A few days later the Taskforce was heading home to Crystal Tokio.
There hadn't been anymore combat deployments and the situation in the Colonies and Inner Rim seemed to have eased up.
While the fighting parts of the Taskforce could relax now others were more busy now. Venus and Pluto were almost constantly in the MedBay taking care of the casualties.
Rei was busy helping the Queen with diplomatic matters and they even needed help from Luna, King Endymion and Chibiusa to take care of all the political and diplomatic work. At least it was a good training for Chibiusa for when she became Queen one day and would have to do the same work.
Hotaru was busy with her theoretical and simulator training but still blew records when it came to her progress.
And Ami had been busy the whole mission and It didn't seem to get any better. He visited her from time to time and sometimes brought her tea and sandwiches. He was a bit afraid she was overworking herself but she always told, that she was good and that she enjoyed being busy.
At least Michiru and Haruka weren't busy and he could hang out with them. The Trio infernal mostly killed time with either sport or training, Michiru made sure that SunTzu and Haruka wouldn't spare at each other. When asked why she always said, that the two would probably hurt each other and she didn't want to be the one taking care of them then.
They loved each other's like siblings but because their egos none of them would back down.
It was afternoon and the pilot trio were lounging on the observation deck, with Haruka laying on a bench and head on a sitting Michiru's lap. SunTzu was standing a bit aside, looking out into the void, smoking a cigarette.
"What's the matter? You seem a bit stressed today." Haruka asked him.
Michiru, how exactly understood what the matter was secretly slapped Haruka's head.
SunTzu hadn't really seen Rei for at least two days now because she was so busy. This morning she came over for a good morning kiss and that has been the only time he saw her today. She wrote him messages whenever she could but most of them stated that she still was busy. And he had been on nightly patrols the last few nights and didn't want to wake her when he came back in the early morning hours.
"It's nothing. Just looking forward to home." He turned around and let out a cloud of smoke.
"Can you believe it? Out here people are dying and the Diplomatic Corps asks us to throw a ball for a delegation from the Core Worlds."
"Yeah, that is so bloody fucked up. But hey, we're just expandables. Not like some politicians." Haruka stated.
"Yeah, no shit. At least our Supreme Commander understood the gravity of the situation. Would it come to the Government we still wouldn't have secured the CTE. They haven't learned shit from the Vong War." SunTzu ranted further.
"You two have to see the pro. It's a good way to advertise the Earth for Coruscant. Something which is very important for the Queen. We need to play a bigger part in this galaxy."
SunTzu turned around again and took a deep draw from his cigarette.
What if one of them wasn't expandable and Coruscant just didn't know?
The door glided open and someone entered the room.
"Well, if that isn't our Trio infernal, living the good life."
"Oi Rei!"
"Hello Rei!"
"Hello you two." Rei answered the couple.
"Diplomat Hino. Long time no see. I heard you were very busy these days." SunTzu stated and gave her a quick look over the shoulder.
Someone seems quite the bit annoyed that I was so busy. As if I wasn't missing you, you big doofus.
"Haruka, we need to go to the Voyager."
Michiru said and got up, pulling Haruka with her her.
"What? Why?"
"I forgot something there. C'mon let's move!"
She pulled Haruka with her and quickly left the room, leaving Rei and SunTzu alone.
As soon as the door closed, the newly lovers were over each other for a kiss.
"I missed you too, TopGun." She stated, mocking him for his comment.
"Sorry, but it's not easy. Now I finally have you and then you're gone all day."
"And you're gone all night." She reminded him that it wasn't her fault alone, they didn't see each other much lately.
They kissed again and then hold each other in their arms.
"I desperately need a cigarette. And I'm beginning to think being totally incompetent is the main talent to become a senator."
After her cigarette break Rei went back up to the Royal Chambers. Before she left she told him, that the Queen wanted to see Ami, him and Makoto. He could think of why.
He collected Makoto first, she was at her room, making training plans and the duty roster for the teams.
Next stop was Ami and she was about to friendly but determined tell them to leave because she was busy until they told here that Neo-Queen Serenity asked for them.
Shortly afterwards they arrived at the Royal Quarters. An unnerved Chibiusa opened the door after knocked on the doors.
"Hey Guys." She greeted them and then leaned forward. "Please, find a way to get me out here." She whispered to the group of three.
"Chibiusa, who is it?" Usagi asked from inside the room.
"Our three robbers." Chibiusa answered, looking back to her Mother.
