A few days later the Taskforce, with it's Gladiator Star Destroyer and the three Corellian Engineering Corporation Corvettes of various designs, was back in space again and now they all were on their way to Virgillia 7 in the south of the Outer Rim, located on the Lipsec Run Hyperroute.

The planet had been involved into civil war decades ago but the chaos of the Vong War and the following years nurtured the the growing hate hardliners of both sides still had.

And what once began as part of the Fight of the Rebellion against the Galactic Empire changed into the usual war for power and wealth a few years ago.

A new series of fighting and terror attacks occurred lately on the planet after a large earthquake destroyed a whole region and since most of the local based Ships were involved in either fighting or protection missions Coruscant decided to let Taskforce Sol take over a delivery of relief, members and equipment of an aid agency and incidental security measures.

This time everybody was onboard again and things were going as planned on the few days they needed for the journey to Virgillia 7 after taking their load from Brentaal.

The only downside for the starfighter pilots was that since they were in hyperspace they couldn't get some flying in.

Which didn't mean that they were lazy.

The pilots learned with Hotaru, got countless hours of sport in and got themselves updated about the newest developments in the war.

And of course, Rei and SunTzu enjoyed the extra time also, and the two were almost inseparable, as Rei unofficially made the fifth member of the pilot group. She even took simulator hours and learned the basics of flying. Just in case.

SunTzu on the other side was there to mentally support his girlfriend in her profession and she absolutely adored how proud he was of her leading negotiations with other diplomats and politicians and standing her ground better and better at negotations.

The ships were one day away from the Virgillia System and the couple just awoke, or rather did Rei wake up her boyfriend in a very special way.

On earth it would have been morning right now and a deeply relaxed SunTzu had to admit that he could get used to this way of getting woken up.

Afterwards Rei's head was on his stomach and she draw hearts on his chest with her finger.

"Babe, when we get back to earth I want you to meet someone very special to me. It's a surprise whom but I think you deserve it." She told him, concentrating on drawing the perfect shaped heart.

"I'm sorry, I don't have anyone to introduce you too. At least I think so. You're definitely the type of girl I would introduce to my mama."

She grinned and kissed his stomach.

"I gotta get ready, it's Senshi-Yoga again. And Setsuna will lead it. I don't know if I'm ready for this kind of pain In the morning. What about breakfast together later?"

"Sounds great, I'm gonna hurt my ego and my body by training with the Commandos when you go to Yoga. What's up later on?"

"Mind if I spent a few hours meditating?"

"Nah, I'm good. I'm gonna dive into my namesake's book some more."

"That Book on the nightstand?"

"Exactly."

Rei got up and picked it up.

"The Art of War by SunTzu. So that's where the name is from so."

"Yeah, the book is like my bible. At least I think so. But it's going way deeper than combat. You should give it a read too one day, might help with Politics too."

She put it back on the nightstand and kissed his stomach again.

"My Man the Personified War." She said with an amused voice.

Good thing she was looking down, when she realized what she just said, her eyes widened in shock about her choice of words.

Soon both of them left and went to their morning exercises.

Two hours later they met in the dining hall near the bridge.

When he arrived all the Senshi, Moon and Chibimoon included, and joined by Luna and Diana had taken a large table.

The table of course was the loudest in the whole room and probably on the whole deck if not the ship. He was greeted by warm smiles and a kiss from his girlfriend leaning over the table.

SunTzu sat down opposite to Sailor Mars with Neptune to his left and Saturn to his right.

It didn't take long and they were joined by King Endymion and Artemis.

When they were finished Saturn turned around to SunTzu, the Royals, Sailor Mercury and the Mau just had left the table for a meeting in the Control Room.

"You haven't been sparing lately, I think it's about time you should again."

SunTzu was about to talk his way out of it when Neptune chimed in from his left.

"Yeah, Saturn is right. You don't want to be catched lacking."

SunTzu turned around and put up his hands defensively when Sailor Mars took the word.

"You definitely should train with the Outer Senshi, Lieutenant. I might join up later too, if you're still standing then."

This earned a dark glare from her which didn't break up her wide smile though.

"So, Let's say in an hour at the training room?" Hotaru asked him and all he could do was to nod, with a frown and pressed together lips.

He was in the training room half an hour later already and after having warmed up, he sat down cross legged, meditating and tapping into the force.

After what seemed an eternity in the flow of the force but just was just a few minutes later in real time, he connected to far into the Force that he could feel all powerful beings on the ship. He never realized how much power most of the Senshi really emitted. The Royal Quarters were shining a light so bright it would be blinding for the eye, but it felt very pleasant.

From the chambers of Luna and Artemis he could feel the almost as immense power as the Royals each possessed of Sailor Venus, a feeling that couldn't be described other than the feeling of pure Love.

Outgoing from Mercury he could feel a deep wisdom and intelligence.

He could feel the powers of the Outer Senshi approaching, with Saturn and Pluto standing out, even from the huge radiation of energy of Neptune and Uranus. Saturn's Aura felt like an abyss of Chaos controlled through sheer power of will, ready to lash out at a moments notice and Pluto felt almost as strong as Venus. It was hard to describe but it felt like a gate to travel through time and space and also to the underworld itself.

Uranus, like Jupiter, emitted raw power, although both were a bit distinct in the way the energy was emitted, with Jupiter being a rather concentrated force and Uranus more of a moving or swirling energy. Next to Uranus, Sailor Neptune was a relaxing calmness like the deep of the ocean offered, the opposite of her girlfriend.

The Senshi he could feel the most was Sailor Mars in her room. She emitted an aura of heat and passion that warmed his insides. As she was meditating too he could feel her power lash out into a sphere he couldn't tap into.

She seemed to feel him too as their both energy flows reached out to each other and mingled.

Both could feel the other's energy flowing through the ship and when their energies met, it felt like they were next to each other, even closer than skin to skin.

