The Taskforce was in Hyperspace when the day of Minako's birthday came and although they did their best, Makoto had even sneaked into the kitchen of one of the dinning halls and baked a cake although she was busy with her Commando's preparations and training, it wasn't quite the same. They were all missing the airiness, after all they were in war and on the way to the next battle. The cake, gifts and genuine love of her friends made Minako tear up nonetheless as they got together for a bit of green tea in between all their work at the lounge near the quarters, but that was about everything resembling a party.
Two days later the Taskforce finally arrived at Ansion.
Neo Queen, King, Princess and the other members of their Inner Circle were at the observation deck to catch a glimpse of the crowd of warships that was forming around the planet.
Gathered around the Megador, a modified Mandator III Super Star Dreadnought, with it's length of 12 kilometers one of the biggest ships in the Remnant's and Alliance's fleet, at least two dozen Star Destroyers of various designs and sizes and countless smaller ships made up an impressive fleet, which hung over the relatively small green and blue planet. Grand Admiral Pellaeon, the de-facto-Leader and Supreme Commander of the Imperial Remnant, had gathered all the ships he could spare from Fleet One and the Fourth Reserve Fleet, which was located at the Imperial Fleet Yards at Yaga Minor.
"Oi, that's quite the Armada the Remnant has assembled here."
"Why is it, that the Imperials seem to take this war way more serious than the rest of the Alliance? I mean compare the Stormcommandos with the regular SpecForces."
"That is because a huge part of the economy of the IR is centered the military-industrial complex. And because it's way more militarized than other places of the Galaxy, look at Chandrila or Taris for example. It makes mobilization and military action for the Remnant also way easier and faster than for the former New Republic."
"And it has less scruple. If that's a pro or con I let everybody decide for themselves. But their Intelligence is more willing to run hit jobs."
"Anyways, we should be happy that they are part of the Alliance and our allies. It's quite a honor that Pellaeon accepts our Taskforce in his ranks for this Operation. I'm scheduled for a meeting with him in twenty minutes. SunTzu, I'd rather fly over in your fighter than in the Shuttle, sends a better signal, you know."
"We're at your disposal your Majesty. I'll get AICA ready for take off."
While SunTzu and AICA, first one a bit disappointed that he wouldn't meet the Grand Admiral, as he was quite the fan of the tactical and strategical genius that had been once mentored by the legendary Mitth'raw'nuruodo himself, waited in one of the hangars of the Megador of the return of their King. Endymion was having a meeting with Grand Admiral Pellaeon in private, in a small conference room near the Admiral's quarters. Except the Head of the Remnant and the King of Crystal Tokyo only the adjutant of Pellaeon, Vitor Reige was there.
The old white haired man with the thick white mustache sat in his white Grand Admiral Uniform with the golden epaulettes in a comfortable chair at one side of the square table, Reige standing a step behind him. The Fleet Officer and Head of the Remnant was 89 years old by now but his mind still was as crisp as ever. And he still exuded that aura of military excellence, discipline and calmness he always had.
Mamoru on the other side of the table was dressed in his armor, his sword on his hip.
He wasn't here as a monarch, he was here as leader of warriors.
"I have heard quite a lot of your Taskforce already, your Majesty. A lot of good things."
"I'm confident that we can proof that it's not just idle talk."
With the hint of a smile, the older man nodded.
"You'll have to King Endymion. The newest developments force us to act immediately. Apart from the various enemy grouping spilling in from the Unknown Regions and the western and southern Wild Space as well as the warlord threat from the Core, there also are reports incoming from opposing forces storming in from the north. Twelve hours CST earlier they attacked and conquered Listehol on the eastern Hydian. Apparently it's a wild mixture of Pirates, Mercenaries and some minor warlords that took control over systems after the Vong War. Coruscant fears that they'll cut off the Hydian into the Corporate Sector. And you know how immensely this would damage our economy as well as our supply lines."
"But I thought we would move out in the Unknown Regions?"
"We will your Majesty. Well not us two but parts of the First Fleet. I'm forced to split up the fleet. One third, under General Steele and Vice-Admiral Reige, here behind me, will head for the Unknown Regions with the Firestorm as their flagship and join forces with the Empire of the Hand and the Chiss Defense Force. Another third of the fleet will stay here at Ansion as mobile reserve."
