The pitch black A-Wing, with the two dark grey stripes over his silhouette, was cruising above the clouds, half the way away from home base, seemingly not disturbed by a thing in the world.
Hotaru was flying and SunTzu was sitting in the back, fiddling with a data pad.
"That should be it. These two F-5 will now be hunting after an Austrian Airforce Eurofighter."
On the passive sensors, AICA was flying in stealth mode above the the Baja California, near La Laz, Hotaru saw the two Mexican fighter jets that had been scrambled to intercept the unknown radar contact near Durango.
"And that my dear Hotaru, is how you stay hidden in plain sight, because deception is what?"
"Deception is the Base of all Warfare."
"Very good, I see you've been reading the Art of War."
Reading wasn't the right word, she had learned it by hard. If her superior and trainer was so committed of the book his namesake wrote over 2000 years ago she wanted to learn about it, know everything about it.
SunTzu had sent one of the mini drones that AICA was equipped with for defensive countermeasures away from them to lure the Mexican Airforce away from their position. The small, arm-sized drones could emit radar and other emission signatures of a great variety of other air and even space craft.
"Targets are now all at the location." AICA informed them and Hotaru and SunTzu switched their monitors to AICA's optical sensor.
"Woah, I can even make out their mustaches. And that from this distance. Your optics are sensational AICA, I have to say it again."
"Thank you, that's what you get when you mix Fresian and German Technology." Part of the optical sensors had been built in Germany.
"And you know how much i like mixing Fresian with German, Boss." AICA continued.
Hotaru swallowed a laughter down while SunTzu's eyebrow shot up but he stayed quite otherwise.
"Fine, if your not in a mood to flirt. All targets have entered the building now." AICA said, with a disappointed voice but SunTzu didn't pay any attention to it.
"Than I guess we can get started. Hotaru of you would have the decency."
"Very well Captain. AICA, Lasers on, keep it on the building."
"Done, target lased." Was the AI's answer a few seconds later.
"Open bomb bay, launch at my order."
A vibration went through the starfighter.
"Done, awaiting order."
"Bombs away."
A pair of medium sized laser guided bombs left AICA's bomb bay and glided towards the luxurious Hazienda a few thousand meters below them. After the bombs were dropped AICA immediately closed her bomb bays again.
"Impact." AICA stated a few seconds later and then after a few more seconds, when the smoke had cleared she continued.
"Good effect on target."
"Copy, I read the same." SunTzu stated, he saw the same on his monitor.
The building had been leveled, everything within a radius dead and destroyed, including the luxurious cars worth a few million around the building and the dozens of heavily armed guards around the building.
"Mission accomplished." SunTzu announced. "Let's go home."
As soon as he said that, Hotaru put AICA into a climb steep and they shot up, heading for space.
Below them the complete leadership of Northern Mexico's Drug Cartels laid dead in the rubble of the Hazienda, having been killed in the bombing run they never saw coming.
The two pilots and their Starfighter were almost home and just dropped out of space near Tokyo Bay, where they were already expected from Michiru and Haruka in the Voyager, when Artemis came on on the regular tactical Channel, in the same moment everyone received a message on their phones.
"All Taskforce Sol Personnel be advised. This is a Warning Order. Check in with your unit and superior immediately. Repeat, this is a Warning Order, all Task Force Sol Personnel, check in with your unit and superior immediately."
"Yesss!" Haruka yelled out. "We finally back in the game."
"AICA check in with Flight Command if we are suppose to land on the Far Side already." SunTzu ordered his ship.
They were ordered to land at the base but a Humvee to take them all to the Palace was already waiting.
The Corporal steering the Hummer brought them directly to the Military HQ.
"CO wants to see y'all personally at the COC." The man said with a thick accent, before he started the motor again and left.
The quartet arrived at the mission center where Artemis where busy planning and organizing with his staff and some other officers.
Odegana and Ritz, as her second-in-command, as well as the squadron leaders of the shuttles and Larties and their substitutes where already there as well. They were sitting at the elongated tables for mission briefings.
An adjutant informed the Admiral about the arrival of the pilots and he turned around.
As Senior Officer Haruka stood a step in front of the three others and they all saluted, the synchronization would have even made the CO of the Queen's Beefeaters proud.
"Good Morning Ladies. SunTzu." Artemis greeted them. "Please take a seat as well, I'll adress the pilots first."
