After leaving The Wheel, and Yumeko, SunTzu got right back into fighting in the Shadow War.
He went to the New Frontier first, getting there as fast as AICA could fly.
The Seventh Fleet, Ramrod and the Star Sheriffs among it, was conducting a large scale counter offensive at the moment, with the intent to pacify the New Frontier and maybe even flank the Shai Domain from the South.
And putting pressure on those Vong could mean that it would become possible to retake territory from them. Definitely a plus in the German's eyes.
SunTzu flew dozens of sorties, he had days where he had been staying for over twenty hours in the cockpit, days were his only sleep had been the naps between missions in the cockpit and even his, small, meals had been taken in the cockpit.
But fighting the good fight, if there was something like a good fight in war, wasn't the only thing with what he kept himself so busy. Busy days filled with combat meant that his mind was occupied with other things than with thinking about what he and Yumeko could have had become, if they both would have been ready for going further. Or why he couldn't forget Rei, to a point he couldn't move on.
And apart from the questions he harbored about his love life, being constantly busy with surviving and besting the enemy also didn't let room for thinking about all this madness around him, the people, most of them younger than him, dying. The destruction, the refugees, the despair. The huge amounts of people with broken bodies and the even larger amounts of people with broken souls.
For these individuals SunTzu decided to make an example in combat and initially the offensive progressed well but a few days and some systems in, the enemy changed his tactics into a more defensive one and the offensive began to stall. Single breakthroughs, mostly with SunTzu and the Star Sheriffs involved, could be achieved but the means to push additional forces into the broken enemy lines was spoilt because there simply weren't enough ships. And supplies were another factor, ammunition consumption had become am important factor as the Eight Fleet spent it's ammunition faster than it could be procured.
Five days into the offensive, AICA informed SunTzu that she was only armed with half of her usual loadout and SunTzu knew what that meant. Not that his starfighter didn't get the expensive and high-tech loadout she was used from Taskforce Sol out here at all anyways.
Six days in, the Fleet had completely shifted to a defensive operations again, just holding the lines with a few planets being contested by both sides.
SunTzu flew another few sorties with the Star Sheriffs, sometimes with Colt as his wingman, sometimes as fighter escort for Ramrod, while the larger ships blew away ships three to four times it's size.
A week, local time, after the initial moving out the Star Sheriffs were ordered to stand down from overly offensive actions and act as Quick Reaction Force for the fleet.
SunTzu wasn't having it and decided to move on but not before he would have said goodbye to his friends.
It was evening and the sky was red and purple colored, giving hint, that night was about to come, AICA had landed next to Ramrod, somewhere near a huge formation on one of the many desert and steppe planets and the four Star Sheriffs and SunTzu were having a makeshift BBQ outside their ships.
"Where do you head next then partner?" Colt asked while they were finishing their dinner.
"Probably heading for the Eastern Mid Rim, might check in with the Fifth. Maybe help them to at least straighten up a defensive line out there."
The others nodded.
"Saleucami is gone. Anybody wanna bet they'll use it to build more ships?" Fireball stated.
"History repeats itself. Saleucami gets occupied by old Clone Wars Droids and will be used to produce ships for them." Saber Rider remarked.
A moment of silence followed, everybody looking to the ground, before SunTzu looked up to his friends again.
"You guys will be good here?"
"We'll hold up. This thing here will stay how it is right now, until one of both sides gets significant reinforcements. And about that…" April shrugged her shoulders and took a sip out of her canteen cup.
Soon after they had finished and SunTzu had packed up.
They said their goodbyes and the last ones to say their were Colt and April.
"Ya know, what they say nowadays in the Fleet? Different day, different planet…"
"… same war." SunTzu ended Colt's sentence. "Yeah, I heard that one. See you around brother and give my regards to the Misses." The two snub pilots shook hands and hugged.
"Will do. Give them hell in the East."
The last one to say goodbye was April, she had insisted on it. The two comrades hugged.
"Do yourself a favor and stay away from the yellow press from Coruscant." She whispered into his ear and SunTzu immediately knew what she meant and he nodded. Too bad he had to make a stop in Coruscant as Ada had organized some much needed maintenance on AICA at the Starfighter Corps Academy, and a full loadout including EMP-Missiles. Since SunTzu was switching from fighting Outriders and their mercenary and marauder auxiliary forces to Combat Droids getting AICA these missiles was quite vital.
Three minutes later, AICA was climbing into the sky, into the last rays of the descending sun and leaving Ramrod and his friends behind.
One and a half days later, it was early evening on the Galactic's Capital Planet, SunTzu was sitting in that one bar near the Palace again, the Capitol Bar.
He was enjoying an Imperial Ale from Bastion, dark and strong, but very tasty.
The same barkeeper as last time was attending him, as he was sitting at the counter.
