Dec, hoping they can make  food good  enough for the warriors, who ...just might..be eating their last meal... Stefi and her people trying to put people back together  so they can go out and get shot up again.... we got Stem kids, who thing this  is the best time in there life,  after  falling asleep in some rubble wondering if they would wake up to a  stem rat chewing off their leg... Troopers  hit the  ground  running,wandering if they'll be  alive , an hour after they have landed... and all of us, know we fly out own coffins.

 Vosts tears  run  thicker, but she stared at the LC.

 You never  did  anything stupid, he motioned  to  her in bed,Until now. but  you didn't hurt anyone, Physically... But you caused
 some mental harm? heartache, even?

 He sat on the Bed  Stefi  dared to take a step into the   room, the guardian  stepped with her.

 we get all kinds of  people in here... some  folks   demand to come here. Some  folks are sent here,  for those who had them before, to get rid of..and some? its  just  pure  dumb luck

 Now? If i know about this, you can bet Captain Morris Knows, Captain Si, and the Admiral...

 w..w..why would the Admiral even care...

 ..you are  a member of his crew.  I have seen him speak at  Send offs...hiding  the pain he feels  behind, trying to ease   the others...The fast track   out the static  field, is to disrespect that... he nodded as he though of  something, like he wish  he would have done something at some point.

 I have to  go talk to Captain Morris now. telling him  i took your   wings for now...but your choices will end to  be made.

 C..Choices?

 he   nodded his head,If you want to fly again, You'll be able to stay here... get consulting, until  Stefi , or whomever, thinks you are ready to fly again.. Then Captain Morris  and I both have to sign off on it....

 2nbd choice is, take a ground job SEC.. ground  crew , QM....you'll still have to  do the 'headcase' stuff, but you'll still be on the Hermes.

 you can transfer to a colony, you'll have to be SEC  there.. you won't get your wings, so you'll be a ground pounder

  He stood  and  put out his right hand, she  put her shaking   right hand in his.

 Close your eyes.... think as  I speak.... remember  when you first took off , in those  gods be damned trailing craft..how you felt , up in the  air... climbing   through blue skies  , until your  reached.. The Black. Millions of stars... some of that 'stars'  would turn out to be planets we visited.

Shadow had his eyes closed  as well, a bit of a smile on his lips  as he talked.

 Then, here, on The Hermes, flying  aircraft, feeling the power   as you dove and climbed, twisted  and turned... shooting at the enemy while they shot at you?...maybe. chewing up ground folks, so out  ground  folks can come back for an after party... Flying  in that chunk of metal, and  becoming one with it,,,,

 her  right hand squeezed Shadow's  as  she   listen, a slight  smile on he tear stained face.

 The LC opened  his eyes when he stopped, as did she...can you give, all that up, because you are afraid to die?..you talk to the other pilots.. I want to  meet  any who say they aren't afraid, they won't come back when we go  through  the static  field,, the difference is.. once you're out there, You and you fighter, and you wingmates  and Flight mates  are out there, and you look around   and see the Black full of ESN  steel! If that doens';t make you proud, if that  doesn't  keep your head  in the right place, Then you're more Empire, the ESN..

 Vosts   said,,I ..I never  thought of  it like that....I...was just always worried...

 all it takes is  for   1 powercell in the Engine room to  spilt, and  the fleet would be lucky  to save 100 of the   thousands on board.  If you get killed in a fight, at least you get to take some Empire bastards  with you...it won';t make you any less  dead, but...you'll have gone out, for  a non-selfish reason

  placing her   and   on  her stomach ,he turned to Stefi...Her wings  are taken, until Consulting  set up up.. she has to choose... He started to walk to the door.

 L..L..LC..thank you....

 don't Thank me Vosts, just make sure, whatever choice  you makes is yours. After that, its  all up to your  skill, and the luck of the gods.

  Stefi watched him  leave her mouth was a little hung Open, the Gurdian escorted the LC away.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:41, Sun 12 Feb 2023.

