AICA came back out of Hyperspace in view of Thyferra.
SunTzu was steering her manually while in the backseat Setsuna was sleeping peacefully.
SunTzu had most of the lights and monitors toned down to let his lover sleep but had insisted to fly on his own after re-entry.
The space over the most important Bacta-producing planet in the Galaxy was filled with warships.
In the weeks after Fondor's fall the enemy had not only fortified the highly-important industrial and shipbuilding world but also had kept up the offensive and sacked in Mrisst as well.
Now Thyferra had been literally turned into a fortress as well as staging point for Galactic Federation of Free Alliance's warships from both the Second Fleet, General Antilles had relocated his HQ to Corellia, and the Third Fleet, Admiral Ackbar's son Aftab had succeeded the fallen Garm Bel Iblis as Commander of the Fleet with the Headquarters now on Denon. The remains of the Second Reserve Fleet, once stationed at Fondor, made up the bulk of the defensive force around Thyferra, supported by local forces from systems all the way down to Sullust as well as a taskforce made up of ships of the Imperial Remnant.
In between a cloud of ships, given the classes of the ships, either from Second or Third Fleet, Taskforce Sol was formed up and SunTzu took course towards the Eternal with AICA taking over the communication with their flagship.
A few minutes later AICA landed in one of the four hangars of the Proclamator-Class Star Frigate, where a certain raven-haired teenager was already waiting for them, using the time to upgrade her Y-Wing's software. Next to Hotaru's long probe rested the Voyager and Hotaru and Michiru were running checks on their ship as well.
Setsuna still was sleeping when Hotaru walked up to AICA, greeted the ship with a pat on her arrowhead-like front and while the cockpit began to open she already climbed up the inset steps in the airframe.
She and SunTzu shared a smile as SunTzu, dark rings under his eyes as it had been a long day, slowly took off his helmet to not make so much noise.
"Mum. Wake up." Hotaru softly said and smiled at Setsuna when the later opened her eyes.
The back of a gloved hand sat on Hotaru's cheek and the teenager pressed her cheek against it.
Setsuna looked around in surprise.
"We're already on the Eternal?"
"I tried to fly gently to give you a few moments of extra sleep." Came from SunTzu from the front pilot seat.
Setsuna smile widened why she closed her eyes for another moment, having a daughter and a partner like that felt exactly as great as it did back then millennia ago, so pure and so heartwarming.
"Oi Ancient One, never I'd have thought to catch you asleep on the job."
"On the job? Flying is my boyfriend's job, and he does that so gentle that I can sleep."
"When was the last time you let me sleep peacefully while flying transit, Haruka?"
No further comment could have crushed Haruka's ego more than the smirk SunTzu was hitting her with.
Meanwhile Setsuna had taken off her gloves and helmet and got ready to get out.
SunTzu jumped out of the cockpit and landed next to Michiru and Haruka before he turned around and watched as Hotaru gave her mother a hand to get up.
Setsuna exited the cockpit and jumped right into SunTzu's arms who let her gently down to the ground after a long, intimate lock of eyes.
SunTzu was still looking at Setsuna when the emerald-haired nudged him.
In the last second and only because of his Force-powered reflexes he got his arms up to catch Hotaru as well.
The save landing was cheered upon by Michiru and rewarded with a kiss on his cheeks by Setsuna as well as an amused giggle by Hotaru.
Even Haruka didn't make a comment but just smiled.
At least for a few moments before the unquestionable upcoming battle the Outer Family was gifted a moment of togetherness.
While the other three stayed in the hangar to finish their work Setsuna and SunTzu made their way to the Tactical Command Center. It was late night cycle and they wanted to let the other pilots end their work so they could get some rest instead of suspending them further with asking for details of the current mission.
As expected from both Artemis was still in the Command Center, apparently scheming along with Lieutenant Colonel Bernard over the main map table.
The white-haired Admiral smiled when he saw the two Guardians.