Both started to smile as they touched each other on this level, a sensation they only had once before when SunTzu helped Rei with the Force to search for Ami.

They slowly and carefully researched touching each other with their respective energies. It was a connection they never felt before with anyone, like touching the soul and the very essence of the other. On one side it made both of them feel vulnerable and defenseless that someone touched them so deep in their souls but on the other side it connected them so deep within their souls, their love and understanding for each other flowing through the couple and flooding them with a tsunami of positive emotions.

Unfortunately the whole connection only lasted for a short moment before they lost their connection, but It left both of them with a longing for more. Definitely something they needed to explore more.

This moment the door glided open and the Outer Senshi entered the room, finding SunTzu sitting on a mat, eyes closed. They could feel energy emitting from him and Haruka took on a predatory grin. He really prepared himself for this exercise.

Good, that would made kicking his arse even more enjoyable.

SunTzu slowly drifted back into the here and now and began to smile as he could feel the determination in Haruka. She really wanted to kick his ass.

But now things were different than usual, he was feeling the force flowing through him and he felt powerful, like he could take on the whole world on his own.

Haruka stepped forward and entered the mat SunTzu was sitting on.

"Wake up SunTzu, we're here to train and not to sleep."

SunTzu began to smile and suddenly a training wood stick rushed past Haruka's face and into SunTzu's hand.

He opened his eyes and stood up, the staff in hand.

"I'm very aware of that my dear Sailor Uranus." SunTzu replied to a now angry looking Haruka.

"Feelin cocky today, I see", was Haruka's response.

Setsuna stepped forward, sporting a small satisfied grin on her face.

"I see you've been channeling your powers. Mind if we try something different today?"

"Not at all Sailor Pluto. I'm okay with everything you could possibly throw at me."

"Excellent." She paused for a moment and got into a combat stance.

"Try to parry all four of us!"

That said she shot forward, Garnet Rod directed straight towards him.

He countered with a jump towards her and a slash from below, turning the rod away from him and making Pluto back up.

From his side Sailor Uranus came in with a jumped roundhouse kick, she wasn't have any games today.

SunTzu dodged with another slash from below, this time from the other side, Haruka's boot hitting the staff with force.

She used the energy to somersault back and tried to kick the staff out of his hand but couldn't manage.

Pluto was back and swung the Silent Glaive at him, he had to jump backwards to not getting hit and was immediately met by a swung of the silence glaive coming in from his right. Sailor Saturn had entered the fight.

He parried with the staff and when he knocked the Glaive away from him he followed with a 360 degree swing of the staff around him.

This action gave him some room and he immediately jumped up and used the staff to catapult him towards Hotaru, which she parried with the Silence Glaive.

A counter slash followed that he could dodge as something hit his back hard and made him tumble forwards.

Hello Sailor Neptune, I was wondering where you have been.

Uranus immediately feeded up with a kick aimed at his head which he could barely block with his elbow.

Another attack from the back was incoming he could feel and with force-enhanced reflexes he picked Michiru's guillotineing foot out of the air and swang the slender woman around, making her crash into Haruka.

Okay, guess I'm warmed up now.

He jumped high and attacked Sailor Pluto, his staff clashing into the Garnet Orb from above with him following behind.

For the blink of an eye he was in the air, their both weapons clashed together, till she mustered the strength to push him away, making him somersault back.

While he was in the hair he could see a ferocious smile on her face.

At least Sailor Pluto was enjoying herself.

A split second after he landed the blade of the Silence Glaive swung after him, he barely could dodge with dropping down.

Playtime was over it seemed.

Don't you worry Miss Murder, your teacher has a new trick up his sleeve.

He closed his eyes and released the staff which rocketed towards Hotaru. The impact, barely dodged by her with the Glaive, propelled her backwards.

"Fuck!" She yelled.

"Language!" Both her mother and flight teacher yelled back as SunTzu was jumping forwards again, trying to tackle down Setsuna with all his weight and power, grabbing the Garnet Rod.

She let herself voluntarily fall on her back and used both her feet to kick him away, hitting his upper body.

He didn't let go of the Rod though and used the energy of the movement to pull her along.

He landed standing up again as she was still in the air and while he tried to rip the Rod away from her she crashed into his chest with both her boots.

He stumbled back and lost his grip on the Garnet Rod.

He was about to jump after Sailor Pluto when Sailor Uranus crashed into his side and tried to tackle him.

She almost succeeded but he held against with the force and could get a grip around her wrist. Using the force again he swung her around and threw herself away from him.

Just as she started to become airborne a foot hit his rib and pressed the air from his lungs.

He tumbled backwards and another immediate kick hit him in the face.

A hard punch with a fist followed and he finally fell on his back.

He needed a moment and when he finally could look straight again the blade of the Silence Glaive was pointed at his throat from the side and Michiru was standing above him as well, rubbing her right hand.

"Merde… your face is harder than it looks."

SunTzu tried to take a deep breather when suddenly a sharp pain stang through his chest, where Michiru's food hit him, making him double over in pain.

Saturn immediately took away the Blade and kneeled down next to him as Michiru stepped away.

"Mom?"

Setsuna immediately was next to Hotaru and kneeled down too, assessing the situation, handing the Garnet Rod to Hotaru to hold.

She touched his rib and he writhed in pain again.

"It's his rib. I don't know if it's broke yet. I'm sorry SunTzu, this will hurt a bit."

She rolled up his shirt and started to gently examin his ribs, trying to find out if they were broken.

A minute later she was done.

"They seem to not be broken but I still want to give him a X-Ray. Haruka, Michiru can you raise him up and help me get him to the medbay?"

A few minutes later they arrived at the medbay and Sailor Pluto, still transformed, began a thorough examination including x-ray scans.

The other three Outer Senshi were sitting in the waiting area near the examination room.

Michiru had a really bad conscience and Hotaru seemed to be worried.

