Those Vong were good, not as good as the Son of the Warmaster, but still nothing to be sneezed at.
Maybe the dogfighting would have been easier if his intoxication from the night cycle before still wasn't so present.
On the other side, it somehow made him enjoy the whole dogfighting even more. And the inebriety not only silenced the demons but also that small part in the back of his head that usually let him know that every fight could be his last one.
AICA flew a sharp looping, after SunTzu had given full thrust into the engines and rocketed upwards, the two Coralskippers behind him trying to keep up.
SunTzu had a short discussion with AICA before starting off that cruiser they had stopped on before the battle.
She hadn't wanted him to fly but he had insisted on it and now his flying had proven her wrong with her statement he wasn't sober enough to fly.
"What did I tell you Darling? I'm more than able to fly." The pilot said as the A-Wing ended the looping and was behind the still climbing Coralskippers now. A few salvos of stutter laser fire the first skip broke apart and shortly was followed by the second one, which tried to get away.
"On to the next." SunTzu sang in the cockpit.
"Uhm, Boss? You'd rather check the sensors. While you were out playing with these two skips all our allied ships jumped away, that was a hit-and-run-attack. We're the last ones in system. And there's at least a full wing of skippers heading for us!"
That sobered the German spacefighter jockey up.
"Ohhh..."
He threw AICA around, gave more energy into the rear shields and engines and shot away.
"I guess we should leave this place as well."
While three dozen Coralskippers tried to catch up SunTzu and AICA jumped into hyperspace a few seconds later.
Missing the jump with the rest of the fleet had just been a minor mishap and soon SunTzu joined the small fleet again.
Within two hours the next attack began and this time SunTzu was aware it would be another hit-and-run-attack.
There was only one problem. The hit-part had been successful and two cruisers, various smaller craft and a few squadrons of Vong Snubs had been destroyed but the run-part hadn't worked as the Vong had brought in an Interdictor that sat safely in mid of the Vong's Vanguard Fleet.
The Alliance's fleet tried to plow through and at least neutralize the ship keeping them in System so they could flee but the resistance was too strong.
SunTzu constantly fought dogfights to keep the snubs from the larger Alliance ships but it hadn't helped.
One by one the own ships had been destroyed, fighters and bombers fell victim to the Vong's gunships and skippers in squadrons.
The last GA Cruiser, the fleet's flagship, a Rejuvenator-Class Star Destroyer, was already burning and breaking apart as it finally pushed through the last line of defense around the Vong's Interdictor. The Rejuvenator-Class had been put in service at the end of the Yuuzhan Vong War and was specially built to fight against the Extragalactic Invaders but against such an overwhelming number of enemies it didn't stand a chance. In a last suicidal act the Star Destroyer rammed into the Interdictor and dragged the ship, which looked like it was made out of purple and black stone, along itself into destruction.
The ship's Kamikaze action had saved every Alliance pilot still alive. Which only was one single individual and his snub, SunTzu and AICA, and after dodging six skips AICA jumped into Hyperspace again.
One hour later SunTzu fell out of hyperspace in the middle of nowhere and another hour and three more jumps later he was back inside the defensive lines of the Galactic Alliance Fleet.
The survivor's guilt called for a unhealthy amount of alcohol to cope with making it out as last one again once more.
There were no more offensive actions planned and the ships of the Alliance held their defensive position, the lost fleet had been the only offensive capability in the whole sector.
As former part of this fleet SunTzu held it's mission up, although it were just him and AICA.
Sortie after sortie he flew, more hit-and-run-attacks, never against a fleet's core but against it's van- or rearguard. Sometimes he also laid ambushes for recon craft and patrols.
Fueled by anger, heartbreak and cheap but hard liquor, the Ghost of the Core soon got an equivalent story of his own inside the rogue Vong Fleet.
It wasn't much of damage he caused, even a perfected starfighter like AICA was just a starfighter and it was only the two of them but a corvette here, a starfighter patrol there, a transport the next time. And every time enemy reinforcements came in he was already gone, taking at least two jumps before returning to friendly lines.
Since the loss of the fleet his demons haunted him more than ever. Maybe the newspaper he found and read to kill one time before AICA had been maintained by the hangar crew, it had been too early to drink even for him back then, which had a picture of the new hot couple of Coruscant in it, had done it's parts for this as well.
In hindsight SunTzu would say yes. Yes, it had. Out here was nothing but war and the unnerving waiting to kill or be killed and still Rei's and Yuichiro's image of smiling at each other full of love had found him here. And the images hadn't hurted any less than seeing them on th holonet together a few days ago.
Shortly after reading the newspaper had been the first time he had left the fleet and attacked the Vong on his own.
Back then he had even managed to destroy a large troop transport and it's escort of two skips, probably killing thousands of enemy ground forces in one strike.
It was night cycle on the ship and to get some rest in directly after having arrived again, SunTzu had packed a bottle of cheap Brandy in the cockpit.