The highest ranking soldier of the Kingdom briefed the pilots, that the first ground units would board soon, and because of the new troops he wanted to let them board completely first. Also some more supplies needed to be loaded first. That would take at least six hours more so at least the pilots could take it easy.
More orders would follow once they were space borne but Artemis was more than eager to finally play a part in this war again, although this had lead to a major argue with Minako. Her Birthday was tomorrow and he told her to either stay on earth or, what he would have preferred, join them. Of course she had made preparations for her birthday already, but she also didn't want to stay without her friends and decline her duties. She made a scene, but Artemis had known Minako for so long that he knew she would cool down soon and just wait till her rumbling stopped.
After the briefing SunTzu received a message from Rei, she was finished as well and would make her way to earth now. She had gotten the message as well.
SunTzu was about to leave the HQ but after the message he turned around and got back to Artemis to ask for a certain permission.
Twenty minutes later AICA and him were on their way to Coruscant to pick up Rei.
Five hours later SunTzu landed at the feet of the shrine so Rei could at least say hi, and goodbye again, to her Grandfather and the Koronians.
In the fifteen minutes between SunTzu had AICA flying to his place. He just packed some stuff as he usually left the place in a condition to be gone for weeks. Such was the life as a pilot in war. At least he had gotten himself a housekeeping droid that kept the place neat and tidy.
Around half an hour later Rei and SunTzu were on the tarmac of the landing strip at the airbase, the Voyager with Michiru and Haruka in front of them, all four waiting for their order to either land on the Far Side or escort her on her ascend into space.
Next to the two advanced Starfighters the six Headhunters of Terra Squadron were waiting as well. And in front of them the other spacecraft were lined up and waited.
Hotaru just had sent them a message, the Royal Family, which she, her adoptive mother and Minako were escorting was on the way to board.
Haruka was vocally complaining about the senseless waiting as always, when SunTzu turned his backwards to Rei.
"Cigarette?"
"I thought you'd never ask."
The order from flight command had been to be able to lift off in three minutes and AICA could inform them, so it was totally do able to get off the tarmac and have a cigarette nearby.
As soon as they got out they were joined by Haruka. Michiru stayed in place, she was busy writing down the notes for a new song. At least someone used the waiting time wisely.
Haruka, Rei and SunTzu had a smoke and were almost finished when the order to get going came in.
Shuttles and Larties first, then Terra, Voyager and AICA on the way to the atmosphere and Haruka cheered happily as she ran back to the Voyager.
It's been too long since they had put some pressure on the enemy.
Another thirty minutes later the Far Side and her three accompanying CEC Corvettes where in Hyperspace on the way to Ansion.
First Fleet was gathering for an offensive, as was the Eight. Word also was that the rogue domain was on it's way into the Northern Wild Space or Chiss controlled territory.
Artemis's plan was to link up with Pellaeon's First, they sure would have usage for the Taskforce.
Until then the Senshi and their Guardian decided to be as combat ready as they could be and within two hours after landing on the Far Side they were sparring again.
And after dinner they put in another workout. It was a Wednesday and Artemis held his in-ship-radio-show that night, introducing the new troops to it.
The next day started with a workout and after breakfast they were sparing again.
Jupiter and SunTzu took the Senshi to the makeshift shooting range inside the ship in the afternoon.
After a bit of leisure time, which most of them used to somehow treat their sore muscles they all met for dinner in the top dinner hall, the Mau and even the Royal Family was there as well.
The Guardians of the Kingdom were joyful, although their muscles were sore the morale on the ship was extremely high.
While they were at dinner the four Ships of the flotilla would fall out of hyperspace at Bilbringi to rearrange for the next jump.
Artemis was on the Bridge with Captain Santos, taking a look a the naval docks in the system, bristling with activity to build warships for the Imperial Remnant and other members of the GA.
Six Star Destroyers were protecting the docks along with numerous defensive platforms up to Golan-Stations.
An adjutant stepped up next to the Admiral and the Captain.
"Sir, we're getting in distress call from near the Reecee-System. An Asteroid mining base in a neighboring system is under siege and they say Reecee might be in danger too. Coruscant is trying to divert ships but that might take some time. We're the fastest force available."
He handed Artemis a note with data and the white haired Mau immediately read it. He didn't have to do much thinking about it, although pretty important for mining, Reecee just had a few starfighters for defense.
After a moment he looked up again to the adjutant.