"This means, we're going to Listehol." Mamoru concluded.
"Exactly. The Megador, the Right to Rule and four other Star Destroyers as well as your Taskforce and some smaller capital ships will make way to Listehol immediately."
"It will take us at least two days to get there."
"I'm aware of this. We will be traveling over Dorin and Botjef and we still will get there faster than the other Fleets could manage to. But I'm aware that the enemy has two days to dig in, so have your troops prepared for that. We will also stop at Telos and scout ahead. Since the nature of your Task Force you'll be our Quick Reaction Force and Recon Element."
"Taskforce Sol we will be ready, Grand Admiral."
"Very well then, I'm excited to see if the praise for Taskforce Sol is exaggerated or not."
Mamoru got up and bowed his head down as sign of respect while the Grand Admiral had stood up as well.
"One last thing, King Endymion. I heard you got here on that extraordinary starfighter the whole Fleet is talking about. Mind to show it to me?"
"It would be my pleasure. And I think it's Pilot wouldn't mind meeting you as well. He's an admirer of the Grandmasters of the Art of War."
A few minutes later, accompanied by Vice Admiral Reige and a Storm Trooper Detachment, the King and the Grand Admiral arrived in the hangar where SunTzu and AICA were waiting for the Return of their King.
As soon as SunTzu saw the Grand Admiral and his Entourage he jumped out of the cockpit and got into attention stance.
"Whatever you do now, behave well, okay AICA?"
"I always behave. I'm a Lady as you know." Was the snippy answer of the AI.
As King and Grand Admiral closed in SunTzu began to salute.
"At ease Pilot." Grand Admiral Pellaeon told SunTzu after he returned the greeting.
The Imperial Leader than took a look at AICA.
"So, this is the most advanced starfighter that the Alliance has in it's arsenal."
SunTzu had his mouth already open but AICA was still faster.
"Affirmative Sir. If I may introduce myself, I am AICA, Artficial Intelligence Controlled A-Wing. Commandeered and piloted by Captain SunTzu, Carrier of the Distinguished Flying Medal of the Galactic Alliance."
Who would have thought that AICA would even make a wave for me.
Pellaeon's eyes widened and he turned to SunTzu.
"I heard that it's possessing an artificial intelligence but I wasn't expecting it to be like that."
"She has quite the character. But i wouldn't trade her for any other starship in the galaxy, Sir." SunTzu replied and began to pet AICA's frame.
"I hope you and your ship are ready for the fight, Captain. We're moving to the North. And we haven't a clue what's waiting for us there."
"Don't worry Sir, we won't let you down."
King and Grand Admiral said their goodbyes and SunTzu also bid the Grand Admiral farewell before the two Earthlings flew back to the Far Side.
Almost 48 hours later the fleet, altogether fifteen capital ships ranging from the enormous Megador down to the rather small Companion, fell out of Hyperspace into the Telos Sector and formed into a defensive formation around the Megador.
Mamoru and Usagi had been invited to dinner with the Grand Admiral aboard the Flagship and would be escorted by Sailor Pluto and Sailor Venus.
The Royal Shuttle also got an escort made up of AICA and the Voyager, the two ships didn't land though and veered off after the shuttle settled in to land.
Both starfighters would be the first manned ships to enter the Listehol system after a few droids and drones would scout the place first.
With their better sensors, the snubs would recon in front of the Taskforce, which would in return then be joined by the rest of the fleet.
As Sailor Saturn would stay as the guardian of Chibiusa onboard the Far Side, Rei had forced SunTzu to take her along instead. With a mixture of logic reason, as she was a psyche as well, as well as threatening of being so angry to let him sleep alone for the rest of the Operation she managed to persuade him.
"I know it's dangerous. That's why I don't want to let you go alone."
She said when he told her it's dangerous to come along.
"And just for the record. It's been a while since you took me to space, TopGun." She concluded the conversation before she kissed his cheek and left for a meeting with her staff onboard the ship.
While the Neo Queen and the King had dinner with the Grand Admiral in the Admiral's private chambers, Sailor Pluto and Sailor Venus stood guard at the door of the dining room.
Sailor Venus of course couldn't stand still so far and after a while of begging Sailor Pluto agreed to quizz her about medical specialist issues.
Inside the room, the three sovereigns enjoyed their delicious meal. After the usual small talk and gentleness the conversation shifted to the current status of the Galaxy while the attendants waited for the main course.