 NA-CE saw the LC go into Vosts's room she was told she had pulled through and she was so happy, but she wondered how she was doing. When the LC came out, she stopped and saluted," LC how is she, I was the Med Tech called to her quarters, the Lt. said you might wish to talk to me Sir. I just came to see if she pulled through." NA-CE held her salute until the LC answered her. Her tough, cold Angel look, softened quite a bit as she talked to the LC, letting him know NA_CE truly cared if her patient made it.

  Shadow returned the salute in an easy manner,as you were  Med tech... She is ok , i supsoed,  i talked to her  a bit. She  needs to get her ehad cleaned out and find out where she  wants to go. This isn't a 'small thing". But we are in a shooting war, and we need peple who are not  only one of us, but can  keep thier heads  glued on

 NA-CE lowered her salute and responded," Yes sir, I am glad she pulled through, and this war hits us all at one point or another, it is how ty handle those hits and get up from them that are important. No she was close to death when I got to her, she is lucky Ens. Rutledge went to check on her Sir. I hope she can get her head umm glued on." NA-CE had no clue what the last part meant but she figured it had to do with Vosts mental state. The LC could tell NA-CE had an issue with his last statement he would be able to sense it in her Angel voice.

 " Thank you, LC sir, do you think the Lt. will let me see her Sir?"

   Shadow  smiled  slightly,You have to  Ask  Stefi..that's her  house. I can throw my weight  around if it  falls under my umbrella... but  that doesn't last  long

 You have  an  edge being a Med tech.

 NA-CE smiled and nodded at the LC then said," Thank you LC, good day to you."

 NA-CE walked up to the room where Stefi was just inside the door, she looked in and said," Lt. may I come in." NA-CE had seen suicide attempts before and sometimes the person was mad that they were saved she had hoped Vosts wasn't one of those, she hoped she would do good with her second chance.

 Stefi   sat  by the chair,  Vosts   was still teary eyed. but she seemed less stressed.

 Come on in Corporal.  Vosts? this is the  Med tech that made  sure you made it to  Med tech. You flight mate,  Rutledge, is the one who asked  SEC to open the door.

 NA-CE smiled to Stefi and moved into the room, " Thank you Lt."

 NA-CE looked at Vosts and said," I am glad you pulled through Ens., I am Corporal NA-CE it is good to officially meet you."

 Vosts sort of  helf her  covers  close to her  as he  looked at NA-CE.

 I..I .made a big mistake... The  LC...too my wings, i am supposed to see ifi can get them back or do something  else...

 NA-CE smiled and replied," Yes you did but because of Nikki finding you and me doing my job, you have a second chance, it is up to you what you are going to do with it. I am just glad you have that chance Ens. If you ever need anyone to talk to just give me a call ok. I am surprised from what I have heard and seen of the LC thats all he did, but he must see something in you to give you a chance, now you just have to find that something and go out and do your best."

 Vosts, nods.he ...seemed...abit cross? But..there was...gentleness, and this way of lookig   at what ha0ppened, , like he  wiped  all the  cl;ouds  away... i..I..felt rather  foolish..

 NA-CE smiled and replied," Well considering what you did he had a right to be cross being your Wing Commander. Well I am glad you are feeling that, you get better now and like I said you need a ear I think what the humans say I am just a comm away." NA-CE smiled lowered her head like a bow, looked at Stefi and said," Good day Lt. if yu need me call me."

 NA-CE headed out of Vosts room smiling, of course what she did was wrong, and NA-CE could see it seemed like Vosts was going to do the best with her second chance, NA-CE was just happy they were able to save her, so she had this second chance.

 NA-CE headed out of Med Tech and was heading for SEC when the messages came on the vids. She saw the Paradise second in command, she heard he was a prick even for a Paradise Angel. She watched the events unfold and she pumped her fist when Captian DI-ME plasma bombed the Paradise capital, damn they were good. NA-CE felt pride for her Red and Blue Moon brother and sisters.