Next to SunTzu were two politicians, a Bothan and a Fondorian, apparently they just had come from the palace and had an afterwork drink.
The two politicians were loud and SunTzu was annoyed by them.
Right now they tried to persuade the barkeeper to turn the holoprojector on, as they wanted to see the latest news.
The barkeeper looked over to SunTzu.
I do have April's words in my ears now, but after all, this is a big galaxy.
SunTzu nodded and the barkeeper turned on the projector.
And what came on almost instantly almost made SunTzu break down in laughter.
Senator of Sol, Rei Hino, in a beautiful and elegant cream-colored dress, posing in front of the cameras on the red carpet on some ball or reception or whatever. And soon she was joined by Yuichiro, dressed in a suite. The couple was beaming at each other.
Although he didn't wanted to, SunTzu couldn't avert to look at the projection.
Looking dazzling as always. Rei Hino, you will never stop to be a piece of art.
Just as he had told Yumeko after she asked him. Not that it mattered anymore.
SunTzu was still staring at the broadcast when the barkeeper put a double shot of some clear liquid in front of the pilot.
"On the house, again. Sorry again, Man."
SunTzu nodded while Rei left the cameras on the red carpet and the Earthling downed his drink.
Maybe I should have stayed with Yumeko. Who knows what could have been.
And then SunTzu remembered that he just would have meant danger for her.
He motioned the barkeeper for another one of the shots.
While the barkeeper poured the drink, SunTzu noticed that the two politicians were talking about Rei and her looks and not in a particular noble way.
SunTzu looked over to the men, anger building up in him.
The barkeeper brought the second shot and SunTzu briefly looked over to him.
The barkeeper understood and looked over to the Bothan and the Human.
He sighed and then nodded at SunTzu.
"She must be a damn fine woman."
SunTzu's lips gave the man a wry half grin.
"You can't even imagine." SunTzu told the barkeeper, downed his shot and then got up.
The pilot, dressed in uniform, tapped the human on the shoulder, he and the Bothan were still talking about obscenities they would do to the hot black haired in the TV.
"What do you want?" The Fondorian asked after he turned around.
"I couldn't overhear your pejorative comments. I think the Lady deserves more respect."
The man looked at the Bothan and both began to laugh.
"And you are the President of her Fanclub or what?"
Actually, even more than that…
SunTzu just stared at the man, trying to calm himself down.
"Listen soldier, I talk shit about any bitch I want. Do you have any idea how you're talk…"
It took only one right from SunTzu and the man was KO.
Now the Bothan snarled at him and got ready to attack but the Bothan was still a politician and SunTzu still was a SpecForces cleared Veteran of War.
A head butt and a hard right later the Bothan was lying on the ground as well.
"That will teach you motherfuckers to respect women."
SunTzu looked at the barkeeper who had observed the one sided fight with a certain hint of amusement.
SunTzu pulled out his wallet and handed the barkeeper a five hundred credit chip.
"No offense meant." He said and straightened his clothes while the two politicians on the ground began to move again and groaned.
"None taken. Until next time." The barkeeper told and gave SunTzu a nod as goodbye.
SunTzu took a walk and after a while he came to a newsstand.
Today is just one of these days again, where the Forcejust plain up hates me.
Of course a certain Senator/ Magical Girl was smiling at him from the cover of a magazine.
I should just walk on…
Of course he didn't walk on but bought the magazine. It was a fashion magazine and Rei was on the cover and inside she was featured with some pictures of her in elegant outfits.
The magazine also stated that her career was establishing very well and that she was the new face of the Senate, being popular with her fellow senators because her fierceness and passion and popular with the masses because she was a woman of the people, fighting against injustice, corruption and for helping refugees of war and worlds impacted by the War.
Is it normal to be this proud of his ex?
Old wounds began to hurt again and SunTzu decided trying to find some solace in Coruscant's nightlife. Drinks and beautiful women might blow away the cobwebs. At least for a night.
Two days later, and with a mild hangover, SunTzu was piloting AICA over Coruscant and after a round over the government district headed for space.
He had visited Ada before, who had been waiting with Master Cilghal for him. The old game of checking if he still was on the Light Side. Apparently using the Force to kill people wasn't something the Jedi were fond of. They preferred to cut the bad guys down with lightsabers SunTzu thought ironically.
He just had passed into space and was heading for one of the jump points when AICA announced an incoming holo call. SunTzu told her to patch it through.
"If that isn't my favorite most intelligent human being in the galaxy." He greeted one of his closest friends.
"Hello SunTzu."
"How are you doing Ami?"
"I'm doing fine. But I heard this doesn't go for you."
I appreciate the concern but what do you expect?
"Don't know who told you that. I'm doing great. Enjoying my life to the fullest."
"Well, if you say so. At least care to explain me how you could break the necks over twenty armed men, that surrounded you?"