The Brandy burned horrible and tasted like kerosene but it did work.
SunTzu was completely and absolutely drunk when AICA landed. The AI had to fly and land herself as he finally wasn't able to pilot her anymore.
Ada Wong, high-ranking GAIS Officer, had just received the recording of a surveillance camera Major Ami Urawa had headed forward to her. Her communicator rang.
"Have you seen the recording yet?"
"Ami, hi. Just started it. Why is it so important?"
"Just watch the recording."
The video showed the inside of a hangar of a capital ship, at least the size of a Frigate.
In this moment a complete black A-Wing, except for two dark grey stripes, came soaring in and landed, the whole process was done perfectly.
But then the canopy opened and it was obvious that the pilot already struggled to get out of his seat, he even struggled with getting up.
"Oh no." Ada commented the scene in a low kept voice.
"Wait. It's just the beginning." Ami told her.
When the pilot finally had himself fought out of his seatbelt and was standing, it wasn't a pretty firm stand, he needed several attempts trying to get out the cockpit and onto the side steps of the cockpit.
Ada was watching the scene in shock. She knew SunTzu wasn't doing too well but he deconstructing himself for everybody to see was beyond her worst expectations.
To top it all of, the German was so drunk that he missed one of the steps and in his intoxication that made him fall down to the hangar floor.
He landed on his butt while the ground crew around him scrambled to help him up.
After standing again he shortly talked with the crew member that helped him up and then lurched away, the whole hangar looking at him.
"Oh my fucking god. Please tell me you deleted that video." Ada said after a moment to collect herself.
"I already did, AICA helped me with it. She is also deeply concerned with SunTzu's well-being. Ada, I know about his usefulness on the front but he's breaking apart. As his friend I have to urge you to get him out of there."
"I know... Listen, I didn't know how bad it really was. And I said I don't get involved into his personal life unless it's endangering his mission."
"You think it's not endangering for him to fly in this condition against Domain Shai."
"I know, Ami. Listen, I'm having a covert operation coming up and the agent, a newly enlisted specialist in her field, needs a PSD. I'll call him back effective immediately and assign him to it. And I'll make sure he's sober and detoxed before he starts the operation."
"Good. A real assignment probably will give him some perspective."
"Give me just a few minutes to give out the orders. I hope I can get him on the line in that condition he is in."
SunTzu was rather rudely woken up by an officer and two MPs in the otherwise empty quarter, which earlier had housed four snub jockeys before but starfighter pilots were becoming kind of an endangered species out here.
The two military policemen shook the drunk pilot awake.
"Get up Captain. New orders for you. Directly from Coruscant." The Officer, executive officer of the ship's flight control stated and when SunTzu turned around, the man held him a stack of papers under his nose.
SunTzu wiped the sleep out of his eyes, concentrated himself on trying to look straight and took the papers. He had slept for four hours and was just barely sober enough to read his new orders.
Ada wanted him back, effective immediately and against any other orders but the order didn't give anything away why.
Let's see what she wants from me this time.
Half an hour later he left the Fleet and while he fell asleep again, he couldn't manage to procure some more alcohol to kill the time, AICA shot out into the void and within a minute into Hyperspace. The minute SunTzu had fallen asleep, AICA sent a message to Ada, letting her know they were on their way.
When SunTzu landed at the Imperial Palace as ordered, Ada and Leon were already waiting for him at the landing place.
SunTzu was completely done by the time AICA touched down.
His body was already reacting to the sudden stop of drinking and he was in the beginning stages of the worst hangover he ever had.
His face was completely pale and the pilot was sweating profusely. His body was shaking as he climbed out of the cockpit.
Leon helped him climbing down from the starfighter.
"You look horrible." Ada commented when the pilot stood in front of her, barely able to stand at all. Ada looked at Leon and her boyfriend nodded.
"We should go." And then she looked at AICA.
"Thank you AICA. We take it from here, i heard someone is waiting for you."
"Thanks Ada. Yes, I'm off to meet Hotaru on the Far Side."
SunTzu turned around, that was new to him. But maybe he had been just too done on the way to Coruscant to have heard about it.
"We thought you'll need a few days to sober up. And therefore you don't need AICA." Ada said and SunTzu turned around to her and nodded before he turned to AICA again.
"Tell them I said Hi. And take care out there." SunTzu petted AICA's frame with his shaky hand.
"Will do. You got this SunTzu." The AI of the A-Wing replied.
"The car is at the other side of the hangar." Ada said and motioned in the direction where some repulsor cars were parked, as SunTzu fished an uniform and a backpack out of one of AICA's storage departments.
SunTzu took his, stuff, closed the storage again and said gently knocked on AICA's frame.
"Bye Darling."
"See you later, SunTzu." AICA said and SunTzu fell in behind Ada, following her to the car. As behind him AICA lifted off again, Leon fell in step next to him.