"Tell the Royal Family and the rest of the ships we are answering a distress call from near the Reecee-System." The adjutant saluted and walked away with fast steps while Artemis turned to Captain Santos.
"Captain, we're leaving for the Reecee-System immediately."
Twelve hours later they would fall out of hyperspace near the planet of Reecee, a smuggler's heaven.
A few smaller freighters immediately left the system after the Galactic Alliance Flotilla arrived but the four ships of the Task Force didn't stay in the system for long.
The neighboring System, dubbed Nilleth wasn't much developed. It contained a huge asteroid field, ready for exploitation but so far nobody wanted to make the investments to get mining operations up and going at the remote system.
Just recently the Tendrando Consortium had begun to mining operations there. This was risky as the costs for development and setup would be astronomical so far out, but on the other side, the rare metals and the size of the asteroid field promised huge profits when the mines would work properly and also a prospect of jobs and adherent wealth for the whole sector.
It was investments and businesses like that, the GFFA needed so direly right now, to give it's population a perspective and it's economy a chance to boom again.
And all this was at stake now, a loss of the resources and the opportunity would probably drive another nail in the coffin of the Galactic Alliance.
Ten hours after had they left Bilbringi a naked Rei and a naked SunTzu were lying next to each other in the Senshi's bed.
As so often before he was gently stroking her long black hair while she had her head on his chest and listened to the calming beat of his heart.
"Promise to not take any unnecessary dangers today." Rei said and looked up to his face, head laying on a pillow
Since the situation was unclear AlCA and the Voyager would be scouting ahead once again.
SunTzu's mouth formed into a smug grin.
"Don't worry, just a little bit of scouting around."
"No, SunTzu, I mean it, take care out there! Why we can't sent out a drone to do this stuff? Why it has to be you?"
She said while lifting up her head, it sounded pretty crankily and was louder than she wanted it to be.
"Hey, what's the matter? No need to get loud." SunTzu replied, surprised by the little outburst.
Rei hushed for a moment.
"I… I'm sorry. I didn't want to sound irritated. I'm just. I'm just worrying about you more than usual these days."
SunTzu began to smile.
"It's okay, I should be honored that you get so riled up, trying to keep me safe."
He took her hand and pulled it up to his lips to kiss it.
"Thanks for caring about me."
She moved up so that his face was over his now and began to plant a gentle kiss on his lips. The kiss grew more passionately soon but then suddenly an alarm on SunTzu's phone began to sound off, breaking up their kiss and provoking a sigh from SunTzu and rolling eyes from Rei.
"Gods, I hate this fucking war." The raven-haired Beauty said and rolled off of him.
SunTzu didn't reply while he swung his legs out of bed.
"If we hurry we can have some chow together still." He said after a few moments.
Almost immediately after the Task Force fell out of Hyperspace in the Nilleth-System SunTzu in AICA and Hotaru and Michiru in the Voyager left the Far Side's hangar.
There were thousands of asteroids of all sizes in the system and the four capital ships had entered the systems in a few kilometer wide corridor between two asteroid fields.
The Far Side had begun to immediately try to contact the asteroid base, that had sent the distress call and had all her sensors on maximal power as well.
There was a chance that the distress call was a trap. Or overwhelming enemy forces were in the system.
Although the Far Side couldn't reach neither the asteroid base nor any other station in the system, the two advanced starfighters' sensors could make out the emissions of two Capital Ships in less than a quarter hour after rushing through the asteroid fields ahead of their mothership.
They weren't talking about it, but the flying Haruka and SunTzu did through the Asteroid Field was quite dangerous and risky, but for them it had been too long to bring their snubs to the limit and very closely passed the asteroids with high velocity.
AICA and Michiru enjoyed the ride but Rei as well as Artemis, who were watching from the Bridge over a monitor, weren't amused.
Nor was flight control, but the pilots could always tell Stinger Jordan, that their risky flying was because they needed to stay hidden while closing in to the target area as soon as possible.
"Want me to scold him later, Rei?" Artemis asked the Senshi next to him.
"No need. But you might have a pilot less after he comes back. I might choke him to death for this."
When the trio and the KI were sure that they had contact they slowed down and hid between two asteroids. First they reconnoitered with passive sensors before they activated their active sensors for a moment and then immediately flew back to the Far Side, transmitting the data.
A smaller capital ship and a medium one along with a starfigher escort where hanging in space above what probably was the asteroid base.
The trio never had seen ships like that before but AICA and the intelligence officer on the bridge of the Far Side immediately got to work.