"Who?!"
"Gosh Mom! It's Ami, Mako and SunTzu."
"Let them in, I've been waiting for them."
Chibiusa got out of the way and motioned them inside.
SunTzu was the last one to enter.
The table in the Royal Quarter's living room was full with folders, sheets, cups, pots, bottles, Laptops, a holo projector and data pads and -cards.
Luna was reading in a folder labeled Top Secret, walking up and down behind the sofa and looked up when Ami and the others entered the room. Rei was sitting on an armchair, typing vigorously into a laptop while hearing a headset, she didn't even take note of the three coming in.
Mamoru was sitting on the other side of the table, also on an armchair, wearing glasses and reading something in a datapad. He gave a quick wave as greeting.
"Sorry, to disturb your little book club but you wanted to see us?" Makoto told Usagi, who was sitting in the middle of the sofa.
"Very funny. You don't have any idea how exhausting intergalactic diplomacy can be, trust me." Usagi told her with an annoyed look. "Anyways, got that you're here. Just a second. Rei? Rei!?"
Rei took off her headset and looked up from her notebook, noticing the three visitors.
"Oh hey, when did you guys come in here?"
They sat down on the second sofa, SunTzu on the left and Ami in the middle.
"I let you come here because I wanted to give you news." Usagi said as she sat down on the arm rest of the chair Mamoru was sitting in. Chibiusa sat down on the other side.
"The money you gained for us will not only be used for the war. Mamoru, Ryo and the University could score a joint venture with Rothana Heavy Engineering. If things go as planned this will lead to some groundbreaking innovations in electric mobility and make combustion engines a thing of the past in the long run. We'd never find a sponsor for this on earth, but with the capital from your… actions we can fund it. Good work people."
The three nodded.
"But this is not the reason you got us here?" Ami asked, with a hint of suspicion.
"No. Actually we were rethinking all of it again. Maybe it wouldn't be wrong if we see with some of our allies if there's more opportunities to seize enemy capital. Mutual benefit of course. So if you guys can think of someone that could be trusted enough to help us with this, let us know." She took a cup of tea from the table and drank a sip.
"I also took a look at your reports Ami. Mamo, Artemis and me support the idea to go undercover to gain some more info about the backers of the attacks. Compile a team and get to work after the ball, okay?" She paused for a moment. "Any of the attending persons up for it voluntarily?"
SunTzu's and Rei's hands went up immediately. Both looked at each other, both were thinking the same.
It was the perfect way to spend some time together far away from any watchful eyes. Only Ami would be an obstacle but they'll find a way.
"You two? Hm, why not, this opens up some possibilities. Ami, are you okay with Rei and SunTzu."
Ami took a moment and let her gaze wonder over the two.
"Fine for me." Ami stated finally.
"So be it. You heard it guys, Ami will brief you in time. Also, don't forget the ball in three days. SunTzu, this time you might want to stay longer than last time."
"About that ball." SunTzu started and heads turned to him. "May I speak freely?"
"Of course, what is it?" Usagi replied as Mamoru straightened up and took off his glasses.
"I don't think it's the best idea for the morale of our troops. We lost people as you know, I don't think it's the right time to celebrate." He said, trying hard to look her into the eyes.
"I second that. We lost good soldiers, it doesn't feel right to have a ball." Makoto chimed in.
"I do understand you. I spent yesterday writing the letters for the families of the fallen. You can ask Mamoru how hard it was for me." Usagi stated and Mamoru nodded slowly when she spoke about it.
"But as officers you two know that the we have a duty to fulfill. And to end this war as fast as we can, we'll need help and new allies." She paused for a moment, closing her eyes.
"I'm not In a mood to celebrate either but if we don't butter a few people in the right places we never get our opinion heard on Coruscant. And nobody will be honored if we don't look forward at all."
Makoto and SunTzu nodded. She was right, it was the same as it was with Marvin, living in the past wouldn't bring anyone back nor win this war. Who knew who was next at all.
"Better celebrate while we still can." Makoto stated absently. "It's what the veterans of the teams also say."
Usagi looked at her and slowly nodded.
The three of them soon left again and while they were unwatched as they were on the way out, SunTzu exchanged a playful wink with her.
Still having the evening and whole night before the Task Force would land SunTzu looked for Hotaru to check on her training status.
He got back to the quarters and as he was about to knock on the door of the Meiou's. Setsuna opened it already.