Only Haruka was her old self.

"Man, I wish I would have been the one to knock him out. I can't believe he really sent me flying."

"Haruka, please. I feel terrible. I mean I get the importance to train like we fight but I really didn't want to hurt him. Imagine if I'd broken his rib." Michiru told, looking at the floor in guilt.

"Ah, the only thing hurt is his ego. But that's what you happen when you think you can take on all the Outer Senshi at once."

"He held himself up pretty well actually. He already grew way stronger since he started to train with us." Saturn said, glancing at the door of the examination room.

A few minutes later the door opened and Sailor Pluto waved them inside.

SunTzu was lying on an examination table and had an infusion going into his arm. Setsuna sat down on a chair between him and wrote down some stuff in a note book as the three other Senshi entered.

"Hey, how are you?" A guilty and sad looking Michiru asked as soon as she entered the room.

"Way better. Setsuna gave me the good stuff." SunTzu said and motioned to the infusion going into his arm.

"He got two ribs bruised but fortunately nothing is broken. He also got some more bruises and hematoma from the fight but nothing serious. He still will get a Bacta treatment so the bruise will heal faster. And also this means your flight clearance status is revoked for the next few days."

That was the one thing no snub jockey ever wanted to hear.

"Oh don't worry, the Bacta will make everything okay."

"You still need time to rest. And I won't let you get into a starfighter when there's a chance you can't breathe right out of pain. When you get atomized in space you're not the one to tell Rei her boyfriend died because he thought he was fit enough to fly again." Setsuna explained her decision to him.

SunTzu pressed his lips together.

"I'm so sorry SunTzu." Sailor Neptune apologized. "I didn't want to hurt you."

"It's not your fault. I was overestimating my power. No hard feelings, I fucked this up by myself."

"You held up pretty well." Michiru said in a warm tone and tried to smile.

"At least I got to throw Haruka through the room." He laughed and even with the painkillers from the infusion regretted it immediately.

He needed a moment, frowning because the pain and when the pain had finally gotten better again, he looked up to the women again.

"You girls, are all okay, right?I didn't hurt anyone?"

They all shook their heads.

"Good." He looked relieved. "I'm sorry, I guess I was a bit rough with you as well."

"Lieutenant?" Setsuna turned around from her paperwork again. "You're finally coming to a point where you fight like you're supposed to fight. It's all good." The Doctor looked over to the other Senshi. "And you Ladies should leave this room now. The Lieutenant needs to get ready for his Bacta Dive."


SunTzu was on his way to the Bacta-Tank, following behind Setsuna, when a worried looking Rei appeared in the medbay.

"SunTzu?"

She ran over to him and was about to jump onto him when he held up his hand defensively.

"Easy Rei. My ribs are bruised." He told his girlfriend.

"I'm bringing him to a Bacta Tank Treatment right now." Pluto explained.

"But otherwise you're okay right?"

"Not able to fly for the next few days but other than that I'm good."

"A precaution. The Bacta will immensely speed up the healing process but he needs to take it easy the next days."

Rei nodded and took his hand, holding it tight.

"Michiru called me and told me she hurt you in training and you're in the medbay. I was worried. I'm glad you're more or less okay."

Mars leaned forward, making sure to not touch his chest and kissed him.

Six hours later he was out of the tank and got a Bacta plaster placed on his two bruised ribs, from none other than the goddess of Love Minako Aino herself. Setsuna decided to make SunTzu a walking specimen for bruised ribs for the medical student.

He would be not allowed to fly for the next three days at least and after that Setsuna would check his ribs again with a x-ray scan.

Rei picked him up from the medbay and brought him to his room. Being monitored by her like he was about to decease felt a bit weird.

"I'm good Rei, I'm just not allowed much of moving around."

"Which doesn't mean I'm not allowed to take care of my boyfriend. Don't worry the next few days I'll take care of you, I'll read every wish from your lips."

He sat down on his bed, good thing he got some Bacta in, his face would probably be bruised now. For such a dainty girl Michiru really packed a punch.

"Too bad, we don't have a kitchen in here. I could cook up a chicken soup for you." Rei said as SunTzu struggled a bit to take off his shoes without pain.

"Love, I have a bruised rib not a cold."

"You Mister, never had Rei Hino's chicken soup and don't know about it's healing effects."

She came around and kissed his forehead, making sure to not hurt him.

He took on a smile.

Maybe it wasn't that bad to have Rei take care of him.


The next early noon the Taskforce's ships entered real space in the Virgillia System and headed towards the Capital Planet Virgillia 7.

The Voyager and Terra Squadron rushed out the Far Side's Hangar and flew in advance to the rest of the ships.

AICA was a bit sad, that her pilot was out for a few days but the AI acted relieved after the flight schedule was changed and Hotaru would get more training flight hours in.

She wasn't officially cleared for missions and combat yet, so she would just fly around the ships but not as escort.

Space Combat was not expected at all so it was justifiable that SunTzu was missing a few days.

For someone saying she didn't care and that it was his own fault Haruka showed up pretty often , looking how he was doing.

Usually Michiru, still not feeling to good about the situation, although SunTzu already had told her multiple times it was okay, tagged along.

Even Usagi visited him once, not believing that in a fight involving all the Outer Senshi, it had actually been Michiru who injured him. He told the Queen that he underrated her hand-to-hand-combat abilities. And he also took the lesson for himself to be more open to his surroundings when using the force in combat. He didn't feel Michiru coming in, when she attacked the second time because he was too focused on attacking Pluto and Uranus himself. Lesson painfully learned though.

On the way to the planet the Taskforce rendezvoused with an old Nebulon-B-Frigate as well as an same date aged Assault Frigate MKI, escorted by a squadron of battered looking X-Wings of an older generation. This were the beggarly remains of the once rather large navy of the system that was even able to give ships to the Rebel Alliance. But nowadays most of the ships had either been sold or scrapped. The world and the whole system had massive financial problems after the Vong War.

