Makoto and SunTzu hit up the cafeteria, they didn't had any breakfast yet and it was afternoon. Killing a warehouse full of criminals sure makes you hungry also.
Today there were burgers on the menu, just the right after half a day of looting the enemy and dismembering bad guys.
Also ain't nothing better than burgers when you just survived a raid against a ten to one ratio enemy rate.
A beer to go with the burgers would have been nice though.
It didn't take long and Sailor Pluto joined them.
"Ah SunTzu, I was looking for you. I thought we could use the time for another sparing match but Ami just told everybody you're off for the day.
Thank you besto friendo.
"Yeah, I'm sorry. I didn't get much sleep and just came back from a R&D Mission for Captain Urawa. But I'll make up for it, as soon as I can."
Pluto seemed a bit disappointed and changed into her Ice Queen demeanor.
"No problem. Just let me know when you find the time." With that she was off.
"Huh? She seemed to rather be disappointed now." Makoto stated in between bites.
"Oh, I think she enjoys kicking my ass. As the rest of you Senshi. Maybe a bit more than the rest."
"Is that so." Makoto's face showed the hint of a smile. "I heard you're doing quite well along fighting along her."
"Practice creates masters." He stated and shrugged, he was too exhausted to think about it.
"Not bad by the way. Given her strength and abilities."
SunTzu just shrugged.
After lunch they brought back their guns and gear and SunTzu went to sleep for the rest of the day.
He did a bit of exercise in the evening and went back to his room. Before he went to bed again, Rei sent him a message stating that he shouldn't forget about his debt with the flight to her.
He let her know, he'd take her with him the next time he could.
The next morning a meeting was scheduled for the inner royal circle. He got there after getting up early and hitting up the gym. Fresh out the shower, wearing one of the Taskforce's uniforms he went to the Command Center.
He was one of the first, just Artemis and Luna were there before him.
He greeted them and sat down.
The next one that showed up was the king and they greeted each other with a nod.
Bit by bit, the room filled. The outer Senshi showed up and sat down in front of him.
He asked Hotaru how the simulator training was going and she told him it was going very well. The instructors told her that she's a natural talent.
That's my girl.
She would be busy with the simulator for the next few days so joining in for a flight of him was unfortunately not possible. Both were a bit upset by this, teacher and student enjoyed the others company in the cockpit.
Haruka was pissed, they almost had nonstop Recon Missions and it bored her to death. SunTzu understood, probably the same was waiting for him the next few days at least. Haruka's mood was abysmal today.
"I don't understand why we have to do this meeting here, so bloody formal also. Why we cannot just met at the Royal Quarters and have some tea without the formalities."
"First Lieutenant Tenoh, may I remind you that you're an officer of the Galactic Alliance as well as a Member of the Royal Court of the Crystal Kingdom and therefore a role model for adequate formal behavior." SunTzu told her in a very formal tone.
Haruka slowly turned her head around.
If looks could kill he could switch places with the Gamorrean from yesterday now.
"Haruka, be nice. Neither me nor SunTzu like these scouting missions but it is what it is. And he is right, we're officers and should act accordingly."
Haruka turned around again, keeping quiet but frowning.
The rest of the Senshi strolled in and Artemis started the meeting when everybody was sitting down.
He explained the attendees the current situation in the galaxy. Ami, as head of Intelligence, joined him in the front and gave them information and let them all know what the predictions were about the enemy's next move. They were pretty vague but at least the offensive that hit the universe seemed to be mostly over.
"If you ask me, they just tried out our defenses. And the Galactic Alliance pretty much failed miserably, with exceptions like the Death Squadron and Seventh Fleet."
She nodded to Mamoru who stood next to her, he stepped forward.
"The Sol System as well as 419 other systems and sectors will bring in a resolution to the senate that the fleets will be reinforced with ships from the sector fleets. Right now the GA's warships are a prestige object for sector fleets and not the powerful force we need to strike at the enemy." He paused for a moment. "Therefore the Queen and me will travel to Coruscant. Sailors Pluto and Jupiter as well as Neptune and Uranus in the Voyager will accompany us. The rest will stay here and continue their doings."
Artemis stepped forward again.
