Somewhen in the morning Minako woke up and wondered where she was and how she got here.
Thank god, she still had her kimono on and there was nobody lying next to her.
But this wasn't clearly her apartment or her bedroom.
One eye closed and her head throbbing she looked around in the retreating dark of dawn.
She had seen this room before, it was SunTzu's bedroom.
A sharp sting of pain hit her head as she opened her other eye.
She found that there was a glass of water on the nightstand and greedily chugged it down.
Unfortunately she couldn't sleep anymore because her full bladder reported in.
Tip-toeing she walked out of the room and disappeared in the bathroom.
When she came out again a few minutes later she tried to sneak back into the bed room but stubbed her toe on a stand and began to curse while she rubbed the hurting toe.
"Good Morning graceful Goddess of Love."
A dark haired figure sat up on the couch, her kimono hanging down on her shoulders.
"Morning Rei."
Minako stopped and looked over to her best friend.
"You need any help? We thought it would be better to bring you here before you paint the insides of a taxi with some Sake from inside your stomach."
"I'm good, I guess I go home. If my head doesn't explode first."
"Oh, don't worry. I got you." SunTzu now chimed in, and before getting up, closing his yukata.
He went to the kitchen and got a small package of a powder and a bottle of blue liquid from the refrigerator.
"Magnesium and Isotonic beverage. If you're in the Forces long enough you learn how to defeat a hangover.
"Thank you."
Minako opened the small bag and swallowed down the powder, frowning from it's taste. She washed it down with a big chug of the blue liquid.
"My lifesaver." Minako thanked SunTzu, her eyes closed as the cool of the liquid eased the pain in her temple a bit.
"Since Mina is taken care off, can we please get back to sleep?" Rei asked and SunTzu and Minako both nodded.
"Great." The Senshi of Fire said and grabbed SunTzu's hand, walked up to Minako, whose hand she grabbed as well and led both to the bedroom and the bed.
The three of them laid down, Rei in the middle, embraced by both her best friend and her boyfriend.
A few moments later the trio was asleep again.
Rei woke up hours later, it was late morning by now, in midst of the two people the closest to her, besides her grandfather and Usagi, spooning with SunTzu and Minako with the blonde's head resting on her hand.
She felt a deep gratitude and calmness as she could feel and see Minako's face and head on her hand, the women's golden shimmering hair waving down behind her, as well as the soft but still firm stubble of SunTzu on her back, his arms slung around her upper body.
Rei smiled and closed her eyes again, greatly enjoying the moment.
A few seconds later she could feel her boyfriend kissing the back of her neck and she smiled again, as he was pressing his hands tighter around her.
That moment Minako opened her eyes and began to smile as well, she looked way better than the last time she woke up and the Blonde apparently felt better as well, as she clinged her head softly with Rei's.
Minako checked her phone. Her manager praised her for taking pics with fans at the festival yesterday. Good I did that before I was stone cold drunk the singer thought. In the Senshi messenger group Artemis, being his usual guarding way about his Mina, asked if someone knew if Minako made it home safe.
The blonde allowed herself a small joke and sent a selfie, depicting her lying in bed with Rei and SunTzu, all of them making the peace sign.
In his office in the palace the white haired Admiral almost choked on the sip of coffee he just took after seeing it.
She wrote that she would call Rei and SunTzu Mom and Dad now, the way they took so great care of her.
When SunTzu read the message he jokingly commented that Rei calls him Daddy too.
Before he could even try to take any cover a pillow hit him in the face.
Minako, dressed in a borrowed skirt Rei had over and a t-shirt from SunTzu, stayed most of the rest of the day with the couple and even managed to persuade SunTzu to show her his great breakfast making skills once again.
All of them felt the last day, and night, and they mostly just hang around lazily.
The couple stayed together till the evening and after a long walk in a park they went for dinner before Rei left for the shrine.
The next day, the usual duty resumed and after some morning sports with his wingmen, the other pilots, Endymion, the rest of the Senshi and the Commandos SunTzu got some training with Hotaru and Setsuna in. His motivation to get was high, his coming promotion lifted his spirits.
Training was followed by breakfast with the Inners and Outers.
In midst of his most important two dark haired female humans he enjoyed breakfast after Hotaru and Setsuna showed him his deficits in close quarters combat.
A young Lieutenant, one of Artemis's aides appeared at the table.
"The Admiral wants to see you, along the other officers of the Taskforce in the meeting room at 11:00."
SunTzu looked at his chrono, bit longer than half an hour to go. That was enough time for a second coffee.
Bit by bit the officers and commanders of the Taskforce trickled into the large Control Room.
Minako and Rei were sitting next to SunTzu, behind him were Haruka and Michiru and Setsuna and Hotaru were in front of him.
"I asked Artemis what's up already. Looks like another escort mission. He said something about Yu... something Vong."
SunTzu jolted up.
"Yuuzhan Vong?"
"Yeah. Yeah, that was what he called them."
"Oh fuck." SunTzu cursed.
"Oh come on Mate. Just because they tried to kill you." Haruka came in from behind SunTzu, arms crossed and apparently bored.
"Twice. And don't forget you got a package from one of them as well."
"Me? Hell no, I stabbed that wanker down after he threw you through a window."
SunTzu turned around frowning and was about to say something but Haruka was faster.
"Maybe it wasn't personal at all but I mean you have that effect on people, ya know. I understand if someone wants you to throw through or out of something."
"Haruka!" Michiru chimed in indignantly.