"Back on board, I see."
"Admiral."
"Admiral."
"I'm sorry that I had to interrupt your travel, it's not that I don't want to grant you two some time together."
"We're still in the most decisive war ever fought. It's okay, Artemis."
"Thank you, Setsuna."
"Sir, what's the situation?"
Artemis turned around again as the two lovers moved up to the large holographic map in the middle of the room as well.
"Right now we're massing up, a fleet group of the Third, us and a Sullustan Liberator-Carrier."
Artemis moved his hands over the map and clicked on a nearby star system.
"That's the Norah System. It's the last system which had been occupied by the Forces of Chaos pouring in from Fondor. The system could be used as staging point for a pincer move against Thyferra and therefore needs to be secured again."
Setsuna and SunTzu took a close look at the map, several tactical symbols filled the map of the system, indicating enemy ships and strength.
"Drone and recon data is about three days old. Admiral Aftab will personally lead his MC104 and parts of the Third's Core Fleet into battle and we and the Sullustans will follow shortly after. Captain, expect us to be part of the space battle but our primary assignment this time is ground battle with an emphasis of Special Warfare and swift strikes."
"I'll make sure there's a double-staff ready for the Dustoffs, Minako and me will each take one." Setsuna replied, meaning that the medevac gunships would be ready for two missions at once.
"Count me in as well, you'll need an extra JTAC on the ground."
Artemis nodded. "Wouldn't have thought otherwise from you too."
"Admiral?"
Setsuna and Artemis turned their heads to SunTzu.
"If you wouldn't mind, and the Lieutenant Colonel as well, I'd like Lieutenant Meiou to gather some practical experience as JTAC as well."
Both men looked at Setsuna first and although she hesitated for a second she then agreed with a nod, after all she had told herself that Hotaru wasn't a child anymore and, just as anybody else onboard, was needed in the Shadow War with every skill set they could muster.
"Affirmative, Captain. But I expect you to be around to do your job and look after the Lieutenant."
"You can bet on that, Sir."
"30 seconds until re-entry. Are you ready little one?"
"You heard the Commander, we just keep the enemy at bay while the 104 and the other artillery platforms do the rest."
"Just because we have a defensive mission doesn't mean we don't need to keep our guard up or act careless."
The fleet group of the Third had already entered the Norah-System, Admiral Ackbar Jr.'s Star Dreadnought, a multi-kilometer long MonCal Vessel designed in the times of the New Republic to slug it out with Imperial Super Star Destroyers and overhauled by the end of the Yuuzhan Vong Wars, served as the middle of the formation, using it's long-range turbo lasers to attack the enemy ship concentration, which was mostly made up of older KDY designs, probably directly taken over from the shipyards and hangars at Fondor.
The MC104, a sleek ship with wings in the back, was a single design and therefore never had gotten a name other than her MonCal designation and even now, being the flagship of Third Fleet, it was just known by it.
Two MC80M Missile Cruisers and a Marauder-Cruiser used their missiles to further engage the enemy ships while the accompanying six other capital ships, three cruisers, two frigates and a corvette, as well as the on the ships stationed starfighters made sure no enemy ship, bomber or snub would come too close.
Taskforce Sol and the Sullustans would support the ships from the Third Fleet in doing so.
Once more in the front of the Taskforce the Voyager and AICA arrived in the Norah-System, a few kilometers behind the sleek behemoth the MC104 was.
As usual for a larger battle space was lighted up by laser and blaster fire, along with explosions.
The allied starfighters had formed a protective shield around the Third's formation and as soon as Taskforce Sol arrived it's squadrons, along with the one from the Sullustanian Assault-Carrier, were assigned sectors which they had to guard.
AICA and the Voyager were a mobile reserve, much to Haruka's resentment.
"This is boring, how can we fuck up the enemy when we're small timing between our own ships."
"Yeah, this shit is boring."