"Earth and Taskforce Sol are honored to work alongside the First Fleet and the Best that the Imperial Remnant has to offer." Usagi stated.
"To be honest, a great part of our best troops and ships became a part of Death Squadron." The Admiral said, laughing before he continued, more serious now.
"But I can't blame these men and women, Lord Vader is a superb Supreme Commander. No one saw more action in the War than Death Squadron. And they are still unbeaten. Apart from that, Lord Vader is one of the reasons the Galactic Alliance didn't break apart yet. If Jacen Solo would have gone over to the Dark Side and some groupings in the Alliance wouldn't fear Vader that much, the GA probably would be at Civil War. Between us, even a man as powerful as me, had problems keeping us part of the Alliance. We gained more territory and therefore more economical wealth in the aftermath of the Vong War and some more militant and conservative Moffs openly wanted the Remnant to leave the Galactic Alliance. Even with Muunilist destroyed the Banking Clan was still active and gave out loans, which we received taxes from. Gone are the times of the last eight remaining Sectors that struggled to keep up on their own. Parts of the Remnant screamed for a return to the Empire's former glory and only the joining of the Empire of the Hand into the Alliance, thanks to the Fel Family, along with their military partnership with the Chiss, as well as giving Admiral Daala the position of Senator of the Imperial Remnant, as she had been an opponent of the Jedi and the New Republic after all, silenced the Moff Council completely. Even though Lady Organa-Solo had to personally persuade the Syndics for the Chiss to join in on an allied base with the Galactic Alliance." He smiled again. "Also Lord Vader as former Supreme Commander of the Empire being a supporter of the Alliance helped a lot. His name still instills fear in the Imperial Ranks."
"The Imperial Remnant is one of the few places in the galaxy that came back on their feet on their own. And thankfully our Kingdom's and Earth's economy is growing steeply as well. But I have to admit the economical and financial situation of the Alliance isn't still the best yet. As you might have heard we did a detour to help out a newly built mining facility in mostly uncharted space. We need more of these to boost the economy again." King Endymion stated.
"Sounds a bit like we need a rush into the Wild Space and New Frontier."
"Which makes a great opportunity for the whole Galaxy, but these regions are also one of the main targets of our enemies. They know how vulnerable we are there."
"It's a misery for the main part of the Alliance. Chief of State Organa-Solo had to cut the spendings on the military and now we don't have enough ships to defend the efforts of rebuilding and gaining life quality after the Vong War, at least for more than Coruscant and a few more selected planets."
"And not to mention the wealthy Systems and Sectors that stayed unbothered from the Invasion of the Yuuzhan Vong. Corellia for example."
"The Corellians basically blackmailed the Galactic Alliance. Corellia just got that much of new contracts for the Fleet to keep them from seceding. Those new Strident Battlecruisers can't do anything that our new Predator-Class can do as well. And we had them offered including fighter complements on top. Personally, I think the Corellians should be more careful now. After all Centerpoint Station can't be used to it's defense anymore, after it got destroyed in the Battle between Lord Vader and this Dark Lady of the Sith, Lumiya."
"Another point, why Darth Vader's return was a blessing for the galaxy. Although almost nobody knows about it."
"Exactly."
In that moment the servants with the main course appeared and served the food.
An hour later the Royals were back on the Far Side.
The first drones and probe droids had been sent to the Tantive System, which was neighboring the Listehol System.
As soon as the system had been cleared safe so far, Taskforce Sol jumped towards it, ten minutes ahead of the rest of the Fleet.
Operation Northern Guardian, as it had been dubbed, was officially on the way and the Taskforce sprung into system with everyone on battle stations.
Within seconds the Taskforce's snubs were out of the hangar and patrolling as well.
Communication with the planets in the system was established.
There hadn't been an enemy attack yet but the inhabitants of the System, which housed the planet Tantive IV amongst others, were glad to see Galactic Alliance Forces in system as they only had a few old starfighters as defense.
When the rest of the Fleet joined the Taskforce, another flight of drones and droids was sent to Listehol instantly.
They were meant to only jump into the system, or more precise into an asteroid field and scan the close surroundings to check if it was safe for the Voyager and AICA to jump in.
The two advanced Starfighters would then recon the area with their better sensors and give intel if the Taskforce and, following a few minutes after, the rest of the fleet could jump into the system safely.