"No Michiru, she has a point." Rei chimed in as well now and SunTzu turned around surprised to his girlfriend.
"Guys, please." Setsuna, without turning around came in now. "It's not nice if the Lieutenant gets hurt."
Everyone was looking at Setsuna now, and after a short moment of silence she continued, deadpanning.
"Usually I'm the one who has to patch him up again. And I can think of hundred ways where the amounts of Bacta we need every time would be spent more wise."
The whole group broke out into laughter, even Hotaru had to cover her mouth to not break into laughter as well. Only SunTzu wasn't laughing but rather pouting.
Artemis and the Royal Couple entered the room and began the briefing.
The task really was about escorting a small flotilla of Yuuzhan Vong Ships from Ilum to Bilbringi. A high ranking warrior and a priest were to have a top secret meeting with high ranking Officials of the Galactic Alliance regarding the ongoing Shadow War the galaxy was seeing.
Everything was Top Secret as the Government of the Alliance feared attacks on the Vong's delegation. After all the war and it's losses weren't forgotten and for example the Bothans were still at the state of Ar'krai, a genocidal war, against the Yuuzhan Vong.
And the safety measures were not only for the former Invaders but also for anyone stupid enough to engage them. Since the mission was basically purely a space mission not all ground elements were to come along.
"I do know that even some of us didn't have the best experience with the Yuuzhan Vong." Artemis paused for a moment and looked over to Haruka and SunTzu before he continued. "But this mission is way more than another escort mission and extremely important. I expect everyone to do it's best, when we leave tomorrow morning." The white haired Admiral closed the briefing with these words.
Haruka let out a long deep breather. Another boring escort mission. SunTzu on the other side decided that he gave the Vong another chance. Also he was about to become a Captain and wanted to show how dutiful he was.
The attendants left the room and SunTzu and Hotaru went off for a training flight.
When they arrived back from the pacific and a mock dogfight with Terra Squadron and a carrier based US Navy Squadron Haruka was checking some systems on the Voyager on one of the landing spots outside, as SunTzu and Hotaru walked past her on their way to the Flight Center.
"Oi, SunTzu come over for a sec, will ya."
SunTzu walked up to her and looked up to her, she was sitting on top of the cockpit, a datapad in hand, flight suit pulled down to her hips, revealing a cropped sports top and showing off her abs.
"Yo, what's the matter."
"I just wanted to let you know, you're on your own this time. Me and Michiru are off for a few days. But you seemed to like that last escort job and It's the Vong who can take care of themselves anyway so I guess you're good anyway. And I really need some time off from these boring escort and scout jobs."
"It's cool. Maybe I get to know some Vong with a different opinion than just wanting to kill me. And you two didn't have a lot of breaks lately. I'll keep up our good reputation, although I'm probably get bored all alone because Hotaru is out as well."
Haruka looked over to the black haired Teenager which hair now was growing down to her shoulders already.
"Have to learn plus get some simulator time in." The Senshi of Silence shrugged.
"It's okay. I'll see y'all on Friday then. Drinks on me." SunTzu said and smiled before he gave a two finger salute to Haruka and continued his way to the flight center with Hotaru.
The next day, SunTzu had slept in Rei's room in the Crystal Tower SunTzu and his girlfriend were some of the first people on board of the Far Side, waiting for it's departure.
To his delight Rei would join the Taskforce as it wasn't bad to have a skilled diplomat around.
"Plus someone has to make sure no Yuuzhan Vong is trying to kill you."
Yeah, yeah. I get it.
To kill time they decided to spare against each other and soon they were joined by Setsuna.
The Guardian of Space and Time decided to accompany this trip as she was curious about how the extra galactic Yuuzhan Vong really were. Or as she told to SunTzu.
"I'll better stick around when it's really a race trait with trying to kill you."
Great, now even Setsuna is just fine with mocking me all the time…
The travel to Ilum, would take at least until the day after tomorrow morning so they had plenty of leisure and even Ami and Makoto joined them in the afternoon, and so all the Senshi onboard were hanging out along with SunTzu and Kenji. The researcher of the Royal University was there to meet up any Yuuzhan Vong Shapers, basically the researchers and builders of the bio organic technology the technophobe Aliens used, that would be along the Diplomatic Mission coming from their new home world, the sentient planet of Zonoma Sekot, hidden somewhere in the Unknown Regions. An insight or even exchange of their technology might help earth's technological growth immensely.
After all the Kingdom that swore to protect the Earth had to save the planet of pollution as well.
The morning the day after tomorrow SunTzu was ready to take AICA off from the Far Side's Hangar and he was just running pre-flight checks when Rei appeared in front of the modified A-Wing.
She was wearing a flight suit, had her hair restrained with a hair band and a pilot helmet under her arm.
"Hey Topper, care to make some room for your Ramada?"
"Rei? What are you doing here, dressed like that? I thought you were leading the communication with the Vong."
"Well, since we're about to meet a race all about warriorship I thought it would make sense to meet them head on. And none of them will put a foot on a machine anyway, so it doesn't matter where I communicate from with them."
SunTzu nodded, she was right, as always in diplomatic causes.
"And SunTzu, do me a big favor and don't call them just Vong when they are around. They find it to be offensive. Rather call them Yuuzhan Vong. That means children of Yun-Yuuzhan, a god of them."
"Yes Ma'am." SunTzu stated only half serious.
"Babe, please. Don't fuck this up." She was standing on the second last step of the ladder leading into the cockpit now and leaned down to SunTzu.
