Soon as the avalanche of people cheering and congratulating them to the rescue of the cruise ship as well, surprisingly as it was, the song, which was obviously thanks to Rei, ebbed away, Ami and Luna came over and congratulated them and Ami asked if they had the data.
SunTzu just told her how lucky they were to get the data from Vakkari, when the door to the hangar opened and Artemis, escorted by two Royal Guards entered. This definitely meant trouble.
The Admiral marched towards them, his face unreadable. SunTzu immediately straightened up and when Artemis was five steps away he saluted.
"First Lieutenant SunTzu reporting for duty as ordered Admiral!" He stayed in the salute.
"As ordered? Could you please repeat that Pilot? I think I heard as ordered. You were ordered to get back to the Far Side AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! I think we should think about a fitting punishment for your unauthorized and order refusing behavior!" Artemis scolded him sharply. Even one of the guards looked at him empathizing. Nobody in the military wanted to be chewed out like that.
A friendly smiling Luna came forward and held her hand up.
"Guards, would you please excuse me and the Admiral for a moment. And SunTzu put that hand down, you saluted long enough now." She told the guards and SunTzu. The then backed up a few meters.
She grabbed Artemis by his collar and pulled him away to the end of the hangar, out of earshot.
Gesticulating energetically she let him know what she thought about his scolding. Now he was standing straight and SunTzu was expecting him to salute to his wife any moment.
After a moment they were back, Artemis face was unreadable again and Luna' s smile just got bigger.
"Lieutenant, Lady Luna just enlightened me how selfless and benefiting for our cause your and Sailor Mars's actions were. Consider the affair as settled and proceed with your duty."
SunTzu saluted again. "Sir, thank you Sir!"
Artemis muttered something that sounded like he should thank his wife as he walked away, the two guards resolving their escort again.
Someone please remind me to never raise anger from Luna, ever.
A few days later:
Things we're going their usual way, since the Voyager and the Senshi steering it were still away on Coruscant SunTzu spent most of his time with Recon Mission, in advance of the Task Force. When he wasn't space bound or doing sport, he was training with the Senshi, mostly with Setsuna who gladly for him kept away from whooping his ass, except the first time they got back to training together. God did she beat him up this one time. Rei wasn't the only Senshi that draw blood on him anymore after that. Occasionally one of the other Senshi trained with him too, but after that package they decided to give him a break and trained with him instead of sparing.
Rei spent the most with her duty as Royal Ambassador and promoted the Kingdom's Agenda as well as the resolution to strengthen the fleet with nearby planetary, system and sectorial governments. Some of these politicians were so stubborn and nearsighted that some people were afraid that she'll be combusting the furniture around her soon, because the emissaries made her so mad.
Hotaru was doing her simulator training but found time to come along for one shorter night mission. Her motivation was high and her results in training were great.
Ami was analyzing tons of data Including the one from Vaakari and so didn't have much time to check for some easy money to take away from the underworld. SunTzu was happy for the break though, Makoto wasn't here and things went so much more smoothly with her.
Minako was busy studying for her M.D. and checking in on the Senshi on board and their training regime. Setsuna, who spent most of her time in the medbay helped her with studying a lot and called her also over when something interesting was happening at the med bay.
Luna was either taking care of Diana, who developed a liking in playing
Hide&Seek on the ship with Chibiusa and her mother, or her husband. Sometimes it seemed that his title grew over his head. For his defense, he gained a lot of sympathy for upholding Wednesday traditions and still broadcasting the night shift, with himself as moderator.
The others, including the Royal Couple were busy on Coruscant, promoting the proposal to reinforce the Fleets.
SunTzu just came back from a several hour spanning scouting mission going till the early evening when Karlena told him, that Luna wanted to see him and that she was at the bridge.
He went up there and greeted the officers on the bridge.
Luna was having a tea with Artemis, they were enjoying some Them-Time while Chibiusa looked after Diana.
The pilot cautiously approached them, because he didn't want to disturb them but Luna already saw him.
"Don't be shy Lieutenant. We don't bite, It's usually just scratching." She smiled and earned an annoyed look from her husband.
"Let's just wait for Rei. I got good news for the two of you."
Rei arrived a few minutes later at the bridge, she was wearing a formal looking black skirt and a white shirt. She looked tired and annoyed though.
"Sorry, I had another lengthy discussion with some dense sector governor. What is it you wanted to see me about?"
Luna smiled wide and looked at both of them before she began to speak.
