Within a few hours after departing Spain the Inner Court of the Royal Kingdom of Crystal Tokyo was on its way to the Galactic Capital.
They had changed the Royal Shuttle for the Royal Yacht, as if you were scheduled to meet with the Head of the united Galaxy you better looked the part.
The four pilots were flanking the shuttle, Michiru and SunTzu were flying. Hotaru was quietly reading a book in the back of AICA, while Haruka was snoring peacefully at Michiru's usual seat in the Voyager, something that definitely would be used by SunTzu to mock her.
After the usual few hours the Earthlings arrived in the Coruscant-System, apparently they had been awaited already as they were granted priority over every other ship trying to get to the Galactic Capital's surface.
The sleek, silver-colored spaceyacht crossed into the atmosphere, each of the two snubfighters to her left and right perfectly synchronized with its movements.
Their destination was the Imperial Palace and as they got closer and set down to land, the pilots, Captain Tanaka was flying the yacht, could notice that a honor formation of Guards was already waiting for the Terranian visitors and in the midst of the honor formation was the Chief of State and her closest staff including two Noghri guards, Jedi Masters Cilghal and Kenth Hamner, Director of Intelligence Belindi Kalenda and Lieutenant Colonel Ada Wong, General Isam Cyone, Chief of Army Operations and his adjutant along with an adviser from the Spec Forces, a Colonel, and also General Tycho Celchu and his adjutant.
SunTzu let out a small whistle as they landed.
"Hey Firefly, better make sure your appearance is pristine, looks like this one's important."
Hotaru, lounging in the back seat straightened up, closed her book and took a look outside.
"Is that General Cyone? And holy shit... General Celchu as well."
"Yup, both of them. Oh and Lieutenant?"
"Hum?"
"Language."
The four starfighter pilots waited in their cockpits and watched the show as the honor guard welcomed the Royal Family, Neo Queen and Princess brightly smiling, although everybody that knew her, knew that Chibiusa was probably just faking it, and the King looking adequately austere, on the planet before both delegations greeted each other. Along with the Royals Setsuna, the Inners, their partners, the Mau and Phobos and Deimos excited the yacht.
Both delegations soon disappeared in palace except for a few exceptions.
While the guard formation marched back into their barracks inside the palace, Setsuna, dressed in uniform, and Cilghal held a little chat and Ada and General Celchu walked over to the pilots, now exiting their ships.
The General commended the four pilots for their deeds and together they held a little chat about their ships with the legendary starfighter ace for a few moments before he said his goodbyes and also went inside the palace to join the meeting which would begin after a refreshment.
Ada stayed a bit longer and greeted her friends, soon joined by Cilghal and Setsuna. She was talking with SunTzu about the situation in the Wild Space when she noticed that Setsuna's, who had herself posted next to SunTzu, and SunTzu's fingers fingers entwined and for a moment her eyes went wide and she missed to speak for a millisecond. It had been about time, these two had such a perfect chemistry with the other.
After Ada left, the Outers and SunTzu were still standing at the two Starfighters, even the pilot and crew of the Royal Yacht had already left for the Palace.
"Oi Sets, you're not too late for the meeting?"
"I'm not part of it, that's why I stayed here." The tall, tanned emerald-haired woman glanced at her adoptive daughter. "I thought that instead of sitting around I could spend some quality time with my family."
"Oh." SunTzu's inflection was rather disappointed.
"You are part of the family." Michiru let him know, which was emphasized by a nod from Hotaru and a smile from Setsuna.
"Who said that?"
"Haruka!"
"Hey, I'm joking, Michiru. So, you guys up for lunch? I'm so hungry I could eat a horse."
"I know a few good places around here."
"Then let's go."
While important parts of the leadership of the Galactic Alliance and Crystal Tokyo discussed the next steps of the Shadow War the extended Outer Family went into a diner close by.
A few hours later the four women and SunTzu were back at the palace, right in time for the end of the meeting.
They had sat outside the meeting room for just a few minutes when the attendees came out.
The Chief of State was about to rush back to her office in the main tower of the Imperial Palace when she stopped, just in front of the Outers and SunTzu.
"SunTzu. I was wondering where you were, it's been some time." Leia Organa-Solo looked at the pilot with a smile and then at Setsuna.
