Disclaimer: I claim to disclaim as I do not deserve the acclaim of what others claim.

Disclaimer clarification: I don't own Sailor Moon.

Moon Cats: Silver Millinium

Chapter Three:

"And we will not, and I mean not, unleash any senshi powers or weird staff originate explosions unless and until the situation warrants it."

In spite of what Amy of Mercury, aka Sailor Mercury, might have assumed Artemis was actually still paying attention. Only Mina had actually fallen asleep. "We get it, Princess. It's a low intensity, quiet mission. No kaboom until someone else kabooms."

Amy sighed, rubbing her nose just beneath where her data-visor rested. "Actually we shouldn't even then. The gathering of planetary diplomats on Saturn is happening in Saturn's hall, the oldest structure in the solar system. It's the only building to survive the wars that followed the fall of the Golden Empire, as well as the intervening centuries. Even the Palace of the Moon is younger by over one hundred years."

Mina surprised both cat and fellow Sailor Soldier by asking "Then why the heck did they send us? We're like the queens two man demolitions team."

"Some of the Metalla cults that have turned up recently have gotten into the habit of using suicide strikes in attempts to score victories for their deluded religion." Amy explained. "If it comes down to the building or the diplomats, the choice is clear. However, if anything less than total destructive force is enough, we'll use it. Actually, it's WHY we were chosen. My ice is well suited towards disabiling an opponent while your chains and precise attacks are ideal to not causing structural damage."

"Than why bring Artemis? His staff is about as safe to be around as Serena during gymnastics training." The Senshi of Venus observed.

To this Amy smiled slightly, and wryly. "Something about a certain black cat being unlucky… or was that a white cat having no chance at GETTING lucky… I get the folklore confused sometime."

"Funny." Artemis growled. "And you're the one who's supposed to show us how Serenities officers and protectors should 'comport' themselves."

"I am a model of propriety."

"And the biggest gossip of us all. Don't think I'm fooled by the shy girl routine." Artemis grinned at Amy's blush. "We all remember who it was who let slip about Serena and Endymion to the queen."

"You…"

"Oh look, we've landed."

"Excellent." Amy said hurredly. "Shall we disembark the shuttle then?"

Both Cat and Blonde laughed as they followed Amy off the ship, only to freeze a step behind her at the sign of chaos and near rioting in the grounds of the Saturn Royal household. Artemis, the first to recover from the chaos consuming the normal calm, nearly staid people of Saturn, reached out and grabbed a passer by's arm. "What's happening?"

"The princess… she…. The princess has shown the sign!"

Mina grabbed his other arm. "What sign. What are you talking about."

Before the man answered Artemis released his grip on the man, and shook the Princess of Venus's hand loose, letting him run away. "He means The Sign, Mina."

"I don't understand."

"Saturn's sign." Amy stated coldly. "The princess of Saturn has revealed herself to be Sailor Saturn."

"But Saturn only arrises…"

"When the end is near." Artemis finished for his partner. "You two go ahead and find out what really happened, and confim it's true."

"What are you going to do?"

Artemis frowned. "Call Luna. At least this she can't blame on me."

"At least this one can't be blamed on Artemis." Serenity observed dryly as she glared at the report floating on a holographic screen in front of her throne.

"No majesty. Actually, according to both Venus and Mercury, he's been handling Saturn well. He's been in near constant contact with me for advice on training and education." Luna replied.

The queen waved her hand, causing the screen to vanish. She turned to her most trusted, and feline, advisor. "How bad does he think it is."

"Well, the good news is, historically, Saturn is usually called when she is young, but isn't needed until she's fully an adult. The Princess of Saturn is merely eleven years old, so it should be a decade or more before whatever disaster she was called for can come to fruition."

"Has anyone ever managed to prevent what Saturn came for?"

"Twice." Luna replied optimistically, though her tone grew grim quickly. "Though that is out of over two hundred occurances of the Senshi of Silence."

"I'll take a one percent chance to none at all." Serenity turned to Pluto. "What do we know about happening, right now, that could blossom into a problem of the scale to need Saturn?"

"These things are hard to predict." The Senshi of time admitted. "However, the three most likely issues are our continuing conflict with the Earth Kingdoms, the appearances and upswings of so many Metalla cults, or the military intentions of Earths self proclaimed "Queen" Beryl. Were I to place money on the issue, I'd bet on the Metalla issue."

"Why?"

"Earth and the Silver Kingdoms have been in some level of conflict for generations, ever since the fall of the Golden Empire. It's never managed to spin completely out of control, even on occasions where I or my predecessors foresaw the possibility in the Gates. As for Beryl, she's minor, regional noble who's gotten delusions of grandeur. The Earth Kingdoms four General Kings and Endymion himself lead the armies positioned to contain her. If the need to destroy her arose Jedite, their least experienced general, would be able to destroy her alone. Against all four, she'll be nothing more than a historical foot note, if that." Pluto shrugged. "Going with the normal momentum of time, that means it has to be the cults."

Luna spoke up then. "It make sense. They've been turning up all over the place, with little rhyme or reason. If there's actually some malevolent force behind them…"

"Then we've got a serious concern on our hands." Serenity sighed. "Luna, order Artemis to return to the palace, with Princess Saturn. Mercury is to stay with the Royal family of Saturn to assist in maintaining order until the population gets used to the idea of the… Messiah of Silence returning once more. Have Venus join Mars in her investigations into the possibility of the cults leadership having settled on Phobos."

"And to think, I was happy she was stuck doing that when I found out about Saturn." Pluto muttered. "Mars in the thick of the riots that Mina is reporting taking place… Raye's good and she's got control, but the sheer stupidity of it…"

"She'd have gone off even more half cocked than the Twins." Serenity finished for her. "I hate separating those two, but Mina and Raye are our best door kickers, and unfortunately you're going to be way to busy to tutor Saturn, Luna."

"I was going to ask why you were going to assign Artemis to her, but why will I be busy?"

"While I deal with the flood of panicked communiqués from the other planets, you're going to help my daughter arrange a grand ball."

"A ball?" Luna asked. "Is that wise?"

"For the opportunity it'll give all those panicked leaders to come and bend my ear directly, while pretending to be completely unconcearned for the general population… it's very wise. Until we can deflect Saturn's target, or until she destroys whatever it is she's here to destroy… and I pray it doesn't come to that for poor Hotaru's sake… we'll likely be having them regularly.

"Of course, my queen. It shall be done."

AN: Okay, I know, you thought I'd let this die. Well, I didn't. I have, however, been trying to work on actual commercially publishable work, and have been working with my Fiancee on a web-comic. If anyone's curious about the comic the link is on my profile as my web page. Other than that, I hopefully will have something else up soon. Thanks for your patience.