"The ship owning company of the Queen Zenobia sent a message. Because you saved the ship and it's high class passengers they want you to invite you to an all-inclusive-overnight-stay. They said alone the jewelry of some of the passengers was worth millions and they were glad no passengers were hurt."
She looked over to Artemis, who stood there drinking his tea in silence and observed the scene.
"I pulled some strings, you guys are off duty tomorrow and can leave in the morning."
She smiled again. "I hope you have a wonderful day there, I'll forward the details to you."
Rei and SunTzu just stood there, eyes wide open. They were expecting a Thank-You-Letter but a free day on one of the most exclusive Star liners in the universe was something they couldn't imagine.
Soon the two Cruise Ship Saviors were sitting in the dining hall, having dinner with Ami and Minako.
Minako stated how jealous she was and even Ami remarked that she'd like to have a day on a cruise ship like that too.
They just received the details from Luna. Everything was open for them, they even were invited for shopping for clothes on the ship's own boutiques. The evening program included Captain's dinner and all the shows were open for them. Accommodation in a suite. The ship owner's company didn't spare any expenses.
"You guys have so much luck! Can you imagine how much a stay in a room like this costs?" Minako told them.
"And the captain's dinner, I bet there will be some very interesting interlocutors sitting on that table." Ami stated.
"Let's not forget, we earned that. It's not like that we almost ended up as Sloppy Joes on that ship." Rei told the two girls.
Mina's phone vibrated.
"Oh, it's Setsuna. Radial head fracture in the medbay. I'll head over there, this sounds interesting. I'll see you guys around. Well if they get you off that cruise ship again." She winked and stood up.
"I'll go back to work too. Evil never sleeps and i want to find out where it strikes next."
They said their goodbyes and left the Diplomat and the pilot at the table.
"This still sounds too good to be true. Shopping. For. Free! I hope AICA has enough storage room for the bags."
SunTzu smiled, it was beautiful how much she anticipated the short trip.
After they finished dinner and toasted with a glass of apple juice on their reward they left for bed. SunTzu made a small detour first, he made room in the storage compartments of AICA.
Before he went to sleep he saw, that Rei sent him a message, stating that she was looking forward to tomorrow and wishing him a good night.
Rei was almost asleep when she got an answer from SunTzu, telling her that he was also looking forward to tomorrow. Before wishing her a good night he promised her to not do anything stupid tomorrow.
She had to laugh. Maybe I will do something stupid tomorrow, she thought. Who knows.
The next morning after breakfast an over excited looking Rei and everyone's favorite German starfighter pilot left the Far Side and made the trip to the Queen Zenobia.
The trip to the cruise ship took a little bit longer than last time but it was okay. They planned what they wanted to do on the ship that day.
The captain, first officer and other important staff members received them at the hangar when they landed.
Two stewards brought their luggage to their accommodation already. They travelled light, since shopping was on the list for today.
After a tour of the ship, lead by the captain himself the First officer led them to their accommodation.
They didn't know if they needed two single rooms or if they would share one, so they gave them a suite with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a living room. The First Officer told them to use whichever room they want or need.
Oh don't worry. If someone is playing his cards right tonight we might be using all of these rooms.
Rei tried not to blush after she thought of this. But honestly that skirmishing between the two of them had been going on for weeks now and it was time to put wood behind the arrow now.
They settled in quickly and left for the ship's shopping center.
They had a budget but each one still had a thousand credits to spend.
SunTzu knew on what he would spent his money. He needed a suite for tonight and one of the male boutiques seemed to be the right place to get it. But first a fresh haircut and some care for his beard, that he grew out again.
He told her he'd be hitting up the barber and that she should let him know when she needed his help, hauling her bags.
Rei still was undecided what she'd buy when she was scrolling through the stores after he left.
And then she saw it. A beautiful dress from one of the most hip designers from Coruscant. SunTzu's eyes would fall out when she appeared in that dress.
After he got fresh at the barber SunTzu went to the Boutique and got a suite or rather a tuxedo with all the features. Damn, he was looking fine. Let's see what Rei would say when he appeared like that.
They met two hours later for a light but delicious and exotic lunch in one of the ship's restaurants on the arcade deck.
To his surprise she didn't have much bags after shopping, actually it were just two.
They were discussing what to do to next and opted for the ship's cinema and the latest corellian Holo-Blockbuster.
"Cinema? This awfully sounds like a Date." SunTzu stated with a challenging grin.
Rei took a sip from the glass of water in front of her before she answered.