"I heard you're able to tame out ace pilot, as someone knowing how hard this job is, I wish you the best of luck with it." She winked at Setsuna and then turned to SunTzu again.
"Good catch." That said she moved on, her small entourage behind her, busy briefing her on the go.
After a few meters she stopped again, and turned back to the couple.
"I'm looking forward to see our newly found lovers tonight. And please, for once, no uniforms." A small soft smile had appeared on her lips before she turned around again and was off.
"Tonight?" SunTzu asked Setsuna who hadn't had the slightest idea about what the Princess of Alderaan had meant.
"There'll be a ball. A ball honoring the Kingdom of Crystal Tokyo, Sol System and Taskforce Sol. Bunhead is already all frantic about it."
Rei had answered the question and then closed with the two of them so she could fluster to them.
"Little bit of advertising for our war effort, maybe we can manage to get increase the sponsors from other core world governments and lucrative deals from some weapon manufacturers, war is expensive after all."
"Please tell me, we're not broke and now have to become dogs of war."
"What?!"
Heads turned to Rei who looked around for a moment and then lowered her voice again.
"Of course not, Crystal Tokyo is flourishing and the war effort laws are providing us with enough funds but the more grey parts of our efforts like the Spy Alliance are desperately in need for more funds and there's more than enough wealthy Core Planets that need a reality check on what's happening out there in the Galaxy and they should do more if they want to survive. And since those governments usually leave the fighting to others… more money we can divert to those that do the fighting, you get the idea."
"Yeah, officially we take the money but we distribute covertly to those fighting Chaos in the shadows. And the companies for better deals for arms and ammunition because Sol now has earned a reputation and it would be great advertisement."
"Top Gun, all that hanging around the Senate made you a little political expert."
"It's always the same with the rich."
Setsuna and Rei exchanged knowing glances after Setsuna's remark.
"Just one thing, just so I have said it from the beginning. None of us will climb in the cockpit because some profit-greedy weapon manufacturer delivers shitty ammo or non-tested nonsense."
"Don't worry, every deal will be handled with a committee of officers from the Taskforce. Mamoru made that pretty clear."
"Fine, this hopefully means me and AICA can finally use the amount of warheads we need to use."
A few hours later, after getting briefed by Artemis, Ami and Ada for about what had been discussed at the meeting, among it the situation on the various fronts.
Although the Alliance had regained some ground at some of the fronts and held out on others, the enemy was still gaining ground on most of the locations he was active. The Forces of Chaos were most successful with using Insurgencies, proxy wars and guerilla tactics but at various systems large fleets had been deployed, rivaling every Galactic Alliance fleet in size and firepower.
While the economy of the Galaxy was still transferring into a state of wartime economy it was crucial to support the smaller theater of wars to not loose any more ground and first of foremost let the more outlying regions of the Galaxy know that the Alliance was still caring about and for them.
Once again SunTzu found himself in one of the suits of one of the most exclusive hotels Coruscant had to offer.
As the Chief of State had wished for, he wasn't wearing an uniform but a black suit with white dress shirt and black bow tie, being both fascinated and relieved that one could get everything he desired on Coruscant, even a tailored suit like they were worn on Earth in just a few hours, thanks to machinery and droids.
He was standing in front of a free-standing mirror inside the suit's bedroom, briefly thinking about the pro and cons of having droids. He was arguing with himself if it would make humanity lazy enough or give it more time for self realization when his thinking process was interrupted by the sight that entered the room.
Divine, beautiful and classy.
The gown Setsuna was wearing, long and dark like her hair, although black and not emerald, high-necked in the front and open in the back showing the bare skin from her shoulders to a few centimeters above her rump, covering her arms and reaching almost down to her ankles together with her dark tan and her ruby eyes and, of course, the curves of her body were breathtaking and literally made SunTzu speechless.
Only a bit of makeup on, as she didn't need much, she was in the process to put her signature ear rings in, already wearing black high heels and she also had tights on. Or were those even suspenders?
"What?" Setsuna looked at SunTzu looking at her without moving mouth slightly opened.
"I… your beauty leaves me without words."
She smiled as she walked up to SunTzu, finishing putting her earrings in and as she had reached her lover she turned to him and fixed his bow tie. When she had finished her hands stayed on his chest and she took a glance in the mirror, they were looking good, each on his own and marvelous together.
