"Works for me." She began washing the area she was gonna paint first.  She knew there was something between her and her butthead of a father, but that was gonna be between her and her father until she decided.  Nikki knew being a friend made her curious about it, but also polite enough not to ask til they were ready to talk.  'All things in their own time', as her bother Marshall once told her. So you are going with 'Phoenix'?  I had a tough call with mine, but after chatting with Harry and a few others I decided on 'Banshee'." she unrolled the print she was going to put on the nose.  It was going to tape up, trace, and paint.  The picture was kinda ethereal looking of a long haired woman screaming.  She was more lovely than hideous as of legend.  Half clothed in ancient armor, tapering off near her knees like a ghost.  It was surrounded in an oval of celtic knotwork with a pin striping, part being shattered by soundwaves.  Barely seen below the pinstripe was the phrase 'Beware the Sound of Death', then a question mark.  Nikki pointed it out "Not too sure if I'm putting that on or maybe changing it.  Figure you are death by flame, I'll be that deafening silence they hear in their deaths" She adjusted it a bit to tape it up.

Haley looked at it and clapped.  She watched a few others on the flight line move about.  Not being here too often it was all interesting for her.  she was excited and ran about in a figure 8 with her arms out.  imitating an airplane.  Stopping only a few moments to ask Lizzy "Whatz a Fee-Necks?"

 Lizzy came down from her nose with her print of her Phoenix. Lizzy will say to Nikki quietly," When the little one isn't around I will tell you the whole story, but the Hermes is my only family now, and my Mom was a true Hero." Lizzy held it in because she was happy her Mother would be known as a heroine now and not a stupid Commander.

 Lizzy smiles and says," Yes I figured it fits plus I feel reborn from the ashes, plus I am a redhead. I am putting BURN IN THE 9 HELLS around it."  Lizzy loves the idea of Banshee for Nikki, she replies," Oh hell yes that is perfect for you Nikki, so when they see us it will be a Banshee and a Phoenix they will be screwed." Lizzy smiles and actually laughs and it felt really good to Lizzy, it was time to move on.

 Lizzy keeps smiling and adds," I like that it is perfect for you Nikki, and I am very happy to have you as my wingmate. That looks amazing and I love the words very fitting."

 Lizzy will listen to Haley and it takes a second for Lizzy to figure out what Haley said and she then shows Haley the picture of the Phoenix she is using and then she says," A Phoenix is a Mythical bird made of fire, who can be reborn in it's ashes, do you like the picture Haley?"

---> Officers Quarters

With the clicking of high heeled shoes Izzy would step out of the lift and begin to walk across the hangar dec to the flight lines where she hoped to find a pilot that would not only fit the criteria for her piece but would also be willing do and interview with her. And so it was with Tali zipping about like an excitable puppy that Izzy would spot Nikki and Lizzy talking together, the beat of her heart inexplicably speeding up at the sight of the beautiful red haired pilot.

With the excuse of wanting to ask Nikki for an interview, she would approach the pair of them and patiently wait for a break in their conversation before speaking to them, trying her best to hide how nervous she was feeling and more importantly keep her eyes off of Lizzy "Morning ladies, I hope everyone is having a good morning?"

  Looking  around the HAnger, a few other pilots  were  at thier  aircraft..Ariv was with her  Felrite fighter.. Dixie  was checking her   machine.. she was   adding a  painted  Blue Max  to the  Stem of the  glass on her  nose art.

 Steel   was   under his   fighter on a slightly raised  , hover jack as he and a Grounds Crewman  looked at the plating..

 Across the  way..where the ' tail fins of shame' were  welder to the Bow  end of the hanger  Dec  crew men finished  welding   the  Black Fin of the  Burian Demon to the   wall.

 Lizzy smiled when she saw Izzy but she tried to keep her emotions under control for now. LIzzy did want to grab Izzy throw her into her fighter and have amazing sex with her, but she knew that wouldn't work the cockpit was too small.  Lizzy also loved Haley and everyone could see the gleam on her face when she talked to Haley, everyone could tell she loved kids a lot.

 When Izzy spoke Lizzy looked at her smiled and said," Good morning Izzy, yes today is much better then most of yesterday so far." Lizzy smiles at Izzy, and then adds," I hope it gets even better Izzy."

 Then Lizzy had an idea and then said," Hey Izzy,  Nikki here is my new wingmate and she is a great shuttle pilot who is now an Ace fighter pilot, you should interview her." Lizzy smiles at Nikki and says to her," Nikki Izzy is a reporter and is doing a piece on new fighter pilots on the Hermes, we had a great interview the other day." Lizzy thought they had an even better date, well except for her dad of course.

 Lizzy thne smiles at Haley and says," You want to help me paint my fighter for a few minutes Haley?" Lizzy had a huge smile on her face and Haley could tell Lizzy liked spending time with her.

