A few hours of well needed sleep later SunTzu woke up because Rei had started to stroke his thighs.
He looked down at her and she smiled widely at him.
"Good morning. I think the sun is rising. Outside quite the activity already is going on. I gave you a few minutes more after I woke up. You're cute when you sleep in a sitting position."
"Good Morning Beautiful." He smiled and closed his eyes briefly again. In midst of a war and after a day in the field she still was so beautiful.
Rei Hino, you piece of Art.
"Oh please, I look horrible. But thank you." She got up and kissed him and then laid her head against his chest as she loved to do.
"Let's get up. We still have a dry dock to liberate."
The couple got ready and stepped outside. On the horizon, over the sea, the sun was rising.
Shuttles and troop transports came in and brought Army Troopers to relieve the elite troops. The stormtroopers in turn flew back to the Stalwart.
Outside Diplomat and Pilot noticed that Lieutenant Baum still stood at the same place. As if she didn't had moved the whole night.
The medic of Team 2 came over with a iron can full of coffee, so they went back inside and got their canteen cups and decided to have breakfast. SunTzu cemented his status from yesterday evening when he conjured a piece of chocolate out of his backpack.
They packed up and went outside. Team 2 would be the last to get picked up as the LAAT/is we're busy flying around the regular troops to make sure the other islands except the one with the docks were really pacified.
Reinforcements for garrison duties in form of RASP and Militia troops had arrived in System this night as well.
It was around seven in the morning when their transport finally came in.
The lovers just had said their See you later to the two Connors and Lieutenant Baum.
The Taskforce Members boarded the gunship and O'Connell was the last earthling to leave the island. They flew with open doors again and the gunship flew low over the village they saved. Down there life already went on again and people were repairing their houses and doing their work. They even saw kids playing in the streets. Rei and SunTzu looked at each other while sitting on the edge and then she laid her head on his shoulder and SunTzu took her hand in his.
As they just crossed over the sea the Voyager came up next to them and Michiru waved at them from her rear seat.
They waved back, good to see that the two Outers were doing well as well.
The Larty landed at the Far Side and after greeting AICA and asking Karlena if the fighter was ready the couple were about to leave for the command center when the Voyager landed also.
They waited for their two friends, the commandos already went to the command center.
"My god, you two look horrible."
"Good Morning to you too Haruka." Rei and SunTzu said unisono.
The foursome walked up to the command center, and although they cleaned themselves as best as they could, Sailor Mars, SunTzu and the rest of the commandos were a stark contrast to the clean and curried fleet officers in the room.
Except for Artemis, who looked like he had slept in his uniform. He, a few of his staff members and the pilots looked more tired than anybody else in the room except the attending ground forces.
The plan was a swift air assault from multiple directions, backed up by some speeder vehicles coming in.
TF Sol's Troops would come in from the southwest and land on a small strip of beach, a few hundred kilometers away from the docks. The 2M-Repulsor Tanks and ITT Repulsor Transports would follow.
Behind the beach the jungle began again and a pathway also led through the jungle to the main road to the docks.
This was the first attack but it just was a decoy, the main assault would come from the north. Stormtroopers would be flown in, in large numbers and fight their way over the island.
Sensor and picture data showed a large number of droids and enemy vehicle on the island, their numbers in the thousands.
There also would be anti-vehicle and anti-air weapons but they still tried to get as much air support as possible. Artillery would be brought in too.
If everything would fail, the Stalwart would destroy the docks via an orbital bombardment, which would destroy the planet's main way of income and hamper ship building, refitting and repairing efforts for the whole Galactic Alliance.
Artemis then came to the details on how they would assault Target Okinawa.
Team 2 was to insert via a rubber craft boat brought in by air a few kilometers afar from the island and then scout the beach and clear a landing zone.
Sailor Mars's arm came up.
"I have an proposal Admiral. Let me and SunTzu fly in with AICA first, stealthy and fast. We secure the beach and make sure troops can be flown in as fast as possible."
"Thank you for your proposal Sailor Mars but I can't approve this without the Queen's consent. And it would take hours to get an answer from her now." Artemis declined the idea.
"Sir, I support Sailor Mars' idea. AICA is able to hide before any scanner the Droids could have. And we already would have firepower at the beach. Plus could ferry in troops way faster. Violence of Action."
The Admiral looked at the Lieutenant for a moment. Then he sighed.
"Alright. You personally are responsible that Sailor Mars comes back in one piece, Lieutenant."
SunTzu looked at Rei and they shared a small smile.
"As always, Sir."
The meeting ended soon and people poured out the room. The three Senshi and SunTzu stayed put.
"I heard Oki is nice this time of the year."
The Senshi around him took all on a wry grin.
Short time afterwards they all were in the hangar and getting ready. Even Artemis was there and overlooked the whole scene.
SunTzu was just stowing extra ammunition into AICA as Team 2 came over to Mars who was leaning against AICA.
Gunny O'Connell pulled down his helmet.
"Sailor Mars, we heard that you're also a priestess and asked us if you could bless us before going to Battle. We're no Shintoists tough."
Rei thought about it for a second. She didn't had any of her ritual clothes or a haraegushi for the blessing here. But she was one of just a few fully educated female priestesses and who would turn down an offer from men going to combat.
"I have to freestyle a bit here but we'll manage. Form up guys." She turned around to the hangar.
"Listen People, let's have a small gathering to share a prayer before we go to combat. Anybody is invited to join. Just get here." She yelled into the hangar.
SunTzu appeared next to her and walked around her. He kneeled down next to her right, put his hands together on his knees. She put her hands on his shoulder for a short moment. Usagi wasn't the only one with her personal knight anymore she thought.
People, humans and aliens of all kinds gathered together in front of Rei. Artemis was standing in the middle of the group, soldiers, sailors, guards, ground crew, pilots and officers scattered all around, as were Haruka and Michiru. Karlena was standing up front even. Basically everyone in the hangar gathered around Sailor Mars.