"I won't Rei. How can I when I have the most able, and stunning, Diplomat in the galaxy with me."
Still leaning over him she began to smile and as reward opened her flight suit's zipper just a bit to give him a glance at her cleavage, a little reward was due.
He began to grin dumbly.
"Good, now that we cleared that up. How about a place to sit? Or do I have to sit on your lap?"
"AICA, would you please extend the cockpit, so that Diplomat Hino can sit down? It might cause a extragalactic incident if I'd be too intimate with the Diplomat while we're flying towards the Yuuzhan Vong's diplomatic mission."
A few minutes later the Far Side and it's three accompanying Corvettes fell out of hyperspace near the ice planet.
The first contact would be made by SunTzu, Rei and AICA, although the later had been briefed to communicate or show signs of artificial intelligence at all. For the Yuuzhan Vong Artificial Intelligence and Droids were an Iniquity to their gods.
AICA, despite protesting, promised to keep quiet and act like a regular Starfighter, unless the Vong would do something threatening her friends or the Taskforce. Just in case the A-Wing's lasers were already programmed to stutter fire.
The primary energy drive for Yuuzhan Vong Starships as well as source of shielding for their vehicles were creatures called Dovin Basals. These creatures could generate artificial gravity anomalies, very much like black holes, and these were used for propelling and shielding and were a huge problem in the beginning of the war as the Dovin Basal needed to be overwhelmed to hit the ship he was guarding. Stutter lasers were one technological measure against the Shields as faster, lightly powered laser shots were used to overwhelm the Basal and stronger shots were used to engage the vessel it was guarding.
SunTzu softly lifted off from the hangar floor and glided through the open hangar door.
The Yuuzhan Vong Flotilla would arrive in a few minutes and he was ordered to wait for them some distance away at their entry point.
Soon AICA was flying past the planet.
"Ilum used to be one of the main planets to supply the Jedi with the Crystals for their light sabers." Rei told as she looked to her right when they passed the white-blueish planet.
"I didn't know about that." SunTzu began to smile. "Funny, actually I should the one to know that. I'm the force-sensitive here."
"And I'm the one who actually reads the Intelligence Service notes to their end." Rei began to smile as well.
She leaned forward and put her hand on his chest. SunTzu grasped it, gave it a kiss and pressed it gently on his chest.
They flew a bit further and he began to check a monitor in the cockpit.
"T-30 seconds. You ready?" The Pilot asked and turned around.
Rei closed the zipper of her flight suit completely again with a wink.
"Ready When, you are."
"Well then." He changed the comm channel to an open frequency as told.
"Far Side, we're in position."
"Copy that, SunTzu. Ten seconds until arrival."
Exactly ten seconds later a Starship looking more like an asteroid and not like a traditional starship fell out of Hyperspace, a Ro'ik chuun m'arh, a frigate analogue, SunTzu remembered from the briefing. This ship, a living organism as everything the Yuuzhan Vong used, translated name the Dream of Yuuzhan'tar and was a pretty new grown, one of the first around Zonama Sekot actually, roughly three hundred meters long.
Although it looked like an asteroid it was capable of high speeds in sub- and hyperspace, had twenty four Yaret-Kor, Plasma Cannons, a pretty efficient shielding provided through the Dovin Basal, a complement of eight Yorik-Et Starfighters, also called coralskippers, as well as around hundred eighty Yuuzhan Vong Warriors on board.
SunTzu knew that the organic communication device, the Vilip, of the ship had been modified to also sent to regular holo communication.
"Rei, you wanna have the honor and welcome our guests?" The Pilot asked his girlfriend.
Rei stared out to the starship analogue. It really felt extragalactic. She knew that the Yuuzhan Vong existed outside the force and couldn't be sensed through the force and even without the force she could feel how strange and foreign the presence of the extragalactical aliens felt.
Keep it together Rei, you're a diplomat of the Galactic Alliance so even strange Alien stuff isn't allowed to disturb you.
"Sure, but give me a second before you patch me through.
The black haired diplomat harrumphed and then pulled her helmet headset's speaker nearer to her mouth.
"Greetings Dream of Yuuzhan'tar, this is Diplomat Rei Hino of the Galactic Alliance speaking from the Starfighter in front of you. We are honored by your presence and the Chief of State, Madam Organa-Solo herself bids her thanks for your mission."
After a moment a guttural gruff sounding voice came on.
"Greetings Diplomat Hino. This is Valak Choka, Commander of this vessel and his warriors. I suppose you are with the troops that came to fight alongside us. Or as you're language says escort us."
Pilot and diplomat's eyes met as SunTzu turned around. The Commander seemed to be very well taught in dealing with this Galaxy.
"Diplomat Hino, can you wait a moment? I want to test your skills of flying."
The Commander came back in.
"Commander, I am not the pilot of this Starfighter."
A pause followed.
"My bad Diplomat, according to our data the A-Wing, as you call it, is a one-seater. Very well then, I suppose you trust the pilot with your life?"
Rei frowned but before SunTzu could even react she replied already.
"I do Commander. This pilot has saved my life countless times already."
"Good, then I'll contest him."
SunTzu's eyes widened and In this moment a purpleish colored coral skipper left the dream of Yuuzhan'tar, blasting towards them.
AICA, came on as she booted up weapons and shields.
"The skip is on direct intercepting course with us."
"Rei?" SunTzu asked the diplomat for her orders while he calibrated the systems.
"I… I expected something like that. A race centered of combat and enduring pain as the Yuuzhan Vong probably would have test our abilities before they accept our escort."