Suddenly she could feel his arms on her back, slowly gliding down and she turned to him, his eyes full of want.
"I'm sorry, but you will have to wait, the transport to the party is almost here."
Several speeders brought the Royal Court to the party which was held in a part of the Coruscant Opera House. Apparently Earth's importance for the Galaxy made it possible that the ball was held at the most prestigious art house of the Galaxy, or at least it's rebuilt.
Setsuna and SunTzu came as penultimate members of the Court, the first had been the Princess, the Senator, her boyfriend and the other Outers, as the couple didn't want the fuss of the media.
At least that was what the couple had wanted, as the sharp-looking couple immediately got the attention of the media. SunTzu wasn't new to the attention nor to the Coruscant Yellow Press but Setsuna was but nonetheless she handled it like a professional. Especially her dress draw lots of attention and people were surprised to learn that she actually had designed it herself, just like SunTzu's suit it had been manufactured a few hours ago. She actually was the person behind explaining the tailor about SunTzu's clothes as well. SunTzu had been surprised as well, he knew she loved fashion and would have loved to be a fashion designer but that she actually was this versed in it was new to him. Not that he complained, seeing her eyes light up as she talked to the tailor, decided on the fabrics and talked about the designs made his heart jump in joy.
And Setsuna's heart jumped in joy when SunTzu announced immediately when asked who the woman next to him was that this was the woman he loved. Not companion or date, not even girlfriend but in front of holo channels that broadcasted the event Galaxy-wide the first thing he said was that he loved her.
And the cameras and holo-recorders loved the couple. It almost took as long as with Rei and Yuichiro, and Rei was one of the most popular politicians in the Galactic Senate after all.
When the couple finally made it inside the ball had already started. Waiters were serving fancy drinks and snacks and the couple noticed that the Senshi and the others already had mingled with the rest of the attendees, only the Neo Queen was missing.
They spotted the King and the Princess though, he was engaged in conversation with what apparently was a group of Kuati, while the Princess stood by.
As the couple took a drink from a tray a waiter was offering them, Champagne they realized, Hotaru, dressed in a strict purple dress, closed up with them. Although everybody knew she wasn't apparently too fond of balls, especially outside of Crystal Tokyo, she smiled when she her mother and her superior.
"Perfect timing, Hotaru. I just spotted the COO of Xucphra, let's see if I can strike a good deal for Bacta."
She looked at SunTzu and he nodded.
"Tell him if he doesn't want to bargain with my girlfriend I'll have his planet besieged."
Suddenly her hand grabbed his face and stroke his beard before Setsuna pulled SunTzu in a kiss.
"Just like your ancestor."
SunTzu's lips curled into a broad smile as Setsuna walked away.
"Typical mum, she just arrived and she's already working again."
"Yeah, you know her. Anyways, care to join me to do our part as well? Over there is the delegation of Adumar Ammunition." He nodded towards a table with a small table flag with the company's logo on it. "And what seems to be their boss just got up."
Roughly twelve minutes and the glass later, former teacher and former pupil were leaving the table again, SunTzu quite impressed how well-mannered Hotaru really could be in public.
"Wow, I knew you had manners but this was something else."
"What do you expect with those mothers?" Hotaru said SunTzu nodded in acknowledgement, pursing his lips.
They walked a bit aside to a bar and ordered a cocktail for SunTzu and the mocktail version for Hotaru.
Setsuna appeared again, ordering the same drink as SunTzu and as she had it she turned around, deliberately overlooking how her boyfriend marveled at her, although it made her pulse faster.
"Has anybody seen our Queen yet?"
"She wanted to have a great entrance. Right now she's in a meeting with the Chief of State and some business representatives."
"And before you worry that she will irrevocably destroy any contact to the Galaxy's military-industrial complex, I sent Yuichiro with her."
Minako and Rei appeared, glasses in their hands.
"Looks like everyone of us is doing his part." SunTzu used his head to motion towards Owen speaking with someone who was apparently a representative of one of the companies.
"Yeah, he's talking shop with some manufacturer of explosives, all of the time already. I didn't understand a single word so I joined Senator Hotness for a drink."
And then she turned to look at Owen as well, her finger making circles on the glass in her hand and she bit her lips.
"My Venus sense is tingeling."
"That's just blood rushing to your vagina." Rei rolled her eyes.