"Language, the both of you." Michiru scolded both her lover and her foster-daughter.
"Why not enjoy the easiness of this assignment, for once?"
"You're only saying this because you're not flying anyways, Jerry."
A loud sigh was heard through the four pilot's headset before SunTzu addressed his starfighter.
"AICA could you be so kind and find a nearby target for Captain Tenoh, so she can let out her aggression and maybe calm down her other toxic traits."
"Oi, I don't have toxic traits!"
As the two advanced starfighters moved out to find targets enclosing on their fleet the battle raged on although it had become very much one sided at its beginning already.
The long-range turbo fire from the MC104 and the missiles from the other ships took toll on the enemy fleet, which apart from smaller ships like frigates was primarily made up of an ISD, surrounded by two VSDs and two Venator-Class SDs.
While Haruka and Hotaru looked for targets of opportunity along the enemy lines without to steal kills from the other pilots SunTzu fell oddly quiet.
Michiru guessed right in her mind what was the reason for it, even before she saw the remains of one of the enemy fighter pilots. Not only were these ships from Fondor but the crews and even the snub pilots were Daimons, former inhabitants from annexed and besieged planets and systems taken by force by Chaos and turned into his servants.
She shuddered when she thought about it, innocent souls turned into an army of the dark. It was disgusting but that was how Chaos waged this War, and it wouldn't stop until everyone and everything was either dead or its servant and the Galaxy had become dark and void of light and hope.
When the last enemy capital ship broke apart the long-range fire stopped and the Galactic Alliance's starfighters rushed to destroy the last remaining enemy starfighters and bombers.
A few of them managed to flee to the planet's surface but most of them ended just as the enemy's larger ships.
As soon as the space battle was over, the first recon craft and droids were sent out to the planet's surface and while the first ground troops got ready to deployed AICA and the Voyager landed to rearm.
Hotaru and Haruka were checking in with the ground crew as SunTzu was standing a few meters away from his A-Wing.
Silently he was drinking from a small bottle of water, his eyes tired and fixing a point in the distance.
"I saw what they were."
SunTzu slowly turned his head to the person talking to him.
"Michiru."
She stopped next to him.
"You can sense them."
"They used to be regular individuals. I can feel their souls dying."
"At least they get freed from their slavery."
"Damn, I hope we can save some people on this planet. Better to save them then now then to free them from being these… things."
SunTzu was back in the cockpit of AICA a few minutes later.
Hotaru had switched to your Longprobe as she and the Voyager would fly recon missions ahead while SunTzu would support the other squadrons of Sol with escorting the first ground troops to Norah.
In case of Sol this meant two LAAT/is with Team 1 and 4 as well as an expeditionary force made up of scouts, partly with speederbikes, and engineers.
From the Third Fleet three large assault forces would immediately deploy after the accompanying SpecForces and scouts would deem the assigned landing zones, far away from settlements and enemy bases, as safe.
To make sure of this, squadrons of starfighters, assault craft and bombers would enter the planet's atmosphere and engage anything close by to the landing zones.
Umbriel Squadron, escorted by Terra, was already actively jamming and destroying enemy anti-air and anti-space emplacements, supported by a squadron of specialized B-Wings from the MC104.
Soon after the first troops of the Taskforce had landed, their landing zone was in between of two of the Third's landing zones and even a bit more afar to the enemy than the landing zones for the regiment-sized assaults with repulsor craft and tanks, SunTzu was back in space escorting a dropship, with a very important load to him. To have the means for medical response even if the landing zone was closed, Setsuna and Dr. Schneider had decided to bring a medical team to the planet as soon as possible.
Feeling the aura of the other, SunTzu in AICA, just a few meters apart from the dropship in which Sailor Pluto was, escorted his lover to the planet.
The assault of the Third Ground Army's troops adverted most of the enemy presence towards the three larger landing zones which made it easier for the Sullustans and the Earthlings.