 At this time Izzy's coms go off she received a text message from Sam.
" Good morning Izzy things are very busy here and it is great to here from you. Izzy just keep trying you are a wonderful person and just do you best and tell the truth and everything will fall into place. I am so happy your date with Lizzy went great, sorry for the hiccups, I really hope things go great between you too. Have fun and she really does like you, yes when you get back to Bura you will buy the drinks, Good luck Izzy and maybe you are going at LC Shadow the wrong way maybe try another approach. Your good friend Sam."

Haley looked at Lizzy "Ohhh..?!?" not totally understanding, but she got the gist "Kinda like-a firebird?  Yeah but I like drawing flowers and aminals....and princesses" about that time she heard the tap tap tap of high heels on metal.  She looked over.

Nikki heard the tapping as well and that they headed closer.  She looked up and smiled "Morning" she said in her southern drawl she had and nodded her head as a greeting.  She bit a piece of tape off the roll to put the nose art up.  "We had breakfast and getting to paint." she said to the comment about the morning being good.
Then Lizzy made introductions.  "A reporter, Huh?  Last time I had an interview  was way back in High school and helping my team win a baseball game."  She put the tape down  to shake the womans hand "That is my ward Haley McGaha.  She and a few others here abouts was rescued off the New York" She gestured to Haley if she wanted to help Lizzy or not, her choice.  Smiling Haley liked helping, and get to meet some new people  and others a bit better.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:20, Thu 09 Jan 2020.

Finding herself caught up in Lizzy's dazzling green eyes, Izzy would momentarily forget the presence of the other pilot and the young girl, smiling at her comment about the day getting better "So I take it we're still on for tonight then?" she softly replied before turning to smile at Nikki as they were introduced to one another, shaking the other woman's hand as she spoke "well I'd be happy to give you a  second interview if you would be willing to do so, I spoke with Ensign Lynch yesterday and she said you'd probably have a different take on things being a former shuttle pilot which should make things rather interesting" she said before awkwardly smiling at Haley as she was introduced, making it clear that unlike Lizzy, who seemed a natural, that she didn't really know how to interact with children. It wasn't that she didn't like them, as she thought Haley looked adorable, but rather she simply didn't know what to say or do "so a ward...that's like a step-daughter, right?" she asked Nikki upon hearing the unfamiliar term, before waiting to see whether Nikki was willing to be interviewed.

 Lizzy smiled at Izzy and replied to her question," Unless something comes up we are still very on, we still need to go dancing, and I can't wait to kiss you again." Lizzy wanted to hug her and kiss her so much but she figured this was not the right time or place for that.

 Lizzy will say to Haley," Yes like a Fire Bird, come on Haley I will show what I have done so far," Lizzy was a natural with kids, she just loved being with them, helping them, everyone could tell she was great with kids and would most likely make an amazing mother. " So Haley what is your favorite animal to draw?"

 As Lizzy asked this she brought Haley up to the nose of her fighter so Haley could get a close look at her work so far. Lizzy explains how it is going to look and the words around the Phoenix. Then Lizzy had an idea, " Haley would you like to check out the cockpit of my fighter?" Lizzy would look towards Nikki as she asked this to make sure it was okay with Nikki.

Nikki nodded it was okay.  Haley went with Lizzy.  "This like Nikkis?  I like goats, baby goats!" looking inside the cockpit.  For being all of 5 she was a polite little girl.  one of the hangar officers Haley had seen in the mess passed by and waved t her, Haley waved back.  she whispered to Lizzy "He gave me a banana earlier at breakfast for a snack later" she smiled like it was a major secret.

"I have no problem with an interview, and I still do shuttle piloting and repairs, and anything needed really.  I would ask though, that if there is something private I'd like to keep private that it not be aired in any form." she said calmly.  "With Haley and me it is a bit more complicated.  Back when I was a young teen I lived near her family.  Knew her mom, dad, brothers and sister.  I babysat them all.  After going to OCS and Pilot school to learn how to fly shuttles and such, I was transferred here.  Less than a month I was asked to pilot a shuttle with a team of boarding troops to the New York, many young'ens were rescued.  Brought to the Hermes she heard my voice singing on our RecDec and found me.  Some how or another Her family...most of it were killed and she and her sister carted off, sold to be food or what have you.  Her sister survived being killed but we do not know where she is.  So being the closest to family I took her in.  Her father is somewhere.  So I am taking care of her now and keeping her safe, giving her a better shot at life." she said smiling as she watched Haley being helped up the stairs by Lizzy.