Sailor Mars spoke a traditional Shinto Prayer and asked the gods to bless the honorable and fierce warriors of the Taskforce and their allies.
After she finished people shook each other's hand, patted backs and gave wellwishings. It was time to liberate the last part of the planet.
Artemis walked up to Rei.
"Thanks for this Rei. Me and the troops appreciate it." He said with a quiet voice.
"Of course. I'm glad I can do my part in any way possible here."
"We start in fifteen minutes. Are you guys ready?"
"Well, everyone gets a last cigarette, right? But other than that, we're good."
SunTzu came around the A-Wing and motioned that they were good to go. AICA was running a checkup right now.
He pulled out a package of cigarettes and shook it in his hands.
"I'll come along." Artemis said when they started to walk.
"We also." Haruka said.
The group of five hurried to the observation deck.
SunTzu and Rei lighted up their cigarettes and looked out the window. The view of the beautiful atoll and sea in front of them was still breathtaking.
They were standing at the window, her head at his shoulder again, quietly gazing out the window, when Haruka came up to SunTzu's left.
"You guys are pretty ballsy these days. Do me a favor and take care down there."
"Sure thing. Same thing goes for you guys up in the air." SunTzu replied. Haruka also led her head on his shoulder, while Michiru appeared next to Rei and did the same with hers. Artemis stood behind them. All of them now looked out the observation window.
"This last battle and we can go home again." Artemis put his hand over Rei's shoulder and she took it. A school of large whale like creatures swam below them.
"At least till the next battle calls." Michiru stated.
"Guess we get going then." SunTzu said as he took the last draw from his cigarette.
A few minutes later they were at their positions, Artemis in the Command Center with a leased line to the Stalwart's Mission Control Center and the four others in the fighters, waiting for the command to go.
"Someone from the Stalwart sent a Holo." AICA came in. "It says Captain Connor."
"Connor? Okay, play it."
The stormtrooper Captain appeared on the small holo player above AICA's console.
"Good day Sailor Mars, good day Lieutenant. I just wanted to inform you that we requested to support your part of the operation. We're on standby, if you need us, just call us in. See you at the beach then."
Great, some extra fire- and manpower wouldn't be wrong.
SunTzu checked his chrono, twenty seconds till the Mission would start.
He reached back and grabbed Rei's hand quickly before he took a deep breath, closed his eyes and concentrated for a moment, drawing some energy from the Force in.
Artemis came in. "Mission is go."
SunTzu opened his eyes and lifted the starfighter off the hangar floor.
AICA in complete stealth mode, cutted down on any emission that could gave her away, they flew just below the supersonic barrier and just so high, that they didn't leave any marks on the water.
Music was playing in the cockpit.
Just me and my Girlfriend.
Two minutes until they would reach the island with the docks and AICA cut off the music. It was complete radio silence now.
Both were a bit tense, not knowing what would really await them but they were eager to successfully finish their mission.
The island came into view, the beach appearing in front of them.
SunTzu checked the systems again and then hardened the grip around the controls.
Thirty seconds… so far so good… twenty seconds… still no incoming fire… ten seconds… maybe they wait till they have us bullseye…
And then they were over the beach and he decelerated to halt In a few moments.
AICA was now hovering low over the beach.
Still no enemy fire or visible presence.
"Wait here. I'll check it out." SunTzu said and opened his straps. He was flying in plate carrier and combat clothes, as he arrived on the Far Side this morning. Sailor Mars also.
He took the short rifle he stored in the cockpit and opened the canopy jumping out. The canopy immediately closed again and AICA also extended her defence blaster.
SunTzu hit the sand and checked the surroundings.
So far nothing suspicious. He advanced a few steps and then jumped in the sand, lying on his stomach, scanning for targets.
So far, so good. He kept scanning and after a minute he told AICA to turn on the close proximity scanners and see if the beach was mined or if she could detect anything nearby.
A few moments later her answer came, she couldn't detect anything.
The canopy opened again and Sailor Mars left the cockpit.
She ran up to her boyfriend and laid down also.
"You know, I actually imagined playing in the sand with you different than this."
The beach was wonderful, and the palms surrounding the strip of sand, that lead into the light blue ocean, made the scenery look like straight from a travel brochure wouldn't it be for the armed guy lying in the sand, his magical girl girlfriend lying beside and the black A-Wing hovering behind them.
They waited another minute and SunTzu told AICA to increase the sensor range. Still no signs of enemies.
"Alright, I'm gonna call it. Girls stand by." He told the Senshi and the AI.
"Far Side, this is SunTzu. No sign of enemy presence at Oki 2. I'm opening the LZ, potentially hot." Oki 2 was the name of the landing zone at the beach, and SunTzu marked it as potentially dangerous.
"Copy SunTzu, Gunships Two inbound, ETA seven minutes. Terra One and Three are twenty clicks to your south, ready to support."
Seven minutes till Team 2 would arrive, Odegana and Ritz in there starfighters were on call nearby if needed.
AICA still scanned the surroundings, so far everything went way better than expected.
Sailor Mars and SunTzu were still lying in the sand.
"See anything moving?" He asked her and she shook her head.
"This was way easier than i thought."
That moment AICA came in.
"I have contacts on my scanners, two STAPs coming in from East to West, 200 Meters."
"Me and my big mouth." Rei said and looked over to SunTzu.
"AICA, slowly back up away from the beach. Not that they see you from the road."
The A-Wing hovered backwards and to the side trying to get out of sight.
SunTzu checked his chrono, four minutes left.
"Far Side, SunTzu coming in, I got two Bogeys coming in. Possible scouts."
"Copy SunTzu. You're cleared to engage to defend yourself."
AICA was out of sight from the street now but still tracked the scout repulsor platforms.
"STAPs changed their direction, they're heading here now."
SunTzu sighed.
"Just when I thought it would get boring." Sailor Mars commented.
SunTzu got his rifle ready and took aim at the path leading away from the beach, beside him the Sailor Guardian casted a flame arrow.
The two STAPs came in fast, both manned by a B2 Super Droid.