 After it was all over NA-CE went back into Med Tech, got her combat med kit and fully stocked it with everything she could carry. Then she went to her quarters to gear up.

---->>>>>> To Non-Com Quarters.

---> from hangar bay

Stavros ran into med tech, almost running straight past the lobby looking for anyone that seemed to have some medical skills. He stopped at the first person he saw and held up his left arm, where uniform and skin had formed their unholy union.
Excuse me? Anyone around that can help me fix this?

His tattoos would be ruined he guessed. But as long as they could fix his arm up he'd surely try to be out there again in no time.

   In the Ned tech He was stopped  By a Guardian. who  pointed to the  chairs  where ground crews  where  waiting to get into the stalls that were already filled.

 Have a Seat...Sir. It will be a few Minutes.. even as he   spoke a  haver   cart entered the  Med tech, heads down do they didn't hit the  half closed  Blast shield. A woman dec hand  was  being taken straight back to the Combat OR.

Slowpoke sat down, clearly able to see most of these people had a lot more going on than he did.
He'd give it a couple minutes sure. After all he could still use his fingers, worst case scenario he would be able to fly even with the wounds.
So he waited.

 Stefi came out of the OR  area  , there  was splashes of Blood,  Derma  Foam and  Derma Plast on her   apron, , she took it  off   dropped it inn the   container and  Grabbed a New One.

 She went ot the  Head of the   'line'   called over  a Med tech to help another  woman with a shoulder  wound, her Over halls  were pulled down to the  waist, there was no time for  shy people  now. the med tech    began to remove the shrapnel

 then Nets   fell was asleep..but.. he  didn't respond... Stefi  waved  for him to be takened to OR.

 and so it  wnr. some people getting treated where they say. some being sent away.. One, placed in a black bag and stacked  with others   in the area of Med tech, that was set aside  for such occasions.

 She  Reached  Stavros..well? New  Guy Huh,,didn';t  take you long to earn a purple heart...  You're going to get treated  here.. she  whistled and pointed to the back of the med tech where bodies  were staked.. The  med tech  grabbed a    kit from the   cases and ran it over to her...

 Even as  they worked on wounded, There were  volunteer   Civis and damage control Mopping up    blood  and  bits of  uniforms and flesh, so make it  safer  for those  working there.

  Receiving the Kit.  , she  opened it, expertly picking up a needled  and   slipping a  cartridge in. with out preamble  she shoved the   Needles in at the  Bicep...when the care  was  emptied she   ejected the empty and  tossed it into the  trash..

 Her   visage was  firm.. her  eye brows  furrowed  as  she said,we'll give it a moment , then i'm peeling off that   suit from your arm....,  if the   meds took effect , it will only  sting a bit..if  it hasn't ..it will hurt like the   9 hells... but your  'warlord' will want you back out there. so this is how it is...

 Another crash cart came though the Doors, the   Med tech looked at the   ground crewman and shook her head, she got a black bag from the  Desk  and the Guardians  loaded the  body in, taking it back to the   cordwood  stack.. then they went back out...

 She Looked at the clock  on the  wall  and shrugged, ..Now or never  , Flyboy...... she   took out a  pair of tongs . peeling back the    suit  from the   elbow towards the    wrist.

 She  jerked it  quick, the  sounds  of  wet skin  leaving the  body was audible ..CLENSE!!

 the   lower ranked  Med Tech    sprayed the  arm with a bubbling  solution.. then  padded it dry.  Foam was sprayed on,  followed  by  Demera Past,  then  wrapped  with  self stick tape

  Handing the   instruments she used to the med tech to  take of disinfecting.. she  said to  Stavros..when that  shot  wears off. it will hurt.. depending on how  well the foam sets, it will hurt a little, or alot..  Don't take that Wrap off   for  20  hours, or....if the ground you, you can take it off  in 8...You're  damn lucky  , whatever  burned  your arm didn't  set off your lube, Hydros or  even  crack your power cell.. If they get you a ride, you can fly... now  get out  of here and  get something to eat and drink from the Girls on the Hanger dec.

