Tenchi is the property of Pioneer.
Adam is starting to lose his cool with this red headed woman. "Washu why do you want to talk with me in private?" Her tone turns a little more seriuos as she turns away from him and does a little star gazing of her own. "I just wanted to thank-you Adam for what have done for my daughter." "Me, Washu?" "Yes, she told me about that first night on the Hornet after we found Tenchi again, she had totally cut off her link with me, she later told me she how you comforted her. She was so hurt by Tenchi and needed to do something, I know it was you that called in a few favors so she could join the EDF. At boot camp she made some friends and maybe is making a life for yourself other than Tenchi. She has been so hurt and I wish I could have been...been...sob!" Washu stops, she is overcome by tears. Adam Places a hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright?" He askes. "Yes I just wish I could have been a better mother to her. Sniff...anyway you also have gone out of your way to make her feel welcome. Those letters and care packages you sent really meant a lot to her, they still do." Washu turns around and hugs Adam and says, "Thank-you Adam, I will always be in your debt." Adam replies. "Your quite welcome, she is a friend and I care about her." (She cares for you too.)

"Poof!" Suddenly she is back in your girl form and is smiling up at Adam. "Ok Adam here are some new orders for you. Tenchi and Ryoko are coming on the Hornet. Once they get here you are to rejoin the unit, an EDF offier will take commend of the Mechs currenly under your command." She tells him. "Sigh....well at least I got to be in command for a little while." He replies. "Hehehe.....Come with me Adam to the ruins." Adam follows her, the ruins remind him of an Eygptian temple, they enter inside. Some probes are still buzzing about gathering data. Washu is carrying some sort of lamp to light their way down long halls ways going down into the planet. The hallways are so huge that the light Washu is carrying is not reaching the walls, is she doing it on purpose? They enter a great room, was it used for worship? "Washu why are we here?" "I have gone over the data from the probes...." "Yeah they say there are no signs of the people that lived here or much of their technology. I wonder where they went went?" "Adam they never left." "What? Are you sure?" He asks. "Yes Adam, I am sure the Earth and Jurai scientist would have come up with the answer in a few days. But Adam no one left. They are here, in orbit, and all around us." Adam got a bad feeling in his gut. "Washu, what happened?" "Something attacked Adam and left all those caters and battle damage you see, that came first......then..." Adam bad feeling started to get worse.

Back at fort Alamo The Queens of Jurai are visiting. Funaho is having a private chat and tour with her son. Misaki is having lunch with Sasami and Ryo-oh-ki in child form. Misaki breifly leaves the two. The Cabbit notices Sasami get a concerned look on her face. "Meow?" "It is ok Ryo-oh-ki I am fine." "meow. Meow?" "Yes it is about Adam, I believe he has a very bad feeling. Aeka is there so is Mishoshi and her partner. Tenchi and Ryoko will be joining them soon." Sasami said in a sober tone. The little cabbit started to looked worried. "Do not wory girl, with all of them there and even Washu is there, feel sorry for anything that gets them all angry at the sametime." she said with a smile.

"Ok Washu first there was an attack then?" Adam asked. "Then some sort of weapon or power turned them all into dust and particles, Adam everything and everyone but the building." Washu said. Adam bad feeling was about to burst forth from his gut. "But I have detected a power source, one from some sort of equipment in these ruins in this room." Suddenly in another part of the room Adam saw a few blinking lights. He instantly pointed his rifle at it and yelled. "Washu give us some more light." Washu pull somthing out of her pocket and threw it up in the air. Suddenly the room was full of light. In a far corner among what looked like boken pots was some sort of box shaped object blinking. "Washu look." "Yes Adam I see it. Let me scan it." The both exam the device. It comes up to Adam's knee and is a three feet long an two feet wide. "Ummmm very interesting." Washu says as she use her phantom key board. "What is it?" Adam asks. "From my scans I think it is some sort of information storage device." "Really?" Adam asks. "Yes let's go back to camp with this thing." Suddenly in the blink of an eye they are back at camp with the strange device. They also have made a few soldiers from both worlds jump. There are a variety of weapons pointed in thier direction. (Good job Washu, why don't you try harder to get me shot.)