"Oh no that's fine, I totally understand" Isobel quickly replied to Nikki's request that she wanted to keep certain parts of her life private, hoping that if she said it enough times to enough people that they would finally believe her and start trusting her a little more "...there are parts of my life I would rather the whole world didn't know about so I wouldn't dream of telling other peoples secrets" she continued, her eyes quickly darting over to where Lizzy was currently lifting Haley into the cockpit of her fighter. With the way they had been looking at one another, as well Lizzy's unguarded comment about wanting to kiss her, it was pretty damn obvious that the pair fancied each other in a fairly big way. But all the same Izzy would rather not have the whole world know before she had chance to speak to certain people first.

With a few quick hand gestures Izzy would signal for Tali to position itself so that both Nikki and herself were in shot before beginning to speak in a cheerful voice "ok, now just relax and answer the questions in your own time and way, Try not to look at Tali and don't worry about censoring yourself, if at any point you wish to stop the interview please say so ok?" Izzy said, quietly waiting for Nikki to signal that she'd fully understood the instructions before counting them into the interview "I am here today on the hangar dec of the illustrious 351 Hermes where I am joined today by Ensign Nikki Rutledge" she said having taken the time to get Nikki's rank and last name from off of her uniform "...Good morning Nikki, thank you for speaking with me today, so tell me Nikki, How long exactly have you been a pilot and how much of that time have you spent on the Hermes?"

 Lizzy smiled at Nikki when she nodded it was okay to show Haley her cockpit. Lizzy also smiled at Izzy and couldn't wait till they could spend more time together.

 Yes Haley sweetie it is just like Nikki's, but she also can fly a shuttle as well. You like to draw goats thst is awesome I would love to see  your drawings sometime. Lizzy smiled at Haley as she talked about the officer that gave her a banana,Lizzy thought Haley was amazing and this really brought out her Motherly instincts Lizzy so wanted to have a child but it wasn't a good time with the war and she didn't want her child to be a orphan. Oh wow he did, that was so nice of him and don't worry sweetie I won't tell anyone okay.

 Lizzy then put Haley into the seat and began to show her a few things but she does say,Please Haley don't touch anything without asking okay, if you have questions just ask okay. With that Lizzy will show Haley a few things turn some things on so she could see the lights. Lizzy will keep Haley occupied while Izzy interviewed Nikki. Lizzy was having a great time and she hoped Haley was as well.

------> From Non Com Quarters

Either or not Morgan was with her she still had to get the day rolling, she traveled across the hanger dec to the mech bay and sighed a little bit it wasn't gonna be the same without Clark and she still had to figure out what to do with his mech but that wasn't that important as she approached she saw a newcomer checking out the mechs she approached to speak to him, "I take it you are the new recruit i just got a com text about PO Ubdil yes?" she asked for confirmation.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:15, Thu 02 Jan 2020.

"Signed on a few years ago.  Thought I would be a good repair tech.  after passing I got assigned to an Earth post.  few week my C.O. came in said my score for flying was extremely high.  They were transing me to learn to be a shuttle pilot, since I was already repairing them.  To be any pilot you have to be an officer.  So got sent to OCS.  first in my family to serve in any war since the American revolution to become an officer.  Any how graduated and at random was trans to Delta.  halfway here, there was the Aqra campaign.  They were short on shuttle pilots, saw I was the only newbie pilot.
 They snagged me.  As I recall, had less than 5 minutes aboard the Hermes before being sent planetside.  Left my gear on the hangar and spent 2-3 days before being assigned a billet and getting my gear outta storage.  They had me flying the Diamond over there.  Been here now maybe 2 months." her southern drawl apparent, as was he smile and such as she pointed out the Diamond.

”and now I understand you’re a fighter ace?” she said nodding towards the Mantis behind them which showed signs of being prepared for painting ”may I say going from a mechanic to a fighter pilot is quite a career jump, especially in such a short space of time, but tell me how does flying a fighter compare to flying a shuttle?” She asked, not wanting to betray her lack of knowledge by assuming that one was easier to fly than the other.

She gave a slight 'aw shucks' smirk "With the action on Bura.  I did actually have kills while piloting the Diamond.  Actually being a fighter pilot was on Bura, so in a way my first time out I became an ace,  If I stayed specifically a shuttle pilots I could still become an Ace, even survive to get a Blue Max...possibly.  My original intent was to be a pool pilot, that way I could be of use when ever or however needed." again she smiled and just shrugged a bit "It's a trade off, that's for sure.  The shuttles, you can hover as needed and you have 3-4 people handling weapons, so all you need to do is fly...but make sure they are safe as well.  In a fighter there is no hovering.  you have to focus on what you need to do.  No one is going to fire your weapons for you and you need to make sure they hit.  I'll compare it to tortoise and hare, or a Ferrari 'Hypercan' hover car to an old gasoline John Deere tractor.  A Ferrari on a farm is not what you need, but the tractor is not gonna win at Monte Carlo." this smile also had a laugh.