Not that SunTzu kept his eyes and AICA's sensors up, and that wasn't enough. As soon as the dropship had landed, he let AICA drop him off as well, taking his ground kit and walking over to one of the officers on the ground for a small sit rep before he walked over to Sailor Pluto who watched her medical team assemble a small triage location. This part of the planet was of temperate climate and there were green plains and small forests around them.
AICA was circling above them as he approached his lover, his rifle, this time the longer Sopmod Block III in a recce rifle configuration, in his arms and his plate carrier on.
She was over a large medic backpack, double checking the medication they had packed and didn't turn around to him. Of course she had seen him come over though and it was hilarious how much he was worrying today, already having left AICA just so he could stay around, rifle in hand and determined look on his face. Oh, he was adorable, but that doesn't mean she couldn't have a little fun. Sometimes she wondered if hanging around some of the older Senshi had taken over.
"Love, didn't someone tell you that a black pilot suit isn't exactly the best outfit for ground combat?" Good thing he couldn't see the amused smile on her face.
"With our forces still relatively low here, i thought I'd support them a bit."
Setsuna stayed silent for a moment after this statement, not that there were three squadron of starfighters and a squadron of attack fighters in the air, not even five minutes away from them, and on top of that at least two regiments of armored ground troops in front of them. She couldn't wait to get back to the Eternal after this mission and show him her appreciation for his concern, it made her heart jump and she had to control herself to not blush.
"How about supporting my guys and help me get this triage point up and running?"
She finally turned around, after closing the huge backpack and moving it around, presenting it to him. She nodded to two of the soldiers a few meters away. "Carry this thing over to them, will you?"
More and more troops of the GFFA arrived on the planet in the next hours.
And while the landing zones of Sol and the Sullustans was relatively safe, Terra and Styx only once had to intercept a few A-9 Vigilances, but the landing zones didn't even notice from their position, wouldn't it not have been for their radios, and maybe SunTzu hurrying back to a hastily ordered to land AICA like a maniac. Setsuna had to swallow down her laughter when the all-clear came just after he had sat down. The look on his face had been priceless.
Combat between the enemy troops, Daimons, mercenaries and enemies of the state, equipped with KDY and RHE Vehicles, and the Third Army, now in strength of a whole armored division was heavy.
Heavy T8-B Tanks against AT-TE Heavy Walkers, AACs repulsor tanks against AT-AP Attack-Walkers, grotesque black figures with blades in their disfigured limps against heavy armored troopers.
In less than one day, two main fronts had crystallized, meat grinders in which attacks and counterattacks were carried out in the course of minutes.
Every few meters were paid for with blood and the advance from the GFFA had come almost to a stillstand as more and more troops were shuttled in and the commanders on the ground looked for any chance for a breakthrough through the enemy lines.
All this time SunTzu kept his proximity to Setsuna, and although she kept up her professional demeanor it made her heart melt. He cared so much for her wellbeing and safety, even far away from the front with just a few casualties coming in when the casualty collection points of the Third Army were closed or overfilled.
And it also proved to be in handy to have an experienced JTAC around as the communication with the ships in space and the medevacs was swift and flawless. Most of the time the medevac transports were already filled in onto the situation while the casualties were still on their way to the triage.
But both SunTzu and Setsuna knew that the battle for Norah was grinding to a complete hold and what that meant.
SpecForces and Taskforce Sol would infiltrate into the enemy controlled areas and soften up the defenses for attacks as well as attack the rear territory of the enemy to sabotage and destroy enemy communication and supply sites.
According to control, and first hand information from Haruka and Michiru, the Alliance was at least gaining the upper hand when it was coming to air superiority, although the enemy still had anti-air emplacements, snubs and shield generators.