Thank you Ma'am, Stavros said as he gathered the remains of his flight jacket. Much obliged.

With another nod of appreciation he hastely ran back to the hangar deck.


----> Hangar deck

    The work on Vaka  was touch and Go...  Stefi stepped out and walked  across to her   office.

 she   opened the   locked  metal cabinet   Pulling out a Vial. She Open up her  Private COM to Shadow..

 Shadow? Tjis is Stefi. W ehave the Occui  here..he's  bad..hes  real bad. The  Angel got the shot  right  Under his   armm where the  armor is   most thin...

  Ok? but shouldn't you be fixing Him, instead of talking to a pilot 1 mile or so away.

 He's....he's not  going to make  it.  not  unless we juice him...

 there  was  a  snort,Look? Stefi..I put holes into people..you fix  people who have holes  put into them! Why COM me.

 we're low? we keep it  for   'The  Unit'..or  maybe someone  we feel  is  important enough...

 Gods be damned , Stefi!..He's a Hermite. he's  done  Delta   Nights.. Juice him!

 ..alright.. I hope the Moons  send our supply out  soon.

 cutting off the COM, she    placed the vial in her  coat , going out to  the OR. She chased everyone out, and had a Guardian stand  outside.

 Stefi   went to  Vaka, his eyes  were half closed.. his breath was labored..Vaka?   Listen.. we have...some...medicine.. it will hurt  like the  9 hells... but it should help you recover.. I'm strapping you down...

 Vaka  wanted to  say something..but no word s  came out    his   eyes  shut   as he grimaced

  the shot was Gven..and it began...   Vaka  cried out a  few times,  his body lurching  and  twisting  as the   blue serum  traveled through his  system,

  Then he passed out.. his body twitching  and  jerking at the straps.

 walkign out the door  stefi says,No one , under the rank of  LC goes inthere without me..Understand?

 Already don  , ma'am.

 Stefi went into he  offcie  , she took a look at teh  liquor  but settled  for a  soda.

  (( when Roy arrived  with goodies after  1st angel fight))

    Stefi  came out,  anther blod stai8ned  apron on..They said you wanted  to see me?

she loked at the group of trooeprs and Roy.

Roy stepped forward with one of the containers.  "With the LC's compliments," he said, as he opened the container just far enough for her to see the contents.

"LOTS of his compliments..."

----->>>>>> From Hanger Dec

 NA-CE carried her box full of Angel serum, she followed Roy and when Stefi showed up he also opened her box and motioned to all the other containers being carried full of serum. " Lt. where would you like these stored for now and if you wish ma'am I can get you a full count."

 Stefi looked at Roy...she couldn't speak for a moment. Follow me,  we'll take  them to my office. she moved   quickly, opened the door  for  them and hustled   them in.

     she  moved to her Cabinets  and opened the locks, she had  two Cabinets.. they were  deeper then  those of the Angle  vessel with no racks in the doors.

 She roudned on  Roy, the  face was half  of  terror and half exaltation ,what do you mean, 'the LC"..he  was sitting in a fighter craft.

 she loked at  NA-CEPut them in, one  by one, and get a count...take out those two older  vials  they will have to be up front.

then she looked back at Roy.

 ALL OF YOU.... not a word  of this to anyone... these are gifts, but they come with a price...we cannot use them  on everyone, some won't survive...so..they don[t exist! Any of you talk about this, you'll pay a deep  price.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:08, Tue 07 Mar 2023.

 NA-CE replied," Already done ma'am." NA-CE removed to older ones, then began carefully storing all the vials she and Roy had, plus all the ones brought in by the others. She counted them as she stored them. She put the older two up front when she was done. " Yes Ma'am I know what those do, and yes they do not exist Lt."