A few days later the mission to Nyros came to an end for Taskforce Sol. The prospected forces from Sullust and Eriadu had arrived and now the peacekeeping force had taken over the security of the planet and the protection of the now also incoming relief.
It took two days in the Bacta-tank for SunTzu until he was healed completely again. The nerves in his shoulder had been hit very bad but luckily for him they had healed completely again and there were no after-effects.
Setsuna, who would never had openly told to him, the other Senshi of course knew, had spent a lot of time next to him, monitoring his healing and hoping for the best, knowing that the Galaxy needed him at his best and his arm fully working to pilot AICA.
Even Cilghal had come from time to time and at two times even applied Force Healing on the nerves and the also wounded shoulder joint to make sure SunTzu got fully healed.
While SunTzu was healing, the rest of the Taskforce was rather busy, be it with mopping up the rest of the Secession National Rebellion, passing aid to the civil population, patrolling or getting ready to leave the planet.
The first investigators for the documentation of the genocide done by the Secession National had arrived as well and had started their work.
Throughout the South of the Galaxy word catched on what the ruler of Crystal Tokyo and the Senator of Sol, along with their special military force had done for the planet of Nyros and now all kind of compliments from planetary governments in the vicinity, military officials and even from Coruscant came in.
Behind closed doors even Leia Organa-Solo had praise for the two young woman and Taskforce Sol, calling their work not only the right thing to do but also hoping it would inspire others to do the same and help individuals that were in dire need.
All over Nyros members of the SN laid down their weapons and surrendered, unfortunately not all of them gave up though.
The Taskforce still had to deal with smaller attacks, acts of desperation, but none of them really worth of mentioning.
The Commandos and Intelligence raided various places to detain, or neutralize, cells of the now Galaxy-wide forbidden terror organization. Some of these raids ended in fierce firefights but nothing the veterans of Sol couldn't handle, only one time a compound had to be destroyed via an air strike.
Notable was that some of the locations marked for raids had already been violently assaulted by someone in advance. Intelligence kept things under tight wraps but rumors were that some of the dead terrorists found there not only were shot by blasters but also had been cut in parts by a large bladed weapon.
Since the fight against the remains of the Secession National was deemed more important those incidents weren't investigated any further, officially armed civilian Nyrosians had taken revenge in their own hands.
It was afternoon when SunTzu was discharged from the med bay.
The Eternal would leave the system in the early night, along with the Starstruck and their complements. The Far Side, Rago-Battalion, Team 4 as well as Styx- and Dione-Squadrons would stay a day or two longer until the Security Force from the GA was fully deployed and operational.
Most of the people who had time tried to enjoy the afternoon in the tropical sun, be it with hiking in the jungles, laying at the planet's beautiful beaches or at the markets offering exotic fruits and spices and souvenirs.
Chibiusa and Hotaru, accompanied by Helios, and two Royal Guards close by, enjoyed one of the capital's markets. Captain Nadrak had given Helios off until departure, telling him to enjoy to have his girl around on a nice port like here. The trio enjoyed some colorful sweet and tangy fruits and Hotaru also managed to find a souvenir for Alask.
Two thirds of Hotaru's parents enjoyed a trip with a fast boat, made up of local wood and while Haruka enjoyed the velocity of the boat while steering it, Michiru enjoyed the swimming and diving in the azure sea.
Makoto hadn't wanted to take off but in the end, Rudy and Artemis more or less forced her to take the afternoon off. Together with Kenji as well as Minako and Owen, who both had worked almost without a break in the last few days and now had been granted free time from Artemis himself for their diligent work, and Luna and Diana both enjoyed an afternoon at one of the capital's public beaches. Of course a volleyball game between both couples went down.
King and Queen retreated to their personal quarters on the Eternal with the strict order to not be disturbed, at least until the Princess would enter the Eternal. Of course nobody even dared to interrupt them, as Artemis handled everything important from his office onboard the Eternal, enjoying a good cigar while working and silently celebrating that the mission, as dangerous as it had been, hadn't caused any deadly casualties, SunTzu with his wounded shoulder belonged to the upper third when it came to the seriousness of wounds and injuries.