"Lieutenant SunTzu, you'll get a special mission as well. We need you to retrieve high valuable data from a governmental military base on Vakkar, at the end of the Shwuy Exchange. Prepare to leave within the next two hours. Bring this data here as fast as possible and be aware to act as emissary of the Crown."
He nodded and made notes on his datapad. At least better than scouting.
Artemis wasn't finished though.
"Because the sensitivity and importance of the data one of the remaining Senshi will accompany you as extra security. Any volunteers?"
Rei waited a moment before she raised her hand, as well as Ami and Minako.
Finally her chance to fly around in space some more.
"Sailor Mars, I'd rather have you around here if any diplomatic skills would be needed." Artemis told immediately and wanted to take one of the other two girls.
"Excuse me Admiral. But Sailor Mars would be my first choice for accompanying me on this mission obviously." SunTzu paused for a moment and all eyes shifted over to him.
"I'm not very proficient when it comes to diplomatic and social skills. Should any need for diplomacy with the Vakkari institutions arise Diplomat Hino would be an immense help. Also Sailor Mars's Power would be an immense force multiplier if we should get attacked. Sailor Mercury is needed around here to analyze the data as soon as it arrives here. Sailor Venus obviously is needed as leader of the remaining Senshi on board as the Queen is away." He stated that completely neutral and objective.
Artemis thought about it for a moment.
"Well then. But hurry nonetheless."
The meeting was ended and before she got up and left the room with Minako, Rei leaned forward from her place behind him and whispered into his ear.
"One could think you'd want to have me around TopGun." A grin showed up on her face.
"Just keeping my word and organizing you a flight in Space." He replied, showing the hint of a smile as well.
One hour later he and Rei met at AICA's landing spot.
Since the distance wasn't too wide and they acted as official envoys of the Kingdom they decided to fly in uniform.
SunTzu didn't know that Rei even had one of the Taskforce's olive uniforms. It didn't sport any rank but the logo of the GA's diplomatic corps instead. She looked quite good in the uniform, officers hat on and hair in a ponytail.
He helped her in the backseat and while she hung up her uniforms jacket next to her seat he started the preparations for start.
Two hours later they landed at a starfighter and intelligence base on Vakkar, a mostly temperate temperatured planet with lots of forests and mountains. An adjutant received them and led them from the landing spot into a nearby office building.
In an office room at the top floor of the four story tall building a high ranking officer was waiting for them.
The officer seemed to be rather annoyed and acted rather unfriendly. His demeanor changed when they introduced themselves. When he heard SunTzu's name he remembered it from his intelligence report about the Taskforce he got before this meeting.
"An Ace, a real frontline combatant." The Colonel said appreciatory and nodded.
"And I thought they'll send me some Intelligence Officer without any combat experience. Execuse my behavior from before, we had our fair share of combat lately too and I'm a bit over with the Chairborne's on Coruscant not getting their sticks out of their asses. Actually I wanted to give the data to Coruscant so they get it through to you." A process that probably would have taken weeks. "But now that I see your Taskforce sends out his best people for us I'm handing it over. Give your superior my greetings, I appreciate the gesture." He looked over to Rei.
"And also it's quite interesting to see a diplomat in a military uniform. You have any combat experience too, Miss?"
"Believe it or not, Diplomat Hino is one of our fiercest warriors. But that's top secret." SunTzu chimed in before Rei could answer.
"I see. I'll get the data ready." The Vakkari said, propitiated.
A few minutes later they had the data and SunTzu and Rei left the building, walking back to AICA. She walked In front while he walked behind her, carrying a closed box with the various data.
"One of our fiercest warriors, hm? You do know I could take this as a serious compliment." She said, showing a small grin.
"It was. How many people do you know that can melt down Droidekas?" He stated.
She walked further and brushed out a strand of hair out of her face, blushing slightly.
"Thank you."
They arrived at the starfighter and Rei stood there and observed him, while SunTzu locked down the box into one of the storage compartments of his fighter.
When he was done he gave her a hand to get into her seat.
"Let's go home." He said as he climbed up himself.
"Hey TopGun, let's have a sing along as you did last time. I guess it's fun. Some old fashioned songs so it's extra trashy and fun!" She looked at him amused.
"You know about that?"
"Everyone does." She started laughing as he blushed into a deep red color.
They had around half their way in hyperspace down and SunTzu turned in another song to which they could horribly sing along too.