"I know, horrible right? But you know what? Maybe the pilot that saved the Queen Zenobia deserves a date. And if only to see how long I could take him before burning down something." She smiled back. Challenge accepted.
The movie was entertaining although not very deep. But it was perfect to get their mind a bit off from their duties, responsibilities and the war for a bit. Right now they were just two young people enjoying a movie.
What distinguished them from other young people were, that now, they finally half officially were on a date together both of them were too shy to start anything with the other.
Eight graders would have tried harder than the two saviors of the Queen Zenobia in that cinema. Most action both got was blushing.
After some nervous gibberish about the movie they decided to visit the ship's famous exotic garden.
The garden was amazing but they decided to playfully just remark bad things about it.
"It's too hot and humid in here."
"Yeah and see that giant flower over there?"
"The one with all the colors?"
"Exactly. Can you imagine the amount of water it takes to keep it fresh? What a waste!"
"Yeah and let's be honest, the palace's courtyard is way more beautiful than this place here anyway."
"Yeah, the cherry trees at the temple are looking more beautiful when they bloom than this mess here."
"Oh i see you're visiting the Zenobia's famous Garden." The voice from the captain came from behind.
Rei and SunTzu blushed in a deep red and hoped the captain didn't hear their snarky comments.
"We had to, it so famous. And now that I finally came to see it, I understand why it's so famous. It's stunning captain. Such a nice place of green and colors on a ship. I can only imagine the work it takes to make it look this beautiful. We were just talking about that." Rei Hino, Diplomat, innocently played up to the white haired man.
"It does, but I do enjoy coming here too. I'm delighted that you enjoy it also." The Captain looked at his watch. "Please, don't let me disturb you any further. I'll see you later at dinner." That said he walked away.
As soon as he was gone SunTzu and Rei burst into laughter. That was close.
"Rei Hino, you dirty little liar." SunTzu said in between laughs. "You really told him that without batting an eye."
She shrugged.
"I'm the daughter of a politician, what can I do?" She laughed also.
"To be honest. It is beautiful here. But I still prefer my garden at home to any other garden in the galaxy."
"Yeah, I understand that. Hey, They have a miniature Wroshyr-tree here, let's go over and remark that Wroshyr's are actually just redwoods with gigantism."
She hooked in under his arm.
"Show me, I want to personally defame it because where I come from Bonsais are Boss."
What followed was probably the most sarcastic tour of a botanical garden ever. And they took pictures while they bashed some of the most beautiful flora the galaxy had to offer.
They were laughing so loud that people started to look.
After a guided tour with ten passengers and their guide all stopped taking pics and stared in their direction they decided it was time to go. She took his hand and pulled him away as he was just complaining about that he had finer wood on one way chopsticks in Juban Restaurants than the wood of a very exotic tree they were looking at.
They evacuated to the nearest smoking room and laughed their asses off some more when they got inside. The elegant decorated room with lots of wood had some armchairs standing around and they sat down and lighted their cigarettes.
"I can't remember when I laughed so much the last time." Rei said, still giggling.
"Me neither. But that's probably because I woke up in a tank full of Bacta just a few weeks ago." He stated ironically and nodded to himself which made her laugh even more.
"I'm glad we're here. I needed that break. There's so much incompetence in these galaxy's politicians that I'm sure to burn down half of the conference rooms on the far side in a fit of rage one day."
"Yeah. I think AICA already has a countdown ticking to when she will self-destruct if we have to fly more scout missions."
"But who will be my space taxi then?" She asked way too sweet.
After the cigarette they left for their room, it was time to get ready.
They both took their time to get ready but of course he was finished way faster than her.
He sat down on the sofa and the living room and gave her another generous ten minutes before he announced that he was done.
Out of her room came the answer that she still needed more time and that he should already go to the dining room and have an aperitif before she'll join him.
Well if she insisted on him drinking, who was he to suppose.
He left the suite and went over to the main dining hall, where he stopped at the bar.
He ordered a drink as aperitif and leaned at the bar, gazing around the room. He was pretty early for dinner time but the passengers were civilians and probably not used to strict schedules as he was. Also he pretty fast realized, that even if his pay wasn't bad, he probably was the least rich person in the whole room. To the galaxy's simple men he thought and toasted to himself.
He further observed the arrival of the wealthy and important from his place at the bar and after a few looked at his chrono.
Why women always were late. And how did he know that although he couldn't even remember his name.
He took another sip of his drink and almost spit it out.