"He's so natural with everybody and so easily able to talk to anyone. Yet alone his knowledge about his work…" Minako praised her lover and Rei sighed.
In that moment the music suddenly and unexpectedly became silent and the leader of the orchestra that played there made an announcement.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, the Neo Queen of Crystal Tokyo, Serenity II."
The male, a Chagrian, hadn't even finished his sentence when every head in the room turned to the angelic creature that entered the room. Serenity was wearing pink, a dress with a long train trailing behind her and a fanfare began to play while she strutted into the room, heading towards her husband and daughter.
"Wait… is that…?"
"Yup, Kanye and RiRi. And so much more people that had to be paid. You don't have any idea how much money and work it costed to make that her official fanfare." Rei answered SunTzu's question as they were observing the entrance of their ruler, who was followed by Deimos and Phobos in some distance.
As Usagi arrived at Mamoru's side the doorthe band leader announced the Chief of State and the door opened again to reveal Leia, as always followed by two Noghri Guards and, in a green dress, highlighting her fiery red hair next to her sister-in-law was Jedi Master Mara Jade-Skywalker. Even in the middle of her fifties the former Hand of the Emperor made some heads spin.
A moment later Yuichiro appeared again as well as the group and the other Senshi made their way to their Queen.
They sat down at a table reserved for them and had something to eat. Especially the Neo Queen and the Princess were pleased to finally get some real food.
Phobos was sitting to SunTzu's left and he noticed that the Koronian seemed to rather upset, she barely had eaten something and she was gazing into her lap.
SunTzu held in and observed her, a moment later, Setsuna leaned over him and asked the black haired Miko.
"Phobos, dear, are you alright?"
The young woman was startled and twitched before she looked at Setsuna.
"I… I'm sorry Lady Pluto. I just feel guilt. I ran into Master Jedi Jade-Skywalker and she seemed to have been rather surprised."
"And where's the problem. You just met her."
"No Master SunTzu, I literally ran into her while I was doing a security check up on the perimeter around the Neo Queen and although I don't think I hurt her she seemed to have been very surprised. I fear she will complain about me."
SunTzu and Setsuna looked at each other.
"I'm pretty sure, she doesn't mind, dear."
"She probably was only surprised that she couldn't sense you before. It's not very common that individuals can hide themselves from the Force."
"You think so? I'm sorry I did it then. Excuse us, but Deimos and myself tried to be at our most professional guarding her Majesty the Neo Queen. We didn't want to be caught lacking with the presence of the legendary Noghri."
Setsuna and SunTzu exchanged another glance, a small smile appearing on their lips.
"Don't worry, Phobos. I'm sure that if Master Jade-Skywalker would have had a problem she would have told you about it." Mara Jade-Skywalker's reputation for being honest and all but subtle with her fellow beings was well known after all.
After her dinner the Neo Queen informed SunTzu and Setsuna that they were invited to the Jedi Temple tomorrow and to SunTzu's surprise Hotaru was red-hot to accompany them. Of course he couldn't reject his former trainee.
With the prospect of meeting the Jedi tomorrow the Meious and Setsuna left the party early, as did a few of the others including Rei, Yuichiro, Minako and Owen.
SunTzu woke up from the sun falling on his face and the first sensation apart from the gentle warmth was the heavenly scent and warmth of the woman in his arms.
Eyes still closed he smiled and apparently she was awake already as well as he could feel a peck on his jawbone and he opened his eyes as she began to stroke his beard. She finally rolled out of his arm and placed herself on her stomach, intensifying the stroking, smile from the tickling sensation.
"Got a new favorite past time?"
"If you ever shave that off I'm sending you to the age of the dinosaurs." She giggled and he turned to face her, after an intense gaze between the two lovers a passionate kiss followed.
Two hours later the Meious and SunTzu were seated in the backseat of a speeder limousine taking them to the Jedi Temple, all three of them in a great mood. Before leaving they had breakfast together, talking about yesterday evening and its results.
SunTzu was kind of sad to learn that Haruka and Michiru were out for the next mission as Michiru had struck a deal with the Chandrilian Senator, she would play a number of concerts on the planet and he would support the GA to get the pacifist planet's government to spend more money for the war effort.
They were soon joined on the table by Owen and Minako, the couple would hit up a record studio on the planet while the Meious and SunTzu would go to the temple.