Before they could react the first droid was hit by a flaming arrow into his visual sensors and the STAP the droid was steering yanked around and crashed into the other repulsorcraft. The machines exploded at the beginning of the beach and flames and black smoke rose up into the sky.
"Cover me!" SunTzu said and jumped up, running towards the wrecks.
After sprinting over the rest of the beach he came to the burning wrecks. Just as he thought, the second droid was still active. Although his lower part and the his weapon arm were ripped off he still dragged himself over to the palm trees.
SunTzu ran over to the droid, stepped on it's back and let off a long salvo from point blank into the droids upper back.
The machine stopped moving.
Fuck, that droid probably managed to alert the other tincans.
SunTzu, immediately turned around and run back towards Rei. He pushed the send button on his Push-To-Talk-Device.
"Far Side, this is SunTzu. Two STAPs neutralized, expect Hot LZ."
"Copy, HOT LZ. ETA for reinforcements 90 seconds."
The Pilot ran up next to Rei, turned around and got down again. He looked at the smoke rising up over the palm trees.
"So much for dull moments."
"Let's bet what will be the next coming down that road. Loser pays dinner when we're home again." Sailor Mars said as their both gazes fixed on the dirt road leading into the jungle.
"I bet it's a tank. Maybe even with a shield, just because Karma hates us."
"You're so negative sometimes." She paused for a moment. "On the other side, you're right, Karma does hate us. So I'll go with those mechanic cockroaches."
"Droidekas?"
"Yeah, this things. God, I fucking hate them." She paused a moment. "I'm so looking forward to Kobe Beef then."
They could hear something coming in from behind, while SunTzu aimed at the road, Sailor Mars took a look behind.
Thank god, it was Team 2.
As the Gunship hovered closer three discs rolled down the road and expanded themselves as soon as they were on the beach.
"Fuck!" SunTzu yelled, partly because the three Droidekas, partly because he lost the bet.
"God, I hate that fucking Bitch called Karma!" Rei cursed and casted a flame arrow. "But don't you think you can buy yourself out with sex or something. I want my Kobe Beef!"
The Droidekas were activating theirs shields in the moment SunTzu opened fire, one was even hit by a bullet but it didn't do much damage.
Behind the couple the Larty opened its doors and Commandos were pouring out, some already starting to shoot at the Droids.
LAAT/i 2, assigned transport for Team 2 on this planet, had turrets with gunners installed on it's sides and the one facing the forest and the droids opened up too, just as them started to fire too.
How things can change from splendid to royally screwed up in not even five minutes SunTzu thought as he emptied his magazine, trying to get down the shield of one of the Droidekas.
When the magazine was empty he called in the Far Side again.
"Hot LZ, repeat Okinawa 2 is a Hot LZ!"
Sailor Mars beside him let go of another arrow that almost got through trough the shield of one of the Destroyer droids.
Bolts where impacting around the earthlings.
One Droideka finally exploded under concentrated fire from the gunship, while blaster bolts swirred around it and some even hit the frame and doors of the ship.
Suddenly something came hissing over behind them and the two remaining Droidekas exploded.
When things go dire, trust in the Artificial Intelligence controlled A-Wing that is usually hanging around.
"Sorry for coming late, my favorite meat bags. I intercepted another patrol on the west of the island."
Better late than never.
O'Connell dropped down next to the Sailor Guardian and her Guardian.
"Enjoying the day at the beach?"
"So-so, they have vermin." Rei replied.
"And the rental price on the beach chairs is pure infamy." SunTzu continued.
"Well, apart from the smoke, fire and imminent incoming enemy troops it's pretty nice here." The Commando Team Leader said.
"That's what I like about you grunts. You always see the nice side of things." SunTzu replied.
"Thank you Sir. Please give my life coaching account a follow when we get home."
The Gunnery Sergeant aimed his rifle down the road.
"Might want to get a better defensive position. Hey LT, any suggestions?"
"Hm. Up to the tree line, at least some cover and vehicles and bigger formations will be on a choke point. And we let AICA blow up everything coming up that street." SunTzu proposed.
"I'd do the same. Lieutenant, if things stay like that we will still make a full-fledged ground dweller out of you." Gunny O'Connell replied and gave the orders to advance to the other commandos.
"I know you're working on your tan but I'm afraid we have to go now Moeru Shojō."
"Ugh, this beach day sucks."
While they were rushing towards the tree line SunTzu contacted the Far Side again.
"Command, what about Reinforcements? When can the SOC Company from the Stalwart be here?"
They formed a half circle around the approach to the beach with AICA facing down the road and got ready to defend the beach and the landing zone.
SunTzu switched his rifle to the longer one he used yesterday and also took the belt of grenades with him.
AICA soon reported enemies coming in, at least a company of foot mobiles and a tank platoon of four AAT Repulsor Tanks.
SunTzu sent her into hiding again and they got ready for heavy contact.
As the first tank came into sight a hundred meters down the road AICA veered over and launched a missile.
The missile exploded and sent the tanks turret flying while the rest of the vehicle crashed into the earth.
The A-Wing rose higher and launched a second missile, which destroyed the last tank in line, trapping two more tanks in the middle of the narrow jungle road.
The Droids, marching in formation behind the tanks, now broke their formation and stormed forward.
The two remaining tanks tried to break sideways through the jungle but didn't make it far because the trees deeper in the forest were too thick to break them instantly by flying in.
The first droids came into sight and the Commandos, Senshi and SunTzu opened fire.
Sailor Mars made another triple kill with one flame arrow when she shot into a file of tree B1-Droids, destroying them.
AICA was hovering low over the beginning of the road and spew laser fire down.
A pair of STAP-Speeders shot over the forest and towards the beach, they had almost reached the beach as a big explosion made them both vanish and rain debris over the jungle and the beach.
One of the commandos had to jump away to not get hit by the destroyed torso of a combat droid.
"You really thought we won't join in the fun?" Haruka came over the radio and the Voyager shot over the beach.
She fired another missile and destroyed one of the AATs in the forest.