"And when did you think you would tell me about this?" SunTzu asked, his voice showing agitation.
"Oops."
"Oops?"
"Yeah, oops. What do you expect TopGun, they're Yuuzhan Vong. And now try to not get us killed by their commander."
SunTzu shook his head, not having it and then put power to the engines.
"AICA, keep quiet and let me do the flying. If they get to know I've been helped by a computer we're fucked."
"If that is what you wish for Meatbag."
"Just do it."
A few moments later the two starfighters passed each other within touching distance and both pilots took a look into the cockpit of the other.
To the two earthlings surprise there was another Yuuzhan Vong in the Yorik-Et's double seat cockpit as well.
Both pilots pulled their starfighters into a steep climb and threw them around towards the enemy after climbing.
The starfighters clashed again and engaged in a fierce dogfight, spiraling around each other, but none of them found an opening for a lock on.
"You good back there?" SunTzu asked, while he concentrated on not loosing the coral skipper. "Damn, this guy is good."
"I'm good. Try to keep it up." Rei answered from the backseat, trying to not loose the alien snub out of her view.
With clenched teeth SunTzu threw AICA into another curve and tried to outmaneuver his opponent. This pilot was one of the best he ever faced, on par with Haruka and maybe even Marvin.
After close quarter dogfighting didn't bring out a winner the two pilots upped the distance between their ships again and tried to clash with a few fast passes against each other but they still were so much on par that none of them could land a shot.
SunTzu just threw AICA into another looping, hoping Rei's stomach would withstand the wild maneuvering, as Commander Choka came in over radio again.
"You're an excellent pilot, what is your name Warrior?"
"Name's SunTzu. And I have to admit you're an excellent pilot as well. I haven't faced such a potent adversary in a long time."
"The feeling is mutual. Although there is no clear winner I have seen enough to be impressed by your skills. I want to see the face of the human, whose flying was on par with mine. Follow me SunTzu."
SunTzu leveled AICA and turned around to look at Rei, to his surprise her face still held color and she didn't seem to be nauseous.
He looked at her, questioning.
She nodded and he turned around, steering AICA right behind the coral skipper.
Choka led the two Starfighter to a course towards Ilum.
"I bet he wants to land there to see you face to face. I hope you brought your winter parka." Rei told SunTzu.
Of course, the Vong wouldn't step a foot on a starship, so he rather landed on an ice planet. And he's still trying to find out if I have guts.
"I'll be good. What about you?"
"Oh, don't worry about me. I've been to North Pole in Skirt and High Heels, I'll be okay. After all I can cast fire with my hands."
A few minutes later they landed on an icy white plain on the planet.
All around them only were icebergs and snow.
The two snubs landed opposed to each other a few meters between them.
The canopy's opened and the pilots jumped out.
"You wait here." He told Rei, as he unstrapped and got up.
With a crunch of the snow beneath his feet SunTzu landed.
The snow beneath him was hard enough that he didn't sink into it much.
Opposite of him the Yuuzhan Vong Warrior landed on the snow as well.
He already had taken off his organic flying suit and helmet.
Without a shirt or armor he stood there in the cold, a very defined, muscular body, ash grey skin color, grey and purple tattoos covering his skin.
His nose and lips was missing and there were sharp claws intruded into his ears. His bald head had sharp spikes implanted underneath the skin, giving it a crown like appearance.
SunTzu pulled down his flight helmet and put it on AICA's wing.
The Yuuzhan Vong, at least two heads taller than him was grinning ferociously at him.
SunTzu knew what would come next.
Good thing I'm used to take a beating by now. Thanks Setsuna.
"Shall we begin then, Commander?" He yelled over to the Alien Warrior.
"Is the Diplomat watching this?" The Yuuzhan Vong replied.
"I'm here!" Rei, not wearing her helmet anymore was standing in the open canopy.
Valak Choka nodded respectfully.
"I do understand that a Diplomat's work is not the battle. So hope your chosen warrior is not only a competent pilot if you want to earn my trust."
I'm sorry Babe. I promise I'll make up for it.
"Have no worries. SunTzu is an Allrounder when it comes to fighting." Rei told the alien before she looked down to SunTzu, who stood there with a determined expression, he already knew.
The grin on the Yuuzhan Vong's face even got bigger and from one second to the next he rushed forward and ran towards SunTzu with a guttural howl.
SunTzu, as soon as he saw the Alien sprint towards him, rushed forward as well and within a few seconds the two opponents closed the distance between each other.
Choka jumped forward both his clawed legs raised to hit SunTzu in the chest and SunTzu slipped to the floor, dodging the Warrior.
Before the human was up again he already had to roll around again as a giant foot with four long claws crashed down to where he just had been.
He kicked at the ankle of the towering warrior and although it didn't seem to have any more effect it gave him the time to get up and try to punch the Vong in his face.
Mere centimeters before his face the Alien got SunTzu's wrist into his hand and began to crush it until SunTzu kicked the Alien into his flank so that he lost the grasp on his hand.
Valak Choka looked surprised at the smaller human and grinned. Probably he didn't expect so much willingness to fight.
You're doing this for Rei SunTzu, so show them that you can fight…
The Yuuzhan Vong straightened up again and began to try to punch SunTzu with his big hands, ending in sharp black claws as substitute for fingernails.
SunTzu dodged and after a few sidesteps and ducking he tried to kick the Vong into his side again. The Alien Warrior was prepared this time, grabbed SunTzu's foot and slang him around, throwing him away.