Rei as well as Ami, supported by their partners didn't take time off. Even when having been driven to and boarding the Eternal, Rei was on the holo communicator, managing more relief for Nyros, or the Wild Space and Outer Rim as whole, space for the refugees to go to or conferring with Coruscant.
Ami, as usual, was collecting, analyzing and investigating data to find clues how to act before Chaos did or find weaknesses in the enemy's fronts.
Setsuna and SunTzu had went to a small beach SunTzu had found while flying with AICA over the archipelago's close to Tua'ba. They were sitting together on AICA's wing, SunTzu's arms slung around Setsuna from the back as she cuddled close onto him, trying to not put any pressure on his shoulder. Usually a moment like this would be accompanied by hushing sweet nothings into each other's ears but this time both of them just silently watched the sun set down over the ocean at the horizon, holding each other close.
They didn't talk about it but having each other helped immensely with getting over the images of the gruesome things they had seen on this planet, a silent vow of love, that needed no words.
The couple waited until the sun had sunken into the sea before they took AICA back to the Eternal, arriving just in time for Setsuna to make sure that all patients onboard the Eternal, all wounded enemies had been given over to the GA Security Force, were ready for the way home.
Both lovers soon found each other again at the observation deck, along with Rei, who finally had taken a break, and Yuichiro. Rei smoked a cigarette as the quartet silently observed the planet as the Star Frigate moved away from it, bringing in distance for a safe jump to Hyperspace.
Three days later:
Artemis was standing on his usual place on the bridge of the Eternal, a few meters behind, overlooking both the various workstations for the officers on station on the side of the bridge as well as the ground alcove with more workstations and also having the opportunity to look out of the bridge's front windows. Captain Santos was standing next to him and both looked out the front window into the blue, white and black of Hyperspace.
In a few minutes the Eternal and the Starstruck would arrive home again at Sol-System, a few hundred-thousand kilometers in front of Mars.
Suddenly the communications officer turned to Artemis and Captain Santos.
"Sir, ESDF reports a situation."
"Situation, Lieutenant?"
"Someone stole a transport ship and is on the run now."
Artemis turned to Captain Santos. "Nothing the ESDF couldn't handle." Both men nodded at the statement, there was nothing a transport ship could do against the Selene and her fighters.
But the Lieutenant turned to the Admiral again. "Sir, the Selene reports that the thieves apparently are heading for Crystal Tokyo. And they demand to speak to Neo Queen Serenity, otherwise they threaten to execute the ship's crew."
Santos and Artemis exchanged another look, both looked grim, so much for a peaceful homecoming.
"Lieutenant, put the Selene on the speakers. And tell Captain SunTzu and Captain Tenoh to board their ships."
Truth be told, SunTzu was annoyed to get called into action just before entering Sol-System, he and Setsuna had arranged a little date to watch the system and the landing from the observation deck, somewhere a bit beside, being left in peace by her rank alone, but Haruka really was in a bed mood. The foulness of her mood and the missing of Michiru made it pretty clear what the couple had been doing at the moment the ship's speakers had called them to report to their ships immediately.
Hotaru had followed along and now gladly had accepted the seat behind Haruka, manning the Voyager's turret.
AICA flew in front, Haruka was very silent, another indicator how pissed she was. To not make her fall into a curse-laden rant, which Setsuna probably would learn about x blaming SunTzu for Hotaru having to hear it, SunTzu refrained from every non-mission-essential radio communication as well.
It was Hotaru who interrupted the more or less silence. "Why do they sent us out here? I'm sure the ESDF got it."
"Because they love to bloody, fu…" Haruka remembered that if Setsuna and worse, Michiru, would hear that rant she would be in trouble and stopped talking, making SunTzu let out a big breather of relief, of course this wasn't audible on the radio.
"Apparently they want to contact us directly. Control sent us out to check out the transport and confirm that it's not armed or wired with explosives."
"Armed? If they want to communicate they should have a bloody radio, shouldn't they?"
"Don't ask me Ruka, I just wanted to enjoy the landing with Setsuna."