"Classic Rock, really?" She asked and laughed.
"Of course. It's all about the classics!" He explained. "Back when it was real music." She laughed again and he started singing.
Just as he had started singing the emergency communication channel awoke.
"SOS, SOS, this is the Cruise Ship Queen Zenobia. We're under attack by a group of pirates. All available ships please come to our help!" The message was repeated over and over.
After a minute or so a voice answered, it was the official GA Fleet Channel. They didn't had any ships available at the moment and would sent help as soon as they could. Which would take at least one more hour.
SunTzu sighed.
"I know we have our orders to return to the Far Side immediately but…" He said as Rei interrupted him.
"I know, I want to help too." They stayed quiet for a moment.
SunTzu sighed again, after all he swore to help people.
"Fuck it! AICA, radio in on the Zenobia, we're on the way, let them give you their location."
Rei leaned forward and squeezed his shoulder. "Thank you." She smiled at him.
This smile alone was worth the trouble they probably would recieve from Artemis.
A few minutes later, the song still didn't end yet, they dropped out of hyperspace and saw the big cruise ship.
SunTzu accelerated AICA straight toward it and soon he noticed a small gunboat sitting on top of the cruise ship's frame.
"They probably cut their way in, let's blow up their way home and then take care from the inside!" He told and Rei nodded.
He switched to missiles and closed in. A few kilometers before the bigger ship he launched two rockets into the gunboat, blowing away anything but the downside that was docked on the hull of the Zenobia.
He then flew a loop and radioed in on the Zenobia.
"Zenobia, this is Taskforce Sol, Callsign SunTzu, the pirates' ship has been destroyed, we're landing now and help you with the combat inside."
He looked back to Rei.
"You ready?"
She nodded with a determined expression.
As he said that AICA ended the other song and started a new one.
"This song? Really?" Rei asked from the backseat.
He rushed AICA into the nearest hangar and opened the canopy before they even touched down.
Rei immediately jumped out and transformed in the jump.
Oh. Now i know why they didn't like to transform while everybody was watching.
The silhouette of Rei's perfect body made him blush and he had to concentrate to land AICA straight.
She ended the whole thing with a front flip, which made SunTzu blush again.
That's what is under the skirts so.
He strapped off and immediately grabbed for his Plate Carrier and Subcarbine in their compartments as she already rushed out of the hangar.
"Rei, wait!" He yelled but she was already gone.
The Senshi of Fire ran down the ship's alleys, following the sound of blaster fire.
Soon she arrived some makeshift barricades where a group of seamen from the Zenobia were trading shots with some Weequays.
In running she casted a Burning Mandala and sent a hail of fire tips down the corridor, taking out two of the Weequay, she passed the barricade and the dumbfounded looking seaman and let herself slide down on the marble stone of the floor. Stopping next to two more pirates she flung a fire ball into the face of the first one and then hit the second one, who was closer to her with a fist full of fire. She paused for a second to take a breather and then rushed further.
Moments later SunTzu entered the alley, running.
"You saw a woman throwing fire?" He asked the seaman while he rushed up to their barricade. The still puzzled man pointed forwards.
"Thank you!" SunTzu yelled as he ran past them.
Straight ahead, Rei was forced to jump into cover as three more pirates opened blind fire into the hallway, nailing her down in a cross way.
SunTzu approached and saw the blaster bolts coming his way. He readied his gun and let out a burst where the fire came from.
The blaster shooting stopped for a moment so he closed up and got into cover on the opposite side of Rei.
"Could you please fucking wait the next time?" He said to her as he waited for a chance to let out a burst of his rifle.
"Hey, it went great till I got here!" She answered.
He shook his head and then leaned out and let out short burst. He got back into cover just as a blaster bolt hit the wall where his face had been seconds before.
"Any ideas?" She asked him, knowing that he would come up with something extremely stupid.
"Of course." He secretly pulled out a hand grenade from his plate carrier. "We wait till they have to reload and then rush back and walk back to AICA. We fly home and forget that all this ever happened and life happily ever after."
She looked at him like he really lost his mind this time and he sighed and shook his head.
"Rei, get to cover."
He pulled the pin and threw the hand grenade down the floor while Rei ducked down in her side alley.