An explosion followed by black smoke raise up from inside the jungle.
The enemy answered with a heat seeking missile and firing flares the Tie-Aggressor turned away towards the ocean and accelerated.
"Don't worry, we will be back!" Haruka came in again.
Above them the missile's lock on the Voyager was intercepted by the flares and the missile exploded somewhere over the jungle.
More and more battle droids came in and they came closer and closer.
AICA had to turn away after Droids shot rockets at her.
SunTzu shot droids in rapid order while Rei next to him shot flame arrow after flame arrow into the flooding droids. He mainly shot at the more fragile B1s while she took aim at the SBDs.
Another big explosion rocked the jungle.
"I told you we'll be back!"
The last tank had been destroyed but the Voyager had to immediately turn away again as another missile was fired at it.
Haruka's cursing came over SunTzu's radio.
Although they did their best and destroyed droids by the dozen the machines slowly advanced further and further.
They were about to get ready to fall back when three assault transports came soaring in from the ocean and touched down at the beach.
Ramps slide down and Stormtroopers poured out, running over the beach towards the jungle.
The first stormtroopers dropped down next to the Commandos and opened fire on the droids.
Lieutenant Baum appeared on the road and sent a hail of fire from her blaster down the path, AICA hovered up behind her and did the same, the narrow path changed into pure carnage filled with blaster bolts and laser fire.
Sergeant Major Connor dropped down next to SunTzu.
"Glad you could make it to our beach day Sergeant Major."
"I see everybody is trying to hit the beach up also. Glad we came in time."
"Me too. This place is too beautiful to get shot at."
The female NCO shook her head with a smile and started shooting.
Soon the droid's advance stalled and the first Galactic Alliance Troops moved up.
"All GA Personnel on and around Okinawa be advised. Stalwart is launching a Base Delta Three for SEAD. Keep your heads down!" The command structures came over tactical channels. The Star Destroyer in Orbit would shoot single laser shots onto specified targets, a Base Delta was the Code for Orbital Bombardment in any size with Base Delta Zero a total one and Delta Three single aimed shots. In this case it was aimed for Suppression of Enemy Air Defense.
A minute later four single green streaks rained from the sky and hit the earth, leading to secondary explosions.
The Voyager came in again and rushed over the western part of island, from Okinawa Two towards Okinawa One, the landing zone for the main attack force.
No missiles or anti-air fire followed the starfighter this time.
Immediately Okinawa One was cleared as open and shuttles and transports from the Stalwart made their way to the planet, guarded by the Preybirds-Squadron.
While the Stalwart's troops were on the way, the first troopers form the TF Sol came in in two Larties and reinforced the landing zone.
Connor and O'Connell ordered an advance and the allied troops began to move forward shooting the still incoming droids.
Sailor Mars and SunTzu got up and moved up as well.
They were cautiously advancing and took cover behind a tree when they observed something very weird.
The Stormtrooper Lieutenant Baum, a girl a few years younger than them ran up onto a group of droids, destroyed two from point blank with her large repeating blaster as she was grabbed by a Super Battle Droid, she threw the heavy blaster away and punched the droid in the visual sensors. To the surprise of the two onlookers it had a massive effect on the droid and it let her go and stumbled away. A B1 came in with a vibro blade. The girl grabbed him and ripped the droid's metallic arm off, which was holding the blade. She grabbed the blade and used it to destroy the B1 and then drove the blade into the Super Battle Droid that just found its balance again and was about to shoot her.
After both droids were down she looked around and picked up her blaster again, as If nothing happened and marched on.
"Did you just see that? And i thought Jupiter was strong." Mars said, awed from what she just saw.
"Something is definitely weird about this girl." SunTzu replied as he got up
and moved on.
The combined forces of Commandos and Stormtroopers soon seized the intersection leading to the beach and swarmed out.
On the northwest of the island the first flights from the Stalwart came in and brought Stormtroopers, Speederbikes and AT-ST-Walkers to the island.
The first group of Scouttroopers on Speederbikes linked up shortly afterwards with the Alliance Troops defending the jungle street.
The droid onslaught had stopped, the enemy probably used the rest of his troops to defend the decks on the east of the island.
First patrols were sent out to scout through the jungle and down the roads, with troops ready to support and backup the scoutparties in a moment's notice.
More and more equipment was flown in and soon the first AT-AT, flanked by infantry and followed by a cohort of AT-STs walked down the jungle road and waited for further orders on the intersection.
Smaller gunfights were reported all over the place.
SunTzu and Sailor Mars were back at the beach and the pilot helped from the ground to coordinate the incoming transports, outgoing MedEvacs and air support.
A flight of two LAAT/I brought in some troopers with mortars that were immediatly deployed at the north of the beach.
As soon as the tubes were up, the first fire mission for them came in and from then every few minutes a series of the typical thump-noise that mortars made when they shot was heard on the beach and it's surroundings.
Terra Squadron, the Voyager and the Tie-Bombers flew Air Support Missions and looked for targets of opportunity.
Four Bombers, led and supported by the Voyager, destroyed a battery of Droid Artillery on a small jungle path closing in. They were trying to get into position to shell the larger Landing Zone on the northwest. A mixed team of Scouttroopers and Commandos detected them and immediately called in the Airstrike.
When sufficient troops had been flown in the assault on the docks was ordered, carried out by the AT-ATs, now there were four of them, AT-STs and regular Stormtroopers.
The Commandos and Scouttroopers would still do the Recon and the SOC Company was held back as operative reserve. Artemis ordered SunTzu to join the company as JTAC and Sailor Mars of course followed her boyfriend along.
The couple was sitting together on a rock overlooking the intersection when the gigantic AT-ATs walked past, leaving traces of their legs in the mud of the jungle road, their escorts close by.
SunTzu pulled out a water bottle from a pouch on his plate carrier and gave it to Rei. She nodded and took it. The climate here was typically tropical and myriads of insects were buzzing around. Good thing they generously applied insect repellent before they came here.