"SunTzu! You're probably looking for Hotaru, aren't you?" She seemed to be a bit surprised.
"Hello Setsuna, that's right. Is she here?"
"I'm afraid not. She's still up in the simulator. She's very eager with learning to fly, you know."
"I see. But good, that I meet you. I wanted to ask you something."
"I'm on the way to the medbay, evening ward room. If you don't mind to talk while I go over there?"
"Absolutely not."
They left the quarters for the medical section of the ship.
SunTzu asked about the injured and Setsuna told him, that everybody was at least in a stable condition. She told him some of them were injured pretty bad when they arrived and that she and the rest of the medical team almost worked nonstop to save them. They were stable now but no matter busy she was, she still wanted to check after them. She told him she just came back of training with Michiru and Haruka.
Setsuna was one of the hardest working members of the Taskforce. And she passed this work ethic to Hotaru. Talking about Hotaru, there was SunTzu's question.
"Listen, i wanted to ask you something. Hotaru is doing great progress but I wanted your okay first." He asked her while they almost reached the medbay. "Are you okay, if we already start with real flying hours? Her progress is so good and fast that I don't see any more sense in just let her train at the simulator."
He didn't mention that she probably had been secretly flying in combat already in the last battle.
She thought about it for a moment.
"It's her dream. And she's not a child anymore. Do me a favor and still keep a closed eye on her but I'm okay with it."
"She will be so happy to finally start flying for real. Thank you."
"Thank you for teaching her. And taking care of her Lieutenant."
They arrived at the medbay.
"I have to get ready. See you around SunTzu." Setsuna said and nodded a greeting. "Oh, and make sure to be around for training. We need to train your close quarter combat. I heard you got incapacitated by a pan lately." She turned around and went off.
How did she know? And was that a sly grin on her face when she left.
Looks like the dark haired girls on this ship were even better connected than he thought.
Night came and after dinner, where he joined Minako, Makoto, Haruka, Michiru and Ami, the rest of the Senshi was too busy, SunTzu went back to his room.
It was 11pm and he was studying Intel when he got a message from Rei, she was on her way to her room and stated that if she wouldn't get a massage in the next ten minutes she probably would burn a hole in the deck.
He answered her that saving the ship's structure would justify giving her a massage. And if she wouldn't burn alive him she could even get a massage with Happy Ending.
He left her room two hours later, his completely exhausted girlfriend already sleeping and sneaked back to his room.
Good thing, they were back home tomorrow. Getting out of this ship would hopefully make things more romantic again.
The next morning he was up early and did some sport before he went to breakfast and got into his flight suit afterwards. But not before he rewarded himself with a good morning kiss from his girlfriend, who was on her way to the Royal quarters when he came back.
The Far Side would reach home in one hour.
He stepped into the lounge where some of the Senshi were waiting, talking, drinking tea and listening to music.
Hotaru was there too, wearing casual clothes, sitting beside Chibiusa. Both teenagers were playing around with their phones.
He stood still for a moment and observed the scene, before he cleared he's throat and addressed Hotaru.
"Cadet Meiou, why are you not in your flight suit?" He asked in the most forma military tone he had.
Everyone turned around to him, Hotaru with a surprised face, Setsuna with a smile on hers.
"Your first flight is scheduled in a few minutes Cadet. I'll meet you at the hangar."
Hotaru's eyes widened before she literally jumped from her place and ran to her room to change. She was beaming by then.
He was looking after her running to get changed and when she vanished into her quarters he looked back up the table and excused himself with a nod while the women were looking at him, smiling.
"Ladies."
That said he left for the hangar.
She came running into the hangar a minute after he arrived.
"Cadet Meiou, reporting for Duty, Sir!" She saluted in front of him.
"Good Morning Cadet. Glad you could arrange it." He said in a military tone again and saluted her back.
"Okay, let's cut the Moto Bullshit. Are you ready for your first flight?" Both ended their salute.
"I am. Where you want me to fly?"
"Oh, that's easy. I want to have a chauffeur too for one time. We're starting here, take point on the Far Side's starboard and then land on Earth. Think you can do that?"
"Yes Sir." She stated self confidently.
"Good, you might start with the flight preparations as soon as we both sit."
That said, AICA's canopy opened.
Thirty minutes later they landed on a landing spot at the Crystal Tokyo Airbase, with their Gladiator Star Destroyer touching down on it's landing spot at the same time. Hotaru's first official flight as pilot ran flawless.