Be in the Royal Quarters in ten minutes Usagi told in a very neutral tone and with an even neutral face to the both of them and vanished along with Mamoru.

Eight minutes later the Pilot and the Diplomat knocked on the door of the Royal Quarters on the Far Side.

Chibiusa opened them the door with a empathetic smile.

The Lovers got in and the Queen appeared.

Rei and SunTzu took a knee.

"My Queen, we're here as requested." Rei said.

"Get up Rei, I'll need a minute alone with you. SunTzu you wait here."

The pilot looked over to the Sofa were King Endymion, still wearing his armor including sword and Chibiusa observed the whole thing with curiosity.

A few minutes later Usagi, followed by Rei, appeared again, grinning.

He bowed down again as she walked up to him.

"Lieutenant, Lieutenant, Lieutenant… who would have thought that you become such a danger to my Senshi." Serenity smiled mischievously. "But Rei told me everything now. Please get up."

He ended his bow and straightened up again.

"She needed to convince me first that this is the right thing but seeing how effective and successful you two work together, you have my blessing."

Suddenly she hugged him.

"I wish you two all the best." She ended the hug and Rei stepped beside her.

"Me and Usagi-Chan will have a tea and a long woman to woman talk, so why you don't have a beer or something." She kissed him goodbye.

It felt great to openly express one's feelings to each other.

"Did you really tell me to get a beer?"

She winked at him.

"You're the best, Babe!" SunTzu told her and grinned from ear to ear. Then he bowed down to the Royals as goodbye.

The two lovers both silently formed a I Love You with their mouths and then he left the room.

SunTzu closed the door and was about to walk off to the cafeteria as someone walked up behind him. He started to whistle happily, that went way better than expected.

"Lieutenant SunTzu, would you please follow me to my office?" It was Admiral Artemis.

Of course, i knew the the Universe would find a way to make it hard for me.

He followed the high ranking officer in his white uniform through the deck.

On the way they passed Ami who just came back from an Intelligence Service Meeting.

She looked at SunTzu and he gestured he that he probably was in trouble.

They soon entered an office room, a bit bigger than Ami's office on board.

The room was equipped pretty spartan.

A desk with computer and holo transmitter, three seats, a few cabinets. The only thing standing out was a framed picture facing the Admiral and a basket with red cushion in the corner. Probably the Admiral's version of Sofa for his cat form.

Artemis sat down and motioned the Lieutenant to sit down too.

The Admiral took a sharply draw of air and his blue eyes pierced SunTzu.

"I heard reports that a certain Pilot might have been seen kissing one of my Senshi in public. Care to say anything to this?"

"Well Sir, it's like that…" SunTzu started.

"Lieutenant, do you have any idea what can happen with your coping off with a Sailor Senshi?! The Senshi and you need to be always fully alert and battle ready!" He yelled at the pilot that bolted upright immediately.

Artemis just draw more air in for the second wave of scolding as it knocked on the door.

"I'm in a meeting, come back later!" Artemis yelled at the door.

Said door was pushed up and Minako appeared, looking furious.

"Catmiral Whitefur! What in the name of Love are you thinking you're doing here?"

"Uhm, Mina. Please… close the door again, I'm in a meeting." He tried to explain and put his hands up in Defence.

The blonde stormed into the room.

"Artemis, were you just about to tell off SunTzu because of his relationship with Rei?" She angrily asked him.

"Well, I… I… I just wanted to talk about it with him. You know how important it is that you Senshi are not distracted from your work."

"Artemis?!"

"Yes, maybe I might have been a bit louder."

"SunTzu follow me. And Artemis if I find out, that he has any trouble because he is with Rei, you're in trouble."

Minako pulled SunTzu up at the collar of his flight suit and out of the room, leaving a subdued Admiral behind.

"That… That is insubordination." He quietly stammered as the door closed.

These girls would never change their demeanor.

"Good thing Ami contacted me after she saw you with Artemis. Who does he think he is to scold people for their relationships. I'm, for my part, happy that you guys are official now." Minako said as she walked in front of SunTzu. "By the way, where to now?"

"I'm having a beer now, since my beloved girlfriend is on coffee klatsch with her Queen." SunTzu answered her question.

"Interesting. I think I'll join them. You mad if you have to drink your beer alone?"

"Absolutely not."

"Great, I'm off to the girls then. See you later."

"Bye Mina."

Soon he arrived at the cafeteria and got himself a beer. He sat down on one of the table for two at the edge of the room.

As soon as he sat down, someone appeared next to him.

"Glad I found you Lieutenant. The Flight Cadet is requesting to resume it's training, Sir."

"Hey, we'll still make an perfect Officer out of you Hotaru." He smiled and looked at her. Although she tried to keep her usual stoic expression he could read a hint of tension in her face. "Head to the Hangar and get some flight time in. Be easy after the break. And take care Kiddo!"

She saluted and left with a beaming smile.

It made him happy to see her like that and he hoped she learned her lesson and took more care now.

He took the first sip of his beer. It was tasty and cold, wonderful.

Suddenly someone put another bottle of beer on the opposite side of the table and sat down.

It was the King and SunTzu was about to stand up and salute.

"Stay put. I just wanna have a cold one too. There's more and more Senshi coming over to our quarters and having tea. It's a bit too much trouble and noise for me."

"I see." SunTzu nodded, he understood. A bunch of Sailor Senshi could be quite troublesome.

"Cheers Lieutenant."

"Cheers your Majesty."

They clinked their glasses.

For a moment nothing was spoken, the two men just enjoying the silence.

After a few minutes Mamoru asked SunTzu:

"So, Rei?"

"Yup, Rei."

Both men nodded, drank again and went back to their silence for a few minutes.

"She's your ex too, I heard." SunTzu stated.

"Yup. But that's been over a decade ago."

SunTzu nodded and the men drank.

Some time elapsed before someone said something again.

"Rei is a great person. And you two seem to go good together. Congrats SunTzu."

"Thanks Mamoru. I am a lucky SOB."

"To Rei Hino."

"To Rei Hino."

They clinged their glasses again.

The glasses were then empty.

"Ah, i needed that. I'm gonna see if I can talk to Artemis before he degrades you. By the way, we're probably moving up to the New Frontier soon."

"I see. Thanks."

"You're welcome, see you around."

Mamoru left and SunTzu was alone at the table again. He could have a smoke before checking up on his trainee.

The King was right and the small flotilla of a compact Star Destroyer and three corvettes was ordered to the New Frontier.

The New Frontier was a part of the Western Wild Space, near the Unknown Regions, between Aeten and Adumar.

The possibility of owning land and maybe get some riches lead to a boom of settlers in this area. The main and capital planet of the region was the Planet Yuma, which was also the location of the Headquarter of the Seventh Fleet.

The trip to the space near Yuma took three days and SunTzu mostly spent them relaxing with Rei.

Apart from a sparing match against Sailor Pluto where he sustained some minor Injuries the flight was uneventful.

SunTzu thought he got better but either she went all in with the objective just to whoop his ass or he was still lacking.

At least she immediately took him to the medbay afterwards and tended to his bruises and the contusion on his shoulder, two ribs and right foot. After a hour in a Bacta-Tank he was back to alright again.

While she was of a pure fierceness or even rage in the fight she was so sorry afterwards, that SunTzu had to calm her down, because she even lost her ice Queen like demeanor.

Rei took it with humor and told an embarrassed Setsuna, that it was okay, TopGun needed a small beating every now and then to not get too cocky.

SunTzu shot Colt, the pilot he compared against on his early days at Tatooine, a message over the holonet, the starfighter pilot was from the New Frontier, maybe they could meet up.

The plan was that after a tour through the Seventh's Headquarters and a dinner where the leading parts of the Fleet and Taskforce Sol were to get to know each other better, some days of training would be to follow.

The Seventh Fleet had some of the most fierce and longest battles of the war in already so they probably had one or two new tricks to learn from them.

On the early afternoon of the third day of the trip the Task Force's ships dropped out of Hyperspace in the main System of the new Frontier and were greeted by a fleet of indigenous produced, long and slender warships, hanging in space, protecting the system, reinforced with some ships from Galactic Alliance origin.

Rei, SunTzu, Mina and Hotaru were on the observation deck when they dropped out of hyperspace.

The pilot and his trainee immediately began discussing the pro & cons of the local produced ship's designs.

"Don't be such Nerds!" Minako told them annoyed.

"I can tell the design's from men. Men that had to compensate something probably." Rei stated.

"Actually the Design has a lot of potential and Is used for example by CEC too. Slim warships are less easy to hit. On the other side they usually lack the frontal firepower a broader warship can bring into battle and also lack armor overall."

Hotaru explained calm and mechanically, like a computer.

"That's right. It depends on the Captain and his use of the ship."

"Uh, boring. Change of topic. What's Yuma like?" Minako demanded.

"Lots of sand and Desert, mixed with some cities. Like quite a few of the planets in this area. I guess you can compare things here with the time of the Wild West on earth. But they have lush green planets in the New Frontier too."

"Yeehaw. Sounds like I'll be bored to death here."

"Don't worry, Yuma City, the capital, is your typical Capital City with Space Port." SunTzu explained.

"Good, that's where i want to stay." Minako said and nodded.

"Me too, I'm a city girl after all. Not a cabin somewhere in the desert. I bet I'll be needed in the capital anyway. And since I t's pretty convenient that my boyfriend can fly to me." Rei chimed in.

Hotaru and SunTzu frowned, most of the barracks and military bases were in the deserts.

"Anyways, I'll get ready to take off now." SunTzu said as he closed his pilot suit's zipper.

He ruffled Hotaru's hair, gave Mina a kiss on the cheek and finally took Rei's hand and swirled her into his arms, bowing her down in his arm and kissing her.