"Care to explain me how you can produce water and ice just like that?"
"Oh, if you only knew how much time I invested in logically explaining this. Anyways, do I have to worry with you drifting into the Dark?"
"If, I would have already, wouldn't I? You've been on Rago too, Ami."
"Fair point." Ami replied after a moment of silence.
"Not that Rago wasn't just the beginning. We're getting our asses kicked pretty hard at some fronts." Another pause followed. "I heard you guys are primarily doing escort and support duty. And I have to admit I'm quite happy about that, it's brutal out there."
"And this is why in two weeks you were on four different fronts? You think it's not time for a break. At least some R&R?"
"I've been on Coruscant for two days, that was enough."
"These rumors I keep hearing about your present lifestyle, you think this is enough to for taking a break?"
"What do you expect, Ami? Fighting is all that is left for me. Some of us have to keep the wolf from the door so that others can go to their fancy balls and receptions."
"SunTzu... How long do you think you can keep this up?"
"Until one side wins."
A loud sigh was to be heard from the blue haired Genius.
"At least do me a favor and try to not take unnecessary risks. If not for me or your other friends, than at least for Hotaru."
Okay, this one hit home Ami…
"I promise I won't do anything more stupid than usual."
"Which doesn't settle me down at all." Unknown to each other the last two sentences made both friends smile.
"Listen Ami, I gotta get going, maybe I can harass the enemy a bit on the Perlemian with the help of the Black Annie. Let me know when you need any help."
"Will do. Bye AICA!"
"Bye Ami."
"And SunTzu, stay alive, that's an order."
"Yes Ma'am. You know Ami, bad weeds grow tall."
"I hope so. Talk to you soon."
"Thanks for calling. Until next time then."
A minute later SunTzu and AICA were in Hyperspace and SunTzu was broadcasting a small holo message to Hotaru asking her how she was.
Two days, local time, of hit-and-run-strikes deep into enemy territory later, either alone or with the Anakin Solo, SunTzu was having a break on Centares, in the center of Muracie.
The rich part of the city's nightlife wasn't much inferior to the nightlife on the Core Worlds and so SunTzu was looking forward to another night of drinking too much and whoring around.
The pilot was heading to a restaurant and club within a skyscraper in the city.
He was alone in the repulsor lift going up the tall building, where the establishment was located on the two upper most stories.
SunTzu was checking his reflection in a mirror inside, making sure his hair and his black Starfighter Corps Uniform and the medals and ribbons were sitting right.
Now let's see if the rich woman of Centares fuck any different than those on Coruscant.
He straightened his pants and shifted his medals so they were sitting right as well.
And then his gaze stopped on the badge with wings on his chest, above the medals.
They say these wings can get you every woman. Unfortunately they can't make you keep them.
Snap out of it, SunTzu. You're here to have a good time and get your head off of things a bit.
Early next morning SunTzu woke up in the chambers of a twenty-three year old, a daughter of a rich tradesman, she was a local celebrity and influencer. The young woman was still sleeping while SunTzu got out of bed, carefully trying to not wake his playmate up.
He grabbed his clothes and left the room.
On the way out of the mansion he put on his clothes again, one of the servants of the place stumbled into him and he motioned her with a finger of his lips to be quiet, before he put his shirt back on.
The young servant had to smile at his appearance and SunTzu shot her an wink as he passed her by.
Outside, AICA was already approaching.
Soon SunTzu was back on his way and uneasily shifted around in the cockpit trying to get some more sleep in but he couldn't. He thought about that he should have stayed a few hours longer there, so he might would have gotten some more sleep in.
But it wasn't that, it wasn't the sleep that was missing. Nor was it a hangover, at least not physically.
Rather, the longer he would have stayed, the higher would be the possibility that one of both sides would catch feelings. It wasn't his style to treat his one night stands as pure means for sex, he treated them like a gentleman should so there was plenty the chance for it.
And if SunTzu knew one thing by now, than it was that people close to him were in danger, as he apparently draw death and destruction to every- and anything around him.
Just a few days he had been part of a recon patrol which had suddenly and unexpectedly dropped right into a larger enemy patrol. Of course he once again was the only one that had made it out.
Things weight heavily on his mind, somehow the night hadn't brought the release he had hoped for.
And then something crossed his mind. If he couldn't be among other people for their safety he could at least struck fear into the enemy. Fear that struck whenever his callsign would be dropped.
What had so many people already called him? The Personification of War. He needed a callsign which would let everybody know what he was, what even the people that used to care for him thought of him. Fighting this War was all that was left for him, as he couldn't let the people he cared for become targets.
Just like his namesake he would master the Art of War, he would become what seemingly everybody expected of him.
"AICA. Report to Ada and the Fleet, we are changing our Callsign." A small pause. "Our new callsign will be Warlord."
And with this, I admit that I have become Personified War.