The small flotilla arrived at the orbit of Virgillia 7 and the first Shuttles, the aid agency had their own transporters, as well as two of the Lartys and one of the TF's own Lambda's made their way down to the planet, escorted by Terra Squadron.

The Voyager stayed in orbit and took formation next to the Far Side.

SunTzu followed the whole scenery from the observation deck, Rei next to him.

He looked a bit upset.

"You wish you'd be out there, right?"

"I miss flying. It's been what? Five days now? My fingers are itchy."

"Oh TopGun, I'm sorry you can't fly. But maybe your good to go in three days. And then… you and me will make a space trip. Just the two of us."

She gave him a kiss on his cheek and turned around, walking out of the room.

"And now let's get up to the Control Center and see if we can help there, my artist of war."

She made jokes because he spent a lot of his time reading the "Art of War" now that he couldn't do much. He really soaked up this book. Well, at least it was better than him lamenting all the time. And she had to admit that SunTzu spent a lot of his free time with her too, even if she had to work and he had just stayed there, observeing her quietly and with love in his eyes.


While Team 2 and two squads of troopers established a perimeter, scouted the area with the help of mini drones, unloaded the first relieve goods and secured the landing zone the aid agency workers unloaded their equipment and began their work.

The agency's teamleader met with the local emergency management commander to organize where their help was needed the most, Makoto joined the meeting also.

Terra Squadron flew back to space and the second flight of shuttles was escorted by Haruka and Michiru in the Voyager.

When the shuttles had landed the Voyager flew a recon mission over the nearby area, taking aerial videos and thermal scans.

Intelligence would evaluate them, trying to find places people could still be trapped under debris.

It was early afternoon when the first helpers moved out and began their work to search and recover victims of the earthquake while parts of Team 2 escorted them.

A third squad of troopers, a team of engineers and a medic team, including Setsuna came in and the troopers began to built a small field base.

More equipment came in almost every ten minutes, from palettes of food over to medical supplies and even ITT Armored Personnel Repulsor Carriers, including an wrecker version and a Command Vehicle.

Everything was organized from the Control Center and while Rei took care of the incoming diplomatic work along with the Royal Couple, SunTzu helped the Flight Control with managing the in- and outgoing flights. Injured or not, he still was able to help although he had to take it a bit easy.

By evening, a field base including a medical tent for examination, a communications post and some defensive positions were standing and manned.

The first two convoys with relieve had delivered food, blankets and medication to staging areas and the first people had been retrieved, examined and flown aboard the Far Side or to a hospital in the capital.

Haruka and Michiru were about to fly another reconnaissance mission in the night, where the infrared scanners would work better because of the cold night.

SunTzu was with them in the hangar.

Michiru was outside the fighter, checking the solar panels.

"Feels great we use the Voyager to safe lives instead of taking them for once." She said to her wingman.

"Yeah. I hope you girls find a lot of survivors down there."

"Me too. You're okay up here?"

"I am, I told Flight Control to call me up when they need help. Anyways I'm back to my room and indulge in my Bacta addiction. Have a safe flight." SunTzu nodded to Haruka in the cockpit as goodbye and she gave him a wink.

Michiru motioned him to her cheek and he gave her a small kiss on it.

"I'm still sorry mon ami."

"And I'm telling you again it was my own fault. That's what you get when you think you can take on all the Outer Senshi at once."

They both smiled and SunTzu walked off with a last honest smile towards his friend.

"Next time we train together and not against each other again. You might become the fifth Outer Senshi." Neptune yelled after him.

He turned around but walked on.

"Nobody wanna see me in a skirt tho!" He replied and both laughed as he left the hangar.

SunTzu went back to his room and reading, while he waited for Rei, who was still busy with meetings with the local government.

She already wrote him that she would join him later and take good care of him and this made him smile happily.

The Voyager slowly flew through a valley greatly impacted by the earthquake, the small villages in the Valley almost completely leveled.

Camps made up of tents were visible in the dim light of the planet's moons and the camp fires.

A few hundred meters more into the Valley, they saw red beams of light going into one of the camps.

"You see this Michiru?"

"Yes, seems to be Blaster fire."

Haruka ascended and circled above while Michiru scanned the area with infrared.

"Looks like a group of Marauders is attacking that camp. I'm calling in Command." Michiru reported.

"Takes too long. We help the camp on our own!"

That said, she threw the Voyager in a dive, heading towards on of the positions the attackers were and when she was close she opened fire.

The fire onto the camp stopped immediately and after a second pass Haruka let the Voyager hover over the positions the attackers were.

The scanners showed the remaining attackers flee the scene as fast as they could and soon they were relieved by a Larty bringing in Team 3. The two Senshi continued their mission.

"People don't have the bare minimum to stay alive and others will still try to steal it from them." Michiru stated, shaking her head.

"People will fight for their needs when they don't have anything. Can't really blame them. Not saying it is right tho."

"I don't understand it. Why people can't work together and take care of and provide for each other. Why they always have to fight? Even here, in this valley of death?"

The next morning came and Haruka was up early. Witnessing how low humans can get when their life is on the line once more did catch up and didn't let her sleep well and she got up without waking Michiru. She decided to head for sport, maybe powering herself out would make her feel better.

After an hour she headed back to their room, and just as she closed the door behind her a naked Michiru came out of the shower.

She closed the door behind her and marveled at her girlfriends naked features for a moment before she walked over to her, embracing her from behind.

Later in the morning the couple was back in space, escorting transports and shuttles to the planet.

It was around noon when an emergency distress call came in on the standard tactical channel.

A governmental convoy carrying relief goods to a remote village was blocked by a mob that was about to try to rob the relief from the hover trucks and was now calling for help.

"We'll take that." Haruka said from the pilot seat and Michiru got to work on the radio, announcing that they would take the distress call.