She playfully punched his shoulder and giggled. He bowed her back up and she took his face in her hands and kissed him again.

"Get a room you two!" Minako commented, a grinning Hotaru next to her.

He went to the hangar and climbed into AICA.

"Good afternoon most sophisticated fighter in existence. How are you?"

"Hi. Ready for a little ride? It's about time, three days without flying are today."

"Please. You already did the checks?"

"On it right now."

It took a few minutes and then AICA came on again.

"Not Good. My sensors tell me I have a malfunction in my engines. Checking again."

A few moments passed.

"Malfunction confirmed. Looks like I won't be flying anywhere till it's fixed. SunTzu could you get Karlena over here. I need someone to tell me everything is okay before I self delete myself."

Poor AICA, all she wanted to do was to fly and now she was grounded.

SunTzu tried to cheer her up before he got out and went over to Karlena to let her know that AICA had a serious malfunction.

Karlena and the ground did a first check up while the Devaronian Woman soothed the A-Wing who was afraid to never fly again. Who would have known that AICA was a neurotic.

Nonetheless she needed a new starboard engine and the custom engine had to be delivered from Fresia first. The A-Wing was out of the game for the next few days.

Bummer, that probably meant more ground training and running around with commandos in the heat and sun of a desert wasn't exactly what he was looking forward to.

Forty five minutes later SunTzu was back at the observation deck where the girls were still there. They just had left quickly to get some coffee and tea and went back to catch a glimpse at the Yuma System here.

The Flotilla was steaming slowly through the system, paying tribute to the whole system.

He got there and immediately lighted a cigarette, the broken down star fighter annoyed him immensely.

"Hey, why are you here again?" Rei asked him when she saw him enter. Not that she mind, but usually he took any chance he got to fly.

"AICA's Engine is broken. We're grounded." He told and Hotaru's mood immediately went the way his mood was.

"How bad?" She asked him.

"Several days at least. Complete new starboard engine needed." He told her.

"Fuck." She replied and frowned.

You can say that loud little Miss Murder.

"Guess we're back to ground stomping, I hope you like sand and sun."

"I hate desserts."

He understood, his time on Tatooine wasn't pleasant either.

SunTzu sat down and stared out of the window with a grim face. Rei sat down next to him and slang her hands around him and leaned onto him.

"Aww TopGun. Don't be mad you're not able to fly around for a few days."

He just snuffled.

A few hours later the Gladiator and the rest of the capital ships were stationed in the orbit of Yuma.

Personnel was shuttled to the planet, the Senshi, the grounded pilot and the Royals took the Lambda Shuttle in the VIP-Configuration to the Planet.

The Senshi were transformed and Mamoru wore his armor and sword, they were visiting a fighting part of the galaxy after all.

SunTzu wore his TF's Uniform in Olive and his golden Ace Medal. The Flying medal was bit over the top but it wouldn't hurt to let people know he was quite the pilot. Especially if everybody around here had an ego as big as Colt's.

Before boarding SunTzu noticed that Haruka was missing and he asked Michiru what was up. The blonde Senshi didn't feel well and tried to get some rest to avoid a full blown cold. That was the reason that Michiru took the Shuttle rather than the Voyager.

Boy, their star fighter fighting capability decreased rapidly today.

He sighed as the shuttle departed. It just didn't feel right to be a passenger on a shuttle to him. He was sitting in the middle between Sailor Mars and Sailor Saturn, first one holding hands with him, later having the same grim expression as he had.

Opposite of him Makoto and Minako said and threw a laughing fit.

"What's so funny?" SunTzu asked them.

"You guys look like a family trip gone wrong. Like the car broke down and now you have to take the bus home and the only thing keeping father and daughter from throwing a tantrum is the mother."

The Pilot and the two dark haired girls just glared at the two Senshi with dark expressions.

Sitting beside Saturn,Pluto glanced over to the trio with SunTzu in the middle. Her gaze was even more ice cold than usual after Minako made the comment about Rei, Hotaru and SunTzu looking like a family.

The shuttle touched down on a landing spot at the the top of the Fleet's Headquarter Building and the ramp in the back was deployed.

Sailor Pluto and Sailor Saturn, as usual where the first to exit and after leaving the ramp took point left and right of it.

Next to follow was the Royal Couple and Chibiusa with the rest of the Senshi, Venus leading, Artemis and Luna in close pursuit.

The last to stroll down was SunTzu, putting on Aviators on the way down, as the sun was still up high, burning down on the mostly arid planet.

A delegation of the Seventh Fleet including it's Commander Major General Eagle and his closest staff was welcoming them.

SunTzu stayed in the back behind Michiru and Saturn and Pluto joined up with the group again, as the group was introducing themselves to the delegation of the fleet and vice versa. He didn't take much of notice of everything and rather looked at the cityscape around the skyscraper.

The Royal Couple and the General with his staff were a bit offside talking to each other.

Suddenly someone yelled into his direction.

"Ey Greenhorn, who did you rob of this medal. GA giving'em out for hitting training targets now, I guess."

A guy in a white collared shirt, brown cowboy hat and a sheriff star on his chest stepped forward.

"Whaddyaknow, it's the poor excuse of a cow herder that thinks he can fly." SunTzu replied to the man.

Both stepped up to each other, stony-faced and with determined steps.

"What was that you lil rustler?"

"I said you're an excuse of a pilot, Cowboy. And a pretty sad one that is."

Heads turned and people looked worried that hands were about to be thrown.

Saturn and Pluto exchanged looks, not knowing if they should act already and Rei fell in behind SunTzu, looking angrily Into the direction of the Cowboy. Behind the Cowboy a guy in a red shirt and a belt with holster around his waist walked up, seemingly supporting the Cowboy.

The two pilots stared at each other with anger in their eyes and to everybody's surprise all of a sudden greeted each other happily with a firm warrior handshake.

"Holy Manitou, You're a gold ace now?" Colt backslapped SunTzu commendatory. I knew you got it, after our duel."

"I heard you got plenty here in the New Frontier too. Glad to see you made it Man!"

Colt put his arm around SunTzu and turned around.

"Hey Star Sheriffs, let me introduce you to this substitute of starfighter pilot here."

The brunette guy in the red shirt and white pants, a tall blonde man and a blonde woman in a red one-piece formed a half circle around SunTzu.

"SunTzu, let me introduce to the rest of the Star Sheriffs. Fireball, he's a ground dweller but still a great guy." Colt pointed to the man in the red shirt and SunTzu shook his hand.

"The man and our boss himself, the famous swashbuckler of the New West, Saber Rider." SunTzu also exchanged a firm handshake with the Star Sheriff.

"And this blonde beauty is the fourth of us and also the General's Daughter, April Eagle."

SunTzu and her smiled at each other and shook hands.

"Ahem." Rei cleared her throat behind SunTzu.

"Oh, Star Sheriffs, this is my Girlfriend and our Head Diplomat Sailor Mars."

Rei stepped forward.

"Oh my, aren't you a sight for sore eyes." Colt shook her hand, bowing down, his hat in his hand. "I'm sorry that your planet just has men of this caliber so you had to take SunTzu."

SunTzu raised an eyebrow.

Excuse me?

"Oh, don't worry. The fact that he's not as narcissistic and full of shit as other pilots makes him a pretty decent boyfriend." Rei replied with a grin.

Thanks Babe, I appreciate that, SunTzu thought as the other three Star Sheriffs started to laugh at Colt.

"Ma'am you're breaking my heart." Colt stated with a sad voice.

"Yeah, I get that a lot." Rei winked and stepped up to shake the hands of the other Star Sheriffs.

Minako and Makoto came up curiously and soon the Senshi and Star Sheriffs introduced themselves to each other.

SunTzu had his hands on Saturn's shoulders as he proudly introduced her to Colt.

"This Little fairy of death here is actually one of our most deadliest fighters. And also my pilot trainee. She's a natural talent."

"Hello lil Miss. You must be pretty good if a guy like him talks so highly from you." Colt said and shook her hand. Saturn was rather shyly behaving.

"Really, you should see her." SunTzu stated, with the proudness a teacher talks about his best student.

"By the way, why you took the shuttle where is that speaking A-Wing of yours?"

SunTzu's smile vanished.

"Defect in the Engine. She's grounded."

"What? That's too bad. I was looking forward to a bit of training with you."

"Yeah, it sucks." SunTzu stated and Saturn next to him nodded her head in accordance.

"Our famous star fighter performance is a bit limited these days." Michiru came over.

"Colt, one half of my wingmen Team, Sailor Neptune."

"SunTzu? What in the galaxy did you deserve to be surrounded by so much beauty?" The Cowboy asked his fellow pilot jealously.

"Don't get dazzled by the looks. Neptune is one hell of a gunner." SunTzu stated.

"You should see my girlfriend fly. She can give every pilot in the galaxy a run for his money." Neptune continued.

"So, where is she then?" Colt asked.

"Unfortunately, Sailor Uranus is Off-Duty today, trying to sit out a beginning cold. Like Michiru, Sailor Neptune, stated, we're a not limited in our star fighter capacities these days. Hopefully she will be good by tomorrow."

After everyone, including Top Brass was introduced the Senshi and the Mau were to follow the General and his staff for a meeting.

Sailor Mars was standing next to SunTzu, arms pillowed on his shoulder.

"What do you say, we'll get a beer instead and I'll give you the Intel without the political palliation the higher-ups use?"

"Sounds great." SunTzu looked over to Rei.

"Mind if I have a beer with my fellow pilot here? For the sake of comradship and first hand information?"

She looked at him and smiled.

"Okay, you're allowed to go and play with the local kids but promise me you'll be nice."

She kissed him and then nodded to Colt.

"Don't let him do stupid stuff, Cowboy." She winked at the Star Sheriff.