SunTzu had been pretty tense since ever he and the three Senshi had left the Far Side's hangar in their starfighters.
Of course Rei noticed it and of course she knew why.
The area around the entry point and the asteroid field had been safe so far and the two starfighters jumped into Hyperspace and fell out of it in less than two minutes.
Immediately Haruka and SunTzu navigated their snubfighters into the asteroid field while Michiru and Rei kept an eye on the passive sensors.
Just a few hundred kilometers away they detected several emissions, which were identified as capital ships.
Amassed around the planet Listehol, besieging him, was a fleet of formidable size.
Five Arquitens Cruiser, a few Corellian Corvettes and Gunships, three Venator Star Destroyers and two Acclamator IIs were a force on their own but they were lead by a Preator I Battle Cruiser, which was also flanked by two Procurator Star Battle Cruisers.
Made up mostly of ships from the Clone Wars the fleet was still dangerous, especially the larger Battle Cruisers.
The data was transmitted to the Megador and the Far Side.
A few moments later, the tactical control onboard the Megador came in and asked the pilots if they could fly through the asteroid field and closer to the enemy to distract them. Although they would probably be on display for the whole enemy fleet it would make sure that the jump point was left alone by the enemy and the rest of the fleet could jump in unharmed.
Haruka copied and then called in SunTzu.
"You ready?"
SunTzu hesitated and after a moment Haruka came in again.
"SunTzu?"
SunTzu didn't copy, he was torn apart with accepting the risky mission or simply refusing the order.
"I know what you're thinking about and I admire how you put my safety before your orders but do it. We have to lift this siege." Rei told him from the backseat.
"Are you sure? We'll be visible for the whole enemy fleet and I can't guarantee your safety." SunTzu replied, while Haruka's voice came trough the radio again, asking if he was alright.
"I'm aware of that and you know what? In my opinion there's not a single spot in the whole galaxy safer for me than here in the back of AICA, flown by the man I love. Let's go, TopGun."
SunTzu thought about it for another moment and then answered Haruka's call.
"I'm ready." He replied to her and brought AICA next to the Voyager.
"Finally! What took you so bloody long?"
The two Starfighters accelerated and shot through the asteroid field.
To SunTzu's surprise Rei actually seemed to rather enjoy the close maneuvering through the space rocks than to be afraid of it. At least it seemed she wouldn't scold him this time.
A few minutes later they reached open space again and turned on their active sensors, which immediately sparked a reaction from the enemy.
Three squadrons of enemy fighters formed and took course towards them, joined by an Acclamator Cruiser.
"These Wankers obviously noticed us. Keep them concentrated on us. Michiru tell the fleet the enemy took the bait."
SunTzu accelerated AICA and shot two concussion missiles at the end of their range into the closest enemy formation.
Haruka did the same, she wasn't even aiming at all, it was just to make the enemy follow them.
The first two squadrons, old ARC-170s, were rushing towards them as fast as they could now, while AICA and the Voyager held their position, maneuvering around but not really leaving their position.
"Megador, requesting permission to engage in close range." Haruka called in Command.
"Positive, you're cleared to engage. Be advised, that Taskforce Sol is on it's way and will drop in at your three, distance two klicks."
"Copy. I'm going in." Haruka announced and gave more energy into the thrusters.
SunTzu looked up into his rear mirror on top of the canopy and behind him Rei, in her orange flight suit and wearing a flight helmet, nodded a single time.
"Copy, I'm on your four."
The two snubs rushed towards the ARCs and when AICA had a lock, they shot two multi-lock-missiles into the enemy formations.
Six destroyed enemy starfighters after the two missiles hit later, they veered away and rushed for the asteroid field again, eighteen angry Clone Wars Era starfighters behind them, trying to lock on their torpedo launchers on them.
In that moment the four capital ships of Taskforce Sol arrived in System and while the three Corvettes took point defense the Far Side opened up fire at the slightly bigger Acclamator pushing hard towards their four comrades.
The Acclamator's Captain had most of his energy diverted into the engines and his shields were lacking when the first concentrated volley of everything the Far Side had hit and disabled it's shields completely.
In the enemy fleet, five Arquitens now began to accelerate and made full way towards the Far Side.