Captain Connor and his Lieutenant came up to them. Both had their helmets under their arms.
"How you guys doing?"
"We're doing fine Sir, thank you. Also thanks for the help at the beach to you personally again."
"You're more than welcome. Let me know if you need something."
"Actually… I'd like to ask something. It might be a bit intimate tho." Rei chimed in suddenly.
The Lieutenant tilted her hand again as Rei asked further and looked up to her.
"From one girl with superpowers to the other, who or what are you Lieutenant? We saw you defeat droids in hand to hand combat, something my physical strongest guardian sister would have their problems with."
The two Stormtrooper Officers looked at each other, hesitating.
"She's a machine. Living tissue over a metallic skeleton." Came in from behind, it was the Sergeant Major.
"Mom…" The Captain said. So, they actually were family, mother and son even.
"It's okay John. She's one of the guardians Lord Vader was talking about."
Captain Connor nodded and looked back to Lieutenant Baum before he extended her hand to her and she took it, gently. She stepped forward and looked to Sailor Mars.
"I'm a Terminator, T-900 Class. An infiltration model, designed to not stand out between humans. Another term for me would be human replica droid." She was still holding Connor's hand and the two earthlings saw that he was actually caressing her hand gently.
"She's more advanced than other… droids. And capable to feel."
That was something new for a machine SunTzu thought but on the other side, AICA was very, very human in her behavior too.
"It's a long story but we somehow ended in the service of Lord Vader shortly after he came back." The mother, Sarah Connor continued.
"I see." Rei stood up and extended her hand to Cameron. "I'm Rei Hino, Galactic Alliance Diplomatic Corps. Well, that's when I'm not Sailor Mars, one of the guardians of our stellar system."
The droid looked at the extended in front of her and after a moment took it and shook it. Her handshake and the sensation of her skin were not to tell apart from a real young woman.
"A tin woman with feelings and a woman throwing fireballs. It sure is a strange galaxy." Sarah Connor stated dryly.
They talked on for a few more minutes, about the physical strength of Cameron and where they all already had been in this war.
A few kilometers further the battle had began and heavy blaster fire, explosions and other sounds of battle could be heard.
The radio sprang to life and a Major asked for backup in his sector.
Captain John Connor answered the call and a few minutes later the Special Operations Capable Company and their two attached earthlings were rushing towards the sound of chaos.
The Walkers were in the jungle slugging it out with an army of CIS vehicles rushing towards them, supported by infantry with rocket launchers and Ion-Blasters.
Single units of stormtroopers already made it to the outer perimeter of the heavily defended docks.
Air support wasn't available because of the high amount of enemy fire they were taken from the ground but the mortars from the beach were shooting round after round towards the enemy fortifications.
The elite stormtroopers reached the tree line and Captain Connor and the Sergeant Major went to talk with the Major that called them in.
Cameron, Sailor Mars and SunTzu were lying in cover, scanning the scene.
A fortified emplacement with two forward facing proton cannons and repeating blasters was stopping the advance. The burning wreck of an AT-AT laid crashed on his front legs a few dozen meters away from the emplacement.
SunTzu had an idea and pushed his PTT. It was risky but AICA was precise enough and there was some distance between the fortification and the tree line where the own troops where.
"AICA, do you have some laser guided ordnance with you, preferably small yield?"
"Affirmative, two Viper Strikes."
The A-Wing responded, stating that two small laser guided bombs were ready to be dropped from her bomb bay.
"Okay, I need you to get up above the clouds and get ready to drop them. Tell me when you're ready for the laser lock."
"On the way."
SunTzu nestled a laser device, looking like a large Laserpointer out of his gear, checked it's status and turned it on. A barely visible laser pointer appeared and he aimed it at the fortification with the guns, that were decimating the assaulting GA Forces.
A few moments later AICA came in again.
"Standing by for target."
Good thing they were a sworn in team and didn't need a multiple liner code to get the air support on the way.
"Target is lased."
"Lock on on laser, opening bomb bay."
"Copy." SunTzu activated his other radio.
"All personnel be advised, danger close ordnance drop on the fortification with the two canons is imminent. Take cover."
The yell Take cover was to be heard around the lines.
"Ready to engage." AICA came in.
"Cleared hot!" SunTzu allowed her to drop the bombs.
"Bomb away."
A small bomb left the snub's bomb bay while she was flying over the clouds and the small piece of ordnance took course to where the laser beam was lighted on.
Twenty three seconds later the bomb hit the chassis of one of the proton cannons and exploded, ripping the canon and everything around it apart. The explosions also ignited the cannons ammunition behind it and the proton shells exploded with a second bigger explosion destroying the rest of the fortification including the second cannon. A blast wave run through the forest and Cameron shielded Sailor Mars with her body and armor. SunTzu cowered down beside them, mouth open to resist the blast wave. Trees were shaking and leaves fell down all around.
All that was kept left from the fortification was a smoking crater and some debris.
It took a moment but then the Major screamed attack and hundreds of Stormtroopers rose up and advanced on the enemy's positions.
AT-STs were storming out of the forest and fired on targets.
SunTzu came up again and jumped towards his Girlfriend.
"Are you okay?" He took her head in his hands and looked in her face, Cameron covered both with her body now and scanned for targets.
"I'm good. That was one big explosion." She started to giggle amused.
Spurred by the destruction of the fortification the Alliance troops now overrun the outer perimeter and the AT-ATs waltzed on from out of the forest, making enemy emplacements and groupings go up in explosions as their heavy laser cannons on their cockpits spat death.
The droids were on the retreat now but still outnumbered the Stormtroopers.
The ratio from droid to stormtrooper casualties was more than twenty to one but still every death hurted. Those were people dying here and not faceless numbers as the old Galactic Empire believed in.
Repulsor Transports were brought in nearby the tree line and took the injured and wounded to the landing zone, where they were flown out to the Stalwart's Medbays.
After another half a hour of fighting the last remaining droids held a last defensive line around the docks.