"Yes Ma'am." He pat SunTzu in the chest. "Let's go so, before you're Lady decides otherwise. Hey Fireball, you coming along? I bet April will be relieved to have five minutes without you."

The three left the rooftop while Guards and Intelligence personnel from the Fleet and Taskforce began unloading the shuttle as the three men left via one of the two elevators.

The three soon arrived at a bar nearby and sat down at the bar, SunTzu took down his jacket and hat and loosened up his tie.

They ordered three cold ones, straight out of the bottle.

SunTzu sat his beer down after the first sip. He had worse, this cold beer was awesome after being in the hot weather.

"Dammit SunTzu, you're a lucky man. It's like a harem of beautiful women you have there." Colt told the Earthling.

"Colt, you don't have any idea how exhausting these girls can be."

"Hey Colt, for a married man you're swarming a bit too much today." Fireball remarked towards his comrade.

"Oh, I didn't know that." SunTzu replied.

"Yeah. A few years already. Her name's Robin and she's a teacher."

"And way too good for you herder." Fireball mocked him, which reminded SunTzu of the friendship and the banter between friends that SunTzu and Haruka have. He should check after her soon, SunTzu decided.

"And also, Matchbox, as far as I saw the boyfriend of the CO's daughter did make big eyes too. Your lucky April didn't see that." Colt stated.

"Oh boy. She would have scalped me."

The three men told some stories about what they did that war and from their background and had another beer.

After the third beer they stopped. It was late afternoon.

"I gotta get ready for the reception tonight and better be halfway sober or Robin will kill me."

"Same with me April."

"Same, same. As boyfriend of a diplomat and high ranking member of the Royal Court I need to behave."

The three men sighed.

The Members of the Royal Court were housed in one of the upper floors of the headquarter, reserved as guest rooms for top ranking officers and important guests. As Lieutenant, gold ace or not, he usually would be housed somewhere in one of the barracks probably but fortunately the beds for the VIP guests were pretty big and the kingdom's top diplomat was generous enough to share.

Thank god, they finally came clear. The room was way better than a bunk bed in a military barrack somewhere outside the city.

Rei even made sure, that his luggage made it's way into their room.

She just got into one of her small black dresses and while watching her put it on, he already fantasized about later when he would take it off. She saw him staring and answered with a predatory smile.

He was wearing a fresh Uniform of the Taskforce and all his medals now.

Smiling at him and thinking about how she couldn't wait to be back from the reception, Rei asked herself if she might have developed an uniform fetish. Or was it, because he actually was so hot?

The reception was held in a neighboring building of the complex.

Most attendees were local military or other import people including the Major of Yuma and the Senator of the sector.

The couple decided to walk over to the building, as the sun was slowly about to settle down and colored the sky a beautiful orange.

They were joined by most of the Sailor Senshi, only the Queen, Princess, Luna and Artemis and King would take a vehicle over to the building, obviously a causally strolling in Royal Family and top representatives of the kingdom wouldn't make the same entrance as in a vehicle. Too bad there wasn't a certain A-Wing available.

The group were waiting outside for everybody to show up. The first ones were Hotaru and Setsuna. Hotaru showed up in her Taskforce Uniform she just received. SunTzu was prouder than he admitted too, she was really becoming a pilot.

"Hey Rei, take a picture of us two." SunTzu ordered his girlfriend as he moved up next to his trainee.

Setsuna was wearing a small black dress as well and SunTzu had to admit that she should wear those more often.

She seemed a bit uneasy though.

"I'm not so used to participate in those receptions and not guard the Royals." She replied when Rei and SunTzu asked her why she was so tense.

"You need to relax a bit Oneesan. There's so many guards here that we are safe no matter what. And we still have TopGun here to do something stupid if anything else fails."

At least Setsuna tried to smile afterwards.

SunTzu took a picture of the three dark haired girls too, Setsuna in the middle, one arm around each other girl. When he took the picture she looked happy, just as the other two girls. SunTzu took a Selfie with all four of them together too. And all four were beaming now.

Next coming out the building were Ami and Makoto and both were complaining that they were missing their husbands for this reception. Later even complained that none of her commandos was there.

As she said that Venus came out and told her to finally become a mother now.

Michiru was the last to come out and she didn't look happy. Haruka was still not doing better but she hoped she would be better by tomorrow.

SunTzu was taking more pictures of the Senshi nonetheless, action like he didn't care that Haruka wasn't there, anybody knew he felt otherwise though.

They walked the small distance over to the building the reception was held at.

Venus linked arms with the upset Michiru and the nervous Setsuna and tried to cheer them up. Mostly with the prospect of lots of drinks for free.

As they were at the door pictures were taken from the local press and they were happy to got some group shots although they stated the others were missing. They negotiated a deal with the photographers. More pictures of them and they'll get all the pictures, no matter if they'd make their way into the papers or not.

Rei and SunTzu also took the chance to get some pics of the two of them in.

While Minako stayed at the entrance and gave the photographers a show and after a while forced Ami in front of the cameras with her too, much to the disregard of the blue haired woman.

Rei linked in to SunTzu's left arm and he offered the other side to Hotaru, who took it.

With his two raven haired girls on his arms he entered the reception.

Their formalizing was a bit too late to change the tables so Rei was at the big table with the most important people, being the System's Senator and her husband, thank god a married senator for once, the King of a realm in the system and his wife, General Eagle and his second in command, Artemis, Luna and the Royal Couple and the Princess.

The table next to it was filled with Ami, April, Setsuna, Hotaru, Minako, Saber and some politicians and high ranking intelligence personnel.

The next table was Makoto, Fireball and officers.

The last table was the pilot's table with Colt and his wife, SunTzu, Michiru and an empty place for Haruka.

SunTzu got up and walked over to Setsuna, hunkering down beside her.

"Mind if Hotaru would sit with the other pilots?"

The teenager's eyes began to beam.

"That's a great idea. So she doesn't see how I'm gonna get her mom sloshed." Minako leaned in and told Setsuna.

"That's a nice idea, I think she'd appreciate it. But I think it would only be fair to ask the other people at the table too at first." Setsuna replied.

"Excuse me Ladies and Gentlemen, I hope you don't mind if I kidnap my subordinate pilot from this table and exfil him to the pilots' table?"

Everybody was okay with it and soon Cadet Meiou was proudly sitting at the pilot's table where Colt immediately told her that she made the best decision because she could learn something from him instead of her current superior, which was still a greenhorn.

It just took a few minutes and Colt's wife Robin, an attractive blonde with shoulder long hair slapped her husbands hands because his ego was getting too big again.

Michiru laughed out loud, this could have been her and Haruka too.

The reception was going well, the food and drinks were great and mixing local people on the tables with the Earthlings was a great idea to get to talk to people.

The talk at the pilot's table was fulfilled with shoptalk about flying between Michiru, Colt and SunTzu. Hotaru was listening closely to get as much knowledge in as she could.

Soon the official part ended and people began to visit the other tables.

SunTzu and Rei had a cigarette, and a secret make out session, together and when they came back Chibiusa was sitting on Hotaru's lap and introduced herself to Colt and Robin and Rei took a place on SunTzu's lap to talk to Colt and Robin for a bit before she left the table again. The two women came along great, talking about the pro and cons of dating a pilot.

A table further Makoto already had invited a Infantry Commander to a match of arm wrestling, even before she was drunk.

Two tables further Minako was animatedly conversing with a man with long brown hair. SunTzu remembered that that might have been the prince of the Kingdom of Jarr, the second most important place in the sector, after Yuma.

Next to her Setsuna downed glass after glass of something that could been identified as the local variant of Margaritas.

At the main table, Artemis just presented a bottle of domestic distilled Whisky from Crystal Tokyo to the Major General.

The evening promised to become very interesting.

Chibiusa and Hotaru soon left and after a fatherly word of advice from SunTzu to not stroll through the night here, looking for trouble, they vanished.

Robin said her goodnight soon after and reminded her husband to not start any trouble tonight and behave. Of course they would.

As soon as she left the room the hat wearing Ace Pilot pulled out a big jar of local moonshine and put it on the table, filling up glasses with it and handing them out to the two other snub jockeys on the table and they drank it in one sip.

Things became a bit blurry after that.


Next early afternoon, Meeting Room 5005, 7th Fleet HQ

Luna had assembled anyone she could find.

She sat at the end of the table, next to her was Ami.

Behind her were the Queen and the King sitting next to the wall.

Hotaru and Chibiusa were also sitting at the wall but after the edge of the room.

The rest of the delegation was sitting around the opposite side of Luna around the round table and on sofas behind. That group looked pretty done.

Artemis, who appeared to have slept in his uniform, was sitting at the table with Setsuna and Michiru next to him.

Michiru was the only one that looked halfway healthy and wasn't wearing sunglasses.

Setsuna looked a bit pale and didn't move much, the corners of her mouth hanging down but somehow she still managed to show grace.

SunTzu was on a sofa behind the table, Rei leaning her head on his shoulder on his right, Minako, still wearing the same clothes from yesterday, doing the same on the left side. Makoto was missing somehow.

SunTzu woke up just around 90 minutes earlier on the floor of the bathroom of the room Rei was staying. Apparently she brought him a blanket and a pillow.

Rei Hino you are true wifey material he thought as he tried to get up.

Trying this was a mistake as stinging pain shot through his head. Rei entered the room with a glass of water and isotonic powder in her hands.

"I love you." Was all he could press out while he held his head and thankfully took both and tried to remember what happened yesterday night.

"Better get ready, Luna wants to have a meeting with all of us. I guess she's pissed that even her Husband got whiteboywasted yesterday."

He replied with some guttural sounds as he still tried to remember hard what had happened. Which wasn't easy with the headache he had.