The Far Side on the other side was trading shots and warheads with the shield less Acclamator now but Captain Santos had given the order to destroy the Star Frigates engine after it's shields collapsed and the ship now hung almost motionless in orbit while the Far Side and it's escort maneuvered to the back of the Star Frigate, where most of the larger ship's weapons couldn't reach them, already strafing the bridge of the Acclamator.
In the meantime a cat-and-mouse-game between the AICA, Voyager and the ARCs broke out in the asteroid field. Like Haruka and Michiru's Tie Aggressor the ARCs had a rear turret but the gunners weren't nearly as skilled or as fast as Michiru was and one by one they were picked out by fast attacks from the Taskforce's two advanced fighters ambushing them.
"Tell me if you're feeling bad or nauseous, I'll keep back then." SunTzu told Rei, worrying about her because he was maneuvering AICA like they were the main attraction of an airshow.
"Are you kidding me? I love this. Keep going TopGun!" A second later she pulled her head around.
"Woah! There's one above us!"
At least someone is having fun.
The Arquiten's dual turbo laser turrets had just begun to take aim at the Far Side, while the ships closed in, when suddenly something sleek and immensely long fell out of Hyperspace directly onto the ships, smashing three of the small cruisers on it's shields.
The Megador had arrived and within seconds the rest of the fleet followed and while the Star Destroyers steamed towards the blockade around the planet, the Megador stayed in place and opened fire. Modified as mobile space artillery platform, it's main guns replaced by heavy long range turbolasers, the Super Star Destroyer began to spit blue colored death at the enemy battle cruisers while it's smaller turbo lasers took care of the remaining two Arquitens and it's fighter complement also poured out.
Terra Squadron had embarked from the Far Side as well and now Odegana's Squadron pounced onto the third squadron that was after AICA and the Voyager. The V-19 didn't had much of a chance against the six modified Headhunters getting at them from behind.
Six minutes after the Far Side had arrived in the system the enemy had already lost three squadrons of starfighters and an Acclamator through the Task Force alone.
And the rest of Pellaeon's Fleet was busy striking at the enemy as well. All five Arquitens had been reduced to atoms and the first Procurator Cruiser just had broken apart after salvos of salvos from the Megador's long range guns.
The Right to Rule, an ISD-1 and one of Pellaeon's former flagships, was exchanging broadsides with a Venator but the old Clone Wars ship was no match for it's successor and while both ship's fighter complements were dogfighting around their motherships the Right to Rule's turbolasers and ion cannons broke through the Venator's shield.
In a few moments the heavy dual turbolasers and ion cannons on the turrets at the right of the bridge had cut down one of the two bridge towers on the Venator and then began to pour their energy onto the Venator's heavy batteries while the left side of the ISD aimed for the next Venator that was engaged with two Enforcer Star Destroyers from the First Fleet closeby.
Companion, Nomad's Luck and Starstruck had left their position and were openly hunting for Starfighters now, soon joined by Sol's fighter complement.
The eight starfigher plowed through the enemy fighter screen with AICA and the Voyager at the end of the formation and AICA and Michiru took the rear guard.
A Squadron of Tie Aggressors and Tie-Oppressors from the Megador soon joined them and the advanced and modified fighters soon achieved space superiority which enabled the bombers and gunships from the First Fleet to engage the rest of the enemy capital ships, helping the larger ships.
The enemy Preator-I held out longer than expected against the Megador's bombardment but a combined volley of all long range batteries and a full wing of bombers finally finished it.
The Taskforce's Corvettes, a modified Lancer Frigate and two Vigil Class Corvettes moped up the rest of the enemy fighters with support from several squadrons of Ties and Preybirds.
AICA and the Voyager had already landed back at the Far Side as the regular fighters had begun to patrol the system.
The four Guardians got out of the fighters while Karlena and her crew took over and began to refill and rearm their ships.
One of the hangar crewers handed the four friends bottles of water and SunTzu and Haruka immediately splashed some of it in their faces and over their heads. The dogfight in the asteroid fields had been enduring for them, as they were dodging asteroids, lasers and concussion missiles alike while outmaneuvering the enemy.
Even AICA had stated that she wouldn't have been able to fly like that on her own.
They walked up to the Mission Center where Artemis and Mamoru were leading the Taskforce from. The space battle was over and one could argue it had been rather one sided comparing casualties. The Grand Admiral sure knew how to make use of his fleet.