"Those are Vagaari warships. A Paskla Light Cruiser and the bigger bring a Surfeik Frigate. The Vagaari are a nomadic humanoid species of Slavers and Conquerors from somewhere in the unknown regions. And it seems they're getting closer to the Rim and Wild Space."
A moment later the AI reported something else.
"If you noticed these bubbles around the ships, it's where they put their slaves as extra protection. Living shields so to say. But fortunately on these ships they're still empty."
"Well, this means we shouldn't give them a chance to fill them."
The two snubs were ordered to hold their position for the time being while the other ships steamed towards the enemy and the mining base.
AICA was in stealth mode and the Voyager was running only on passive sensors as well, as they were hiding inside a asteroid with a huge hole in it.
IR-Sensors told them that the smaller Cruiser stayed at it's position while the frigate and it's fighter screen gathered way towards the Taskforce.
Michiru was watching the Frigate over a screen at her turret station, transmitted by AICA's small optical turret.
Suddenly two huge missiles shoot away from the wings of the Frigate.
"Missile Launch!" The teal haired Senshi reported immediately.
"They're heading for the Taskforce." AICA announced.
"Merde! They're insanely fast!" Michiru yelled out, her voice giving away concern.
"And they're shielded. I calculate a 92,6 percent chance that they'll penetrate the shields of the Far Side and a 76,3 percent chance that they will damage the Far Side badly." The AI told them further.
SunTzu's heart stopped for a moment. These missiles had to be taken out somehow, or the Far Side, and everyone on board was in grave danger, their lives threatened. Rei's life as well as the other's was in danger and the shock of that realization shot through him, wrenching his gut.
"Guys, I need you to take out those missiles immediately, they're too fast for our tracking! Terra is launching right now as last line of defense! You have to stop them at all costs!" Artemis came yelling in on the comms.
"You heard the man! Let's get those missiles!" Haruka stated and both snubs shot out of the hole in the asteroid, just as the two missiles became visible in the void.
Within a few seconds the warheads whizzed by and even the Voyager and AICA, two of the fastest ships in the whole galaxy, had problems keeping up.
As soon as they could the two starfighters opened laser fire but except for making the missiles's shields spark nothing happened.
"There's no use." Haruka stated after a few seconds.
"Hold on, let me try something. AICA, put all energy in the engines." SunTzu said and also tried to let the force flow into the ship again to accelerate AICA further but It didn't work this time.
Nonetheless the fighter rocketed forward and SunTzu closed in on the rocket, while the Voyager tried to keep up.
As soon as SunTzu and AICA were over the front third of the missile, he activated an EMP-Missile and launched.
The missile shot out, and immediately crashed into the faster flying bigger missile.
The missile had been disabled and only SunTzu's Force Reflexes prevented him from crashing into the missile, now spinning around his own axis.
Hopefully Rei didn't see that or I'm in real trouble now…
After seeing how SunTzu took out the missile Haruka got the idea and the Voyager shot after the second missile until she was halfway over it.
A launched EMP-Missile and a steep ascend away the second missile was at least off course now.
The three Guardians finished their work with laser fire and a few seconds later the missiles exploded in huge fireballs.
The trio let out a deep breather when they saw the two fireballs. That could have gone different and the only reason the Far Side was still unarmed was the fine machinery they were flying.
On the bridge of the Far Side the Crew took a deep breather as well.
Rei, still next to Artemis, on the other side felt different.
"Now I'm pretty sure I'm going to choke him to death."
The two snubs were ordered back to the Far Side as the enemy starfighters, Vagaari Schostri Fighter Bombers, took course towards the Far Side.
Reinforcing Terra Squadron around the Far Side, the two fighters fell in formation.
The Vagaari Fighters soon we're in Missile distance and a missile strike from the eight Terran Starfighter and it's Mothership' missile batteries blew up eight of the twelve fighters immediately and the remaining four, now in their missile distance, tried their best with a last desperate missile strike before the Taskforce's Starfighters fell on them.
Within a minute it was over, the Schostri were snubs with great maneuverability and could outmaneuver the Headhunters on paper, but Terra Squadron were no rookies anymore and got three of the fighters. The last one, a particular skilled pilot, that even dodged a missile, tried his luck with the Voyager but was finally reduced to atoms by Michiru's rear turret while he fell behind in a narrow curve fight.