The camp is a buzz with the news of the device. Jurai and Earth scientists help Washu exam it and look at its data. The Hornet joinns the Jurai ship in orbit. Tenchi and Ryoko along with their unit go down to the planet. At camp Mechs and soldiers are guarding the camp in a high state of alert. Royko and Adam are in two Wolverines patroling close to the ruins. Adam is in the lead with Ryoko watching his back. They are walking at a slow pace and take scans of the local area. They communacte with each other. "So mom says they entire planet was turned to dust?" Ryoko asks. "Yes, everything but the building, and some ancient ruins like the ones near us have not even been touched." Adam replies. "That is spooky." She says as a cold feeling crawls up her spine. "Let's finish our sweep and hook up with the Jurai patrol, to quote some famous early 21st century movies, I have a bad feeling about this." Adam said. "You got it. Let's get this patrol over with." She replies. Suddenly Four Eagles in a diamond formation fly over.
In one of the Eagles is Aeka, in another is Tenchi. Tenchi comunicates with two of the other Eagles. "Banks, Smith split up with us here and patrol sector 6Z, watch yourselves, report in in Five minute intervels." Tenchi orders.
"You got Captian, see you in about forty five minutes." 1st Lt. Chip Banks replies. "See you later oh fearless leader. And oh by the way Princess Aeka it has been a pleasure flying with such a lovely young woman." 2nd Lt. Larry Smith says. "Smith can it and stay with me romeo." Banks says. Aeka laughed. "gentlemen it has been a pleasure flying with you both. Becareful on your patrol." ""Will do." Says Banks. "You got it." Smith says with a smile. They speed off on their patrol.

After a few minutes of silence tenchi Speaks up. "Akea why so quite?" "Lord Tenchi I think I am catching Adam's bad feeling." She replies. "Yes that does seem to be going around lately. So I hear that you made some friends during your training." He says. "Yes I did, Lord Tenchi I really enjoyed my time there and I met people from so many different races." She says in a up beat voice. "I am glad Aeka. So I take you chatted with Adam aboard ship." he askes. "Yes I did we are a lot alike." She said with a smile. "You are?" He asks. "Yes Lord Tenchi he is quite a fellow, I really like him." She says. "That is good, I know he worries about me, but I have been concerned about him as well." He says in a somber tone. "How is that Lord Tenchi?" "You may not believe this Aeka but it is almost like he has the weight of the universe on him sometimes. He has so much responciblity for one man and so many looking up to him. That can be tough for anyone, but he continues to stand firm and hard, I am just afraid he is going to burn out." Tenchi says. he continues. "Plus he will be there in a pinch for anyone, but many times refuses any comfort for himself. I think he needs to take some time off for a few months and maybe find a nice lady." "Lord Tenchi are we trying to find a girl for Adam?" Tenchi is glad she cannot see him blush, how long as it been since he had he wonders. "Aeka! I well, ummmm, to be honest I have been keeping my eye open. He has become my best friend and is like a brother to me. It would be nice to see he find someone speical, he deserves it." ( What about you Lord Tenchi, what about me? Do I classify as someone special.) She really wanted to ask him something, but decieded not to. "Umm how about Mishoshi?" she says instead. "Mishoshi???" "Tenchi do you think she is going to wait around on you forever?" She asks. Tenchi did not know how to take that one. "Well no of course not I just....." Aeka cuts him off. "She thinks Adam is very sweet. And even blushes around him. And I can tell she is peaking his interest. Trouble is she is shy around him and he will not open his heart to romance." "Really Aeka? Ummm Mishoshi, that sounds promising." "Or maybe Washu she was flirting with him the other night." "Washu did?" "yes and she even turned into her adult form and dragged him off somewhere." She says. Tenchi was a little stunned at that.

Ryoko and Adam had their cockpits open and let a little air into their mechs. They are stationary near a river waiting for the Jurai patrol. She floats over to his mech and sits down in front of him. "Care for some sweet ice tea, it is cold." He asks. She smiles at him. "Sure Adam I would, thanks." He pours her a cup out of his canteen. She finds it refreashing, the day is not hot, but a couple of hours inside a mech can be stuffy. "Do you hear that Adam?" He shook his head. "That is right, nothing. No birds or animals, I bet there are no fish inside that river. Only thing alive on this planet is the plant life." She says in a disturbed voice. "Yes it is unsettling. Let's try to relax while we wait for the patrol." "You got it Sarge." She says with a smile and a salute then floats back to her cockpit and leans back and relaxes. Adam does the same. He is concerned though the patrol is late and there is increasing interference with Communcations to the ships and base camp. Now his scaner was actting up. ( This cannot be good.)