He was remembering bits and pieces like that Michiru left pretty early because she lead Setsuna from her table, for the doctor's own safety.

And that he went somewhere with Rei in the building and had a quicky and that soon afterwards he and Colt went out to the city later on.

"Hey, did I call AICA yesterday?" He asked Rei, remembering something.

"Calling? You somehow got here and we're crying into your chrono that you miss your mechanical concubine. I think it was even embarrassing for AICA." She laughed as she got back to the door of the bathroom he was still sitting in.

"I'm a bit worried that you might be objectophil and I have artificial intelligence as rival now but, in a very weird way, it was kinda cute too."

He just nodded, which was a mistake regarding his headache.

"When did I come home?"

"Somewhen after dawn. You wanted to go out with Colt, somewhen after midnight. I was drunk enough so I went here and let you go. Since you found your way home I guess it was okay to let you go out with your pilot friend."

SunTzu looked over to the Royals, both were wearing big sunglasses and Usagi, wearing a sweatsuit had her head on Mamoru's shoulders. He was leaned back against the wall and both were breathing slow and steadily. Were they sleeping?

Luna let her gaze wonder through the room. Her mouth twitched and she let out a big sigh before she got up, a paper in her hand.

"Can anybody tell me, what's wrong with you people?" Luna asked, clearly angry and annoyed.

Everybody looked up to her. Or at least tried to.

The Head of the Court held up the paper.

"This is what you did last night." She read and shook her head, her mood darkening anymore.

"Minako, why does the Kingdom of Jarr keep sending messages to the Palace asking about the dowry of yours?"

Rei looked over to Minako and Minako looked over to her, the blonde was smiling.

"That's a another prince for the record. She shrugged. "Although I fucked him better than he fucked me." Mina said to Rei quietly.

"Mina, you're such a hoe sometimes." Rei stated with the hint of a smile.

"Oh yeah, as if you was better, Miss I'll take my boyfriend and see where in the building I can obviously have sex with him without getting caught."

"Silence!" Luna yelled and looked back at her paper. She needed a moment before she said something.

"There's a warrant out for two men, one with a Cowboy-hat and the other in an olive uniform, with medals. The later seemed to talk in a very aggressive language nobody understood as the two started a bar brawl, and hurted several Fleet personnel members."

She gazed at SunTzu.

"Lieutenant, anything you have to say to this?

SunTzu didn't, at least he got home with all his medals left. He vaguely remembered something that a group of seaman made jokes about the color of the uniform and then the Starfighter Corps. Bad idea when Colt was nearby.

Rei was staring at him now, a mixture of anger and amusement in her face, her hand pressing his.

"Sorry Ma'am, I don't know what you mean. Me and Captain Wilcox went out but I'm pretty sure we always behaved like honorable officers of the Starfighter Corps."

If looks could burn your Officer commission. The black haired Woman sighed again.

"Anyways. Does anybody know where Makoto is? She almost broke the arm of a Major yesterday."

Ami chimed in, next to Luna.

"She said she was missing her Boys and wanted to take a cab to the Far Side."

Luna glanced over to Ami and facepalmed. She needed a moment and after rubbing her nose she looked at Artemis.

"And now to you, Admiral. Let's see. The Commanding Officer of the Seventh Fleet is off duty because health reasons today. His adjutant, a twenty-five year old lieutenant left the medbay this noon after a severe alcohol intoxication." She stared her husband in the eyes. "Really, how many bottles of Whisky did you have with you?"

"Three, maybe four." The groggy looking white haired officer said.

Sending an Three Star General's adjutant into medbay with alcohol intoxication raised the high respect SunTzu already had towards his Admiral even more and he nodded commendatorily.

Rei angrily gazed over to him until he stopped.

Luna sighed again.

"Unfortunately our King is guilty here too."

As soon as he heard the word King, Mamoru jumped up in his seat. SunTzu was pretty sure now, that Mamoru had been sleeping.

"Anyone happen to remember we're at war? There are things at stake here people." Luna pleaded to the attendees.

"Sorry Luna, but maybe we just needed that, because it is war. Everyday could be the last one, you know." Minako chimed in, her yellow dress wrinkled and her red hair bow hanging down halfway.

Luna closed her eyes a moment and took in a deep draw of air.

"Okay, I get it. You guys will never change. I give up." She sat down again, facepalming. "Ami could you please take over?"

Ami nodded and got up.

"Since today's program was laid off I'm sorry to inform you the sightseeing tour was dismissed completely." Sad noises filled the room.

"About that warrant, Major Eagle, who by the way has a very similar meeting with the Star Sheriffs and her father right now, pulled some switches and the warrant will be deleted."

Minako fist bumped with SunTzu.

"Innocent until proven guilty!"

"Shut up Lieutenant!"

Ami looked into the room.

"Nevertheless, SunTzu, Minako and Makoto will be redeployed to the Far Side for the rest of our stay."

Minako booed and SunTzu expected trouble from Rei, but so far she stayed quiet.

"Minako, Contenance! And please, cover that giant hickey on your neck."

Michiru turned around to SunTzu.

"Good thing Haruka wasn't here. Things would have escalated even more."

"Boy, would we be in Jail right now." SunTzu replied and sighed. "Damn, I miss her."

Ami dismissed the meeting and the mostly hungover attendees left.

SunTzu, Minako and Rei left the room and walked back to their rooms.

"Babe? How mad are you?" SunTzu asked his girlfriend, she made a grim face since ever he heard he was going back to the ship.

"Oh don't worry. I'm not mad. I'm just furious and contemplating to set your ass on fire." She replied, SunTzu and Minako looked at her in shock.

"Just kidding. While you were throwing fists with the Seventh Fleet I had my drunk beauty sleep so I was fit enough to function earlier already. I called Usagi and she was still drunk enough to allow me to ask for a shuttle whenever I want. So instead of the punishment you deserve for fucking up our first stay as an official couple I'll punish you with the fact that I just get up to the Far Side to take me what I need and then leave you again."

That is somehow cruel. And somehow appealing.

Minako was very quiet as they walked through the corridors.

"What's with you, soon-to-be Queen of Jarr?" Rei asked her friend.

"To be honest, I'm thinking about where I left my panties. They weren't cheap and I don't know if I left them with the prince and if I did, if he actually deserves them."

"My God Minako, you're such a mess. You really need to get your shit together. We're adults now."

"I shouldn't have had these three shots yesterday."

"Three? I saw you taking at least seven."

Yup, yesterday night was lit.


Their goodbye was probably not their proudest moment as she directed him into the shower midway in because his pores kept sweating out what smelled like pure moonshine.

Which didn't stop them anyway.

The combination of passionate sex and a shower actually made him feel way better and if it wouldn't have been for the tiredness he'd be good again.

Afterwards they left for a nearby restaurant for dinner and SunTzu made sure to not wear one of his Olive uniforms.

The couple was joined by Minako, who looked better also. The three of them were still wearing sunglasses and Minako had a silk scarf around her neck, which covered her enormous hickey.

Rei, the most fit on the table, took turns looking to her boyfriend and her best friend. And then she started laughing loudly.

"What's with you?" Minako asked.

"I just realized how fucked up the two of you look. And how much I love you two. And how that makes me a fuck up too."

"I might have been drunk and will be abducted to a foreign kingdom soon but damn, what did you take?"

They ordered some local food in a restaurant and hoped for the best.

SunTzu got something similar to chicken. It could have been lizard or crocodile too. But it was tasty and fried and therefore it was all good.

Rei ate the same, blindly trusting her boyfriend. Yup, she loves me, the starfighter pilot thought.

Minako had something like pasta with vegetables.

They soon left again and Minako and SunTzu got on the landing spot on the roof to the building again, pushing their luggage.

Usagi and Ami were there too. Usagi excused the necessity for them to get back to the Far Side but she wanted them out of the fire line and Ami informed them that Makoto had been finally found. The Special Forces Captain took a commercial shuttle to the Far Side, insisting on her rank and status to make it possible for the shuttle to land. On board she stormed into the quarters of Team 1 and started drinking with them.

A MP-Patrol found her and other members of Team 1 passed out at the observation deck at noon, empty bottles laying around them. Because they wore Camo clothes and face Camo they had to be questioned first to identify them. When questioned what they were doing, she said they held a camouflage exercise.

Yup, yesterday night was hella lit.

The shuttle arrived and SunTzu gave Rei a long goodbye Kiss.

"C'mon SunTzu, let's go." Minako finally said. "Good God, can you guys ever stop?"

"Jealous?" Rei asked her with a sly grin.

"Don't push me. Or I'll have to borrow him to make up for that letdown last night."

SunTzu gazed at her, one eyebrow raised.

"Yeah. Don't you think I don't know how you perform in bed. I know everything." Minako told him bluntly.

SunTzu looked back at Rei, a questioning look on his face.

With a big, innocent smile she waved at him as Minako took his hand and pulled him along, up the shuttle's ramp. He just had time to grab his luggage. He still waited for an answer from Rei but she still just waived.

"Bye Babe! Love you!" She told. "Oh and Minako, promise me to bring him back unbroken!"

"Yeah, yeah! Whatever."

Ten minutes later they arrived at the Far Side and Makoto, now without Camo paint and Karlena were waiting for them at the ramp.

"Makoto you Drunk Ass Bitch. You were so wasted you found the way home but it was the wrong one!" Minako greeted her before she hugged the taller woman.

"Don't yell so loud goddamit! By the way, I heard you were trying to make princesses and princes with the local Royalty."

"Don't remind me. What a waste. But I brought Rei's boy toy along to entertain me." That earned her another stare including raised eyebrow from SunTzu.

Karlena beside them just stared with a questioningly face.

Makoto and SunTzu greeted each other and the three formed a circle.

"God, we are such fuck ups." Makoto stated and sighed.