As they left SunTzu had leaned in to Setsuna, he had noticed something about the blonde whirlwind.
"Something is different with Minako, she's even more… beautiful than usual, as if she has a glow to herself."
Setsuna smiled widely when she replied.
"I noticed that. It's from love, she lights up the room now. As the Reincarnation of the Gooddess of Love properly should."
Both lovers smiled at each other, happy for their friend.
On the way to the temple they had learned from the group chat, Rei had shared a selfie, that Rei and Yuichiro were on one of Coruscant's glaciers, they were artificially kept to guarantee drinking water for Coruscant, skiing.
Actually the Senator and the business heir were promoting the sport on behalf of the United Nations Organization for Cultural Exchange with the Galaxy.
"They're both great skiers. And it's activities like that promote our culture even more." Setsuna explained as Yuichiro wrote jokes about the amount of media on the glacier in the group chat.
They arrived at the Jedi Temple and one of the Jedi who was guarding the Temple lead them to the training area of the temple, more precisely the small arena where training fights were held.
The Jedi Guard lead them to Master Hamner and Grandmaster Skywalker, who were watching a light saber sparing fight between two Padawan, their masters besides the ring.
The two Padawan were fighting carefully with precise strikes.
Once more SunTzu could feel the immense presence that Skywalker was in the Force, dwarfing everyone in the room, or rather the temple, if not the planet, as the two masters had turned around and Luke thanked the Guard.
The Jedi Master welcomed them to the temple and thanked the trio for coming, to anyone's surprise it hadn't been SunTzu he wanted to talk to but rather Setsuna.
The two Jedi excused themselves and Setsuna followed them while SunTzu and Hotaru stayed back. Master Hamner had suggested to watch the sparing fights in the meantime and Hotaru seemed very eager to do so.
While she and SunTzu watched the end of the sparing fight, both Padawan were at equal strength and skill and it was pretty close, SunTzu noticed that Hotaru had used a bit more makeup than usual today and was dressed very well, although he wasn't sure if her skirt was a bit shorter than usual and what to think about it.
The two Padawan and their masters left and made room for another quartet of Padawan and their masters.
SunTzu noticed that he knew one of the duos, Jedi Valin Horn, the son of Corran Horn, and his Padawan. SunTzu couldn't remember his name but he remembered that he had been in Hotaru's class on the Flight Academy, hadn't he even been the second best in class?
"That's Alask… Alask Lonarcch. You maybe remember him from my graduation celebration. He was almost as good as me." Hotaru was rather excited to see her former classmate and SunTzu found it to be rather nice, that she was so happy to see a fellow pupil.
The young human man's sparing partner was a young female Twi'lek and while Alask was wearing the traditional clothes of the Jedi, the clothes of the young Twi'lek, she was a few years older than the human, were missing the undershirt and basically featured just the vest.
What SunTzu didn't notice was how his protégé's left eyebrow shot up after seeing the other female take off her robe.
The two opponents got ready and with a command from Jedi Horn the fight started. The Twi'lek, a tall, rather muscular woman attacked immediately and with ferocity, which forced the human onto the defensive. With powerful blows she tried to defeat Alask's defensive stance. For a good time all the young man could do was to block her attempts to strike at him and try to bring distance between the two of them.
It was a tactical mistake of the Twi'lek that led to her loose, after Alask had made some room she immediately spurted after him, blade over her head, leaving open her flank. With an agile turn to the side, Alask dodged her and simulated the blow to the left side of her stomach.
Her eyes went wide open and she gasped after realizing she had lost the fight although she had dominated it.
Alask was announced the winner and the teacher of the woman gave her a lesson in always keeping her eyes open.
She and Alask shook hands, thanking each other for the fight.
As they did, Hotaru, a RBF on that would have made both her mothers proud, turned to SunTzu.
"SunTzu, would you mind if I spare a round with Alask as well?"
"Hm? Oh… I don't know if you're allowed you're not…"
"Master Horn, would you allow me to spare against Padawan Lonarcch? I always wanted to test myself against a formidable Force user and I assume this is as good as a chance as I can get."
Horn, turning around but immediately acknowledging Hotaru looked at her for a moment and then at Alask. With a wry grin on his lips he turned back to Hotaru.
"How am I to reject the wishes of our allies? I can imagine that it might be a valuable lesson for Alask."