A few minutes later, they were hovering over two hover trucks that were besieged by maybe two dozens of people, trying to open the doors and ramps of the vehicles.

Haruka descended slowly and was soon hovering low over the trucks, the mob giving way for the TIE-Fighter.

Haruka then used the Avenger's speaker to disperse the people.

A few brave persons were still trying to steal stuff from the trucks and Haruka carefully steered the Voyager of the people and used the repulsor's down wash to force them away.

Then she landed next to the trucks as the drivers got out and checked their vehicles, the mob watching them in an adequate distance. Haruka opened the top hatch and ran over to the drivers telling them to move on ASAP.

A short time later the trucks lifted off again and drove further.

The mob stayed put as Haruka and Michiru watched their surroundings and made sure nobody run after the trucks.

Suddenly something hit the cockpit window.

Someone had thrown a stone.

Haruka looked up and a young man or rather a boy, maybe eighteen years old stood in front of the cockpit, a few meters apart. The boy picked up another stone.

"Don't make me come out that cockpit mate!" Haruka announced and closely watched the boy.

The boy throw the stone up in his hand and then strikes out and threw it directly at where Haruka was sitting

"Oh no, you didn't!"

She jumped out her seat and before Michiru could even react she was already out the hatch.

The mob dispersed in every direction.

Haruka jumped from the cockpit and ran after the boy that just realized that he had fucked with the wrong pilot.

The physical extremely fit Senshi soon catched up with the boy and tackled him to the ground.

He turned around and tried to free from her sitting on top of him.

"Oi, wot da fuck mate! Da fuck you throwin' stones at me fighter?"

"Let me go!" The boys struggled on to get released. "Please, don't kill me!"

"Kill you?"

Haruka pressed the boy down with one arm so he would stop to struggle and took off her helmet.

"Do I bloody look like someone that would kill kids?"

"Please, don't hurt me Mister!"

"Mister? I'm a woman for fucks sake! And I'm not going to hurt you but you little fucker better tell me why the hell you're attacking this convoy!"

The Voyager came hovering over, Michiru took the controll and she landed next to Haruka, who stood up and pulled the boy up as well, grabbing him at his collar.

The group of people was gone.

Haruka questioned the boy about why his group attacked the convoy and he told Haruka that they needed food and other goods for their village as they were recently attacked by Marauders kept stealing everything they had left after the earthquake and without help from outside the old, sick and young would probably die soon. But because they're village wasn't destroyed much from the earthquake they weren't a priority for aid.

Haruka sighed and decided to visit the village. She told the boy, his name was Stinoh, to lead her on while Michiru would circle overhead, ready to support her girlfriend within seconds.

"Taskforce Sol might be able to help you Kid." She told the boy.

After almost an hour the arrived the village, Haruka and the boy talking about what happened and how Haruka could possibly help them. The village was made out of maybe thirty buildings in total. They were made out of solid material and only showed minor damage, only two buildings were completely destroyed.

A small bunch of people gathered around the village entrance, a few of armed with pickaxes, pitchforks and the like. One was armed with a rusty old blaster rifle.

Standing in the middle was a tall black haired man with a full beard, probably the mayor.

"You stay at my side Stinoh and nobody will get hurt. She motioned on the blaster at her hip. "And don't forget about my air support." Haruka told the young man and just like planned the Voyager rushed audibly over the village.

Haruka followed Stinoh into the village and was soon encircled by the villagers.

With a severe face she looked left and right and prominently waved her blaster.

"Leave immediately, you are not welcomed here."

"I don't give a bloody damn if I'm welcomed here or not. But I can offer help for your village."

"We don't need your help here, leave or we help you out of the village."

Haruka got stony-faced, not a good moment to challenge her.

"Father! Please, you have to listen to her! She can help!"

"Stinoh, be quiet. You're too young to understand."

"No Father, really!"

"Quiet Sinoh! People lead her out the village!"

The first villager tried to snatch her and was immediately put into the dirt when she threw him over her shoulder. The second guy followed a second later when she kicked him in the face.

A guy that tried to snatch her from behind and was greeted by a kick in between the legs, making him kneel down.

The guy with the rifle loaded and tried to aim in when she was already on him, head butting him and ripping the gun out of his hand, immediately turning around and aiming it into the mayor's face.

The Mayor stayed there open mouthed as the other villagers backed up.

"Maybe we relocate this talk to a more quiet place now."

They walked over into the mayor's house and settled down on his table.

In her usual demeanor Haruka put her legs on the table and explained the mayor how the Taskforce could help and that she would made sure that the Marauders would never harass them anymore.

The mayor was reluctant and repellent at first but when Haruka ordered Michiru to flyby close and she rumbled over the village in low-altitude and reminded him in which position she was as well as the loud intervention of Stinoh , he agreed that the outsiders could help.

Within half an hour a Larty carrying crates of food and some troopers was inbound to the village.

The Mayor told them that the Marauders told them to be back tonight and that they would rob them again, of everything that was left. If they wouldn't find anything they would make an example on the villagers.

In their despair the villagers tried to rob the convoy to have something to give to the Marauders.

Michiru had landed the Voyager near the Mayor's house and joined her girlfriend.

The troopers had to move on after unloading but Michiru and Haruka cleared with Artemis that they would stay the night in the village, guarding it with the help of the villagers.

Haruka inspected all the weapons they had, it wasn't much but after all they were the defenders. And the attacker didn't know with whom they were dealing with.

While making preparations Michiru noticed how the son of the Mayor, Stinoh, the boy that threw the stone at the Voyager, was looking at Haruka.

Right now Haruka was instructing a villager into his defense position on a porch overlooking an entrance to the village. The boy literally was glued to Haruka and Haruka didn't notice anything.

Michiru had to put a hand over her mouth to cover her amused smile.


