"Wow..." Chibiusa gasped in awe, as she and the Asteroid Senshi now found themselves in on board the Super Heavy Cruiser. specifically, one of the main hanger bays.
"It's alot bigger than I thought it would be." Ceres admitted, as her eyes gazed upon the many pieces of equipment which were present.
"Hey guys, check this out!" Vesta called out, as the red haired Senshi stood before a large mural on a near by bulk head. The same one both Uranus and Neptune had seen when they first came aboard.
"NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT". Chibiusa read out, as she and the other asteroid Senshi looked at what they believed to be the Ship's crest.
"No one Attacks me with Impunity." Ceres said, as she translated the latin text. Much to the surprise of Chibiusa and her fellow Amazon, who all gave her strange looks. "What? I'm I the only one who pays attention during our lessons?"
"So okay, we're on board the ship." Juno stated, as she eyed the ship's crest in wonder. "Now what?"
"Well you can start by explaining just how you got on board." a new, but very familiar voice stated, surprising the girls.
Sure enough, Hannah's holographic image soon appeared on a near by console, though she seemed to be more amused by their appearance. "Usually, when a intruder is detected on board, the automated internal defense network would activate and we would not be having his conversation."
Chibiusa and the Quartet froze at Hannah's statement, as they had all played enough video games to know what she meant.
"But back to my original question, just how did you get on board?" the A.I. asked firmly, as the now wide eyed Senshi stood as if they were Deers caught in the headlights of a oncoming Mack Truck. They had been caught in less then 5 minutes, not exactly the outcome they had expected. Chibiusa was just about to say something, when a unexpected voice spoke up.
"Please don't lock us up, miss computer lady!" Sailor Pallas all but pleaded, as tears began to well up in her eyes. "We want to help rescue our friends! We don't want Neo-Queen Serenity doing it alone, not against that mean Black Moon Lady!"
Needless to say, Chibiusa and the rest of the Quartet were surprised by the Blue Haired Asteroid Senshi, as Palla Palla was usually the soft spoken one of the group. But she had grown close with Serenity and the rest of the Senshi since the Quartet had been revealed to be Senshi themselves and started living in the Crystal Palace. It could even be said that the child like woman say Serenity as her mother, while the inner and outer Senshi were her aunts. They had become her family.
Hannah took a moment as Pallas' words began to sink in. She could tell that this young woman, despite her childlike demeanor and appearance, was quite serious about wanting to help. It was not long after Hannah noticed the expressions on the other girls as well and they too had determined expressions as well.
"Very well, you can stay." the A.I. relented. "It's not like I can turn the ship around just to carry you back home, anyway. But I would strongly suggest that you all try to stay out of the way. I don't think Logan would appreciate having more people on board."
"But..."
"No Buts." Hannah said firmly, a flash of red making an appearance for a moment as she said those words. Causing the girls to jump a bit. "Please remain here until I say you can leave. For the time being, it is the best way you can help."
Chibiusa wanted to protest, but quickly back down before nodding in agreement. "Very well, if you insist."
"Good. I've got to go now so remain here until I return." and with that, Hannah's image flickered out of existence. Leaving a group of confused women in miniskirts behind.
"So..." Juno spoke up, "What Now?"
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I didn't take too long for the Siege Merciless to arrive at the very edge of the Solar System. As the warship emerged from the slip space rupture and continued to glide into the blackness of space.
It's advanced sensor array continuing to track the ion trail left behind by Esmarude's fleet as they retreated. Many of the point defense turrets on board the Valiant-class cruiser were now active and were receiving mountains of information every second. As a single 800 ton MAC round was loaded into the vessel's main weapon, just in case it was needed.
Siege Merciless was ready for a fight, a fight it planned to win.
Within the Cruiser's Command and Control, Serenity looked on in awe as the numerous computer screens displayed various amounts of information. She smiled a bit as she thought that Ami would have been able to understand all of it, if she were here.