Most anti-air-emplacements had been destroyed and the Voyager and pair wise, Terra Squadron as well as the Preybirds shot down from below and strafed the enemy trenches.
The AT-ATs marched on and draw fire while infantry advanced.
Soon fierce close quarter combat inside the trenches broke out and the Connors, Cameron and the two earthlings were also in the midst of it. The five and a few other Stormtroopers and commandos held off an counter assault of droids in one of the right sided trenches.
The Voyager and AICA appeared over the trench and mowed down dozens of droids that were trying to flood the trench before they had to retreat because enemy fire.
As answer they flew a turn and shot some missiles into massings of droids.
"TopGun, remind me to never complain about dull moments ever again." Sailor Mars said as she was hurling Fireball after fireball at incoming close combat droids while SunTzu beside her shot any droid armed with a blaster beside her.
From the ocean an assault with the Taskforce's armored assets came in. The two tanks covering the troop transports that spew out Troopers with heavy weapons as soon as they made landfall.
Combat Walkers now where overlooking the trenches and shooting any resistance or taking aim at the last remaining fortifications behind the trenches.
The elite forces fought their way out of the trenches and stormed the southern docks, Specialists searching the structures for any explosives the Droids could have planted to keep the GA away from capturing them intact.
The northern, bigger docks, that stacked up into the ocean were the target of the regular troops.
Some docks were indeed rigged with explosives but it seemed that they droids were overrun before they could plant explosives on all the docks.
The Commandos and SOC Company fought on the docks, parts of the Taskforce's troopers joining them now, on the beaches between the structures and inside ships that were built and serviced there right now.
Although made famous for it's manufacturing of Acclamator Assault Ships this time the biggest ships possible to be built and serviced in the southern docks were small frigates. The biggest ship right now was an old Carrack Cruiser, getting retrofitted there. A detachment of Stormtroopers cleared the ship.
SunTzu and Rei secured the defusal of a nearby bomb in the meantime. The Explosives Specialist of Team 2 was working behind them as they guarded him.
"You know it's a bit insane, to sit here with a bomb in our back and someone messing around with it.
The Specialist smiled wide but otherwise kept his look on the blasting agent. He was a professional and had heard this comments hundreds of times already.
"Welcome to the Armed Forces, Sailor Mars. Where insanity is the regular." SunTzu replied to her, gaining an annoyed glance for the comment from Rei.
The regular stormtroopers broke the last defense effort around and inside an Acclamator in a completely oceanic dock in the north and all of a sudden it was quiet.
The battle was over. No big explosion, no final push. The last droid fell and it was over.
The only thing that was still loud were the screams of the wounded.
As soon as the Team 2 Member was done and took away the bomb SunTzu rushed to the center of the site and helped coordinating MedEvac and other flights.
A few minutes later AICA landed next to him.
As fast as possible all the wounded were on their way to retrieve medical help. Now it was time to retrieve the dead.
A hour later, it was around 4pm, a Lambda Shuttle landed and four Death Troopers in their distinct black armor left the shuttle's ramp and took point.
Captain Dorja and Artemis, each with an adjutant behind them followed.
They met with the highest ranking officers, the Commander leading the Stormtrooper regiment, the Major that lead the attack at the front, another Major who was commander of the Walkers, Captain Connor and O'Connell for a quick debrief and assessment of the situation.
SunTzu and Rei were sitting on AICA, leaning against her canopy and smoking a cigarette while taking in some sun.
I should have brought a bikini, Rei thought and then immediately regretted her thinking. That was cynical. People died here.
War leaves you feeling real weird, weird and shitty she thought.
"I see you're enjoying your beach day."
SunTzu got up and saluted and Rei took down her sunglasses or rather her tinted ballistic glasses and got up too.
"Admiral Sir, nice to see you."
"At ease Lieutenant. Once again you two did great." He looked around, a lot of soldiers were busy getting some order on the former battlefield, for example with collecting blasters and other weapons and putting them on top of each other or putting droid parts on big heaps.
"Sailor Mars, we're about to meet up with the planetary government. I wouldn't mind to be accompanied by a competent diplomat."
Sailor Mars smiled and looked at her old friend. She looked even worse than yesterday, but hey, the job called. At least they probably wouldn't think that this mess in a skirt was a top diplomat.
"Mind if I go?" She asked her boyfriend.
"Absolutely not, I'll be waiting with AICA for you here. Do your thing Head Diplomat Hino."
Sailor Mars jumped from the wing she was standing on and the admiral and her left.
SunTzu followed them with his gaze and them jumped down from the starfighter too. Maybe he could make himself useful somewhere.
Soon the first units were pulled off the battlefield and more shuttles and transports came in, picking up vehicles and troops.
An old MC80 Mon Cal Cruiser from the reserve fleet at Fondor had arrived in system, bringing in a second line infantry battalion and some attached engineers to relieve the front troops.
Time went by and SunTzu sat under AICA's wing in the shadow as shuttle after shuttle flew in. He was eating a military ration with his radio beside him, if any of the flights needed something. It had become a routine for the pilots now though.
Sergeant Major Connor, her son and Cameron came over to him. As he saw them coming he got up and cleaned his hands.
"We're heading back to the Stalwart. It has been my pleasure Lieutenant." The Captain and the Pilot shook Hands.
"I'm pretty sure we see each other again."
"Different day, different planet, same war." SunTzu said an old GA Troop quote. The Captain smiled. "Where you heading now?"
"Wherever Lord Vader wants us. The 501st is his fist and we are the thumb applying the pressure." SunTzu heard that the SOC Company was also called the thumb because they applied the pressure for when the rest of the Fist was stalled.
"See you soon then." The two officers saluted each other as a sign of respect.
"Greet your girlfriend. And take care Pilot." Sergeant Major Connor said and they also shook hands. "Please be discreet with what we told you. We will be too."
"Affirmative Sergeant Major. Keep applying pressure." They also saluted.
Looking around the noticed that Lieutenant Baum was missing.
The three humans turned around and she was standing in front of AICA.
Both Artificial Intelligences just had introduced themselves to each other.