A few minutes later the two starfighters had closed up on the transport ship, a regular medium-sized transport, around the size of a Corellian Corvette, apparently this ship was also a CEC design, with a tonnage of maybe 1000 tons. From a distance of three kilometers they followed the ship and scanned it with their snub's sensors again.
"No weapons, no explosives, no ECM or other EW-signatures." AICA reported after she had used her and the Voyager's sensors three times on the freighter, called the Chandrilan Pearl.
"Fine, I'm going in to have a closer look. AICA shields on maximum, you're free to engage by the slightest sign of trouble."
While the Voyager kept a bit of distance, although both Haruka and Hotaru were ready to immediately engage the larger starship, SunTzu steered AICA closer to the freighter and after a close pass on it's side began to round the ship from different angles, all while AICA used her scanners again.
"Seems clear to me."
"Dito." SunTzu replied to the AI and steered his A-Wing away again to form up with his wingwomen.
"Eternal, the Chandrilan Pearl seems to be clear."
After a moment Artemis himself came on.
"Copy SunTzu, head back to the Eternal and report personally. Voyager, stay in position, Terra and Triton as well as Umbriel Three will form up on you."
AICA and SunTzu landed back on the Eternal and were greeted by Commander Jordan himself, instead to the bridge or the TCC SunTzu was led to the Royal Chambers. Inside the commanding officer of the Guard onboard, Luna, all the other Senshi, Artemis and the Royals were assembled.
Stinger Jordan didn't enter but motioned SunTzu to enter in the open door, guarded by two Royal Guards.
SunTzu looked at the people in front of him, packed around the large central sofa, some kind of serious discussion seemed to be going on.
"Again your Majesty, I strongly advise you to not board that ship."
"I agree with Asanuma, Love. It's too dangerous, we have no idea what's going on on that ship."
"I could go as your double, using the disguise pen."
"You're the first of the Senshi, Mina. It's too dangerous for you as well."
"My duty is to protect the Queen, Artemis."
"All of you… stop! I'll go." The Neo Queen looked up at SunTzu who was standing in front of the now closed door behind him, pilot helmet under his arm. "SunTzu and me are the only ones who know them. They are our friends."
"Friends? They are a rogue Russian army unit who kidnapped a space freighter, I don't think…"
"Trust me, Mamo-Chan. I know what I'm doing, otherwise I wouldn't go without you to protect me." Two enamored smiles hit each spouse.
"Fine. But I want AICA to feed us a live feed from inside the ship."
"Are you sure you don't want a bulletproof vest at least? Or a pilot suit?"
"SunTzu. You know this woman, did you ever had any suspicions against her?"
"Oh you mean after we killed most of the leadership of her criminal organization? Or before she rejoined the army of a regime that had imperialistic tendencies? Or before she and her paratrooper company became rogues and stole a spaceship?"
"Trust me, nobody will mean any harm to us on that ship. I'm sure there's an explanation."
SunTzu used the rear mirror above his helmet to take a glance at the Neo Queen on AICA's backseat.
Who would have thought that the newly reinstated Captain of the Russian Armed Forces, known as Balalaika, and her men would be the one behind the theft of the freighter.
The A-Wing would land in the small landing dock of the freighter, Balalaika wanted to talk personally with Usagi, SunTzu assumed probably to gain the help of the Neo Queen to get out of their current situation. All he hoped was, that they wouldn't do something stupid when the Neo Queen was onboard the kidnapped ship.
A few minutes later and followed by the Voyager up until the entering of the freighter's hangar, Haruka wasn't any less conspicuous than SunTzu or the others, AICA sat down on the Chandrilan Pearl, of course the AI was scanning for any movements already and was ready to immediately deploy, and use, her defensive blaster.
SunTzu, his SBR on its sling on his back was out of the cockpit immediately, scanning the area just like his ship.
A Russian paratrooper, apparently someone with rank, short barreled rifle also on his back, came closer. His movements were strict, like he was exercising, and he stopped in front of SunTzu, even saluting.
Reluctantly the German reciprocated the military greeting and then he turned to the Neo Queen, saluting her as well.
The Eastern European's accent was very thick as he addressed the ruler of Crystal Tokyo.