A few hundred kilometers above the village SunTzu rushed out the Control Center and and headed to his room.

He just had heard, that his two wingmen were trying to defend a village against a marauder attack on their own and he couldn't leave that to them alone, especially on the ground.

He was almost in his room and crossed the lounge, where Rei and Setsuna, who was back on board, were sitting and drinking tea. Both had a small break from their respective work when they saw SunTzu rushing by.

The two women skeptically looked at each other and Rei let out a sigh, before she got up with a sour face.

Setsuna followed her.

The door to SunTzu's room was open and Rei stormed inside. SunTzu was inside, fetching Combat Clothes and gear.

"And what the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Haruka and Michiru apparently ran into trouble on the planet. I'm getting ready to join them."

"I don't think so TopGun."

"Rei, we not gonna have a discussion about this now."

"If not with Rei than with me Lieutenant. You want me to revoke your flying clearance a few weeks longer?" Setsuna, now standing behind Rei told him.

SunTzu sighed.

"Am I the only one remembering why I am actually part of this Taskforce?"

"No, but you're not going out there to fight when you're still not a hundred." Rei told him and put both her hands around his.

"We know how much you care about your duty and us SunTzu. But don't worry, I'm sure the girls will do alright. Don't forget they're Sailor Senshi." Setsuna told SunTzu with a reassuring smile.

Evening came and the villagers tasked with Defence took their positions.

Haruka and Michiru just had a small dinner from one of the rations the Larty brought in for the village. They were sitting on crates in an empty stable.

Stinoh came and informed them that the villagers were ready. And he thanked the both women for their help.

That boy was so head over heels for Haruka, Michiru thought as she watched him. But Haruka didn't seem to notice although she had bonded with him the whole day.

And Haruka also didn't make it easier for the poor guy right now, sitting there with her flight suit slightly opened and highlighting her bust.

"I think we should get ready too." The blonde said and got up.

"Uranus Crystal Power, Make up!"

While her girlfriend transformed Michiru shook her head with a smile. Sometimes Haruka was really to outgoing. Well at least the boy had some material to dream about now.

She waited till Haruka was finished with her transformation and then motioned at the shocked Stinoh.

"Maybe you tell Stinoh what happened right now. Outside."

Haruka put a hand around a blushing Stinoh and lead him outside, telling him what the Sailor Senshi were.

Michiru shook her head in amusement again when they left the room before she held her hand up.

"Neptune Crystal Power, Make Up!"

It didn't took long and two hover cars, one with a heavy blaster installed rolled up towards the village.

"We finish this quick mon Amour, no toying around." Michiru told her girlfriend.

"Awww, too bad."

Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus jumped from a roof onto the street, the Marauders were few dozen meters away from the village now.

Both where standing there, back on back now, illuminated from the moons.

The hover cars stopped.

"So, we heard you're harassing this village." Haruka started to tell to the dumbfounded Marauders, that couldn't believe that two women alone were standing in their way.

"This is something we cannot accept." Michiru continued.

"If you leave now and never come back we show mercy and let you go." Haruka finished.

It took a moment but then the Marauders broke into laughter and the two hover cars veered to the sides and and Marauders got out swarming the cars.

"You thing they have any idea that they're already dead?" Haruka whispered to Michiru.

"Well, we gave them a chance. Let's finish this quick, I hate being laughed at."

Haruka raised her hand over her head and Neptune both of her arms.

When the thugs figured out what was just about to happen, they tried to raise their weapons and the heavy blaster swung over but it was already to late.

"World Shaking!"

"Deep Submerge!"

The two balls of pure energy, one yellow, one teal, shot off and hit their targets at the same time and both hover cars exploded, killing everything inside and close around them.

The few Marauders that survived because they already advanced needed a moment to get back to their senses. The Senshi Duo was already pouncing into them though, Haruka stabbing three guys in a matter of seconds with her space sword.

Michiru reflected a blaster shot with her mirror, sending the bolt back and hitting the shooter between his eyes before she punched down the last survivor, a guy that was still dazed from the explosion.

"Guess we still got it." A satisfied Haruka commented the outcome of their assault on the Marauders.

"I didn't know that I missed fighting on the ground until now." Michiru replied.

A few armed Villagers came rushing in and surrounded the scene.

Soon they started cheering as the marauder troop had been beaten.

The guy that been knocked out by Michiru was taking away and tied up.


The next morning came and SunTzu was at a large table in the Royal Quarters learning with Hotaru.

Chibiusa and Diana were also on the table and homeschooled by Luna.

The pilot and his apprentice were invited by Chibiusa to learn over at her place.

Luna and SunTzu only agreed after a lengthy announcement about how important it is to learn concentrated and that was not an apology to gabble at the girl's education.

But so far everybody was learning eager and the chatting wasn't too much either.

Rather it proofed to be useful for Chibiusa's learning as Hotaru, who skipped a few classes and finished high school last year with just fifteen years old, intelligence ran deep in the family after all, could help her, while Luna could concentrate on Diana.

SunTzu was a bit nervous as he just had heard, that Haruka and Michiru called in after the attack but he didn't know how they exactly were doing. It was driving him crazy that he wasn't able to come to their help.

Hotaru next to him was learning about the basic chemical composition of Tibanna and why and for what it was used.

She noticed that he was a bit far.

"You okay? You keep zoning out."

"Ah, no. I'm good. Sorry."

"You're worried about Haruka and Michiru, aren't you?"

Why did little Miss Murder read in him like in an open book?

"A tad bit maybe. I'm not used to sit around more or less useless."

"SunTzu, Hotaru! Please be quiet. We're trying to learn here." Luna monished the two of them.

On Virgillia 7 Haruka and Michiru interrogated the surviving Marauder. The Mayor and Stinoh were there too. The interrogation proofed to be a bit difficult as the man lost his hearing in the explosion and only could read very bad.