There she was, entering the room. She looked beyond breathtaking, wearing a yellow dress that was longer in the back than in the front and had a double collar with white strips, that also extended on the short sleeves. Finished with yellow high heels that sported a white frame on top and were decorated to big red flower blossoms that matched her red star earrings that she usually wore too.
He literally stood there with his mouth open and needed a moment to process her beauty. He finished his drink with a big sip and the burning sensation of alcohol brought back his senses. He fixed his bow tie and smoothed out his tuxedo.
As every male's head and most of the female's heads too turned into her direction he walked up to her with a smile.
A-Game now, with an outfit like that my dear Rei Hino I'm definitely coming for you tonight.
She entered the room and found him pretty quick, he was leaning at the bar and observed the people in the room. He noticed her and froze for a second.
Don't spill your drink, I know I'm looking fine.
And besides, how did you know i always had a thing for men in tuxedos. I hope you know I'm coming for you tonight and put some work in, I'm not wearing matching underwear for nothing.
As every male's head and most of the female's heads too turned into Rei's direction SunTzu walked up to the breathtaking beautifully raven haired with a smile.
They stood opposite each other for the blink of an eye and just smiled at each other. He then surprised her with a hand kiss.
"You look stunning Moeru Shōjo." He said as his face got up again.
"You're quite looking sharp too, TopGun. Go on like that and someone will give the king a run for his money when it comes to male attire." They both smiled at each other again.
"How about a drink?" He asked her.
"Are you trying to get me drunk Lieutenant?"
"Maybe. But you sent me to drink first, so I guess your intention was the same as mine."
"Touché."
She hooked in under his arm and they went over to the bar. With a stunner like this you don't have to wait to get your order by the way.
He ordered the same drink he had before and she also ordered one.
"Go easy, that's a pretty strong drink." He told her.
"Don't worry. Just don't let me do stupid stuff like hosting a radio show." She grinned at him, a little mocking had to be done.
The drinks came and they toasted to the saviors of he Queen Zenobia.
"You were right, this stuff is quite strong. But good."
"Yeah, a few of them will completely fuck you up. Perfect for military personnel. Haruka introduced me to them."
"Why can I imagine that the british tomboy and the crazy German needed Michiru to carry you home after that?"
"Actually we're still in training to compete against Hulk and Makoto. Cultured people like us pilots prefer the rush of speed to the rush that alcoholic beverages bring."
"Yeah, I'll quote you on that, next time you wake up in a shower."
People still remember that?
A steward came and told them the dinner would begin soon and then led them to the captain's table in the middle of the room.
The captain wasn't there yet, just some very important and rich looking couples on the other side of the table.
They introduced them formally to the attending money nobility, without actually stating that they were sitting here because they saved the ship from a pirate attack.
SunTzu was a bit afraid with the etiquette at the table as he was examining the silverware on the table.
"TopGun, don't make me check your pockets later. I know that robbing criminals secures our income now but please be nice around here." She leaned in and whispered to him.
"You know about that?" He looked at her surprised.
"Of course. The girls told me after you, Ami and Makoto confessed your new leisure activity to our Queen." She laughed. "So, you three are Gangster now?"
"Yeah, but that's just the side hustle for the street credibility. Actually we're trying to drop the most violent mixtape of the year."
She laughed louder than she wanted too and the other people on the table turned their heads towards them.
"Excuse me, my companion just told me a funny story from his duty as combat pilot for the Starfighter Corps." Rei lied to the other people on the table.
This of course provided to a lot of curios questions for SunTzu. A starfighter pilot in troubled times like this was exciting.
Thank you Rei.
To his luck the captain appeared soon and draw the attention to him.
SunTzu sighed quietly.
"You held up pretty well, TopGun." Rei told him leaning in and petting his leg shortly.
The captain rose up. He again introduced Diplomat Hino from the Crystal Kingdom of Planet Earth and First Lieutenant SunTzu of the GA's Starfighter Corps and toasted to them both as they were tonight's honored guests, because saved the Zenobia from pirates a few days ago.
The whole hall was applauding.
Both earthlings were a bit uneasy with the amount of cheering they received but bowed down complimentary and waved.
"Wave and smile TopGun." She hushed out between smiling.
"But I don't have to do any tricks?" He answered, pressing out through his smile.
After the Applaus slowly stopped they sat down again and both took a well needed big sip of wine.
The Captain held a speech thanking everybody for showing up and the usual other formal stuff and then the dinner was opened.