Right now a holo image of Grand Admiral Pellaeon was talking to them, praising the Taskforce's work.
"Outstanding Work, Sol. Now I know that the rumors about your performance weren't exaggerated. Give my personal regard to your starfighter pilots."
SunTzu began to grin, a personal praise from the Grand Old Man of the Empire, this brilliant tactician, meant a lot to him. Rei noticed and she had had to grin, because her boyfriend was fanboying again. She briefly took his hand and squeezed it, to show him her affection.
"Thank you Sir and congratulations for winning this battle. We're glad we could do our part."
"Our Intelligence Attachement assumes the enemy's ships were once part of the Restored Empire. They are now trying to figure out how and why they ended up here after twenty five years of being lost."
"If you want, we can let our Intelligence Assets assists yours."
"There's no need, as the origin of the fleet isn't important right now. More important is to take care of the enemy invasion force. As expected from the ships, it's mostly Clone Wars Equipment but there's already a sizeable enemy force on the planet. How fast can you get a QRF for supporting our main assault force onto the planet?"
This time Mamoru answered, as he and Artemis had split the responsibilities between them. Artemis commanded the space forces and King Endymion the ground forces.
"We can descend on the planet in an instant and have Special Forces and Deep Reconnaissance Teams on Standby. We can deploy them immediately."
Pellaeon nodded approvingly, Taskforce Sol was definitely one of the units that was on it's toes.
"Hold back for now, there's three enemy Acclamator Ones and one Pelta landed on the planet and unloading troops right now. We'll take them out from up here first, before we let troops land as there's too much danger for transport ships with these ships around. But we need to hurry, there's some villages in danger of falling into the enemy's hands."
Suddenly Rei stepped forward.
"Excuse me Grand Admiral. If you'd allow we could take a single fighter and slip through the enemy's defence and start to defend the endangered villages."
The Imperial Leader looked at her.
"You are Miss Rei Hino, the Senator of your System, right?"
"Yes Sir, I am. But I'm also a warrior of this Taskforce."
"With all due respect Senator, defending a village against the enemy with just a starfighter sounds unrealistic."
"Trust me Grand Admiral, we will at least buy the village enough time to persevere until reinforcements arrive."
It took him a moment of consideration but then Pellaeon gave his consent.
"I allow it. But don't take unnecessary risks. I don't want to explain to the Chief of State why I have the blood of a Senator on my hands."
"You won't regret it Grand Admiral, I promise." Rei replied.
"I hope so. King Endymion. Admiral."
The holo ceased and Rei turned her head to SunTzu who had stepped forward as well while she had spoken to Pellaeon, and was now standing next to her.
"C'mon TopGun, let's save some villagers."
SunTzu had the urge to protests, he knew he should have protested, but he also knew Rei way to well, she wouldn't back down. There were innocents to save after all.
Artemis also wanted to protest but Mamoru stopped him with the palm of his hand on his chest. They both knew Rei well enough. And this time she was even more determined than usual.
A few steps out of the Mission Center SunTzu cleared his throat.
"But you'll wear armor. And a helmet. And stay close to me."
Rei sighed theatrically, no need to let him know again right now how much she adored his concern.
"Fine. But you stay close to me as well. And no stupid ideas."
SunTzu began to grin.
"Yes Ma'am."
A few minutes later they were back in AICA and on their way to the Planet, flying past the wrecks and debris of the space battle.
"Hold on one second." Rei suddenly said.
"See that corpse there? Can you bring us closer."
"Rei, for real. That's a dead body, you shouldn't…"
"Trust me."
Cautiously SunTzu closed the distance to the corpse. At first the pilot thought it was charred but when they were close to a few meters to it, he could see that the corpse wasn't burned.
"See, I knew something was off, I sensed it. That's like one of those Youma that attacked us on Phu."
Rei was right, it was one of those black humanoid figures.
"I didn't tell you this yet, but it was my psychic abilities, my sixth sense that urged me to go down there as fast as i can."
"You think they try to kidnap the planet's population to turn them into these things?"
"'I guess we will find out soon."
AICA came in now.
"We just have gotten the newest Intel, there's a group of what seems to be enemy infantry heading towards a village. We could be there in a few minutes."
SunTzu accelerated his Artificial Intelligence equipped Starfighter.
"We better hurry then!"