"The Captain wants to talk with you in private, Neo Queen Serenity. I'm here to take you to her."
"I don't think…"
Serenity held up her hand to shut SunTzu up and then climbed out of the cockpit, at least accepting SunTzu's help with lending her a hand on the way down. As she put her hands on firm ground both looked at each other and SunTzu used his head to motion to his pistol but Serenity answered with a small shake of her head.
"I assume my knight is safe at this hangar?" She turned to the soldier.
"Da, nothing will happen to him or his ship, you have our word."
Elegantly Serenity nodded in acknowledgment and then she followed the armed soldier out of the hangar, half way turning back to SunTzu, whose look made very sure that he wasn't liking this at all, not in the slightest.
Another few minutes later, Serenity arrived at the captain's office onboard the ship.
Inside Balalaika, wearing a VDV uniform was sitting on a desk, smoking a cigar. Her face was unreadable as she looked up at the Neo Queen through the clouds of blue smoke.
"Your Majesty." The older woman's smoky voice didn't exactly show respect.
"Captain Irinovskaya."
Although Balalaika tried, she couldn't completely stop herself from raising an eyebrow. The older blonde took a drag from her cigar and blew out the smoke after a second.
"I see you made your homework. Guess you didn't forgot about us after leaving the Russian Federation."
"I would never. But It makes me sad to see that even after getting a second chance you're back to being a criminal."
For a moment there was silence in the room, as a cold glance pierced the Neo Queen in her white and gold dress. Even the at attention standing soldier who had brought Serenity in the room had his eyes fixed on the young woman now.
"Vy mozhete vyyti iz komnaty, serzhant." Balalaika ordered the soldier and he saluted and left, meanwhile Balalaika took another drag of her cigar and then motioned to the chair in front of her, not looking at Serenity.
Seconds passed even when Usagi was sitting, the young ruler beginning to look around, her eyes wide as if she was nervous.
Balalaika took another draw of her cigar and then put it back on the ashtray, made out of a grey stone in front of desk made out of metal.
"It's not what you think it is." Balalaika said and blew the smoke out, not at Usagi but she had lifted her head and let the smoke out in the room.
"The former Russian mob member and her gang didn't kidnap a freighter from a spaceport so?"
Cold blue eyes pierced Usagi again but the look of nervousness was gone, Balalaika's hard blue eyes were met from the blue eyes of the Neo Queen and Serenity stared right back.
The older woman took a deep breather.
"We were betrayed. As soon as everything was in order and we had settled we got the information that we would be deployed to Donetsk." She let out a humorless laugh. "Straight into the meat grinder." She shook her head. "I'm Ukrainian. Ten of my men are also. We don't fight ourselves, at least not as soldiers."
"Why you didn't join the Ukrainian Forces then? You know, deflect and fight against the aggressor."
"Our unit is made up of members of almost every state of the former Soviet Union. Balts, Kazakhs, Chechen, tribes from Siberia. Degov is from Minsk. And ever since this unit was founded right before the Chinese Border War it was made up of members of various Soviet Republics, proud soldiers that formed a brotherly bond no matter where they came from. And they told us to go to a war against our own. We're just a paratrooper company with a few BMDs, a single airstrike would have killed us all. And going to hiding never was an option, we already got the mob out for us, we don't need the other half of the KGB which now forms the FAB after us. So we had to get away, and space was the only option." Balalaika's eyes fixed Serenity again. "Would you have fought your own?"
Serenity swallowed hard, if Balalaika only knew.
"But kidnapping a starship? You know that's a galaxy-wide recognized crime. The ESDF is authorized to engage you with lethal force. As is Taskforce Sol."
A moment of silence before Balalaika spoke again.
"What if we didn't kidnap or stole this ship. What if we paid the crew to take us away? And just made it look like we stole it?"
"And why would you do that? Why pay when you can use force?"
"The families of my men are on this ship and I think you relate how much the wellbeing of my men means to me." A drag on her cigar, more than half of it gone by now. "What is the better way of keeping an underpaid crew member of a space freighter from calling in the authorities? The prospect of being killed if he refuses to cooperate or the prospect of being paid a stately sum of money?"