A few seconds later the grenade exploded and as soon as the hail of shrapnel ended he jumped out and opened fire, advancing through the cloud of smoke. He was joined by a determined looking Sailor Mars, both hands enwrapped in flames.
They rushed up ready to strike. Two of the pirates appeared and before they could react Rei took the left one out with a fireball while SunTzu took the other out with a headshot.
The third pirate was already dead, he took a deadly shower of metal fragments from the hand grenade.
They came to a double door, one of the doors was open, the other closed. They led into a dining hall where big expensive looking tables and chairs from fine wood were located in. And a big, fat Weequay with a strange looking hat. Probably the pirates' Captain. He tried to raise his blaster when he saw SunTzu coming through the door but SunTzu had the better reflexes and hit him in the stomach. The Weequay fell down to the floor, his blaster clattering away on the marble floor. He was still breathing and SunTzu carefully approached him, gun aimed on his body, Rei was right behind him.
A survivor wouldn't be that bad as lead to some Intel on the enemy.
He closed in the last few steps to the pirate that held the wound on his stomach.
As he was standing over him the pirate suddenly started laughing and took his hand away from the stomach, revealing a live grenade, ticking.
SunTzu immediately sprung around grabbed Rei and dove under one of the thick tables, pulling the table with them. Wouldn't it have been for the force kicking in and giving him the reflexes and speed to do it, they would have been mixed meat as the hand grenade and the pirate exploded.
While shrapnel and remains of the pirate captain flew over them SunTzu guarded Sailor Mars with his body, behind the table's thick plate.
It took a second but as soon as he got his senses back he opened his eyes again. There he was laying on top of Rei, their faces centimeters apart. She gazed into his eyes and for a small eternity that just consisted of a few seconds they stayed like that.
"Are you okay?" He asked her, more whisper than anything.
"I guess. How about you?" He could feel that she had her hands wound around him.
I don't know if I'm hurt but I'm more than okay to stay like this.
A few moments later the armed seamen of the cruise ship stormed into the room with the first one slipping on the marble floor and falling down
SunTzu and Rei broke down in loud laughter.
They needed a moment to calm down again, the laughter washing away the last of the adrenaline.
Very, very subtle she pressed herself against him for a moment, before she took her hands and put them on his chest pushing him up.
Wait was that a hug?
He got up from her and sat up straight, she did the same.
They looked around and immediately noticed a big piece of metal sitting in the thick plate of the table, it almost completely penetrated the wood. And it was at the height where both of them had been lying down.
Looks like the Galaxy didn't want them to leave it already.
She glanced back at him.
"It never gets boring with you TopGun."
"Never my intention my dear Moeru Shōjo."
He got up and gave her a hand.
When they both were standing again they brushed the dust off of them as a bridge officer, actually the first officer of the Ship, entered the dining hall.
"Did you save our cruise ship?"
Thankfully no passengers had been hurt, just one steward was wounded in the attack. They went to the bridge where the captain thanked them for saving his ship and men.
He promised them to see for a reward for their actions.
A few minutes later they were back in AICA. She was detransformed again and was looking flawless in her uniform. He was looking like a mess tho.
They left off and jumped back to hyperspace, back home to the Far Side.
Artemis and the rest would probably go crazy because of the detour but they didn't care. On the way back they even started singing again and joked around like teenagers. Her hand was always on his shoulder when she leaned forward to tell him something.
When they fell out of Hyperspace he opened a channel to the bridge of the Far Side.
"Good afternoon Task Force Sol. It is my pleasure to announce that Miss Rei Hino and my humble self prepared a little serenade for you to make up for showing up late."
They started singing an old classic rock love song into the microphones of their flight helmets. Rei was so much more of a better singer than he was but right now only participating made the joke perfect. And Rei's part made the whole thing sound good also.
Artemis shook his head in disbelief on the bridge. He wanted to rail them for coming so late, word that two Earthlings saved a cruise ship from a pirate attack already came in from the Galactic Alliance channels. He shook his head some more and then a small smile slipped up from his mouth.
Instead scolding them he broadcasted their song all over their ship.
When they landed after they finished the song and the canopy opened, a crowd in the hangar applauded them. Even Luna and Ami were there and applauded.
They stood up and took each other's hand, bowing down before their ardent audience.
—-