Meanwhile ten minutes ago back in orbit, the Hornet and the Jurai heavy cruiser both ship go on alert. They both were get a strange reading coming from the other side of the solar system, it was coming towards them. The Captian of the Jurai ship contacts the Hornet's Captian. "Captian Lazare, have you been scaning something coming toward this planet?" He asks. "Yes Captian Geen, the hornets sensors cannot tell what is , but at it's current speed whatever it is should be here in just under an hour." She replies. "Ummm Captian Lazare maybe we should go on combat alert and get our people and what ever they collected back to the ships and return home." He says. "Agreed, until we know more about what is going on we do not want end up those on this planet did." Both Captians order a full combat alert. Fighters from both ships start to lanch and take up defensive positions around the ships. Space worth mechs also take up postions behind the fighters and wait. The order is given to those at base camp, but some due to some sort of increasing interference with comunication some of the patrols cannot be reached.

Thirty minutes till contact. Adam still cannot through to anyone and the patrol is late. "Ryoko can you raise anybody?" "No, the static has been getting worse though, I can hear some voices here and there but cannot make out anything.....wait a minute I am gettin a message from Washu." She says. Adam nervously waits. "Adam!!!!! Some unknown force is approaching the planet and will be here any minute. We have been ordered back to the ship. Most of the personnel from basecamp are already heading back, they have ships waiting for us. Adam they have not been able to contact a couple of the patrols, including us." "Right let's get back, double time it Ryoko, let's keep and eye out for Patrols." He says. They put their mechs in high gear and head back to camp. "Adam?!?!" "Waht is it?" "Washu says that most of her equipment is acting up." She said. "No?!?! This could be bad Ryoko, very bad."

In orbit on the brige of the Hornet thiryt minutes later. "Captian we have confirmed a group of twenty unknown vessels going into orbit on the other side of the planet." "Can we get a visual?" "We have a probe in the area sir it is sending back some pictures, but what ever is effecting Communactions is also effecting it. If you give me a minute I might be able to clear up the picture." "You have thirty seconds Lieutient Steel!" "Commander is everyone back from the planet?" "No sir, we still have some patrols. But communactions are clearing up." "Get them back here soon or we will have to leave them behind!" "Yes sir!!!!" "Steel?!?!?!" "Got a picture sir, and some scans. Twenty ships confirmed. Ten light Cruiser sized. Five medium Three heavy. And one the size of a medium carrier." "Are they moving toward us?" "No sir. they are lauching what appear to be triangled shaped ships, fighters and maybe bombers and they are taking postions on both sides of their fleet. They also appear to be lauching somesort of ships that most likley are carrying troops and what ever else they have, they are heading for the planet with a large number of fighters. Sir they also seem to be lauching what appear to be robotic insects, a little larger than a mech." "Get me Captian Geen!" "Sir fighters and robobugs heading for us around each side of the planet." "How many?" "A couple hundred fighters and about the same of the bugs sir. And they are lauching more of them sir, but they are just taking postiions like the first." "Umm a second wave, and they may have a third or fourth one." "Commander inform the Jurai ten minutes and we are out of here." "Captian!!!!" "What is it Steel?" "Sir long range scanners are actting up again, but before they did they recorded waht most likely anothe fleet." (Just great!) The Captian thought. (They must want to feel us out, or why else not attack inforce. But if their friends get here we may be trapped.)

Adam and Ryoko finally came across the jurai patrol in the middle of one of the cities, they were under attack. Eight Triangle shapped craft took turns bombing them with powerful lasers from the air. And huge robotic things where cutting them to pieces on the ground. They looked like a cross between a praying mantis and a man. Two legs, huge crab like claws that fired deadly lasers from their center. they were all dark in color. A group of six bugs, and around fifty black armor clad troops were assulting two jurai mechs and two squads of Jurai troops in hover trucks. Already the Jurai troops were spread out taking up defensive positons in trying to hold back the enemy, one bug was destoryed and five enemy trrops like dead. One Jurai mech was out =, the othe was damaged but still firing, they had already lost a third of their troops which were dead or wounded. Adam and Ryoko opened up on the enemy side by side. They fired a deadly barage of lasers at the bugs and some missiles at the fighters. They manged to wipe them out. They Jurai mech and troops took care any enemy troops still alive. Suddenly a couple of transports landed near by. Adam and ryoko stood guard as the Jurai loaded up both their damaged mechs, their dead, and wounded. Adam and Ryoko fought off a few more fighters then back up into one transport and headed for the ship.