Now the Cyborg was standing there and staring at AICA while AICA had her optical sensor fixed on her.
"Beautiful." Both machines stated at the same time.
What then followed was a short and inapprehensible dialog over their main CPU's abilities and other technical gibberish.
It looked like each of them made another new friend that day.
They finally stopped and Cameron said her goodbye to SunTzu as well and saluted.
The trio then went over to an incoming assault transport it boarded.
SunTzu finished his meal. Most of the front troops were already gone and at least a few hundred of the troops of the battalion from Fondor were already at the dock site.
A Larty landed and Sailor Mars left it.
TF Sol Troopers boarded it in exchange. They were leaving too.
She walked back to AICA where he was sitting under AICA's wing.
She ducked under the wing and sat kneeled down In front of him, greeting him with a kiss.
"I'm back. Looks like we're packing."
"Yeah, we're getting ready to go home. How was it?"
"Ah the usual. They were pretty intimidated by Captain Dorja. And by me probably as well. Anyway, it looks they got things under control again. And there's a cruiser hanging around if something should come up."
"I see. So, we can finally go home?"
"Hope so. I miss my bed. And that bunch of chicks that used to save the world with me."
She sat down normal beside him and stole a package of candy from his ration.
"Are you hungry?"
"Nope, they had some fine fresh cooked food there." She grinned. "Shit, i even had a glass of local wine, it was great by the way. But it's candy. And Mama needs her candy now."
He sighed as he looked over to the package of the military ration he just had.
Gunny O'Connell came over and told them that they would take the next flight, everybody else, including the dead were already gone. SunTzu and Sailor Mars had the honor to be the last of the fighting soldiers leaving the Area of Operations on Target Okinawa.
The three walked over to the commandos and the Pilot and the Diplomat shook hands with every trooper before they boarded their Larty.
SunTzu saluted the Gunship crew and they saluted back. The Commandos sat into the open door's edge again.
"Oorah, Team 2!" The team yelled unisono and the Larty lifted off.
The couple walked back to AICA, taking a last look at the docks.
Heaps of destroyed droids, exploded and burned out vehicles and piles of blasters were scattered around and partially guarded by soldiers. Some wrecks were still smoking.
The engineers were working on getting the base working again.
The first workers were already back and assessed the situation with an officer of the engineers.
They boarded AICA when the sun slowly set down on the horizon.
SunTzu rose off till they had a complete view of the dock.
"All these dead... All these dead people for this. A little bit of industry in an area where there shouldn't be any industry at all. Industry that will make more people die. It's pervert." Rei stated, looking down at the docks.
SunTzu thought a moment how to answer this. As so often, she was right.
"Let's go home," was his only answer.
They met up with the Far Side in space and landed.
On the bridge of the Gladiator Star Destroyer Artemis, who was just informed that all his troops were back on board, was about to say his goodbyes to Captain Dorja.
"Outstanding work from you and your whole Taskforce Admiral. Lord Vader will hear about your outstanding work.
We're heading back to the rest of the Death Squadron."
"Congratulations to the successful liberation of Bestine. And also our deepest condolences for your unit's losses Ma'am."
"Thank you Admiral. It's appreciated. Until next time then."
The transmission ended and soon after the Stalwart jumped into Hyperspace.
"XO, we're going home. Jump to Hyperspace as soon as possible."
"Aye, Aye Sir!"
AICA was parked at her position for some minutes already and the couple was still sitting inside, still strapped in. Nobody said a word since they had landed.
It was over, the battle over Bestine IV was won and the planet and it's s docks liberated again.
But somehow they couldn't really cheer, they didn't feel like it would be right.
Finally Rei leaned forward and her hand appeared next to SunTzu. He grasped it and gently held it.
"I love you. I'm happy we survived." She said quietly.
"Me too. I love you Rei." SunTzu said with an equal quiet voice.
With his other hand he stroked AICA's console.
"Thank you AICA. You did great."
"Yeah, thank you AICA."
"I'm glad we all made it guys."
They unstrapped and got out.
Karlena was already waiting for them in front of the A-Wing.
They got out and she waved them over.
She embraced both of them at the same time.
"Glad you guys made it. I heard it was pretty wild down there."
That moment the large hangar bulkhead closed and immediately afterwards they jumped into Hyperspace.
The couple went straight to their rooms. Rei probably took the longest shower in her life. She also couldn't remember when the last time was she was transformed for such a long time. While the water rinsed away the grime of the battlefield she couldn't help but start crying. The last days were too much of an emotional roller coaster.
SunTzu in his room was done before his girlfriend and after an ample shower, gulping down some painkillers with two liters of water and changing into an uniform sat down at the lounge near the quarters.
He made himself a tea in the nearby tea kitchen and started to meditate to calm himself down. The last days were intense.
When Rei was finally so far to step out again it knocked on her door. She opened and it was SunTzu. He got in, he took her in his arms and they laid down on her bed. They needed each other more than they ever did before.
The next day was slow and who could got some rest in.
SunTzu did some light sport to relax his muscle, made sure AICA had been taken care off and cleaned his guns and gear. His downtime was spent with Rei and his two female wingmen.
After dinner the two couples and Artemis were standing together again on the observation deck.
Artemis was quiet too. He was satisfied with their win and happy that the Taskforce only had fourteen wounded and no fatal casualties but the overall losses of the whole battle was horrid. And other ships were still out there fighting the enemy on the hyperlanes.
The Stalwart and it's complements lost 638 lifes, most of them from the Army Brigade, as well as several vehicles and walkers. 1123 troops and pilots had been wounded and some had to be transferred to GA Forces Hospitals for further treatment.
All in almost 10.000 lives, including civilians, had been lost in the attack.
Although the docks would be back up and running again soon, it still was a Pyrrhic victory.
Artemis coldly told them the numbers that he just had learned from fleet command.
Nobody knew how or why the sudden attack was triggered.
It became very quiet in the room after Artemis stated these numbers.