A few moments later AICA broke through the clouds and descended further. In the far distance green laser fire rained down on what probably was one of the Acclamators and soon a giant explosion lighted up the horizon.
"I just hope they hadn't unloaded their troops yet." SunTzu stated as he peeked out to the pillar of smoke rising up kilometers away.
Another few seconds later the village came into sight. A regular village with some duraconcrete buildings, surrounded by agricultural fields, plains and a forest nearby.
AICA landed in the middle of the village and the two lovers got out, SunTzu immediately grabbing his Sub-Carbine and his plate carrier.
An older man was walking over to the two Earthlings in their flight suits, while SunTzu ran down the main street leading out of the village, getting his rifle ready.
Rei ran over to the elderly man in the meantime.
"AICA, try to scout a bit ahead but stay afar from armored vehicles and bigger troop concentrations while you're not piloted."
"Aye Aye, Boss." That said she closed the canopy and lifted off again.
"Listen, the whole village needs to get into cover. There's an attack imminent." Rei shooed the old man away and the surprised and curious onlooking villagers that had surrounded the scene by now, began to scatter in panic, while Rei ran into an empty alley.
"I have sensor contact with a group of very fast moving… things coming in from the west through that forest, half a klick away." AICA came in over SunTzu's communicator, as he was scouting for defensive positions around the village.
"What do you mean, things?" The Pilot asked his snub.
"It's living organisms with a heat signature similar to humans but those are not exactly human. At least not all of them. And I can't take them all out in the forest."
While SunTzu thought about what to do next and where to set shop, the clicking of high heels on concrete came closer. He turned around and saw Sailor Mars heading down the main road of the village towards him and for a millisecond he had to force himself to not marvel at her but rather focus on the task at hand.
"What's the strained face? More problems than usual? Or this is just another case of being stunned because I go to war in high heels?"
SunTzu noticed that she hadn't put on her body armor and helmet.
Suddenly AICA reported in again, quite excited for an Artificial Intelligence.
"Incoming! Mortar rounds fired a few kilometers away… they're aimed for the village!"
SunTzu acted immediately and yanked Rei, or rather grabbed her under his arm, and jumped with her into a berm at a small water drain that supplied water to some nearby fields.
"What the…?!" She protested and looked at him in anger but he didn't listen and instead tried to cover her body with his.
"Keep your eyes shut and mouth open!" He ordered her and Rei was at the verge of freaking out when she suddenly heard a howling coming in. And then she understood.
While the howling gave a few seconds of warning that something was coming in, it didn't tell where the mortar rounds would actually hit.
A few seconds after the howling began the first round fell on the central square of the village.
The second fell a few meters apart and a third followed almost next to it.
Rei had major problems to keep her mouth open and in her fear, she pressed herself against SunTzu as tight as she could.
The second barrage, with just a few seconds delay, landed just a few meters behind them at the beginning of the village.
Rei twitched, she was sure she was about to feel immense pain immediately. But the pain didn't come, she twitched two more times as the second and third round impacted but she didn't get hurt.
She just felt a unnatural, aggressive smell wavering over to her. And a few seconds later she could hear the third barrage go off at another part of the village.
"Are you okay?" SunTzu asked her and she finally opened her eyes again. And saw thick clouds of white smoke waving around, closing in as well.
"Smoke rounds. I don't know why but it seems they don't want the villagers to see what will hit them." SunTzu stated and gently brushed her face for a second before he moved up the berm again and gave her a hand to get out as well. Good thing the drain was almost dry, none of them would have wanted to fight in wet shoes.
"Are you guys okay?" AICA came in again.
"We are, those were just smoke rounds, thankfully no Wiley Pete as well."
"Great to hear but those things are just a minute away from you."
"Copy, moving in position. AICA try to take out that mortars, but back up if there is any AA."
"Copy, consider these mortars destroyed."
As soon as Rei was out of the berm SunTzu began to run to the side of the village that was closest to the forest. But there wasn't a berm nor any other defense.
Rei was just one step behind him and as they had rounded the village, the smoke waving through the whole village and it's surroundings now, burning in their throats and obstructing their views, they heard sounds.
It was a bit like voices that mumbled but they couldn't make out what they were saying. And then they heard it. A piercing shriek. A shriek they heard before and the two lovers shared a worried glance. It was the same shriek some of the Daimons on Phu had made when they attacked.