  The  Young, tall Black Man  Turned   and got to  attention.Andre Undil..PO3 , Ma'am... Just came in yesetrday night.. they didn't give me a duty time, so i came here to look over the machines?

 Thos e  Gremlins are the talk of  the  transportbases..  we run into   each other on the pelasure ships?... some  still have those  old  scholl Mechs..

 As Lizzy was showing Haley her cockpit her comms went off, she checked it and controlled herself she wanted to swear but Haley was right there. She did say " We have a tunnel run at 1200 hours, I hope you enjoyed your tour of my fighter Haley, you where very well behaved."

"Well.....screw!" she said with a bit of a pout "I wanted to paint today" she sulked and crossed her arms tight in front of her.

About this time Nikkis com went off.  Glancing she then looked up at Izzy "Looks like we got some PT to do today.  If you like maybe this afternoon I'll see you on the RecDec to continue?  get my best asset of me and my guitar" she shrugged.

Isobel was rather enjoying listening to Nikki speak, the Southerner seeming far more modest and down to earth than the other pilots she'd spoken to so far, all of whom seeming to think that they were the greatest pilot alive "wow so you made ace in only one combat mission? Now I'm no expert but to me that sounds pretty impressive especially for someone who only wanted to be a pool pilot" she said with a cheerful smile.

It was just as she was opening her mouth to ask her next question that Nikki's comms unit would go off, informing her that she was required to attend a PT session. Hiding her frustration at having her interview cut short Izzy would smile and nod her head in acceptance "That's ok, duty calls and all that...but just quickly before you go, as someone who has only recently joined the Hermes fighter wing would you say that the whole fighter jock stereotype is deserved or purely made up?" she asked curious to see whether being a shuttle pilot gave her a different perspective on the whole highly strung fighter jock personality than the other people she'd interviewed.

Regardless of how Nikki answered Izzy would hold out her hand for Nikki to shake as she spoke in that overly cheerful voice she used whilst working "well thank you for speaking with me today Nikki, I'll let you get to your PT Session and I look forward to seeing you on the rec-dec" at which point she would signal for Tali to cut the feed.

With all of the pilots once again disappearing, Izzy would sigh before heading towards the rec dec in order to kill some time until they got back and she was able to do another interview or more likely spend a little time with Lizzy. She did briefly consider going to SEC in order to show Roy her old Drone and see if he was interested in re purposing it, only to quickly discard the idea. Chances were he would be on the same run as the pilots meaning she would have to deal with Beth, and the less time she spent in that woman's company the better, And so she would head for the rec dec for a cup of coffee whilst she continued to edit together the collection of interviews she had.

---> Rec Dec

In reply to Mechs (msg # 621):

Kira nodded, "Its good to have you aboard, I'm CPO Ambermoon i lead the mech team here we recently lost our third team member so its good you showed up when you did... i gotta check today's tasks but will see about giving you a crash course on the Gremlin as soon as possible here, in the meantime i will assign you mech station 4 and pick a empty locked over there by the wall to store your equipment... any questions?"

 Lizzy smiled at Haley and said, Maybe later you can help me finish my nose,art Haley would you like that. Lizzy came down with Haley, smiled at Izzy and said,I will comm you after we are done okay. Have fun and isn't Nikki amazing.

 Lizzy wanted to hug and kiss Izzy but she let her head to the Rec Dec.  Lizzy than said,See you in the tunnels Nikki or should I say Banshee. Lizzy gives Haley a kiss on her forehead and heads for the nose of her fighter, she finishes up what she was doing, and makes sure it is going to be okay until after the run. The stuff she had to return to the QM locker, the rest she will bring with her to her quarters.she had some time but she wanted to be early and ready to go.

-'--->>>> to Officers Quarters
This message was last edited by the player at 16:09, Fri 03 Jan 2020.

 As  Izzy walked to the elevators, she Noticed  some  limping  troopers   in 'Drop ship' uniforms. One  was  on a hover cart. They were leaving Med tech to  go to a  'General's Shuttle" on the shuttle bay of the hanger Dec.

 Behind them. one trooper who looked   in fairly good shape, was Helping an  'older looking' General who seemed to walk, half  bent over.

  Andre nodded, yeah?..um.... we never  had  Hull training?.. I mean.. they had us  walk up the sides of  Metal Buildings.. and  they  had  us   walk over  some  shipwreacks under water..but they never  took the time   to have us  walk un space on a ship's hull?  I mean?  I have read some of the reports and such..seen those  cool Vids that the fleet sends out..showing Mechs  on the hull of a ship during a battle?

Kira nods, "Considering we are one of the only ships that still deploy mechs into combat zones its to be expected but its not much different then what you are used to... give me moment or two i need to make a call"

She then stepped away for a moment and comed Rivets for clearance to take her team out for some hull training, "CPO Ambermoon requesting clearance to take my team out for some hull training"