Meanwhile the Far Side, the Nomad's Luck, the Companion and the Starstruck were in battle distance with the enemy Frigate and now it was the Gladiator Star Destroyer's turn for a missile strike.
Her ten warhead launchers launched a barrage at the Frigate that almost broke the other ship's shields and then the Flagship of the Taskforce hammered on with her turbolasers.
The remaining shields failed soon as well and the three corvettes pushed forward and began to swarm the Vagaari ship that concentrated it's fire on the Star Destroyer, raking it with laser and turbolaser fire.
A few minutes later and after the Starfighters joined in for a few strafing runs the frigate finally rocked under small explosions and then broke apart under more explosions.
Unfortunately the Far Side was too big to fly over to the mining station but it's Starfighter complement was already on it's way to pounce onto the light cruiser, roughly the size of a Carrack Cruiser.
And the snubs had most of their missiles still left.
After two EMP-Missiles from AICA and the Voyager the ship tried to flee but two multi missiles destroyed it's engines and the ship became a sitting duck, swarmed by angry hornets.
A few minutes later, a concussion missile from Thajuli Monful, the survivor of the Shadow's X-Complement, penetrated the hull of the small capital ship and exploded sl close to the reactor that it set a chain reaction in motion which made the ship explode in a huge fireball and blew it to stardust.
In the meantime, the Far Side had finally made contact with the Station, they're communication room had been overrun hours ago and the station's crew had barricaded themselves against an assault force of Vagaari Soldiers of formidable size and their Wolvkil creatures.
The assault came from a transport that had docked on the top and the shuttle was destroyed immediately after it took off to flee.
A LAAT/i and the Assault Shuttle of the Taskforce were already on the way to the base.
The Shuttle would dock on the top and Commando Team 3, supported by Veteran Troopers would take the entrance the Vagaari had created while the Larty flew in the hangar, it's manned composite-beam pinpoint laser turrets and the two anti personal turret in the front made quick work with the few Vagaari that stood guard in there while it landed next to a large SoroSuub Yacht inside the Hangar of the base.
The Gunship's large doors glide open and the ten Marines of Commando Team 2 disembarked, weapons raised and shot down a group of Vagaari that rushed back to the hangar.
As soon as they had taken positions around the Gunship four more warriors jumped out of it. These warriors were the Inner Senshi.
—
The four Inner Senshi didn't wast any time and as Team 2 had the Hangar declared as safe, Sailor Jupiter pressed on.
"You coming along or not?" She asked Venus and Mars, it was self-evident that Mercury would follow her anyway.
"If we go, we all go." Mars declared and Venus nodded. At least a way to let out some of her anger because of her ruined birthday the first of the Senshi thought.
Carefully but quickly the Senshi advanced further through the asteroid base.
Two minutes later they had their first enemy contact, with the short humanoids. As all Vagaari they were dressed in elaborate dresses but these warriors were also dressed in gold-plated armor harnesses and helmets, similar to Soldiers of the Ancient Roman Legions.
The Vagaari Warriors had energy pikes but before the group of five could even bring up their pikes a Supreme Thunder from Sailor Jupiter, that lead the Senshi's path through the base, ended their beings instantly and their bodies fell to the ground, smoking and twitching.
Jupiter began to smile, that was too easy, when suddenly a door nearby opened and another two Vagaari Warriors stepped out. Within a second Jupiter was onto one and slammed her knee hard into his stomach and ripped away the energy pike from his hands.
As soon as she had it in her hands she used the backside for a blow into the Vagaari's chest and then rammed the pointy, energy loaded Side into the other Vagaari's face, through the open side of his helm.
The Alien was dead immediately and his comrade followed him two seconds later when Sailor Jupiter rammed the pike into his face as well.
Once again Jupiter had proven, that she was the most skilled of the Senshi in hand-to-hand-combat.
"Let's move on." Was her only comment as she began to move up and the other three other Senshi looked at the two dead Vagaari in awe.
Sailor Mercury was constantly in radio contact with Command and the Sensor Operators on the Far Side, guiding the quartet through the narrow corridors to where the miners had been located.
Suddenly a howl was to be heard and running, or rather the scratching of long claws running over concrete could be heard.
A few seconds later a longsnouted predatory animal around the size of a dog was standing in front of them, howling again. And from two other corridors seven more of the creatures appeared next to the the bigger one now in the middle. They were growling gutturaly and clicking their fangs with the long fangs inside of them, saliva dripping out of their fangs. Pawing their claws on the concrete and even trying to bit one another it was obvious that they were about to attack.