The food was terrific and the five course menu alone was a reward on it own.
They just had finished dessert and now they were planning the rest of the evening.
Rei played with her hair while SunTzu tried to explain why going to the ship's casino was better than the ship's ballroom.
She smiled at him, knowing very well why he so eagerly avoided to dance.
"I think the real reason is, that you cannot dance."
He looked at her and pressed his lips together. Busted.
"Don't worry, I'll teach you. And if you step on my feet I'll set your bow tie on fire."
She said and fixed his tie for him orderly, their faces just centimeters apart.
They locked eyes for a moment, freezing in time, before breaking the eye contact blushing and looking away.
In that moment the First Officer appeared at the table and flustered something into the Captain's ear. It seemed to be important because the Captain stopped smiling, his gaze shifting to SunTzu and Rei.
He got up and walked over to them, the First Officer behind him.
They looked up surprised to the captain as he stood before them.
"I'm terribly sorry to disturb you two, but it seems that there is a urgent call waiting for you on the bridge. Would you please follow the First Officer." The Captain told.
They glanced at each other. It looked like the galaxy had other plans than letting Rei teach SunTzu how to dance. She nodded understandingly and they got up and followed the Officer to the bridge.
The communication ensign gave him a headset when they were on the bridge.
Admiral Artemis was on the other end.
"Admiral, SunTzu speaking. You requested us?"
"Yes she is here with me. Yes, it's great."
SunTzu's facial expression went grim.
"Immediately?"
"Affirmative. And Diplomat Hino?"
"Understood. I tell her."
"I'm basically on my way. ETA 2 Hours."
He gave the headset back to the ensign. He sighed and looked to Rei, his face took on an apologetic expression.
Rei understood what the last sentence meant, they were leaving the ship immediately.
"What happened?"
He looked around, and took a step towards her, so only she could hear it.
"Various mercenary attacks between the Core and the Colonies, going up the Namadii Corridor. I'm ordered to immediately get back to the Far Side and get combat ready." He paused for a moment. "You're allowed to stay here. Someone will pick you up tomorrow morning."
The First Officer approached them again and SunTzu told him, that he had to go but Miss Hino would stay on board. The Officer told him, that Rei could be ferried to the Far Side with one of the Zenobia's Shuttle tomorrow then.
They left the bridge and SunTzu rushed to their suite, Rei in pursuit. She could tell that he was beyond pissed although he hadn't said a word since they left the bridge.
Rei was angry and disappointed too.
"Hey wait!" She yelled as he was storming down the corridors.
She had to run to catch up to him and took grabbed his hand and pulled it to make him slow down a bit.
He swallowed hard and turned around.
"Listen, I'm sorry. I hope you know that."
"It's not your fault Rei." He looked away for a second. "I'm glad that at least you can enjoy the night here further, you earned it." She still held his hand and he looked down at their interlaced fingers for a moment.
"Duty comes first. Right?" Hey looked back up to her and saw she was also looking at their hands, having a disappointed look on her face.
"Right." She looked back up too and their gazes met again.
"Promise me you'll have a great night here."
She nodded firmly.
He wanted to kiss her but how good of a kiss would it have been now that he had to leave. Especially if something would happen to him tonight.
"Promise me you take care tonight. I want to see you again tomorrow." She said piercing his gaze with her eyes.
She wanted to kiss him but how good of a kiss would it have been now that he had to go, probably to combat.
"No promises in war. But be sure that I'll think of something stupid to save my ass when things go down south. Let's go?"
She nodded and they continued on their way to their suite, holding hands all the way till the reached the door.
In two minutes his luggage was packed and he was ready to leave.
SunTzu was actually standing outside the door when he said his goodbye to her. Rei was standing in the door, leaning against the door frame
"Alright, I'm out." He told her, trying to not look to disappointed.
"Say Hi to AICA for me."
"You'll be good here?"
"Of course." She forced a smile. "I'll hit up the Spa now. You take care, okay."
He nodded.
"Good hunting TopGun."
"Try not to burn the ship down because someone annoys you."
"Oh, believe me. I'll be the most relaxed person in this sector after the massage I'm gonna treat myself too now."
He nodded again and they both glanced in each other's eyes again. She then tipped his nose with her finger. That forced a genuine smile from him.
"Good Night."
"Good Night Rei."
SunTzu turned around and rushed off, his luggage in a sports bag slung over.
Rei closed the door behind him and leaned against it with her back and let out a heavy sigh.