"Gunny, sensors are picking up an unknown signature thirty thousand kilometers ahead of us ." Hannah announced, as she appeared on a near by holoprojector. "The Ion Trail leads directly into it."
"It's Nemesis." Serenity stated firmly, "That is where Esmarude has taken them. That is where we need to go."
Sure enough, the energy signature the cruiser had detected, soon revealed itself to be a planetoid that was no bigger than Pluto. To the untrained eye, it would have looked like just another lifeless rock floating aimlessly through space covered in thick clouds. But Serenity knew better, this is... was the home of the Black Moon Clan and their followers. Now it was where friends were now being held with the "Nova Bomb".
"Hannah, do you detect any ships in orbit?" the Super Soldier asked the A.I..
"Negative." Hannah replied. "They may have landed on the surface to conduct repairs. I did do a number on them before they retreated, but it seems that they have not detected us just yet."
"Is everything set?" the Super Soldier asked.
"All modifications have been made and the Pelican is ready for launch."
"Good. Your Majesty, I suggest we make our way to the hanger Bay."
Serenity, still feeling a bit uneasy about the situation, just nodded before she and Logan exited the CC and made their way to the Hanger Bay. Upon their arrival, the pair were met by the sight James, Henry and Gordon making their final checks on the Pelican which was to be used. Unlike before, a pair of Anvil III missiles pods had been fitted onto the craft. Along with pair of modified M68 Gauss Cannons which were housed in special pods now mounted on external hard points.
Just like the Siege Merciless, this Pelican was also ready for a fight and considering where it would be headed, it was understandable.
"I have been able to track the Nova Bomb to a small settlement on the surface." Hannah chirped, as both Logan and Serenity sat in their seat. "But the signal is weak and I can't get an exact location. It seems it may have been taken under ground. Transferring coordinates to your flight computer."
"Understood" Logan replied, before glancing at his passenger. despite the seriousness of the situation, the Spartan was a bit amused to see Serenity sitting in one of the canvas seats normally used by UNSC Marines. He didn't know, but he found it quite amusing.
Suddenly, the entire cruiser seemed to just shut down. As all of the lights, both internal and external went dark and the massive fusion engines gave off one last burst before going dim themselves. The Siege Merciless was now coasting along via its own momentum, as the warship began to approach it's objective. But this was all by design, as this was a common tactic UNSC vessels used to mask their energy readings, so as to not alert enemy vessels.
Now the Siege Merciless was using this very same tactic to "sneak up" on Nemesis. It just needed to get close enough for Logan to launch, then would continue to coast along until it was far enough away to reactivate. But of course, Small Lady Usagi and her team of Senshi didn't know any of this and were a bit alarmed by the lights suddenly dimming.
"What's going on?" Sailor Juno asked out loud, as Pallas hugged her tightly with tears in her eyes.
"Don't worry ." Hannah's voice suddenly chimed, as her image reappeared on a near by projector. "It's just all apart of the plan."
Back on board the Pelican, Serenity sat silently in her seat as she waited. Just a few inches in front of her, sat a small four wheeled vehicle that looked alot like the ones Haruka owned. But this one was bigger in every way and looked far more utilitarian than the ones the Senshi of Uranus used to joy ride around Crystal Tokyo. There were also a couple of large containers near by that were fastened to the interior. Serenity had an idea what thought might be, though she didn't want to say.
Suddenly, the hanger Bay doors began to open as the Drop Ship rumbled to life. Exposing the hanger Bay to the cold vacuum of space, as the Pelican lifted from it's position and began to move forward.
Meanwhile, on Nemesis, Esmarude wasted no time in celebrating her apparent victory. She had captured the Sailor Senshi, well ... most of them anyway and they were all being held deep within the Dark Palace. Despite being the only one there, the former Black Moon Lieutenant could not help but to throw herself a lavish party with music and even a feast that was fit for a King and His court.