"God, I hate when they bring animals to the fight." Sailor Jupiter remarked.
"Don't worry, we take these ones. Mars?" Venus declared and began her attack.
"Venus Love Me Chain!"
A streak of golden hearts shot forward and wrapped around all the creatures.
"Bag 'em…" Sailor Venus said.
"… and tag'em." Sailor Mars ended the sentence and began to cast her attack.
"Burning mandala!"
Eight balls of fire rocketed into the captured creatures, setting their fur on fire, their howls becoming shrieks now.
"They're still alive. These Wolvkil sure have astounding self regeneration." Sailor Mercury stated after a glance through her Mercury Glasses.
"What?! Okay, then Playtime is over." Sailor Mars stated and began to cast another attack.
"Mars Flame Sniper!"
The attack shot forward and hit into the still caged, burning mass of predatorial creatures, killing the surviving animals instantly now and partly charring them to the bone.
Mars dusted off their hands, it was clear that the creatures were all dead now.
"They asked for it."
The sensor operator on board of the Far Side called Mercury in and told her that a large group of individuals was coming their way.
As soon as he ended his sentence the first blaster bolt whistled by the Senshi's head.
Sailor Mercury looked at the walls around her.
They were mostly carved directly into the asteroid.
She had an idea.
"Jupiter, get ready. I'll need a Sparkling Wild Pressure." The blue haired Senshi told and got to the front, gently moving Sailor Mars out of her way.
"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"
A huge amount of water shot straight forward down the long corridor leaving humidity and water all over the floor and the walls.
And now Sailor Jupiter understood.
"Sparkling Wild Pressure!"
The electricity from the attack was conducted down the whole corridor everywhere were the water from Mercury's attack had went. The Vagaari Warriors just had dodged Sailor Mercury's Attack when they suddenly heard a loud electronical sound and saw lighting coming towards them. There was no hiding. Electricity, stronger than from an average lightning, flooded their bodies and burned down their insides, producing cloud, sparks and visible voltage on them.
Within seconds they all were dead.
The Far Side's Sensor Operator came in again.
"Major, are you alright? I just had a huge electronic outburst down from your position, apparently neutralizing everything in front."
"Copy Lieutenant, we're good. We took care of the enemy closing in." Sailor Mercury answered.
"Great Idea Mercury." Sailor Jupiter complimented her fellow Senshi.
The Voyager and AICA had been circling above the asteroid base for quite some time now.
SunTzu had just changed the radio channel to the regular tactical channel.
The Larty which had landed inside the base's hangar had returned to the Far Side to get reinforcements and another Larty soared out of the Gladiator's hangar.
"Teams 2 and 3 be advised, Larty Two is on it's way, transporting Team 1."
"Affirmative Command. Team 2 is holding the Hangar, the Inner Senshi are already advancing on their own."
The what?!
SunTzu immediately switched channels, directly to Mission Control.
"SunTzu for Control, Interrogative."
"Copy Captain, go ahead."
"Control, can I get confirmation that the Inner Senshi are operating in the AO?"
"Positive SunTzu. All four Inner Senshi are currently on the move in the AO. They are TiC." Command told him, that the four Inners were inside the Base and were in combat.
Immediately the Guardian switched comm Channels again.
"Girls, the Inners are inside the Base. I'll immediately land and go help them. Can you guys, excuse me with Flight Control?"
Haruka's lip curled up a bit, when she heard the nervousness and concern in his voice. Someone was obviously very worried with his girlfriend. Not that she could cast fire and very well take care of herself.
"Positive, we'll take care of the brass. You go and help the girls."
AICA immediately broke left and swung around to land in the base.
"AICA, I'll disembark at the base. You get back to the Far Side. If something comes up, let Hotaru fly you."
A few minutes later SunTzu was in the hangar and the Commandos of Team 2 told him where the girls went off to.
After few moments he came to a crossing and decided to go left.
After a few more minutes he heard Gunfire coming in from the front and drew his pistol and soon later he came to a site of a gun battle between some dug in Vagaari and Team 3.
The pilot silently sneaked up behind the three Vagaari before he shot them up close from behind.
Gunfire raked the wall besides him and he jumped into cover.
"Moon!" He yelled to where the shots came from.
"Light!" Came back and the fire immediately was ceased.