"Hard times, huh? Been there as well, believe me. We'll take care of you." He gave SunTzu a backslap as SunTzu nodded to him.
The next thirty six hours were hard for SunTzu. It began after a few more hours.
First vomiting, good thing they had put a bucket next to the bed in Ada's and Leon's guest room.
Cold sweat and nightmares plagued him but he still was asleep or dozing most of the time.
Leon and Ada made sure he stayed hydrated and made sure he also got some nutrition and medication.
When he had another vomit attack, Ada was sitting on the edge of the bed beside him while he threw up water and bile in the bucket.
"Let it all out. You don't have to be ashamed. Before me and Leon officially dated he had a PHASE like that as well. Way worse actually. I was there when he detoxed. It was way more gross."
After he finally was done with retching SunTzu's tired eyes wandered to Ada.
"Thank you for the help Ada."
"Not for this. That's what friends are for."
Ada really wanted him to get better again. She felt sorry for what had to go through. And there was also guilt in her. She had been the one that basically had snatched him from the street. And a driving force for his turning into Personified War. But this Galaxy needed him and it needed him to become what he had become.
And she had to admit he had become more than an asset or a mission for her, he had become a friend to Leon and her and friends helped each other, especially when one of them had a rough time. And SunTzu did have a very rough time lately.
Basically brought back from the death, loosing Rei, who not even a month later was already dating someon else, being constantly in combat and often being the only survivor of these battles. No wonder he tried to numb himself down.
The next morning SunTzu was woken up from a knock on the door.
The door opened and Ada stood in the door's frame, holding up a clothes hanger with his Starfighter Corps Uniform on it.
"Took your uniform to the laundry. Get up and get presentable. Breakfast in fifteen. And then I have a new mission for you over at the office."
One hour later Leon took him with the repulsor car to the Imperial Palace.
The Member of Leia's Personal Security Detachment would head on to the office of the Chief of State while SunTzu, dressed in his black uniform with the gold ornaments and his decorations, made his way over to Ada's office.
The Bavarian felt better, both physically and mentally, probably the best since ever he had left the Far Side.
He navigated through the sheer endless corridors of the Palace.
Since the destruction and terraforming of planet in the Yuuzhan Vong War had been so massive, a great lot of ministries, legislative offices and branches of the Galactic Alliance were still located in the gigantic Palace, which had been one of the first buildings to be rebuild after seizing back Coruscant.
This included the upper echolon of the GAIS as well, although the Service also had other offices on Coruscant and throughout the Galaxy.
When SunTzu arrived at Ada's office he knocked and stepped inside after he was ordered to do so.
He stood at attention in the room for a moment after stepping in and closing the door.
"You look way better than two days before, SunTzu. How do you feel?"
SunTzu nodded and even shot her a small smile before he sat down.
"I am. Thanks for helping me to get back on my feet. I know i was an eyesore."
"Don't worry, we're glad to have you back."
Both smiled at each other for a moment.
"You said you have a new mission for me."
Ada nodded and grabbed a folder in front of her.
"I do. PSD, so something you're not unfamiliar with."
She handed the dossier to SunTzu and the Pilot turned Bodyguard once again, opened it and skimmed through it.
The portrait in the right top of the first page showed the face of a young woman of Asian descent, black hair in a hime cut, burgundy eyes. Quite an attractive woman SunTzu had to confess.
The dossier stated her to be twenty four years of age.
"We have information that a wealthy ship magnate is working together with the enemy. He's organizing a large gambling tournament and the agent you're working with is an expert gambler. We especially recruited her for this mission."
"Especially recruited, as fresh inside service?" SunTzu asked, looking up from the dossier.
"Don't worry, a thorough security background check had been done. We're not amateurs, as you know." Ada said forcefully.
"Beware though, she might be even a bit compulsive when it comes to gambling."
SunTzu's eyebrow shot up.
What does that suppose to mean?
Before SunTzu could say something, there was a knock on the door again.
And Ada nodded to SunTzu.
"Come in please."
The door opened and the woman from the dossier entered, the picture didn't lie, she sure was a sight to behold, even more in nature.
Eyes telling of intelligence, the raven hair falling down to her waist and the right curves in all the right places.
Hands crossed in front she stood there for a moment and took a brief look at SunTzu.
"You asked for me, Miss Wong?" The young woman reported in, in a soft spoken voice.
Ada nodded and motioned to SunTzu.
"I wanted to introduce you to your Personal Security Detachment for your mission. Captain SunTzu, Pilot of the Starfighter Corps, but at present under my direct command."
SunTzu had stood up from his chairs and made a step towards his new ward. The woman extended her hand to greet him.
"Captain, this is Agent…"
SunTzu interrupted Ada as he took the woman's hand and bowed down to give her a symbolic hand kiss. Her palm still in his hand he looked up in the young woman's face again.
"Miss Jabami, right?"