It was evening, the sun had disappeared approximately two hours ago, and Makoto, who was standing a few meters aside from the landing zone, with an old, large tree behind her back, had gathered Teams 1,3 and 4 as well as SunTzu, Hotaru, Minako and Owen in a semicircle in front of her. Team 2 was on standby onboard the Eternal for any specialized needs, be it the recovery of downed personnel and aircraft or evacuation of VIPs.
The commander of Crystal Tokyo's elite forces gave the soldiers a rundown over the current situation and gave them last orders.
The four attached guardians would follow Team 1 on its way into the enemy territory, supporting the Commandos.
Teams 3 and 4 would penetrate even deeper into the enemy's line, looking for high-value targets. If the Wolves could take down the shield generators of supply points and communication centers or reconnoiter the ones without shields but being camouflaged the HIMARs-Trucks with long-range-missiles as well as the ships in space were ready to engage.
Team 1 would do more unspecified reconnaissance work in closer proximity to the front, looking for targets of opportunity, striking out at High-Value-Targets, HVTs, and sabotaging anti-aircraft-emplacements.
SunTzu and Hotaru would support as JTACs and call in fire support, while Owen would take over the role as EOD-Specialist. Minako had handed over her place on board the second Medevac to another doctor and would support the Commandos directly attached to Team 1, so that a full doctor was available behind enemy lines.
A few different SpecForces Teams from the Third Army were active as well from right at the front line to distances matching Serenity's Wolves, the distance between each team was ten to twenty kilometers so that the teams could support each other in relatively short time.
Two minutes before the teams moved out, gunships would bring them close to the front, from where their foot path into the hot war zone began, the two Senshi and the two men said their goodbye to Setsuna, with Owen keeping a few meters distance.
Setsuna gave Minako, who was the first in a gentle, motherly stroke over her cheek.
"Take care out there Mina-Chan. And don't forget."
"Self-protection first. I know, Setsuna-Mama." Both shared a smile and Minako and Hotaru both smiled at each other as well.
Next was Hotaru and mother and daughter gave each other a hug before Hotaru took a step back and SunTzu approached Setsuna.
"Take care of them."
SunTzu nodded at his lover.
"Don't do something more dangerous than usual."
SunTzu tilted his head and was about to answer when Setsuna used her hand to straighten it up and pull it down to her and in for a kiss.
"I love you." Both lovers hushed at the same time when they broke their kiss.
In that moment Rudy came over to get the quartet and SunTzu and Setsuna clinged their foreheads for a moment before he left.
Setsuna and the two girls shared a last smile before they left as well.
On the way to the vehicles, in opposition to Teams 3 and 4, which used gunships for their infiltration, Makoto had accompanied Team 4, Team 1 used light MRZR-ATVs as well as a DAGOR Off-Road-Vehicle.
After a few kilometers towards the frontlines the flashes of distant explosions became visible on the nightly horizons.
The three MRZR, two fourseaters and a double-seater, and the DAGOR, packing the most firepower with a M2A1 Heavy Machine Gun and holding four passengers, rushed further into the night, as above the sounds of starfighters and bombers rushing into combat was audible.
AICA was nonstop guarding the landing zone while the Voyager had been deployed back to space to patrol the system.
Hotaru and SunTzu were in the back of the DAGOR, with Rudy on the steering wheel and Hulk on the machine gun, in front of them were Smithy and Nava along with Owen and Minako, leading the convoy in their MRZR, and behind them were Aussie and Kiwi in the two-seater-ATV and the rest of the team in the last MZRZ.
Both of the four-seaters had medium machine guns installed on their co-driver seat for further fire-power.
Heavy weaponry including guided anti-tank-missiles and anti-structure-rocket-launchers was carried on the vehicles and the passengers, all of them wearing modern night vision googles, kept their eyes open to cover their convoy in a 360 degrees angle.
Hotaru was armed with SunTzu's 416C while Minako had a MP7 PDW along a pistol for her self defence.
"It's a beautiful night." Hotaru mentioned to SunTzu as the vehicles were about to cross into enemy held territory, taking a look at the stars under her night vision.