SunTzu landed face first in the snow but the sensation of the cold snow in his face kept him fully attentive and within a second he was on his knee again, just in time as the Vong stepped up.
SunTzu glanced up to the grinning Vong.
And then used a leg slash to fell the Alien, his smug grin vanishing while he was falling.
Valak Choka was furious now. He, the son of the honorable Warmaster Nas Choka, never been put the ground by an opponent since ever being a young adolescent, felled by a human.
With an angry growl he immediately got up again.
SunTzu tried to dodge but the longer arms of the Alien snatched him and the Commander held him up to his face, baring his sharp canine teeth before he gave SunTzu a headbutt and then threw him away again.
Surprisingly SunTzu's nose didn't break and instead just started bleeding, his lip had been torn open as well and red blood now was spluttered around the ground where SunTzu's face hit the snow on the ground.
Somehow, seeing stars, he managed to get up and more drips of blood fell from his face onto the white snow. He still tried to get ahold of himself again as the Vong stepped up to him again. A hard punch to his cheek from the alien's right almost knocked him out.
The Warrior straightened his right hand so that the claws were facing straight into one direction and used his left hand to fix SunTzu's head upwards, getting ready to drive his claws into the human's face.
What the Yuuzhan Vong Warrior didn't see was that a few meters behind him, a furious looking Rei was casting an immense fire ball in her hand.
"Valak! Avast!" A deep but female voice yelled suddenly in the language of the Yuuzhan Vong from another direction, from the coral skipper on the other side.
Choka immediately held in and looked towards his starfighter and Rei stopped casting, the fireball slowly disappearing again.
Even SunTzu, blood pouring down his upper face, through his beard and dripping onto the snow looked over to where the voice came from.
A tall female Yuuzhan Vong, dressed in a hodded red robe of thick material, which hood she just pulled down. She had long black hair flowing down from the back half of her skull, two sharp spikes facing upwards on the front, red and purple tattoos going from her cheeks down her neck, her nose not completely gone but chopped to a third of it's length and a large red gem embedded in her forehead.
Gem ornated earrings hanging from her pierced ears, and she was having smaller and more subtle tattoos around her blue irised eyes. Her lips had a purpleish tone and her skin was more pale and white than the Commander's. Her fingers were slender and her nails more pointy than Choka's.
Even for human standards the woman had a certain beauty to her.
"Nika!" The Warrior asked incredulous.
"Hold in, the diplomat is one of the women of my prophecy!"
Valak Choka stared at SunTzu for a moment and then loosened his grip on his skull and lowered his hand.
Rei had jumped out of the cockpit and had rushed over to SunTzu in the meantime.
She embraced her sitting boyfriend from behind and slung her arms around his upper body.
SunTzu still tried to get clear again, he felt as he had been hit by a truck.
The female Yuuzhan Vong ran over, holding onto her robe with one hand.
She stopped at the side of the Commander and looked down to Rei.
"You're the one that can throw fire. And you're a seer, am I right?" The female alien said in basic, with very little accent.
Rei's eyes widened and she looked the female Vong into the eyes.
"How do you know?"
The female alien opened her robe, revealing a black leather like underclothing, covering her private parts but open from under her breasts to her hips. There were more tattoos on her skin and Rei's jaw dropped when she saw the Half Moon Crescent of Crystal Tokyo tattooed in gold color on where a navel on a human would have been on the Alien's skin.
"I am Nika Yim. And I'm a seer too."
"Where did you get this tattoo… this painting?"
"I draw it on myself after I kept having the same vision dream cycle by dream cycle. Ten female humans capable of magic that were distinct to save the galaxy and all it's occupants including the Yuuzhan Vong on the holy planet of Zonama Sekot. And I saw that one of them, you, were able to produce fire and is a seer as well."
She looked over to the male Yuuzhan Vong and began to speak in their language with him again. "Valak, we are right here with one of the woman from my prophecies. The gods graced us with this sheer luck."
"Maybe the woman of your prophecy are worth it then if their seer stays side to side with a warrior like this then."
Valak looked down at SunTzu who was just sitting there, looking upfront, blood all over his lower face. Rei was now kneeling behind him, gaze locked on the two Yuuzhan Vong while she had her arms around him.
He took a step forwards which made Rei glare angrily at him, covering his head with her body.
Valak stopped in mid motion and signaled her with an open palm that he was meaning no harm, which lead to Rei slowly and carefully backing up, eyes locked on the alien.
And then he extended his hand to SunTzu.
The pilot looked up to the offered and hand and took it. With a swift motion he pulled the pilot, who stopped bleeding by now up.
Somehow SunTzu managed to stay standing straight and the Vong put his enormous hand on the pilot's shoulder.
"You fought ferociously and honorable in space and on foot." Valak nodded respectfully to the Bavarian before his gaze changed to Rei.
"You proofed yourself worthy. Tell your commander he can bring his ships in escort formation around us. Just make sure none of the machines comes to close to the Dream of Yuuzhan'tar, my warriors could feel provoked otherwise."
Rei nodded and the Vong Warrior noticed that the Diplomat was right behind the human warrior and had a hand around his waist.
Suddenly a giggle came from the Yuuzhan Vong Priestess and everybody turned her head towards her.
"What's the matter for this, Nika?" Valak asked in Yuuzhan Vong and turned completely towards her.
"Pardon me Valak. But I just remembered your facial expression when the human felled you."
Then she leaned in towards the giant and rested her head on his muscular chest.
"Could it be…?" Rei whispered into SunTzu's ear.