"Sind Sie das, Hauptmann SunTzu?" Asked the JTAC of Commando Team 3 yelling.
"Jawohl! Feuer einstellen, ich schließe auf!"
SunTzu answered, telling them to cease fire and that he was coming over now.
The Commandos excused themselves for the Friendly Fire but SunTzu didn't took it personal, things like that could happen easily if you don't communicate right.
The commandos also thanked him for taking out the dug in enemy and just when the eleven Task Force Members were to move on a radio call came in. The Senshi had reached the barricaded survivors and apparently neutralized the last enemy opposition.
When the survivors, around thirty miners, office clerks, watchmen and other employees of the Mining Station finally broke down the barricade, the four Senshi were gushily cheered on. The boss of the mining company, also being the CEO of Tendrando as well as GCW War Hero Lando Calrissian greeted each of the four women with a hand kiss. Even after thirty hours of being in combat and under siege the flashily dressed older man, his baby blue and yellow clothes even having a cape, still was playing the charmer.
This sparked more amusement than anything else from the Senshi.
They were soon joined by Commando Team 1 and the survivors were lead into the Hangar. A medical team and some supplies were already on the way.
Lando was standing in front of his ship in the hangar, the Lady Luck, the SoroSuub Yacht that was parked there, and tracked the events going on in the hangar. He also had been told that the Supreme Commander of the Taskforce that saved his employees and him would meet with him soon.
He was smiling, the view of the four young women in their short skirts made waiting quite worthwhile.
SunTzu arrived at the hangar as well, Team 3 had split up in two elements and scoured for any Vagaari that were still alive.
As soon as he behold Rei his gaze became dark and angry.
With large steps the Pilot walked over to her. Sailor Mars was standing near one of the two Larties in the hangar while Sailor Jupiter supervised the scouring of her commandos for any enemies left, Ami was on the radio with the Far Side and Venus helped the medics.
She turned around feeling something and her mood and gaze went sour.
"You!" She pointed her finger at her boyfriend who in turn had his finger pointed at her.
"What were you thinking?" Both scolded the other simultaneously.
"What the fuck do you think you were doing with that missile?" Rei yelled at him, her fists clenched together, arms on the side of her body now, face slightly leaned forward.
"Me? What the hell are you doing here? You could have at least tell me and i would have gotten here immediately!"
SunTzu was right in front of her now.
"May I remind you, that I'm the Senshi of Fire and therefore not a Damsel in Distress?! And these people needed help asap!"
"Wow, but when I stop a missile aimed at our ship I'm in trouble!" Most of the hangar was now staring at the arguing
"It wasn't just about that missile! I saw your flying before. Suicidal much, TopGun?!"
"Hey, I know what I'm doing out there. Ask Haruka!"
"And you can ask the Girls, that we had everything under control here! And we didn't do anything exceedingly risky."
"That's… that's good." His voice now was far more quiet. "I... I was just worried."
He locked eyes with her and Sailor Mars opened her hands again.
"And I was worried with you, you Baka."
They both forced a smile to each other and within a second they were embracing each other and their lips locked into a passionate kiss, while the rest of the hangar tried to figured out what the hell was up with these too.
"Guys? I'm happy you seem to get along again but you know you're in public, right?" Sailor Jupiter asked the couple that twitched and broke their kissing, looking around embarrassed, even blushing, still not keeping the couple off from huging close one last time.
"What do you say about we make ourselves useful? I think Jupiter needs help to search the base." Rei asked him with a wink and hand in hand they walked over to Jupiter and the other two Senshi that were looking over a map of the base the crew had provided them with.
"Where helping with searching the base."
"Alright. Down the corridor were we went first at the second right is the corridor to the kitchen and dining area. You guys might could go and check for enemies there."
Rei nodded and pulled SunTzu along with her hand.
"Shouldn't we join them for the search?" Sailor Mercury looked up to the other two Senshi while the couple was leaving the hangar.
"No. No, we shouldn't." Sailor Jupiter stated, looking back at the map.
"Why? Wouldn't it be better to be more for the search."
"Ami, these two will do perfect on their own. Trust me." Sailor Venus stated and winked at her.
"But… OH! Oh, I get it." Sailor Mercury said and blushed while the other two Sailor Senshi began to laugh.
"Oh Ami."
As soon as the couple was around the corner Sailor Mars pounced onto SunTzu and shoved him against the wall, starting to kiss his neck, while his left hand pulled her close and his right hand traveled under her fuku's skirt.