"And here I thought Hotel Moscow would only be able to solve its problems through violence."
Usagi's statement draw a smile from Balalaika's scar-covered face, which immediately vanished when the ruler of Crystal Tokyo continued.
"But having paid the crew of the starship isn't enough, you still broke the law and even if the ESDF or we don't catch you, there's still the Galactic Police Federation. Not to mention you can never go home again. Unless you get help." The blue eyes of the younger woman now stared into the ones of the older one. "And that's why you wanted, no needed to talk to me."
"People don't give you credit for your perceptivity I imagine. But yes, we need your help, Neo Queen Serenity." A last drag before the paratrooper officer extinguished her cigar in the ashtray. "And it's not that you don't gain anything from it. We lost our home, a country which wants to throw us in the meat grinder, yet again. I lost half my face while trying to help afghan children and now I shall go and kill my own people? Me and my men lost all trust into the Russian Federation but we still can be of use on the battlefield with our experience. We both know that your little army needs all the help it can get and we'd be willing to give it. We could even work on our own, provided that you don't senselessly sacrifice us on the battlefield."
Serenity obviously thought hard about it.
"Another company would surely enlarge our capacities."
"We're willing to fight. We just need a new home for us and our families."
"This isn't as easy as you think, you broke galactic law."
"And you're the ruler of the solar system with a good standing with the leadership of the Galactic Alliance. And we both know how politics work."
"It's not nepotism if you work for a common goal."
"And it's not obfuscation when you save the life of innocent women and children. What do you think would happen to the families of my men, if the Russian Federation catches us? Do you think women live long and prosper in Siberian Gulags?"
For a long moment Usagi just looked at the older blonde before she spoke, standing up as she did so.
"I'll see what I can do. But you know that I just have your word. The word of…"
"Of an officer. And of a honored unit with longstanding tradition."
"Fine, of an officer." Then suddenly her eyes and her voice became cold as ice. "Just keep in mind, that you shouldn't betray my trust, never ever. And behave exactly like I expect it from soldiers under my rule."
"My soldiers are more than disciplined, they know what happens when they step out of line, I have seen soldier's misbehave too often to not be sick of it as well. But I do acknowledge the size of balls it takes to make threats to me while this ship is crawling with my soldiers." Balalaika responded, her voice giving challenge to the already having turned away Neo Queen who turned around, face set in stone.
"Oh, you don't know to what I'm really capable of to do, Sofia Pavlovna. I'll return to my flagship now, you'll hear from me."
Within a few moments, Serenity had left the room, and as soon as the door was closed again, Balalaika nodded in acknowledgment, this young woman sure had balls.
A soldier had lead Usagi back to AICA and SunTzu and with nothing but a nod to her Guardian of Guardians the Neo Queen boarded AICA again, followed by SunTzu after reciprocating the salute that the soldier who had brought Usagi had given him.
As soon as AICA's cockpit was closed, SunTzu was preparing the start, still an eye on the surroundings, Usagi let out a heavy breather before she reclined into AICA's backseat.
"How was that, Ami?"
"Fantastic, I wish there would have been a camera in the captain's office so I could have watched it. Nevertheless I'm proud of you."
"This was hard. I really thought I'd falter under her gaze a few times. I definitely deserve a treat for this."
"I let the kitchen staff know to immediately bring something over to your quarters."
With a big smile the queen nodded enthusiastically, in that moment AICA left off.
"Ah, Ami. We have to find a way to get Balalaika and her men out of this legal trouble."
"We're already on it, Artemis is in contact with High Command and Mamoru, Naru, Umino, Rei and their staff are working on a Royal Decree that will cover everything."
"Perfect. I'm out, this thing really begins to be uncomfortable."
That said Usagi took the miniature radio from behind her ear away and put it in her hand.
"Thanks for coming along, SunTzu." She leaned forward then and thanked her pilot.
"I'm glad nothing happened."
A few hours later the Starstruck and four K-Wings of Triton-Squadron flew besides the Pearl, with the Arctica and Antarctica, the two Ranger-Class Corvettes of the ESDF in visual range as well.