Haruka soon had enough and a bit of waging with her sword opened up the mouth of the man.

The attackers were only a part of the Marauders. The thugs had their hideout in a cave a few kilometers further and terrorized all the surrounding villages. They were the same that attacked the other village in the Valley the night before.

They had acquired a hover truck lately and stored their bounty in there, to sell what they don't need on the black market. Guards were positioned around the entrance of the cave and around twenty Marauders were still left.

Haruka and Michiru immediatly started to a reconnaissance mission and flew so high that they couldn't be detected from the ground.

For evaluating the data and to organize some more help they flew back to the field camp and after a hour at the camp, and the promise that an ITT loaded with relief goods would leave for the Village this afternoon, the Senshi left again

When the couple landed back at the village, the inhabitants were quite in a tumult.

When the two women had left the cockpit the mayor and his wife ran up to them and told them that Stinoh was missing and couldn't be found.

After searching for almost an hour more his best friend finally broke and told them that Stinoh went off to steal the hover truck from the Marauders.

Haruka immediately ran back to the Voyager and made the starfighter ready to take off.

Michiru followed her and sat down in her gunner seat.

"Why the fuck would he do something so stupid?"

"Oh Haruka! Sometimes you're soo slow-witted. He did it to impress you!"

"Impress me? Why should he want to do that."

"Oh my God. You really don't see how much this boy has a crush on you."

"On me? Why should he have that?"

Michiru facepalmed some more in her seat.

"Definitely not because your wit." Michiru sighed. "Let's go and safe the kid before he gets hurt."

The Voyager rushed away and a few minutes later they settled the Voyager down, a few hundred meters away from the cave.

They climbed out the Voyager, transformed and rushed forward the enemy.

Near the entrance to the cave Stinoh stealthily climbed up the hill the cave was located on, using the vegetation to cover himself.

The last few meters he had lied down and crawled up.

He looked over the edge and could see two guards but they had their eyes on the dirt road leading to the cave.

It wasn't just a cave but an old mine. Another guard was visible at the entrance to the mine.

The truck was parked next to the entrance.

If he would move fast and without sound he could make it.

The boy was just about to storm over to the truck when someone grabbed his shirt's collar. His heart dropped into his gut as he slowly turned around to see who he grabbed him.

And found Sailor Uranus's blue eyes staring into his eyes.

His heart jumped back and further into his throat as he tried to open his mouth to say her name.

She put her finger over her lips to make him stay quiet and laid down next to him, assessing the situation.

Next to her Michiru settled down.

Via hand signs Sailor Uranus let Sailor Neptune know that she would take out the two guards at the road. Michiru nodded and motioned that she would move on to the truck and take out the guard at the entrance.

Haruka motioned Stinoh to stay put as she got up and rounded him, flanking the guards at the road.

Michiru got up too and sneaked over to the truck.

Without making a sound, Haruka walked up behind the first guard and slid the Space Sword's blade through his throat before she rolled around and stabbed it into the second guards back, at the height of his heart, covering his mouth so he wouldn't make any sounds.

Michiru had arrived at the side of the truck unseen from the guard.

She casted Submarine Reflection and sprang out of cover, hitting the guard with the cast and cutting him to pieces.

Unfortunately at that very moment a marauder strolled out the mine entrance and saw how his comrade was cut down. His jaw dropped and he ran back in, alarming the rest of the Criminals.

"Sailor Uranus! We got some trouble!"

In a matter of second both Senshi met a few meters apart from the entrance.

"I suppose we close this mine for good." Haruka said and Michiru nodded. Both lifted their hands.

"World Shaking!"

"Deep Submerge!"

They released the energy balls above them and they began to swirl around each other, mixing their colors and growing in size.

"Sailor Uranus, Sailor Neptune, Double Planet Ocean Crevice!"

The ball of energy launched forward and Into the mine entrance where he forcefully exploded twenty meters inside and under loud rumbling and shaking made the mine collapse, locking everyone inside in the mine.

As soon as the rumbling stopped Stinoh came up next to them.

"You Sailor Senshi are so mighty and powerful."

Michiru turned around.

"Piece of cake kid."

"Let's take the truck and go." Haruka said and walked over to the vehicle.

Twenty minutes later the truck with the relief goods and Stinoh, driven by Haruka, arrived at the village. Michiru went back to the Voyager.

The former race driver honked as she drove Into the Village.

Michiru already waited in her flight suit next to the Voyager near the residence of the mayor.


On the Far Side a shirt less SunTzu was laying on an examination table in the medbay, Doctor Meiou leaned over him, scanning his ribcage with a miniature x-ray.

She also asked him about pain and let him do some movements. After three days of Bacta Treatment he didn't feel any problems anymore.

After a thorough scan and examination she turned around and wrote something in her notebook.

"You can dress again Lieutenant."

He put his shirt back on and watched her scribble something down.

"So, how are things?" Can I fly again?"

She turned around on her chair and looked into his eyes.

"The Scans didn't show any injuries. And your movement is not hindered anymore also. If, and you have to promise me this, you take it easy the next few days also, you're cleared to fly again from my side."

He jumped up and embraced her and Setsuna blushed and froze in her position.

"Thank you so much Doc. I promise I try to not get too crazy."

He finished the hug and rushed out the door.

SunTzu was almost out the door when he stopped and turned around again.

"This is effective immediately right?"

Still taken by surprise from his sudden outburst of affection the Doctor nodded and he rushed further.

Setsuna shook her head and smiled happily. This guy.

SunTzu headed over to the hangar, which was bristling with activity.

Artemis and Rei just left a shuttle after a meeting with the local government on the planet and shuttles and Gunships were going in and out, bringing the last relief materials to the planet.

Hotaru and Karlena were standing in front of AICA, the pilot in training just came back from a navigational exercise.

SunTzu busted into the hangar and just as he thought, Artemis and Rei were back. Very good, two birds with one stone.