"I could have choked you after i saw your flying earlier." She hushed out under a moan.
His both hands grabbed around her butt now and turned her around. Now she was the one at the wall and after a kiss that ended with her biting his lip, he let his mouth travel down her neck as well.
Suddenly he paused.
"What is it? If you're stopping now to punish me, I'm gonna burn your apartment down."
He looked in her eyes, his gaze was serious.
"There is something down that corridor, coming closer." He stated and took her hands, opening his mind to hers.
She felt that he was trying to connect to her mind and she opened her psychic abilities up as well, the couple linking foreheads, eyes closed. And then she could feel it, someone with bad intention was rushing towards them. But what she felt even more was his love for her and the still lingering concern for her. On his side he could feel that her anger was based over fear of loosing him. The fear of loosing him had grown bigger more than ever before lately.
Now that they understood the other better than words could ever express, their lips meeting again for a loving kiss, the galaxy outside them not meaning anything anymore for them.
Fast steps could already be heard in the dimly lit corridor and within a few moments, the couple still locked in their kiss, a Vagaari Warrior holding his energy pike. The warrior had been hiding after he found out that his comrades all had died and he came charging in.
While their lips were still locked Rei, sighed, being highly annoyed, and let her hand glide over SunTzu's hip. With a move of her finger she opened his holster while the Vagaari had his pike facing towards them now, screaming a warrior's yell.
Only to be hit by several bullets that an annoyed Rei, who had SunTzu's pistol pulled out from his holster, had shot in his face and body. The couple frowned at the body that slumped down, while Rei still held the smoking pistol up.
They couldn't sense anybody else but decided to look for another place.
SunTzu took the pistol and stored it again, before she pulled him into the next room, the dining room, where a large table was in the middle, eight chairs around.
She stepped in first and he followed closing the door.
As soon as the door was closed, she jumped onto him, her legs wrapping around his waist.
Holding her with his arms, while she was nibbling at his neck he carried her over to the table and placed her on the tabletop, tongue kissing all the way, her legs still wrapped around him, and her hands busy opening the zipper of his flight suit, and then ripping his shirt over his head.
"Fuck me like you hate me." She moaned into his ear and drove her teeth into his shoulder.
Their minds and souls were still intertwined and both were filled with lust and love for the other and now they would let out the rest of their anger on each other.
After their passionate and rough quickie the two lovers left the dining room and finished their patrol. A few minutes later they crossed paths with a group of Commandos. Since they couldn't sense any Vagaari anymore as well, it was assumed that they just had gotten the last one.
The couple came back to the hangar. Jupiter and Mercury were still organizing the search but seemed to be pretty relaxed.
Venus was taking care of a very happy seeming miner that had a minor cut and burn from an energy pike. Another two were standing in line behind him. It was obvious that the miners preferred to be treated by the blonde Senshi rather than the other medics.
Mamoru was standing next to the Lady Luck and talking with Lando Calrissian.
The Senator and the Pilot walked over to Jupiter and Mercury again.
Mercury smiled widely at them and motioned to Rei that her hair was off.
Rei twitched and blushed as she found that her hair really still was a bit off and she straightened it with her hand. She then straightened her clothes as well.
"Guess we're done here." SunTzu stated to the Senshi of Thunder and Courage.
"Yup, seems like it. The ships that Coruscant planned to get here will relieve us. We ship a platoon of the new guys over until it gets here."
Six hours and a stay at the Far Side later, SunTzu was back in AICA and together with the Voyager had just gotten back to where the Taskforce's ships had gathered from a patrol when a Imperial Remnant Procursator Star Destroyer and a Quasar-Fire-Class Carrier from a Reserve Fleet, carrying Y-Wings Fighter-Bombers and A-9 Interceptors, fell out of Hyperspace.
Apparently Coruscant was trusting the project a lot to send over such a force to guard the place.
And it's owner, Lando Calrissian, had enthusiastically told them how much profit and wealth for the whole sector the mining in this system would generate soon.
"AICA, how much credits do we have by now?"
"It were around 14,3 Million when we left Earth."
SunTzu nodded, that was a crazy amount of money and should have been more than enough to buy AICA.
"Invest half a million in this project here. It will probably help to get things running again soon. And maybe it's really as good as an investment as Calrissian said. Do the investment anonymously tho."
Two minutes later Flight Control came in and ordered the two fighters to dock.
It was time to finally get to Ansion.