Aeka and Tenchi were having a much tougher time. Both had gotten sperated when the first wave of the enemy cam flying out of the sky. Tenchi went crazy and just flew into them. Before she could follow a couple of bugs forced her in the opposite direction. She seemed swamed by enemy fighters and bugs. Aeka was getting her first tase of combat. She was firing away with her laser in robot mode. Every once and a while a pannel would open on her Eagles's left or right shoulder and out a missle or two would come firing. She had already taken down a dozen bugs and a couple of fighters, and the area looked clear. Then a bug blasted her from behind and she fell backward and dropped her Eagle's laser. The bug hopped up on her and was about to tear open her cockpit. Suddenly a laser blast from a Eagle shoot up the bug and it fell to the gound.

"Tenchi?" Aeka asked. "Sorry Princess this is Lt. Banks." Banks said. "Hey do not forget about me." Lt. Smith said has he blasted another bug. Aeka breathed a sigh of relief. Both the EDF warrios landed right in front of her and stood guard as she collected her Eagles weapon. "Gentlemen I am very pleased to see you both." Aeka said. "Really, well in that case...." "Can it Larry we got bigger problems. We need to get back to the ship before we get left behind." Banks said. "Have either one of you see Tenchi?" "No princess, but we need to get you back to the ships." She did not want to leave but she knew if she did not these brave warriors would stay with her and endanger their own lives. ( Harmsway ) She remembered what Adam had said the other day. "Very well Chip." She said. "You remember my name your highness?" "Of course." She said. "Do you remember mine?" Larry Asked. She smiled. "Larry I doubt I could ever forget yours, even if I wanted to." "Hey!" Larry said in a hurt voice. Banks laughed. "Ok let's turn back into fighter mode and head back to the ship." Banks said.

The Unknown enemy sent fighters and robobugs against the Honert and Jurai ship. Earth and Jurai fighters and mechs managed to keep first and second wave waves away from the ship. But the third one broke through, laser fire and missle expolisions light up space around the two ships. The ship captians wanted to fire their main guns, but for the moment they thought they better save it for one of the enemy's main ships, why were they not attacking?

Adam and Ryoko were in one of the Hornets docking bay, It was in chaos. A couple enemy robobugs had slipped and caused a lot of damage before they were destoryed. There were damaged mechs, fighters, and people every where.
Ryoko was helping a wounded pilot get out of his F-40. Adam was climbing into a fresh Eagle. "Ryoko get a couple of Wolverines and knights and guard this landing bay!" "Yes sir!" With his Eagle in fighter mode he raced out to look for Tenchi and Aeka. Ryoko jumped into a Knight and went to the docking bay opening. Her knight was space worthy so she floated out took up a position outside the docking bay. A few knights and eagles in robot mode joined her. Some wolverines took up postion just inside the docking bay and waited.

Aeka and her escorts were going full throttle toward the Hornet. She saw a Jurai fighter get blown up. A robobug with it's top half missing. And the floating body of a dead EDF pilot. ( Oh I am going to be sick. ) Suddenly A group of enemy fighters and Bugs came up behind them. "Maintian full throttle and take up evise action." Banks said. The enmy open up with a stunning light show, all three Eagles managed to dodge most of it, but a blast caught smith in the engine. "Smith?!?! Are you alright?" "Yeah Chip I am fine, but I cannot keep up I got one in the engine. Looks like I get to hold these guys off." He said. "No please Smith you have to stay with us!" Aeka said. "Sorry Princess, but I am expendable, take good care of her Chip, Godspeed!" He said has he reduced speed and turned to face the on coming enemy group. "Banks we have to..." "Princess he is right, me and him are expendable, you are not." He said in a sad voice. "Do not let his scarifice mean nothing Aeka" She looked sadly back at a distant fireball that was once Larry Smith.