The Eternal remained in orbit when the space freighter and its escort began their descent on Crystal Tokyo.
When the Chandrilean Pearl landed, the K-Wings stayed swarming around it while multiple gunships, loaded with Commandos, Royal Guards, regular soldiers and Intelligence Officers landed beside it, joining an already waiting platoon of Royal Guards from the Palace as well as the Repulsor Tank Platoon of the Guard.
From the main gate a convoy of police cars, half a dozen patrol cars and numerous black SUVs came rushing towards the landing zone where the Pearl sat down, normally the one the Far Side used, with sirens and flash lights on, carrying regular policemen as well as a SAT Teams, the equivalent of Swat teams, as well as Commissioner Saori Kobayashi.
When she sat down the Chandrilean Pearl was completely surrounded by armed personnel and vehicles.
"It's a fucking circus down there." Haruka commented to Michiru as the Voyager flew over the base and she took a look at the Far Side's regular landing spot on their way to their hangar.
AICA was on her left, piloted by Hotaru, as SunTzu, out of his pilot suit and now in civilian tactical clothing with tactical kit on, had followed the Royal Couple into one of the U-Wings as Personal Security Detail.
When the Deimos landed, Sailor Jupiter, blaster in hand, and three members of Team 1 were the first to leave the assault transport, while Sailor Venus and SunTzu followed suit with Neo Queen Serenity and Sailor Venus just a step in front of them.
The Royals went over to the Commissioner and the on-site commanding officer to have a brief talk, soon joined by Sailor Mercury and Sailor Mars.
A moment later Serenity took a headset and walked a bit away from everyone except her husband and her guardians, so she could communicate with Balalaika in private.
A few more minutes later and under the close supervision of the small army around the ship, weapons pointed at them, Balalaika, her men and their families left the Chandrilean Pearl and were escorted into several busses.
The busses, escorted by a Repulsor Tank and several other vehicles were directed to a some untenanted barracks on the army base.
Meanwhile a collection of heavy lift trucks was diverted to the Chandrilean Pearl to take over the vehicles of the paratroopers.
From the outside it seemed like it was a regular clean up of a crime scene, with armored vehicles though, but it was already the first step to incorporate the paratroopers into Taskforce Sol.
A few hours and a secretive meeting with Balalaika and her direct subordinates later, Usagi was back in the Palace, more precisely, the Military Headquarters.
While the King was supporting the Chancellor as well as the foreign ministry to let the world and the ESDF know that Crystal Tokyo was taking care of the apparent intergalactic criminals, the Neo Queen had been called to inform herself about the latest updates regarding the one country which demanded to have Balalaika, her soldiers and their families handed over.
And the tone of the Russian Federation hadn't been nice ever since the leadership of the country got to know where the stolen freighter had been rerouted to.
Right now Crystal Tokyo's ruler was in the middle between her Head of Intelligence and her highest-ranking officer.
"The last Russian message openly speaks about military consequences."
"Which would highly probable cause collateral damage on Japanese territory."
"I don't think they care much. And they could also use a missile strike from a submarine in the pacific to attack Crystal Tokyo from the sea. Or commando attacks."
"This insane. All this just for a few soldiers."
"It's personal for the president. The whole world saw them fail to secure something as important as their only spaceport. Not too mention, that he would loose his face if a woman, you Usagi, wouldn't falter to his demands. The hardliners demand that he gets Balalaika and her men back, it's important for the morale of the Armed Forces as well. And you know my opinion, this man is a psychopath, obsessed with power."
Usagi let out a long, very unregal sigh before she turned to Artemis.
"Did you reach out to our allies in the High Command again?"
"Yes, we're backed."
"Good, at least something."
"I think, if they can behave of course, they would fit right in. And could be used as a very mobile force in advance or without much support from the Eternal or the Far Side."
A staff officer came to the map table the trio was standing in front of, a certain German pilot a step behind them, and handed a data pad to Artemis. The white-dressed Admiral quickly read the message on it, his face darkening while doing so.
"Now they're saying they are willing to use every option in their arsenal if we don't hand over the soldiers."