Unlike that damn fool Rebues, Not only had she captured (Most Of) the Sailor Senshi, but she had brought them all back to Nemesis. But this was my only part of her master plan, as the woman knew that Serenity was more than likely to follow her to rescue her friends. She wasn't gonna kill the Senshi, at least not yet. But rather, she wanted to bait Serenity into coming to Nemesis first. Esmarude wanted to hurt Serenity and hurt her badly before eventually killing her.
Esmarude was gonna kill the Senshi right in front of Serenity, before finally killing the Royal. Once they were dead, the Clan member would then launch another attack on Earth and with Serenity and Senshi gone, there would be no one to stop her. Not even that Gray Abomination that destroyed some if her ships, would stand a change against her might.
Only then will her revenge would be complete. Only then will the Black Moon Clan finally prevail over Crystal Tokyo. All she had to do was wait for Serenity to Arrive, but little did Esmarude know that she would not be waiting for long.
For as Esmarude happily celebrated her victory prematurely, the hulking mass of the Siege Merciless drifted silently across the night sky. Nemesis did not have the complex network of Sensor Arrays as Earth had and the few which did exist were no where
near as advanced. They were completely unaware of the Super Heavy Cruiser's existence near their planet, nor were they aware that a small craft had left the larger ship and was making it's way towards Nemesis.
Just as planned, the Siege Merciless continued to drift away into deep space, as the Pelican powered up it's engines and began to fly towards Nemesis.
On board, Serenity sat nervously in her seat as she held into her straps tightly. As the Drop Ship increased speed and flew towards it's destination. From her position, Serenity could see the planet get closer and closer, as it began to fill the cockpit windows.
Logan for his part, kept his cool as he guided the craft into the atmosphere. It was a task he completed numerous times before in the past, over numerous planets that were home to either Neo-Insurrectionist groups or even Covenant Remnants. At least this time the Drop Ship was not being shot at with plasma weapons or crude missiles. Though the thick cloud cover and occasional flashes of lighting gave him cause for concern, but turning back was not a option. It never was.
Upon entering the atmosphere, the Pelican was soon rocked by turbulence as is was quickly enveloped by dark clouds. Flashes of lighting and loud claps of thunder filling the interior of the drops ship, as the craft continued it's decent. Every so often, the craft would shake violently and Serenity would fight the urge to scream in terror. But somehow the monarch kept her cool as the storm clouds finally began to clear up, revealing the black rocky surface Nemesis.
Lighting continued to flash above, as the Pelican continued to fly on at low altitude. Hugging the surface in an attempt to not alert any possible radar installations or any other kind of detection systems. But eventually the Pelican came to rest near some rocky hills and powered down.
Moments later, the rear ramp lowered and with a loud rev of a engine, Logan soon emerged from the drop ship riding a M274 "Mongoose" A.T.V..
Holstered on his back, was the venerable MA5D Assault Rifle and in his right thigh, was a M21 Pistol. He also carried a small "Back Pack" which carried extra ammunition fir both weapons, as well as grenades and even a first aid kit. While the Mongoose itself had a small container mounted right behind him.
"111 to SM(Siege Merciless), have touched down, proceeding to objective. Going Radio Silent." Logan said into his com system, as he waited for Serenity to exit the Drop Ship. but as soon as he ended his transmission, he heard a female voice call out...
"MOON... ETERNAL... MAKE UP!"
Suddenly, the rear of the Drop Ship was filled with light and color. As Logan looked on in absolute confusion, as the strange phenomenon continued to play out for almost a minute. But eventually the lights vanished and Logan was soon saw something that left him stunned.
For now exiting the the rear of the Pelican, was an individual who looked far more flamboyant than her Senshi. After so many years...
Eternal Sailor Moon had Returned...
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A/N: Sorry for the long wait, but life got in the way... again.
Not much to say, really. But until next time, Nightstalker OUT! And Merry Christmas and Happy New Year if I don't appear again for the rest of 2022.