"Excuse my curiosity Commander. But could it be that you two are… companions?"
The eyes of both alien's widened and while the females skin around her cheek took on a slight reddish color the male, in a very human behavior, put his hand on the back of his head and obviously was looking for an answer.
Rei, next to her boyfriend now, and SunTzu looked at each other surprised. A skilled pilot and warrior and a seer?
Had the human couple just met their Yuuzhan Vong Equivalents?
SunTzu contacted the Far Side and told them about the Commander's decision while Rei talked with Nika about her prophecies in private.
The mission had to get going for safety reasons and also there was a snow storm approaching.
After a few minutes SunTzu was sitting in AICA again, checking the systems.
On a monitor in the console AICA asked her pilot if he was okay.
"Thanks for the concern, but I'm good i guess."
She answered with another text on the monitor.
"My visual sensors tell me you look horrible."
"Yeah, and I have blood in my face. But it's okay. Just a bit of Bacta and I'll be like new."
Rei appeared next to his head and then swung herself in and onto her backseat.
"You sure you can safely get us home TopGun."
SunTzu smiled, apart from all the mocking his girls did care about him.
"I'm okay. And AICA is also around."
"Let's get back to the Far Side then. Sets should take a look at your face nonetheless. He got you pretty good."
"I still felled him."
Rei shook her head before she leaned forward and gently squeezed his shoulder.
"Thanks for making sure that Commander Choka sees us as worthy."
SunTzu grasped a hand around Rei's hand on his shoulder while he activated the engines with the other.
"Everything for you my Princess."
Both Starfighter lifted up, as the wind began to blow stronger over the desert of ice and sent new snow to it's surface.
The snubs broke through the clouds and headed to space.
In Space the Far Side was moving up in front of the Dream of Yuuzhan'tar while the three Corvettes took flanking and rear position in appropriate distance to the Vong Frigate.
Another few minutes later AICA landed on the Far Side again and Rei and SunTzu got out.
Ami was waiting for them and when she saw the bloody face of SunTzu her eyes widened in shock. She ran up to the Starfighter as Rei got out before SunTzu and helped him down the steps.
"My god, what happened." Ami asked excitedly and lent a hand to SunTzu as well.
"The Commander of the ship we're escorting wanted to find out if we're worthy escorting them." SunTzu answered to her.
"And TopGun made sure we are."
"Also we met the Vong-Version of Rei." SunTzu continued after Rei.
"What? Tell me more."
"Later Ami. SunTzu needs to get checked in the medbay first." Rei told her friend, not unfriendly but assertive.
Rei and SunTzu went over to the medbay, with Rei making sure to be as close to SunTzu as possible in case he would faint.
SunTzu wasn't feeling physically too bad except a bit of pain and exhaustion, but secretly he enjoyed that Rei was taking care of him so well.
As SunTzu and Rei arrived at the med bay a young nurse on the corridor saw SunTzu's face and immediately turned around to face a open door on one of the examination rooms.
"Doctor!?"
A moment later Setsuna, her doctor's coat on came out of the room and the shocked nurse just pointed towards the incoming SunTzu.
When she saw the blood stained face of SunTzu Setsuna closed her eyes a moment and sighed.
"I got this Maria." Setsuna told the nurse, put on some medical exam gloves and walked towards SunTzu.
"Lieutenant SunTzu, let me guess. You ran into a Yuuzhan Vong."
"The commander of the mission actually." Rei told, standing next to SunTzu as Setsuna took a small pocket lamp from her coat's pocket and began to check his eyes.
"At least you keep the continuity up, SunTzu." Setsuna said as she put the light down. Come one, I'll have a more accurate look at you."
She lead the two into the examination room she just exited and motioned SunTzu to sit down on the examination table.
Just as he had sat down an announcement over the ship's loudspeakers came in, telling Head Diplomat Hino to immediately get to the bridge.
The two dark haired women looked at each other.
"Guess I'll have to leave TopGun alone in your care, Sets."
"Don't worry, I'll try to not hurt him anymore further."
Both women smiled at each other before Rei kissed SunTzu's forehead and left.
Ten minutes later Setsuna was done examining SunTzu, and put her rubber gloves off and threw them away before she sat down again , facing SunTzu.
"I'll give you some Bacta lotion for the cut and the turgor but other than that you're good. He hit your nose real good, you're lucky she didn't break though. You need painkillers?"
"No, I'm good. What bothers me more is that I couldn't best him in a dogfight."
Setsuna got up and held a pack of wet wipes in front of his face.
"As long as it's just your ego, Lieutenant. And now clean yourself a bit up, you're scaring the nurses."
Ten more minutes later he was in his room and laid down on his bed, after he cleaned his face in the bathroom thoroughly again.
It knocked on the door and Rei entered.
"Hey, how are you?" She said and walked up to the bed.
"According to the doctor my ego took the harder blow. Just because I told I couldn't best Choka in space and it disturbs me." He said as she laid down next to him, still wearing her flight suit.
"I mean, she's the doctor after all…" SunTzu glared at her "… but I am thankful that you took this beating for the sake of the mission. And hey I can finally kiss you again."
Rei leaned down on the lying SunTzu and kissed him gently.
He put his arm around her and pulled her closer, returning the kiss.
She patted his hand.
"I'm sorry but I have some urgent Senshi buisness to attend to. Priestess Yim is coming over, apparently her buisness with us Senshi is so important that she's willing to enter a regular starship. She wants to talk with me and the other Senshi."
SunTzu pressed his lips together. So much for a bit of relaxation.