"Threatening a nuclear attack just because of a company of soldiers and a few vehicles. I say it again, this man is a psychopath."
"I think it's time to show this man who's really in charge here." Usagi pushed a button on the map table, activating a holo communicator. A short moment later the image of Captain Santos appeared.
"Captain, do you remember what I told you before I left the ship?"
"Your Majesty?" The image of the experienced Captain appeared to be uncertain but Serenity II. just nodded.
"Affirmative."
Before the image disappeared Santos was heard giving out orders.
On the map in front of them a place in Siberia was highlighted by a red dot. SunTzu curious now stepped forward to see it as well. After a minute the red dot disappeared, SunTzu now next to Ami curiously looked at his ruler.
"What did we do?"
"We just destroyed Russia's most advanced laser in a top secret installation above the polar circle." Ami responded and SunTzu could see that there were signs of strain in the blunette's face.
"Give me a direct line to Moscow." The Neo Queen demanded and a staff officer handed her a headset and after a moment she began to speak, in Japanese.
"It seems we did have a technical problem. My men are rigidly working on fixing it. Thank the Moon that no city was hit but just an empty district in Siberia."
Before the interpreter translating for the Russian Security Council could finish regiving Crystal Tokyo's Queen's words Usagi already had put the headset down again and looked to the officer, responsible for communications in the Control Center, who had just given her the headset and began to give him an order.
"Tell Captain Santos to aim at the next target. And then sent Russia a message saying that two batteries of their new ICBMs are next."
The Neo Queen turned to Artemis. "Artemis can you let the ESDF and the UN know about the threats Russia made against our sovereign state. And remind Japan that we are there to defend them as well."
"Immediately." Artemis left the table with the hint of a smile.
SunTzu had gotten it under his belt, Usagi had planned all this since a very long time, showing a potential threat here on Earth that she wouldn't falter and even was able to strike at them before they even had a chance to think about retaliation.
His and Usagi's glances met and he nodded his head appreciatorily.
"Not bad, your highness."
"I always knew we couldn't trust Russia. We never could, that's exactly why I did all this in the beginning, to weaken any upcoming opposition."
"Usagi, I didn't know you could be this calculating." His voice sounded amused when he said that and it draw a smile from the blonde woman.
"I have a kingdom and a planet to protect. Ami's not the only one who can come up with a cunning plan." Both women looked at each other and also exchanged a smile. "Talking about a cunning plan, I do think I'll let the next one get made up from someone with more experience in that." She looked away from SunTzu again and at Ami. "Major Urawa, are 1 billion republic credits enough to support our cause? Let's say, to start an insurgency on an enemy-held planet in our favor?"
"One Billion? That's enough for several system-wide insurgencies."
Usagi smiled again. "Sugoi, I think you know where to get that money."
Ami smiled widely, procuring this money would be a pleasure. "I'm on it. And I'll excogitate some plans what to do with that amount of money. Non traceable to us, of course. And I think our new paratrooper company will come in handy as well." The visor of her Mercury Computer appeared in front of Ami's face and she turned away, ready to leave the room.
"Very well. Oh and Ami?"
Ami turned around again and looked at Usagi.
"I know that Makoto is baking the cake's for tomorrow afternoon but feel free to let the Russian President pay for your birthday dinner tomorrow. Just let Luna know at which restaurant you and Ryo want a table." The Neo Queen winked at her Head of Intelligence and Ami smiled back before she walked away.
A moment later SunTzu looked up from the table, the Eternal was in orbit above Russia and several starfighters had began to patrol the space between Russia and Crystal Tokyo.
Next to him Usagi was looking over the map again as well.
"Do you really think we can trust Balalaika and her men? And use them in our fight against Chaos?"
Usagi nodded and turned to SunTzu fully when she noticed the skepticism on his face.
"Everyone deserves redemption, don't you think so." She answered, her voice warm but also certain, not the voice of an overstrained young ruler but of a Queen with wisdom beyond her young years.
SunTzu sighed and then the hardness on his face vanished.
"You know it's not easy to withstand your optimism."
"You should really trust your Queen a bit more so, Sir SunTzu." She joked and both began to laugh.