Fuck! It would have been so perfect tonight. Who knows when there would ever be such an opportunity again.
She sighed again and walked into the room, at least she would enjoy the rest of the night, she owed him that. And she would enjoy the Spa, she thought as she tried to take off her dress to change in something more comfortable.
Why, oh why, in the name of everything that was holy, did this galaxy made me wear a dress that was opened on the backside and left me alone with nobody to open it?
SunTzu arrived at the hangar.
"AICA, we're leaving immediately."
She opened the canopy, as he stored away his luggage.
"What happened? Where is Rei?"
"We're back to patrolling. Rei still stays here for the night."
"You didn't do something wrong, did you?"
"AICA?"
"SunTzu?"
"Shut up. And turn on music. Loud."
Two minutes later AICA and SunTzu were in Hyperspace.
The next morning, 10am
That's it, as soon as he was done here, he was off to Dathomir. AICA already had the route ready in her Navicomputer.
SunTzu was so pissed with the overall situation that he actually contemplated to desert for a second.
He had been flying recon and patrolling missions for the whole night now, with only two hours of sleep.
And they had zero enemy contact. Nothing. Not even a smuggler or a freighter with a broken identification transmitter.
He felt betrayed by the whole universe when he landed on the Far Side this time.
Not even Karlena dared to come near him because he was looking so grim. He even turned AICA off to not accidentally say something to her, he'd regret afterwards.
As he sat there and waited for his next mission that would come in over Radio from the control center he noticed that a small shuttle was landing in the hangar. He didn't care much for it and didn't see that the shuttle had the Queen Zenobia's logo on its flanks.
It landed and a refreshed looking Rei, pulling her luggage in her rolling suitcase behind her, walked out, when the shuttles ramp opened.
Feeling relaxed and years younger, the spa treatments and especially that massage from a Besalisk she had on the Queen Zenobia were amazing, Rei stepped out onto the hangar deck of the Far almost forgot how disappointed she was when SunTzu had to leave. And that kingsize bed in her room was so comfortable, she sleeped like a baby. Okay, she had to admit it was a too big for her alone and she rather would have shared it with a certain starfighter pilot but hey, he told her to enjoy the night and she tried to make the best out of it.
Refreshed and relaxed as she looked the stark contrast to the tired, hungry, stressed out and overnighted mess that he was, while he sat in his cockpit with bloodshot eyes and tear sacs that wanted to fall down to his knees, his hair a total mess after he took his helmet down after flying for hours.
Rei smiled when she noticed SunTzu was in the hangar too and walked up to AICA.
She heard that he was busy getting instructions over radio so she waited till it was over.
Then, SunTzu was typing something into the Nav-Computer, Rei left their luggage standing in front of AICA and climbed up to the cockpit, bringing her face next to him.
Poor guy looks so tired. He probably had been flying the whole night.
He still didn't notice her, while he hacked mission data into his ship.
Rei leaned down to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you for this wonderful date."
He jumped up in surprise, while she lept away from the cockpit and landed on the ground. She grabbed her luggage and walked out the hangar, not looking back.
Internally she was beaming and it was quite hard to not look back to him, she really had to fight not to smile.
The look on his face would be priceless to see.
As he sat there and hold his hand on the place where she kissed his cheek and followed her out of the room with his eyes, he decided that staying another one or two days wouldn't kill him. After all there were worse things than flying through space with a starfighter like AICA.
He lifted off for his next mission and made AICA dance an extra round around the Far Side before he shot away.
Although his mission was planned to span two hours he was called back some twenty minutes later.
A certain raven haired Shrine Priestess asked a certain blue haired Genius if she'd know if it was okay for fighter pilots to fly the whole night and morning without break as a certain German was doing.
A certain blue haired genius than asked a certain black haired Royal Administrator/ part time cat if she'd knew anything about that. Finally a certain black haired Royal Administrator/ part time cat asked the white haired Commanding Officer of the Taskforce who happened to incidentally be also a part time cat and her husband why the pilot of the most advanced weapon in their arsenal as well as Guardian of Senshi was flying without any real sense for half the time a day lasts now already.
Under pain of penalties regarding his place to sleep tonight and the rest of the week as well as other harsh punishments the certain white haired CO of the Taskforce called a certain German's mission off and replaced him with two Z95s from Terra Squadron.
Inside his cockpit on the way back to his carrier ship a certain German was just happy to be hugging his bed soon. And he was thinking if he should ever wash his left cheek again.