She pulled his head close and kissed his forehead again.
"Don't worry, I'll take good care of you when I'm back. And now get some rest my little maniac that voluntarily gets into fist fights with Yuuzhan Vong."
The four Senshi that were onboard, along with Captain Santos and Artemis, were waiting for the Yuuzhan Vong Priestess inside the hangar.
The small asteroid shaped Shuttle glided trough the hangar shield and opened it's canopy, revealing the priestess.
Nika climbed out the cockpit.
Rei and Artemis stood in front, Captain Santos, Mercury, Pluto and Jupiter where a step behind, but looking very curious at the visitor.
"Greetings Diplomat Hino. This is exactly the clothing I know from my visions."
"Greetings to you as well Priestess Yim. I am known as Sailor Mars in this. It's a planet of our solar system and I am it's ruler and guardian."
"I see." The Priestess nodded acknowledging.
"If I may introduce the commander of our Taskforce, Admiral Artemis. A close acquaintance of our ruler and us."
Artemis bowed down slightly in his white uniform.
"Greetings Commander. Thank you for your fighting alongside us."
Artemis glanced over to Rei, what did the Yuuzhan Vong mean with fighting.
"Don't worry Artemis, the Yuuzhan Vong don't have a word for escorting, it's called fighting alongside in their language."
Artemis nodded, seemingly more relaxed now.
"Priestess, may I introduce my fellow Guardians, or Sailor Senshi, as we are called, that are onboard right now."
Rei motioned over to the three other Senshi.
"Sailor Mercury."
"The Warrior that controls water and has the wisdom of the oldest Master Shapers." The priestess said, acknowledging the blue haired genius which made the Senshi look at each other in surprise.
"Priestess, it's a honor." Mercury said and bowed down slightly, sporting a Pokerface. Next Rei motioned to Makoto.
"Sailor Jupiter."
"The fierce Warrior that controls lightning."
"Priestess." The Officer of the Special Forces said and bowed down slightly.
"And over there, is Sailor Pluto."
"The daughter of a God and Keeper of Time."
"At your service Priestess." Sailor Pluto said and bowed down.
"Dipl… Sailor Mars, shall we retract to talk more about my prophecies in private."
"Of course. If you would follow me, there are rooms on the ship we can talk in private."
The group began to walk away, including the two male officers.
"Excuse me Commander, but I would prefer to talk with the Sailor Warriors alone. I hope you don't mind."
Artemis stopped midstep. After a moment he answered, Captain Santos standing behind him.
"No problem Priestess Yim. Please let me know if you need anything while on board. As agreed with the Dream of Yuuzhan'tar we will jump to Hyperspace soon."
"I will. Thank you for your hospitality Admiral." The Priestess bowed down and then was escorted by the Senshi out of the hangar.
The group of females left for a meeting room in one of the middle decks, a small meeting room of the Intelligence Service.
The Priestess was walking next to Rei, while the three Senshi were one step behind.
"Say, where is your companion? I didn't see him at the hangar."
"Oh. He's resting in his quarters."
"I hope he wasn't hurt too bad by Valak."
"Oh no. I think he's pride suffered more, but thank you for your empathy Lady Yim." Rei answered.
The priestess giggled.
"Males. They're always the same. Valak is pouting in his quarters as well. His pride had been hurt immense that a puny human made him fall down."
Rei joined in.
"Yeah. Typically Men. I think it doesn't matter which species."
The two females smiled at each other amused.
"Please, call me Nika. I think this custom for your society when people are acquaintances."
Rei nodded, still smiling honestly.
"Then please call me Rei."
They arrived at the room and the Seer told the four Sailor Senshi everything about her visions. She had been seeing all the Sailor Senshi, sometimes all of them, sometimes in groups sometimes alone and their abilities in her visions. And that that the Senshi were the key for saving the Galaxy, not only the Galactic Alliance's part, but all of it.
Graced with luck by the gods, Valak's father was the Warmaster of the Vong and that and his strength and skill in combat, made her companion a high ranking member of the Warrior Caste, so she was able to come along on the diplomatic mission without too much hassle. She would have tried to find out more about the Senshi when she was on the area of the GA but the gods had taken care of that one of the first humans she met was already one of the Senshi.
Her visions came over months and after seeing her receiving several over this time Valak was convinced that the Yuuzhan Vong's key to survival were those Warriors as well.
An hour later, the Senshi escorted the priestess back to her shuttle. There was a small window in which the ships were in real space for the changing of course to Ansion, where they would take the Namadii Corridorr to Bilbringi.
The only danger, if there should be any would be out here. Ansion was now under the government of the Imperial Remnant and neither would anyone try to mess with the Remnant, even for the chance to get some Vong nor would the Imperials ever disobey the orders of Darth Vader and Grand Admiral Pellaeon.
"I have to admit I didn't think a member of your mission would set foot on this ship." Sailor Mars told the Priestess.
"This was too important for me and as you might find, some of us are not as… conservative and old minded as before."
"I see. But i still honor your visit and even more the insight into your visions, Nika. And your courage to come here alone."
"And I honor your hospitality and honesty. And as you can imagine I can take care of my own safety." The Yuuzhan Vong smiled and lifted her robe a bit, showing a pointy dagger, with a sharp blade on one side, looking like it was made from lava stone in a band around her thigh, not visible through her clothes." Rei nodded and smiled back, knowingly.
"I'll presume to see you at Bilbringi."
"Yes, I'll be there. See you later Nika."