White smoke was all around them and Rei and SunTzu could see for just a few meters.
"I know your answer to this but you could still back out."
"And leave you and this village on their own? I don't think so."
"Yeah, Rei Hino doesn't run from a fight."
"Exactly, my dear TopGun."
Standing next to each other they briefly locked hands for some reassurance and at the same time opened their minds to each other.
"I love you." Both said to the other.
The lovers took a big breather as the shrieks and voices came closer and then SunTzu raised his HK416C and Rei engulfed her hands in flames.
The first creature came straight frontal running in, one of the black daimons with twisted limbs, making it look like an arachnoid.
SunTzu ended it with a short burst into it's head but as the creature dropped to the ground, another three came out of the smoke and rushed towards them. Rei took them out with a fast casted Burning Mandala while SunTzu activated the military radio he wore on his plate carrier.
"AICA…" Gunshots and shrieking were heard through the radio. "… tell the Far Side we're TIC. And tell them to hurry up with Reinforcements."
Soon the faster, spider like demons we're supplemented by the regular humanoid figures, thankfully without weapons this time, and they were swarming the two Guardians.
SunTzu kneeled down to have a better shooting stance and covered a wide arc to the front, where behind the smoke, the forest began. And dozens of Daimons poured out of.
Rei was watching their backs and hurled attack after attack at the daimons while her boyfriend emptied magazine after magazine.
More and more daimons came up and after a short time the couple was forced back to back.
"I'm out of Ammo." SunTzu announced after he shot away one of the spider daimons's head and pulled out his pistol.
Rei was hitting the daimons with just her burning fists and legs now, both of the Earthlings were panting heavy.
They now began to switch places, SunTzu using fists and legs as well and they began to fight as a team, their fighting style was close to each other and resembled something artistically like a choreography.
But it didn't help, SunTzu's pistol would be empty soon, Rei couldn't cast attacks forever and the monsters were kept on coming.
After SunTzu had just swung Rei around and she made them some room with burning legs they were back to back again.
"Any ideas?" SunTzu asked.
"Keep on fighting." That said she let out a pair of Fire Souls. "Have you noticed that these feel different than the ones on Phu?"
"Yeah, I sense they're actually not mindless monsters but rather have an intention. They want to kidnap people. Maybe it's time for Cosmic Sailor Mars." He said as he shot one of the Daimons into the downside of his head after he had given it a uppercut.
But before Rei could answer, something from above waved the thick white smoke away and began to let red laser beams rain around the two Earthlings.
"Sorry, to kept you waiting. The enemy still had two V-19s around." AICA announced over her loudspeaker while she descended down over her pilot and his girlfriend.
Her self-defense blaster was extended and began to shoot as well now.
"I love this ship." Rei stated exhausted, as AICA mowed down everything around them. The smoke cleared and in the sky a Sentinel-Class Shuttle, escorted by two Xg-1 Assault Gunboats, came soaring in fast.
Not even a minute later the Sentinel had touched down on a plain next to the village and a platoon of Storm Commandos and a Squadron of Death Troopers poured out.
The Imperial Commandos immediately began to attack the Daimons and moved up under constant firing, driving the black figures back.
The six Death Troopers immediately rushed towards AICA and the two Earthlings and while five of them took point around them, with AICA hovering some meters above them , the Squad Leader walked up to Rei and SunTzu and adressed them, his voice distorted by the voice scrambler inside his helmet.
"Senator, Captain, the Grand Admiral bids his greetings. We are part of the first wave of our planetary assault. Are you two unharmed?"
Rei and SunTzu looked at each other, exhausted and grimey, but they shared a brief smile with each other. They had been saved once again, just moments before their demise.
"We are, Trooper. We need to check on the villagers though, follow me." Sailor Mars told the Death Trooper and began to walk back to the Village, SunTzu next to her. The Death Trooper taped his helmet and his squad got up again and formed out around Rei and SunTzu, while AICA stayed in position, getting a praise and a hearty thank you from SunTzu via radio.
On the other side of the village the Storm Commandos were forming a defensive position around the settlement, as they had neutralized all attacking Daimons and got ready for any following attack now.
As SunTzu looked up to the sky the pilot could see that dozens of shuttles, transporters, starfighters, bombers, gun- and dropships descended from the clouds right now.
Ground Warfare on Listehol was about to begin.