A few kilometers to their east the sound of a heavy clash between vehicles came in.
"If it wasn't for the combat." SunTzu replied, not a sign of sarcasm in his voice, very well knowing that his protege, the Senshi of Death and Rebirth, very well found the beauty in the chaos of combat, just as he could.
"Checkpoint Bravo cleared." The voice of Nava came in, meaning that they had officially crossed the frontline.
SunTzu was about to look at Hotaru to give her a sign but the teenager was already on the push-to-talk-device of her radio system.
"Mistress 9 to all birds on station, sitrep."
Keeping his gaze out on the sector he was watching, rifle ready to be raised, SunTzu smiled under his helmet, night vision googles and the balaclava he had pulled over his mouth against the airstream and raised dust, as always Hotaru was doing her job flawlessly.
Over the next 24 hours, Team 1 moved dozens of kilometers into the back of the enemy lines, staying away from settlements and main roads and a few times even navigated through a forest.
Often the small convoy would stop and parts of Team 1 would recon the area on foot in advancement.
Along with first hand reconnaissance the ships of the Galactic Alliance in space and in the air would use their sensors to scout for the special operating forces on the ground.
Teams 3 and 4 already had orchestrated long-range missile strikes against enemy targets, not that Team 1 and its attachments knew about though, as they kept a strict radio silence.
It was just before dawn in the night after the infiltration and SunTzu was sleeping on a sleeping mat in a sleeping bag next to the DAGOR, after having the luck to have guard duty in the middle of the night, when suddenly Rudy and Dish appeared out of the night. The vehicles had been hidden near a small forest with local trees looked as they were distantly related to trees from Earth.
Rudy kneeled down and shook SunTzu, with a groan the pilot opened his eyes.
"Get up, Skipper. Nava and Hulk have contact."
While SunTzu forced himself out of his sleeping bag, Hotaru who had slept in the back of the DAGOR woke up as well.
Her sleep is just too shallow…
SunTzu wanted to let her sleep and felt bad that she couldn't get some more sleep. Knowing her, he also knew that she wouldn't stay asleep anyway, so he could make a first hand training exercise out of it.
I hope one day we will find forgiveness for letting her participate in a war…
SunTzu still was putting on his plate carrier when Hotaru, body armor, weapon and helmet with night vision on, already sprinted past him towards where she saw the first Commando.
SunTzu followed and just as he arrived Dish, who was putting up a connection to the TCC onboard the Eternal kneeling behind a tree.
He was apparently listening to something and as he noticed SunTzu he just motioned to the front.
SunTzu supresser both a yawn and a sigh, there definitely were better things to do than to silently and unseen move through a forest in the middle of the night.
It took its time, and even with state-of-the-art-night vision it wasn't that easy to maneuver through the forest without falling over a root or breaking a fallen branch but after what felt like an eternity although it only had been a couple of minutes SunTzu arrived at the other side of the forest and there he could make out the specters of a few of the Commandos.
Making himself as small as he could, SunTzu sneaked over to the soldiers, dropping next to Rudi and Boots.
"You ain't gonna believe this, Captain."
Rudi said and handed SunTzu a thermal sight device.
SunTzu took the optic and looked through it.
"2 o'clock, three clicks."
SunTzu searched for a moment but then saw it, a column of huge AT-OT-Walkers with some small AT-RT-Walkers around them.
Apparently the company-sized element was taking a break as well, SunTzu could even make out several individuals standing guard.
"That's one hell of a target."
"Want me to bring up a drone?" Rudi asked, but SunTzu lowering the optic shook his head.
"No need. We got what we need to call it."
Next to Boots was Hotaru and SunTzu called her with a low voice.
"Hey Hotaru, come here."
A moment later the teenager, looking like each other of the soldiers except maybe a few centimeters shorter dropped next to SunTzu.
"Got your IZLID?"