"See you later, my friend."
The female Yuuzhan Vong entered her shuttle and left the Far Side again, heading back to her Frigate, shortly escorted from Terra Squadron that was keeping a close eye on their surroundings when they weren't in Hyperspace.
A few minutes later the starfighters and the shuttle were back at their motherships and the four capital ships jumped to Hyperspace.
SunTzu woke up when someone opened the door to his quarter.
He suspected it to be Rei but when he looked over to the door he saw that all four of the Senshi were standing in or at the door.
"Sorry TopGun, but the girls wanted to know how you are as well." Rei apologized.
"You feel worse? Dizziness or something?" Setsuna asked after peeping inside.
"Apart from feeling like I got hit by a train, I'm good. Thanks guys." The pilot answered, his check still a bit red and swollen.
"Very good. I see u girls later then." Rei said to the other Senshi.
The three Senshi waved at SunTzu and walked off while Rei entered the room and closed the door.
While she walked towards the bed she detransformed which made SunTzu begin to grin.
"I see you can't be hurt that bad." She said with a smug grin on her face. "How about I give you a massage?"
One day later they arrived at Ansion, where a Flotilla of various Star Destroyers and other Ships patrolled the system.
The flagship, a Secutor-Class Star Destroyer, basically a huge Starfighter Carrier with a similar bridge to the old Venator-Class Star Destroyers, greeted the small force and wished them a pleasant journey.
Roughly another half a day later they fell out of Hyperspace into the Bilbringi System, the system where the meeting would be held.
As important construction site for capital ships it was accordingly secured, with a fleet of Capital Ships and three Golan III Space Defence Stations. The Vong War devastated the space docks in the system that only had asteroids and no planets, but plenty of resources, but the docks had been rebuilt. Although officially not under Imperial Administration, a lot of the Security Forces patrolling and guarding the system were from the Remnant. The docks had partly been offered to the Imperials for their help in the last Wars.
The System was perfect for the meeting as some of the asteroid bases were almost in a natural state, with the bases dug into the rocks so it was okay for the Yuuzhan Vong to enter them. It also was located strategically and well guarded.
The Diplomatic Mission was lead by non other than Winter Celchu, one of the closest persons to the Chief of State and also featured Jedi Knight Tahiri Veila and Jedi Master Saba Sebatyne. Jedi Veila, through forced experimentation and torture also partly inheriting the personality of the Yuuzhan Vong Riina Kwade, would be there as de-facto translator for any words the Vong couldn't understand.
SunTzu in AICA left the Far Side's Hangar, Rei on his backseat, as soon as the ships entered the system.
The corvettes turned about and the Dream of Yuuzhan'tar accelerated forward the asteroid where the delegations would meet.
With due distance SunTzu would escort the Frigate Analogue till it would dock and then land at the asteroid base as well, as Rei would also be part of the GA's delegation.
SunTzu landed in the base's hangar and helped Rei, dressed in the official outfit of the diplomatic corps out the cockpit.
SpecFor Troops and Stormtroopers were guarding the base as well.
"I'll be waiting here with AICA. I'm sure that we and the Yuuzhan Vong can find an agreement."
Rei took a deep breather. She would co-lead a diplomatic discussion with an extragalactic race along one of the most politically versed woman in the galaxy, she was nervous.
"You got this Babe." SunTzu built her up before he kissed her.
Three hours later, SunTzu had been so bored that he started to watch the Holonet news she appeared back in the hangar.
And she wasn't alone, Valak Choka and Nika Yim followed her into the hangar.
As soon as SunTzu saw the small group coming up to him he swung himself out of the cockpit.
"Greetings SunTzu."
"Greetings Commander Choka. Seer Yim." SunTzu bowed down politely.
"We wanted to say our farewells as we probably won't see each other on the way back anymore." The alien Priestess said.
"I hope to see you two again soon. And I hope your journey will be safe."
"I hope so too." The huge Yuuzhan Vong extended a hand and the two males shook hands in a warrior handshake.
"May your battles be plenty and prosperous Pilot SunTzu."
"The same for you Commander Choka."
The Commander turned around and began to walk away.
Before she followed the hooded Nika leaned in to SunTzu's ear.
"Do whatever you need to guard these Senshi, SunTzu." She whispered into his ear before she followed her companion.
Rei and SunTzu looked after them while they left the hangar.
"What did she tell you?" Rei asked.
"Nothing that I didn't knew before." SunTzu placated her. "Let's get back to the Far Side."
Fifteen minutes later AICA was back on the Far Side and the five Capital ships back in hyperspace.
The couple headed to the living quarters.
"By the way Rei, what did the Priestess tell you about her visions."
Rei wheezed and turned around to him.
"The Yuuzhan Vong are at the brink of civil war. A single but large domain wants to start the fight against the Alliance again. Warmaster Choka, Valak's father, and most of the other domains are strictly against it, as they just began to recover from the war on Zonama Sekot. This rogue domain might strike soon. And ever since this dispute began Nika had visions that the Yuuzhan Vong have to find the Guardians of a small Solar System, all of them blessed with magical powers, and help them in their fight against the darkness creeping towards the galaxy."
"Which are the Senshi."
"Exactly. You should have heard it, she knew about our powers and immediately knew who was who. We will stay in contact, an agent of the Yuuzhan Vong will bring methods for communication."
"Good thing they are on our side, at least most of them. They are a different breed than tin cans dating back to the Clone Wars and a few criminals."
Rei nodded.
"Let's Go, you can tell me more on the Far Side."