With that, Alask didn't have a saying but neither did he complain, he only looked a bit intimidated, it was setttled. Hotaru nodded at SunTzu, went to a dark corner and transformed before Super Sailor Saturn, the Silence Glaive in her hands, walked to the Arena and positioned herself opposite to Alask.
It was over in a matter of seconds, the Senshi of Death and Rebirth pounced into the Jedi with breathtaking velocity and didn't shy away from dirty tricks, a jumped blow with the length of the glaive which Alask could parry although he lost ground, followed by a landing on her knees, agile like a cat and a leg slash and before Alask even knew what happened Hotaru was already standing over him, point of the Glaive aimed at his throat, staring gloomily at him.
SunTzu began to clap, Valin Horn pressed his arms to his waist but couldn't help but smile.
"Good Job, Hotaru." SunTzu yelled over.
Hotaru pulled the blade away and gave Alask a hand to get up. What nobody heard or saw, was that she was flustering something to him as she did so.
Earthlings and Jedis said their goodbye and Hotaru vanished for a moment to detransform again.
Soon Setsuna came back and was greeted with a "Your daughter just showed the Jedi who's boss.", from a proud SunTzu.
Hotaru just nodded and Setsuna could notice that something had made Hotaru angry, and Setsuna immediately understood what that had been.
Setsuna apparently had been asked about SunTzu and their relationship, to not stress her and knowing she got it, SunTzu didn't ask more about the meeting.
Setsuna on the other side had news for him, the Chief of State wanted to see him, Luke had told her.
So as they left the temple, AICA was already on her way and a few minutes later SunTzu landed at the private landing platform of the Chief of State's office, located on a projection on the tower.
Two Noghri and C-3PO were waiting already as AICA touched down, he had gotten a special clearance immediately after AICA had asked for clearance.
"Please Master SunTzu, this way." C-3PO told him and walked towards the entrance to the office, while the two Noghri fell in line behind SunTzu. SunTzu noticed that except for the two Koronians and Hotaru he probably never had seen someone move so quietly as the duo of humanoids behind him.
Leia was sitting at her desk and greeted him with a small smile.
"Captain, I'm sorry I couldn't say hello at the ball. But I did see you and Lieutenant Colonel Meiou from a distance and you two seem to be made for each other." A small sigh hushed over the lips of the woman, and there was a bit of melancholy in her eyes. "Young love is such a beautiful thing. I wish you and her could have a life together like Han and me have, but…"
"But, I'm not even meant to be in this Universe. Don't worry your Highness, we're making the best out of our limited time."
Leia closed here yes briefly, nodded and then cleared her throat.
"I wanted to let you know about Sol's next mission personally as you play the most important part. Our allies from Zonama Sekot want to contact us, as always secretly, near the planet of Thrantin. You and your ship will be the ones who will establish first contact."
A small pause.
"As you have learned last time, the Yuuzhan Vong can be quite different when it comes to mores compared to ours, so don't be surprised if anything uncommon should happen.
SunTzu swept over his nose, remembering the pain from getting it almost broken from Valak Choka back then.
"AICA and me will be prepared for everything."
Leia nodded once more, he was a pilot, what did she expect?
"King Endymion and Admiral Artemis are already informed. Good luck, SunTzu."
SunTzu got up, saluted with a "Your Highness." and then left the office again, C-3PO accompanying him again.
The golden droid stopped in front of AICA and when SunTzu was climbing in the cockpit, AICA's optical sensors fixed on the protocol droid.
"Hey there handsome, I like your style."
For what was probably the first time in his existence, C-3PO, arms slightly raised and head a bit tilted, was speechless.
"Don't you think, that black and gold are a wonderful combination?" The AI replenished.
"Darling, leave that droid be, I don't think you have much of a chance." SunTzu commented as he sat down and strapped in.
One day later, Orbit of Earth
The Far Side and the Starstruck had taken flanking positions besides the Eternal, in the distance the Selene used light signals to wish the Taskforce fair winds.
The bridge of the flagship was pure bustle as the small fleet prepared to jump to Hyperspace.
Admiral Artemis, dressed in his white uniform looked at King Endymion, in his regal uniform and the King nodded at Artemis.
"Captain Santos, you have permission to jump."
A moment later the three warships were gone and left the space around the blue and green planet that Earth was.