"You tell me Sis." Minako affirmed.

SunTzu just nodded.

The trio went to there rooms and as soon as he finished stowing his luggage SunTzu called his girlfriend and they talked for half a hour. She then said, she'd go to bed soon and they said their goodnight.

He was tired but didn't wanted to go to bed so early. And then he had an idea.

He went out of his room and knocked on the door on the opposite side of his.

"Come in, it's open!" An ill-sounding Haruka yelled.

"Oh no. Not you. Get out." She said when she saw SunTzu.

"Wow, you look almost as shitty as I do." He greeted her. "How do you feel?" He said in a more serious tone afterwards.

"It's not getting better although I'm doing what I can."

He sat down on the bed next to her.

"Let me know when I can do something. I'll be on standby here."

"Thanks Mate. By the way what you're doing here. Shouldn't you be on the planet?"

"Things… escalated a bit yesterday. There might have been a warrant out for me and my buddy from here."

Haruka laughed and it soon turned into coughing.

"Shit, seems that I missed all the fun."

"Sis, you don't have any idea. Minako probably will become a Queen soon. But yeah, Mako, Me and Mina are back on the Far Side."

"How's Michiru, I wrote with her earlier but she's pretty quiet."

"Obviously she is alright. She escaped before the ship sank completely."

"Good. Hey, mind If I sleep more? I gotta get healthy to be able to fly."

"Sure. Get healthy soon Haruka. And let me know if you need anything. Not that I have much to do the next days."

"Good Night. And tomorrow I want details."

"Oh trust me, you don't want." He winked and left the room, back to his own.

Before sleeping he got a message from Colt, stating that it was too bad SunTzu had to get back to his ship again. Colt also told he got heavy rundowns from April and Robin. He ended his message asking when they would repeat they whole thing again, because he had way too much fun.

The next day came and SunTzu was up early and fit again. He went to the cafeteria and got some isotonic beverages, tea and soup for Haruka.

He knocked and the door and although he woke her he was allowed inside.

"Morning, feel any better ?"

Haruka gestured with her hand.

"Soso. But it's nice that you take care of me." She paused for a moment, realizing what she just said. "Don't tell that anyone I said that."

"Promise. Nobody is allowed to know that the two of us get along without quarreling."

She smiled and drank some tea.

"I'll be over if you need anything. Might do some sport but I'll do it in my room." He went for the door.

"SunTzu?"

"Hm?"

"Thank you."

"Get better soon. Someone here has to be able to fly."

"I'll try. Come back later to tell me about Yuma."

The day went by fast with sport, errands, and taking care of Haruka.

Evening came and a shuttle arrived on board the Far Side.

Someone knocked on SunTzu's door. He opened and Rei was standing in front of him. They kissed.

"Okay, what did you do to end up here?"

She looked at him and pouted.

"Wow, TopGun. Great how well you think of me. Did it cross your mind I might be just visiting you after a long day of being a diplomat and making up for my friends public behavior. If you want I'll just leave again."

"Whoa, I didn't mean it like that. I just very astonished that the goddess my girlfriend is gives her grounded looser boyfriend a visit."

She pressed her lips together and looked to the side.

"Okay. I can accept that. But you have to do more than this to make up for it."

That said she pushed him inside the room and closed the door with her legs.

"I need a cigarette now." Rei said afterwards as they both laid naked in his bed.

She got up and collected her clothes.

"Oh and I need to visit Minako and tell her that I resolved the Prince Situation."

"What did you tell him?"

"The usual, that he needs to best her in combat. Mixed with the hint that she's literally capable to shoot a laser from her finger tip made the prince change his opinion pretty fast. I do feel that broke his heart a bit though."

"Rei Hino, you Monster."

"Hey, he was lucky I didn't light him up, he was getting annoying with his asking about Minako."

They got dressed and went over to Minako's room. SunTzu got in first and Minako was on her bed, playing with Diana who was in her cat form.

"Oh, hi. How are you?"

"I brought you someone."

"S'up Mina? I see you didn't break my toy so I thought I'd come over and say thanks.

"Hey!" SunTzu chimed in as the two girls hugged.

"Which toy? Can I see?" Diana asked suddenly.

"Oh, that was just a joke Sweetheart. There are no toys."

"Pity." The cat pouted.

"SunTzu could you stay a minute here with Diana? I need to talk with Minako."

"Uhm, sure."

SunTzu sat down on Minako's bed while Rei lead Minako out the door and into her room.

SunTzu sat down, not really knowing what to do.

"So, uhm, Diana , how are you?"

"Im Good Mr. SunTzu. I'm with my Oneechan Mina while my mom and my dad are away. I helped her write a song."

SunTzu couldn't decided what was actually more cute. Her human or her kitten form.

The cat yawned and walked up to SunTzu, looking up to him with her big eyes.

And then she jumped up his lap and laid down. He started petting her back and she started to purr. This human-cat-transformation-thing sure was a bit weird.

Five minutes later the two girls were back and found Diana peacefully sleeping on SunTzu's lap, while he petted her back.

Both women almost died of a sugar shock and hushed Awwws could be heard.

It took way too long but somehow they then managed to transfer the sleeping kitten from SunTzu to the bed without waking her up and they left for SunTzu's room again.

After seeing SunTzu with the small kitten, Rei decided that she didn't want to part tonight anymore. Who knew he could actually melt her heart like that. Not that she would tell him but she was a women in her best age and maybe, just maybe, her biological clock was ticking too.

He on the other side, was just happy that she didn't make a scene because he wasn't allowed at the Fleet HQ anymore.

The next day Rei left early to get back to her diplomatic work on Yuma.

SunTzu felt a bit bad for her because she didn't feel too well. He told her she was always invited to come over if she need anything and that he at least could come visiting her in her room on Yuma.

I don't want you to get into trouble and Usagi's mood probably won't be good the next few days too, but she guessed she'll come over for back rubs and hugs. She also apologized in advance if she'd be mean with him in the next few days.

He could take it, at least some form of excitement. It was still unknown when AICA's new engine was being delivered and, much to Makoto's displeasure he didn't get an assignment for training with the ground troops. Things happened at a too short notice for changing the plans.

Too bad I won't be training for war in the desert the next few days.

It was afternoon and although he did excessive amounts of sport, learning and maintenance of his gear he began to get bored.

Suddenly someone knocked on his door.

SunTzu opened and one of Artemis junior staff members stood there, telling SunTzu to get ready to leave for the Fleet HQ.

So, now it's cool again to go there. Could someone please make up his mind?

The pilot got ready and switched into an uniform. Just for the thrill, he took one of the olive ones.

He soon arrived at the hangar and greeted AICA and her ground crew before the shuttle arrived.

No news about the new engine which neither made SunTzu's nor AICA's mood better. They missed flying with each other immensely.

SunTzu didn't get a Lambda-Shuttle Ride but rather took a Gunship, filled with Grunts to a barrack near the City of Yuma. As soon as the Larty broke through the clouds, SunTzu ordered the Crew Chief to open one of the doors and he sat down, feet hanging down from the edge of the gunship. The grunts inside were impressed that an Officer in Uniform did something like that and some of them even joined him. SunTzu enjoyed the ride although the Crew Chief insisted that he would use one of the Carabiners inside to secure himself.

A jeep brought him to the Fleet Headquarter. He was expected in the Royal Family's quarters.

As he got out the Jeep he brushed his uniform out to let the sand fall out and fixed himself in his projection of a window.

Then SunTzu strolled into the HQ, stated his cause to the Lobby Guard and took an elevator up.

The elevator was guarded by two of Crystal Tokyo's Royal Guards and a familiar face.

"Agent Smith, always nice to see competent personnel."

"Lieutenant, it's my pleasure. I heard you ran into some trouble around here."

"More like someone ran into my fist but yeah. I was ordered to get here."

"Ah yes, if you would please follow me."

The Intelligence Agent brought SunTzu to the Royal Quarters, where two more guards were standing at the door. The Agent nodded and left.

SunTzu knocked and heard a Come In from inside. He stepped inside.

It was way bigger than Rei's room and had a corner with sofas and a table for meetings.

Artemis, Michiru and Mamoru were sitting on the side further away where he came in, on the side near to him Rei and Hotaru sat on the sofa. Sailor Pluto was obviously standing guard at a door to another room.

SunTzu saluted.

"Lieutenant, I can see you take comfort in your impunity." Artemis said, motioning to SunTzu's Uniform. "Please sit down, we have a problem."

We're at war, our most effective weapon is grounded and It's pilot is damned to sit around. Which other problem could come up now?

Rei leaned her head on his shoulder. She seemed to feel unwell.

"Lieutenant Tenou is still unavailable due to medical reasons."

That was true, SunTzu visited her today, Haruka still wasn't doing much better plus she had her period hitting also. Poor woman.

"But we really need a starfighter to keep up with the Star Sheriff's Demand of training together." Artemis told.

"I'm Sorry Sir, but we're still waiting for the spare engine on AICA. What about Lieutenant Kaioh as Pilot of the Voyager?" SunTzu asked.

"I can pilot the Voyager but I'm not a match for an Ace. You on the other side." Michiru said and shrugged.

Yeah and Haruka will flay me alive if something happens, SunTzu thought. He knew how crazy Colt flew.

SunTzu skeptically looked back and forth to Artemis and Michiru.

"I'm willing to try it. If you're okay with it." Michiru said. "Don't worry, I'll try to break it gently to Haruka."

SunTzu sighed, he would be lying if he wouldn't be interested in flying the Voyager.

"Okay, but I need some familiarization with it."

"You have till tomorrow noon. I'll inform the 7th and the Star Sheriffs of our participation."

The Admiral got up and left the room.

"I'll see after Usago." Mamoru said and left for the room, that Setsuna was guarding.