Just as they neared the Hornet they could see a group of Knights and Eagles guarding a docking bay. They formed up with them as they turned into robot mode. "Aeka is that you?" Ryoko asked. 'Ryoko?" "Yeah Princess it is me. How are you holding up?" "Barely, you?" "Hanging in there." "Who is the escort with you Aeka?" "I am Lt. Banks solider, what is the situation." "Sir, we have been defending the docking bay from enemy attack Sir!" "Good, what is our overallsituation?" "Sir, Both ships are getting under way in a few mintues. The enemy has pulled back and is forming a massive wave, but there are still groups of them hanging around sir." "Ok, Aeka get in side." Banks said. "Chip if it is all the same with you I am staying here. And nothing will change my mind." She said. "As you wish, stay close, solider what is your name?" "Corprol Ryoko sir." She answered. "Ryoko watch the princess, if things get hairy out here get her to safety." "Yes sir, got you covered Princess." She said. "Thank-you Ryoko." Aeka replied.

Suddenly two Eagles came flying into view. "Hey Ryoko, look who I found." Adam said. It was Tenchi, they both had to do some serious fighting to get back. 'At ease sargent, but thanks for the help." "Captian. Good to see you, I have orders sir, we are to hold postion here and wait as long as possible to recover more returning ships. The newarrvials change into robot mode "Very well Chip, let's......." "Sir Scanners are picking up a large force of fighter and bugs coming up from the planet, they will be here any seco....." Adam says before explosions cut him off. A number of bugs suddely poppsinto view. "They are going for the bay!" Someone yells. The fight is quick and furious, during the fight Adam takes out ten bugs and five fighters. Tenchi take out five bugs and seven fighters. Ryoko is having a blast taking out dozen bugs. Banks scores seven bugs and a fighter. Aeka gets two bugs that nearly get into the docking bay.

A bug gets a lock on Aeka and fires away. Banks who just got his gun damaged by a bug gets out at robot version of a light sword and slashes a way at the one firing at Aeka, Suddenly two more dive toward her from above before she can react. Banks puts his Eagle bewteen the enemy's fire and Aeka. Akea turns around and shoots both the bugs. Suddenly a barge of laser fire from approaching enemy fighters head straight for Akea. She is about to doge them when a Robo Bug grabs her. She cannot move. She watches at the deadly light is about to tear her Eagle to bits. Suddenly another Eagle jumps if front of her and takes the full effect of the blasts. When the smoke clears she watches that Eagle float liflessly in space an arm and a leg had been completely blown off and there was a lot of damage in the piolt area. It was Lt. Banks Eagle.

"No!" Aeka screamed as she blasts the head off of the Robo bug and races over to Chip's damaged Eagle. "Lt. Banks can you hear me!?!?!? Chip!!!!!!!." There was no answer as Ryoko gets next her. "Princess pull yourself together, get him inside I will cover you." Adam and Tenchi are still tangling with the with enemy when a massive wave of fighter and Robo bugs approach the ships. Both ship fire their main gun into the wave cutting it by fifty percent, then two meiuem sized main ships start to approach their postion. The Jurai captian orders all personnel to leave the ship, he informs the Hornet to take all the remaining suvivors and leave the area, the Jurai ship would hold the enemy off. The Hornet started to limb away as she headed for open space so she could engage her hyper engines and warp out of there. She made it, just before she warped the the Jurai ship ramed one of the enemy Main ships and destory it, both ships went up in a fireball. The Hornets Captian was sad, but she could not figure out why they were not trying to poursue?

In the docking bay Aeka and Ryoko managed to pull Chip out of his Eagle. Aeka was on the ground holding him, he was laying acroos her lap. Ryoko went for medical help. Chip was cover in his own blood. He looked up at the Princess. "choke.....I think Larry would be very envious of me right now." He said weakly. She smiled at him. "Hush now help is coming, just hold on, please..." She begged. "Princess it is cold, I am getting so cold....cough." He said as his voice slowly weakened. She held him close, trying to keep him warm, the tears started to freely flow. "It is not everyday an EDF piolt gets such royal treatment your highness." He says. "Please don't die, I order you not to die!" She said in desperation. "Sorry your highness that is o..ne....or...der......." He passes out.
"Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" She screams. Ryoko returns with help, but is saddened at the sight of Aeka tenderly craddling Chip in her arms.
Next Chapter the Price of war.