The young woman shifted to her side and pulled out the handheld laser target designator.
SunTzu nodded at her as she presented it.
"Our there is your target." He motioned over to the troop transports.
Hotaru looked at SunTzu for a small moment and then nodded.
Without any fault she began to illuminate the target while she called in a missile strike from the HIMARS launchers of the Taskforce near the landing zone.
SunTzu gave her some hints while she did so, going down a checklist she had learnt by heart.
It didn't even take two minutes and two guided missiles, the warhead of each filled with 180.000 Tungsten-steel balls for an effect on the whole area, for a strike on the enemy vehicles were on their way.
The two missiles didn't need a full minute to cross the roughly sixty kilometers between their launchers and the target.
The effect on the enemy was devastating, the tungsten balls ripped apart both vehicles and personnel, the open cargo holds of the AT-OT turned into mass graves. The cluster attack ripped holes through the vehicles and two of the AT-OTs got their legs destroyed, which made them fall to the ground.
Since they were several kilometers away the cries of the dying weren't audible but the Commandos and SunTzu could make out dying people crouched or lying on the ground, moving in agony, bleeding out through their optics and sight devices.
Just a moment after the strike most of the Commandos got up and moved back to the vehicles making them ready to quickly move away.
SunTzu gave Hotaru a pat on her shoulder and then got up as well. She had done everything right and SunTzu hoped that she wouldn't feel any remorse for the dozens of dead enemies after the strike.
In the following two days Team 1 reconnoitered several targets for missile and air strikes, destroying a refueling point and a regimental headquarter amongst others.
The deep strikes in the enemy territory quickly showed an effect on the enemy at the front lines and more and more attacks of the Third Army broke through the enemy lines as they were hampered by the sabotage attacks.
In the afternoon of the fourth day Team 1 and their attachments had split up, a SpecForces-Team had several wounded, including their medic, after a fire fight with an enemy platoon and Minako, Owen, Nava, SunTzu and Piedro had driven over to a hastily set up meeting point and while Minako stabilized the soldiers, SunTzu called in the medevac.
Because the continued attacks against anti-air-sites the Galactic Alliance pretty much had the air superiority by now and even assault transports, although with support, could fly into enemy territory.
The medevac, a CEC Shuttle, just had lifted off, when Dish came in over SunTzu's headset, Aussie and Kiwi had gone on patrol and had spotted a tank battalion in march.
Hotaru was on the way but the Team came to the conclusion that if the battalion would split up SunTzu was needed as well.
Within two minutes SunTzu and Piedro were on their way back to the rest of the team.
When SunTzu arrived he was told that the enemy vehicles had halted and Hotaru was waiting for him, apparently she needed orders.
Fast but covertly, using hills, trees and other vegetation for concealment SunTzu made his way on foot to Hotaru's position.
She was laying on her stomach on the edge of a hill, a few kilometers away from the enemy tanks.
SunTzu dropped down next to her, she was eyeing the position with macrobinoculars and gave them to SunTzu as he turned to her. She seemed nervous, something that was more than rare for her.
The tanks had halted and apparently were doing a resupply stop.
The officers and tankers were also visible having a briefing.
"What's the matter? Why you're not calling for an airstrike, airspace is cleared for strikes?"
"That's thirty two tanks and some trucks, I don't have any idea which one I should lase first. Not too mention how to stack the aircraft. I… I'm sorry, I can't make it, I don't know what to do."
SunTzu put down the binoculars and looked at his protege. In a very strange way it somehow warmed his heart that Hotaru needed his advice.
Fuck it, if the the only way I can act as a role modelin any way for her is in this goddamn war, so be it!
"Listen, your moms probably never encouraged you to it, but sometimes overwhelming and firepower and violence is the answer."
Hotaru looked at him, eyebrows knitting.
"What I'm trying to say is, fuck laser targets, we're using a killbox. We gonna Highway 80 those motherfuckers."