"You and Usagi are really suffering this time, aren't you?" Michiru asked Rei.

Rei curled up and let her head rest in SunTzu's lap. He started petting her head.

"Must be the climate. You think you can fly along TopGun?"

"I'm okay. Just a bit worried with the girlfriend." Michiru replied.

"TopGun you'll better behave or better don't come back at all." Rei warned her boyfriend.

"Hey, which month, week or day I didn't behave?" He answered, which made Rei shortly think about to bite or punch him as reply.

Michiru and SunTzu took a shuttle back to the Far Side, Hotaru accompanied them. She wanted to train on the simulator and learn for her theoretical tests until AICA could fly again.

While Michiru visited Haruka to check on her SunTzu got any information over the Ship he could get. He didn't have time for some simulator training but hey, Flying was flying, wasn't it?

A few hours later SunTzu was inside the TIE-Aggressor's round shaped cockpit and ran a systems check up and studied the controls.

He was wearing his black and grey flight suit and matching helmet since he doesn't have a TIE-Pilot-Suit nor were there any on board. At least he matched the color.

He was just finishing the check up as Michiru climbed inside the cockpit, her helmet in her hand.

Her teal colored hair stood out from the black Tie-Pilot-Suit she wore although the stripes on her suit had the same color her hair had.

SunTzu looked back and nodded towards her and she showed him a little smile.

"You flew a Tie before, right?"

"Sure, I flew a Tie before."

One time. In Space only. But hey, flying was flying, right?

Michiru sat down on her seat and checked her console. All systems were on go and she checked the turret, it's movement was flawless.

"You're nervous?" She asked SunTzu as Michiru checked her working station.

He sighed.

"I guess. Flying a tuned snub is the one thing but being responsible for two people no matter what happens is something new to me. I never would let Hotaru or Rei fly into a dog fight with me."

"Oh don't worry about me. There's nobody after Haruka that I prefer flying with. I fully trust you."

SunTzu was not sure if that made it better for you.

They finished their checks and Michiru put on her helmet when their starting permission came in.

"You're ready?" Her voice came over his helmet com as her helmet absorbed her voice"

He nodded as she turned around to him.

The turned on the name giving Ion Engines of the TIE and used the repulsors to lift off the hangar floor.

SunTzu then slowly and carefully maneuvered out the hangar and finally gave a bit of thrust when he had free way to the hangar shield.

The Voyager wasn't much slower than AICA that was for sure and the rather small increase of thrust catapulted them out of the hangar.

After days of not flying he almost forgot how great it felt. He gave more thrust and they rocketed away from the Far Side.

He flew some easy maneuvers to see how the Aggressor behaved and Boy, it reacted immediately. This truely was the most fine calibrated piece of star fighter he ever flew after AICA.

He started to grin and his maneuvers got more wild.

"You okay back there?" He asked his Gunner.

"Enjoying the flight. How does she feel to fly?"

"Awesome!" SunTzu yelled and flew barrel roll that ended in a sharp left veer away.

He tested the Voyager out for some more minutes before he took course to Yuma City.

Flight Control came in and told them to land at the HQ, the Admiral wanted to see them.

Alright, but first some more testing.

SunTzu entered the atmosphere and dropped out of the clouds a few kilometers away from Yuma City. In low-level flight he flew the Voyager over the surrounding desert and then ascended again, turning away to the city and their destination.

Although he was more than tempted he didn't throw a show but rather just landed on the landing spot on top of the Fleet HQ building. His landing was spot on, the Voyager was incredibly good to control.

"You okay back there? I hope I didn't push too hard."

"I'm good, apart that my uterus hates me." She told.

"Hey, I know that's a very intimate question, but how come all of you menstruate at the same time?" The pilot asked and looked back to her.

She shrugged.

"Guess we all spend too much time together."

Artemis was waiting at the elevator for them. Rei was there also, she had a package of ice cream with her and ate directly out of it with a spoon.

SunTzu took off his helmet, climbed out of the cockpit and walked over to the two waiting earthlings.

Rei didn't even wait for SunTzu to stop before she walked in front of him and kissed him.

Her kiss was cold and tasted like strawberries so he made a mental note to always have an emergency ration of strawberry ice cream around.

"I missed you. Do you really have to fly around instead of staying with me?"

SunTzu smiled apologizing.

"I'm sorry, but you know that I have to substitute for Haruka and make a good impression for us here."

"Mhm." She nodded and looked down to the ground. "Alright."

Rei turned around, and while she take the next spoonful she walked over to the elevator and pressed the button.

"Rei?" He asked her.

She just held up her hand with the spoon and then entered the elevator.

Ooookayyy.

Artemis leaned in to him.

"Don't worry. I've been doing this for fifteen years now. It's just the first few days like that." He nodded understandingly and pat SunTzu's shoulder. "You'll get used to it."

"Err… Yes Sir, thank you Sir." Artemis forced a quick smile.

SunTzu straightened up.

"You requested our presence here?"

"Ah yes. Here, the data for the exercises."

The admiral handed him a data card.

"I'll be at the fleet command center if you need me. Don't take it too hard SunTzu."

"Will do Sir."

They nodded to each other and SunTzu got back to the cockpit.

Michiru stood at the pilot's seat when he got back.

"That didn't look like it went smooth, at least the part with Rei."

"No comment."

He held up the data card.

"Anyways. Wanna know where we go to?"

"I bet a coffee that it's in a desert."

"That's not exactly fair, you know."

"Want me to get hormonal too?"

"Okay, okay. I'll take the challenge."

They left and who would have known it was a base somewhere in nowhere, with nothing but sand and canyons around.

At least the base had hangars and fixed buildings.

They touched down outside a hangar.

A big Spaceship, around 300 meters long, with an almost rectangular shape but a cockpit sticking out of it, two missile batteries at the top end of the frame and two fins at the back as well as two large engines, was standing on the tarmac. The ship was mostly black but with white strips at the top frame, around the cockpit window and tip and at its backside.

Standing on tracked landing gear it gave off an elegant expression as it stood there in the afternoon sun, with the sun slowly sinking down on the horizon.

SunTzu climbed out the cockpit and jumped on the ground.

A team of four people in armor and helmets came over to them, one of them was obviously a woman as there was long blonde hair hanging down her back. Her armor and helmet where white and pink and the others, obviously men since they were taller and broader built had armor in white and each blue, red and black. All of them had holsters with blasters, the one in the black armor also a saber hanging from his hip.

Behind him Michiru climbed up to the TIE's hatch and took a seat there.

SunTzu took of his helmet and fixed the four people in armor coming towards them, as he leaned against the TIE.

The blonde took down her helmet and revealed that she was Major April Eagle, General Eagle's Daughter and one of four Star Sheriffs. The other Star Sheriffs followed and took off their helmets, revealing their faces.

"Bout time you made it. We were already betting that Sol wouldn't sent over a pilot." Colt mocked SunTzu.

"Sorry, we were a bit unlucky when it came to operational readiness of men and machine." Michiru answered from her seat as she removed her helmet and shook her colored hair out. Then she smiled at the four Star Sheriffs.

The group went and had dinner together and discussed the training program of the next days.

A small orientation flight lead by Colt in the Bronco Buster and through the surrounding area followed before Michiru and SunTzu said their goodbye and he brought her back to the hotel.

He had to promise her to check on Haruka.

A few minutes later SunTzu landed on board of the Far Side and gave the Far Side over to the care of Karlena and her crew.

He turned on his phone and it exploded with messages. How did they all even have web?

Haruka asked for Stuff, Minako asked for stuff, the King and Ami asked how training went and Hotaru asked for help in a certain theoretical exercise. No message from his girlfriend though.

He sighed and walked straight over to the cafeteria, answering messages on the way, getting soup and tea for Haruka and Ice cream for Minako. He first went to Minako, who was sitting in her bed in darkness with Diana lying next to her.

He delivered the ice cream and went off again with a smile.

"Thanks so much. I'll tell Rei how nice you are to everyone. Maybe this will make her calm down a bit."

Ah yes, everybody else already knew also.

Next stop was Haruka, who didn't look any better. SunTzu didn't tell her anything about that he was flying the Voyager and just made sure she was good.

Next stop was the Meiou Room, where he found Hotaru in a enormous black hoodie over her data pad. He took a look at the exercise and tried his best to help her. The only thing she actually did wrong was looking at things from the wrong direction and soon she could solve the exercise.

He got back to his room and after a shower he finally fell into his bed.

As soon as he closed his eyes his phone started ringing.

Caller ID stated it was Rei and he immediately took the call after seeing it was her.

He was greeted by sobbing.

"Rei, what's up?" He asked her worryingly.

More sobbing.

"Hey Baby, what happened?"

What followed was a tearful monolog, often interrupted by sobbing, how stupid and bad she was to treat him like she did that afternoon and how bad she felt about it now. The last time her period didn't made her act like she did today.

It took him fifteen minutes to calm her down enough that she stopped crying.

And she immediately went to her normal self then.

Except that she demanded gummy bears from the Far Side and asked if he could bring her some when he'd take Michiru in the next morning.

He promised her and she wished him a good night.

After ending the call the Pilot jibbed against turning off his telephone and went to sleep.


When he woke up he saw that he got like a message from Rei, sent in the middle of the night. The other Senshi demanded gummy bears too.

Good thing it was early morning and most of the ship was still sleeping, the sight of a star fighter pilot carrying around a bucket of gummy bears woulde be more than weird.

SunTzu landed at the rooftop a hour after sunrise and Michiru was already waiting, next to a tired looking King Endymion.

SunTzu got out and bowed down.

"Skip the formalities. Got the gummy bears?" The King asked him. Both glanced at each other and understood the other.