With fast steps he approached the two and five steps in front of Artemis he stopped and saluted.

"First Lieutenant SunTzu reporting back for flight Duty, Admiral Sir!"

Artemis returned the greeting but before he could even open his mouth SunTzu asked him something.

"Asking for permission to borrow my fighter and Diplomat Hino for a navigational exercise to see how good my abilities still are."

Artemis sighed and looked at him for a moment.

"Permission granted. You have two hours Lieutenant. And then I want to see the both of you on the bridge."

"Aye Aye Sir!"

He turned over to Rei who was standing there with a big smile and pulled her in an embrace, the lovers kissed and he pulled her up from the floor and carried her over to AICA.

He passed Hotaru and Karlena.

"I'm just gonna take a small ride with AICA!" He said to the two females in front of the fighter before he and Rei climbed into the pilot seat.

Pilot Trainee and Mechanic looked at each other.

"I guess Lieutenant SunTzu is allowed to fly again." Hotaru said.

"AICA Baby, I'm back!"

"Thank the maker! Please tell me we're doing some unrestricted flying now. Ever since you've been gone Flight Control was controlling Hotaru's flying and they were limiting our maneuvering way too much."

Less than a minute later AICA was shooting out of the Far Side's hangar.

Down on the planet that was hanging under the Far Side, the villagers just started loading out the truck. Stinoh had left the truck and was nowhere to be seen.

Haruka jumped out the driver's cab and walked over to Michiru, who was leaning against the Voyager's cockpit.

"Might want to change back to your pilot suit. We have new orders, looks like we get relieved here soon and head on."

"Alright, let me just tell the villagers."

"I'm coming along."

They walked back to the truck and told the mayor that they had to go now but that the village should be safe now. The mayor told them, that he would use the surpass goods to help the other surrounding villages too.

They shook hands and said goodbye.

Just as they almost reached their TIE a voice came in from behind.

"Haruka! Sailor Uranus!"

It was Stinoh and he was holding a beautiful multicolored flower in his hand.

The two Senshi turned around and Haruka looked at Michiru.

"You have to admit that this is cute." She shrugged. "You should give him something as a thank you, and you know what I mean with that. I'm cool with it." She continued and winked at Haruka.

Haruka didn't say anything and just raised an eyebrow at her girlfriend.

"If you're not going to do it, i'm going to do it. Come on, that boy has completely fallen for you, it's the nicest thing you can do for him."

Haruka let out a sigh.

"But only because he has this feminine touch."

With firm steps she walked over to the boy who presented her the flower.

When she reached him she took his head in her hands and gave him a kiss on the lips.

Then she took the flower and walked back.

"Don't take this wrong, I'm not even into guys!"

The young man stood there still dumbfounded that she just gave him his first kiss.

Haruka climbed into the cockpit, followed by Michiru.

"Remember my proposal in that Izakaya? Now that SunTzu is pretty much unavailable, maybe we can substitute him with that boy."

"Michiru, I love you but please. Shut up."


One and an half hour later AICA entered the system again and fell out off hyperspace, and the Senshi and her boyfriend came back from their small space trip to a place where they could watch the stars undisturbed.

The radio sprung to life, as the Voyager just entered space too.

"You're back in the cockpit SunTzu?"

"Yes Ma'am! Setsuna gave me clearance not even two hours ago."

"Too bad you're too late for the party. Looks like we're packing up."

The two starfighters landed and SunTzu and Rei excused themselves as Artemis wanted to see them on the bridge.

The two couples arranged to meet afterwards in the mess for a beer though. Michiru told them smiling that she had to tell them something. Things got intriguing when Haruka's face got sour when Michiru said that.

The Diplomat and the Pilot entered the bridge and walked up to Artemis who was giving out orders to an adjutant.

When he finished he turned towards the couple.

"Very good, you're even over punctual. Me and Sailor Mercury have a mission for you. Have you ever heard about the Planet Genon?"

Thirty minutes later they were done and arrived at the cafeteria, just minutes after Haruka and Michiru got there.

As the mission was over for them they got four beers.

After they toasted to SunTzu being back in the cockpit, Michiru told them the story on what happened on the planet including the whole part involving Stinoh. Haruka was protesting about the last part which encouraged her girlfriend just more.

"Holy fuck, I leave you on your own once and you start breaking young guys' hearts!"

SunTzu stated under laughter, making Haruka look like she was about to jump over the table to punch him.

"You should have seen that kiss. I think there was even some tongue involved. And if you ask me, Haruka enjoyed it way more than she admits." Michiru joined in SunTzu's and Rei's laughter.

A pissed looking Haruka drank the rest of her bottle and wordlessly left the table.

"Oh Haruka, come on. We're just joking."

The blonde left the cafeteria without looking back.

"You think we took it a bit too far?"

"Sometimes she can be a bit more sensitive than she admits. And I think that boy having a crush on her hit a nerve. Merde, now I feel bad and want to make it up again."

"Today, is Wednesday, right?"

"Yes, why?"

"Oh I have an idea."

At the evening AICA flew out the hangar once more, just as a Corona Frigate, refitted into a hospital ship arrived to relieve the Taskforce.

Artemis just had started the Nightshift Radio Show for the Taskforce.

"Good evening Task Force Sol and welcome back to this Wednesday's Night Shift. Today we start with something very special! Live from this ship, this is the world famous Violin Player and Weapon System Operator of the Voyager, Michiru Kaiou playing for us! She dedicates this small concert to her eternal Love."

Inside one of the ships smaller meeting rooms Michiru began to play her Stradivari. She closed her eyes and let her love for Haruka guide her playing.

Supported by AICA with projecting additional instruments she played so intensive that some people listening in started to cry, overmanned by Emotions.

In her and Michiru's room Haruka just turned up the volume of the radio in the room and listened. Her sour demeanor melted away and transformed into a wide smile.