He smiled at Hotaru as he activated his comms to the channel for air support.
"SunTzu to all stations, be ready to receive coordinates for a killbox, enemy tank battalion, halting in the open."
Three minutes later the sound of starfighters filled the air as the concentrated air power of the Galactic Alliance in the system moved in.
With recon aircraft and capital ships in the high atmosphere and in space using their sensors to scan the area, dedicated SEAD-craft to minimize the danger from anti-aircraft-emplacements and A-, E- and X-Wings patrolling for enemy snubs, the attack began.
The first wave of the attack on the enemy tank battalion consisted of a squadron of B-Wings, specialized for strategic bombardment.
"And now we'll enjoy the show." SunTzu stated as the bombers moved in.
And the carpet bombing was a hell of a show, the earth and the sky rumbled from the impacts, the bombs were so powerful that the shockwaves going out from the flames of the explosions were visible and the carnage was to a full extent.
When the smoke cleared a field of burned vehicles and craters was visible and while the B-Wings sped back to space a second wave, made up of the eight K-Wings of Triton Squadron closed in.
The sensors of the assault fighters searched actively for any vehicle targets but only could find two and after shooting two missiles that hit their targets the K-Wing ran a laser run over what used to be the tank battalion. As the K-Wings veered away nothing was at least remotely alive at the enemy staging area.
"See, it worked." SunTzu stated dry after putting down his binoculars and looking at Hotaru.
Hotaru just nodded, still looking through her binoculars.
Twenty minutes later, after officially accessing the destruction the two Guardians were back at the position of the rest of the team and the vehicles.
Just as they arrived back at the DAGOR the last four-seater MRZR arrived as well, Nava stopped the vehicle while Owen already jumped out and headed for Dish, apparently he had to report something to Command.
Minako got out as well and headed for the other two Guardians, she seemed to be a bit hyped about something.
Minako had almost closed in when the comms of the air support channel went off and SunTzu and Hotaru looked at each other and Hotaru nodded.
"My call." She said and walked away a few meters.
"Dude, you not going to believe this." She said as she stopped in front of SunTzu.
"Minako-Chan, are you alright?" She definitely was full of adrenaline, her eyes wide open and she even seemed to be a bit shakey.
"That was… I went to that river nearby to wash my hands and on the way back I stepped on a goddamn landmine. Can you imagine, a bloody mine?"
SunTzu's jaw dropped and he immediately laid his hands gently around Minako, ready to examine her, he was in the motion to turn around and call for Boots when she stopped him with laying hands on his shoulders.
"I'm okay. Owen wondered what took me so long and came over. He defused that thing under my feet and the lead me out there, there was a whole bloody minefield there."
She let out a big breather. "I really thought I was done, before he came."
In that moment Rudy called over from Dish.
"SunTzu, we got new orders. We have to establish a LZ for First Battalion 15 clicks to our south."
"They're embarking the troops right now." Hotaru added in.
SunTzu looked back at Minako and a smile appeared on the blonde's lips.
"That means we're going home soon, right?"
Her gaze shot over to Owen, who stood next to Rudy and Dish as if he just hadn't done something which could have killed him and Minako began to languish at him.
"Good, I can't wait to get back to the Eternal. I'm so gonna spell Coconut with my hips on him. My hero."
Minako was lucky, the strikes in the rear had broken the neck of the enemy, missing supply, command and communication made the defense on the frontlines too hard to handle for the forces of Chaos and although the Third Army had paid it's price the front was broken through on it's whole a few hours later.
First Battalion in full as well as more light units from the Third Army had landed in the rear as well and staged rapid strikes against enemies on tactical retreat, further hampering the enemy.
In a matter of days Taskforce Sol was back on their ships in space while the Third Army took over the rest of the campaign on it's own, which mostly were single pockets of resistance that had to be broken.
Not even ten days after arriving in the Norah System, Sol was on its way back to Thyferra.