"You think it's coincidence that attack started just after someone who obviously belongs to the enemy almost got caught and kills herself?" SunTzu told after a while, with a cold voice and then took a deep draw from his cigarette.
Artemis shrugged, it was a possibility but nobody knew. Tens of thousands of deaths and nobody seemed to know why or whom was behind it.
"Let's hope Ami and Intelligence have some news for us when we get home."
They arrived in the Sol System near the moon, somewhen after midnight.
When they arrived the only thing on station was the Selene and the ships greeted each other via radio, the Selene welcoming the Task Force at home and the Far Side wishing the ESDF a quiet watch.
The descend to earth began and the the three Senshi and SunTzu where at the quite packed observation deck, looking down was the pacific, then Japan and finally Tokyo and Crystal came nearer and nearer.
The lights of home were beautiful and maybe they just imagined it but the lights of the Crystal Palace seemed to be more bright than usual.
The Farside landed. Except a few ambulances and buses and some guards securing the large landing spot, nobody was waiting for them. No parade, no guard of honor, not even a delegation from the palace. Fighting battles had become the routine and were nothing extraordinary anymore.
Artemis on the Bridge sighed innerly. Everybody on this ship deserved a special welcome for the outstanding job they did the last few days. But it was war and single battles didn't count much anymore.
The ramps opened. First to go where the wounded again and they were immediately driven off to Hospitals.
Then the other's followed, hundreds of people marched from the ramps, most of them into the busses, others walked on by foot.
Terra Squadron and the Gunships left through the now opened hangar gate again.
Artemis thanked Captain Santos and left the bridge.
"You guys should go home." Artemis said when he entered the Observation Deck and met the four Guardians. Everybody else had already left the room.
All four turned around to the Admiral, who put his hat down and brushed through his hair, the golden moon crescent clearly visible on his forehead.
"As far as i remember you're the one with child and wife."
"Which are both sleeping already. And you also have to bring your starfighter over to their hangars."
He was right. And going to bed wasn't the worst idea anyway.
They turned around and walked through the door, Haruka gave Artemis a pat on the shoulder.
"Good Night Artemis. You did good Big Man."
Artemis forced himself to a smile and pet the hand on his shoulder. "Thank you Haruka. Thanks, all of you. And now off to bed, who knows what tomorrow brings. Good night girls."
Michiru and Rei both gave the white haired man a kiss on the cheek and an accompanying small smile.
SunTzu was the last to pass him and stopped in front of him. Before he could do anything Artemis extended his hand to him.
"Thank you SunTzu. Especially for keeping an eye out for the Senshi."
They shared a firm handshake.
"Point of honor, they do the same for me. Great work on Bestine Sir."
Artemis nodded and then motioned the Lieutenant to go with a wry grin a motion of his head.
"Your girlfriends waiting and we know how these girls are when they're not well-rested."
The quartet left the deck and went to the hangar. It was strange because the ship was really empty now.
They entered the hangar and boarded their ships before they flew out to the airbase and landed in their hangars.
A few minutes later they said their goodbyes to each other and the two female lovers got into their car and left for their home.
Rei and SunTzu took a motor pool vehicle to the Palace.
In the meantime Team 2, who walked with their whole gear on large rucksacks back to their base, arrive at their barrack.
And was greeted inside from Team 1 and Captain Kino. They left a few days before to a mission in Africa and hunted some poachers in a large national park. They safed quite some elephants and rhinos with their work and just got home today too, although in the evening. They set up a small surprise for their brothers in the other team and brought some cases of beer and bottles of liquor into their barrack. Each team was eager to learn about what the other team did that week.
SunTzu and Rei parked the car they borrowed, got their stuff out and made their way to the palace.
They decided to have a last smoke before they would enter the Crystal Palace. We've been smoking pretty much lately, Rei thought.
SunTzu paused for a moment and listened into the night.
The corner of his mouth twitched and he looked up to the nearest building.
He waved at the roof of the building was about to ask what was wrong with him now as two figures emerged on the roof and jumped down, landing safely on the ground. Both of them walked up to the bench where the Lovers where sitting on.
"Isn't it a bit late for you two?" SunTzu asked and got up.
Rei got up and looked skeptically who the two person were that approached.
"We thought we wait for you guys to arrive back here." Sailor Chibiusa said as she and Sailor Saturn arrived in front of the couple.
"We heard there was some heavy fighting going on on Bestine."
SunTzu and Rei looked at each other for a moment.
Rei walked up to the other two Senshi and embraced both in a tight simultaneous hug.
"Are you okay Rei-Onee-Chan?" Chibiusa asked her.
"I'm glad we're home now." Rei told her with closed eyes.
SunTzu walked up to his girlfriend and put his arm around her shoulder.
"Let's go to bed girls. It's late."
Rei stood up and took his hand.
"Yeah, let's go."
"Err, we have to take a small detour. Anyways, see you guys tomorrow. Good night!" Chibiusa made her way up the palace building again.
"I'm glad you're back and healthy. Have a good night." Saturn said before she nodded and followed Chibi-Moon up the building.
The couple's gaze followed them till they were gone.
"It's a beautiful moon tonight."
The full moon was hanging brightly over Crystal Tokyo. The couple shared a long kiss, followed by a tight hug under the moon before they entered the Crystal Tower and went to sleep in Sailor Mars' room.
Unseen from anybody, even the guards watching the ship, a small black shadow flitted onto the Far Side over one of it's ramps.
The Far Side was basically empty as Artemis was still looking out the observation deck's window.
The door to the room opened.
"I was sure to find you here. You always enjoyed the view of the full moon over Tokyo."
The admiral kept his gaze out of the window, using the glass as mirror.
"I thought you we're sleeping. Where's Diana?"
"I left her with Mina tonight. My husband would come home tonight, of course she understood."
Luna walked up next to him.
"It's a beautiful night." She was quiet for a moment and then glanced up to his face.
"How was it?"
"We won. But the price was too high."
He turned around to her and Luna embraced him.
Through the large window the full moon over the palace and the city gleamed onto them.