SunTzu got the bucket and handed it over to the King while Michiru got ready. A nod as goodbye to his king and a minute later they were on their way to training.

The next three days they were busy with training with Colt and the Bronco Buster as well as shooting exercises, Colt was one hell of a shooter. The evenings and mornings were also filled with taking care of the Senshi. On the third day a combined arms training with the Larties, Terra Squadron, Helicopter Gunships and Special Forces of the 7th Fleet's Cavalry Groundtroops, TF Sol Troopers and Commandos and the Star Sheriffs was held. They Star Sheriffs also brought out their toys like Saber's Droid Horse Stead and Fireball's Fury Racer, a mixture of a light wheeled tank and a race car. Michiru stated that Haruka would love this thing.

The big exercise was a great success and showed how good booth sides could work together.

On the fourth and last exercise day the pilot and his gunner found out what the big ship at the base was they saw the day before training.

Saber and the other Star Sheriffs lead them to a big underground hangar where the Ship was waiting.

"You might saw it before, but this is Ramrod, our hardest hitting weapon."

"Beautiful Ship." SunTzu stated.

"Can blast a Cruiser out of the Sky." Colt told him. "You should see him in action."

"Fast and agile too." Fireball continued.

"And today were practicing with him. You'll be flying Anti-Fighter-Escort." Saber Rider told them.

Michiru and SunTzu were waiting in the Voyager soon after.

"You seem a better today. I hope the last few days weren't too hard." He told his Wingmen.

"I am. Thanks for taking a bit of consideration with me." She replied.

"It's not like you were as demanding as the others. And I think Haruka will be fit again soon too."

"It was fun flying with you."

"I enjoyed it too. Great snub you two have here."

"Yes. But you miss flying AICA, right?"

"A lot. But I wouldn't mind to poach you in as my copilot. Just for the company."

They both laughed for a moment.

"I might consider this, even if only for Haruka's face. But on the other side, I guess it's better to watch over her in here when you guys are at it again."

"Fair point. It's about time she comes back, it's weird but I miss her mocking me."

They laughed some more.

Behind them a giant hatch opened and mechanical sound could be heard.

SunTzu turned around to see what's happening.

A giant elevator began to whir and after a few moments Ramrod appeared on a giant cargo elevator.

"Ramrod to Voyager, you guys ready to roll?" April came over the comm.

"Ready to take the big boy out for a dance."

Michiru replied.

SunTzu turned back to the controls and turned on the engines.

Behind them the bigger ship started it's powerful engines too and they roared to live while repulsors slowly rose the ship up.

As soon as it was a few dozen meters in the air Fireball gave thrust and the Frigate shot away.

SunTzu lifted the Voyager off too and followed after Ramrod.

"Pretty fast for a ship that size." He stated.

"Can you keep up Eyeball?" Fireball asked, using the pilot slang word for Ties.

Michiru and SunTzu turned around to each other, grinning sly. Her smile wasn't visible under her helmet but they both knew the other was smiling.

SunTzu cranked up the thrust and the Voyager rocketed forward towards Ramrod.

"Lieutenant SunTzu, would you please show these rural folks that the Voyager is one of the fastest ships in the galaxy."

"Yes Ma'am!"

He ascended from behind and under Ramrod and waited till he was above him and then flew close over it's frame ending with a headfirst turn over the cockpit before taking the lead and turning upwards again.

"Ah c'mon hombre, that was just showing off now." Colt came over the comm.

"I'll see you guys in space." SunTzu replied and gave more thrust, cockpit towards the sky.

They first trained in Space and then switched back down to Yuma, the Voyager always keeping close by Ramrod. They even had a small live fire exercise on the Yuma Training Grounds, Ramrod's firepower was outstanding.

Early afternoon they landed and had lunch together, the Star Sheriffs invited them into Ramrod's living quarters for a fresh made meal. Apart from SunTzu Michiru too established ties of friendship with the four. Michiru actually was a bit blue that Haruka couldn't join them, she probably would have liked the eloquent Saber Rider and Fireball as Racer very much. Next time then.

SunTzu was outside Ramrod and smoked a cigarette when an alarm started to blare on the base. He skipped away his cigarette and ran over to voyager, activating the systems and comms.

He radioed in on Ramrod as Michiru came spurting out the bigger ship, closing her flight suit.

"What's going on?" He asked over the comm.

"Looks like an unidentified warship just dropped into the neighboring system. I'm trying to get more infos." April replied, she was already sitting at her seat in Ramrod's cockpit.

Michiru jumped into the cockpit and took seat on her console.

"We're going to check it out." SunTzu told April.

"I'm riding along." Colt came in.

SunTzu lifted off and just as he turned the Voyager around to fly away the Bronco Buster left through Ramrod's open ramp.

Both starfighters accelerated and vanished into the sky.

A few minutes later they jumped into hyperspace for the small jump into the neighboring system, while the Fleet HQ still tried to scramble it's Quick Reaction Force that was in the midst of an exercise with the Far Side and it's accompanying Corvettes.

A few more minutes later they were in Yuma's neighboring system.

Michiru was searching for any signals on her console, the Voyager had way better sensors than the Bronco Buster.

"I got something." She yelled into the comm and then paused. "Uh Uh."

"Uh uh? I don't like Uh uh. What's the matter pretty lady?" Colt asked.

"I read an old Techno Union Cruiser and obviously it reads us too. It's activating it's shields and weapons. And it's deploying fighters.

The Cruiser took course towards them while a swarm of droid piloted Mankvim Light Interceptors rushed towards the two fighters.

"There's no more time to jump away. Give a headsup to HQ. Let's get some of these rattlesnakes!" Colt yelled and activated the Bronco Buster's Weapons.

SunTzu was right beside him while Michiru sent a message to the Rest of the fleet.

Within seconds the fighters clashed into each other's.

"Not to sound funkified but there's an awful lot of these rattlers around'ere."

The Cowboy was right, at least two dozen of the fast ships were swarming around them and although they could shoot some of them down the numbers were still against them. And this time AICA's artificial intelligence wasn't helping them either.

In between shooting from the back turret Michiru checked the scanners.

"Merde, I got another squadron fighters coming in."

Things were going down south very fast.

Suddenly a small alarm blared at Michiru and immediately after she took down one of the Techno Union Fighters with a well timed ion shot she looked at the scanner.

"Something fell out of hyperspace but I can't ping in on it."

It kept getting better and better.

"The object is behind us and shot missiles. Jink, jink, jink!" She warned the two pilots.

The pilots immediately flew evasive maneuvers, fortunately the Missiles weren't aimed at them.

The missiles suddenly split up and seven of the Mankvims exploded.

"Pilot, identify yourself!" Colt ordered over the open channel.

SunTzu knew, he could feel her, when she arrived although he wasn't sure it was possible.

"Mistress 9 reporting for duty. I see you guys need some help." A young sounding female voice came in.

"I can't say I like your Callsign young lady but welcome to the party. And thanks for helping us." Michiru greeted her fellow Outer Senshi.

"Mind if I lock in on some targets for you?" AICA came in. "Not that you deserve it, after replacing me with another fighter."

Yup, that was definitely AICA.

It took a moment as she took over the target computer of the Voyager but then he had a perfect lock on two of the enemy snubs and launched concussion missiles. Too bad they weren't equipped with multi-lock-on-missiles this time.

The missile made opening in the enemy ships gave them some time to form up and attack the enemy in order.

Colt took the lead with the other two's on his flanks and they attacked, swathing through the enemy. Soon only half of the Mankvim Interceptors was left and while the survivors split up the three Galactic Alliance Fighters went after them.

Especially Hotaru reaped death and destruction between them droids now. Picking out vulnerable targets with cold logic, it didn't took long and she had five dogfight kills.

"Leave some for us too Kiddo. It's still your first battle." SunTzu told her over the comm.

"Excuse me? Who is flying that A-Wing?" Colt asked. No way the other pilot just participated in her first battle.

"Colt, I introduced you to my trainee already. Flight Cadet Hotaru Meiou."

"It's a honor to fly next to you Captain Wilcox." Deadly and polite, SunTzu was immensely proud of her that moment.

"Like she was made for it." Michiru stated over the cockpit channel only she and SunTzu could hear.

"If she keep going on like this she will even surpass me and Haruka."

Observing how she and AICA soared through space and enemies he could swear that she one day would become one of the best five pilots in the universe, on par with Master Skywalker or Wedge Antilles.

Soon the remaining Mankvim fighters retreated back to their slowly incoming mother ship. And the cruiser left the problem what to do with it, the three fighters didn't had the firepower to attack the large capital ship.

They decided to circle the bigger ship in a distance and Michiru tried to call in reinforcements when suddenly something fell out of hyperspace.

"No need to worry, Reinforcements are already here." April came over the comm, Ramrod just arrived.

"Hey Cowboy, need a warm place to stay at?" She asked Colt

"Can't say no to a lady." The Bronco Buster turned around and headed for Ramrod's open ramp.

"Interrogative. What's that about?" Hotaru asked, surprised that the other pilot just veered away.

"Oh, just stay a bit aside and watch the show." Colt replied.

A minute later, Saber Rider came in, the enemy Cruiser was heading towards Ramrod now, already shooting.

"Everybody ready? Can we start the show?" Saber Rider asked.

"Give the signal big swashbuckler." Fireball replied.

A few moments passed.

"Now!" Saber commanded.

The big ship began to transform and April stated:

"Ramrod will now take navigational control."

"What the…?" SunTzu asked surprises.

Before they're eyes the slick battleship turned into a giant robot on two legs.

Nice trick.

After a few seconds the transformation was complete.

"Guys, let's blow this thing out of space." Saber Rider ordered his fellow Star Sheriffs.

Giant Laser cannons lifted up and extended over the robots upper body and Ramrod faced the CIS Cruiser that now was opening up against the giant robot, not even scratching on the shields of Ramrod.

"Target acquired, ready to melt some tin cans." Colt stated.

"Fire!"

A giant surge of firepower left the cannons and in the blink of an eye melted through the enemy cruiser's shields and then it's hull, melting it and cutting it apart. The two halves exploded in a big fireball.

"That fucking ruled." SunTzu stated mouth still open and Michiru behind him nodded in approval.

"My, aren't you a hunk." AICA commented on Ramrod's Robot form.


They mopped up and were soon be joined by a 7th Fleet Cruiser that relieved them.

The two starfighters escorted Ramrod, now back in it's ship form, back to the base and then headed for the Fleet HQ, where they escorted a Gunship back to the Far Side.

On the way back Hotaru told them that AICA's new engine was delivered just this morning and that she was on a test flight to check everything for Karlena when the message came in that the Voyager was going into combat. She didn't think for long and jumped to their position.

SunTzu would probably have done the same but it was more than risky. Michiru already told Hotaru that they'll have a little talk when they would land.

The Gunship landed first and the two fighters followed.

As the Gunship opened it's doors Artemis and Sailor Pluto came out, joined by the Princess.

AICA opened her canopy and Hotaru jumped out, running over to the Shuttle while Chibiusa ran towards her.

They both met halfway between and hugged each other.

SunTzu pulled down his helmet when a seemingly angry Michiru already opened the top hatch and got out.

A mad looking Artemis and a non pleased looking Sailor Pluto were also closing in onto Hotaru.

Oh Boy, she's in to get the rundown of her life now.

SunTzu sighed and got up.

Just as the three adults arrive where Chibiusa and Hotaru were standing someone yelled through the whole hangar.

"Cadet Meiou! A word!"

It was SunTzu that stormed towards her with energetic steps. People were so surprised that even the two older Senshi and the Admiral just looked into his direction.

She immediately snapped to attention and when he was in front of her she saluted.

He answered the salute and then embraced her in a fatherly hug.

"That was some great flying. I'm proud of you." He whispered into her ear.

He let her down and faced Artemis.

"Admiral Sir." He saluted. "I'm reporting that Cadet Meiou is ready for her pilot trial." He stopped and looked beside him where she stood, a shy look on her face and Chibiusa holding her hand.

"Also I have to report that Cadet Meiou shot down thirteen enemy snub fighters today, six of them in dogfighting. As her superior officer I recommend her for the silver ace medal of the Galactic Alliance Starfighter Corps." Artemis nodded, he seemingly was thinking through all of what he heard.

"And if I might add something on a personal note Admiral. Hotaru is on a way to become one of the best pilots in existence."

Artemis looked to the young Senshi and then back to SunTzu, he nodded.

"I'm not gonna scold a talent like that. Good work Lieutenants. Good Work cadet, I'm going to leave you to your mother now."

Artemis said and left the hangar.

SunTzu looked up to Setsuna. Her displeased look gave away to a proud smile.

She put a hand on Hotaru's shoulder and smiled at her and her adoptive daughter looked up to her and smiled back.

"Ah, now I cannot scold her either." Michiru said and hugged the smaller Senshi from behind.

"Good work but please think about that callsign again." Neptune continued. "I'm off to my girlfriend and tell her she'll get bested soon by a teenager. Later guys."

SunTzu looked over to Sailor Pluto.

"Don't worry, she's still gets a punishment for her risky action to join us in combat without permission."

"I do hope so Lieutenant. As her superior officer you do have an educational responsibility too." Sailor Pluto told him.

Wait, did she just smile at me?

"Hotaru, I leave you in the care of SunTzu. I hope you don't regret officially joining the military now." Pluto told her daughter.

"Let's leave the pilots to themselves and have some tea Chibiusa." She walked away.

Chibiusa looked back and forth between Pluto and Saturn, when Hotaru winked at her and motioned toward her mother.

Chibiusa understood and winked back.

"Let me know if you need a royal pardon. Hey Puu, wait for me!"

They watched the two Senshi leave and Hotaru turned around to SunTzu afterwards.

"So, what's my punishment?"

"You'll see. Follow me."

They went over to Karlena and the ground crew and SunTzu thanked everyone personally for the fast and good work on AICA and that they would have a tab on him tonight.

Then he took a bucket and a mop and gave it to Hotaru.

"Cadet, AICA and the Voyager, I want them spick and span and shining. And now excuse me. I have to call in to a certain diplomat and let her know I'm back."


While the next day was mostly filled with packing up and getting everything back on the Far Side for the regular troops, Terra Squadron and Commandos SunTzu had time to peacefully and unbothered fly around with AICA.

Rei was unfortunately pretty busy with her diplomatic work these days but she could score some contracts for Joint Ventures between the New Frontier and Earth.

Although it sucked that they couldn't spent time together he was proud how good of a diplomat she was becoming. Even handicapped, she really felt miserable the last few days but was well again today.

A dinner to celebrate the successful exercises was planned and even the three disgraced earthlings, Mako, Mina and SunTzu were allowed to participate.

This time there was a different seating order and a drink limit though.

Haruka was fit enough again and she came along also, much to everyone's liking, she had been missed, especially by her girlfriend and her wingman.

The pilots were sitting at the same table again, except for Sailor Saturn. Mommy wanted her on guard duty with herself and Hotaru wasn't much in a position to argue with her actions yesterday.

Robin, Colt's wife participated again also and Minako was at their table too.

The rest of the Star Sheriffs were on the table with General Eagle, the Royals of Crystal Tokyo and Jarr, Ami Artemis and Luna. There were rumors that Endymion and Saber Rider had a training sword fight and at those two seemed to get along quite well. Same went for Ami and April, Analysts need to stick together after all. The prince of Jarr was missing tonight. Maybe the poor fella needed time to heal his heart that was broken by the goddess of Love a few days ago.

Makoto was back at a table with officers, she gained a certain notoriety for pushing her commandos and herself and never stoping. Hulk told her she was even more running them down than usual but also participated in everything, leading from the front. If she wanted to prove something she overachieved it even and apart from earth's forces even the hardest and most elite units of the 7th Fleet had tons of respect in her abilities and durability now.

The only one that was missing was Rei. Minako, who sat next to him, told him that she had been busy the whole day till shortly before the dinner began and that she probably would stay in her room tonight.

He tried to call her but her phone was shut off, so he figured she was probably sleeping. Or was she mad about something? What did he do? Was it because he was flying in fighter along Michiru? He decided to visit her at her room before he would fly back to the Far Side.

The dinner started with some toasts and allocutions praising the attendees and participates of the exercises and the good results.

Michiru, the Star Sheriffs, Hotaru and SunTzu were praised also for their swift action against the opposing Techno Union Cruiser and it's fighters. SunTzu didn't even listen right, just that part where Michiru and Hotaru were praised, his mind was with Rei.

What if she really is angry?

Not even the constant shittalking of Colt and Haruka all through dinner against him and each other made him cheer up. Haruka complained a lot but took the fact that he flew the Voyager better than he expected. Maybe it helped that the ship was shining when Haruka inspected it the first time after getting healthy again.

Dessert just ended and he was talking about Hotaru's next steps to become a pilot with Michiru and Minako, in which midst he was sitting in, as someone stopped in front of their table and cleared his throat.

They all looked up.

Rei was standing there, wearing a tight cut version of the fine and traditional dresses of Yuma in a black and purple colors and lots of lace along cowboy boots and matching gloves. Her hair was styled beautifully and she looked breathtaking.

She looked to Michiru and then to Minako.

"Ladies. I appreciate that you entertained my boyfriend this last few days but Rei Hino is finally back." She came around the table and extended her hand toward her boyfriend, slipping down the glove.

A very, very positively surprised SunTzu got up and gave her a hand kiss.

"Anyone mind if I borrow my boyfriend back?" She said, put her glove on again and took his hand, leading him out of the room. SunTzu waved goodbye to the table, grinning happily.

They entered the elevator.

"You think they have cameras in here?"

"Pretty sure about that."

"Good. Let's give them a show."

She pressed him against the wall and started to kiss him wildly.

The couple went to the top of the building and AICA was waiting for them at the landing spot.

"I asked her to come down here for us, before I went to take you. I hope you don't mind the small kidnapping." Rei said, smiling a bit nervous.

No, not at all.

The canopy opened and SunTzu lifted Rey up and climbed into the cockpit while carrying her, they didn't even bothered about getting out the second seat. Her dress had a petticoat and he had to make sure that everything was inside before he closed the canopy.

He took stick and throttle and she closed her hands around his. They were flying together.

AICA lifted off and headed out in the direction of the desert.

After ten minutes they landed on a flat topped mountain and got out. SunTzu pulled out two blankets from the storage compartments and spread one out to sit onto.

The second one he slung around the two of them as Rei settled down on his lap. Even if the desert would get chilly at night they wouldn't be cold. They observed Yuma's moons a bit in the beautiful night before Rei turned around and started whispering into SunTzu's ear. Soon they started to kiss each other full of relish.

The next day, Rei and SunTzu came back just in the morning hours, the Inner Circle of the Royal Kingdom of Crystal Tokyo said it's goodbyes to General Eagle and the Star Sheriffs.

SunTzu and Colt were the last to say goodbye and both pilots hugged each other.

"You're definitely no Greenhorn anymore bud. Let a Cowboy know if ya need help or something."

"Betcha and dito. I'll see you around."

They shook hands.

"Let's stay at giving each other a run for his money when it comes to combat scores. May the force be with you."

Soon afterwards, Earth's Expeditionary Taskforce was on it's way back home.

SunTzu and Rei were practically inseparable the whole trip back to Earth.

And they finally had time to watch TopGun together. Although they needed several tries to actually finish the movie